Real Estate

Four Open Houses Around Watertown This Week

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Four properties will hold open houses this weekend around town. $740,000 – 396 Charles River Road, Single Family – Detached Craftsman, 1,507 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 3 Bedroom, 1 Full & 1 Half Bathroom Open Houses: Saturday 12-1 Sunday 12-1

$559,000 – 88 Belmont St. Unit 88, Condo – 2/3 Family 1,200 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full & 1 Half Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12:30-1 Sunday 11-11:30 Monday 4-4:30

Sponsored by:

$879,000 – 176 Common St., Single Family – Detached Colonial, 1,880 Living Area Sq.

Government

Board of Health Considering Loosening Face Covering Order, Town’s COVID-19 Fatalities Grow

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The Watertown Board of Health will consider amending its emergency order requiring face coverings in Town to match the order made by the Governor. On April 30, the Board of Health adopted an Emergency Order that requires people to wear face coverings over their nose and mouth at all time in public places, indoors or out. Two days later, Gov. Charlie Baker announced a statewide order that requires the wearing of face coverings in places where social distancing is not possible. The state order included inside all retail store such as grocery stores or pharmacies, as well as, on public transportation. The order, however, allowed for people not to use face coverings when outside if people are able to social distance.

Elections

Watertown Rep. Lawn Co-Sponsors Bill to Ensure a Safe 2020 Election

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State Rep. John Lawn of Watertown, who represents the 10th Middlesex District. Watertown State Rep. John Lawn is lead co-sponsor for a bill that would call for the state to mail absentee ballots to all voters, would require towns to take safety precautions during early voting and extends the deadline for accepting absentee ballots. The bill, HD.5075, is called “An Act ensuring safe and participatory 2020 state elections in response to COVID-19.” Lawn, who is co-chair of the the Joint Committee on Election Laws, filed the bill with Second Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Michal Moran, of Boston, on Wednesday. In an announcement about the bill from Common Cause Massachusetts, Lawn said:

“COVID-19 presents an unprecedented challenge to our election administration.

Around Town

Tracking COVID-19 Deaths, Tracing Contacts of People Testing Positive is Tricky for Watertown Officials

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Details of the cause of death from the death certificate of a Watertown resident. Like many aspects of COVID-19, figuring out the exact number of deaths related to virus in Watertown is complicated and confusing. This is just one issue the Town of Watertown is facing, along with trying to trace contacts of people with active cases of the Coronavirus. The officially confirmed number of fatalities in Watertown, as of May 5, is 17 residents — up from 12 the previous day. When looking at the death certificates in the Town Clerk’s Office, as of May 4, 18 people who live in Watertown, or whose last known address was in Town had COVID-19 as one of the causes of death.

Business

Watertown Business Group Hosting Online Forum for Restaurant Owners

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The Watertown Business Coalition wants to hear from restaurants and food service businesses in town, and will host a live online discussion. The WBC Restaurant/Food Service Conversation will be held on Zoom on Friday, May 8 at 10 a.m. The discussion will be about strategies to help restaurants, caterers and others in food service during the COVID-19 shutdown, and as the state begins to reopen. Email info@watertownbusinesscoalition.com to RSVP and to get information about the Zoom meeting.

Schools

High School Looking for Ways to Celebrate Graduating Seniors in a Time of Social Distancing

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This week, lawn signs will begin to pop up around Watertown congratulating the high school’s Class of 2020. This is one way the school has come up with to celebrate the seniors in a year when a normal graduation ceremony and other traditional events will not likely happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People at the school and the community are trying to come up with other ways to acknowledge the Class of 2020, WHS Principal Shirley Lundberg told the School Committee on Monday night. There may be a car parade of seniors, a specific time when the town applauds the senior class (similar to the celebrations of medical workers), and at some point in the future, perhaps, a live and in-person graduation ceremony. The last day of class for seniors is May 28, and graduation was scheduled for Friday, June 5.

Building Inspector

Town Accepting Building Permit Applications, Will Approve When State Reopens

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In preparation for when Massachusetts lifts its COVID-19 shutdown, the Town of Watertown will begin to accept building permits. Watertown Building Inspector Peter McLaughlin sent out details of how builders can submit plans on Monday afternoon. In mid-March, the Town stopped construction in Town and announced it would not accept applications for new projects as part of efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. A week later, the State issued a ruling that allowed some construction, such as residential projects, so some projects could continue construction in Watertown, but the application process remained halted. The latest order from Gov. Charlie Baker extended the State of Emergency, which includes halting of some construction, until May 18.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Wanted on Rape Charges Caught, Scammer Steals $24K from Resident

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

April 24, 11:07 p.m.: An officer patrolling the parking lot at Victory Field noticed a vehicle parked there with the motor running, but with the lights off. The officer conducted a routine query of the license plate and found out that the owner was wanted on warrants. The officer confirmed the driver was the owner and placed the suspect, Gregorio C. DaSilva, 29, of Lowell, under arrest. He was wanted on a warrant out of Haverhill District Court for three charges of rape.