Police/Fire

Purchase of New Ambulance Approved, Number of Calls Increasing

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The Watertown Fire Department will be getting a new ambulance, which will help with the increasing numbers of medical calls to which paramedics respond. On Tuesday night, the Town Council unanimously approved the borrowing of $355,00 to pay for the purchase of a new ambulance. It will be paid off over five years with a total expected cost, including interest, of $402,925. The current ambulance, a 2016 GMC, has about 42,000 miles on it and will be kept as in reserve after the new one is delivered, said Fire Chief Bob Quinn. He said there is a lead time of about 8 months after ordering an ambulance.

Schools

Watertown Among Districts Encouraged by State to Return to In-Person Learning

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The Watertown Public Schools welcomed students back Tuesday with classes being taught remotely via computer. On Monday, the Massachusetts education officials sent a letter to Watertown and other districts running virtual classes asking when they will start running in-person classes. The letter, sent by Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Jeffrey Riley, asked 16 school districts where the rate of COVID-19 infections are low, to return to in-person learning. Belmont was one of the other districts to receive the letter from the state. State officials said that DESE only recommended remote learning for communities with high risk of COVID-19 infection.

Business

Find Out About Proposed Galen St. Project at 2 Virtual Community Meetings

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The areas on Galen Street proposed to become life science lab space. In February, the orange area was rezoned from Limited Business to Industrial 2, the same as the grey area. The developers of a project at the former Colonial Buick GMC dealer on Galen Street will be discussing plans for the site at a pair of virtual community meetings. Developers seek to build life science lab space with some publicly accessible open space on the land, which sits next to the MBTA’s Watertown Yard bus stop. The rezoning of the area became a topic of heated discussion by both residents and the Town Council earlier this year.

COVID-19

Many Changes in Store for WHS Sports During COVID-19

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Watertown High School’s field hockey team, and other sports, will soon start their fall season, but with several changes due to COVID-19. Weekend games, reduced schedules and very limited fans — these are just some of the changes in store for Watertown High School athletes this fall. Last week, the School Committee approved the plans for holding high school sports during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most Watertown High School fall sports teams will be getting ready for their season to begin in late September. Outdoor sports, except for football, will compete this fall.

Sports

Watertown’s Jerry York Named to U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

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Boston College hockey coach Jerry York. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs named Boston College coach Jerry York, a Watertown native and resident, to its Class of 2020. York has the most wins in college hockey history, and has won five national championships (four at BC and one at Bowling Green). He will be entering his 27th year as the head coach at his alma mater. He first became a head coach in 1972 at age 26 at Clarkson.

Real Estate

These Three Watertown Properties Sold This Weekend

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A trio of homes sold this week in Watertown. $587,000 – 80 Edgecliff Road U:1, Condo – 2/3 Family, 1,360 Living Area Sq. Ft. 6 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom

$1,050,000 – 61 Waltham, Single Family – Detached Colonial, 2,222 Living Area Sq. Ft., 7 Room, 4 Bedroom, 2 Full & 1 Half Bathroom

$440,000 – 31 Pierce Road Unit 31, Condo – Townhouse, 1,224 Living Area Sq.

Police/Fire

Watertown Man Busted After Investigation by Drug Task Force

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Police Department:

Watertown Police Detectives in conjunction with the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 147 Morse St. on Thursday, September 17. As a result of the investigation, Edward Lopez (28) of 147 Morse St, Watertown, was arrested for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Mr. Lopez will be arraigned at the Waltham District Court on Monday. Fentanyl is a very dangerous opioid, overdoses involving fentanyl can lead to respiratory depression and death.