Government

2025 Watertown Property Taxes Rising, But Bills Still Lower Than 2022

By |

Charlie BreitroseWatertown’s City Hall. Property taxes will rise nearly 6 percent over last year, but will still be lower than they were in Fiscal Year 2022 (2021-22). On Tuesday, City Council approved a property tax rate with the maximum amount of the burden shifted from residential to commercial, industrial and personal properties, and the maximum residential exemption for owner-occupied homes. During the Property Tax Classification Hearing, the Council heard from people concerned about the rising taxes, as well as the recent five-year property revaluation process. Tax Bills

The Council got to choose the maximum exclusion for residential properties, either 33 percent (the same as last year), 34 percent, or 35 percent.

Schools

School Committee Update: Teacher Honored, Field Hockey Team Recognized, Enrollment Rising

By |

Watertown’s State Champion Field Hockey Team was honored by the School Committee. (Courtesy of Watertown Field Hockey)

Watertown School Committee Chair Kendra Foley provided a round up of the most recent School Committee meeting. See what happened below. There has been much to celebrate over the last month at our Watertown School Committee meetings. We were thrilled to honor Cunniff music teacher Liz Schorr, who was recently chosen as the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress Educator of the Year.

Business

Medium Rare “Steaks” Its Claim in Beantown at Arsenal Yards

By |

Steak and frites is on the menu at Medium Rare, which opened at Arsenal Yards. (Courtesy of Medium Rare)

Arsenal Yards welcomes a new restaurant specializing in steak frites. See details in the announcement below. Medium Rare, the original sizzling single-choice Steak Frites prix fixe meal experience from Washington, D.C., is now “steaking” its claim in the greater Boston area. The new location at 107 Bond Sq.

Around Town

Watertown’s Wada Hoppah Shuttle Wins Award for Electric Boat Design

By |

A drawing of the shuttle boat being designed for Wada Hoppah to take people from Watertown to Boston. (Courtesy of Wada Hoppah)

The boat being designed to be a shuttle from Watertown to Boston along the Charles River won an international award for electric boat design. The Wada Hoppah received the Gussie Award for Electric Commercial Passenger Vessels: In Development. Drew Rollert, the man behind the effort to create a water shuttle, proclaimed the honor on Tuesday. “I’m beyond proud to announce Wada Hoppah was informed today that it has WON the well recognized, international electric boat design award competition called ‘Gussie Awards,'” Rollert said.

Around Town

Take a Polar Plunge with the Watertown Police to Raise Money for Special Olympics

By |

Members of the Watertown Police Department will be taking a chilly dip in February and they invite others to join them to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics of Massachusetts. Watertown Police Officer Michael Scafidi will be organizing the Polar Plunge, which will take place at Arsenal Yards on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 beginning at 11 a.m.

“There’s plunges going on all across the state and we decided to get onboard and do one here in Watertown. We are going to do it right in Bond Square in Arsenal Yards,” Scafidi said. Special Olympics will bring its mobile pool for the Polar Plunge, which is like a swimming pool on wheels.

Government

Watertown’s New Director of Public Works Seeks to Get DPW Accredited

By |

Watertown has a new Public Works Director. Find out more about him in the announcement provided by the City of Watertown. Watertown City Manager George Proakis is excited to announce the hiring of Thomas Brady as the new Director of Public Works! Mr. Brady returns to Watertown after 23 years with the Town of Brookline where he served as a key member of the Brookline Department of Public Works (DPW) team in the role of Urban Forestry Manager, Tree Warden and Town Arborist. Tom has overseen forestry operations, coordinated storm responses, provided oversight for utility projects, and represented Brookline on the extensive Muddy River Restoration Project – a 20-year $70 million public works improvement on the Boston/Brookline line that served the combined roles of addressing flood control, water quality improvement, conservation and historic preservation.

Police/Fire

Blaze at Oakley Country Club Extinguished by Firefighters from Watertown and Belmont

By |

Firefighters from Watertown and Belmont put out a fire at Oakley Country Club on Friday morning. (Courtesy of Watertown Fire Department)

Watertown and Belmont Firefighters doused a fire at the Oakley Country Club which could have been worse if the building did not have fire sprinklers. Just after 5 a.m. on Friday, the Watertown Fire Department was alerted of activation of the smoke detectors and sprinklers at Oakley, said Watertown Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson. Because of the location of the country club on Belmont Street a fire engine from Belmont was dispatched, Nicholson said, and the crew found heavy smoke inside the building. Deputy Fire Chief Arthur Geswell ordered a “Working Fire,” and fire companies found the fire was contained to one room, Nicholson said.

Around Town

Residential Snow Shoveling Requirement: City Focusing on Education, Not Fines, This Winter

By |

Snow season has arrived, and this winter Watertown residents will be required to shovel snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of their homes within 24 hours after the end of the storm. In future years failing to do so could result in a warning and fine, but this year the City will focus on educating rather than ticketing. The City Council approved changes to the Watertown Snow Ordinance in January. City staff planned to use the remainder of the 2023-24 winter to educate residents about how the new residential snow shoveling rules work, but since then the area has not had a significant snowfall. With this in mind, in the winter of 2024-25 the City will once again focus on education, said Tyler Cote, Watertown’s Community Engagement Specialist.