Around Town

Groups Helping Residents During Pandemic the Focus of Watertown Cable Show

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Guests Jan Singer of the Watertown Community Foundation (top left) and Sophia Suarez-Friedman of Watertown Mutual Aid (bottom right) joined Inside Watertown co-hosts Charlie Breitrose (top right) and Bob Airasian (bottom left). Two organizations that have been helping Watertown residents weather the COVID-19 pandemic were highlighted on the most recent episode of Watertown Cable’s Inside Watertown. The guests on the Zoom edition of Inside Watertown were Sophia Suarez-Friedman, the Town’s Social Services Resource Specialist at Wayside Youth & Family Support Network and coordinator of Watertown Mutual Aid; and Jan Singer, executive director of the Watertown Community Foundation. Co-hosts Charlie Breitrose and Bob Airasian talked with Suarez-Friedman and Singer about some of the many initiatives that have started during the pandemic. Mutual Aid is one, which pairs residents who want to help neighbors in need of assistance.

Business

State Offering New Round of Pandemic Grants to Small Businesses

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Grants are available for small businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. A new round of grants for small businesses negatively impacted by the pandemic has been announced by state officials. Sectors given priority for the grants include restaurants, hair and nail salons, gyms and fitness, indoor recreation, event support and independent retailers. The Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) has up to $668 million available to support businesses in sectors experiencing the most significant economic hardship and a loss of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The application deadline is Jan.

Schools

COVID-19 Numbers Low in Watertown Schools, Officials Look at When to Increase In-School Time

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The Watertown Public Schools have significantly lower COVID-19 positive test rates than the Town, and more than two-thirds of students and staff are participating in the district’s free testing program. Superintendent Dede Galdston said that the staff and students tested in the district’s pool testing is 0.15 percent, which is below the most recent positivity rate Townwide, which was 4.4 percent as of Dec. 28. She discussed the COVID-19 rates and the testing program, along with what factors will be considered when looking at increasing the amount of in-school learning during Monday’s School Committee meeting. Galdston credits staff and students taking the COVID-19 protocols seriously for the low rates of the virus.

Entertainment

Dance Film & Photography Exhibit Showing at Watertown Art Studio

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A shot of the new art installation at Room 83 Spring, “up in the air,” by Margaret Wiss. Watertown art studio Room 83 Spring is hosting an exhibition featuring the work of one artist, who has produced a film featuring dance as well as a photography exhibit. The show, up in the air, features the work of Margaret Wiss, a young, bright, emerging star, according to Room 83 Spring founders and co-curators Ellen Wineberg and Cathleen Daley. The show can be seen by coming into the studio, or from outside. “The whole show can be seen through our  windows and is especially vivid in the deep dark winter nights,” Wineberg and Daley said in the show’s announcement.

Business

Tufts Health Plan’s Merger Approved, New Organization Moving Out of Town

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Watertown-based Tufts Health Plan received approval to merge with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, with the merged organization moving out of Town. Plans for the merger first came out in late-May, with the new health services organization moving to the former Reebok headquarters in Canton. Tufts’ main offices has been located in Watertown in the former Western Electric Co. since 1997. Harvard Pilgrim is currently headquartered in Wellesley. The merger officially occurred on Jan.

Around Town

COVID-19 Cases Slightly Down in Watertown, Positive Test Rate Up

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The numbers of new cases of COVID-19 in Watertown dropped slightly in the most recent community-by-community report by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), but the percent of positive tests rose. The number of cases over the prior 14 days in the Dec. 24 report (released on Dec. 31) was 236, down from 241 the prior week. The drop was the first since the DPH’s Sept.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Vehicles Broken Into, Small Fire at Business

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

None

Incidents

Watertown Police received one report of unemployment fraud for the week of Dec. 21-27. Dec. 21, 6:25 p.m.: An employee of a company on Pleasant Street was supposed to receive a Samsung Galaxy tablet, but did not get it.

Real Estate

Three Watertown Properties Sold This Week

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A condo and two multi-family homes were sold this week in Watertown. $950,000 – 110-112 Hillside Road, Multi-family Home – 2 Family – 2 Units Up/Down, 2,835 Living Area Sq. Ft., 2 Units, 11 Total Rooms, 5 Total Bedrooms

$312,000 – 19 Carver Road Unit 3, Condo – 2/3 Family, 705 Living Area Sq. Ft., 4 Room, 1 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom

$1,075,000 – 1 Theurer Park, Multi-family Home – 2 Family, 2,576 Living Area Sq. Ft., 2 Units, 10 Total Rooms, 4 Total Bedrooms

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