Police/Fire

Police Log: Dog Scares Off Intruder, Lightning Suspected of Starting Small Fire

By |

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

July 20, 6:34 a.m.: The Probation Department alerted Watertown Police that a resident was wanted on a warrant for probation violation. Officers went to Nichols Avenue and placed the 40-year-old man under arrest on the probation warrant out of Waltham District Court. 

Incidents

July 20, 2:43 p.m.: Someone living in a home on Longfellow Road that was under construction heard someone walk inside and say “hello?” Then the person saw the family dog and said. “That’s a big dog,” and left.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Watertown Police Disheartened by Courts Overturning of Tsarnaev Sentence

By |

The day after a Federal Appeals Court overturned the death sentence for convicted Boston Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Watertown Police Department released a statement saying its members are “disheartened” by the ruling. The Watertown Police statement reads:

“The members of the Watertown Police Department are disheartened by the decision of the United States Federal Appeals Court to overturn the death penalty sentence of the Boston Marathon bomber. His unconscionable acts of terrorism during the 2013 Boston Marathon and subsequent days, has forever altered the lives of so many. We continue to mourn the loss of thosewho died; our hearts are always with their families and the hundreds of survivors impacted by this tragic event. #watertownstrong #bostonstrong”

The First Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the sentence, and said that Judge George O’Toole didn’t do enough to make sure jurors were not tainted by pretrial publicity, according to a WBUR report.

Around Town

Local Health & Fitness Businesses Look for Ways to Survive COVID-19

By |

Artemis Yoga runs outdoor classes at Arsenal Park several times a week. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a curveball for many industries, but some local exercise and fitness businesses have found some innovative ways to serve their clients. A fitness trainer has teamed up with a dance studio to provide an event for the whole family, while a yoga studio has taken to the park to do in-person classes. Meanwhile, some new businesses are trying to establish themselves in spite of the Coronavirus restrictions. Jan Taylor, who runs Get Lively: Health & Fitness, has a studio where she has been running socially distanced in-person classes.

Around Town

7 Bluebike Stations Being Installed in Watertown

By |

Watertown will be getting seven Bluebike stations, with the first few being installed in early August. The first few of the seven Bluebike stations coming to Watertown will be installed with in the next few days. Steve Magoon, Assistant Town Manager and Director of Community Development and Planning, welcomed Bluebike’s expansion into town. “This is an exciting opportunity to bring bike share to Watertown, and provide connections to the other communities and to the T, with a consistent program throughout the region,” Magoon said. “The experience for the public will be seamless and much more functional.”

Watertown Transportation Planner Laura Wiener said the first station is due to be installed in Coolidge Square on Friday, July 31.

Real Estate

Many, Many Open Houses in Watertown This Week

By |

A wide variety of properties will host open houses this week around town. $969,000 – 37 Orchard St., Single Family – Detached Colonial, 2,350 Living Area Sq. Ft. (Includes Finished Basement), 8 Room, 3 Bedroom, 2 Full & 2 Half Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1:30 Sunday 11:30-1:30

$429,000 – 290 Pleasant St. Unit 305, Condo – Mid-Rise 689 Living Area Sq.

Around Town

Watertown Group Using MLK’s Teachings to Address Racial Injustice, Bigotry

By |

People kneel in memory of George Floyd and others during a candlelight vigil in Watertown Square co-sponsored by the Kingian Response Team and the Watertown Police Department. Tuesday night, dozens of people gathered in Watertown Square holding lanterns and candles in a vigil for George Floyd and others, and to speak out against racism and bigotry. The event was one of the first efforts of the Kingian Nonviolence Response Team, which grew out of a program that has its roots in the Watertown Public Schools. The Kingian group has plans to work with the Watertown Police Department, the Watertown Public Schools and the Town Council to reduce what they see as systemic racism in these local institutions. And much of the effort is being led by current Watertown students who learned King’s teachings in the Kingian Nonviolence program at Watertown Middle School.

Around Town

Young Boy Gets Tour of Hosmer Construction for Birthday Gift

By |

Quin Gosselin gets help out of a W.L. French water truck from his mother Elizabeth Neylon after a tour of the Hosmer School construction site. In celebration of his upcoming fourth birthday, Quin Gosselin got a dream ride on a construction vehicle, and gave the construction crew at the Hosmer Elementary School a special treat on Wednesday. Gosselin spends a lot of time at his grandparents house on Boylston Street, and has been enthralled by the construction at the school, as workers demolish the school in preparation for the new building, his father, John Gosselin said. Quin has been persistent in his effort to get access to the work area, even asking a police officer parked on Mt. Auburn Street if he had keys to the site, his grandmother Diane Neylon said.