Around Town

Residents Can Apply to be in Watertown Citizens Police Academy

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Once again this year, the Watertown Police Department will host the Citizen Police Academy, and residents are invited to register. The 2019 Citizen Police Academy will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 18, and will run one night a week for 10 weeks from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Applications must be received by Sept. 13, 2019. Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn sent out the following letter:

As the Watertown Police Department advances its community policing efforts, it is important to have citizen-police interaction and cooperation.

Around Town

New Garage at Arsenal Yards Complete, Open for Customers

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The garage at Arsenal Yards is now open. The construction at Arsenal Yards reached a milestone recently as the new parking garage was completed and is open for customers. The garage will be the largest parking area at the new Arsenal Yards. It sits on the east side of the property, and will be in back of the Hampton Inn & Suites hotel. The following information was provided by Boylston Properties:

Arsenal Yards construction remains on schedule and we’re extremely excited to announce that the parking garage in front of Marshalls is NOW OPEN for use by all visitors, employees, and customers.

Around Town

Treaty of Watertown, Signed in 1776, Still Has Power Today

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As part of the Treaty Day Celebration on July 20, Governor’s Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney from Watertown received a medal from Henry Bear, a representative of the Maliseet tribe. The Treaty of Watertown, the oldest treaty made by the United States with a foreign power, was signed in 1776, but the agreement with Indian tribes in the U.S. and Canada still holds sway in 2019. On Saturday, the Historical Society of Watertown celebrated the annual Treaty Day, marking the anniversary of the signing of the first Treaty between Massachusetts and the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet (also called the St. John’s) tribes on July 19, 1776. The primary focus of the Treaty for the young U.S. was to have a military ally against the British, but it also provided rights for the tribes over land and fisheries in what is now Maine and Canada.

Around Town

Hit the Watertown Library & Other Spots the Minuteman Library Crawl

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A view of what the current Watertown Free Public Library. The Watertown Free Library and libraries around the Minuteman Library Network are hosting a library crawl on Aug. 1. The Watertown Library provided the following information:

The Minuteman libraries invite you to join a network-wide scavenger hunt, explore the libraries near you, and learn what makes each one special. A “crawl,” or tour, is a fun way to visit multiple Libraries in your area.

Around Town

Find Out About Watertown’s New Electricity Plans at Upcoming Meetings

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The Town of Watertown will host a series of informational sessions about the new Electricity Choice program, which has a deadline in August. The Town of Watertown provided the following information:

If you have questions regarding Watertown’s Electricity Choice Program, there are four upcoming opportunities for face-to-face question and answer periods. The schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, July 24,  2:30-6:30 p.m. at the Watertown Farmers Market (Saltonstall Park) – booth for questions Saturday, July 27 noon at the Watertown Free Public Library – formal presentation / Q&A Thursday, Aug. 1, 7:00 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library – formal presentation / Q&A  Tuesday, Aug. 6, 10:00 a.m. at the Watertown Senior Center – formal presentation / Q&A  

The four meeting dates are all prior to the Aug.

Around Town

Member of Watertown Troop 30 Earns Scouting’s Highest Rank: Eagle Scout

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Luke Black recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Here he is with his parents Lee and Mary Helen Black at the Eagle Scout Ceremony. Recently, Luke Black — a member of Watertown Boy Scout Troop 30 — reached an achievement that only a handful of boys reach in their time as scouts. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout. On June 13, Luke Black received his Eagle pin from Scoutmaster Chris Derocher at a ceremony held at Watertown-Belmont United Methodist Church.

Around Town

MTBA CharlieCards Now Available in Watertown

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The following information was provided by MassDOT:

The MBTA announced that the Town of Watertown has partnered with the T in the growing initiative to increase the availability of CharlieCards to residents who rely on public transportation. Under the initiative, free no-balance CharlieCards are available at the following Watertown locations:

•        Watertown Town Hall 149 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472

CharlieCards available in the Clerk’s Office on the ground floor and in the Planning Department on the third floor. •         Watertown Free Public Library 123 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472

The Town of Watertown joins a growing list of Cities and Towns partnering with the MBTA to increase access to CharlieCards. The City of Chelsea partnered with the MBTA in January 2019 with CharlieCards pre-loaded with $5 as well as free no-balance CharlieCards available in the Treasury Office of Chelsea City Hall. CharlieCards available in the City of Lynn and the City of Salem are also coming soon.

Around Town

A Little Library in Watertown Brings Together Book Lovers, Neighbors

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Rebecca Conlon and Emily Neill stand next to the Little Free Library that recently went up on Hall Avenue. Watertown’s branch libraries closed in 2007, but book lovers can now visit a little library just off Belmont Street in Watertown that is not much bigger than a mailbox. Standing on a single post, the library holds about 30 books. People are welcome to grab something to read, as well as dropping off something for someone else to enjoy. The selection includes fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, books for teens, and tweens, and more, said Rebecca Conlon, who volunteered to house the library in her front yard.