Around Town

Martial Arts Studio Brings Following to Watertown, Led by Longtime Instructor

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A class at Wu Dao Kung Fu & Tai Chi in Watertown. (Courtesy of Wu Dao)

Inside an unassuming building, surrounded by office buildings, labs, and an auto dealership sits a spacious studio where students train in kung fu and tai chi from an instructor who is versed in martial arts and more. Wu Dao Kung Fu & Tai Chi moved to a studio on Walnut Street after years operating near Fresh Pond in Cambridge. Owner and head instructor Lindsay Lambert developed a loyal group of students, many of whom followed Wu Dao after the move to Watertown. The numbers dropped during the Pandemic and after the move, particularly the kids program.

Schools

Stormwater Drainage at 2 Schools Need to be Repaired

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A pond has formed in a rain garden that is not draining at Hosmer School, near the corner of Mt. Auburn and Boylston streets. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Rain gardens at two Watertown schools that should be trickling water into the ground after storms have not been draining properly and have become standing ponds. The stormwater systems will have to be reinstalled so they work properly. The rain gardens were installed at Hosmer and Cunniff elementary schools during the construction of the new school buildings.

Government

2023 Watertown Election Features Races for Council President & School Committee

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The candidates running for City office in 2023 have been set, and Watertown voters will have to choose from the current and a former City Council President, and will elect at least one new School Committee member. The deadline to file to run in the Nov. 7 Watertown City Election was Monday at 5 p.m.

Council President

Mark Sideris, the Council President since 2010, will face the man he defeated to become President in 2009. Clyde Younger filed to run on Monday. He served as Council President from 1997-2004, and 2006-2009, and also has been elected to the Council, School Committee, and Town Meeting, before Watertown went to the Council-Manager style of government.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Wanted on Drug Warrants Nabbed, Several Homes Egged

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Deparment. Arrests

July 18, 11:48 a.m.: An officer patrolling in Watertown Square spotted a vehicle running a red light going from North Beacon Street onto Galen Street. The driver was pulled over and police discovered he was wanted on drug charges. William Reynolds, 43, of Boston, was arrested on the warrant from Dorchester District Court for possession with intent to distribute a Class D drug, and possession to distribute a Class B drug. He was also cited for a red light violation. 

Incidents

July 17, 11:10 a.m.: A set of golf clubs was stolen out of a vehicle parked at an apartment building on Pleasant Street.

Government

Trustees Impressed by New Watertown Library Director’s Experience and Vision

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Kim Hewitt was chosen to be the next director of the Watertown Free Public Library. (Courtesy photo)

The new director of the Watertown Library impressed the Board of Trustees with her knowledge of libraries, her experience dealing with difficult situations, and her vision for the library. Thursday night, the Board of Library Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Kim Hewitt as the next Director of the Watertown Free Public Library. The vote came two days after the board interviewed Hewitt, who is currently the director of the Needham Free Public Library, and the other finalist, Dan  Brower, Library Director of the Cass County Public Library in Missouri. All the trustees said the two candidates were very well qualified, but Hewitt stood out with her experience dealing with a range of challenges that face public libraries these days.

Around Town

Mosquito in Watertown Tests Positive for West Nile Virus

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The City of Watertown provided the following information:

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Watertown, Massachusetts. WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection. By taking a few, common sense precautions, people can help to protect themselves and their loved ones:

Avoid Mosquito Bites

Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors.

Around Town

Watertown Rotary Club’s Traffic Circle Cleanup One of Many Events This Year

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Members of the Rotary Club of Watertown weeded and cleaned up the island in the rotary at Orchard and Common streets. (Photo by Brianna Williams)

The island in the middle of the rotary connecting Common and Orchard street is filled with all kinds of greenery for the public to admire. On July 20, the Rotary Club of Watertown spent their day gardening the rotary so the city can add some colorful plants to it in the near future. The weeding and cleaning of the island through the City of Watertown’s Adopt-an-Island program is one the many events Watertown’s Rotary Club holds each year. The Rotary Club adopted the island to help keep up with the appearance and cleanliness of the area that hundreds of motorists pass by each day.

Government

City Manager Hears from Residents at Forum on Hiring Watertown’s Next Police Chief

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Residents had a long list of requests for the qualities and qualifications they would like Watertown’s next Police Chief to have, and new initiatives they would like the new head of the WPD to take on. Monday night, City Manager George Proakis held a community forum to discuss the hiring of the new Watertown Police Chief. He was joined by two members of the consultancy firm who will run the process of evaluating the candidates. Attendees brought up a variety of areas they would like to see the next chief take on, including changes in the department. Several wanted to see the Watertown Police be more transparent, and provide more data to the public, including arrests, traffic violations, and other incidents broken down by race, ethnicity and gender.