Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/more/)
The Christmas holiday will impact hours at for Watertown’s municipal facilities, including City Hall, the Library, the Senior Center and the Department of Public Works. See information below. Watertown City Hall
Closing at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 24
Closed Wednesday, Dec. 25
Watertown Free Public Library
Closing at noon Tuesday, Dec.
A coating of flour can be seen on the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway path and fence that sit in the shadow of the silos of Newly Weds Foods. The flour was released from the factory on Dec. 12. (Contributed Photo)
Residents of one East End neighborhood woke up last week to what appeared to be a coating of snow, but what was falling from the sky for several hours was not flakes but flour. The flour came from the nearby Newly Weds Foods factory, located on Grove Street and abutting a neighborhood off Mt.
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.
Check out the homes hosting open houses this week. 12 Walnut St. #B, $1,675,000, 4 bedroom 4 bathroom 2,859 sq. ft. Townhouse, Open houses: Saturday, Dec.
The U.S. Attorney’s office in Massachusetts provided the following announcement about the New York man arrested in the parking lot of the Watertown Home Depot for allegedly selling drugs to a federal informant. Members of the Watertown Police assisted in the operation. See the announcement below. A New York City man has been arrested and charged for allegedly distributing multiple kilograms of fentanyl in the greater Boston area that he transported from New York. Cesar Nunez Lopez, 42, was charged with three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
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.
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.
Some of the toys collected for the 2024 Sonny Whooley Foundation. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
The mission given to 40 Watertown police officers and firefighters Tuesday morning was to fill boxes full of gifts, and then deliver them to more than 150 families around the Community. They had their choice of hundreds of toys, games, balls, even bicycles that filled the Community Room at the Watertown Police Station. All were donated to or purchased with funds given to the John “Sonny” Whooley Foundation, named after a former Watertown Police officer who would raise money and give it to families in need during the holidays. Watertown Police Justin Chief Hanrahan looked over the hive of activity as people packed boxes with gifts.
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.
