Around Town

Council Uses ARPA Funds on a Mix of Social Services, Water/Sewer & Climate Projects

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Watertown City Hall

Watertown’s ARPA funds will got to 18 projects, including water and sewer system upgrades, public housing improvements, creating a daycare facility, and money to help local food assistance programs.

The City of Watertown had a “once in a lifetime” opportunity opportunity to spend more than $10 million on projects using the funds provided as part of the federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act). Some of the projects funded include: sewer rehabilitation, moving the Food Pantry to a new location, building a childcare center at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club, expanding the Social Service Resource Specialist Program, creating a one-time housing assistance fund, funding a public health program for the prevention of drug and substance use, adding a photovoltaic (PV) solar array at the new Watertown High School, and a study of City-supported local transit. The complete list of programs funded, and descriptions of the project, can be seen below. The $10,742,413 was part of the federal Pandemic relief package, and could be used for public health, responding to negative economic impacts, services to disproportionately impacted communities, water, sewer and broadband infrastructure, and revenue replacement, according to the City Council’s resolution. After receiving more than 30 applications for project, both from City departments and local non-profits, the Council’s Budget & Fiscal Oversight Committee held a series of meetings speaking to the projects that met the requirements of how the funds could be used.

Sports

Watertown Basketball Game Suspended After Injury to Player

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An injury to a player in Watertown High School’s boys basketball game against Lexington caused play to be suspended, and the player was sent to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The player, from Lexington, landed on his head after a play near the basket. Witnesses said he appeared to be unconscious and then appeared to have spasms. The player was taken to the hospital, and “is home healing and is expected to make a full recovery and join his team soon,” wrote Watertown High School Principal Joel Giacobozzi in a letter to students and parents sent out Wednesday morning. Many students and parents at the game were visibly upset. Giacobozzi said that in the morning announcements that went over the WHS PA system, students were told they could take time out of class to speak to a counselor to talk about the incident.

Around Town

Watertown’s Hidden Problem: Food Insecurity Among Us (First Part of a Series)

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Food on the shelfs at the Watertown Food Pantry, which has seen an increase in the number of people using its services since the start of the Pandemic. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

For many, Watertown is a destination for food and eating, with dozens of restaurants, markets small and large, and a farmers market through the warmer months. However, a significant number of residents have trouble affording to feed themselves and their families. The hunger problem in Watertown is often not visible, but those who provide assistance and services to people in need have noticed a recent increase in the number of people in town facing food insecurity, spiking during the Pandemic. And, while the COVID cases have dropped, the numbers of people going to Watertown’s two food pantries, or needing help to put enough food on their table has remained at about the same level.

Police/Fire

Police Seeking Identity of Man Who Followed Woman to House & Tried to Break In

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A man tried to break into a Watertown home after following a woman home in the early hours of Sunday morning, Watertown Police announced. At about 3:45 a.m., a woman reported a man follow her home on Laurel Street, hid behind a car in her driveway, and then tried to enter her home, Police said in the announcement. “After the victim entered the home, the suspect attempted to gain entrance to the front and back door of the home. It is important to note that no one was harmed, however, we are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect,” Watertown Police said in a Facebook post (see below). The message also said, “The Watertown Police Department takes the safety and security of our community seriously, we will be adding extra patrols in the area.”

Schools

Rates of Alcohol & Drug Use Down for Watertown Students, But Depression & Stress Has Risen

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The rate of alcohol and marijuana is dropping for Watertown students, according to a survey by the Watertown Youth Coalition, but school officials have concerns about use among certain groups, as well as the feeling of depression and not having trusted adults with whom they can speak. For the past three decades, the Watertown Youth Coalition has monitored the well-being of Watertown students by tracking the use of alcohol and drugs, and rates of depression and stress. In November, the WYC reported the results of the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which was taken by 424 Watertown Middle School students and 591 from Watertown High School. At the high school 18 percent of students reported they had consumed alcohol over the previous 30 days, down from 23 percent in 2021 and 32 percent in 2017. The middle school went from 4 percent in 2021 to 3 percent in 2023.

Around Town

Tradition of Giving Gifts to Kids in Need That was Started by Former Watertown Police Officer, Continues Today

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Toys collected for the Whooley Foundation during a recent drive. Pictured, from left, Rotary Club President Kim Severino, Watertown Business Coalition Co-President Doug Orifice, Whooley Foundation President David Collins, Watertown Business Coalition Co-President Bob Airasian, and Mosesian Center for the Arts Executive Director Darren Farrington. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Every year, days before Christmas, toys donated from around the community fill the Community Room at the Watertown Police Station in preparation to be distributed to families in need around the community. The drive is organized by the Sonny Whooley Foundation, named for a former Watertown Police officer known for his generosity, said David Collins, president of the Whooley Foundation. Over the years, the Whooley Foundation has helped thousands of families, Collins said.

Government

Some City Departments Will be On the Move within City Hall or to Parker Annex

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Photo by City of WatertownThe City of Watertown will move multiple municipal departments to the Parker Annex Building on Watertown Street. City Hall has been the center of municipal government in Watertown for nearly a century, and it will continue to be filled with local government offices but some will be moving across the Charles River to the recently reacquired Parker Annex Building. Last week, City Manager George Proakis presented his plan to rearrange City departments. Parker Annex

The first department to move across the river is Public buildings, Proakis said, and within the next two months he hopes the Information Technology (IT) Department will join them. First IT will be in a temporary location on the second floor before moving to a permanent spot on the third floor.