Around Town

Learn About Food Assistance Programs at This Week’s Watertown Farmers Market

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See what’s happening at this week’s Watertown Farmers Market in the announcement sent out by the Market. Now that summer is here in full swing, the market is full of lots of fun and flavorful fruits and veggies, fantastic baked goods, sustainable seafood and meat, and so much more! 

This week, stop by the market’s Food Assistance Information table and learn about the growing issue of food insecurity and local resources available. Find out about how to access the market’s exclusive benefits including:

Our SNAP match

Using HIP dollars 

WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons

Summer EBT 

Project Bread will host our community booth to provide information and pre-screen for eligibility of SNAP benefits. Women, Infants, and Children’s (WIC) will be on site for their annual Distribution Day beginning at 4:00pm – details below. Please bring a non-perishable food DONATION for the City’s Food Pantry!

Around Town

City Manager’s Update on Watertown Square Area Plan

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City Manager George Proakis provided the following statement he presented at the Watertown Square Area Plan Meeting on June 27. The third meeting on the plan will take place on Tuesday, July 16 at 6 p.m. at Watertown Middle School. This letter reproduces the introductory remarks given by the City Manager to the City Council and Planning Board at the Watertown Square Area Plan Joint Hearing on June 27, 2024, with modifications for publication:

As we embark on what I call the end of the beginning of the work on Watertown Square, I’d like to reflect on the progress we have made and the process we have taken to get to the publication of the Watertown Square Area Plan. Since the beginning of this process, we have spread the word about this plan throughout the city, by sharing announcements with the Watertown News, advertising on-line through our social media channels, sharing information in regular City Council meetings, three different tax bill inserts, and on signage at businesses and in public places throughout the city. We are tremendously proud of our community for joining us to participate in this process, and the ability to build this plan with collaborative involvement.

Around Town

Historical Society Program Explores Watertown’s Link to Declaration of Independence and Nation’s First Treaty

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Marilynne Roach of the Historical Society of Watertown made a presentation about the signing of the Treaty of Watertown and the reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Edmund Fowle House. This year the ceremony will be at the Senior Center. (Courtesy of the Historical Society)

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

A program presented by the Historical Society at the Watertown Senior Center, honoring two important events: the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Watertown. A talk & slide-show presentation will tell the story of the role & significance that the Edmund Fowle House (28 Marshall St) played in Watertown’s first public reading of the Declaration of Independence and the signing of the Watertown Treaty between the Mi’kmaq and St. John’s (aka Maliseet) Indigenous nations in Canada and the newly formed United States.

Around Town

OBIT: Henry “Herb” Applin, 86, Member of Bluegrass Hall of Fame

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Henry “Herb” Applin

Henry Herbert (“Herb”) Applin, 86, passed away peacefully on June 29th, 2024 at Sunny Acres Nursing and Rehab in Chelmsford, MA with his family by his side. Herb was born on April 10, 1938 in Boston to Herb and Hilda Applin of Watertown, MA. Herb graduated from Watertown High School, Class of 1956, and went on to earn his BA in Business at the University of Maine at Orono in 1960. He obtained a Certificate in Accounting from Bentley College and his MBA from Babson College in May of 1973. He was a member of the Massachusetts National Guard, serving for six years.

Around Town

Lane Closures to Occur During Removal of Wires from Mt. Auburn Street

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Charlie BreitroseThe wires that had been used by MBTA buses in Watertown will be removed to prepare for the Mt. Auburn Street renovation. Drivers will see some lane closures over the next few weeks during the removal of catenary wires formerly used by MBTA buses. The work is being done prior to the start of the Mt. Auburn Street Renovation project.

Around Town

First Phase of Redevelopment of Watertown Mall to be Discussed at Community Meeting

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A view of one of the buildings in the Watertown Mall Transformation Project viewed from the Community Path from the project documents. The following announcement was posted on the City of Watertown’s website:

Alexandria Real Estate Equities (“ARE”) will be hosting a Public Information Meeting in keeping with the Watertown Zoning Ordinance. This notice is for the community meeting required prior to formal application to the Watertown Planning Board. The presentation will include an update, review and discussion of plans relating to the first phase, Phase 1, of the approved Master Plan of the Watertown Mall Transformation Project. The purpose of this meeting is to update the community as to Phase 1 of the Master Plan which provides a collaborative and innovative campus including life science, retail, residential, and community uses, as well as publicly accessible open spaces and streetscape improvements.

Around Town

DCR Hosting Public Meeting About Future of Watertown Dam

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Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown Dam near Watertown Square slows the flow of the Charles River. A group is advocating removing the dam. The Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation, DCR, will share its plans for studying the options for the future of Watertown Dam. Recently, the DCR studied the area around the Dam as part of its Removal Alternatives Analysis to develop conceptual design alternatives for the Dam.