Schools

See What Watertown High School Seniors Thought About Their Education

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School officials surveyed graduating seniors at Watertown High School to find out how they felt about their education experience in the Watertown Public Schools. The survey helped school officials measure one of the district goals – self actualization. The definition being used by the district is “The realization or fulfillment of one’s talents, potentialities, esp. considered as a drive or need present in everyone.” Last year, a subcommittee decided to give the survey to have a way to measure whether the district is meeting the goal.

Letters

LETTER: Concerned Citizens Group’s Mission

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The Concerned Citizens Group submitted the following information about the organization’s mission:
Concerned Citizens Group, Inc. “Neighbors in the Know”
Mission Statement
Our Neighborhood Association was established in 1971. Its goals are:

To keep its members aware of current events in, and pertaining to, the Town of Watertown, MA. To inform, educate, and advise them as to how these events affect our neighborhood. To actively pursue the securing of wise legislation and decisions from Town bodies insofar as our neighborhood is concerned. To keep elected officials, Town employees, and the residents of Watertown aware of issues considered being in our best interests.

Development

Town Council, Planning Board to Begin Examining Comprehensive Plan

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The Comprehensive Plan will get a thorough examination by the Planning Board and a subcommittee of the Town Council beginning Monday, July 14. The joint meeting of the Planning Board and the Economic Development and Planning subcommittee will be held at 7 p.m. in Town Hall inside the Council Chamber. The meeting is the first of three scheduled to go over the details of the document that will help shape the future of Watertown. Other meetings will be held July 21 and August 18, and will also be in Town Hall. The first meeting does not have a set agenda, Planning Board Chairman John Hawes said during a board meeting last week.

Real Estate

See Which Homes Sold in Watertown this Week

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Take a look at the homes that sold in Watertown this week, and how much they sold for. $350,000 – 11 Irma Avenue Unit 1 in Watertown, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 2 Family condo

$476,000 – 130 Edenfield Ave., 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom, Colonial single-family home

Sponsored by:

$925,000 – 175 Lovell Road, 8 room, 4 bedroom, 3 full & 1 half bathroom, Colonial single-family home

$407,500 – 51 Prospect Street, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, Ranch single-family home

$435,300 – 29 Parker St. Unit 29, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, condo/townhouse

$520,000 – 64 Bates Rd Unit 64, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$621,500 – 187 Fayette St., 9 room, 3 bedroom, 3 full & 1 half bathroom, Colonial single-family home

$366,000 – 116 Walnut St Unit 116, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2 Family condo

Sold a house that is not on the list, or interested in being a sponsor or advertising on Watertown News, send an email to WatertownMaNews@gmail.com.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Caught Stealing Tire of Car, Police Arrest Man for Cocaine Possession

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

June 23, 2:09 a.m.: An officer spotted a grey minivan run a red light at Nonantum Road and Galen Street and then run the light at Watertown and California streets. The officer pulled the minivan over and detected an odor of alcohol on the driver’s breath. Field sobriety tests were given and the 28-year-old Newton man was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, unlicensed driving and to counts of failing to stop. June 23, 7:07 a.m.: Police arrested a 33-year-old Watertown man on a warrant from Waltham District Court for intimidating a witness and malicious destruction of property.

Around Town

Boston Will Name Playground After Fallen Firefighters, Including Ed Walsh

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The two Boston firefighters killed in a blaze in March, including Watertown-native Edward Walsh, will be honored by having a tot lot in West Roxbury dedicated in their names. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will reopen the Billings Field playground at 369 LaGrange Street in West Roxbury on Saturday, July 26, at 10 a.m. The tot lot will be named for Walsh, a fire lieutenant, and Firefighter Michael Kennedy, who died in a 9-alarm fire in the Back Bay. The nearly $500,000 playground improvement project includes the Lt. Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy Tot Lot which will include two new fire truck panels to be placed in the 2 to 5-year-old and 5 to 12-year-old play areas. The panels resemble the front of a fire truck and are adorned with the Boston Fire Department logo and the names of Engine 33 and Ladder 15, as well as interactive elements such as steering wheels and a fire bell. Two park benches will also be named in Walsh and Kennedy’s honor.

Business

Planning Board Wary of Volkswagen’s Plans for Sullivan Tire Site

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Boston Volkswagen wants to turn the site where Sullivan Tire is located into a used car showroom, but the Planning Board and others said the plan does not fit with the vision to improve Watertown Square. The Comprehensive Plan, which is currently being worked on by the Town Council and Planning Board, calls for making Watertown Square more attractive to shoppers and pedestrians. Boston Volkswagen’s plans would be to keep the same building at 21 North Beacon St., but make some upgrades. The building is just down the street from the current Boston Volkswagen dealership, at 43 North Beacon St. Greg Sampson, the attorney for Boston Volkswagen, said that the new use would have a smaller portion of the building used for auto service, and it would improve the look of the building.

Development

New Hotel on Arsenal Street Passes Muster With Planning Board

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The proposed 148-room Residence Inn by Marriott hotel proposed on Arsenal Street took a major step forward Wednesday night when the Planning Board gave its support to the project. The hotel would go on the former Charles River Saab site and would be owned by Boylston Properties, which also owns the Arsenal Project. The hotel would have a modern look, with a mix of materials, including metal, a product that looks like wood and light colored tiles, said Fred Kramer, an architect with ADD Inc.

The hotel will not be a full service hotel, said Bill McQuillan, principle of Boylston Properties, meaning it will not have room service, bell hops, a place to buy coffee, a bar and a small meeting room. It will also have a pool and a patio on the top floor, both of which are only for guests. Planning Board members and the public said they would like to see the hotel more welcoming to the public.