Around Town

Charles River Group Makes Case for Removing Watertown Dam During Public Tour

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Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown Dam near Watertown Square slows the flow of the Charles River. A group is advocating removing the dam. Around 50 people showed up Saturday morning to hear about a proposal to remove the Watertown Dam, and restore the area to how it was before the first dam was put there in the 1600s. The Charles River Watershed Association organized the tour, and the group is advocating for the dam to be removed to allow more fish and wildlife to travel up and down the Charles River, and also because it poses a risk of failure in a major storm, said CRWA Executive Director Emily Norton. The first dam in the area of the current Watertown Dam was a grist mill built in 1634 by early colonists.

Government

Town Council Moves Toward Creating Trust to Buy, Build More Affordable Housing in Watertown

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Watertown Town Hall

Watertown took a major step this week toward creating more affordable housing by starting the effort to create an affordable housing trust and looking into charging fees to new developments that would go toward affordable housing. Tuesday night, the Town Council voted unanimously to move forward with writing an ordinance that would create the Watertown Affordable Housing Trust, and would dissolve the Watertown Housing Partnership. The Council also approved a study of creating linkage fees for new commercial developments for affordable housing. The Trust would work to create and preserve housing for low- and moderate-income households. Among its powers the Trust would be able to receive properties as donations or gifts, and to buy and sell property.

Around Town

Three New Restaurants Opening in Watertown, One Changing Management

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Flavor Boom!Some of the dishes served up at Flavor Boom!, a new restaurant on Arsenal Street. The restaurant scene in Watertown is brimming with life, with the addition of three restaurants. Plus, an established eatery is changing hands. The three independent restaurants are on or near Arsenal Street, one features barbecue, another serves Central American and Mexican dishes, and a third has a variety of flavorful dishes from around the globe. Flavor Boom!

Schools

Council Approves $5 Million to “Bridge” Watertown High School Project Before Start of Construction

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Ai3 ArchitectsA mockup of what the main entrance to the new Watertown High School could look like from a presentation designers made to the School Building Committee in September 2021. As the new Watertown High School continues to be designed, the Town Council approved $5.2 million to bridge the gap before the final approval of funding is given by the state and to keep construction on schedule. The money will help pay for the design of the swing spaces that will be used while the school is under construction, as well as to cover the increased amount of time that it took to come up with the final design, Christy Murphy of Compass Project Management told the Council Tuesday night. The money to cover the $5.2 million came out of the Watertown High School Stabilization Fund, said Town Manager Michael Driscoll said. The Council voted 8-0 to support the use of the funds.

Schools

Watertown School Officials Want Input on How to Spend Millions in Pandemic Relief Funds

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The Watertown Public Schools will get close to $3 million to deal with the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and School officials want to hear from the community about what sorts of things they would like to see the money spent on. As part of the federal American Rescue Plan, the Watertown Public Schools received an allocation of $2,868,929 which can be spent through June 2024. It is part of the third pandemic relief package for schools, known as Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III or ESSER III. The money can be spent to support safe reopening of schools and sustaining safe schools, as well as helping students with their academic, social, emotional and mental health needs. Superintendent Dede Galdston said that the grant application for ESSER III requires feedback from residents.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Faces OUI Charge After Rolling Vehicle, Car Stolen from Auto Shop

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

Sept. 16, 10:54 p.m.: A member of the public reported seeing a person sleeping in their vehicle on Arlington Street near Arsenal Street. When police arrived they found a man in a black Lexus sedan who was asleep at the wheel with the vehicle in drive and his foot on the brake. The car was stopped in the travel lane.

Around Town

See Photos of the Fun and Games at the 2021 Watertown Faire on the Square

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Charlie BreitroseThe Faire on the Square returned to Saltonstall Park in 2021, with all the fun and games. Saltonstall Park came to life Saturday with the return of the Faire on the Square. After a year off due to the pandemic, the annual celebration returned to Watertown in 2021. Jennifer KavanaughMany of the dozens of candidates running for office in Watertown this fall had booths at the Faire. A variety of bands performed on the Main Stage.