Around Town

Watertown Cable Show Focuses on Accessory Dwelling Units & Upcoming Community Dialogue

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Cliff Cook (far right) from the Watertown Affordable Housing Trust, and Allison Eck, of Watertown Community Converstations, talked about the upcoming ADU Community Dialogue with Inside Watertown hosts Bob Airasian (left) and Charlie Breitrose. (Screenshot from Watertown Cable)

The latest episode of Inside Watertown focused on the discussion over accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are sometimes called in-law units or granny units. The guests on the Watertown Cable show talked about the upcoming community dialogue

Cliff Cook, a member of the Watertown Affordable Housing Trust, explained what ADUs are, and how Watertown has complied with the State’s recently added zoning requirement to allow the units. However, the input from the dialogue will help City officials decide if Watertown wants to go farther and allow ADUs in more situations. The Community Dialogue on Monday, March 24 will be led by Watertown Community Conversations (WCC), explained Allison Eck, a facilitator with WCC.

Around Town

Watertown Restaurants to be Featured at Chamber’s Spring Seasonings: A Taste of Our Towns

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Cha Yen Thai Cookery is one of several Watertown Restaurants that will be serving their dishes at the Charles River Chamber’s Spring Seasonings event. (Contributed Photo)

Watertown’s vibrant restaurant scene will be on full display at Spring Seasonings: A Taste of Our Towns, happening on Monday, April 7, from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Newton Marriott. Hosted by the Charles River Regional Chamber and presented by The Village Bank, the event brings together top culinary talents from across the region. This year, Watertown’s lineup of participating restaurants and beverage vendors includes:

● Bar ‘Cino● Cha Yen Thai Cookery● NAYA● Not Your Average Joe’s● Nzuko● Olespana● Ritcey East● Sensational Foods

Max and Chelsea Ritcey served up food from Watertown restaurant Ritcey East at the Charles River Chamber’s Spring Seasonings. (Photo from Charles River Chamber)

Visit charlesriverchamber.com/spring-seasonings for a full preview of the 40+ restaurants, beer, wine and liquor shops who will be sampling small bites and sips on April 7.

Around Town

Mosesian Center for the Arts Searching for New Executive Director

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The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:

The Dororthy and Charles Mosesian Center for the Arts (MCA) is searching for a new Executive Director. Since September 2024, former Executive Director, Roberta Miller, has been serving in an interim capacity pro bono. The MCA, like most community arts organizations, is still recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Roberta’s return in a pro bono capacity has been essential to the re-stabilization of the organization. Over its 20-year history, the MCA has inspired artists, students, and audiences to create, appreciate, participate in, and grow through the arts. The MCA is the home to the Actors’ Shakespeare Project, open mic nights, improv classes for adults and children, art classes for all ages, a robust visual arts gallery program, and the Watertown Children’s Theater.

Around Town

Hear About the Watertown Printer Who Played an Important Role in the American Revolution

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The following announcement was provided by the Historical Society of Watertown:

The Historical Society of Watertown & the Watertown Free Public Library Presents: “The Press and the American Revolution and Watertown’s most famous printer, Benjamin Edes,” a slide show and talk by Gary Gregory. Without the printing presses of Boston, we wouldn’t have had a revolution! Why was Boston such a hot bed of sedition and incubator of the American Revolution? How did the printing press impact Boston’s rise to rebellion? How were newspapers produced and by whom?

Around Town

FY26-30 Five Year Capital Plan Includes Funds for Middle School Project, Roads, and Renovating Victory Field

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Watertown’s five-year capital plan for Fiscal Years 2026-30 by the has 51 items, including replacing Watertown Middle School, road repair, and renovating parts of the Victory Field complex. The City Council voted to recommend the budget be included in City Manager George Proakis’ Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget. For FY26 the total proposed capital spending is $38.49 million, which includes $23.2 million in school building projects. The cost is covered by tax revenue, state dollars, grants, and borrowing. Based on the revised FY26 revenue projection, the total proposed FY26 capital spending would be 17.9 percent of the $215 million operating budget, or 7.1 percent without the school building projects, known as “Building for the Future.”

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Registration for Watertown Recreation’s Spring & Summer Programs Opening Soon

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Registration will open on March 19 for Watertown Recreation’s spring and summer programs, including the Pequossette Summer Program. Programs are available for kids, teens, and adults, including: pickleball, tennis, arts, Pokemon Adventure Club, archery, zumba, skateboarding, fencing, pilates, summer sports clinics, the summer adult basketball leagues and more. See the announcement sent out by the Recreation Department below. Get ready! Our Spring and Summer Program registration begins next Wednesday 3/19 at 10:00am Mark your calendars!

Around Town

Brigham House Invites Families to Annual Spring Egg Hunt

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Brigham House will be hosting a “Spring Egg Hunt” open to families with young children. See the announcement provided by Brigham House below. Hop on over four our annual Spring Egg Hunt. J0in us rain or shine for some Egg-citing fun! Saturday, April 12th, 10-11:30 a.m.

Open to all families with young children.

Around Town

Watertown Group Hosting Discussion Called “Religious Leaders Speak Out About the Injustices in Palestine”

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace & Common Security:

The Watertown Citizens for Peace & Common Security is sponsoring a panel discussion of five Christian Ministers for our talk entitled: Religious Leaders Speak Out About The Injustices in Palestine. Christian and Unitarian Universalist clergy will offer perspectives on the unjust circumstances that have been and continue to be imposed on the Palestinian people of Gaza and elsewhere in historic Palestine. Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 2:30pm

Location: The Church of the Good Shepherd                9 Russell Ave., Watertown, MA 02472

The speakers are:

Rev. Ashlee  Wiest-Laird, American Baptist/Alliance of Baptists Pastor, First Baptist Church; Jamaica Plain MA

The Rev. Peter J. Miano,  United Methodist, Executive Director, The Society for Biblical Studies,  Arlington MA

Rev. Korte Yeo, United Church of Christ, Pastor,  Berkley Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Berkeley, MA

Rev. Martha Durkee-Neuman, Unitarian Universalist, Assistant Minister for Lifespan Faith Formation at the First Church, Unitarian Universalist,  Belmont, MA

The Rev. Andrew Goldhor, Episcopal Rector, Church of the Good Shepherd. Watertown, MA

Watertown Citizens for Peace & Common Security is a working group of Watertown Citizens For Peace, Justice & the Environment.