Weather

Weather Forecast: A Couple Sunny Days Followed by Scattered Showers, Temps in Low 80s

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After one final burst of heat and humidity on Thursday, a cold front ushers in a more comfortable and seasonable pattern. Friday and Saturday look beautiful with sunshine, drier air, and lower dew points. A brief uptick in humidity returns Sunday with clouds and the chance for scattered showers. Early next week features pleasant summer weather with sunshine and average July temperatures. By mid to late week, warmth and humidity slowly build again, with a few chances for afternoon storms as another front approaches.

Around Town

Trash Strike: 6 Communities Seek Assistance in Court; Watertown Bringing in Help to Collect Trash, Recycling

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A Watertown trash bin. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

As the trash strike reaches 17 days, half a dozen affected communities have gone to court seeking assistance dealing with issues arising due to the strike. A complaint seeking injunctive relief from Republic Services to abate the public health problems resulting from the strike was filed Thursday by municipal leaders from Beverly, Gloucester, Malden, Peabody, Danvers and Canton in Essex County Superior Court in Salem, reports WCVB Channel 5. Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill sent an announcement to residents about the legal action, and noted that Beverly plans to assess Republic for liquidated damages for trash and recycling not being picked up, or delayed collection. Beverly plans to withhold the amount from its next payment to Republic Services.

Around Town

Visit Businesses South of the Charles River During Walk N Talk

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Charlie BreitroseThe Charles River from Watertown Square

The Watertown Business Coalition and Live Well Watertown will host a Walk N Talk of Watertown Square, south of the Charles River. The Watertown Square Walk N Talk will take place on Thursday, July 24 and stops include the new life science building at 66 Galen Street, Dallas Insurance, Farina’s Bicycle Shop, 1st Yard Barbers, and the City’s Parker Annex Building. The walk begins at 10 a.m. Meet and park at the Parker Annex Building (former school next to Casey Park) at 124 Watertown St. Register here! The Walk N Talk, co-sponsored with Live Well Watertown, provides an opportunity to engage with fellow community members, support local Watertown businesses and participate in physical activity.

Around Town

City Manager Talks About Trash Strike; Contract Negotiations Have Stalled

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Trash bins in Watertown. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

City Manager George Proakis spent more of his vacation than expected talking about trash, the strike, and how to deal with collection while Republic Services and Teamsters Local 25 negotiate a contract. The two sides met Tuesday, the 11th negotiating session, but did not come up with an agreement. In the meantime, Watertown and around a dozen other communities have been trying to make sure trash is collected. Proakis spoke to Watertown News at Tuesday’s grand opening of the renovated Arsenal Park, after returning from his time away from town.

Around Town

City Holding Hearing for Proposed Removal of 8 Trees

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Watertown’s Tree Warden will be holding a Shade Tree Removal Hearing f0r the proposed removal of eight trees on Keith Street. The trees are proposed to be removed due to home construction. The hearing will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, July, 22 at 10 a.m.

The species and Diameter at Breast Height (DBH):

Two (2) Norway Maples (5” DBH)

Three (3) Norway Maples (4”DBH)

One (1) Norway Maple (3”DBH)

One (1) American Elm (5”DBH)

One (1) American Elm (3”DBH)

The Zoom link is: https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/81211901286Questions or concerns regarding this posting should be directed to the Tree Warden’s office at 617-972-6420 or email: mmicieli@watertown-ma.gov

Around Town

2025 Watertown Election Includes Races for City Council, School Committee & Library Trustees

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Candidates pulled papers to challenge for seats on the Watertown City Council, School Committee, and Board of Library Trustees in the 2025 Watertown City Election. At least one incumbent on each of the boards will not be running, and there will be new faces on all three. The City Election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and there will be no preliminary election. Councilor-At-Large John Airasian, will not be seeking reelection.

Around Town

Focus on Missed Trashed Pickups, Drop Off Site Open for Trash & Recycling All Week

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Watertown DPWCurbside composting toters, like the one on the left, will be part of the Watertown trash and recycling program starting in August. On Monday, replacement crews during the trash strike continued to collect any missed pickups from last week, so Monday pickups may not all be collected on July 14. The City will keep the drop off area for trash and recycling open from Monday to Friday during the week of July 14, with a limit of three bags of trash or equivalent recycling. City officials also requested that residents wait 48 hours to report a missed pickup as crews try to catch up. See below the update from the City of Watertown regarding trash and recycling curbside pickup:

Republic Services is doing trash and recycling curbside pickup today, Monday, July 14, 2025, completing any final missed pickups reported from Thursday and Friday of last week.

Around Town

Planning Board Approves Accessory Unit in Carriage House Under ADU Ordinance

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Types of accessory dwelling units, also called ADUs. (Graphic from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities)

The Watertown Planning Board has decided to conditionally approve a Site Plan Review for a new accessory dwelling unit (ADU) within the carriage house on a property on Hovey Street after a brief meeting on July 9. An ADU, as per the City of Watertown Ordinance Guidelines, is a “self-contained housing unit that includes sleeping, cooking, and sanitary facilities on the same lot as the principal house or apartment building.”

A recent ruling at the state level, part of the Affordable Homes Act of 2024, has allowed the construction of ADUs – which must be under 900 sq. ft. – to be built “by-right” in any single-family zoning districts, though this generally means any district where single-family homes are allowed either by-right or by special permit.