Entertainment

Young Watertown Actress Lands Role in American Repertory Theater’s “Gatsby”

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Watertown’s Kendall Cote plays Pammy in the play “Gatsby”at the American Repertory Theater. (Contributed Photo)

A young Watertown actress made her stage debut in a play headed to Broadway and on one of the area’s most well known stages. Five-year-old Kendall Cote landed a part in the play “Gatsby,” which is in the midst of a 10 week run at the American Repertory Theater in Harvard Square. In her role as Pammy, the daughter of Daisy Buchanan, she goes into the theater five times a week. “We go in, play for a little bit.

Police/Fire

Retiring Watertown Detective to Share His Crime Investigating Knowledge & Work on Cold Cases

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Longtime Watertown Police Detective David MacNeil is moving on to new challenges, including teaching crime scene investigation and working on cold cases. (Photo by Leah O’Brien Photography)

During his time at the Watertown Police Department, David MacNeil has trained at national crime investigation centers, taught trainings himself, he was the inspiration for a character in books and movies, and he got to visit Scotland Yard. Now, in his retirement, the Watertown native plans to share what he’s learned with others in law enforcement, and to help solve cold cases. MacNeil retired at the end of April after 36 years as a Watertown Police officer, including the last 22 as a detective. He is now the president of MacNeil Investigations & Forensic Consulting where he will focus on private investigations, and training law enforcement in crime scene investigation practices and forensic science.

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.