Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Reduced Barriers to Playing Youth Sports

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

For the fourth year, the Watertown Community Foundation has provided financial support to Watertown’s youth sports leagues so any child can participate, regardless of ability to pay. With support from The Bilezikian Family Foundation, NESN, and Arsenal Yards, the Foundation awarded a total of $9,000. Grantees include Watertown’s Challenger Baseball Program, Youth Baseball and Softball Program, Youth Basketball Program, Youth Football and Cheer Program, and Youth Hockey. Summer registration is currently open for many of these programs.

For families in need, youth sports league registration fees can be an insurmountable barrier. In the 2024 season WCF’s youth sport grants will cover fees for up to 60 families with children who would like to play, enabling participation regardless of a family’s ability to pay.

Entertainment

Small Saves Celebrates a Shut Out in This Week’s Cartoon

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James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net. Combining this with the love of cartooning Small Saves emerged in 1991 and took on a life of his own. “To play goal – then come home and draw Small Saves — is my ideal definition of a good day.”

Around Town

Town Wide Yard Sale is This Weekend, See a List of Participating Homes

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Watertown Community Education’s 2024 Town Wide Yard Sale is Saturday, June 8, 2024 & Sunday June 9, 2024, rain or shine. There will not be a rain date. Come & find your neighbors’ hidden treasures! Household Items, Children’s Items, Furniture, Antiques, Clothing, Jewelry, Toys, Collectibles, Records, Vintage Goods, Handmade Crafts, and more! See the list of participating houses.

Around Town

OP-ED: Casting a Better Vision for Galen Street

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As Southside Residents, we are excited to see the Watertown Square Area Plan’s investments in our neighborhood. We appreciate the Watertown Square Area Plan’s focus on making this area a destination. That kind of investment is sorely needed—and the residents of this neighborhood deserve better. Since the arrival of the Mass Turnpike back in the 1960’s, Galen Street has become an extended Pike frontage road for Exit 17, catering towards cut through commuters from Belmont and beyond, rather than Watertown Southside residents. As a result, Galen Street is overloaded with gas stations and tire shops, all oriented towards commuters.

Around Town

Watertown’s Fourth Annual Juneteenth Celebration Will be on June 16

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Juneteenth Committee:

Don’t Forget Watertown’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration is Sunday June 16 from 2-4 p.m. at 114 Riverside St. in Watertown.  

The Juneteenth Committee and Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment invite you to come and celebrate our Black African American history with popsicles, bingo, music and more!  

“Juneteenth may mark just one moment in the struggle for emancipation, but the holiday gives us an occasion to reflect on the profound contributions of enslaved Black Americans to the cause of human freedom.” —Jamelle Bouie

Any questions email Teo and Ephiteo@volunteer.outlook.com or Tiffany trosewhite@gmail.com. 

Around Town

LETTER: It’s All About Control and What Our Community Wants

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I recently read the article in Watertown News, dated May 16, 2024, entitled: What to Expect at Next Watertown Square Meeting, Manager will Also Discuss Zoning on Prior Day. The meeting at Watertown Middle School auditorium (68 Waverley Avenue) on June 13th at 6:00 p.m. that is highlighted is an important one. More to come on that. Let me quote Mr. Proakis in that Watertown News article: “(The MBTA Communities Law number) is not a production goal, it is not a production expectation. That is not, you know, thou shalt build 1,700 units or some other number — 3,100 units or whatever it might be,” Proakis said.

Around Town

See the Special Broadcast on Zoning Featuring the City Manager

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The City of Watertown provided the following information:

In case you missed it! Watch City Manager George Proakis’s special broadcast on zoning produced by WCA-TV and the City of Watertown! George presented live on WCA-TV about how zoning works, how it can benefit communities, and its limits as well, before answering questions submitted directly by Watertown residents. If you liked this broadcast and would like to see more like it, please let us know via email at tcote@watertown-ma.gov so that we can explore new topics and presentations to bring to the Watertown community in the future!

Around Town

Road Near High School Construction Site Closing for 2 Days

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown’s project management firm, Vertex:

As we continue to progress the new high school project, Brait Builders and their subcontractors are planning to continue new utility work in Broadway this Thursday 6/6 and Friday 6/7.  This will require that we close the road to through traffic from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. from the intersection of Broadway and Columbia Street to Russell Avenue. 

Residents of that area of the street will have access to and from their driveways. The contractor will have someone there to ensure safe access as needed. As a quick update, today the project reaches another milestone as we install the topping off beam on the Common Street side of the building. Things continue to progress well overall and we move towards being enclosed and weathertight this Fall.