Around Town

Hundreds Get in the Holiday Spirit at Watertown’s Tree Lighting

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Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown Tree Lighting and other activities drew a crowd at the Commander’s Mansion. Hundreds of children and their parents flocked to the Commander’s Mansion Saturday evening for the Watertown Tree Lighting. One lucky family was selected in a raffle to turn on the lights on the Christmas tree set up outside the Mansion. The winning ticket was selected by the Mayor of Whoville, played by City Council President Mark Sideris. The winning family was escorted over to the light switch next to the tree by a parade led by the Tuba Guy.

Car Theft

Police Log: Car Rented Out Through App Missing, Dozens of Bottles of Perfume Taken from Store

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

None

Incidents

Nov. 23, 7:20 a.m.: A 2015 Chevy Malibu was vandalized on Morrison Road. The windshield was smashed with a blunt object, both driver-side windows were struck with a blunt object and the hood had scratches on it. A large rock found nearby is suspected to be the object used to break the windows.

Alexandria Real Estate

Mosesian Center for the Arts Celebrates Opening of New Space, Return of Live Performances

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Charlie BreitroseVisitors get their first look inside the renovated lobby of the Mosesian Center for the Arts. From the outside, the Mosesian Center for the Arts looks as it has for years, but step inside the front doors and you are greeted by a new lobby that draws you in and showcases works of art on its walls. Thursday evening, the Arts Center located in the Arsenal on the Charles, held a grand opening for its new and improved lobby, and a return of the performing arts. A soft opening was held on Nov. 12 when the first stage show in more than a year-and-a-half went on — the Watertown Children’s Theatre Production of Mama Mia.

Artificial Turf

Residents Air Concerns Over Artificial Turf & Field Sharing with BB&N, Council Maintains Agreement

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BB&NThe plan of the athletic complex on Grove Street, on the right, presented in November 2020 when the City of Watertown and Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (BB&N) agreed to a field sharing plan that includes the City’s fields at Filippello Park. Residents for and against the field sharing agreement between the City of Watertown and Buckingham Browne & Nichols School spoke for nearly two hours Wednesday night during a special City Council meeting. In the end, the Council took no action, which means the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the city and the school remains in effect. Opponents of the agreement focused mostly on health and safety concerns due to the two fields being covered with artificial turf. Others said they were concerned that the Council entered the agreement without knowing artificial turf would be installed, and that the agreement calls for “green open space,” which they said means grass.

Government

Watertown Group Seeks to Rename the Delta in Watertown Square, Remove Columbus’ Name

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The following announcement was provided by the Pigsgusset Initiative:

On Thursday, Dec. 2nd at 3:30 P.M., members of the Pigsgusset Initiative, a working group of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment, will deliver petitions to the City Council requesting a name change for the area now called “Columbus Delta.” 

The delivery will be made by Mishy Lesser, Learning Director of Upstander Project and co-founder of the Pigsgusset Initiative, along with other Pigsgusset members and local youth, to the office of the Clerk of the City Council who is responsible for accepting the signatures. The petitioners are requesting that the City Council begin a process of reconsidering the name of the delta in Watertown Square, whose official name is the Columbus Delta. The goal is to initiate a process that will generate a new name that is more inclusive of all members of our community and the history of the place we all call home. Eighty years ago, the Selectmen of Watertown voted to name the delta, which today is the public meeting place where hundreds of diverse neighbors often gather for a variety of reasons.

Government

Council Approves Creation of Watertown Affordable Housing Trust

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

The City of Watertown will have a trust dedicated to the creation and preservation of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households with the Council’s approval of the ordinance creating the trust. Along with approving the ordinance, the Council’s vote on Nov. 23 also dissolved the Watertown Housing Partnership, which led Watertown’s efforts to create affordable housing for many years. The Housing Trust will have powers and abilities beyond what has been possible through the City’s efforts to create affordable housing or the Housing Partnership’s efforts, said Watertown Senior Planner Larry Field. “The Housing Partnership has been a great asset to the city for many years,” Field said.

Government

City Council Sets its Budget Policy Guidelines for Next Year’s Budget

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The Council’s priorities for next year’s budget have been approved, including supporting the school building projects, improving streets and sidewalks, and a study of Watertown’s Personnel Department. The Budget Priority Guidelines for the Fiscal Year 2023 were approved unanimously at the Nov. 23 Council meeting. The Council’s Budget & Fiscal Oversight Committee reviewed the proposed guidelines submitted by Councilors and voted on which to add to the list of guidelines. Other items were considered were not approved.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Shoplifter Caught With Bag Full of Merchandise, Catalytic Converter Stolen

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

Nov. 16, 1:02 p.m.: Security at Home Depot spotted a man put multiple items into a duffle bag and walk out of the store. Police were given a description and they located a man fitting the description near the parking garage near Home Depot. He had a duffle bag with items from Home Depot.