Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/250/?fbclid=IwAR1wR7XDX4kAWceRgAR58782208Wrbk5xzMTVQ3WdQXYwcOSvVAKESaHMk0)
Watertown’s Health Department has received more than 100 complaints about rodents since the beginning of the trash strike. At their meeting the Board of Health also heard about the start of the City’s body work regulations, and approved a life science company’s permit.
Watertown Police commended a 20-year-old man for helping a driver who was experiencing a medical emergency, and preventing any additional injuries and damage.
Watertown High School students will use an app to disable cellphones during class beginning in the fall of 2025. (Courtesy by City of Watertown)
Watertown High School plans to disable students’ cellphones during class using software that the school will be piloting during the 2025-26 school year. At Monday’s meeting the School Committee heard from parents who called one of the books on the recommended summer reading list “anti-Semitic.” The Committee also got more information on the changes to the Sexual and Sex-based Discrimination policy.
Photo by Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall
City officials recently reinforced that short-term rentals such as Airbnb and VRBO are not allowed in Watertown.
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.
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.
My 2023 Thank You’s to Our City Council.
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. Seams are visible from when the ceiling fell in one morning in February in 2022. But the pantry is open every week without fail, as it has been for 34 years.
A rendering of the proposed life science project at former Cannistraro property on Pleasant Street, Rosedale Road, and Acton Street. (Courtesy of Broder)
The City Council will be considering a requirement for residents to shovel sidewalks on Tuesday night, and Wednesday the Planning Board will hear the proposal for a biotech campus on Pleasant Street.
The black box theater at Mosesian Center for the Arts was recently renamed in honor of Watertown Children’s Theater Founding Artistic Director Dinah Lane. (Photo from MCA)
Mosesian Arts’ Watertown Children’s Theater will produce two plays this winter in the newly named Dinah Lane Theater. New classes in performing and visual arts for all ages also begin this month at the arts center.
By Linda ScottWatertown Resident
These are my opinions, based upon hundreds of conversations, attending numerous City meetings, and making thousands of observations over the past few years. I hope that they can stimulate conversation and help busy Watertown folks focus on some of the current issues. Things to be on the lookout for in 2024, if these City resolutions are not taken to heart by our City Councilors:
Graphic from https://www.instagram.com/goldkingshockey/
The Boston Gold Kings made a successful debut, defeating the Holyoke Papermen 6-3 on home ice at the John A. Ryan Arena in Watertown.