Charity

Watertown Schools Collecting Gift Cards, Donations for Fire Victims

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After the devastating fire that displaced 31 Watertown residents on Friday, the Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) at the schools in town leapt into action to collect items to help those affected. The parent-teacher groups at the town’s three elementary schools, the Middle School and the High school all started collections over the weekend. “I am beyond overwhelmed with the response we have received to our call for donations!!!” wrote School Committee member Lily Rayman-Read on Facebook. “****A HUGE shout out to all the PTOs and the WHS PTSO for their incredibly hard work on organizing and setting everything up for donations.

Beacon Hill

OP-ED: Details of Mass. Senate’s Climate Change Bills

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State Sen. Will Brownsberger

The following piece was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger, who represents Watertown, Belmont and parts of Boston:

The Senate Ways and Means Committee just released a bold, thoughtful and comprehensive package of bills designed to accelerate our move away from fossil fuels. The package is being well-received by many environmental leaders and I look forward to voting for it very soon. Back in 2008, I had a hand in passing the Global Warming Solutions Act which set the state on a course to reducing greenhouse gas emissions 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The present package recognizes the latest science and amends the GWSA to set a stronger long-term target – net zero emissions in 2050. 

The package makes the planning process stronger by making the emission reduction targets more detailed: It requires definition of stringent short and medium term targets for each sector of the economy.  It also requires more timely reporting on progress. The package mandates that the Secretary of Environmental Affairs implement “market based compliance mechanisms” to achieve emission reduction goals. “Market based compliance mechanisms” include carbon fees and cap-and-trade systems that put a price on carbon emissions. Most economists believe that this is the most effective kind of approach to transforming our economy – letting people and businesses make their own price-informed choices in the market as to how to reduce emissions.

Police Log

Police Log: Harasser of Company Vice President ID’d, Man Busted Trying to Scam Store

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

Jan. 13, 2:05 p.m.: A man was spotted going through the self-checkout at Home Depot and scanning some items but not the more expensive ones. Store security saw the man picking up two items and scanning only the cheaper one and then put both into the shopping bag. The cheaper item was a 15-amp three-way switch worth $3.48, but he did not scan the 20-amp circuit breaker, which cost $49.97.

Police/Fire

Cause of Four-Alarm Fire in Watertown Determined by Fire Department

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Fire blazed on the side of a home on Robert Ford Road Friday. The four alarm blaze damaged 12 units in the Watertown Housing Authority complex. The fire that damaged 12 units on Robert Ford Road on Friday appears to have started due to an electrical problem, according to the Watertown Fire Department. Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Tom McManus said the investigation into the four-alarm blaze lead to the basement of the building at 62 Robert Ford Road. “It appears to have started with a short circuit in the basement,” McManus said.

Arsenal Yards

Groovy Ice Cream Chain Setting Up Shop in Watertown

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Watertown residents will soon be able to grab a Cherry Garcia or Chunky Monkey right in their own backyard. Arsenal Yards announced on its Instagram feed that Ben & Jerry’s will be coming to the redeveloped Arsenal Mall. View this post on Instagram We’ve got a sweet, sweet surprise for you… Guess who’s opening in this gorgeous building later this year?! {yes, you’re going to want to tell your friends 🙌} .

Around Town

UPDATED: Firefighters Battled Four Alarm Fire in West Watertown

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Fire blazed on the side of a home on Robert Ford Road Friday. The four alarm blaze damaged 12 units in the Watertown Housing Authority complex. A four-alarm blaze broke out on Robert Ford Road in Watertown Friday morning, which took more than an hour to extinguish. The Fire Department received numerous calls about smoke coming from the area just after 11 a.m. Friday, said Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Tom McManus. The fire was extinguished by 12:45 p.m. The cause of the fire is remains under investigation, McManus said.

Around Town

Watertown’s Unity Breakfast Celebrates 20 Years of Honoring MLK Jr.

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A mural created by Watertown High School students for the 20th annual Unity Breakfast. The Watertown Unity Breakfast celebrated the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. for the 20th time on Monday with a record crowd. World in Watertown hosted the first Unity Breakfast in 2001 at the then Phillips Congregational Church (now the Redeemer Fellowship Church) and about 150 people attended, said Susan Kuder, chair of World in Watertown. The idea for Watertown having an event to honor Dr. King came from the Rev. Mark Harris, who recently retired as minister of the First Parish Church of Watertown. The Unity Breakfast reminded retired Watertown Police Officer Tony Physic of MLK Day celebrations he attended growing up in Boston.

Real Estate

These Properties are Having Open Houses in Watertown This Week

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See the properties having open houses around Watertown this week. $575,000 – 764 Belmont St., Single Family – Detached Ranch, 1,344 Living Area Sq. Ft., 7 Room, 3 Bedroom, 1 Full & 1 Half Bathroom, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30

$449,000 – 105 Evans St. Unit 1, Condo – Detached, 1,018 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12:00-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$719,000 – 30 Longfellow Road, Single Family – Detached Colonial, 1,719 Living Area Sq.