Elections

Watertown State Rep. Hecht Talks About Leaving His Seat After A Dozen Years

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State Rep. Jonathan Hecht

Jonathan Hecht has been a popular guy since he announced that he would be stepping down from as State Representative for the 29th Middlesex District at the end of his term. The Watertown resident has represented most of the Town, plus part of Cambridge, since 2009. Last week, he announced publicly his decision not to seek reelection. “People have been very nice. I don’t know whether that means they like job I’ve done or they are glad to see me leaving,” Hecht said.

Sports

Three Watertown Wrestlers Moving on After Successful Sectional Meet

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Wrestlers get pointers from WHS Wrestling Coach Kevin Russo at a recent practice. The Watertown High School wrestlers hung with some of the best in the region at the MIAA Div. 3 Central Sectional Meet, with two wrestlers taking third place, and three qualifying for the Divisional Meet. Watertown finished sixth overall with 115 points at the meet at Holliston High School on Saturday. Wayland won with 248.5 points.

Arrests

Police Log: Car Stop Yields Two Arrests, Vandal Hits Multiple Cars

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

Feb. 3, 9:14 a.m.: Police spotted a driver who they knew was wanted on a warrant and pulled her over at the intersection of Robert Ford Road and Philip Darch Road. There was another woman in the car, and when police checked her record they found that she was also wanted on a warrant. The driver, a 43-year-old Watertown woman, was arrested on the warrant from Waltham District Court for possession of a Class B drug and assault and battery on a police officer, and was cited for having an expired inspection sticker.

Chicago

WHS Bringing the Song, Dance and Fun of the Musical “Chicago” to the Stage

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Watertown High School seniors Toni Carton, left, and Yeraz Kaligian play the leads in school’s production of “Chicago.” When Watertown High School Drama teacher Kacie Kirkpatrick picked Chicago as the spring musical, she hoped to generate excitement. Judging by the reception she got from her leads, she succeeded. Chicago, the High School Edition, will hit the WHS stage on Feb. 28, 29 and March 1.

Real Estate

Nearly a Dozen Properties Hosting Open Houses in Watertown

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Check out all the open houses around Watertown this week. $549,900 – 91 Spring St. Unit 11, Condo – Low-Rise, 1,190 Living Area Sq. Ft., 5 Room, 2 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 1-2:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$509,900 – 14 Fuller Road Unit 14, Condo – 2/3 Family, 1,200 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 1-2:30

$579,900 – 31 Ashland St.

Fiscal 2021 Budget

Prelim School Budget Adds Handful of Positions, Most of Increase Goes to “Level Service”

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The School Committee got the first look at next year’s school budget, and while the Town Manager has allotted a 5 percent increase, most of the increase will be used to maintain the same level of services as the current school year. There will be a handful of positions added to the district. On Monday night, Heidi Perkins, the district’s Director of Finance and Operations, told the School Committee that nearly 95 percent of the $2.52 million increase for Fiscal Year 2021 (the 2020-21 school year) will go to maintaining a level service budget. The total budget is $52.9 million. “Available for the FY21 budget priorities will be $145,022, or 5.8 percent of the 5 percent increase,” Perkins said.

Development

Councilors Say They Hear Resident Concerns, But Pass Galen Street Zoning

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The Town Council Chamber was filled with residents there to hear about the decision on rezoning parcels along Galen Street. Developers are interested in building biotech lab buildings on the site south of the Charles River. Residents concerned about the impact of a proposal to change the zoning for properties along Galen Street jammed the Town Council Chamber Tuesday night. The change paves the way for a biotech lab project to be built on east side of Galen Street on property that includes for the former Colonial Buick GMC dealership. After hearing from the public during public forum, and then having a 1.5 hour discussion of their own, Town Councilors voted 8-1 to approve the zoning change requested by the owners/developers of the property.