Around Town

Recently Finished Projects Makes Watertown Library More Friendly to the Disabled

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The Watertown Free Public Library. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Free Public Library:

The Watertown Free Public Library recently completed two Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvement projects. First, the front patio was extended three feet to allow everyone, including people with mobility devices, to enjoy the coveted outside space. Inside, automatic door openers were added to the entrances of the children’s, teen, and Watertown Savings Bank Room, the large meeting room on the first floor. “Given that our library was renovated in 2006, we don’t find many accessibility issues with the building.

Police/Fire

Watertown Firefighters Battled 2-Alarm Fire Sunday Morning

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Parts of a 2.5 story home in East Watertown were damaged by a fire on Sunday morning, and one firefighter suffered an injury. The alarm came in at 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 23 for the home at 51 Quimby Street, according to Watertown, and Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson, the incident commander, called for a second alarm at 8:13 a.m.

The fire did extensive damage to the third floor apartment in the home, and the other two floors had smoke and water damage, according to the report released by Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn. View this post on Instagram This morning Group 2 responded to a structure fire on Quimby Street. Two alarms were ordered by Deputy Chief Nicholson to control the blaze. All occupants evacuated safely.

Around Town

Ceremony Planned to Dedicate Square to Watertown Marine Killed in Vietnam

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Paul Gorman, a Watertown Marine killed in Vietnam, will have a memorial in his name on Main Street at Emerson Road. Watertown will honor a Marine who died in Vietnam by dedicating an a square in his name in July. The Town of Watertown will formally recognize the intersection of Emerson Road and Main Street as “Private First Class Paul James Gorman Memorial Square” on July 12, 2019 at 11 a.m., said Watertown Veterans Service Officer Patrick George. Residents are invited to join us in appreciation for PFC Gorman’s service to his country; as well as show support to his family members that will be in attendance. Gorman began his tour on May 4, 1968.

Around Town

Tufts Health Plan Foundation Awards Nearly $1.9 Million in Grants

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Tufts Health Plan Foundation today announced new community investments reflecting a commitment to a community approach for making our cities and towns great places to grow up and grow old. The nearly $1.9 million supports 15 nonprofit organizations working in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. 

“Building communities that are responsive to the needs of older people is essential as our society ages,” said Thomas P. O’Neill, III, chair of the Tufts Health Plan Foundation board of directors. “Our investments support community-based organizations in their efforts to implement age-friendly policies and practices.” 

The new grants reflect a trend of increased regional and local efforts to create age- and dementia-friendly communities, and to re-imagine the relationship to health care and community. The initiatives promote cross-sector collaboration, expand engagement of older people, advance improvements to support the health and wellbeing of older people, and address the social determinants of health. 

“Each community has its own unique needs. Tufts Health Plan Foundation focuses resources in communities that want to achieve age-friendly practices that are relevant, focus on under-represented communities and engage older people in the process,” said Nora Moreno Cargie, president of the Tufts Health Plan Foundation and vice president of corporate citizenship for Tufts Health Plan.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Arrested on 8 Warrants, Rash of Stolen Packages

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

June 13, 2:17 p.m.: An employee at Sasaki Associates on Pleasant Street called 911 after an uninvited man was acting strangely inside the business. The man was seen walking around inside Sasaki’s offices and when he was confronted he became belligerent and used racial slurs. He then left and headed down the nearby Charles River Walk. An employee got a photo of the man and police were able to locate him on Pleasant Street near Howard Street.

Real Estate

See the Four Watertown Properties That Were Sold This Week

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See the four properties in Watertown that were sold this week. $795,000 – 788 Belmont St. Unit 788, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 3 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

$920,000 – 37 Paul St., 3 unit, 12 total room, 5 total bedroom, 2 Family – 2 Units Up/Down multi-family home

Sponsored by:

$550,000 – 2-4 Hosmer St. Unit 4, 6 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$484,500 – 990 Belmont St., 5 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Ranch single-family home

Around Town

High School Students Can Enter MassDOT Video Contest

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The following announcement was provided by MassDOT:

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing the sixth annual statewide high school video contest, Safe Streets Smart Trips. The contest serves as an initiative within the Massachusetts Strategic Highway Safety Plan to promote and educate the public about safe walking, bicycling, and driving behaviors. The contest began five years ago to encouragehigh school students to showcase their understanding of roadway safety across all travel modes to try to decrease pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and fatalities. “We are pleased to once again be able to give students the opportunity to create educational videos which underscore messages in the ‘Scan the Streets for Wheels and Feet’ initiative,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. “The video contest has resulted in very creative ideas during the last few years and we look forward to seeing what teenagers will produce during this year’scontest to make the public more aware of safe behaviors while traveling.”

In summer 2017, MassDOT launched a new statewide campaign to raise awareness about motorists, pedestrians and cyclists safely sharing the Commonwealth’s streets. This initiative reminds travelers to “Scan the Street for Wheels and Feet.” The campaign slogan emphasizes the notion that everyone who is traveling on a roadway is responsible for doing their part to ensure safety.

Entertainment

Small Saves: Tea Party

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James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net. Combining this with the love of cartooning, Small Saves emerged in 1991 and took on a life of his own. “To play goal–then come home and draw Small Saves — is my ideal definition of a good day.”