Government

Council’s Budget Priorities Include Supporting Small Business, the Climate & Energy Plan, and Education

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Watertown City Hall

The City Council finalized Watertown’s budget priorities for the next fiscal year which include focuses on small business, implementing the Comprehensive Plan and Watertown Square Area Plan, the City’s shuttle bus program, and more. Many of the same guidelines returned from the 2024 Budget Policy Guidelines, including street and sidewalk repair, a 3.5 percent increase in the education budget, rodent control, launching the 311 constituent services system, and reusing the former North Branch Library

Among the guidelines are the long-standing effort to seek economic development and this year it includes a new focus on “small business, retail corridors, and emerging industry clusters.” The guidelines also include a priority to implement the updates recommended in the Comprehensive Plan update, as well as the ongoing redesign in the Watertown Square Area Plan. That plan includes redesigning the intersection, increasing housing density, strategies for small business, and better use of City owned land. This would be done, in part, by enhancing “the capabilities of the Department of Community Development and Planning by adding resources and/or redeploying existing resources to achieve the goals of the Plans.”

Around Town

Charles River Food Co-op Marks Firsts, Looking for Locations for Store

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Nick Quaranto, president of the Charles River Food Co-op board, updates members at the first annual meeting. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The effort to open a food cooperative in the Watertown area reached some firsts recently, and progress toward opening a store is moving faster than other local co-ops. The Charles River Food Co-op was incorporated in April 2022, with a goal of opening a store primarily serving Watertown, Newton, and Waltham. On Nov. 14, the Charles River Food Co-op held its first annual meeting, and the organization recently held its first board election.

Government

See What Will be Discussed During This Week’s Watertown Square Design Charrette

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This week will be an important one for the shaping of the future of Watertown’s center, and many of the main business districts in town. The City of Watertown, working with a team of consultants, will conduct a three-day design charrette where they will seek input from the public about a variety of topics. All the events will take place from Nov. 28-30, 2023, at 64 Pleasant St., Watertown (the former Sasaki building). This is the same location as the kickoff presentation for the Watertown Square Area Plan in October where some examples of redesigns and the consultant’s philosophies were presented.

Around Town

More Than 1,100 Take Part in 2023 Donohue’s Turkey Trot – See Photos!

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A runner wearing a turkey balloon runs down Nichols Avenue in the Donohue’s Turkey Trot 2023. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

People donning turkey hats, turkey balloons, even turkey costumes took to the streets of Watertown early on Thanksgiving day for the 2023 Donohue’s Turkey Trot. The runners sprint off the line at the start of the 2023 Donohue’s Turkey Trot. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

More than 1,100 people took part in the 18th annual 5K run and walk. Money raised by the event is donated to the Watertown Boy & Girls Club.

Sports

Belmont Rolls Over Raiders in 101st Annual Thanksgiving Game

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A Watertown defender gets pressure on the Belmont quarterback in the 2023 Thanksgiving game. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The 1o1st edition of the annual Thanksgiving game was a one-sided affair, with Belmont celebrating a 47-0 win over Watertown at Victory Field on Thursday. The Raiders tried different combinations of quarterbacks and running backs to try to get the offense going, but when the ball fell incomplete in the end zone as time expired, Watertown remained scoreless in the rivalry game. Even though there was no doubt about the game’s outcome, Watertown fought for points until the final moments of the game. As the final minute disappeared off the clock, the Raiders moved the ball down field with a pair of passes from Gnai Concannon-Garvin to Lucas Pizzuto.

Around Town

Housing Tops Charles River Chamber’s List of 5 Key Issues Facing Business in the Region

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During the Charles River Regional Chamber’s annual Fall Business Breakfast, the Chamber laid out the areas of focus for the next five years, and housing came to the forefront. During the event, held at the Boston Marriott Newton, John Rufo, Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, said that much has changed since the organization last put together a strategic plan in 2019. The latest plan has five areas of focus: transportation; childcare for the workforce; climate change; diversity, equity and inclusion; and housing. Creating more housing in the area is key, Rufo said. “I think about people who don’t have security in housing, and don’t have safety in housing,” Rufo said.

Government

City Responds to Complaints About Highland Ave. Road Project

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Crews work on Highland Street over the summer as part of the ongoing road reconstruction project. A combination of weather and challenges with contractors have delayed a major road project in Watertown, said City Manager George Proakis, but there are steps being taken to prevent such delays. Last week, for the second meeting in a row, City Councilors got an earful from residents dissatisfied with various aspects of the Highland Avenue project. Many complained about the lengthy amount time that the project has taken to be completed (and more work still remains), and that sidewalks are often left torn up for an extended amout of time. Others said their driveways have been narrowed after years of having wider entrances, and some were upset about the safety of school children crossing at Copland Street to get to Cunniff Elementary School and at Lexington Street heading towards Watertown Middle School.

Sports

Watertown Field Hockey Team Withstands Newburyport Comeback to Win Thrilling State Final

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Watertown senior Molly Driscoll and the Raiders celebrate with the 2023 MIAA Div. 3 Field Hockey Championship Trophy. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

WORCESTER — Sometimes a moment leaves you grasping for words, unable to form full sentences. Several feelings flowing all at once — triumph, exhilaration, pride, a sense of relief, and pure joy. All you can do is just scream and give the nearest person a big hug.