Around Town

Second Vigil for Black Lives Draws Crowd, Some Controversy; Council Pres. Makes Statement on Issue

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Protesters at the Vigil for Black Lives in Watertown Square on Tuesday hold signs and wave at passing cars. A few hundred people came out.

For the second week in a row, hundreds showed up in Watertown Square to remember George Floyd and protest against racial inequity. Tuesday’s event included a march to the Square, and also chalk drawings which became the focus of some disagreements.

COVID-19

Musicians Gather Virtually to Put on 2020 Watertown MusicFest

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A shot from the Watertown High School Orchestra’s video from the Virtual MusicFest 2020 website.

The organizers of the annual Watertown MusicFest were not going to let COVID-19 stand in the way of putting on their 2020 event. They put together a virtual musical jamboree featuring more than 100 performances by Watertown students and others from the community.

CARES Act

UPDATED: No Layoffs in Watertown Budget Despite Projected Revenue Loss of $4 Million

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Watertown’s Town Hall.

(This story was updated on June 15 at 9:06 am and corrected the number of ALS ambulances funded in the FY21 budget.)

No layoffs — that was the first highlight given by Town Manager Michael Driscoll when he presented the Fiscal Year 2021 budget on Tuesday night. This comes despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic — projected to cause a drop of more than $4 million in revenues for the Town government.

Around Town

Library Hosting Virtual Talk on Urban Wildlife, Teen Book Groups & Creative Writing for Kids

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The historic facade of the Watertown Free Public Library. The following information was provided by the Watertown Free Public Library:

This week, the Watertown Free Public Library is excited to welcome Peter del Tredici of the Arnold Arboretum for a Zoom talk about urban wildlife. The library is also hosting book groups for Teens, a creative writing program for Children and so much more, all online and accessible from home. 

A full list of virtual programs is included below. Want to stay up-to-date with everything that the Library has to offer during the COVID-19 pandemic? Sign up for our eNewsletter here: watertownlib.org/eNews

FOR CHILDREN

Creative Writing with The Mysteries of Harris BurdickJun 1 – 30 | The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg is a fascinating book containing fourteen mysterious images. Can you imagine a story surrounding the pictures?

Government

Watertown Courts, Other Rec Facilities Remain Closed Despite Start of Phase 2

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The basketball courts at Casey Park are among the facilities that remain closed in Watertown even with the beginning of Phase 2 of the Governor’s reopening plan.

Recreation Director Peter Centola had to turn away some disappointed people hoping to make use of Watertown’s basketball courts and other facilities that are allowed to open under Phase 2 of the Governor’s reopening plan.