Around Town

Christmas Trees Can be Dropped Off at Recycling Center

By |

The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

Curbside collection will continue through Monday, January 22, 2024 but may be delayed due to weather conditions. We ask anyone who can drop off their tree, to do so. 

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is now offering Christmas tree drop off at the DPW during the month of January. There is a coned off area to the left of the DPW parking lot, as you drive in. Please remove all lights and decorations. Do NOT bag your tree. 

Drop off is always available at the Recycle Center, located at 76 Stanley Ave, as well. 

Around Town

Local Builder Helps Historical Society Repair One of Watertown’s Oldest Houses

By |

Photo by Charlie BreitroseThe Edmund Fowle House during a Treaty Day celebration. Submitted by Joyce Kelly & Marilynne Roach, Historical Society of Watertown

In November 2022 Patrick Mulroy, builder, remodeler, historic preservationist, and owner of ReModern Builders, contacted the Historical Society. Recently moved to Church Street in Watertown and wishing to become personally and professionally involved in the community, he offered us a donation of skilled labor from his carpenters. We met with Patrick at the Edmund Fowle House where we showed him a few projects that needed to be done but were on hold for lack of funds. He told us he was “excited to be able to not only donate to the upkeep of a historic resource, but participate in it as well.” (The Fowle House is on the National Register of Historic Places.) 

Patrick decided to take on the project of the side porch entrance door.

Around Town

KinderCare Opens New Learning Center in Watertown

By |

Inside a classroom at the KinderCare Learning Center at Arsenal Yards. (Courtesy of KinderCare)

The following announcement was provided by the KinderCare:

KinderCare Learning Centers is excited to announce the opening of a new child care center in Watertown. Arsenal Yards KinderCare is located at 501 Arsenal Street. The center will be led by Suzyann Miller, an educator with more than 30 years of experience in early childhood education. “I believe in empowering and being mindful in all situations, and I’m excited to be the new director for Arsenal Yard KinderCare,” said Miller.

Around Town

Residential Snow Shoveling Requirement Approved by Council

By |

Watertown residents will be required to clear snow and ice from sidewalks in front of their homes within 24 hours of the end of a storm after the City Council passed the amendment to the City’s Snow and Ice Removal Ordinance. Under the new rules, residents face a fine for repeatedly not clearing sidewalks, but those will not be levied during the current winter. The vote Tuesday night was 6-3, and came after more than two hours combined public input and discussion by Councilors. Residents against the proposal brought up concerns about how the new rules would be enforced, potential liability, and even whether people should be required to remove snow and ice from sidewalks, which are owned by the City. They added that most people do shovel their sidewalks, so they don’t see the need for new regulations.

Around Town

World in Watertown Remembers Board Member Susan Klaw

By |

Susan Klaw

By Chuck Dickinson

Former and current members of the World in Watertown Board of Directors were deeply saddened by the passing of their friend and colleague, Susan Klaw. Susan died peacefully at home at age 74 from ALS on December 23, 2023. There will be a memorial service on January 13th at 3 p.m. at the First Parish of Watertown Unitarian Universalist, 35 Church Street, Watertown. Susan was an active and engaged force with World in Watertown, and served on the Board of Directors for many years. She was always an active participant in meetings and many of World in Watertown events and programs (e.g., Unity Breakfast). She provided special leadership for World in Watertown’s sponsorship (with Friends of Project Literacy) of a naturalization ceremony and voter registration, a life-changing event for 200 immigrants from 50 different countries. She also played a key role in the transition of Board leadership from the “old guard” who had founded WiW to a new generation of community leaders in Watertown.

Around Town

LETTER: Thoughts on the Residential Snow Ordinance from a Former Councilor

By |

Greetings Councilors:

Many of you already know my thoughts on the proposed 2024 Residential Snow and Ice Removal Ordinance. In 2012, I voted a well thought out and vetted: “No.” I listened to the residents and the many scenarios of circumstances that were brought before the Committees. One of my comments was as follows:

“… something we need to work on as a community, but mandating it, I don’t think is appropriate …”

Around Town

LETTER: 2024 New Year’s Resolutions For the City of Watertown, Part 3: And on the Bright Side

By |

My 2023 Thank You’s to Our City Council. Thank you, Council President Mark Sideris for your availability to residents and for standing up for the integrity of Watertown Square. Thank you Councilor Gardner for your work on the ARPA funding process. Thank you Councilor Palomba for your advocacy regarding developer linkage fees for affordablehousing. Thank you Councilor Feltner for supporting the need for more resident involvement in the development planning process and raising the bar on planning for our City parks.

Around Town

Through Pandemics & Collapsed Ceilings, the Watertown Food Pantry Stays Open

By |

Food on the shelfs at the Watertown Food Pantry, which has seen an increase in the number of people using its services since the start of the Pandemic. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

With her pert Boston accent and indefatigable can-do attitude, Kathleen Cunningham welcomes visitors into the basement of the Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church. It’s a big open space, with low ceilings, pink walls, some generous storage space and an older industrial kitchen. It’s also very obviously crumbling. Construction tape blocks off part of the kitchen.