Around Town

Community Members Will be Part of Search for the Next Director of the Watertown Library

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Watertown Free Public LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. The Watertown Library will be looking for a new leader with longtime Library Director Leone Cole announcing her retirement. Cole has made her mark on the Watertown Free Public Library, said Chair Leanne Hammonds. “Leone Cole is retiring after 27 years as library director,” Hammonds said. “She has done incredible work at WFPL and she will certainly be missed!”

Arrests

Police Log: Driver Hits Fence at Boys & Girls Club, Woman Strikes Library Employee

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

Jan. 15, 3:05 a.m: An officer patrolling on Main Street near Prescott Street saw a vehicle on the side of the road with its engine running and the turn signal on. When the officer came back 20 minutes later the vehicle was still there with engine and turn signal still on. The officer went over to check on the well-being of the driver, who was slumped in the driver’s seat and appeared to be asleep behind the wheel.

Around Town

Local Pastor Honored with Award at Unity Breakfast, He and Others Reflect on Teachings of Martin Luther King Jr.

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Charlie BreitroseA mural created by Watertown High School students for the 2020 Unity Breakfast. The 2022 Watertown Unity Breakfast honored a pair of people who have contributed to their communities, and featured the words of two young residents who shared their winning pieces in the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest. For the second year in a row, the annual MLK Day event had to be held virtually. The broadcast of the ceremony debuted on Monday, and this year’s theme was “choosing courage.” Unity Award

The annual Unity Award went to a pastor of a Watertown church who has made a difference since he arrived in town a few years ago.

Around Town

Council to Consider Rules for Airbnb & Other Short Term Rentals at Upcoming Meeting

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Watertown City Hall

The Watertown City Council will hold a public hearing on Jan. 25 to discuss regulations for short-term home rentals, such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Currently, such rentals are not allowed in Watertown, but dozens are listed on the Airbnb site. The Council has held multiple meetings over the past few years about short-term rentals, and in June 2021 they recommended that the Planning Board support a set of rules for short-term rentals. The Planning Board considered the rules and sent them back to the Council for final approval.

Business

Watertown Real Estate Market Remained Vibrant in 2021, See the Top Agents & Offices

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Watertown’s residential real estate market remained strong during 2021, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, finishing stronger than 2020. In 2021, 424 properties in Watertown sold for a total of $316.63 million. More homes were sold than in 2020, when 413 properties were purchased, but the total amount was lower than 2020’s $586.21 million. In 2019, 429 homes sold for a total of $590 million

Top Agents

The agent with the most sales in Watertown was Bob Airasian of Coldwell Banker in Belmont. The Watertown resident sold 25 properties for $22.82 million.

Charity

Lacrosse Games to Raise Funds to Fight Cancer, Organized by Non-Profit Led by Watertown Resident

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A sports-based non-profit started by a Watertown resident will host two lacrosse all-star games to help raise money for cancer research. Watertown’s Michael Slonina started A Shot for Life in 2010 when his mother was diagnosed with a potentially malignant brain tumor. He shot baskets for 24 hours straight in the first year, 2011. The non-profit organization grew out of Slonina’s effort, and has included basketball shooting contests, a home run derby, and now the ASFL Clash Against Cancer. The sport allowed A Shot For Cancer to expand.