Around Town

Health Director: Watertown Experienced Thanksgiving COVID-19 Bump

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A sharp increase in COVID-19 cases seen in recent weeks in Watertown was due in part to people getting together for Thanksgiving, said Watertown Health Director Larry Ramdin. More than 100 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Watertown by the state Department of Public Health in the most recent weekly report, and the percentage of positive tests also grew. At the Dec. 16 Watertown Board of Health meeting, Ramdin said that most of the new infections were within family units, and some were sports related. “Many of it we are ascribing to people returning home from regions where there were a high number of cases.

Arts

New Rep Director Leaving to Head Mass. Cultural Council

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Michael Bobbitt will take over as New Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director in August 2019. Michael Bobbitt, the artistic director of New Repertory Theatre, will be leaving the company to become the new executive director of the Mass. Cultural Council. Bobbitt took over New Rep in July of 2019, and left his mark in his time in Watertown — increasing audiences, revenues and leading company’s anti-racism efforts in the wake of the George Floyd’s killing. Prior to that, he had already started efforts to stress the importance of diversity, inclusion and equity at New Rep.

Even during COVID-19, New Rep brought theater to town with its Historical Moving Plays, which were performed on the streets of Watertown.

Around Town

More Free COVID-19 Testing Appoints Offered by Town of Watertown

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Town officials announced additional slots and days for free COVID-19 testing for Watertown residents. The Town of Watertown will be offering additional slots, by appointment only, of COVID-19 testing for Watertown residents. Testing is free, does not require a medical referral, and you do not need to have COVID-19 symptoms to get tested. Pre-registration is required to receive a test (pre-registration details below). Testing will be held inside the Commander’s Mansion 440 Talcott Avenue on the following dates and times:

Monday December 21 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM (New Additional Day)Tuesday December 22 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM (Additional Slots have been added)Wednesday December 23 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Additional Slots have been added)Monday December 28 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM (New Additional Day)Tuesday December 29 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM (Additional Slots have been added)Wednesday December 30 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Additional Slots have been added)

In order to obtain an appointment a Watertown resident must pre-register by clicking on the following link: https://proemscovidtesting.as.me/watertown

This is not a drive up test.

Government

Charter Committee Debates Financial Efficiency vs. Response to Resident’s Concerns

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Watertown’s Town Hall. As the Watertown Charter Review Committee tried to narrow in on what they want to improve by changing the Town’s Charter, members debated what was the most important task for the municipal government, and whether one form of government — strong town manager or mayor — would be better suited to accomplish those things. Resident member Marcia Ciro kicked off the conversation at Tuesday’s meeting with an example of the frustration she has had trying to get the Town government to respond to her requests for information and assistance. When the group first started meeting in October she requested an organizational chart of Watertown’s government and she finally got one this week, but it was one that was a few years old. “When I look at our government now, it is not very accountable, not very transparent, very opaque, very hard to know what’s going on,” Ciro said.

Business

Marijuana Dispensary Starting Recreational Sales, Looking to Move

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Natural Selections, Watertown’s first medical marijuana dispensary, will be opening soon. Watertown’s first marijuana dispensary, which has been selling only to those with medical cannabis cards, will start selling their products for recreational use this week. The company also seeks to move to another location in Town. Natural Selections, located at 23 Elm St. on the Eastside of Watertown, announced this week that they would begin adult-use sales on Dec.

Weather

Oh, That Snow! Share Your Photos of Today’s Big Storm

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The Dec. 16-17 Nor’easter dropped about 11 inches of snow on Watertown. The Nor’easter gave Watertown quite a wallop on Thursday, dropping more than 10 inches on town in several hours. I measured 11 inches in the backyard of Watertown News headquarters (see photo above). Do you photos of the winter wonderland in Watertown?

Around Town

Watertown Native Heading Company Delivering COVID-19 Vaccine

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Watertown native Donald Colleran, President and CEO of FedEx, leads the company delivering the COVID-19 vaccine. Shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine began this week, and the company in charge of the deliveries is lead by a Watertown native. A FedEx plane carried the first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine from Memphis to Logan Airport on Monday, and was ultimately delivered to Boston Medical Center. Don Colleran, the President and CEO of FedEx, grew up in Watertown. He now is one of the people in charge of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan.

Snow Day

Watertown Declares Snow Emergency, Schools Closed and Other Storm Impacts

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Snow covered trees along the Charles River in Watertown Square. The Town of Watertown has declared a snow emergency, which prohibits parking on public streets. The Town of Watertown announced other delays due to the impending snow storm that will hit the Watertown area from late Wednesday to late Thursday. The Nor’easter could drop a foot of snow or more the Boston area. The WBZ Channel 4 forecast puts Watertown square in the 10-16 inch band.