Arts

New Rep Director Leaving to Head Mass. Cultural Council

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Michael Bobbitt will take over as New Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director in August 2019. Michael Bobbitt, the artistic director of New Repertory Theatre, will be leaving the company to become the new executive director of the Mass. Cultural Council. Bobbitt took over New Rep in July of 2019, and left his mark in his time in Watertown — increasing audiences, revenues and leading company’s anti-racism efforts in the wake of the George Floyd’s killing. Prior to that, he had already started efforts to stress the importance of diversity, inclusion and equity at New Rep.

Even during COVID-19, New Rep brought theater to town with its Historical Moving Plays, which were performed on the streets of Watertown.

Government

Charter Committee Debates Financial Efficiency vs. Response to Resident’s Concerns

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Watertown’s Town Hall. As the Watertown Charter Review Committee tried to narrow in on what they want to improve by changing the Town’s Charter, members debated what was the most important task for the municipal government, and whether one form of government — strong town manager or mayor — would be better suited to accomplish those things. Resident member Marcia Ciro kicked off the conversation at Tuesday’s meeting with an example of the frustration she has had trying to get the Town government to respond to her requests for information and assistance. When the group first started meeting in October she requested an organizational chart of Watertown’s government and she finally got one this week, but it was one that was a few years old. “When I look at our government now, it is not very accountable, not very transparent, very opaque, very hard to know what’s going on,” Ciro said.

Business

Marijuana Dispensary Starting Recreational Sales, Looking to Move

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Natural Selections, Watertown’s first medical marijuana dispensary, will be opening soon. Watertown’s first marijuana dispensary, which has been selling only to those with medical cannabis cards, will start selling their products for recreational use this week. The company also seeks to move to another location in Town. Natural Selections, located at 23 Elm St. on the Eastside of Watertown, announced this week that they would begin adult-use sales on Dec.

Weather

Oh, That Snow! Share Your Photos of Today’s Big Storm

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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 Day

Watertown Declares Snow Emergency, Schools Closed and Other Storm Impacts

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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.

Government

Watertown Looking at Closing “Little Greenough” on Weekends for Recreation

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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.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Driver Pulls Knife in Parking Lot, Argument Over Face Mask Gets Physical

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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.

Around Town

Free COVID-19 Testing for Watertown Residents in December

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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.