Transportation

Holiday Travel Tips from the Mass. Department of Transportation

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The following information was provided by MassDOT:

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is encouraging members of the public to plan ahead for any upcoming holiday travel. Motorists and public transportation customers should check websites for real-time travel information on major statewide roads, MBTA schedule information, and the weather forecast before leaving home. 

“MassDOT encourages the public to use our real-time traffic tools before heading to their holiday destinations. MassDOT also wants to remind roadway users to be safe, courteous, and to adhere to traffic laws and regulations,”said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. 

The MassDOT Highway Division is taking several steps to ensure safe and efficient travel on roadways and will be shutting down scheduled construction activities on major roadways from 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 24, until 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 26, and 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 31, until 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 2.  

In addition, the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 between Boston and Quincy will extend its afternoon hours by opening at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 19, and at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 20, as well as at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 26, and at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 27. 

The Sumner Tunnel swing lane will not be deployed on Wednesday, December 25, and Wednesday, January 1, with normal deployment resuming at 5:00 a.m. the following morning. 

MassDOT strongly urges all drivers to minimize distractions by turning off or putting away cell phones, traveling the posted speed limit, driving sober, and devoting full attention to what is ahead on the road. MassDOT encourages travelers to make an extra effort to be courteous on the roads and report to law enforcement any reckless driving. 

For travelers getting to and from Logan Airport in Boston, please note: 

See the MBTA’s helpful online user guide on using T services to get to and from Logan Airport: www.mbta.com/Logan  

MBTA Silver Line provides service between South Station and Logan’s terminals. Outbound service from Logan Airport to the South Boston Seaport District and South Station is free.   

Silver Line 1 (SL1) service to Logan operates about every 15 minutes or faster and stops at all terminals. On weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the week of Christmas, the SL1 will improve service frequency to every 7-8 minutes due to the increase in holiday travel. 

Silver Line 3 (SL3) operates about every 15 minutes or faster and stops at Airport Station.  

The Hingham/Hull Ferry operates some trips to and from Long Wharf in Boston to the Logan Airport Ferry Terminal.

Government

Meeting Posting: Public Shade Tree Removal Hearing on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, 10 a.m.

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The City of Watertown provided the following notice (First published on Dec. 19, at 4 p.m.):

In accordance with Chapter 87 of the Massachusetts General Laws, a Public Shade Tree Removal Hearing will be held via Zoom. On: Friday, December 27th at 10:00AMAt: https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/81211901286

This hearing is to consider the proposed removal of (1) one tree due to sewer reconstruction work. The species and Diameter at Breast Height (DBH)

One (1) Lacebark Elm (10”DBH)

Location: 547 Main Street

Requested by: Water and Sewer Department

Reason for hearing: Proposed removal due to sewer reconstruction work. Questions or concerns regarding this posting should be directed to the

Tree Warden’s office at (617) 972-6420 or email: mmicieli@watertown-ma.gov

Around Town

Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban to be Temporarily Lifted

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Watertown’s overnight winter parking ban will be temporarily lifted starting the week of Christmas. See more information in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Effective December 23, 2024 enforcement of the All Night Parking Ban will be temporarily suspended – barring any snowfall that would require plowing or sanding. Should there be a snow event please refer to the City’s website for available off-street parking locations. All homeowners are encouraged to continue using available off-street parking during the overnight hours.

Around Town

New Assistant Director Hired for Watertown Recreation Department

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The City of Watertown announced the hiring of a new Assistant Director in the Recreation Department. See the details, below. The City of Watertown is excited to introduce Jon Kazanjian as the Department of Recreation’s new Assistant Director of Recreation! Jon joins Watertown after eight years with the Town of Littleton, most recently serving as the Town’ Recreation Supervisor, and previously in the role of Parks and Recreation Program Coordinator. A Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP), he comes to Watertown with an impressive career in building and managing successful recreation programs. This includes the respected Camp Tahattawan, where he oversaw 400 campers and 55 staff for 10 weeks each summer, as well as his Adult Recess program, which received the 2024 Regional Agency of the Year Award for Program Outreach from the Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association.

Around Town

Local Podcast: Meet a Local Cookie Maker & the Director of Watertown Cable

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Elan Rohde

Podcast host Matt Hanna spoke with the woman behind one of Watertown’s favorite cookie makers, and also caught up with the executive director of Watertown Cable. Find out more about these episodes of Little Local Conversations. In “Little Local Conversations,” discover the people, places, stories, and ideas of Watertown. Hanna has conversations with various businesses owners, community leaders, creatives, and other interesting folks in Watertown to learn about what they do and get to know a bit about the people behind the work. 

Elan Rohde

Meet Elan Rohde! She’s the owner of Campolongo Cookie Company right here in Watertown.

Around Town

Coming to the Mosesian Center: Live Music, Classes, Call for Artists

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Mosesian Center for the Arts has live performances as well as classes on writing, and preparing for your audition coming up. Also, a call for artists. See more information below. Mosesian Arts Live, Art of Jazz: SheGrooves

This Wednesday, December 18 at 7:30 PM, Art of Jazz brings a powerful group of women musicians dedicated to elevating and celebrating the female experience. SheGrooves is an eclectic mix of pop, rock jazz and r&b, and for this performance, they will showcase holiday favorites and more! Click here for tickets

Call for Artists

The year 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the time when Armenian American artist Arshile Gorky lived in Watertown, and the Mosesian Center for the Arts will be a part of town-wide events honoring Gorky’s work.

Around Town

Watertown Receives Grant to Evaluate ADA Accessibility

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Watertown City Hall

The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown is pleased to announce it has been awarded the Massachusetts Office on Disability’s (MOD) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self Evaluation and Transition Planning grant! A recipient of the MOD’s planning grant award, Watertown will utilize the funds to conduct an evaluation of all City programs, services, and buildings, and their accessibility and compliance with ADA standards. As Watertown works to improve its access across all of its services, this grant funds the support to appropriately identify the barriers that might be impacting equal access to our City. Once the self-evaluation is completed, the City will develop a Transition Plan which will consist of all the barriers to equal access that were identified in the self-evaluation, along with a timeline for and plan for removing them. This is a significant step in making Watertown accessible to all, and Watertown’s ADA Coordinator Patrick George speak to what this means for Watertown and our residents: “The City is grateful to receive this grant.

Around Town

City Releases Final Version of Health and Human Services Report

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The City of Watertown provided the following announcement. The City of Watertown is excited to announce the release of the Health and Human Services Assessment Final Report! You can read the report today, which includes an analysis of the existing health and human services available in Watertown, an identification of gaps between needs and services, a series of recommendations made by the experts at Health Management Associates to the City of Watertown, and much more! You’re also encouraged to stay up to date at the City of Watertown’s website for the next steps of this report in the coming weeks and months!