Climate & Energy Plan

Council Approves Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gases & Prepare for Impact of Climate Change

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The Climate & Energy Plan approved by the City Council on Tuesday has multiple goals, including reducing the use of fossil fuels, increasing the number of electric vehicles, cutting the amount of waste created in Watertown, and preparing the City and residents for the impact of severe weather. The City has been working on the plan since March 2021, and formed a 35-member Stakeholder Advisory Group, working groups, conducted two surveys, and held meetings to discuss the five areas of the plan: Building & Energy, Transportation & Mobility, Natural Resources, Infrastructure & Waste Management, and Public Health & Community Preparedness. One of the major goals of the plan calls for making the City of Watertown carbon neutral by 2050, said Ed Lewis, Watertown’s Energy Manager. “Buildings are the biggest (contributor), the fat rabbit in this: 56 percent of gas comes from buildings,” Lewis said. “Transportation accounts for a little over 40 percent.” 

The plan calls for cutting all heating of homes and buildings by oil or natural gas to zero percent by 2050.

Around Town

State Officials Celebrate National Farmers Market Week in Watertown

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown celebrated National Farmers Market Week on Wednesday. Along with the normal throngs of people seeking fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, fish and more, a group of state officials attended the Watertown Farmers Market Wednesday to mark National Farmers Market Week. The weekly market, held every Wednesday at Saltonstall Park, not only provides access to locally grown and produced food, it serves as a place for the community to come together and to provide nutritious items to those who struggle to pay for food. Massachusetts has more than 200 farmers markets, said John Lebeaux, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, but most others are not held in such picturesque locations, including parking lots. “I love this site here.

City Clerk

Most Watertown Voting Locations Will be Usual Spots, Council to Examine Election Decision Process

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After initially proposing that several precincts would move to different polling locations for the September 2022 election, which would particularly impact residents in the eastern half of Watertown, the final plan only moves one precinct on a temporary basis. The Council not only voted to set the polling locations for the 2022 elections, but also adopted an optional state statute regarding the voter registration deadline, and the process for assigning police officers to voting locations. The City Council received an initial memo from City Clerk Janet Murphy on Aug. 3 that suggested moving precincts 1 and 3 from the Hellenic Center to the Hosmer School, as well as precincts 4 and 5 from the Phillips School to Hibernian Hall. Acting City Manager Tom Tracy said he received a new memo and forwarded it to the Council on the afternoon of the day of the Council meeting on Aug.

Around Town

Bookmobile Ready to Make Its Debut, Bring Watertown Library to the Public

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Watertown LibraryCommunity Outreach Librarian Marissa Monteiro hands out a book from Watertown Libary’s new bookmobile. A new, mobile branch of the library will officially hit the streets of Watertown on Aug. 13, but the bookmobile has already proven to be a hit during test runs. Community Outreach Librarian Marissa Monteiro has been working out the kinks, and making test runs in the brightly colored Mercedes Sprinter van — the Watertown Free Public Library’s new bookmobile. The official debut of the bookmobile, which has been named the “Speed Reader,” will be at the Watertown Arts Market on Saturday, Aug.

Arts

Watertown High Grad’s Play Going on Stage Near the Charles

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“Marion: the Heart of Paris,” written by Watertown High grad Lara Cordeiro, will be performed on Aug. 11 at the Herter Park Amphitheater. Watertown High School grad Lara Cordeiro will see a play she wrote during her junior year at WHS hit the stage this week. Marion: the Heart of Paris will be performed at the Herter Amphitheater (1175 Soldiers Field Road in Brighton) on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 8 p.m.

“Marion: the Heart of Paris, is a tragedy set in Revolutionary France,” Cordeiro said.

Homepage Featured

Police Log: Man Runs Over Woman’s Foot, Home Broken Into, Headstones Damaged

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. NOTE: This report includes two weeks of arrests and incidents. Arrests

July 18, 4:36 p.m.: An officer patrolling in Watertown Square spotted a vehicle running a solid red light on Mt. Auburn Street and then turned onto Charles River Road. The officer ran the vehicle’s plates and found the owner’s license was revoked for not having insurance, and also learned the driver did not have a license and was wanted on a warrant.

Dunkin Donuts

Watertown Police Trying to Identify Man Who Pulled a Knife at Dunkin’ Donuts

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Watertown Police DepartmentAn image of the man who pulled a knife on a customer at Dunkin’ Donuts in Watertown. Police are trying to identify the man. Watertown Police seek the identity of a man who pulled a knife on a customer at a Dunkin Donuts. Officers were dispatched to the Dukin’ Donuts at 448 Main St. at 7:45 p.m. on July 20 after receiving the report of the incident.

Armed Robbery

Man Wanted for Armed Robbery in Watertown Caught in New Hampshire

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Jose Robles, a homeless man who last lived in Taunton, faces charges of armed robbery of Hardy’s Spa in Watertown. He was arrested in New Hampshire after holding up a convenience store. A man who held up a store in Watertown with a weapon was arrested by authorities in New Hampshire after a chase and a hostage situation. On July 29 at 9:23 p.m., a clerk at Hardy’s Spa on Belmont Street called police after a man robbed the store with what appeared to be a handgun, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor

“The suspect threw a brown paper bag at him demanding the clerk to put the money in the cash register into it,” O’Connor said. “At this time the suspect showed the victim a black handgun.