Around Town

Save the Date for the Next Watertown Square Area Plan Meeting

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The City of Watertown provided the following information:

Save the Date: The Joint Hearing to discuss the Watertown Square Area Plan will continue on June 27, 2024 at 6pm in the Watertown Middle School Auditorium at 68 Waverley Avenue in Watertown. This is a continuation of the Joint Hearing held on June 13 in the same location. We encourage everyone to visit the project website to learn more, and to access the plan document (PDF). This Hearing will be a hybrid meeting, meaning you have the opportunity to join virtually on Zoom or in-person. You will also be able to watch the Hearing live online on WCA-TV.

Around Town

Watertown Restaurant Will Offer Seasonal Prix Fixe Menu Featuring Local Ingredients

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Bar ‘Cino has opened in Watertown Square. (Photo courtesy of Bar ‘Cino)

Bar ‘Cino in Watertown will be serving prix fixe menus featuring in-season produce from farms in New England. The restaurant in Watertown Square will serve a three course prix fixe menu for $36 a person Sunday t0 Wednesday from June 24 to Sept. 18, said Bryan Parkin, General Manager at Bar ‘Cino in Watertown. The menu will use fresh ingredients from local farms.

“As a company we have spend quite a bit of money with Farm Fresh Rhode Island as well as Verrill Farms in Concord to help local agriculture and support the farmers,” Parkin said.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Faces OUI Charges, Resident Scammed Out of $60,000

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. June 6: A resident reported she had been the victim of a scam. In late February she was contacted by someone claiming to be an employee of Amazon, who said that numerous Apple products were being sent to an address in Albany, New York, using her account. The woman was not aware of the orders. She then spoke to someone who said he was a U.S. Treasury Department detective.

Around Town

Latest Draft of Watertown Square Area Plan Has Some Changes, More Detail

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Public Weighed-in on Proposal at Thursday’s Meeting, No Vote Taken

City Manager George Proakis presents the Watertown Square Area Plan draft to the Planning Board and City Council on Thursday night at Watertown Middle School. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

City officials presented the latest draft of the Watertown Square Area Plan to the public on Thursday night, but the City Council and Planning Board did not take a vote on the proposal. They will reconvene in two weeks to continue discussing the report. At the meeting held at Watertown Middle School, City Manager George Proakis said even when the draft is approved, it will not be the end of the process. Rather, he paraphrased a Winston Churchill quote from World War II,

“I actually think we are at the end of the beginning of this process by handing you over a plan,” Proakis said.

Around Town

Watertown Farmers Market Opens for 11th Season – 6 New Vendors, Special Events Planned

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Shoppers browse the vendors at the Watertown Farmers Market on opening day for the 2024 season. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Shoppers waited eagerly at Saltonstall Park to get their hands on fresh produce, baked goods, crepes, fish, meat and more on Wednesday afternoon. With the ring of a bell by City Manager George Proakis, the Watertown Farmers Market’s 2024 season opened. This year marks the 11th for the Watertown Farmers Market. “I want to welcome you to another season of the Watertown Farmers Market,” Proakis said.

Business

Housing Secretary Tells Chamber Crowd That MBTA Communities Act is Key to a Strong Economy

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Ed Augustus, Massachusetts Secretary of Housing & Livable Communities, spoke at the Charles River Regional Chamber’s Spring Business Breakfast. (Courtesy of Charles River Chamber)

NEEDHAM — Building more housing is key to maintaining the local economy and preventing people from leaving the state, the Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities told the audience at last week’s Charles River Regional Chamber’s Spring Business Breakfast. Secretary Ed Augustus urged people at the event held at the Needham Sheraton to support the MBTA Communities Law in their communities, as well as pushing the Legislature to support the Governor’s Affordable Homes Act. He cited the example of a 24-year-old woman who moved home with her parents to save money while getting her graduate degree, and still has not been able to move out — despite having a degree and a good job — because she can’t find a place that she can afford. “Now this woman’s story might be simply unfortunate, if it was unique, but it’s not.

Around Town

New Spray Pad Will Keep Kids Cool at East Watertown Park

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Children enjoy the new spray pad at Filippello Park in East Watertown. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

On a warm afternoon, dozens of children waited patiently for City officials to declare the new and improved spray pad at Filippello Park open so they could run through the cooling streams of water. Friday’s ribbon cutting marked the official opening of the new feature that has 15 spray features, including geysers, an aquadome, a lunar cannon and a palm tree on 2,500 sq. ft. of non-porous rubber play surface.

Around Town

UPDATED: Watertown Farmers Market Returns This Week – See the New Vendors for 2024

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The Watertown Farmers Market begins this week. The organizers provided the following information about what to expect at the market, including new vendors, returning faov

Join us Wednesday, June 12 for Opening Day! It’s almost time for market season~ We’re getting ready to kick off the 11th year of the Watertown Farmers’ Market and celebrate all the market has to offer! Scroll down to see our vendor lineup for this year and watch for more news about special features this year. Thank you for supporting our market and all things local. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable market experience! 

Opening Day Activities

2:30: Opening Bell with City Manager George Proakis2:30-4:30: Lawn games by Watertown Recreation Department3:00-5:00: Performance by HYE Fusion3:30-4:30: Kick off the Season with Get Lively Health & Fitness– free mini Get Moving and Stretch sessions at 3:30 and 4:00pm2:30-6:30: Raffle for Market Gift Certificates(drawing is open all day; you do not need to be present to win

2024 Market Vendors

We are pleased to introduce a wonderful variety of new vendors, and so glad to welcome back our fabulous returners!