Around Town

LETTER: Resident Likes the Landscaping of the New Pedestrian Bridge, Railings Not So Much

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Watertown resident Chuck Dickinson came across crews putting in the landscaping at either end of the new pedestrian bridge across the Charles River, and he liked the crew’s work so much that he took some photos. 

The Department of Conservation and Recreation installed the new bridge at the end of May in place of the old one, which was not handicap accessible. He also took a few photos of the new bridge, including the side railings (which he said are quite tall). Dickinson submitted the following write-up:

After a long-anticipated installation of the new Thompson Pedestrian Bridge, landscapers from DCR contractor MON Landscaping (Dartmouth, MA) labored in the hot sun on the days before and after the Fourth of July holiday to plant new shrubs and trees on both sides of the Charles River. The landscaping is a needed finishing touch to the bridge project, as it softens the concrete and asphalt approaches on both sides of the river with greenery and foliage. Although many are unhappy with the high railings on the new bridge that obscure or limit river views, the bridge’s landscaping is likely to be welcomed and appreciated by all.

Around Town

Town Solves Filippello Park Parking Problems for Fall, Not Long Term Ones

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Watertown’s Filippello Park draws many visitors, from those going for a stroll, to children enjoying the playground, to sports leagues playing on the softball or soccer fields. The demand usually ramps up during the evenings, and park users will park on nearby streets, so residents of those areas struggle to find a spot of their own. 

Monday night, the Town of Watertown held a meeting about plans for the park during the fall, but the room full or residents had bigger issues on their minds. Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon announced that the two playing fields at Filippello Park will not close, as previously discussed, during the fall. The Town looked for field space in other towns, or at Daly Field, in Brighton, but little was available, and none with lights. With the fields remaining open, parking had to be found because the main lot off Grove Street will be closed while the entrance that end of the park is renovated during the fall.

Around Town

Family Mental Health Support Group Announces Upcoming Meeting

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The following information was provided by the National Alliance for Mental Illness:
Family Mental Health support group:  NAMI Family Mental Health Support Group is a free, structured, confidential peer-led support group for the families of individuals living with mental illness.  
A support group will be held on Tuesday, July 10, 7 – 9 p.m. at the Newton Wellesley Hospital, at 2014 Washington St. in Newton 02461, on the second floor of the main building in the Bowles Conference Center. This is organized by the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI).

Around Town

Spots Available in the Watertown Boys & Girls Club Annual Golf Tournament

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Watertown Boys & Girls Club will host their annual golf tournament on Monday, August 13, 2018 at the Oakley Country Club. The tournament honors one of the Club’s original founding members, Stephen Mugar. His children and grandchildren generously perpetuate his legacy by sponsoring this annual event. The Mugar Family will match the tournament’s net profits up to $80,000, thus making this the largest annual fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the Club’s yearly revenue. Foursomes and single golfer tickets can be purchased at http://bit.ly/WBGCGolf2018, along with sponsorships of varying levels.

Around Town

Changes Coming to Charles River Road, Including New Crosswalks, Re-striping of Road

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A representative from the Department of Conservation and Recreation visited Charles River Road last week to speak with neighbors about how to make the newly repaved roadway safer, including adding more crosswalks. The tour was organized by State Sen. Will Brownsberger and State Rep. Jonathan Hecht. The goal of the re-striping is to increase the connections to between the neighborhood, the Charles River, the Riverside Park, as well as slowing traffic, said Jeffrey Parenti, Deputy Chief Engineer of the DCR’s Division of Planning and Engineering. After the new striping, there will be some changes to Charles River Road. The roadway will remain one lane in each direction for motor vehicles, and there will bebike lanes in each direction.

Around Town

Historical Society Celebrates Treaty Day, First Reading of Declaration of Independence

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The Historical Society of Watertown will celebrate two major historical events that took place in town in 1776. 

The following information was provided by the Historical Society of Watertown:
Treaty Day 2018
July 14, 2018, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Edmund Fowle House, 28 Marshall St., Watertown, MA

Please join the Historical Society of Watertown in celebrating the commemoration of two important Watertown historical events in 1776. Come to this annual event marking the first time the Declaration of Independence was read to the citizens of Watertown on July 18, 1776. We will also celebrate the July 19, 1776 signing of the first treaty negotiated by our new nation with a foreign power, namely the St. John’s (a.k.a. Maliseet) and Mi’kmaq Tribes of Nova Scotia. Special presentations by invited guests will enlighten us on how the Treaty of Watertown relates to our current period.

Around Town

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Awarded $100K Grant from Cummings Foundation

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Watertown Boys & Girls Club is one of 100 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 each through Cummings Foundation’s “$100K for 100” program. The Watertown-based organization was chosen from a total of 597 applicants, during a competitive review process. Watertown Boys & Girls Club provides after-school and summer programming for youth ages 7-18 from Watertown and the surrounding communities. The mission of the Club is to inspire and enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. Representing Watertown Boys & Girls Club, Renee Gaudette, the Club’s Executive Director, joined approximately 300 other guests at a reception at TradeCenter 128 in Woburn to celebrate the $10 million infusion into Greater Boston’s nonprofit sector.

Around Town

Look for the Green Bikes — Lime Bike Share Company Comes to Watertown

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A fleet of 200 bright green bicycles arrives in Watertown on Friday. These bicycles are part of the town’s first bikeshare program, run by Lime. Unlike the bikeshares in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville, Lime operates a dockless bike program. “Lime is thrilled to bring our dock-free smart bikes to Arlington and Watertown. Many of the communities north of Boston have now added our affordable, green transportation option for everyone to enjoy,” said Scott Mullen, Lime Director of Expansion, New England.