Around Town

Watertown Citizens Group Discussed the Black Lives Matter Movement

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On Wednesday, Sept. 21, a group of 25 concerned residents of Watertown and Waltham attended a public meeting hosted by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment at the Watertown Free Public Library, for a discussion of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement (more recently renamed Movement for Black Lives), the group announced. The killing of black men and women by police officers, the killing of police officers, and the trials and court decisions surrounding the actions of the police are much on people’s minds. Attendees were invited to reflect on the meaning of this movement for them, and whether or not the movement has changed their view of the police or the justice system. People described being disturbed by the shootings as well as the lack of accountability of the police departments in several cities.

Around Town

Watertown New Poll Finds Residents Most Worried About Development, Traffic

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The local issues that concern Watertown residents most are development and traffic, a poll by Watertown News found. 

During the Faire on the Square, people who stopped by the Watertown News table had the chance to participate in the News’ Poll and vote for issues of concern. People checked one or more of the five issues:

Schools
Development
Traffic/transportation
Heroin/opioids
Property Taxes
Or, add their own write in issue

After tallying up the 49 ballots, the top issue was development, with 30 votes. This has been a big issue for several years, as big projects went up first on Pleasant Street and now on Arenal Street, with more coming (athenahealth’s Arsenal on the Charles and the Arsenal Mall). “Too much building on every inch of land,” a person wrote. Another said a concern is the “impact and damage to trees and green space” due to development.

Around Town

Find Out About the Arsenal Street Corridor Study at a Meeting Hosted by MassDOT

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Please join the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for a public information meeting on the Arsenal Street Corridor Study, state officials announced. The meeting will be held Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, from 6-8 p.m. at the Watertown Middle School, Auditorium & Cafeteria, 68 Waverley Ave., Watertown. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is studying the Arsenal Street Corridor in Watertown. This study will develop and analyze alternatives that are intended to improve transportation conditions on Arsenal Street between Galen Street and Birmingham Parkway.

Around Town

Celebrate the New Charles River Path, Park & Join a Guided Walk or Bike Ride

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Come out to see the improved Charles River Path, the new park along the river, and join in a guided walk or bike ride around the area or just enjoy the park and play some games. 

The event will be on Sunday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m. t0 1 p.m., and is part of Watertown Moves. The event is sponsored by Live Well Watertown and the Watertown Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, and co-sponsored by Livable Watertown. The activities will be held a the newly refurbished Watertown Riverfront Park, featuring the Braille Trail, on Charles River Road at Irving Street (see the map below). Knucklebones will be at the park to facilitate games and group activities.

Around Town

State Officials Raise Risk of West Nile Virus to High – See How to Prepare

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has notified the Watertown Health Department that due to the presence of human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the area, the risk level for West Nile Virus has been elevated to High. Mosquitoes in the area have tested positive for West Nile Virus, and personal protection against mosquito exposure has been advised for most of the summer. What can you do to protect yourself? Outdoor Recreation and Sporting Activity /Outdoor Activity! Be aware of increased mosquito activity between dusk and dawn.

Around Town

See Images From Watertown’s Annual Faire on the Square

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Saturday’s mostly sunny weather provided a pleasant day to come enjoy the annual Faire on the Square, where people enjoyed games, music, dancing, crafts and lots of food. 

In addition, dozens of community groups had information for fairgoers at tables spread around Saltonstall Park. The library gave people a look at what goes on at HATCH with a mini-makerspace set up for people to try out. While there were no political candidates making their way around the Faire, many people stopped to take photos with the life-sized cardboard cutout of Hillary Clinton at the Watertown Democrat’s booth. The pro- and anti-Community Preservation Act (CPA) groups were also out in force. A new addition for the kids was a rock-climbing wall set up in the library parking lot.