Around Town

MLK Day in Watertown: Unity Breakfast, City Facility & Trash Schedules

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Photo by Charlie BreitroseA closeup of the section of the Kingian Nonviolence Mural featuring Martin Luther King on the back of the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. Monday, Jan. 15, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and World in Watertown will hold a remote celebration with a broadcast of their annual Unity Breakfast. The holiday also impact the hours of City Hall, the , as well as trash and recycling collection. Unity Breakfast

Dr. King’s legacy will be celebrated by World in Watertown during the annual Unity Breakfast.

Around Town

Winter Activities: Yoga & Qigong, Cooking & Walking

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The City of Watertown’s Live Well Watertown program has plenty of activities this winter, from managing stress, to healthy cooking, to getting active. See details provided by Live Well Watertown:

Happy 2024 ~ we hope the beginning of the year is going well! Our planning is underway to continue offering diverse programs that build a healthier and more connected community. The 2023 Farmers’ Market finished its 10th season stronger than ever and our work on food security reached many more residents. A variety of Live Well programs inspired and encouraged people to eat well, move more, stress less, and connect with the greater community.

Around Town

Life Science Campus at Former Cannistraro Site Approved

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A view of the life science building from Acton Street in the newly approved project on the former Cannistraro property on Pleasant Street. (Courtesy of Broder)

The Planning Board approved plans to build a life science cluster on land off of Pleasant Street, but had concerns about the proximity of the project to the residential neighborhood to the north. The hearing at Wednesday night’s meeting was the second for the project, and it lasted more than 3.5 hours. The complex will have add a four-story, 133,324 sq. ft.

Around Town

Christmas Trees Can be Dropped Off at Recycling Center

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The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

Curbside collection will continue through Monday, January 22, 2024 but may be delayed due to weather conditions. We ask anyone who can drop off their tree, to do so. 

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is now offering Christmas tree drop off at the DPW during the month of January. There is a coned off area to the left of the DPW parking lot, as you drive in. Please remove all lights and decorations. Do NOT bag your tree. 

Drop off is always available at the Recycle Center, located at 76 Stanley Ave, as well. 

Around Town

Local Builder Helps Historical Society Repair One of Watertown’s Oldest Houses

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Photo by Charlie BreitroseThe Edmund Fowle House during a Treaty Day celebration. Submitted by Joyce Kelly & Marilynne Roach, Historical Society of Watertown

In November 2022 Patrick Mulroy, builder, remodeler, historic preservationist, and owner of ReModern Builders, contacted the Historical Society. Recently moved to Church Street in Watertown and wishing to become personally and professionally involved in the community, he offered us a donation of skilled labor from his carpenters. We met with Patrick at the Edmund Fowle House where we showed him a few projects that needed to be done but were on hold for lack of funds. He told us he was “excited to be able to not only donate to the upkeep of a historic resource, but participate in it as well.” (The Fowle House is on the National Register of Historic Places.) 

Patrick decided to take on the project of the side porch entrance door.

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KinderCare Opens New Learning Center in Watertown

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Inside a classroom at the KinderCare Learning Center at Arsenal Yards. (Courtesy of KinderCare)

The following announcement was provided by the KinderCare:

KinderCare Learning Centers is excited to announce the opening of a new child care center in Watertown. Arsenal Yards KinderCare is located at 501 Arsenal Street. The center will be led by Suzyann Miller, an educator with more than 30 years of experience in early childhood education. “I believe in empowering and being mindful in all situations, and I’m excited to be the new director for Arsenal Yard KinderCare,” said Miller.

Around Town

Residential Snow Shoveling Requirement Approved by Council

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Watertown residents will be required to clear snow and ice from sidewalks in front of their homes within 24 hours of the end of a storm after the City Council passed the amendment to the City’s Snow and Ice Removal Ordinance. Under the new rules, residents face a fine for repeatedly not clearing sidewalks, but those will not be levied during the current winter. The vote Tuesday night was 6-3, and came after more than two hours combined public input and discussion by Councilors. Residents against the proposal brought up concerns about how the new rules would be enforced, potential liability, and even whether people should be required to remove snow and ice from sidewalks, which are owned by the City. They added that most people do shovel their sidewalks, so they don’t see the need for new regulations.