Around Town

Planning Board Supports Major Project South of Watertown Square

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A view of the proposed life sciences building at 66 Galen Street viewed from Galen Street. Plans for an a new life science building on Galen Street near Watertown Square got praise from the Planning Board for taking steps to address traffic in the area, improving public transportation and creating green space for public use. The board voted unanimously on Jan. 13 to support Boston Development Group’s project at 66 Galen St., which includes the former Colonial GMC dealership and sits next to the MBTA’s Watertown Yard. On Jan.

Police/Fire

Watertown Man Arrested on Charge of Acting as Unregistered Agent for Iran

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The Department of Justice announced the arrest of a Watertown man on charges of acting as an unregistered agent for the Iranian government. Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi, 63 of Watertown, allegedly gave propaganda to members of Congress and the media, and has received money from an account linked to Iran’s United Nations mission. The charges were unsealed in a Brooklyn Federal Court, but Afrasiabi was arrested on Monday by the FBI and was due to be arraigned in Boston Federal Court on Tuesday. According to a MassLive.com story, Afrasiabi entered the U.S. in 1973 and became a lawful permanent resident in 1984. He has taught at several universities — including full-time at Tehran University, Boston University and Bentley College, and as a visiting scholar at Harvard and University of California, Berkeley — and graduated from University of Massachusetts for undergrad and got his masters degree and doctorate in political science from Boston University.

Around Town

Unity Breakfast Features Youthful Voices, Calls for Racial Justice Locally & Nationally

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Michael Bobbitt served as Honorary Host of the 2021 Watertown Unity Breakfast. He has been artistic director at New Rep Theatre and will be the executive director of the Mass. Cultural Council. The 2020 Watertown Unity Breakfast had a different feel from years past, with the calls for action to fight for equity and against racism were more urgent and closer to home. The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day event hosted by World in Watertown was held virtually instead of the typical gathering at the Hellenic Cultural Center.

Around Town

Watertown Back in Yellow COVID Category, Cases Continue to Rise

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After moving into the state’s “Red,” or high-risk of COVID-19 transmission, group for a week, Watertown went back into the “Yellow,” or moderate-risk group. The latest Mass. Department of Public Health report (released on Jan. 15), showed that the Town’s positive test rate dropped to 4.91 percent. The previous report had Watertown at 5.14 percent, and any positivity rate over 5 percent for a town of Watertown’s size is one of the thresholds to put it in the Red.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Threatened While Using ATM, Facebook Marketplace Scam

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

Jan. 5 1:15 a.m.: A officer patrolling in Watertown Square spotted a vehicle without an inspection sticker, which also had a missing front license plate. The officer obtained the plate number from the back license plate and ran a query that found that registered owner had a warrant out for his arrest. The vehicle was pulled over on Arsenal Street and the 22-year-old Waltham man was arrested on the warrant from Dedham District court for traffic offenses.

Real Estate

Five Watertown Condos Were Sold This Week

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Five Watertown condos were sold this week. $615,000 – 104 Coolidge Hill Road Unit 14, Condo – Townhouse, 1,763 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 2 Bedroom, 2 Full & 1 Half Bathroom

$592,000 – 29 Palfrey St., Condo – Townhouse, 1,400 Living Area Sq. Ft., 7 Room, 4 Bedroom, 1 Full & 1 Half Bathroom

$353,000 – 26 Carey Ave. Unit 8, Condo – Low-Rise, 600 Living Area Sq.

Around Town

Watertown Musician Uses Pandemic to Record First Solo Album

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Watertown’s Daniel Radin recorded his debut solo album, “Good Things” in his home basement. He used the name Lake Saint Daniel for his latest project. Watertown’s Daniel Radin usually spends a lot of time on the road touring with his rock band, but his performance schedule was cut short by the Pandemic. He made the most of his time at home by recording his first solo album. Recently, Radin received a grant from Passim’s Iguana Music Awards to help pay to put out his new album, Good Things, which he put out under the name used for his most recent project — Lake Saint Daniel.

Real Estate

A Dozen Open Houses to Visit in Watertown This Week

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See this week’s Watertown open houses. $899,900 – 764 Belmont St. Unit 1, Condo – Townhouse, 2,280 Living Area Sq. Ft. (Includes Finished Basement), 8 Room, 3 Bedroom, 2 Full & 2 Half Bathroom, Open House: Sunday 11-12:30

$2,600,000 – 152 Cypress St., Multi-family Home – 3 Family – 3 Units Side by Side, 6,502 Living Area Sq.