Around Town

Field at East End Park to be Closed for Multiple Months

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The City of Watertown announced that one of the fields at an East End Park will be closed to let it recover from high use. The City sent out the following announcement:

The Watertown Department of Public Works (DPW) and Recreation Department have concluded that the Filippello (Grove) Field should be shut down due to poor field conditions. Due to overuse and weather the turfgrass went into winter in rough condition and will not recover unless it is allowed to rest. There is extreme wear on the east end of 11 v 11 soccer layout caused by shading of trees, which prevents area from drying out after rain events. We will take an aggressive approach to renovation (aeration/seeding/fertilization/topdressing) over the next 3 months and expect the field to fully recover for Fall ’24 sports.

Around Town

LETTER: Reaction to the City Council’s Decision to Reject Short Term Rentals

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Dear Editor and Residents,

Last week, a proposal to regulate Short Term Rentals (STRs) went before the City Council. It was rejected 6-3. 

Now, the city attorney has been asked to draft a proposal to ban STRs. So it would seem this is moot. I went to the meeting advocating for the regulation, hoping that the councilors would deliberate and amend the imperfections away. I advocated for the regulation because STRs serve a different market, and the supplier is different from other small service providers, such as landlords, bed & breakfasts or home offices. The supplier is a resident who needs a very low barrier to entry. He/she is trying to age in place, has a variable income or has experienced a sudden price hike or loss of income. The demand comes from those who need an affordable place to stay for less than 30 days. They come here to see a graduation or medical care professional, attend a wedding or funeral, to see off a deployed family member, to provide palliative care, or clear out the estate of a loved one. And yes, they come for the Marathon, the regatta, playoffs and concerts. https://www.watertownmanews.com/2024/04/11/council-votes-down-proposal-for-short-term-rentals-in-watertown

I understand why councilors voted against the regulation.

Around Town

A $3 Million House Among This Week’s Watertown Open Houses

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A six-bedroom single family house in Watertown with an asking prices of $3 million will have open houses this weekend. 19 Garfield St., $3,000,000, 6 bedroom 6 bathroom 6,274 sq. ft. Single Family, Open houses: Saturday, April 20 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Sunday, April 21 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

172-178 Summer St., $1,699,000, 8 bedroom 4 bathroom 3,816 sq. ft.

Around Town

A Dining Fixture Near Watertown Square is a Hidden Treasure to be (Re)Discovered

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Courtesy of MolanaMolana has been serving Persian food in Watertown since 1999. A dining destination that has attracted hungry people from around New England for a quarter century is a hidden gem in Watertown, but the owners want locals to discover — or rediscover – their restaurant. Molana can be found on Spring Street, steps from the Watertown Square intersection. Owners Mohsen Tehrani and Hadi Eghbali started restaurant, the first one serving Persian cuisine in New England in 1999, and word spread among the Iranian community around the region. “People come from Hartford, Stamford, Connecticut.

Around Town

Watertown Touch-a-Truck Features DPW, Fire & Police Vehicles + Bookmobile

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Calling automobile enthusiasts of all ages! Watertown Department of Public Works is hosting a Touch-a-Truck on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 124 Orchard St. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Guest experiences will include a Road Sign Maze as well as a Planting Station where participants can plant seeds in a paper cup to take home. Free popcorn and giveaways for children will be available while supplies last. You can plan to see DPW vehicles and others from around the city, including Watertown police and fire, the library’s bookmobile, plus recycling and compost trucks!

Around Town

Sidewalks Closing on Common Street for High School Project

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The project managers for the Watertown High School project, Vertex, announced that a portion of the sidewalk near the high school construction site will be closed temporarily. Vertex provided the following announcement:

Please note that the permanent fix of the sidewalk at the intersection of Spring & Common Street is expected to take place this Friday 4/19/24 (weather depending). That portion of the sidewalk will be temporarily unavailable on Friday 4/19/24 and will be returned to service on Saturday 4/20/24. The above image shows the exact location where the sidewalk will be repaired on the High School side of Common Street.

Around Town

Volunteers Wanted to Clean Up Charles River in Watertown

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Charlie BreitroseThe Charles River. In honor of Earth Day, a clean up along the banks of the Charles River in Watertown will be held on Saturday, April 20. The following announcement was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger:

We have plenty of room for more volunteers to pick up trash at one of the sites we’re organizing for the annual Charles River Earth Day Cleanup this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. 

The location is between Galen Street and the Watertown Dam bridge, along the Greenway. Go to the volunteer form for a map and to sign up. We will email you with details on the meetup location.