Around Town

Trustees Narrowing List of Candidates for Next Library Director, Planning Interviews

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Watertown LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. When thinking about what would make a great library director for Watertown, being involved in the community is one of the most valuable aspects, says Chair of the Board of Library Trustees, Leanne Hammonds. “We’re looking for someone that is comfortable being sort of the face of the Library in the community trying to get out to different community members that maybe don’t use the library as much … we’d like the library director to be known in the community,” said Hammonds. The Board of Trustees has been working to find a new library director since the spring when they found out their current director, Caitlin Browne, was resigning. The process to hire a new director consists of two members of the Board of Trustees to review resumes, cover letters and interview the candidates.

Police/Fire

Watertown’s New Fire Chief Appointed by City Manager

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Photo by Watertown Fire DepartmentRyan Nicholson has been named Watertown’s new Fire Chief. Here he is shown when he was appointed Assistant Fire Chief. The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

City Manager George J. Proakis is pleased to announce the appointment Ryan Nicholson as the new Fire Chief for the City of Watertown. Chief Nicholson brings 17 years of experience to the Watertown Fire Department. As Chief, he will oversee approximately 90 sworn and civilian staff, providing fire and emergency response services spanning four groups with an annual operating budget of approximately $13 million.

Around Town

Mt. Auburn Street Renovation Includes Reduced Travel Lanes, Buffered Bike Lanes & Pedestrian Gathering Areas

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A rendering of the new landscaped area in Coolidge Square at Bigelow Avenue as part of the Mt. Auburn Street Project. (Courtesy of Tighe & Bond)

When work finishes on one of Watertown’s major arteries, the street will have fewer lanes in some places, protected bike lanes, and landscaped areas for people to gather. Mt. Auburn Street will receive a major facelift, and be redesigned in some places, during the project that will impact almost the entire length of the artery that runs from Watertown Square to the Cambridge line.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Pair Caught Shoplifting, Fire at Newlywed Foods

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrest

July 8, 3:18 p.m.: Security at Perkins School for the Blind spotted an unknown person walking around on the school property. They attempted to speak to the man but he left the property. Police located the man on North Beacon Street, and he said he was walking on the property because it was shady and quiet. Officers learned that he was wanted on a warrant.

Business

New Italian Restaurant Opens in Center of Watertown

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Bar ‘Cino has opened in Watertown Square. (Photo courtesy of Bar ‘Cino)

The following piece was provided by the Newport Restaurant Group:

Newport Restaurant Group, the Rhode-Island based and 100 percent employee-owned hospitality group that operates a collection of restaurants and properties across New England, today opens Bar ‘Cino in Watertown. Derived from vicino, the Italian word for “neighbor”, the new Bar ‘Cino is nestled in the heart of Watertown Square and is the third location of the Italian-inspired dining concept which first opened in Newport, Rhode Island in 2019 followed by Brookline 2020. “We are thrilled that our latest Bar ‘Cino opening will be in the vibrant and historic city of Watertown,” said Paul O’Reilly, CEO of Newport Restaurant Group. “Over the past several years, we’ve enjoyed bringing our passion for delicious Italian food and drink to our guests in Newport and Brookline and are excited to foster that same spirit right on Watertown’s Main Street.

Around Town

Watertown Housing Authority Director Elected President of State-Wide Group

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Watertown Housing Authority Executive Director Michael Lara. Michael Lara, the executive director of the Watertown Housing Authority, has been voted as the president of a statewide affordable housing organization. In this role, he will advocate for preserving, protecting, and expanding public and affordable housing in Massachusetts. Lara has been leading the Watertown Housing Authority since July 2019, after former Executive Director Brian Costello retired. Lara has served on the board of MassNAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials) since November 2020, and in June, he was elected as the organization’s 31st President.

Government

Council Rejects 2 Resident Petitions, Ideas Remain Alive in Zoning Discussions

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Watertown City Hall

The City Council did not pass two citizen petitions seeking to change Watertown’s zoning rules, but Councilors said they heard the frustration expressed by the supporters and signers and said they support many of the ideas contained in the petitions. The first petition called for reducing the floor area ratio (FAR) allowed for new buildings in the Watertown Square area, while the second called for more protections for residential neighborhoods located next to areas where large commercial or residential projects could be built.

While the Council rejected the petitions — the first not going to a vote after receiving no second, and the second unanimously voted against — City Council President Mark Sideris said he has heard the signers of the petitions concerns. “I want to take a moment to thank the 600 people who signed the petitions because I think there is some frustration — and we noticed that this evening — with the process. I think we can always do a better job with process, and I think the Manager’s FY24 budget had proposed additional ways that we can communicate with the citizens and we approved that, ” Sideris said. “There is clearly a sense of frustration and I am not sure that any actions that we are going to take are going to satisfy those frustrations until, as somebody pointed out, that we come together and talk about things comprehensively.” 

Petition 1: Watertown Square Building Size

The Council heard from people supporting and opposing the petitions.

Police/Fire

Two Cars Stolen, Several Broken Into One Night in Watertown

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Police seek suspects connected to a string of car break-ins in a Watertown neighborhood that resulted in two vehicles being stolen. Overnight from July 7 to July 8, several residents of Standish Road, Lovell Road, Poplar Street Walcott Road and Merrill Road reported that their vehicles had been broken into, and two said their vehicles were missing. Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor said that a Nissan SUV was taken from Lovell Road, and later turned up on Merrill Road. And, a resident of Merrill Road reported that his Audi Q7 had been taken out of his driveway. The first report of a break-in came on July 8 at 2:37 a.m. Police responded to a Standish Road home, where a homeowner got an alert from her doorbell cam that there had been some movement in front of her home at 1:30 a.m. The video shows a suspect fleeing, and the resident discovered that her car’s center console and glove box had been rummaged through, but nothing was missing.