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This book was retuned to the to the Watertown Library after being checked out for the better part of a century. (Courtesy of the WFPL)
If you’ve been waiting for that travel guide to Italy, it’s back at the Watertown Free Public Library … after nearly 90 years! “Hill Towns of Italy,” a book by Egerton R. Williams Jr. that was first published in 1903 recently came back to the Library. It was checked out on Jan.
Guests at the Senior Center’s Holiday Lunch check out the raffle items at the event held at the Hibernian Club. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Watertown will be offering its seniors rides when they want them for trips to the doctor, to get groceries and more in a pilot program using a grant provided by the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging. Currently, seniors have access to rides through a smartphone app, but that has worked for everyone, said Lydia McCoy, Watertown’s Director of Senior Services said at the Senior Center Holiday Lunch on Dec. 15. “Not everyone knows how to use a rideshare app, not everyone has a smart phone and it’s not so easy to always navigate,” McCoy said.
Shivani Sharma reaches into her refrigerator, which is more full than was when she was finishing high school. (Photo by Dan Hogan)
A glass of milk and a granola bar, eaten slowly; this is breakfast for 19-year-old Shivani Sharma. On this particular day it’s noon and she actually hasn’t eaten yet. It may not seem extraordinary, but for her, these days, it’s a big improvement in her situation over how she had to live at the end of high school. Sharma shared her story with Watertown News, in conjunction with Watertown Cable Access Television, as part of the series “Watertown’s Hidden Problem: Food Insecurity Among Us.”
The following announcement was provided by Arsenal Yards:
The thriving neighborhood in Watertown’s historic East End from Boylston Properties and Wilder, Arsenal Yards today announces three exciting new additions in 2024: J.Crew Factory, Jersey Mike’s Subs, and Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique. With leases signed, these three new venues will add to the neighborhood’s already bursting roster of popular restaurants, retailers, fitness, service, and entertainment offerings. More information on each follows below. Jersey Mike’s Subs
Jersey Mike’s Subs, known for its fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs, has announced it will open a new location in Watertown’s Arsenal Yards at 100 Bond Square in 2024. Jersey Mike’s premium meats and cheeses are sliced on the spot and piled high on in-store baked bread.
Watertown City Hall
Watertown’s ARPA funds will got to 18 projects, including water and sewer system upgrades, public housing improvements, creating a daycare facility, and money to help local food assistance programs.
The City of Watertown had a “once in a lifetime” opportunity opportunity to spend more than $10 million on projects using the funds provided as part of the federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act). Some of the projects funded include: sewer rehabilitation, moving the Food Pantry to a new location, building a childcare center at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club, expanding the Social Service Resource Specialist Program, creating a one-time housing assistance fund, funding a public health program for the prevention of drug and substance use, adding a photovoltaic (PV) solar array at the new Watertown High School, and a study of City-supported local transit. The complete list of programs funded, and descriptions of the project, can be seen below. The $10,742,413 was part of the federal Pandemic relief package, and could be used for public health, responding to negative economic impacts, services to disproportionately impacted communities, water, sewer and broadband infrastructure, and revenue replacement, according to the City Council’s resolution. After receiving more than 30 applications for project, both from City departments and local non-profits, the Council’s Budget & Fiscal Oversight Committee held a series of meetings speaking to the projects that met the requirements of how the funds could be used.
An injury to a player in Watertown High School’s boys basketball game against Lexington caused play to be suspended, and the player was sent to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The player, from Lexington, landed on his head after a play near the basket. Witnesses said he appeared to be unconscious and then appeared to have spasms. The player was taken to the hospital, and “is home healing and is expected to make a full recovery and join his team soon,” wrote Watertown High School Principal Joel Giacobozzi in a letter to students and parents sent out Wednesday morning. Many students and parents at the game were visibly upset. Giacobozzi said that in the morning announcements that went over the WHS PA system, students were told they could take time out of class to speak to a counselor to talk about the incident.
Food on the shelfs at the Watertown Food Pantry, which has seen an increase in the number of people using its services since the start of the Pandemic. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
For many, Watertown is a destination for food and eating, with dozens of restaurants, markets small and large, and a farmers market through the warmer months. However, a significant number of residents have trouble affording to feed themselves and their families. The hunger problem in Watertown is often not visible, but those who provide assistance and services to people in need have noticed a recent increase in the number of people in town facing food insecurity, spiking during the Pandemic. And, while the COVID cases have dropped, the numbers of people going to Watertown’s two food pantries, or needing help to put enough food on their table has remained at about the same level.
A man tried to break into a Watertown home after following a woman home in the early hours of Sunday morning, Watertown Police announced. At about 3:45 a.m., a woman reported a man follow her home on Laurel Street, hid behind a car in her driveway, and then tried to enter her home, Police said in the announcement. “After the victim entered the home, the suspect attempted to gain entrance to the front and back door of the home. It is important to note that no one was harmed, however, we are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect,” Watertown Police said in a Facebook post (see below). The message also said, “The Watertown Police Department takes the safety and security of our community seriously, we will be adding extra patrols in the area.”