Around Town

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

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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.

Government

Two Years Worth of Road Construction Coming in 2025, Ratings of City’s Roads Have Dropped

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The City plans to do two years worth of road reconstruction work in the 2025 construction season, and nearly 30,000 feet of utilities line will be replaced around town. The City Council approved the 2025 Local Road Construction Program on Nov. 26, which includes five streets funded in Fiscal Year 2025, and five roads approved but not constructed in FY24. The Department of Public Works selects the roads to be reconstructed based on multiple factors, including the condition of the pavement, and utilities that have been replaced by the City or utilities, City Engineer Tyler Glode told the City Council’s Committee on Public Works. Based on these factors, the DPW chose to reconstruct Poplar Street, Partridge Street, Pequosette Street, north and south Irving Park and Royal Street, and Green Street during the 2025 construction season, from April to November.

Police/Fire

Watertown Firefighters, Others Honored for Life Saving Actions; Promoted Firefighters Sworn In

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Family, friends and fellow firefighters attended the Watertown Fire Department’s Swearing-in and Award Ceremony at the Commander’s Mansion. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The Watertown Fire Department honored the bravery and life saving actions of several firefighters, police officers, and dispatchers during a ceremony at the Commander’s Mansion on Nov. 25. Also during the event, the Fire Department swore in three recently promoted firefighters and four firefighters who had been appointed to the WFD. Service Awards

Car Strikes Building, Causing a Gas Leak

(Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

On Sept.

Around Town

Watertown to Fund Temporary Paving of Mt. Auburn Street

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The following update about the Mt. Auburn Street project was provided by the City of Waterotwn:

Temporary Paving Expected to be Completed Next Week

The City of Watertown has initiated work to temporarily level and pave the remainder of Mount Auburn Street next week while we await the completion of the Mt. Auburn Street Project. Originally not anticipated to receive any temporary paving as part of the project, the City has stepped in to fund this work to ensure one of Watertown’s busiest roads is paved for safer, smoother travel in 2024 ahead of the winter season. This work is being accelerated beyond the scope of the ongoing Mt.

Around Town

Watertown Company’s Annual Thanksgiving Meal Donation Has Grown to Help 85 Families

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The Watertown Police Department’s Whooley Foundation delivered 85 Thanksgiving meals to families in town this year. Akian Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning started the program three years ago and this year donated the majority of the meals. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Once again this Thanksgiving, the Watertown Police Department’s Whooley Foundation teamed with a local business to provide dozens of meals to families who would struggle to put on dinner for the holiday. Three years ago, Steve and Alex Akian, the owners of Akian Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, donated 10 Thanksgiving meals to help people in Watertown. This year they provided dozens of meals, and were joined by the Watertown Community Foundation Outreach, Bob Airasian, Watertown Youth Hockey, Doug Orifice/Arsenal Financial, and East Cambridge Savings Bank to provide 85 meals.

Sports

Watertown Shuts Out Belmont in a Rainy Thanksgiving Game

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The Raiders hold up the trophy for winning the 2024 Thanksgiving Game against Belmont. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

BELMONT — Being on the other end of a shutout last year, the Watertown High School football team had their sights set on Thanksgiving 2024. They accomplished their mission Thursday morning, beating Belmont 23-0 at Harris Field. Dealing with rainy and chilly conditions, the Raiders relied on their ground game to power past the Marauders. After suffering a defeat to the Marauders last year, senior co-captain and quarterback Gnai Concannon-Garvin, said he and his teammates “got our get back,” on Thursday

“It’s just a great moment.

Around Town

Major Residential and Commercial Project in Watertown Square Breaks Ground

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O’Connor Group CEO Bill O’Connor, left, and Head of Acquisition John O’Connor welcomed attendees to the ground breaking ceremony for Elysian Watertown Square, a mixed use project. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The start of construction of a major new project on Main Street, Elysian Watertown Square, was celebrated by the developers and City officials at a ceremony held recently. On Nov. 19, O’Connor Group held a ribbon cutting on the property that will become a mixed-use building with 142 rental units, five owner-occupied townhouses, and retail space on land that stretches from Main Street to Pleasant Street. John O’Connor, Head of Acquisitions for O’Connor Group, said the new project will help make Watertown Square a more lively place.