Business

See the Sectors Included in Phase 1 of the Mass. COVID-19 Reopening

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The areas opening in the first phase of the governor’s COVID-19 reopening plan are construction, manufacturing and houses of worship. East End Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis shared the information about Monday’s announcement which she received from the Mass. Municipal Association. Along with the sectors reopening, Gov. Charlie Baker will also unveil specific safety protocols which these workplaces and places of worship must follow. These go along with the safety standards for workplaces that were announced last week, which include social distancing, hygiene protocols, staffing and operations, and cleaning and disinfecting.

Arrests

Police Log: Family Home When Man Breaks In, Man Looking to Rent Home is Scammed

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

May 8, 1:22 a.m.: A family from Hillside Road called police after they heard a loud bang and an unknown man came into their home. When officers arrived they went into the home and confronted a man in the kitchen and were able to take him into custody. When the break-in occurred, a woman was upstairs sleeping with her 2-year-old child and the husband was downstairs in the living room playing video games. The wife called 911 and said that a man had broken the glass in the rear door and was in the kitchen.

Government

Watertown DPW Cancels Recycling Event

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The recycling event scheduled for May 30, 2020 has been cancelled by the Department of Public works. The event was planned to be a the Watertown Recycling Center and included a styrofoam collection. There no word, yet, for a new date for the recycling event.

Around Town

Watertown Restaurant Raising Funds to Give Meals to Local Families

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Donohue’s Bar & Grill has started a GoFundMe effort to raise money to pay for meals for local families struggling duding the COVID-19 shutdown. Dubbed the Donohue’s Cares Act, the effort will provide a meal for every $10 donated, and the restaurant is providing the first 500 meals. As of Saturday morning, more than $1,100 has been donated by 17 people. The goal is $10,000. Find out more and donated by clicking here.

Around Town

Library & Other Facilities Remain Closed, Town Awaits Gov.’s New Order; Schools Feeding Hundreds Each Day & More

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The historic facade of the Watertown Free Public Library. The Town’s facilities, including the Library, Town Hall and the Senior Center will remain closed through at least Monday, as Town official await word from Gov. Charlie Baker about the state’s reopening plan. More details about the four phased reopening plan, discussed this week by Baker, are expected to be released Monday, Town Manager Michael Driscoll said in his latest Town Manager’s Update. In the first phase, “limited industries” will be allowed to reopen. The second and third phases will let more and more industries resume operation, and the fourth phase will be after a vaccine or therapy for COVID-19 is developed and the “new normal” can begin.

Around Town

Watertown Parks Remain Closed, But Gradual Reopening Could Start Soon

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Watertown’s parks, like Filippello Park, are empty these days due to the COVID-19 shutdown, but they may slowly reopen in coming weeks. Recreation Department Director Peter Centola spends parts of his day driving around town asking people to leave Watertown’s parks, fields and playgrounds which are closed by COVID-19, but he may soon be welcoming visitors to the Town’s Recreation facilities. On Monday, May 18, Gov. Charlie Baker is expected to unveil his plans for reopening Massachusetts from its COVID-19 shutdown, and Centola said he hopes that will allow a partial reopening of Watertown’s parks and recreational facilities. Town officials have started looking at what could be possible, while still maintaining social distancing. “I don’t think could go from zero to 60,” Centola said.

Around Town

Half a Dozen Open Houses in Watertown This Week

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See the open houses around Watertown this weekend. $4,699,000 – 87 Summer St., Multi-family Home – 3 Family – 3 Units Side by Side, 8,991 Living Area Sq. Ft., 3 Units, 27 Total Rooms, 9 Total Bedrooms, Open House: Saturday 10-12

$1,599,000 – 85 Summer St. Unit 1, Condo – Townhouse, 3,012 Living Area Sq. Ft., 9 Room, 3 Bedroom, 3 Full & 1 Half Bathroom, Open House: Saturday 10-12

$590,000 – 12 Olney St., Single Family – Detached Colonial, 1,541 Living Area Sq.

Building for the Future

Bids on Elementary School Projects Under Budget, But COVID-19 Creates Additional Costs

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The latest rendering of the new Cunniff Elementary School, with the solar array in the parking lot. The bids on the construction projects at two of Watertown’s elementary schools came in millions of dollars below budget, but the requirements for working in the COVID-19 world will mean some added costs. Hosmer and Cunniff schools will start construction in June, and the bids were recently opened, said Town Council President Mark Sideris. The project budget estimated the cost of the two schools at just over $100 million including the cost of adding solar on the school roofs ($5 million), Sideris said. “The good news is low bidder came in at $92,335,000 and all the solar came in at $2.6 million,” Sideris said.