Watertown Patch's Top 5 News Stories for 2012

1. After months of speculation that Walmart would build a store off Arsenal Street near the Square, Walmart officials announced in June that they were pulling out of town. The move was met with cheers from members of groups that arose to oppose the store coming to town.

2. The November election captured the attention of many in Watertown this year. Along with the Presidential vote, the race for the Senate seat was a biggie in town. Both candidates stopped by to meet voters. Elizabeth Warren waded through the crowd at Faire on the Square in September, and Scott Brown greeted supporters at Aegean Restaurant in late October.

3. One of the largest properties in Watertown will be sold. In December Athenahealth announced it has an agreement to buy 11 buildings in the Watertown Arsenal from Harvard University.

4. Watertown residents had to adjust to the a new trash and recycling program, one in which they were limited in how much trash they can throw away. Public Works officials wanted the new program to increase the amount of recycling and cut down the amount of garbage needing disposal. So far the town has adjusted well, and recycling is up.

5. A proposal to build an apartment complex on Waltham Street met stiff resistance from West Side residents, but in April the Planning Board approved the project.