Government

UPDATED: This Week – Main Street Project WILL NOT be at ZBA, Council Making Multiple Votes, Snow Shoveling Ordinance & More

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The latest rendering of the proposed project at 104 Main St. It now has five stories, after previously having half a dozen stories. (Courtesy of O’Connor Management)

(UPDATE: The project at 104 Main St. will not be heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals Wednesday night). The final week of September is a busy one for local government in Watertown, with the project at 104 Main St.

Around Town

Watertown Receives Federal Grant to Plant Trees Around Town

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The City of Watertown has been awarded a 2023 USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry – Inflation Reduction Act Grant for $100,000! The “Tree Planting in the City of Watertown, Massachusetts” grant is to help Watertown assist with new tree planting and focus planting efforts within the communities of Watertown, including Tree Planting & Maintenance, Restoration & Resilience, and Extreme Heat

The city is one of nine municipalities in Massachusetts that received a grant. The other communities in Massachusetts were Boston, Fall River, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lynn, Quincy, Southbridge, and Springfield. See all the cities around the nations to get the grant. Special thanks to Tree Warden Mike Micieli for preparing the successful grant application!

Around Town

Library’s Collective Memory Project Preserves Watertown’s Past and Present

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Courtesy of the Watertown Library

The following piece was provided by the Watertown Free Public Library:

In the fall of 2021, Watertown Free Public Library staff began asking community members to go through their albums, scroll through their phones, and share three personal photographs that represent “you, your family, or your connection to Watertown.” Each photograph was added to the Library’s online local history collection, preserved as a record of the community’s past and present. As of this month, the Watertown Collective Memory Project digital collection is now live on the Library’s website. The collection of 300+ photos and interviews represents two years of community submissions which document the people, events, and culture of Watertown in the last 80 years. “It’s my job to collect, preserve, and provide access to materials reflecting the history of Watertown.” says Watertown’s local history librarian, Caroline Littlewood. “But I can’t do it alone.

Around Town

Watertown VFW Named Post of the Year in Massachusetts

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A trolley from the Veterans Administration carries veterans in Watertown’s 2023 Memorial Day Parade. They trolley was purchased for the VA Hospital in Bedford by Watertown’s VFW Post 1105. (Photo Courtesy of Natalie Nigito Photography)

For the generosity of time and money by the members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1105, the Watertown veteran’s organization received the VFW Post of the Year award. VFW 1105 was chosen for the award from the 150 posts across the Bay State for recognition, said Michael Raymond, the immediate past Commander of the State VFW. He also serves as the Veterans Services Officer in Mansfield.

Around Town

Artist Speaks About Inspiration for New Mural in Watertown Square During Celebration

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Photo by Charlie BreitroseArtists Amir Tabatabaei (right) and Niloufar Keyhani spoke about the mural they created in Watertown Square during a celebration of the artwork. Tuesday night, nearly 100 people came out to celebrate a project by a pair of artists that was inspired by their new home: Watertown. Amir Tabatabaei and Niloufar Keyhani emigrated to Watertown from Iran seven years ago. Tabatabaei had created large murals in Iran, and decided he wanted to contribute one in his new hometown. About a year and a half ago, he reached out to Liz Helfer, Watertown’s Public Arts & Culture Planner, who helped him get in touch with the owners of the CVS building in Watertown Square, where the wall that now bears the mural is located.

Schools

State Recognizes Hosmer Elementary for Improvements on MCAS

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(Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)

The following information was provided by the Watertown Public Schools:

The Hosmer Elementary School has been named a School of Recognition by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education following the release of 2023 accountability data. Hosmer is just one of 65 schools in the state to earn this honor. The Hosmer School outperformed 2023 MCAS targets in both Math and English Language Arts while also improving on scores from 2022. Hosmer recorded a 93% score in DESE’s Progress Towards Targets metric. The state considers 75% as the threshold for meeting or exceeding targets.

Government

City Bulking Up Cyber Security After Council Approves Funding

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(Courtesy of City of Watertown)

The internet can be a treacherous place where identities can be stolen, scams are perpetrated, and websites get hacked. Watertown will take steps to keep the City’s websites secure, and up and running by increasing cybersecurity. On Sept. 12, the City Council approved funding to increase protection on municipal websites and networks. City Manager George Proakis told the City Council that he supports the efforts of Watertown’s Chief Information Officer Chris McClure.

Around Town

Man Behind the Water Shuttle to Boston Leads Tour Along River

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Drew Rollert, left, the Watertown man who wants to start a boat service to Boston from Watertown Square, guided a Walk N Talk along the River on Sept. 14. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

“The best way to get to Boston is by boat!” Drew Rollert told a group of people who joined the Live Well Watertown/Watertown Business Coalition Walk N Talk along the Charles River on Sept. 14.