Police/Fire

Four Men Busted After Police Raid Finds Several Kinds of Drugs, Guns & Cash

By |

Four Watertown men face drug and firearm charges after a raid of their home in on Thursday. 

Watertown Police along with members of the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force and a NEMLEC SWAT team raided a home after receiving a search warrant for the 51 Riverside St., according to Watertown Police. Four residents of the home — James Paul, 28, Charles Seo, 22, Dominic Chad Davis, 29, and Akeem Ricardo Mapp, 29 — were placed under arrest and arraigned in Waltham District Court on Friday, Police announced. The search found cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy (MDMA), Ketamine, marijuana, three firearms, and approximately $10,000 in cash, according to an announcement from police. The raid came after month-long drug investigation by Watertown Police and the drug task force.

Schools

Comcast Awards Watertown Grad Scholarship for Academics, Community Service

By |

The following release was provided by Comcast:

Watertown’s Kaitlin Tracy was one of 103 Massachusetts students to receive a 2018 Leaders and Achievers Scholarship. The program, funded by the Comcast Foundation, is a one-time, $1,000 scholarship awarded to the best and brightest high school seniors for their community service, academic performance and leadership skills. Since 2001, more than $28 million has been awarded to nearly 27,000 high school seniors across the country as part of the Leaders and Achievers Program. “Our Leaders and Achievers Scholarship winners are exceptional students who are committed to academic excellence and community service,” said Tracy Pitcher, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Greater Boston Region. “We are honored to recognize their achievements and excited to support them as they continue their educational journeys.”

Comcast, joined by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, recognized the students at a special event held at the Massachusetts State House today. Added Lt. Governor Polito, “Our administration is committed to helping students across the Commonwealth receive a quality, affordable education and we are pleased to have partners like Comcast assist in those efforts. We are proud of this year’s Leaders & Achievers Scholarship recipients for their community service, academic performance and leadership skills and look forward to their future growth and successes.”

The Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students who strive to achieve their full potential, who are catalysts for positive change in their communities, who are involved in their schools, and who serve as models for their fellow students.

Around Town

Look for the Green Bikes — Lime Bike Share Company Comes to Watertown

By |

A fleet of 200 bright green bicycles arrives in Watertown on Friday. These bicycles are part of the town’s first bikeshare program, run by Lime. Unlike the bikeshares in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville, Lime operates a dockless bike program. “Lime is thrilled to bring our dock-free smart bikes to Arlington and Watertown. Many of the communities north of Boston have now added our affordable, green transportation option for everyone to enjoy,” said Scott Mullen, Lime Director of Expansion, New England.

Entertainment

Fifth of July Concert Honors Town’s Veterans, Feature Hal McIntyre Big Band

By |

Watertown will host the Fifth of July Concert: A Salute to Our Veterans featuring the Hal McIntyre Big Band. The concert is in memory of two recently lost veterans, Watertown Building Inspector Ken Thompson and Watertown resident James Dorsi. The Hal McIntyre Big Band is conducted by Watertown-native Don Pentleton. The concert will be held at Saltonstall Park (next to Town Hall) from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on July 5, 2018.

Around Town

Public Invited to Next Meeting of Watertown Citizens for Black Lives

By |

The following information was provided by Watertown Citizens for Black Lives:

We will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the First Parish Unitarian/Universalist Church on Church Street in Watertown on Monday, July 2. Our Mission: Watertown Citizens For Black Lives is a community member organization that campaigns against violence and systemic racism in our local community.

Real Estate

Several Open Houses to Visit in Watertown This Weekend

By |

See the open houses taking place in Watertown this weekend. $839,900 – 44 Upland Road, 8 room, 4 bed, 2 bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1:30 Sunday 11:30-1:30

$729,000 – 3 Quincy Unit 3, 7 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath half duplex, Open House: Saturday 12-2

$749,000 – 504 Main St. Unit 2, 8 room, 3 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30

$765,000 – 125 Coolidge Ave. Unit 707, 6 room, 2 bed, 2 bath high-rise, Open House: Saturday 4-5

$775,000 – 71 Bradford Road Unit 71, 8 room, 4 bed, 3 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 1:30-3:30

Sponsored by:

$799,900 – 69 Bradford Road Unit 69, 9 room, 4 bed, 3 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 1:30-3:30

$750,000 – 26 Whitcomb St., 7 room, 3 bed, 1 full 2 half bath colonial, Open House: Saturday 11-1

$485,900 – 9 Wollitzer Lane Unit 9, 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 12-1:30

$495,900 – 11 Wollitzer Lane Unit 11, 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 12-1:30

Government

Mt. Auburn St. Plans Approved by Council Subcommittee, Now on to Full Council

By |

Wednesday evening, the Council’s Public Works subcommittee recommended that the Town Council approve the plan for Mt. Auburn Street that would reduce the number of travel lanes in most sections and add buffered bike lanes along many stretches. 

The plan has been much discussed over the past several years, after the Town Council voted in 2013 to have the Department of Public Works and the town’s traffic engineering consultant, WorldTech Engineering, come up with plan for a “road diet” for the major artery between Watertown Square and the Cambridge line. The project is a Complete Streets project, which means it is designed for all modes of transportation: motor vehicle, bicycles, pedestrians and public transportation. If the Town can get TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) funding, the entire $14 million budget will be covered entirely by the state, said Bill Mertz, vice president of WorldTech. The plan would reduce the number of motor vehicle travel lanes from two lanes each way to one each way along most of the length of Mt.

Entertainment

First Watertown Summer Concert Moving to Rain Location

By |

The Town of Watertown announced that the first Summer Concert will move due to Thursday’s rain storm. 
Concerts normally are held at Saltonstall Park (next to Town Hall). Town officials sent out this announcement:

Tonight’s Summer Concert will be held in the Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main Street. The band “Johnny Fireseed and the Junkyard Dogs” is a family show using great music to create a fun learning experience about being green! Rock out with Johnny Fireseed and the Junkyard Dogs as they use instruments made entirely from trash, recycled, and re-purposed items to perform original music with an upbeat eco-message. Snow cones, popcorn and water will be served free of charge.