Around Town

Watertown Librarian Talks About the Library’s Little Known Features on Local Conversations Podcast

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Watertown Library’s Allie Fry shares some offerings of the library that you may not know about in the fifth episode of the Little Local Conversations podcast

In Little Local Conversations, discover the people, places, stories, and ideas of Watertown. Creator and Watertown resident Matt Hanna has conversations with various businesses owners, community leaders, creatives, and other interesting folks in Watertown to learn about what they do and get to know a bit about the people behind the work. 

Watertown Library’s Programming Librarian Allie Fry. Hanna wrote:

“Meet Allie Fry! She’s the Programming Librarian at the Watertown Free Public Library. We talk about what attracted her to the library here in Watertown (she’s from the Midwest), the lesser known programming for adults that the library offers, and all the other great stuff about the library.”

Around Town

State Rep. Owens Speaking About How Legislation Does or Does Not Get Passed in State House

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the Environment:

Organizations, businesses, and activists are frustrated when major pieces of legislation are not acted on by the Massachusetts Legislature and often left in committees or conference committee when the legislative session ends. On Wednesday, September 18, State Representative Steve Owens will speak at the Monthly Meeting of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the Environment.  The program titled, “How does, or doesn’t, legislation get through the Massachusetts Legislature” is a zoom meeting and is co-sponsored by Progressive Watertown and Watertown Forward. The zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85288870124?pwd=s4x4xGxqFNf3fCYKJOeAyofwRNZkb2.1 and the program includes – Checking in and Chatting – 6:45 PM, Welcome and Land Acknowledgment – 7:00 PM, Updates from Watertown Citizens’ Working Groups and from Co-sponsors – 7:10 PM, Presentation by Rep. Owens – 7:30 PM, Questions and Discussion – 8:00 PM and Announcements and Closing – 8:30 PM.  If you have questions, please contact watertowncitizens@gmail.com.

Around Town

Watertown Chats Coming to This Week’s Farmers Market

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Join Watertown Community Engagement Specialist, Tyler Cote, for the next installment of Watertown Chats! Tyler will be at the Watertown Farmers’ Market, located at Saltonstall Park (next to City Hall 149 Main Street) on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 for anyone and everyone to stop by and chat with him about Watertown. Whether you have a question, an idea, concern, or just looking to speak with a member of the City, you can stop by anytime between 2:30 and 6:30pm to meet with Tyler (no appointments needed). Learn more about the Chats and to keep up to date on the schedule.

Around Town

Agreement Reached to Allow Day Care to Stay in Boys & Girls Club Until New Home is Ready

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The Watertown Boys & Girls Club building also houses First Path Day Care Center. First Path Day Care Center and the Watertown Boys & Girls Club have negotiated an agreement which would allow First Path to remain in the Club’s building so that children can attend the day care while construction is finished on its new facility. The day care center has been located in the Boys & Girls Club building since 1998, but the Club has plans to expand its program so in 2021 it informed First Path that its lease would not be renewed. The lease was supposed to end on May 31, 2024, and the Club’s board gave an extension to June 30, but First Path wanted two more months to allow work on their new facility to be finished. First Path declared bankruptcy in an effort to prevent an eviction, and the Boys & Girls Club filed a motion in Federal Court to remove the eviction protection.

Around Town

Lane to be Closed on Charles River Road This Week

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The Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation announced lane closures on Charles River Road will for several days. See details in the DCR’s announcement below. Beginning on Sunday, September 15, 2024, and continuing through Saturday, September 21, 2024, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will close a lane on Charles River Road between Riverside Road and Galen Street in the City of Watertown from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. to accommodate National Grid gas main replacement work. Traffic patterns will be clearly marked, a police detail will be on site, and detour signage will be posted.        

WHERE: Charles River Road between Riverside Road and Galen Street in the City of Watertown 

WHEN: Sunday, September 15, 2024, – September 21, 2024, 8 p.m. – 4 a.m. 

Around Town

Watertown Gifted BlueBike Station, Also Using Grant to Expand System

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Arsenal YardsThe BlueBike station outside Arsenal Yards. Watertown will have up to four new BlueBike stations after being gifted one bikeshare docking station and receiving a grant for up to three more. A 19-bike station was donated to the City of Watertown by BlueCross BlueShield and Lyft, City Manager George Proakis announced at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. “They ended up with a spare station, and communities could apply for it,” Proakis said. “We responded and this is a free station being granted to us as a gift.