Around Town

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

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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

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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

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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

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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 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.