Around Town

Watertown Resident Featured in Globe Story on Adventure Racing

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Watertown’s Rick Keilty recently spent four days venturing through 250 miles of woods in Maine by foot, bicycle and boat. The adventure racer was featured in a story in the Boston Globe. He and his teammate Eric Wyler of Brighton took part in the Untamed New England race near Moosehead Lake. Teams from around the world came out to take on the event, which showcases land preserved by the Boston-based Appalachian Mountain Club’s Maine Woods Initiative. Keilty and Wyler took 30th in the competition.

Around Town

Mount Auburn Hospital Honors Blood Donors

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Mt. Auburn Hospital recently hosted their first ever Corporate Blood Donor Awards breakfast. Companies who support the hospital’s Blood Donor Center and send their employees to the hospital to donate blood were honored and thanked. On hand to recognize each of the donors was Elzbieta Griffiths, MD, Director of the Blood Bank and Donor Center at Mount Auburn Hospital. Among the honorees were Mary Salvucci, head of human resources at Perkins School for the Blind and David Campbell, property manager at CB Richard Ellis, New England Partners, LP

Around Town

See Who Will Lead Watertown Rotary Next Year & Award Winners

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The Watertown Rotary Club appointed its new president and board, and gave out awards during the annual installation of officers and board members. The new Watertown President will be Anthony Donato, the President-Elect is Ronald LeSanto, and the Vice President is Jesse Wallace. The new treasurer is Edward Sugrue, Secretary will be Debra A. Boyajian, Club Advisor-Robert Whitney and Past President Terry Griffith, Jr.

The Board of Directors are: Dr. Domenic D’Amico, John Nealon, Maria Papadopoulos, Dr. Martin J. Greene, Nicole Starck and Alexander Rosin.  

Awards were also handed out during the ceremony. The Outstanding Rotarian went to Anna Glover and Rotary’s highest honor, a Paul Harris Fellow, was awarded to Meg Urquhart.

Development

Council Considering Options for Arsenal Street Moratorium

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The Town Council voted to have a public hearing to consider how to approach a citizens petition asking for a moratorium on development on Arsenal Street. Wednesday night the Council heard from the petitioners, who want to put a hold on new large projects on Arsenal Street. The petition was started after some large projects have been proposed, and others appear to be in the pipeline. The Council will likely decide how to proceed with a moratorium at the meeting on July 22 at 6 p.m. in Town Hall. “Its not only time sensitive because of the petition, but also something being brought forward with all the things (projects being brought),” said Town Council President Mark Sideris.

Business

Hair Salon Owner Feeling at Home in Watertown

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Three years ago Meghan Moran decided to open her own business and moved from Newbury Street to Watertown, where she transformed a motorcycle store into a hair salon. Moran opened Alainn, 1 Louise St., and she said her business has been going strong since. She named it for the Gallic word for beautiful, in honor of her Irish heritage. “My goal is for everyone to leave here feeling beautiful,” Moran said. She cuts and colors hair, and also does some bridal services.

Development

LETTER: Resident Opposes Moratorium on Arsenal Street Developments

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All,

If you move next to vacant or underutilized industrial property you should not be surprised if the site gets redeveloped! I am NOT in favor of a one-year moratorium on the Arsenal Street redevelopment. I am in favor of reasonable refinement of the projects planned based on the Pleasant Street experience gained. Step-backs with height limitations are important. I have lived in Watertown for 25 years now.

Government

Town Cemetery Running Low on Space for New Burials

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Space is running low at Watertown’s Ridgelawn Cemetery, but there are some options for opening more space. Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee said the cemetery has 3-5 years left before filling the currently available spaces. More space can be freed up, but it will take some work, he told the Town Council recently. “We could take some roadways out and add cemetery space,” Mee said. There is also a section near the Waltham line which has not been opened for burials, he said, but they might have some water projects in the near future, Mee said.

Development

Council Discussing Making Transition Zones Between Industrial, Residential Areas

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With a tide of development hitting Watertown, a Town Council subcommittee will discuss creating transition zones between industrial areas and residential neighborhoods. Councilor Aaron Dushku made the motion to analyze and look at creating residential transition zones at last week’s Town Council meeting. The council approved the motion and the issue will be discussed by the Economic Development and Planning subcommittee. The town is in the midst of creating a Comprehensive Plan to help shape the town in the future, but Dushku said he does not think that it has fine enough detail for things such as neighborhoods. “We [the Council] got such pushback over the last few years from Pleasant Street residents, that this has been on my mind,” Dushku said in an email.