Around Town

Watertown Yard Waste Remains Uncollected, Report of Efforts to Slow Trash Collection in Town

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While trash and recycling collections have resumed during the strike, Watertown residents have not had yard waste pickup in about a month. The City of Watertown has opened a drop off site at 148 Waltham St. for trash and recycling, but yard waste cannot be left there. Tyler Cote, the City’s Community Engagement Specialist, confirmed that yard waste collection was cancelled during the week of July 21-25. The City has contacted Republic about this part of the waste collection service.

Around Town

Watertown Recreation Launching User-Friendly Online Registration System

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A screenshot of what the new Watertown Recreation online registration system will look like. (Courtesy of Rec Technologies)

Watertown Recreation’s online registration system will be getting a major upgrade, allowing for quick, easy transactions for residents signing up for programs, summer camp, and facility rentals. On Aug. 1, the Recreation Department will debut its new online registration system. “We basically go on from a software that looks a little bit like dial up internet the old days to a really modern look,” said Assistant Recreation Director Jon “Kaz” Kazanjian.

Around Town

City Will Begin Designing Watertown Square Soon, Construction Many Months Away

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Erika Jerram, the City of Watertown’s Director of Community Design, speaks to a group at a Watertown Business Coalition event. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

After a flurry of activity during the planning stages for Watertown Square, there has been a lull in the process. City officials said the action will begin again in the near future but the shovels won’t be hitting the ground for up to two years. Watertown’s Director of Community Design Erika Jerram provided an update on the status of the Watertown Square project during the Watertown Business Coalition’s coffee connect at Watertown Savings on July 16. The City Council and Planning Board approved the Watertown Square Area Plan in July 2024.

Around Town

Reopening of Arsenal Park Celebrates a Bright Future for a Site Filled with History

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The new play structure at Arsenal Park features a slide that begins 20 feet above the ground. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

On a hot afternoon, the new playground at Arsenal Park bubbled with activity. Children lined up on the stairway up to the two-story high slide, and then cooled off in the new splash pad. These are just some of the features of the renovated park that was officially re-opened on July 15. The ribbon cutting held at the park behind Arsenal Yards marked the end of the second phase of the park renovation, and several years of planning and construction.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Driver Faces OUI Charge After Hit and Run, Shoplifter Busted

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. July 10: A Pleasant Street resident received emails from Best Buy and Target saying that he had signed up for credit cards from the stores, but he had not opened them. Someone purchased Apple Air iPods from a Target in Massachusetts on the card. The resident was able to cancel the cards and is not sure how someone got his information. July 11: A woman was shopping at Target around 8 p.m. on July 10 and placed her phone in the child seat of a shopping carriage when she went through self checkout.

Around Town

Negotiations Fail to Reach Agreement in Trash Strike

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Watertown DPWWatertown trash and recycling and compost bins. The two sides met Friday to discuss the trash strike impacting more than a dozen other communities, including Watertown, but left without coming to an agreement. The strike began July 1, and replacement crews began collecting trash and recycling in Watertown on July 7. The crews, however, were not able to complete the full day’s run, and this week Watertown hired an outside contractor to assist with pickups. This week, City Manager George Proakis sent a letter to both the Teamsters and Republic asking them to end the strike.

Government

Trash Strike: City Manager’s Letter to Republic & Teamsters, City Won’t Join Legal Action

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Overflowing trash and recycling bins on Main Street during the trash strike. (Photo by Dean Martino)

Watertown will not be joining the six communities seeking legal action against Republic Services for costs incurred from the trash strike. However, City Manger George Proakis sent a letter to Republic and Teamsters Local 25 urging them to get back to the bargaining table and reach a contract agreement. On Friday, the strike reached its 18th day. The two sides met on Tuesday without reaching a deal and the next date has not been announced.

Government

State Rep. Lawn Says “I am Deeply Sorry” After OUI Arrest

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State Rep. John Lawn

Watertown’s John Lawn, State Representative for the westside of Watertown, said “I am deeply sorry,” in a statement following his arrest on Wednesday for driving under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of property damage. Lawn pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in Boston Municipal Court Thursday, and was released on personal recognizance, according to a report by NBC 10 Boston, and will return for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 1. On Wednesday, Lawn sent a statement through his attorney saying, “I deeply regret and take full responsibility for my actions. What happened was completely unacceptable.