Government

Watertown Looking at Closing “Little Greenough” on Weekends for Recreation

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A screenshot of a Google Map showing the section of Greenough Boulevard that Town officials are looking at closing on weekends. A Town Council Subcommittee supported the idea of doing a pilot program to close a portion of Greenough Boulevards to traffic on weekends during parts of the year, similar to Memorial Drive in Cambridge. The section of the roadway, sometimes called Little Greenough, runs between North Beacon and Arsenal streets, and provides a link between the two thoroughfares. On Dec. 10, the Committee on Economic Development and Planning voted to recommend that the full Council request that the state do a pilot study of closing the road on the weekends during the spring, summer and fall, and examine the impact on traffic.

Weather

Snow Storm Could Drop More than 6 Inches on Watertown

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The snowfall forecast for Dec. 16 and 17 from WBZ Channel 4. A Nor’easter will be hitting Eastern Massachusetts late Wednesday to late Thursday and is expected to impact the morning commute. The storm will likely hit the Boston area around midnight, according to WBZ Channel 4 weather. Watertown falls in the area where 6 to 12 inches of snow is forecast.

Around Town

Uplifting Title Chosen for Library’s 2021 One Book, One Watertown

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The Watertown Free Public Library. The following information was provided by the Watertown Library:

Each year the Watertown Free Public Library invites everyone to read the same book during the same period of time and then explore the themes and messages together. After an incredibly trying 2020, with relief just barely in sight, the librarians were in search of a title to lift up spirits and warm the heart. They landed on The Humans by Matt Haig. The Humans tells the story of a reluctant alien who arrives on Earth with the goal of erasing all traces of a monumental scientific discovery.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Driver Pulls Knife in Parking Lot, Argument Over Face Mask Gets Physical

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

Dec. 5, 4:04 p.m.: Police received a report of a man who attacked a worker at the Watertown Towing lot on North Beacon Street. The employee arrived at work and saw a blue Dodge parked in the lot which he did not recognize. A short time later he saw someone coming from nearby Arsenal Wine & Spirits and get into the vehicle.

Around Town

Free COVID-19 Testing for Watertown Residents in December

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The following announcement was provided by the Town of Watertown:

The Town of Watertown will be offering, by appointment only, free 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:

Tuesday, December 15 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Wednesday, December 16 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Tuesday, December 22 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Wednesday, December 23 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Tuesday, December 29 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Wednesday, December 30 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

In order to obtain an appointment a Watertown resident must pre-register by clicking here.          

This is not a drive up test. Watertown residents who have an appointment will enter into the Commander’s Mansion and with the assistance of Pro Ambulance employees will conduct a self-administering nasal swab (PCR test).  Results will be returned within 24 to 36 hours.

Schools

School Officials Announce Efforts to Stop Racism, Bullying in Schools

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School officials said they heard the parents and community members loud and clear at a recent forum held in response to the report by a Watertown Middle School student the she had been racially harassed at school and online. This week, School administration and the School Committee announced some steps they would be taking to stop this from happening again. On Monday, Superintendent Dede Galdston acknowledged that the Watertown Public Schools have much work to do. “I think we share the same goals which include making the Watertown Schools the safest, most welcoming and most inclusive learning environment for all our students and families,” Galdston said. “They and you deserve nothing less.”

Development

Marijuana Dispensary on Pleasant Street Approved by Planning Board

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A recreational marijuana dispensary received approval from the Planning Board to open at the mixed-use complex at 330-350 Pleasant St. The Town’s third marijuana dispensary, located in a complex on Pleasant Street that will also have apartments, got approval from the Planning Board Wednesday night. Bud’s Goods & Provisions will be going into part of the retail space at the Water Mills at Bridge Point mixed-use development at 330-350 Pleasant St., near the intersection with Rosedale Road. The dispensary will have adult-use sales, also known as recreational. In July, Bud’s entered into a Community Host Agreement with the Town, which includes paying 3 percent of its gross profits to the Town to offset the impact of the dispensary on Watertown, and a $10,000 charitable donation annually.

Around Town

State Announces Plans for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

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The following announcement was sent out by the Governor’s Office:

The Baker-Polito Administration announced allocation and distribution plans for the first round of COVID-19 vaccine shipments to Massachusetts set to begin around December 15. The state’s first shipment of 59,475 doses of the Pfizer vaccine was ordered from the federal government this past Friday and will be delivered directly to 21 hospitals across 8 counties, as well as to the Department of Public Health Immunization lab. Doses will then be redistributed for access to 74 hospitals across all 14 counties for front line medical workers. The next 40,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine will be allocated to the Federal Pharmacy Program to begin vaccinating staff and residents of skilled nursing facilities, rest homes and assisted living residences. Vaccine is being prioritized for these groups to maximize life preservation and to support the health care system.