Around Town

LETTER: Library’s Survey Missing a Key Language in Watertown

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Letter to the Editor:

The Watertown Free Public Library’s efforts to gather community input for its 2026–28 Strategic Plan are commendable and reflect a genuine desire to serve the needs of residents. However, as a former resident of Watertown, I was surprised and disappointed to see that Armenian is not among the survey’s available languages (“Watertown Library’s Survey Will Help Plan for the Future,” Jan. 6, Watertown News). Estimates suggest that Armenians make up around 20 percent of Watertown’s population, making Armenian one of the most widely spoken minority languages in the town. The Armenian community has been vital to Watertown’s cultural and social fabric for decades, contributing to its unique identity.

Around Town

Major Watertown Street Closed Tuesday Due to a Water Emergency

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One of Watertown’s major roadways will be closed to do emergency repair work, according to an announcement from the City of Watertown sent out at 9 a.m. Tuesday. The announcement reads:

Due to emergency water repairs, Pleasant Street is closed in both directions from Myrtle Street to Cross Street today, January 7, 2025. 

Around Town

Watertown Fitness Studio Running Free Mini Classes During Open House

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Watertown’s Fly Together Fitness will host free mini classes during an open studio Jan. 12 from 1-4 p.m.

Fly Together provided the following information:

Curious about pole fitness or the new movement spaces in Somerville and Watertown? Join us for a family-friendly open house at our Watertown location (100 Parker Street, Watertown, MA) to learn about our studio and community, take a FREE mini class or two, and grab some great Intro Package deals! ⁠We’re excited to share our pole and movement philosophy with you. Whether you’re looking to execute impressive pole tricks, build strength, endurance, and flexibility, unleash your sensual side, or just dance like no one’s watching, there’s something for you at Fly Together Fitness! 

⁠All attendees are entered into a 3 class package raffle to help warm up your day.

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Watertown Library’s Survey Will Help Plan for the Future

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Watertown LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. The Watertown Library wants to hear from the public as it plans for the future. A survey has been posted on the Library’s website and is also available at the Library in seven languages. The survey includes a number of questions and comment boxes. Some of the topics covered in the survey include the following:

Evaluating StaffRating the Building and FacilitiesGeneral Services and Experiences Most Important to the Survey TakerRating Collections and ServicesWhat would you love to see at WFPL?

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Drainage Installation at Mt. Auburn St. & Arlington St. Intersection to Begin This Week

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Work on the Mt. Auburn Street reconstruction project will restart in the New Year. See details in the announcement from the City of Watertown. Drainage Installation Work ContinuesNewport Construction is continuing to complete the drainage installation work along Mount Auburn Street, next beginning their work at the Arlington Street intersection and moving toward Watertown Square on Monday, January 6, 2025. Work will happen between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday through Friday.

Around Town

Community Preservation Committee Recommends Funding Affordable Housing Project

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A rendering of the proposed Willow Park Housing development. An affordable housing project got a boost from the Watertown Community Preservation Committee, which voted to recommend that Community Preservation Act money be used to help fund the project in East Watertown. CPA funds come from a surcharge on Watertown property tax bills, and the money can be used for historic preservation, open space and outdoor recreation, and affordable housing projects. See details in the announcement from the CPC, below. At a special meeting on Dec.

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See What Title the Library Selected for the 2025 One Book, One Watertown

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The Watertown Free Public Library revealed the title for this year’s One Book, One Watertown. See the announcement below. What happens when we study delight? This year’s One Book, One Watertown selection, Ross Gay’s The Book of Delights, invites us to do just that. We hope you’ll take part in the Watertown Free Public Library’s annual community read! Ross Gay is many things – a New York Times bestselling poet and writer, a winner of prestigious awards, a teacher, a gardener, a skateboarder, a Midwesterner, a partner, a friend, a son, a pick up basketball player, a loiterer, a lover of high-fives, and a student of delight.