Government

City Council to Discuss Winter Parking Ban at Special Meeting

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Watertown City Hall

The City Council will discuss whether to continue the Winter Parking Ban after receiving a petition signed by more than 800 residents. The public an provide input at the special meeting scheduled later this month. The City sent out the following information:

A Special City Council Meeting to discuss the Winter Parking Ban has been scheduled for January 21, 2025 at 6 p.m. This is a Public Hearing that has been scheduled following the City Council receiving a petition asking for the Winter Parking Ban be lifted. The Hearing will be held in the City Council Chamber in Watertown City Hall at 149 Main Street. The Hearing’s agenda will be posted soon.

Business

One Watertown Restaurant Closes, a New One Opens

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Some of the South of the Border dishes being served at Plazita Mexico Tacos. As 2025 begins, Watertown has seen one restaurant close, while an addition has been made to the eating scene. Restaurant Says ‘Bye Bye’

Olespana Whiskey & Tapas Bar on Mt. Auburn Street announced that it will be closing. The restaurant that served Spanish food, pizza and other dishes had opened in the former Mount Auburn Grill space in 2023.

Around Town

Drainage Installation at Mt. Auburn St. & Arlington St. Intersection to Begin This Week

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Work on the Mt. Auburn Street reconstruction project will restart in the New Year. See details in the announcement from the City of Watertown. Drainage Installation Work ContinuesNewport Construction is continuing to complete the drainage installation work along Mount Auburn Street, next beginning their work at the Arlington Street intersection and moving toward Watertown Square on Monday, January 6, 2025. Work will happen between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday through Friday.

Around Town

Community Preservation Committee Recommends Funding Affordable Housing Project

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A rendering of the proposed Willow Park Housing development. An affordable housing project got a boost from the Watertown Community Preservation Committee, which voted to recommend that Community Preservation Act money be used to help fund the project in East Watertown. CPA funds come from a surcharge on Watertown property tax bills, and the money can be used for historic preservation, open space and outdoor recreation, and affordable housing projects. See details in the announcement from the CPC, below. At a special meeting on Dec.

Around Town

See What Title the Library Selected for the 2025 One Book, One Watertown

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The Watertown Free Public Library revealed the title for this year’s One Book, One Watertown. See the announcement below. What happens when we study delight? This year’s One Book, One Watertown selection, Ross Gay’s The Book of Delights, invites us to do just that. We hope you’ll take part in the Watertown Free Public Library’s annual community read! Ross Gay is many things – a New York Times bestselling poet and writer, a winner of prestigious awards, a teacher, a gardener, a skateboarder, a Midwesterner, a partner, a friend, a son, a pick up basketball player, a loiterer, a lover of high-fives, and a student of delight.

Around Town

Watertown Day Care Trying to Preserve Historic Building as it Creates a New Home

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The University Prints Building on Boyd Street has much history, and is now home to First Path Day Care. (Courtesy of First Path)

The new home of a Watertown day care center will be in a building off Galen Street that’s full of history, from the architecture to the former uses, which includes being a cookie factory to a printer of textbooks and one of the nation’s largest providers of checks. First Path Day Care Center moved to 13 Boyd St. in November after many years sharing the Watertown Boys & Girls Club facility. When First Path learned it would need to find another location, the search led them to purchase the building on the Southside of Watertown in 2017.

Around Town

Hundreds Celebrate Chanukah at Chabad Watertown’s Third Annual Menorah Lighting

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Rabbi Dovid Zaltzman lights the ice menorah at Arsenal Yards during the third annual Watertown Chanukah Celebration. Looking on are Assistant City Manager Ari Sky, right, Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson (far left), and Police Capt. Dan Unsworth. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The fire that lit the Third Annual Watertown Chanukah Celebration at Arsenal Yards mesmerized and brought warmth to a crowd of several hundred people on Monday evening. Before the lighting of a menorah, which stood several feet high and was made of ice, the crowd of more than 300 people enjoyed treats, games, crafts, and a performance by a fire dancer. Rabbi Dovid Zaltzman from Chabad Watertown lit the candles on the menorah with help from Watertown Assistant City Manager for Finance Ari Sky.

Around Town

Celebrate Chanukah with Chabad Watertown at Arsenal Yards

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The following announcement was provided by Chabad Watertown:

Celebrate Chanukah with Us: Ice Menorah Lighting, Fire Show & Gelt Drop! Monday, Dec. 30th, 4-6 PM

In partnership with Arsenal Yards, we’re thrilled to invite you to our 3rd annual public menorah lighting ceremony and celebration! – A mesmerizing live fire dance performance

– Chanukah crafts for all ages

– Live music and festive vibes

– Complimentary treats to enjoy

– A Special Gelt Drop from the Watertown Fire Department

Where: Arsenal Yards Mall – Bond Square, 130 Arsenal Yards, Watertown, MA, 02472

RSVP TODAY Here