Around Town

As Phase 2 of State’s Vaccination Plan Approaches, Town Waits for Vaccine

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Watertown residents anxiously await the COVID-19 vaccine, but to the chagrin of Health Director Larry Ramdin, he does not have any to distribute. Last week, Gov. Baker announced that Phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution would begin on Feb. 1, beginning with people age 75. Second in the order of priority will be people 65 and over and people with two comorbidities

“We are spending a lot of time responding to people’s calls asking for the vaccine,” Ramdin said. The Health Department vaccinated members of the Watertown Fire and Police departments as part of Phase 1 recently, but Radmin said they were able to get the vaccine through a collaboration with the town’s of Belmont, Arlington and Lexington.

Comprehensive Plan

Council Round Up: Closing Little Greenough, Dispensary Moving, Public Arts Master Plan

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The Town Council supported having the state explore closing “Little Greenough Boulevard” on weekends to allow people to use it for recreation during the spring summer and fall. The proposal began with a resident petition calling for closing the street between Arsenal and North Beacon streets. The idea came from people who enjoyed using the area along the Charles River when it was closed during the spring and summer of 2020 during the pandemic. On Jan. 12, the Council voted to approve sending a letter to ask the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to do a pilot program, and to evaluate traffic data in the area to see if longer term or weekend closure of “Little Greenough” is feasible.

Around Town

Health Department Plans to Host COVID Vaccine Clinics, Stresses Need to Keep Up Prevention Steps

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Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn gets a COVID-19 vaccination shot during the clinic for police and firefighters run by the Watertown Health Department last week. The light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel can be seen, with the first vaccinations by the Watertown Health Department starting last week, but Health Director Larry Ramdin said people must continue their virus prevention practices even after they get their shots. On Jan. 14 and 15, members of the Watertown Police and Fire departments received their first COVID-19 vaccine shots, Ramdin said. He and Public Health Nurse Wil VanDinter have begun planning for public clinics in Town, but do not know when they will be able to administer the vaccine to the general public, Ramdin said.

Around Town

New Parking Meters Offer Payment Options; Prices & Length of Stay Differ by Location

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New parking meters, like this one, will be installed in Watertown’s Municipal Parking Lots. They will accept credit cards as well as coins. The new parking meters being installed in Watertown’s will have new payment options, and will have different prices and maximum stays depending on the location. Watertown Senior Transportation Planner Laura Wiener said the new meters — which began being installed this week — accept coins and credit cards, and later this year people will be able to use a pay-by-phone app. The Town will be using the PayByPhone cellphone app, which is used by other area communities, including Waltham, Concord, Wellesley, Arlington, Somerville and MBTA commuter lots, such as at Watertown Yard.

Around Town

Planning Board Supports Major Project South of Watertown Square

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A view of the proposed life sciences building at 66 Galen Street viewed from Galen Street. Plans for an a new life science building on Galen Street near Watertown Square got praise from the Planning Board for taking steps to address traffic in the area, improving public transportation and creating green space for public use. The board voted unanimously on Jan. 13 to support Boston Development Group’s project at 66 Galen St., which includes the former Colonial GMC dealership and sits next to the MBTA’s Watertown Yard. On Jan.

Around Town

Unity Breakfast Features Youthful Voices, Calls for Racial Justice Locally & Nationally

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Michael Bobbitt served as Honorary Host of the 2021 Watertown Unity Breakfast. He has been artistic director at New Rep Theatre and will be the executive director of the Mass. Cultural Council. The 2020 Watertown Unity Breakfast had a different feel from years past, with the calls for action to fight for equity and against racism were more urgent and closer to home. The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day event hosted by World in Watertown was held virtually instead of the typical gathering at the Hellenic Cultural Center.

Around Town

Watertown Back in Yellow COVID Category, Cases Continue to Rise

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After moving into the state’s “Red,” or high-risk of COVID-19 transmission, group for a week, Watertown went back into the “Yellow,” or moderate-risk group. The latest Mass. Department of Public Health report (released on Jan. 15), showed that the Town’s positive test rate dropped to 4.91 percent. The previous report had Watertown at 5.14 percent, and any positivity rate over 5 percent for a town of Watertown’s size is one of the thresholds to put it in the Red.