Affordable Housing

UPDATED: Community Preservation Committee Seeking Applications for Potential Projects

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The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) seeks applications for potential projects to be funded by Watertown’s Community Preservations Act funds, and informational meetings have been scheduled for potential applicants. 

The money raised from a 2 percent surcharge on Watertown property tax bills can be spent on projects in four areas: open space, outdoor recreation, community housing, and historical preservation. As of June, the CPA Fund had nearly $9 million. 

The CPC takes applications and recommends which projects should receive funding, but it does not initiate, implement or manage projects. Community Preservation funds can be used for the following types of projects:

buy, create, preserve open space and rehabilitate and/or restore open space that is  acquired or created using CPA funds;acquire, preserve, rehabilitate, or restore historic resources;acquire, create, preserve, and support community housing; andacquire, create, preserve, and rehabilitate and/or restore passive and active outdoor recreation facilities. Projects can be done on public or private property, said Watertown Community Preservation Coordinator Lanae Handy, but the applicants must have permission. 

“If they are a local group interested in doing a project on town property they need to get the consent and support of the Town,” Handy said. “They can’t just apply for funds if they don’t have the approval of the Town.”

Similarly, applicants may have to get permits and approvals for other types of projects before getting funding. 

Town Departments can also apply for projects using CPA funds, Handy said, but they cannot be projects that already have approved funding.

Entertainment

New Rep Theatre Suspending Operations Citing Pandemic, Uncertainty About Performance Space

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Watertown-based New Repertory Theatre announced it will be suspending operations beginning July 21. The company based at the Mosesian Center for the Arts had to cancel the end of its 2019-2020 season and its entire 2020-21 season. It has put on a pair of moving plays in outdoor locations around Watertown. 

“As with many cultural institutions, the COVID-19 pandemic led to fiscal challenges for the New Repertory Theatre,” said the statement from New Rep, which was published by the Newton Needham Regional Chamber. Along with the pandemic, New Rep faces uncertainty about its stage space. 

“Additionally, our performance venue, the Mosesian Center for the Arts, is undergoing renovations, which adds to the COVID-related uncertainty we are already experiencing regarding mounting in-person performances in the near future. With these challenges in mind, the Board of Directors of the New Repertory Theatre has made the decision to suspend operations until we determine next steps for the organization,” the announcement said. 

New Rep will be making more announcements in the near future, the announcement said. “We have informed the staff of this decision and the reasons for the suspension.

Election 2021

Deadline Approaching to File to Run in Watertown Election, Possible Opening on Town Council

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown residents cast their ballots at Watertown Town Hall in the 2020 Massachusetts Presidential Primary. The deadline for submitting papers to run in the Town Election is approaching and as of July 22 there are not enough At-Large Town Council candidates for the number of seats. 

While three of the four district councilor seats have contested races, only three of the four councilor at-large incumbents have taken out papers to get signatures to run for re-election. 

In District C and the Town Council President election, so far only the incumbents have taken out papers. 

The School Committee has had six people take out papers for the three spots, including two incumbents. Current member John Portz announced he will not be seeking another term. 

Five people have taken out papers to run for the three spots on the Board of Library Trustees, including two incumbents. Trustee Michael Hanlon is running for District A Town Councilor. The deadline for getting nomination papers into the Town Clerk’s office with signatures is Tuesday, July 27 at 5 p.m. The election will be held on Tuesday, Nov.

Government

See the Description of Watertown Included as Part of the Ad for Town Manager Search Firms

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The Town of Watertown is a diverse, growing community with a strong commitment to education, green energy goals with active and engaged residents, according to the description of the town created by the Council subcommittee overseeing the search for the next Town Manager. Tuesday night, the Ad Hoc Committee for the Town Manager Search created the community description to go into the request for proposals (RFP) going out to potential manager search consultant firms.

The meeting was the first step of many to come in the process of hiring the new Town Manager, said Town Council President Mark Sideris. On July 15, the Council decided to have an outside firm help with the search. Sideris said this type of search is a specialized one, and he did not believe that the Town’s Personnel Department could do it on its own. He added that he wants to spend the money required to get a quality Town Manager.

Government

New Plan for Arsenal on the Charles Approved by Planning Board, Millions in Mitigation Projects to be Done

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Alexandria Real Estate EquitiesA view of Building 2 with a pedestrian plaza in front. It is one of the new additions to the Arsenal on the Charles proposed by Alexandria Real Estate and approved by the Planning Board. The owners of the Arsenal on the Charles complex got approval for changes to the master plan, including three new buildings, and the owners will pay millions in mitigation funding. The plan had been criticized for the number of trees that would be lost in the projects, but the approved plan saves some of those originally slated to be removed. On July 14, the Planning Board gave approval for the amendment to the master plan proposed by Alexandria Real Estate Equities.

Baseball

15 Watertown High School Athletes Make Fall II & Spring Middlesex All-Stars

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More than a dozen Raiders were chosen among the best in the Middlesex League in 2021. The pandemic created some strange seasons for some sports. Football was moved to Fall II, in the early part of 2021, and the wrestling season was moved from the Winter Sports Season to the Spring. Fifteen Watertown High School athletes made the Middlesex All-Stars in eight sports. Fall II All-Stars

Football: Chris Lanni, David Manoukian, and Lukas Matton

Spring All-Stars

Wrestling: Leah Knipper-Davis, Bo Leitner, and Hrachya Tonyan

Boys Tennis: Copper Petrie

Girls Tennis: Jenna Petrie

Boys Lacrosse: Jack Bunnell

Girls Lacrosse: Madison Cummings, Maggie Driscoll, Emma Fallon, and Christina Zouein

Baseball: Nick Pye and Casey Williams

Softball: Elaine Andrade

Sports

Watertown Boxer Expects Tough Competition in 3rd Pro Fight, Also Expecting First Child

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Emily Harney PhotographyWatertown’s Rico DePaolis won his second professional fight in May, and is preparing for his next bout on July 23. On Friday, July 23, Watertown’s Rico DePaolis returns to the ring for his third professional fight, and this time the atmosphere will be a bit different. “To fight in front of a crowd at any level is great, but this is my first time as a pro,” DePaolis said. After making his professional debut in March — a first round technical knock out loss — DePaolis scored his first win as a pro in May with a first round TKO. Both events were limited to just the boxers and their trainers.

Homepage Featured

Police Log: WPD Seeking IDs of Couple Involved in Altercation, Resident Scammed by Man from Dating Site

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

None

Incidents

July 7, 7:22 p.m.: A small fire was reported by someone on the bicycle path behind Target. The fire was on private property just off the path where there were some patio chairs. Some cardboard and glue sticks were on fire, and appeared to have been lit by a cigarette lighter. Watertown Firefighters put out the fire.