Government

Big Name Democrats to Join State Rep. Lawn for End of the Year Fundraiser

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State Rep. John Lawn

Some of Massachusetts’ Democrat VIPs will be on hand at an end of the year fundraiser hosted by State Rep. John Lawn of Watertown. Special guests for the Holiday Fundraising Reception will be Congresswoman Katherine Clark, Attorney General Maura Healey, House Speaker Ron Mariano and Majority Leader Claire Cronin. The reception will be held at Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co., 411 Waverley Oaks Road in Waltham, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14. Lawn represents the 10th Middlesex, which includes the Westside of Watertown, and parts of Waltham and Newton.

Around Town

Hundreds Get in the Holiday Spirit at Watertown’s Tree Lighting

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Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown Tree Lighting and other activities drew a crowd at the Commander’s Mansion. Hundreds of children and their parents flocked to the Commander’s Mansion Saturday evening for the Watertown Tree Lighting. One lucky family was selected in a raffle to turn on the lights on the Christmas tree set up outside the Mansion. The winning ticket was selected by the Mayor of Whoville, played by City Council President Mark Sideris. The winning family was escorted over to the light switch next to the tree by a parade led by the Tuba Guy.

Car Theft

Police Log: Car Rented Out Through App Missing, Dozens of Bottles of Perfume Taken from Store

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

None

Incidents

Nov. 23, 7:20 a.m.: A 2015 Chevy Malibu was vandalized on Morrison Road. The windshield was smashed with a blunt object, both driver-side windows were struck with a blunt object and the hood had scratches on it. A large rock found nearby is suspected to be the object used to break the windows.

Real Estate

Five Watertown Condos Were Sold This Week

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See the properties sold this week on the Watertown real estate market. $835,000 – 39 Stearns Road Unit 39, Condo – Townhouse, 1,686 Living Area Sq. Ft., 8 Room, 4 Bedroom, 1 Full & 1 Half Bathroom

$927,000 – 218 Main St. Unit 218, Condo – Townhouse, 2,145 Living Area Sq. Ft., 7 Room, 4 Bedroom, 2 Full & 1 Half Bathroom

$500,000 – 50 Watertown St.

Alexandria Real Estate

Mosesian Center for the Arts Celebrates Opening of New Space, Return of Live Performances

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Charlie BreitroseVisitors get their first look inside the renovated lobby of the Mosesian Center for the Arts. From the outside, the Mosesian Center for the Arts looks as it has for years, but step inside the front doors and you are greeted by a new lobby that draws you in and showcases works of art on its walls. Thursday evening, the Arts Center located in the Arsenal on the Charles, held a grand opening for its new and improved lobby, and a return of the performing arts. A soft opening was held on Nov. 12 when the first stage show in more than a year-and-a-half went on — the Watertown Children’s Theatre Production of Mama Mia.

Real Estate

Dozens of Open Houses to Visit in Watertown This Weekend

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Homebuyers have plenty of properties to visit this weekend in Watertown. $799,900 – 29-31 York Ave., Multi-family Home – 2 Family, 1,862 Living Area Sq. Ft., 2 Units, 12 Total Rooms, 6 Total Bedrooms, Open Houses: Saturday 11-1 Sunday 11-1

$899,000 – 25 Fuller Road Unit 25, Condo – 2/3 Family, 2,540 Living Area Sq. Ft., 7 Room, 3 Bedroom, 3 Full Bathroom Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 11-1

$649,900 – 135 Morse Unit 1, Condo – Townhouse, 1,300 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom, Open House: Sunday 1-2:30

$699,900 – 210 Palfrey, Single Family – Detached Bungalow, 1,400 Living Area Sq.

Artificial Turf

Residents Air Concerns Over Artificial Turf & Field Sharing with BB&N, Council Maintains Agreement

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BB&NThe plan of the athletic complex on Grove Street, on the right, presented in November 2020 when the City of Watertown and Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (BB&N) agreed to a field sharing plan that includes the City’s fields at Filippello Park. Residents for and against the field sharing agreement between the City of Watertown and Buckingham Browne & Nichols School spoke for nearly two hours Wednesday night during a special City Council meeting. In the end, the Council took no action, which means the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the city and the school remains in effect. Opponents of the agreement focused mostly on health and safety concerns due to the two fields being covered with artificial turf. Others said they were concerned that the Council entered the agreement without knowing artificial turf would be installed, and that the agreement calls for “green open space,” which they said means grass.

Government

Council Approves Creation of Watertown Affordable Housing Trust

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

The City of Watertown will have a trust dedicated to the creation and preservation of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households with the Council’s approval of the ordinance creating the trust. Along with approving the ordinance, the Council’s vote on Nov. 23 also dissolved the Watertown Housing Partnership, which led Watertown’s efforts to create affordable housing for many years. The Housing Trust will have powers and abilities beyond what has been possible through the City’s efforts to create affordable housing or the Housing Partnership’s efforts, said Watertown Senior Planner Larry Field. “The Housing Partnership has been a great asset to the city for many years,” Field said.