Around Town

Live Well Watertown Hosting Walks in July

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The City of Watertown’s Live Well Watertown will host weekly walks on Thursdays. In July and August the walks begin at 10 a.m. See the schedule below. July Walk Schedule

July 10 ~ Wellness Walk

Meetup:  Saltonstall Park’s red brick plaza, next to City Hall, 149 Main StreetJoin Stephanie Venizelos, Community Wellness Manager, and Kristina Courage, Certified Fitness Trainer, for a mindful morning walk and series of balancing exercises. July 17 ~ Public Arts & Culture Walk / Project Save Photograph Archive -https://projectsave.org

Meetup:  Thomas J. Cannalonga Memorial Park, 480 Pleasant St.Join in a walk to visit Project Save Photograph Archive on Pleasant St. Executive Director Arto Vaun will show us the space and talk about the 50 years of the project and the stories of the 80,000 photographs archived there. 

July 24 ~ Walk N Talkin collaboration with Watertown Business Coalition (WBC), this event will spotlight businesses in Watertown Square.

Around Town

Trash Collection Resumes, Emergency Trash Option Available

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Watertown DPWTrash and recycling pickups resumed Monday. Republic Services resumed trash and recycling pickup on Monday, while contract negotiations continue. Residents who have overflowing garbage bins can drop off items at a drop off location. Trash can be dropped off at 148 Waltham St. on Tuesday, July 8 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., City officials announced Monday.

Obituaries

OBIT: Thomas Tripp, 57, Passion for Science, Avid Sci Fi Fan

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Tom Tripp

Thomas Tripp of Watertown passed away unexpectedly on June 24th at the age of 57. He is predeceased by his parents, father Thomas and mother and stepfather Peggy and Peter Koutsos. He is survived by his sister, Debra Charboneau of Norton, her husband Alan, and their sons Alan and Brandon. Beloved by his aunt Marsha Corwin of Dennis and friends across the globe. He had a life-long passion for science which led him to earn a biology degree from Boston College.

Around Town

Community Preservation Committee Accepting Applications for 2026

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The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is accepting project applications for the FY 2026 funding round. Do you have an idea for an open space/outdoor recreation improvement, the preservation of a historic, or how to create affordable housing. Learn how to turn your good idea into a successful Community Preservation Act (CPA) project application. Key Dates

Community Preservation Act Clinic Hours: 

July 2025

9th – 10am, 10:30am, 11am and 11:30am

10th – 12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm, 3pm

14th – 1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm, 3pm, 3:30pm, 4pm

16th – 10am, 10:30am, 11am, 11:30am

21st – 1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm, 3pm, 3:30pm, 4pm

July 25, 2025 – Project Eligibility Forms Due

October 16, 2025 – CPA Funding Applications Due

Please visit the CPC webpage for more information, click How to Apply for links to application instructions and application documents. To schedule a CPA clinic appointment or if you have questions, please contact Lanae Handy, Community Preservation Coordinator at lhandy@watertown-ma.gov or 617-715-8620.

Around Town

Arsenal Park Picnic, Pavilion Permit Applications Now Available

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Arsenal Park’s renovation is nearly complete and the Watertown Recreation Department will accept permit applications for picnics and the pavilion. See more in the Recreation Department’s announcement, below. Watertown Recreation is now accepting Picnic & Pavilion Permit Applications! 

Reservations are available for dates on or after July 16th, 2025 — we are not accepting reservations for earlier dates. We’re excited to roll out new pricing and brand-new Pavilion rental options (includes multiple picnic tables and more)! Filippello Park reservations now require their own specific application.

Around Town

Teamsters Union Releases Statement About Trash Strike

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The following announcement was provided by Teamsters Local 25:

Following a strike vote that passed by more than 90 percent on Monday, members of Teamsters Local 25 at Republic Services are about to conclude their first week of the work stoppage without a fair offer from the company. 

The overwhelming vote to strike was caused by Republic‘s refusal to agree to pay the same wages and benefits that have been negotiated by Local 25 at Capitol Waste and Star Waste Systems, the trash behemoth’s major competitors in Eastern Massachusetts. “This strike is all about fairness, equity, and maintaining the area standards established by Local 25,” said Thomas G. Mari, President of Local 25. “I have never seen a group of workers who are so united and committed to making certain they are able to enjoy the same pay and benefits as people who are doing the exact same job at another employer.”

Republic has never indicated in any negotiating sessions that it cannot afford to pay the wages and health insurance provided by its competitors. In fact, Republic Services — the second-largest sanitation company in North America — enjoyed total revenue of $16 billion in 2024, a nearly six percent increase over the year prior. The firm also returned $1.18 billion to shareholders and close to $13 million to its CEO.

Weather

Weather Forecast: Sunny Fourth Followed by Classic Summer Weather

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The upcoming stretch features a classic run of summer weather. After a hot, stormy start to the week, a cold front clears the region just in time for Independence Day, ushering in drier and more comfortable air. High pressure then dominates much of the holiday weekend, keeping skies mostly sunny and humidity at bay. Another warm-up arrives by Sunday into Monday, with 90°F possible again and a slight uptick in storm chances. While a few showers may pop up later in the week, widespread rain looks unlikely.

Transportation

MBTA Offering Free Fares on Night of Fourth of July

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The following announcement was provided by the MBTA:

The MBTA announced that fares will again be free this year on bus, subway, ferry, Commuter Rail, and the RIDE on Friday, July 4, 2025, after 8:30 PM. Boston is regularly predicted to host over a million visitors for the July 4 holiday. To accommodate increased ridership, the MBTA is encouraging travelers to plan their commute in advance and reminding riders of its holiday service schedules. The public is encouraged to take public transportation to and from the 2025 Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular and to other holiday events. The MBTA’s July 4 service schedules continue to be available at mbta.com/holidays.  

“Public transportation in Massachusetts keeps growing because of the bold investments of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the partnership of local leaders, and the tireless work of our transit teams,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt.