Around Town

Watertown Business Coalition Hosting the First Annual Pizza Fest

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Business Coalition:

Calling all pizza lovers! The Watertown Business Coalition (WBC) is thrilled to announce THE FIRST ANNUAL PIZZA FEST! From September 5 to 12, residents are encouraged to head to their favorite pizza spot and experience the great pizza served here in the City! 

Participating restaurants thus far include Bar ‘Cino, Gigi’s Pizza Co., Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Johnnie’s Pizza & Wings, Red Lentil Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant, Stella’s Pizza, Sevan Bakery, Little Family Pizza, West on Main, and Gerry’s Italian Kitchen. 

Participants can visit their favorite spots, and try some new ones, and then vote online. The winner will receive the Golden Slice trophy at the Faire on the Square, on Sept. 13 at Saltonstall Park.

Transportation

MBTA Will Start Fare Checks, Warnings & Fines in September

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Charlie BreitroseAn MBTA Bus on Mt. Auburn Street. The following information was provided by MassDOT:

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) announced that fare checks as the part of its Fare Engagement Program will soon begin within the subway system. Beginning September 8, Fare Engagement Representatives will begin issuing formal warnings and citations to riders who have not tapped at a fare gate or farebox. More information is available at mbta.com/FareCheck.  

“Our riders deserve a safe and reliable mass transportation system that is available for them when they need it.

Around Town

Tour the Businesses of the West End & Victory Field During Walk N Talk

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The Watertown Business Coalition and Live Well Watertown invite you to join the August Walk N Talk around the West End and also find out about the renovations going on at Victory Field. See more information from the WBC below. Take a look around the businesses of the West End of Watertown, Thursday, Aug. 28, 10 a.m.

We will meet at Quebrada Baking, 281 Orchard St. Please park on the street if you are driving.

Around Town

Sidewalk Construction Continues on One Side of Mt. Auburn Street

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Work this week on the Mt. Auburn Street Project includes construction of sidewalks and drainage work in the East End of town. See more information from the City of Watertown below. Curb Installation & Sidewalk Concrete Pouring

Curb installation and sidewalk concrete pouring will take place on the westbound side of Mount Auburn Street, between Belmont Street and Keenan Street, on Monday, August 25, 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Details on travel and parking impacts are provided below. Traffic and Sidewalk Impacts

The westbound sidewalk will be closed for curb installation and sidewalk concrete pouring starting Monday, August 25, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. A bypass sidewalk on the westbound side will be opened up while this work is being completed.Traffic on Mount Auburn Street will be narrowed and you can expect lane shifts, however traffic will be maintained in both directions. Entrances to driveways and parking lots will be maintained.

Around Town

Construction Beginning Soon at Victory Field Oval, Courts Area

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The track, tennis courts and basketball courts at Victory Field will soon close until next year while Victory Field Phase II improvements are made. The City of Watertown sent out the following information. Construction at Victory Field is starting next week improve the track, grass field, tennis courts, basketball courts, and more. These areas will be closed to the public while work in on-going. Victory Field’s multi-purpose turf field will remain open, as will the playground along Orchard Street.

Around Town

Health Department Received More Than 100 Rodent Complaints, Body Work Regulations Begin

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Watertown’s Health Department has received more than 100 complaints about rodents since the beginning of the trash strike. At their meeting the Board of Health also heard about the start of the City’s body work regulations, and approved a life science company’s permit. A short Board of Health Meeting on Aug. 20 concluded without any conversation about newly proposed tobacco regulations, but did see a permit approval and some general Health Department updates. Talks about the regulations did not progress as Board of Health member Kim Netter was recovering from a medical issue so was unable to vote, and member Dominic Amirtharaj was not able to attend the meeting.

Weather

Weather Forecast: Warmer Days This Weekend, Rain Possible

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Cooler than normal, low-humidity conditions continue through midweek before temperatures rebound into the weekend. A midweek storm system brings widespread rain, then Hurricane Erin passes well southeast of New England on Friday, producing no direct impacts inland but stirring up rough surf, rip currents, and gusty winds across Cape Cod and the Islands. For most of Eastern Massachusetts, the pattern turns warmer and drier over the weekend. Another front brings a chance of showers late Sunday into Monday, followed by a return to seasonable and pleasant late summer weather midweek. Friday, August 22 – Mostly sunny inland, windy for the Cape and Islands

Hurricane Erin passes far offshore, too distant for direct rain or wind inland.

Around Town

Watertown Resident Joins Action for Boston Community Development as VP

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Karl Green

The following announcement was provided by the Action for Boston Community Development:

Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) is pleased to announce the appointment of Karl Green of Watertown as vice president of administration. In this role, he leads the strategy, development, and implementation of administrative procedures for information technology services, office services, property management and purchasing departments. 

ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler cited Karl’s diverse background as an administrator. “Karl’s multifaceted experience across the higher education, financial services, and commercial real estate industries brings so much value to ABCD,” she said. “Our programs, services and business holdings touch many of these areas, and I am glad to have him onboard.” 

Before joining ABCD, Green served as assistant vice president at Boston University where he formulated and executed strategic initiatives aligning operational units with university objectives, resulting in notable efficiency gains and cost reductions. 

At SBM Management, through his strategic leadership, Green developed program workflows and established robust processes for the soft services program, aligned with corporate growth goals. He also held director of operations roles at Cushman & Wakefield and the New England Institute of Art,  and served as regional business services manager at CBRE on the Goldman Sachs account. 

Beyond his professional work, Green is an active speaker and mentor in the community, committed to transforming organizations into collaborative environments where employees can share ideas and develop innovative solutions.