Around Town

Trash Collection: Christmas Trees, Extra Trash Bags & 2023 Schedule

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Watertown residents will be allowed to put out more trash bags than fit in their toters for one week only, and in January they can put out Christmas trees. The Department of Public Works sent out the following announcements, and also noted that trash and recycling collection will be delayed by a day the first week of January. Extra Trash

We understand that households often generate some extra trash during the holiday season. For this reason, we are allowing OVERFLOW trash bag pickup during the holiday week of Tuesday, January 3 through Saturday, January 7, 2023. Residents may put up to THREE extra bags of household trash out with their trash barrels for collection.

Around Town

Efforts to Start Local Food Co-op Reaches Key Milestone

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The Charles River Food Co-op surpassed the 500 member mark recently, and continues to work toward opening somewhere in or around Watertown. Progress has been encouraging for Nick Quaranto, president of the Co-op’s board of directors. “I haven’t seen other co-ops get to 500 as fast as we have, so I think we are really onto something,” Quaranto said. “People really understand what we are tying to do, which is great. but we are going to need more.”

Around Town

Watertown Doctor & Singers Carol for Patients at Local Hospital on Christmas

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The Cardiotonics performed for patients at Brigham & Women’s Hospital on Christmas. Among those sharing the cheer was Watertown’s Dr. Thomas Michel, who played his accordion. Patients at Brigham and Women’s Hospital received some Christmas cheer this year when a group of carolers paid them a visit, including a doctor from Watertown. Thomas Michel is a familiar face, and voice, to visitors of the Watertown Free Public Library in warmer months. He often gathers fellow musicians on his porch (which overlooks the parking lot) on weekends for a good song.

Schools

Former Basketball Star Tells WHS Students How Drugs Ruined His Career & His Work to Prevent Substance Abuse

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Charlie BreitroseFormer basketball star Chris Herren spoke to Watertown High School students about the pitfalls of drinking and drug use. The entire student body recently squeezed into the Watertown High School gymnasium to hear the story of a basketball superstar from Massachusetts whose career was derailed by his need to drug use problems.

Chris Herren starred at Durfee High School in Fall River before heading to Boston College and Fresno State. He was drafted by the Denver Nuggets, and then was traded to his hometown team: the Boston Celtics. But while it appeared his career was on the rise, his personal life was crashing. Now Herren spends 220 days a year visiting schools, sports teams, and other groups to tell his story, and the pitfalls of drugs and alcohol.

Sports

Nearly 2 Dozen Watertown Athletes Named League All-Stars

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Natalie Nigito PhotographySenior running back Billy McHugh was one of the Watertown High School athletes named Middlesex All-Stars. The Watertown Public Schools announced that 23 Watertown Raiders athletes have been recognized by the Middlesex League as All-Stars for the Fall 2022 sports season. See the announcement below:

The state champion Raiders field hockey team saw five players pick up honors. Senior co-captains Lizzie Loftus and Maggie Driscoll were named to the All-Conference team and were crowned Co-MVPs of the Freedom Division. Junior Molly Driscoll also earned All-Conference honors.

Government

Arsenal Street Renovation Will Go Through Mid-2024, Bids Requested

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A section of Arsenal Street on the east end of the major roadway in Watertown has been redesigned and will be repaved. The project is expected to run though mid-2024. The call for bids put out by the City of Watertown on Dec. 22 is for a project including the reconstruction includes 3,422 feet of roadway from Arsenal Way to Greenough Boulevard, and will install traffic signals at four locations. The full depth of the roadway will be replaced, and granite curbing and cement sidewalks will be installed.