Government

Heath Director: Watertown Complying With Face Mask Order, Worries About Complacency

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Watertown has one of the strictest face covering order, where people must wear them outside at all times or face fines, but the Town has taken an educate-first approach to enforcement. The state has a face covering requirement as one of the measures aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19, and it requires people to wear something that covers their nose and mouth when inside a public space or outside when people cannot be 6 feet or more away from each other. The face coverings ordinance passed by the Watertown Board of Health in April requires face coverings being worn at all times while outside in public spaces such as sidewalks and on the street The ordinance also allows a Health Department employee or Watertown Police officer to issue a fine of up to $300. Watertown Director of Health Larry Ramdin said members of his department have spoken to people who were not wearing their masks, but no fines have been issued. “There has been significant compliance, we have (had) several conversations with those who choose not to wear a face covering,” Ramdin said.

Business

Mount Auburn Club Closing, Property to be Turned into Life Science Space

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The Mount Auburn Club in East Watertown has become a victim of the COVID-19 outbreak, with owners recently announcing that the club will be closing and the property will be sold to a firm looking to build space for life science companies. The Boston Globe reported that the Club sent a letter to members Monday which stated that said the coronavirus crisis pushed them to close down and sell. The club, located at 57 Coolidge Avenue, has been operating for nearly half a century and is recognizable for the bubbles put up over its tennis courts over the tennis courts during the winter. The 6.3-acre property will be sold to Alexandria Real Estate Equities and Newton-based National Development, the Globe reported. Alexandria recently purchased the Arsenal on the Charles complex from athenahealth, and the firms plan to use some of the space for life science companies, a growing industry in Watertown in recent years.

Adult Use Marijuana

Marijuana Dispensary Application Coming to Town Council Subcommittee

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The Town Council’s Committee on Economic Development and Planning will discussed an application for a proposed marijuana dispensary on Pleasant Street. The meeting will be held online on Tuesday, July 7 at 6 p.m.

Buds Goods & Provisions has applied to put an adult-use marijuana dispensary at 330-350 Pleasant St. It was one of two groups invited to apply for adult-use licenses in Watertown in December, along with an applicant looking at a spot on North Beacon Street. A community meeting was held in January. The application will have to be approved by the State’s Cannabis Control Commission and also the full Town Council.

Around Town

Police Log: Suspect Caught With Items Taken from Vehicles, Man Busted for Stealing Plants

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

None

Incidents

Between June 22 and June 28, the Watertown Police Department received six reports of an unemployment scheme. The residents report that they got letters about their unemployment applications, but they had never filed for benefits. Unemployment fraud can be reported to the Department of Unemployment Assistance by clicking here. June 22, 6:04 a.m.: Police were called when a witness saw someone trying to get into the window of an Audi SUV on Waverley Avenue.

Around Town

Watertown Recreation Offering Summer Programs for Kids and Adults

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The Watertown Recreation Department will be offering summer program offerings beginning on July 13th. Registration will begin on Tuesday July 7th at 9:00 a.m. and will be on a first come, first serve basis. Please review the following brochure for specific opportunities. Kids Programs

Park Adventure Program

Join the Watertown Recreation Department for a half day summerprogram for all Watertown children. Activities will range from arts & crafts,sports, drama, and many other activities geared toward their interests and age. Monday – Friday, July 13th – August 28th

Entering Grades K – 8 Fall 2020

1 Week Sessions 9:00am – 12:00pm

Fee: $100.00

Sessions: Monday – Friday

1) July 13 – July 17 2) July 20 – July 24 3) July 27 – July 314) August 3 – August 7 5) August 10 – August 146) August 17 – August 217) August 24 – August 28

Program Locations:

Arsenal Park Grades K-2, Grades 3-5Filippello Park Grades K-2, Grades 3-5Casey Park Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8Moxley Park Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8

Youth Tennis

Youth tennis classes will be offered during the summer months.Participants will be taught many tennis skills including forehand,backhand, serving, and scoring.

Around Town

Watertown’s School Meal Pickups Extending Through Summer

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The Watertown Public Schools will continue to provide free breakfasts and lunches through the summer, but will be distributing meals on different days. Since the shutdown of schools due to COVID-19, the Watertown School Nutrition program has been giving out meals from the parking lot at Watertown High School to families in need. The program is funded through a Federal grant provided to districts in Massachusetts. During the school year the meals were distributed three days a week, and more than 200 families took part. Over the summer they will be handed two days a week — Tuesdays and Fridays.

Around Town

Watertown Had Two Home Sales This Week

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A condo and a townhouse were sold in Watertown this week. $850,000 – 65 Boyd St. Unit 65, Condo – Townhouse, 2,665 Living Area Sq. Ft., 9 Room, 3 Bedroom, 3 Full Bathroom

$290,000 – 121 Warren St. Unit 3, Condo – Garden, 600 Living Area Sq.

Around Town

Burials at Local Cemeteries Spiked During COVID-19 Surge in Massachusetts

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Gravestones at Mount Auburn Cemetery. Two of the largest cemeteries in Watertown saw a huge increase in the number of burials during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak in Massachusetts. At the Town-operated Ridgelawn Cemetery, the number of burials almost doubled compared to a year ago, according to Jesse Myott, Department of Public Works Director of Administration & Finance. “The last few months we have seen a significant increase in — not to be cold, but — cemetery operations,” Myott told the Town Council last week. “It is nothing like anything that any of our senior staff has ever seen, and we have a number of 10 and 20 year veterans.