Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/page/2/)
Noah Kahan, from his Facebook page. Watertown got a shoutout in Noah Kahan’s latest album “The Great Divide.” The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter said he enjoyed the time he spent living in town. The City of Watertown noted the City’s connection to the album in an Instagram post on April 30. Thank you Noah Kahan for the Watertown mention in your song “Orbiter” in your new album “The Great Divide.”
Five condos, a single family, a two family, and a townhouse were sold this week. 7 Clyde Road, $1,300,000, 5 bedroom 2 bathroom 2,732 sq. ft. 2 Family
6 Hovey St. Unit 6, $1,029,000, 3 bedroom 3 bathroom 1,950 sq.
A study of the Watertown Public Schools’ special education found a number of areas of concerns, including a lack of uniformity, a need for better communication with families, and a distrust among parents of students in the program. A group called the Special Education Strategy Development Committee, made up of 31 people from different levels in the schools, as well as parents, discussed Watertown’s special education data, reports from state on the district’s special education program, as well as the report from AthenaK12. The district committee put out a Special Education Success Strategy report. The special education committee pointed to multiple areas to focus on to improve the program for students with special needs, said Kathy Desmarais, Watertown’s Director of Student Services. One issue rose to the top in the report.
Check out this week’s Watertown open houses. 122 Garfield St., $2,750,000, 4 bedroom 4 bathroom 4,498 sq. ft. Single Family, Open houses: Friday, May 1 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Saturday, May 2 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM Saturday, May 2 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
151 Coolidge Ave. APT 105, $639,000, 2 bedroom 2 bathroom 1,270 sq.
Restaurants in Watertown will not longer be able to automatically include packets of plastic utensils with takeout or deliver orders. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
A new ordinance approved by the City Council prohibits restaurants from automatically including plastic utensils with takeout orders, however customers can request these items when they order or pick up their food. The Council considered the Skip the Stuff ordinance at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. “Watertown Skip the Stuff ordinance is designed to reduce unnecessary plastic waste in our community,” said City Councilor Nicole Gardner. “Under this simple, common sense policy, restaurants and food businesses will no longer automatically include items like plastic utensils, straws and condiment packets with takeout or delivery orders.”
City Council President Mark Sideris. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
After receiving questions about and requests to protect immigrants in Watertown in recent weeks, City Council President Mark Sideris emphasized the steps being taken by the City to provide safety and security, but said he does not favor the City Council passing a resolution or executive order regarding immigrants in Watertown. Sideris spoke during the President’s Report at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. After a resident was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 10, people reached out to Sideris and other elected officials. He stressed that he was speaking on his own behalf, not for the entire Council.
The second annual Watertown Eco Fest will feature activities including electric bike test rides, vendors of sustainable products, activities for kids, and more. The event, hosted by the City of Watertown, will also include representatives from City departments and community organizations focused on sustainability. Eco Fest will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9 at the Commander’s Mansion, 440 Talcott Ave., Watertown. Watertown Sustainability Planner Mia Kania said Eco Fest the City created Eco Fest after the City Council approved the Resilient Watertown Climate and Energy Plan. “It started last year, which was right after we had expanded the Sustainability Team, essentially doubling,” Kania said.
Tutor Intelligence’s Data Factory 1, which has 100 AI robots performing tasks, is part of the company’s new headquarters at Riverworks in Watertown (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
A building along the Charles River in Watertown where textiles were once made has a new tenant involved in manufacturing. Tutor Intelligence creates AI robots that are used by companies from coast to coast. On April 23, Tutor hosted a grand opening at its offices in Riverworks, a building on Pleasant Street that was previously home to Boston Scientific, and prior to that was known as Aetna Mills. The company spent most of its first five years on the other side of Watertown in a space on Coolidge Hill Road under Eastern Clothing. Tutor outgrew that space and looked for a larger facility, said Tutor’s CTO Alon Kosowsky, who co-founded the company with CEO Josh Gruenstein.