Arrests

Man Talks Himself into an Arrest During Traffic Stop

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A Billerica man talked his way into being arrested after a car he was riding in was pulled over in Watertown. On May 1 at 8:48 p.m., an officer on Arsenal Street by Irving Street noticed a smell of marijuana coming from a vehicle, and also saw a haze of smoke inside, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. The vehicle had a driver and two passengers, and the officer noticed the passengers were not wearing their seatbelts. The office pulled the vehicle over and asked for everyone inside to provide their IDs. The driver and the passenger in the rear seat complied, but the one in the front seat did not.

Around Town

Candidates for Watertown Elected Boards Can Take Out Papers

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Watertown Town Hall

Friday marks the start of the election season in Watertown as candidates can take out papers to run for Town office. Town Clerk John Flynn said some papers have already been pulled by potential candidates. The papers, with signatures, must be turned into the Town Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 29, 2019. Elected offices in Watertown include Town Council, School Committee and Library Board of Trustees. The Town’s Preliminary Election, if needed, would be held Tuesday, September 17, 2019. Watertown’s General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Real Estate

Many, Many Open Houses Around Watertown This Week

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See all the open houses to visit this weekend in Watertown. $1,099,900 – 67 Chestnut St. Unit 67, 8 room, 4 bedroom, 3 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse Open Houses: Saturday 12- 1:30 Sunday 11:30-1

$599,900 – 3 Repton Place Unit 3210, 7 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Mid-Rise condo/townhouse Open Houses: Saturday 11-1 Sunday 1-3

$700,000 – 125 Coolidge Unit 204, 4 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Garden condo/townhouse Open House: Saturday 11-1

$869,000 – 17 Standish Road, 8 room, 4 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, Colonial single-family home Open House: Saturday 11:30-1

$625,000 – 133 Madison Ave., 7 room, 4 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Cape single-family home Open Houses: Saturday 1-2:30 Sunday 11:30-1:30

$700,000 – 50 Watertown St. Unit 604, 4 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, High-Rise condo/townhouse Open House: Saturday 12:30-2

$949,000 – 11 Hill St., 2 unit, 14 total room, 6 total bedroom, 2 Family – 2 Units Up/Down multi-family home, Open House: Saturday 12:30

$779,000 – 23 Waverley Unit 23, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$749,000 – 21 Waverley Unit 21, 5 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$649,000 – 246 Boylston St. Unit 246,f 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse Open House: Saturday 12:30-2 Sunday 12:30-2

$497,500 – 42 Maplewood St.

Business

Watertown Parking Report Recommends New Meter Technology, Changes in Fees

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A parking consultant recommends replacing Watertown’s current parking meters with “smart” meters that offer a range of payment options. Watertown needs to make some major changes to its parking prices and rules in Watertown Square and Coolidge Square to improve the parking situation in these key business districts, said consultants who studied the Town’s parking situation. The report came after two public input meetings, and observations of how full parking spaces are in and around Watertown Square and Coolidge Square. The presentation was made during a public meeting Tuesday night at the Watertown Free Public Library. Watertown Senior Transportation Planner Laura Wiener said the goal is to make the areas more vibrant and attractive places for people to shop, dine and hang out.

Galen Street

UPDATED: Two-Alarm Fire Strikes Watertown Restaurant

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A two-alarm blaze damaged the New Ginza restaurant on Galen Street Thursday morning. The fire started in the kitchen of the Japanese restaurant where workers were starting to cook, said Watertown Fire Capt. Bill Maietta. He said some oil caught fire and spread. “The kitchen took a big hit,” Maietta said. “The bulk of the fire was around the stove, and it went through the vents and made it to the roof.”

Transportation

Watertown Bus Routes will be Impacted by Changes Approved by MBTA

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Bus service in Watertown may be changed for the better after an MBTA board approved changes to dozens of bus routes around the region. Out of 47 proposals to change the T’s bus routes, 36 received approval from the Fiscal and Management Control Board, including nine that had modifications. The proposals impact two sets of buses in Watertown: the 70/70A route and the 502 and 504 express buses. The board also approved 45 additional bus operators to increase off-peak service on some of the busiest routes. The 70/70A will see some a major changs in the route through Waltham, which MBTA officials say will improve frequency and reliability along the whole route from Central Square in Cambridge to Waltham.

Entertainment

A Wide Array of Art Can be Seen at Watertown Gallery’s New Show

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The following information was provided by Room 83 Spring:

Five Artists in an Eclectic and Electric show opening this Saturday at ROOM 83 Spring. 

Room 83 Spring is pleased to present Verve, with Michelle Benoit, Gabe Brown, Phyllis Ewen, Dennis Hlynsky, and Anne Sargent Walker. Engaging the natural world as a perceptual well, the artists affirm life in drawing, sculpture painting, and video. An artists’ reception will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2019, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The show can be seen on 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays, and anytime by appointment. Room 83 Spring is located at 83 Spring St., Watertown, near Watertown Square. For more information go to www.room83spring.com

Environment

State Rep. Hecht to Receive an Award from Keep Massachusetts Beautiful

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State Rep. Jonathan Hecht

Watertown State Rep. Jonathan Hecht will be honored with a Massachusetts Clean Community Award for his work to reduce the amount of waste in the Bay State. The award will be given out by the Keep Massachusetts Beautiful group at a ceremony on May 16, 2019 in Boston. Other recipients include State Sen. Paul Feeney, Rep. Jay Barrows, and Rep. Randy Hunt. Keep Massachusetts Beautiful is a non-profit group working to “to keep Massachusetts communities clean, green, and litter-free.” Hecht will receive the award because of his work as a legislator trying to reduce waste, said Neil Rhein, executive director of Keep Massachusetts Beautiful.