Around Town

Watertown Receives Grant to Evaluate ADA Accessibility

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Watertown City Hall

The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown is pleased to announce it has been awarded the Massachusetts Office on Disability’s (MOD) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self Evaluation and Transition Planning grant! A recipient of the MOD’s planning grant award, Watertown will utilize the funds to conduct an evaluation of all City programs, services, and buildings, and their accessibility and compliance with ADA standards. As Watertown works to improve its access across all of its services, this grant funds the support to appropriately identify the barriers that might be impacting equal access to our City. Once the self-evaluation is completed, the City will develop a Transition Plan which will consist of all the barriers to equal access that were identified in the self-evaluation, along with a timeline for and plan for removing them. This is a significant step in making Watertown accessible to all, and Watertown’s ADA Coordinator Patrick George speak to what this means for Watertown and our residents: “The City is grateful to receive this grant.

Around Town

City Releases Final Version of Health and Human Services Report

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The City of Watertown provided the following announcement. The City of Watertown is excited to announce the release of the Health and Human Services Assessment Final Report! You can read the report today, which includes an analysis of the existing health and human services available in Watertown, an identification of gaps between needs and services, a series of recommendations made by the experts at Health Management Associates to the City of Watertown, and much more! You’re also encouraged to stay up to date at the City of Watertown’s website for the next steps of this report in the coming weeks and months!

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2025 Watertown Trash and Recycling Calendar Released

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The City of Watertown sent out the 2025 Trash and Recycling Calendar. See details in the announcement below, and a preview above. Please watch your mailbox for the 2025 Trash and Recycling Calendar. In addition to the calendar showing which days your trash, recycling and yard waste will be picked up, there is also useful information about composting, how to dispose of mattresses, furniture, clothing and TVs, the hours and location of the Recycle Center and what you can bring there, and a guide to what materials are and are not recyclable. You can also see the calendar on the Trash and Recycling page, where you can also download it if you can’t find the copy that you received in the mail.

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Watch the Chamber’s Forum on the Impact Housing Cost; the State’s Competitiveness

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On Wednesday, the Charles River Chamber hosted an event focused on economic development in the region, and heard from the Mass. Taxpayers Foundation, as well as hosting two panels: one of young professionals and another with the planning directors from the Chamber’s four communities — including Watertown’s Steve Magoon. The Chamber provided the following information:

Earlier this week we hosted a program on the UMass Amherst Mount Ida campus exploring our region’s top economic challenges, including housing and workforce, as well as Massachusetts’ competitive strengths and weaknesses. Here’s the event recording, and here’s direct links to the event’s three segments:

– Mass Taxpayers Foundation presentation by Doug Howgate. – Planning directors discussing housing, commercial and economic development

– Young professionals share their housing challenges.

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OP-ED: Two Different Outcomes of Property Revaluation in Watertown

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

A Tale of Two Streets

When Charles Dickens wrote his famous novel, A Tale of Two Cities, his intent was to highlight societal injustices, and with great effect he showed us the dichotomy between living very well and simply surviving. In Watertown, in many ways the seeds of rancor and discontent are being sown … no guillotines involved! Follow me on this journey, if you will. I’m calling this “A Tale of Two Streets.”

On December 2nd a very important and transparent government document was shared through the Watertown Assessors Office with the people of Watertown.

Around Town

Russell Cooperative Silent Auction to Raise Funds for Preschool Programming

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An acorn painting by Todd Coyne is one of many unique items in this year’s auction. The following announcement was provided by Russell Cooperative Preschool:

Russell Cooperative Preschool invites the Watertown community to participate in its highly anticipated Winter Gala Silent Auction, a cornerstone event that supports the preschool’s annual fundraising efforts. This year’s auction features an array of unique and exciting items for every interest. Highlights include:

A Visit from the Watertown Library’s Bookmobile: Bring the joy of books and reading directly to your neighborhood or school with this exclusive opportunity to host a personalized visit. Gift Cards to Watertown Square Cafés and Restaurants: Including O’some Café and Not Your Average Joe’s.