Business

Local Company Buys 95 Thanksgiving Dinners for Watertown Families

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Akian Plumbing teamed with the Whooley Foundation to provide 95 Thanksgiving meals. The Whooley Foundation, along with a donation by Steven and Alex Akian — owners of Watertown’s Akian Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning — provided over 95 full Thanksgiving meals to families in town this week. The effort began four years ago when the Akians donated 10 dinners, said Lt. Ken Swift, who heads the Whooley Foundation. This year, 23 more families received meals than in 2024. Swift called it a collaboration between the Police, City departments, community organizations, and Akian.

Police/Fire

Six Watertown Body Works Businesses Busted in Inspections by Health Department & Police

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Six body works businesses in Watertown have been closed indefinitely after being found to be in violation of the City’s new body works regulations. The inspections aimed at not only ensuring that the businesses were in compliance with the updated regulations, but also “to safeguard residents, legitimate businesses, and potential victims of human trafficking,” according to an announcement on the Watertown Police Department’s social media. “All six were found to be in violation of regulations set by the Watertown Board of Health, the Building Department, and the Zoning Department, as well as the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Licensure. These establishments will not be permitted to reopen until they meet the required standards established by these agencies,” the Watertown Police announcement said. The inspections were conducted by the Watertown Health Department, in coordination with Watertown Police, Watertown Zoning and Building Departments, and the Occupational Licensing Division of Massachusetts.

Police/Fire

Middlesex District Attorney Meets With Watertown Police in Effort to Cut Down Shoplifting

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Charlie BreitroseMiddlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan met with Watertown Police to focus on the rise in shoplifting in the area. Here she is pictured at an event where spoke at the Watertown Senior Center. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan joined a regular meeting between Watertown Police and security from local stores to find ways to curb the amount of shoplifting in town, and to prevent incidents from becoming more serious. Since 2022, the number of shopliftings in the City has steadily risen, with the vast majority occurring at the Watertown Mall and Arsenal Yards. In 2022, the WPD responded to around 400 shoplifting incidents, and in 2024 the number rose to 774, according to statistics collected by Watertown Police.

Police/Fire

Thief Steals $9,000 in Donations to Watertown Church

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Firefighters stand in the shadow of St. Patrick’s Church after Lt. Edward Walsh’s wake. Photo by Charlie Breitrose

Approximately $9,000 in donations were taken from St. Patrick’s Church, according to an announcement by the Watertown Police Department. The theft at the church located at 212 Main St., occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct.

Around Town

Watertown Police Offering Free Kits for Drivers With Autism or Who are Neurodivergent

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The Watertown Police recently added a new resource for neurodivergent people and their families that could help prevent misunderstandings and even tragedies. The WPD has joined the Blue Envelope program. The program was started a few years ago by the Massachusetts State Police, and the kits are now available at the Watertown Police Station, said Watertown Police Officer Devon Shatkin. “It’s essentially fostering safer relationships between individuals with autism who are drivers on the road and police officers,” Shatkin said. ” So, we’ve seen a much increased frequency of those type of interactions, and they can be difficult, dangerous, stressful.

Government

Three Watertown Football Players Honored for Helping to Catch a Drunken Driver

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(Screenshot from Boston 25 News)

Three sharp-eyed and quick thinking Watertown High School football players were honored for their effort that helped police locate and arrest a drunken driver. On Oct. 14, the City Council approved a proclamation honoring Riaz Khan, Joel Montoya, and Boran Akisik. On Sept. 25, the three were on their way home after practice witnessed a hit and run incident at the intersection of Palfrey and Pearl streets.