Around Town

LETTER: Former Councilor Weighs in on Winter Parking Ban

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(The original letter was sent to the City Council)

Dear Councilors:

Does everyone understand that Watertown’s Traffic Rules and Orders (TROs) also assist in managing the number of vehicles in our neighborhoods? TROs are used to allow for safe, fair and equitable use of public ways by all Watertown inhabitants and visitors. Public ways were not intended to be unrestricted, free, public parking lots for the masses. Hence, the two-hour citywide parking restrictions, unless otherwise posted. And, enforcement of the “No All Night Parking” regulation during the winter season.

Government

LETTER: The Origins of the Latest Assault on the Watertown Winter Parking Ban

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

This will be a short one. About 10 months ago, this appeared on Reddit:

Watertown Winter Parking Ban update

TLDR: Watertown Councilor Tony Palomba is working to petition and amend the winter parking ban. Email him at councilorpalomba@gmail.com to sign the petition, share your feedback, and learn more. “Hi Folks, I am sending this email to those of you who have contacted me regarding the Winter Parking Ban (Ban) at some point in the last year and a half. My apologies of the long delay in coming up with a way to get this important issue in front of the City Council for a public hearing and vote.

Around Town

LETTER: Library’s Survey Missing a Key Language in Watertown

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Letter to the Editor:

The Watertown Free Public Library’s efforts to gather community input for its 2026–28 Strategic Plan are commendable and reflect a genuine desire to serve the needs of residents. However, as a former resident of Watertown, I was surprised and disappointed to see that Armenian is not among the survey’s available languages (“Watertown Library’s Survey Will Help Plan for the Future,” Jan. 6, Watertown News). Estimates suggest that Armenians make up around 20 percent of Watertown’s population, making Armenian one of the most widely spoken minority languages in the town. The Armenian community has been vital to Watertown’s cultural and social fabric for decades, contributing to its unique identity.

Around Town

OP-ED: Two Different Outcomes of Property Revaluation in Watertown

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

A Tale of Two Streets

When Charles Dickens wrote his famous novel, A Tale of Two Cities, his intent was to highlight societal injustices, and with great effect he showed us the dichotomy between living very well and simply surviving. In Watertown, in many ways the seeds of rancor and discontent are being sown … no guillotines involved! Follow me on this journey, if you will. I’m calling this “A Tale of Two Streets.”

On December 2nd a very important and transparent government document was shared through the Watertown Assessors Office with the people of Watertown.

Around Town

LETTER: Time for City to Rein in Spending to Stabilize Property Taxes

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Greetings Councilors:

Today’s fragile economy cannot adhere to atax and spend mentality. Rein in spending to stabilize real estate taxes. Does every elected Watertown City Councilor understand the concept of working in the best interest of the electorate? Does everyone scrutinize the financial consequence on residents of Watertown, prior to, unanimous votes of approval? Or, is there a rubber stamp given to the Administration?

Around Town

LETTER: First Path Day Care Center Moved Into New Location on Boyd Street

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First Path Day Care Center relocated to its new home at renovated historical University Prints Building on Boyd Street in Watertown that is 0.5 mile away from its old location. For over a quarter of a century First Path Day Care Center has been providing affordable high quality child care services to the Watertown’s community. We are happy that First Path that was founded in Watertown in 1998 is staying in Watertown and will continue to serve the Watertown’s families. We are grateful to everyone in the community who supported First Path, our families and our teachers during the trying transition period. First Path’s last day of operation at the old location at 25 Whites Avenue was on Nov.

Around Town

LETTER: Reflection on the 2024 Presidential Election

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Dear Harris Supporters,

I write to you because you should be applauded. I also write to provide genuine analysis before the narrative is taken over by other entities, especially the media. I have crunched some of the numbers. Given top-line numbers, I can conclude that this was a vote against Biden’s foreign policy more so than a vote for Trump. Trump essentially got the same numbers of votes as he did in 2020 (it is a +0.1% change). Harris, at approximately 70 million votes, did not beat him or Biden’s numbers of 81 million votes. One held onto the base and the other did not. Trump’s base appears to be younger with some increase in POCs. It is still less female and less educated. Harris’ appears to have held onto the crossover votes of moderates and Republicans, who this time are more ideologically conservative and older. These mere shifts may not matter much since it is just a reshuffling as more people enter the registration pool.

Around Town

LETTER: Open Letter of Gratitude to Former WHS Coach John Barbati

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By Mark RoopenianWatertown High School 1976

Coach Barbati,

No one has impacted my life and who I am today more than you. You taught me toughness, perseverance, preparation, poise, work ethic, and most importantly, that nothing is impossible. You saw something in me that I didn’t even see in myself. How else could a skinny Armenian kid headed to Bates College get a full football scholarship to Boston College? Because you cared enough to put your hard-earned reputation on the line with BC Head Coach Joe Yukica.