Government

Town Fines Property Owner for Creating Snow Dump

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The owner of the site where a hotel has been proposed has been fined by the Town of Watertown for setting up a snow storage yard on the property. Trucks have been seen delivering loads of snow to 80 Elm Street, said East End Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis. The snow has been piled so high, she said, that it now is taller than the Watertown Mall, which sits next door. “Doing this is disrespectful to the East End of Watertown,” Kounelis said. “The East End should not be perceived as a dumping ground.”

Schools

School Committee Debating Adding an Extra Day of School

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All this snow had thrown the school calendar into a bit of chaos, and with the threat of snow still very real Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald has proposed adding an extra day of school. After six snow days, the current last day of school is scheduled to be June 30, but Fitzgerald fears students may get another snow day. The extra day would be on Friday, April 3, which is scheduled to be a day off. “If we had a half day on April 3 and there is no snow the last day will be June 29,” Fitzgerald said. “If we had snow, the last day would be June 30.”

Around Town

See People’s Snow Photos from Around Watertown!

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The snow has stopped falling, and there was plenty of it. Share your photos from the Feb. 14-15 blizzard with Watertown News. Above, I think Patti Melanson has captured the feeling of everyone in Watertown these days! Below, the clean up has begun after another dumping of snow on Watertown.

Government

DPW Grabs a Rest as Another Storm Heads Toward Watertown

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The Watertown Department of Public Works got a brief rest this week between heavy snow storms, but they will have to go back into action this weekend. 

The National Weather Services has issued a Winter Storm Watch from Saturday at 3 p.m. to Sunday at 7 p.m. Forecasts call for Watertown to get a foot or more of snow, with winds gusting up to 50 mph, according to the NWS. If there is any doubt this is an unusual winter, WCVB reported that Boston set a record for the snowiest February in recorded history. Watertown Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee got his first night’s sleep on Monday night after being up for 54 hours, and some worked even longer hours. “I haven’t seen anything like this,” Mee said. “The continuous storms and the path of the storms doesn’t appear to be letting up.”

Around Town

MBTA Severely Cuts Service Monday Night & Tuesday

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The MBTA announced Monday that public transportation in and around Boston will be suspended starting Monday night and continue through Tuesday.All trolley, subway and commuter rail service will stop at 7 p.m. Monday so that snow and ice can be removed from tracks, reported Boston.com. Bus service available, but routes operating on narrow streets and hills may be operating on “snow routes.” Check the MBTA site for more information and updates – http://www.mbta.com/winter/

Government

Snow Causes Watertown Parking Ban, Closing of Schools

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The storm which could drop 8-16 inches of snow on Watertown heading has prompted a parking ban in Watertown and closing of the public schools. 

The snow emergency parking ban begins at midnight on Monday and lasts until further notice. Cars may be parked at the Watertown Police Station, in the public school parking lots and at municipal lots. The Watertown Public Schools will be closed Monday, according to the closing announcements on WCVB’s website. Trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day, so Monday pickups will happen Tuesday, Tuesday pickup will be Wednesday, etc.

Weather

Another Bout of Snow Heading Toward Watertown

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Even as the Boston area digs out from Tuesday’s blizzard, another significant snow is heading toward the Hub. 

Watertown could get 8 to 12 inches from a storm coming through the area. The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch from 7 p.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. on Wednesday. Snowfall will begin after midnight on Monday and be heaviest during the day on Monday. Winds will be 9-18 mph. The storm could cause hazardous driving conditions and snow drifts.

Weather

More Snow Headed for Watertown on Friday

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A storm will hit Watertown dropping more snow on top of the piles left by Tuesday’s blizzard. The National Weather Service has issued a Winters Storm Warning beginning at midnight Thursday and running to 6 a.m. on Saturday. Snow will be light through much of the day, with about an inch and a half during the day. Then snowfall will pick up Friday night and drop another 2 to 4 inches of new accumulation. The snow could make driving conditions hazardous and increase the load of snow on roofs.