Government

Mt. Auburn Street Repairs Move a Step Closer

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Mt. Auburn Street could be repaired and redesigned in the near future, as the state gave approval to the project to move into the design phase. MassHighway gave project review approval for the proposal, said Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee, and now the town must start designing the project. “We need to finish surveying work and we will have public meetings and start designing it,” Mee said. Mee said he hopes to have the first of multiple meetings “within a few months.”

Around Town

Artist Group Seeking New Home, Might Leave Town

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The Turtle Studios has been in town since the Clinton Administration, but it may have to leave Watertown unless it can find an affordable spot. The group of 28 artists calls the second floor of the Watertown Elks Lodge home, but in December they were told that the building was being sold, said Jen Dunning, an artist who has been part of the group for the past 8 years. “We have until Sept. 30 to find new space,” Dunning said. The group has been looking at spaces around Watertown, but have yet to find a space big enough in their price range.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Fights Officers When Arrested and More

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

May 21, 10:07 a.m.: Police arrested a 33-year-old Watertown woman on a charge of domestic assault and battery, and officers found a bottle with 27 pills that did not belong to her. She was also charged with possession of a Class E drug. May 21, 7:19 p.m.: Security stopped a suspected shoplifter and the man fought security when they tried to detain him. He continued to fight when police arrived and tried to arrest him.

Government

Watertown School Budget on Tap This Week

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On Tuesday, Watertown school officials will make their case to the Town Council for their Fiscal 2015 budget request. The School Committee and school administrators will present their budget at the Budget Hearing on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Town Hall. Their budget will be heard after the Water/Sewer Enterprise. There is a significant gap between the request from the Schools, which asked for a $6 million, 16 percent increase. While the Town Manager’s budget includes a $2.26 million, 6 percent increase.

Sports

WHS Sports: See How the Raiders Fared in State Competitions

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The Raiders’ spring sports squads took on  some of the best in the state this week in state tournaments and state meets. 

Track & Field

Several Raiders track and field athletes competed in the Eastern Div. 4 Outdoor Championships at Dufree High School in Fall River. The Raiders’ boys team won a relay and the pentathlon, and got a pair of second places in individual events. Junior Brian DallaCosta won the pentathlon event with 2609 points. The 4 x 400 meter relay got first place with a time of 3:33.73.

Government

U-Turn on Watertown Street Repair Projects

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The road repair plan for the summer of 2014 hit a roadblock, so the Department of Public Works will focus on a new set of streets. The new set of streets to be repaired are short in number, but some of the longer ones in town: Arlington Street, Orchard Street and School Street. The streets will be repaired with the mill and overlay method, which grinds up the top layer of asphalt and lays down a fresh layer. The work will extend the life of the road by 7 to 15 years, said Councilor Cecilia Lenk, chairman of the Public Works Subcommittee. The original list included these streets: Fifield Street, Avon Road, Alden Road, Salisbury Road, Priest Road, Loomis Avenue, Duff Street, Barnard Avenue, Lincoln Street, Dexter Avenue, Katherine Road and Cushman Street.

Sports

Watertown Hockey Player Will Join Northeastern Women’s Team

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Watertown’s Lauren Kelly will be taking to the ice as a Northeastern Husky next season. The defenseman played her high school hockey at The Winchendon School. Her senior year Kelly was a captain for The Winchendon School and helped guide the team to a 28-2-1 record and a trip to the quarterfinals of the NEPSAC tournament, the championship for New England Prep schools, according to an announcement from Northestern. Northeastern women’s hockey coach Dave Flint described Kelly: “Lauren is a big, strong defenseman with a goal-scoring touch. She is a fierce competitor who will be counted on in all situations next year.”

Business

Small Retail Kiosks Approved at Arsenal on the Charles

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A set of three retail kiosks with rotating tenants will soon go up at the Arsenal on the Charles complex. New owners of the complex, athenahealth, went to the Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday night for approval for what they hope are the start of turning part of the area into a retail corridor. The board approved it unanimously with conditions. The three kiosks will have rotating offerings, including food, drink and other items such as jewelry, said Bridger McGaw, a spokesman for athenahealth. “Someone could come for coffee on Monday, then go to the Clover Food Truck on Tuesday and realize he should come back on Thrusday because they have sushi,” McGaw said.