Around Town

New Rep Theatre Reemerges from Break, Returns to the Stage With a New Focus

By |

Nine months after going on hiatus, New Repertory Theatre will return to the stage with a show that is part of the new focus of the Watertown-based theater company. New Rep’s We Are Storytellers series begins at the Mosesian Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 23. The two-show festival features the stories of people who have not always had a chance to be seen and heard on stage. This is part of the strategy that New Rep has adopted as it makes its return after the break. The Hiatus

When the COVID-19 Pandemic hit in March 2020, New Rep could not put on performances inside the Mosesian Center, but continued with a pair of virtual plays in 2020, and an outdoor, historical walking play on the grounds of the Arsenal on the Charles in 2021.

Government

Residential Snow Shoveling Ordinance Being Reviewed by Council Committees

By |

A pair of committees of the City Council began working on changing Watertown’s Snow Removal Ordinance to include rules for residential properties, including required width of shoveling, deadlines, and fines. The Joint Committees on Public Works and Rules & Ordinances discussed the changes during a virtual meeting on March 29, and discussed some significant changes to the ordinance. Eventually the proposed ordinance will be presented during a Public Forum, and then considered by the full City Council for approval. Classification of Properties

One of the first changes was how to define properties, and which rules would apply to each classification. The current Snow Removal Ordinance has different rules based on the zoning of the area, business districts vs.

Capital Projects

Capital Projects Include Community Path, Work at Middle School, Reuse of Old Police Station

By |

The City Council approved the recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2023-27 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which includes extending the Community Path, improvements to Watertown Middle School, reusing the old Watertown Police Station, along with road repair and other projects. The 34 recommendations of the FY23-27 CIP includes $27.6 million in capital spending in Fiscal year 2023, which would be 7.71 percent of the total projected City revenues not including the funds for the Building for the Future school projects (16 percent with them). That figure fits within the City Council’s budget guideline to spend between 7.5 percent and 8 percent of the City Operating Budget on capital projects, said Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli. Community Path

Three of the CIP recommendations related to extending the Community Path, which currently goes from Arlington Street, behind Target to School Street, and runs along Arsenal Street. The path will be extended from Taylor Street (off Arsenal Street) to Saltonstall Park.

Development

Major Residential, Retail Project Proposed for Main Street, Near Watertown Square

By |

Icon ArchitectureA view of the proposed project at 104-126 Main St. from Main Street. A five-story mixed use project with housing units on top of retail and commercial space may be coming to Main Street. The development would include properties that currently include the Post Office, a restaurant, a boutique and other properties. The pre-application plans were sent to the to the Watertown Planning Department for review on March 31 show 146 residential units in four stories.

Around Town

Semifinalists Interviewed by Library Director Search Committee

By |

Watertown Free Public LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. The semifinalists for the Watertown library director were interviewed last week and finalists will be chosen by the Preliminary Screening Committee. The job posting closed on March 18, and 15 people submitted applications, said Leanne Hammonds, chair of the Board of Library Trustees. “We reviewed the applications in an executive session and narrowed down to five candidates,” Hammonds said. “At this point in the process, the candidates are not public knowledge and our interviews this week will be in executive session.

Around Town

Watertown Recognizes National Vietnam War Veterans Day

By |

Charlie BreitroseA giant American Flag flies over the moving Vietnam Ware Memorial at Gore Place in 2016. Watertown held the first annual National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29. The City Council declared the day by passing a proclamation during the March 22 Council Meeting. At the meeting, Watertown Veterans Services Officer Patrick George said the day was about 50 years in the making. Servicemen and women who served in Vietnam did not get the parades or other thanks when they came home, George said.

Around Town

Boys & Girls Club’s Renee Gaudette Stepping Down, Club Searching for New Director

By |

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Renee Gaudette will be leaving her position. Here, she received the Executive of the Year Award in 2015. She was nominated by Chris Chrombie, right, the club’s Project Director. The Watertown Boys & Boys Club announced Executive Director Renee Gaudette will be leaving the club leadership position after nine years. Gaudette led the Club through an unprecedented period of growth in membership, programming and funding.