Schools

City Council Suggesting New WHS Auditorium be Named After Former Town Manager

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Ai3 ArchitectsA rendering of the designs for the new Watertown High School viewed from Columbia Street. The City Council joined the people submitting suggested names for facilities at the new Watertown High School by submitting the name of the man who enabled the City of Watertown to build the new school without a tax increase. On Tuesday, the City Council voted to allow City Council President Mark Sideris to send a letter on behalf of the Council suggesting that the auditorium be named after former Town and City Manager Michael Driscoll. “I do think it is appropriate for a number of reasons,” Sideris said. “Michael Driscoll was the author of many of the things that went on in this community and the new high school, as well as the two new elementary schools, would not be going on right now if not for his guidance to this Council and the community and the School Committee on how to approach this.”

Schools

Take a Look Around the Half Completed New Watertown High School

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Architects showed the tour the inside of the new auditorium at Watertown High School. The balcony can be seen on the left side. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

While still a mesh of steel, concrete, and wood, visitors can get an idea of what the future home of Watertown’s high schoolers will look like when it opens in 2026. With construction of the new Watertown High School at the midpoint, the designers of the new school led a group of Watertown School and City officials around the four-level school building taking shape between Common and Columbia streets. City Councilor President Mark Sideris, left, and Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli stand outside the Watertown High School construction site.

Around Town

Fit-Z’s Bar and Grille Will Close at the End of September

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Fit-Z’s Bar and Grille, a fixture on the Westside of Watertown since 2007, will be closing at the end of September. Co-owner Jim Fitzgerald wrote the following post on Facebook on Sept. 15. “I’m sure that most of you have heard that we are selling the bar . It looks like our last night will be Monday September 30th.

Around Town

UPS Customer Service Center in Watertown Has Closed

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The UPS Customer Service Center in Watertown has closed and the company encouraged customers to use other locations, such as the UPS Store in Watertown Square. The Customer Service Center was located at 76 Arlington St. and was a place to pick up and drop off packages. Mitch Polikoff, UPS Director of Media Relations confirmed the closing. “We are closing select UPS Customer Centers to better align with our customers’ preferences for more convenient and easily accessible drop-off options,” Polikoff said.

Government

What’s Next in the Watertown Square Plan? See When the Next Meeting Will Take Place

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The City of Watertown provided the following announcement:

The next steps of the Watertown Square Area Plan implementation will be to discuss and approve zoning amendments. A zoning amendment is a proposed change to the zoning requirements and map, without having to completely rewrite the zoning code. To approve new zoning, the City will hold a Joint Public Hearing with the City Council and Planning Board to discuss the proposed zoning, hear public comment, and approve new zoning amendments. The above map is the proposed zoning map from the final endorsed Watertown Square Area Plan. 

When does this next step begin? The first step will be to complete something called a “first reading.”

Around Town

See Photos from a Damp and Fun-Filled 2024 Faire on the Square

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Umbrellas and rain slickers were the fashion choices for the 2024 Faire on the Square. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The 2024 edition of Watertown’s Faire on the Square was a wet one, but those who braved the elements enjoyed plenty of activities, food, music, and booths featuring local businesses and organizations. Among the visitors to Saltonstall Park was Congresswoman Katherine Clark, who toured the Faire with Watertown elected officials and was interviewed by Watertown Cable Access Television. Watertown Cable Access spoke with Congresswoman Katherine Clark. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The entertainment stage featured Steve Tashjian Ensemble, School of Rock, Chris Cote and his band of These Guys, and demonstrations by Watertown Police Officer Andrew Civetti and K-9 Zane.

Around Town

Flu Vaccine Clinics Will be Hosted by Watertown’s Public Health Department

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The Watertown Public Health Department will host a series of flu vaccine clinics in coming weeks. Some are for people ages 9 and above and some are for seniors. See the details in the announcement provided by the City of Watertown below. People Ages 9 and Over

The Watertown Public Health Department is offering Influenza vaccine to people, ages 9 and over, at the Watertown Free Public Library, located at 123 Main Street, on the following days and times. Please register ahead to secure your appointment:

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 from 3:30 to 6:30pm. Register here.