Around Town

Watertown Girl Scouts Created Pet Pantries at 2 Local Food Pantries

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Watertown Girl Scout Junior Troop 70133 with Kathy Cunningham of the Watertown Food Pantry. The Troop created a Pet Pantry. (Contributed Photo)

The following announcement was provided by Watertown Girl Scout Junior Troop 70133:

By Olivia Nardone Cavanaugh

Members of Watertown Girl Scout Junior Troop 70133 in fifth grade are working to earn their Bronze Award, one of the highest awards in Girl Scouts, by making a difference in their community. The girls conducted observational research and decided they wanted to help wild and domestic animals in Watertown to stay safe and healthy through community education and awareness. For the project, the girls met with Animal Control Officer Samantha Gatchell to gather wildlife safety tips and designed and printed flyers to educate community members about how to treat wild animals safely.

Around Town

LETTER: Another Look at Question 2 – Reasons to Vote “Yes”

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Dear Neighbors,

We are Watertown residents and educators working in neighboring school districts (Belmont and Newton) asking you to consider these reasons for voting Yes on Question 2 this election. Question 2 proposes removing the MCAS graduation requirement for high school students. MCAS is a set of standardized tests the state uses to monitor public school performance in Massachusetts. Students are tested in grades 3-8 and 10, and sometimes 9, in English, math, civics and science. Question 2 does not eliminate MCAS.

Around Town

New Life Added to Nearly-Century Old Two-Family Home in Watertown

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The two-family home at 21-23 Springfield St. has been renovated by a pair of developers. (Contributed Photo)

A two-family home on Springfield Street has undergone a major transformation that preserved the bones and most of the structure, while creating a pair of modern living spaces. The home at 21-23 Springfield St. was built in 1927 and recently completed a major renovation and expansion.

Around Town

Authors & Innovators Festival Returns to Mosesian Center

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The following announcement was provided by the Charles River Regional Chamber:

The Authors & Innovators Festival is back!Our friends at Gennari Aronson are once again bringing together some of business’ top book authors, innovators, and business minds at The Mosesian Center in Watertown. This event will be a unique opportunity to dive into big ideas and engage with big thinkers on the power of storytelling. 9th Annual Authors & Innovators Business Ideas Festival

Thursday, Oct. 24, 4:30-7:00 p.m.

Friday, Oct 25, 8:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (lunch will be served)

The Mosesian Center for the Arts321 Arsenal St., Watertown

Free to attend

Each year since 2017, attorney Larry Gennari has been channeling his passion for entrepreneurship, collaboration, and reading into free events promoting innovative and provocative ideas from great business book authors. This fall, the chamber is pleased to once-again be partnering with Larry and his Needham-based firm Gennari & Aronson on the 2024 Authors & Innovators Business Ideas Festival in Watertown

This two-day festival will be jam-packed with insights, idea exchange, and thoughtful, intelligent conversation.

Around Town

OP-ED: Housing for All Group Seeks More Affordable Housing in Watertown Square Area Plan

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Photo by Mark Pickering

By Mark Pickering

At a recent meeting of the Housing for All Watertown group, speakers touted the group’s success in its effort to deliver “the most ambitious MBTA Communities Act plan in the state.” Now the group is shifting gears to focus on getting more affordable housing as part of the plan. In Watertown, the YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) movement is alive and kicking. Members of the grassroots group say that the next step is to bring a greater number of affordable units into Watertown Square. Communities served by the T are required to submit rezoning plans (under the 2021 MBTA law) that would allow for building multifamily housing. 

To that goal, the Watertown group has come up with an “affordable housing bonus plan.” The idea is to increase the incentives for developers to build up if their plans meet certain affordable housing guidelines. As it now stands, the Watertown Square rezoning lacks robust incentives for including affordable housing in new buildings.

Around Town

Watertown Fire Department’s Busy Week Included Battling Blazes in a Home & on a Boat

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Watertown Firefighters put out a fire on a boat at the Newton Yacht Club on Oct. 10. (Courtesy of Watertown Fire Department)

The Watertown Fire Department had a very busy few days: helping to save a woman from a burning house, putting out a boat blaze, responding to a flipped vehicle, as well as welcoming the public at an Open House. Boat Fire

On Thursday, Watertown Firefighters put out a fire on a boat on the Charles River, said Watertown Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson. The original report was for a fire at the Watertown Yacht Club.