Government

Noise Ordinance Voted Down by Council, Request Made for New Effort

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Watertown Town Hall

The Town Council voted down the proposed Noise Ordinance with those opposed saying they thought the proposal was too complicated and difficult to enforce, but the issue will likely be taken up by the Council again. The Council held a special meeting Tuesday night to discuss the proposal and to hear from residents. Some residents gave examples of noises that they said impact their quality of life, including noise from amplified music at parks, loud activities at churches not having to do with religious services, and leaf blowers and other landscaping equipment. Others talked about activities on construction sites starting before 7 a.m. when it is allowed. People who opposed the ordinance worried about their ability to do yard work if they cannot finish by 5 p.m., the end of the allowable period.

Business

Zoning Board Approves Marijuana Dispensary’s New Home; Questions Parking at Proposed Biotech Building

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An illustration of the renovation of the former Monro Muffler at 390 Arsenal St. into the new home of Ethos Cannabis. The Zoning Board of Appeals approved the new location for Watertown’s first marijuana dispensary, and also that meeting a decision on a proposed project on Elm Street was not settled because of questions about whether it has enough parking for the biotech labs it would house. Natural Selections, which operates Ethos Cannabis, needs to find a new home because the current site — 23 Elm St. — has been sold and would be replaced by the biotech building that also came in front of the Zoning Board on March 26.

Entertainment

Easter HymnSing to be Hosted by Revels Singing Group Via Zoom

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The Watertown-based Revels singing group will host an Easter HymnSing live on Zoom on April 4 at 5 p.m.

Revels provided the following information:

Free to the public! Celebrate Easter with Revels and join us for a short HymnSing at 5:00 PM ET on Easter Sunday! Connect with friends and family from near and far by singing together safely over Zoom. We will sing a handful of traditional Easter hymns and David will also allow time for families to arrange themselves on the Zoom screen so you can sing together with your loved ones. This event is FREE to the public.

Around Town

Slight Increase in Watertown COVID Cases, Free Testing, Vaccine Info

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The number of COVID-19 cases in Watertown increased for the first time since January. The Town’s cases over the previous 14 days was 73 according to the Mass. Department of Public Health report of March 25, which is 14 higher than the previous week. The last time Watertown had more cases than the previous week was in the Jan. 21 report, when there were 295 cases (the highest number of cases in one week for Watertown).

Charter Review

Watertown Charter Review Update: Important Upcoming Meeting, Info on Process

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Watertown’s Town Hall. The following information was provided by Watertown Forward:

Important Upcoming Events and Opportunities to Weigh In

The next Charter Review Committee meeting on April 6 is particularly important. This will be a special Public Forum at which CRC members will hear the arguments and opinions of Watertown residents on what overall government structure they want — a Council/Manager (present form) or a Mayor/Council form of government. The CRC is expected to vote on the question — after any members of the public who want to offer their views have a few minutes to speak. Watertown Forward is hosting a virtual meeting in advance of the CRC meeting, where people can learn about the two options.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Arrested After Crashing Moped, Electric Scooters Stolen

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

March 21, 6:51 p.m.: Police got a call reporting a blue moped being ridden erratically on Main Street near Church Street. When officers arrived they found the moped on the sidewalk in front of Santander Bank, and the rider was in back of the bank. Police found gouges in the sidewalk and minor damage to the moped. They determined the driver hit the fire hydrant and the rider fell off the moped.

Around Town

Police, Fire & DPW Put on Parade for Young Watertown Cancer Survivor

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Young cancer survivor Noah McManus thanks the Watertown Police, Fire Department and Department of Public Works for putting on a parade outside his home on Friday. A 3-year-old Watertown boy had some special visitors Friday to help him celebrate the news that he has a clean bill of health after more than a year of cancer treatments. Noah McManus waved to the police cruisers, fire trucks and Public Works vehicles that drove by his home Friday afternoon. He watched dozen of vehicles roll past with his parents and older brother Lucas and baby sister Lilah. “This is more than we expected,” said Noah’s mother, Jessica.

Around Town

Watertown Resident Named Vice Chair of EPA Board, Fellow of Scientific Association

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Dr. Barbara Beck. Watertown resident Barbara Beck, a longtime member of the Board of Health, received two recent honors involving her work in toxicology. Recently she was elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and was also appointed to serve as vice chair of the Science Advisory Board of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Becoming an AAAS fellow was a recognition by Beck’s peers. “It is really an honor. It doesn’t involve any activities,” Beck said.