Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/prominence/top-story/page/181/)
If you are using a “Big story” homepage layout, add this label to a post to make it the top story on the homepage
The Dec. 16-17 Nor’easter dropped about 11 inches of snow on Watertown. The Nor’easter gave Watertown quite a wallop on Thursday, dropping more than 10 inches on town in several hours. I measured 11 inches in the backyard of Watertown News headquarters (see photo above). Do you photos of the winter wonderland in Watertown?
Snow covered trees along the Charles River in Watertown Square. The Town of Watertown has declared a snow emergency, which prohibits parking on public streets. The Town of Watertown announced other delays due to the impending snow storm that will hit the Watertown area from late Wednesday to late Thursday. The Nor’easter could drop a foot of snow or more the Boston area. The WBZ Channel 4 forecast puts Watertown square in the 10-16 inch band.
A screenshot of a Google Map showing the section of Greenough Boulevard that Town officials are looking at closing on weekends. A Town Council Subcommittee supported the idea of doing a pilot program to close a portion of Greenough Boulevards to traffic on weekends during parts of the year, similar to Memorial Drive in Cambridge. The section of the roadway, sometimes called Little Greenough, runs between North Beacon and Arsenal streets, and provides a link between the two thoroughfares. On Dec. 10, the Committee on Economic Development and Planning voted to recommend that the full Council request that the state do a pilot study of closing the road on the weekends during the spring, summer and fall, and examine the impact on traffic.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrest
Dec. 5, 4:04 p.m.: Police received a report of a man who attacked a worker at the Watertown Towing lot on North Beacon Street. The employee arrived at work and saw a blue Dodge parked in the lot which he did not recognize. A short time later he saw someone coming from nearby Arsenal Wine & Spirits and get into the vehicle.
The following announcement was provided by the Town of Watertown:
The Town of Watertown will be offering, by appointment only, free COVID-19 Testing for Watertown residents.
Testing is free, does not require a medical referral, and you do not need to have COVID-19 symptoms to get tested. Pre-registration is required to receive a test (pre-registration details below). Testing will be held inside the Commander’s Mansion, 440 Talcott Avenue, on the following dates and times:
Tuesday, December 15 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Wednesday, December 16 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Tuesday, December 22 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Wednesday, December 23 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Tuesday, December 29 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Wednesday, December 30 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
In order to obtain an appointment a Watertown resident must pre-register by clicking here.
This is not a drive up test. Watertown residents who have an appointment will enter into the Commander’s Mansion and with the assistance of Pro Ambulance employees will conduct a self-administering nasal swab (PCR test). Results will be returned within 24 to 36 hours.
School officials said they heard the parents and community members loud and clear at a recent forum held in response to the report by a Watertown Middle School student the she had been racially harassed at school and online. This week, School administration and the School Committee announced some steps they would be taking to stop this from happening again. On Monday, Superintendent Dede Galdston acknowledged that the Watertown Public Schools have much work to do. “I think we share the same goals which include making the Watertown Schools the safest, most welcoming and most inclusive learning environment for all our students and families,” Galdston said. “They and you deserve nothing less.”
A recreational marijuana dispensary received approval from the Planning Board to open at the mixed-use complex at 330-350 Pleasant St. The Town’s third marijuana dispensary, located in a complex on Pleasant Street that will also have apartments, got approval from the Planning Board Wednesday night. Bud’s Goods & Provisions will be going into part of the retail space at the Water Mills at Bridge Point mixed-use development at 330-350 Pleasant St., near the intersection with Rosedale Road. The dispensary will have adult-use sales, also known as recreational. In July, Bud’s entered into a Community Host Agreement with the Town, which includes paying 3 percent of its gross profits to the Town to offset the impact of the dispensary on Watertown, and a $10,000 charitable donation annually.
Watertown Town Hall
The Town Council will begin looking at ways to help the Watertown Public Schools address racial harassment and bullying following reports made a middle school student about her experiences at Watertown Middle School. At Tuesday night’s meeting, the Council voted to start discussions about how they could help the Schools with racism issues. Also at the meeting, the Council adopted a proclamation opposing racism and bulling in Watertown. The School Administration and School Committee will take the lead on how to deal with racial harassment, said Town Council President Mark Sideris, who is also a member of the School Committee. Superintendent Dede Galdston announced she will be putting together a a citizens advisory board which will include parents of children who have been harassed, Sideris said.