Around Town

Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance Starts Soon, See How to Get Your Free Bag

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On Saturday, July 1, 2017, Watertown’s Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance will take effect, meaning that single-use plastic bags will no longer be given out by stores. The group that originally proposed the new rules will provide free bags to residents and has spread the word about the new ordinance. The ordinance first came to the Town Council from the ReThink Plastic citizen’s group more than four years ago. The Council’s Rules & Ordinances subcommittee worked with members of ReThink Plastic to draft the ordinance that was ultimately approved by the Town Council in June 2016. “The Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance will help make Watertown a healthier place to live and will help reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the Charles River and in our trees and parks,” said ReThink Plastic member Eileen Ryan.

Environment

Watertown High Grad Playing in Lacrosse National Title Game With Merrimack

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This weekend, Watertown’s Danny Loprete will take the field at Gillette Stadium with his Merrimack College teammates to play for the NCAA Div. II lacrosse national championship. 

The WHS graduate is a senior on the Warriors team which will make the school’s first ever appearance in the national championship game. The midfielder and face-off man scored two goals and had two assists this year. He also won 56 of 101 face offs and 26 ground balls. Merrimack, ranked fourth nationally, beat No.

Environment

LETTER: River Clean Up Removed Trash, Items Already Re-accumulating

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To the Editor:

Two weeks after the Annual Charles River Cleanup, April 29, I went back to the area behind the Stop & Shop, 700 Pleasant Street.  On the day of the Cleanup, members of Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice and the Environment hauled from the banks of the river bags and bags of trash, including a large car part identified as a catalytic converter. By noon the area looked immaculate. On my follow-up visit, trash had started to re-accumulate. Back again along the banks were scatterings of sanitizing wipes and advertising flyers.

Environment

New Tree Planted in Watertown Square to Honor Watertown’s Tree Warden

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A tree grows in Watertown Square – and it’s no ordinary tree. This tree honors Watertown’s own Tree Warden, Chris Hayward, for being named Massachusetts Tree Warden of the Year. 

Hayward received the Tree Warden of the Year award from the Massachusetts Tree Wardens and Foresters Association earlier this year, and as part of the award he got to have a tree planted in his town in his honor. On Wednesday morning, a white fir was planted on the Watertown Square Delta, just a stone’s throw from the bus stop. A couple dozen people came to congratulate him, including co-workers, elected officials, residents and his wife, mother and mother- and father-in-laws. The evergreen is about 10 feet tall, but it could grow to several times that height in about 80 years time.

Environment

Town Looking for Ways to Reduce Amount of Water Going into Storm Drains

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The Town of Watertown has multiple incentives to reduce the amount of rain water flowing into storm drains and eventually into the Charles River, including preventing street flooding and reducing the amount of pollution going into the river – which will be part of the new and stricter Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements. The EPA requirements come out in Jul and the town will receive a new permit which will include more stringent requirements to reduce pollution of the river. The Department of Public Works seeks to find ways to prevent rain water from running down streets and driveways into storm drains, and out into the Charles River, because stormwater is a major cause of pollution in the river. Sometimes small storms can be worse for pollution than bigger ones, Shuman said. “We call it the first flush,” Shuman said. “The first quarter inch of rain picks up all the pollutants from the roads and it runs into the storm drains.”

Environment

Group Cleaning Up Charles River Before Heading to Climate Rally in Boston

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A group will be cleaning trash out of the Charles River on Saturday, and seeks volunteers. They will also be attending a rally in Boston for Climate Mobilization

Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice and the Environment sent out the following announcement:

Plastic Bags are littering the banks of the Charles River. Let’s clean them up before they reach the oceans. Charles River Cleanup Saturday, April 29 from 9 a.m. to noon. Join Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice and the Environment partnering with Stop & Shop to clean the banks.

Environment

Conservation Commission Looking at Stormwater, Path Projects at Arsenal Mall

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Representatives from the owners of the Arsenal Yards will appear for the second time before the Conservation Commission this week seeking approval for a path and a stormwater system which would change the landscape and require removing and replacing trees in the area. The Conservation Commission meets Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the Lower Hearing Room in Town Hall. They will discuss the project that would be within the 200-foot buffer from the Charles River, which falls under the Conservation Commission’s authority. Approximately 58,000 of land would be temporarily impacted by stormwater and regrading work located in the northwest corner of the parking lot. The area does not have stormwater treatment, currently.

Environment

Watertown’s Tree Warden Receives Statewide Recognition

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Watertown’s Tree Warden received statewide recognition for his work. 

Chris Hayward, who serves as tree warden as well as the Conservation/Preservation Agent, received the 2017 Seth H. Swift Tree Warden of the Year from the Massachusetts Tree Wardens and Foresters Association. The Tree Warden of the Year Award recognizes a tree warden who exhibits leadership, dedication, and a commitment to the profession. The annual award is named in honor of longtime member and past president Seth “Swifty” Swift, who passed away January 1, 2004. Hayward, who has worked for the town for nearly 12 years, said he was honored to receive the award, which he noted is not given every year. “I was surprised,” Hayward said.