Police/Fire

Two-Alarm Fire Damages Three Story Watertown Home

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A fire caused extensive damage to a three-family home on Spruce Street early Friday morning. 

No one was injured in the blaze which turned into a two-alarm fire reported at 1:24 a.m., according to information provided by Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn. The fire was ruled to be accidental caused by electrical wires. All the residents had evacuated by the time the Waterown Fire Department arrived at 1:33 a.m. A second alarm was called nine minutes after firefighters arrived, Quinn said. The third floor sustained extensive fire, smoke and water damage, and the first and second floors also had some fire, smoke and water damage

Police/Fire

Police Report Rash of Scams Targeting Watertown Residents

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Watertown Police warn that residents have been targeted by scammers, each one slightly different. 

This week, police investigated four scams, and last week they saw another case. Some are by phone, one by email, and one from someone selling tickets online. Police warn residents to be wary of anyone asking for payment in the form of gift cards, adding that no credible organization would ask to be paid in gift cards. On Oct. 8, a Whitney Street resident reported being a victim of a scam.

Around Town

Watertown Library’s Democracy Talks Focuses on Civil and Uncivil Disobedience

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The latest event in the Watertown Free Public Library’s ongoing Democracy Talks series will focus on civil and uncivil disobedience. 

The Library sent out the following information:
Democracy Talks: Civil and Uncivil Disobedience
Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 7 p.m., free and open to the public in the Watertown Savings Bank Room. What are our responsibilities in the face of injustice? Candice Delmas will discuss the standard template for civil disobedience, the demands and limits of civility, and the potential value of uncivil disobedience. Delmas is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Political Science at Northeastern University, where she serves as Associate Director of the Politics, Philosophy, and Economics Program. Her book, A Duty to Resist: When Disobedience Should Be Uncivil, was published by Oxford University Press in September 2018.

Real Estate

Here Are This Week’s Watertown Open Houses

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Here are all the open houses around Watertown this week. $559,000 – 5 Falmouth Road Unit 5, 6 room, 2 bed, 1.5 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 2-4

$479,900 – 42 Maplewood St. Unit 1, 7 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 2:30-4

$500,000 – 19 California Park, 7 room, 3 bed, 2 bath colonial, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30

$879,900 – 28-30 Carroll St., 2 unit, 12 total room, 5 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1:30 Sunday 11:30-1:30

$649,900 – 125 Coolidge Ave. Unit 111, 5 room, 2 bed, 2 bath mid-rise, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$1,195,000 – 20 Chester St., 2 unit, 14 total room, 6 total bedroom 2 family, Open House: Sunday 1-2:30

$785,000 – 199 Coolidge Ave. U: 105, 5 room, 2 bed, 2.5 bath high-rise, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$649,000 – 64 Bigelow Ave.

Schools

See When Renovation Projects to be Presented to Watertown’s Elementary Schools

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Parents and neighbors of Watertown’s three elementary schools will get to see what is in store for their buildings during the upcoming renovation projects, and they will have a chance to give their feedback. 

The district’s architect and the School Building Committee will present the current plans at meetings held at the individual schools. The first meeting will be at Cunniff Elementary School on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. Next will be Hosmer Elementary School on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. Lowell Elemenatary School’s meeting will be on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m.

Parents will be notified through announcements sent out by their children’s schools, while nearby residents will be sent a notice of the meeting, said Town Council President Mark Sideris, who is also chair of the School Building Committee.

Government

Plan to Redesign Mt. Auburn St., Common St. Area Creates Parking But Not In Front of Stores

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A plan to redesign the Mt. Auburn Street/Common Street intersection would create 10 more parking spaces in that area, but some businesses in that area would lose the parking spots in front of their stores. The Town Council’s Public Works subcommittee heard a presentation from WorldTech Engineering, the firm designing the Mt. Auburn Street reconstruction project. Designers presented three options for the business area just east of Watertown Square based on where MBTA bus stops would be located.

Environment

Council to Look at Ways to Increase the Number Trees Along Watertown’s Streets

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Having trees on your street can reduce the heat in the summer, prevent flooding when it rains and can even increase property values. However, a study of street trees done by Watertown High School students found that many residents have few or no trees along their blocks. Monday night, the results of a survey of more than 3,400 street trees around Watertown were presented to a joint meeting of the Town Council’s Public Works and Rules & Ordinances subcommittees. The group made a recommendation to the full Town Council to seek ways to use the data to bring trees to streets that lack them. The data was presented by two members of Trees for Watertown, a citizens group committed to planting and maintain trees in town.

Schools

Watertown Public Schools Hosting Screenings for Special Education Preschool

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The Watertown Public Schools provided the following information:

The Watertown Public School’s Special Education Department will be offering Early
Childhood screenings for children ages 3 to 5 years old. Screenings are for children whose families have concerns about their developmental progress. They are conducted in an arena model specifically in the areas of:
Speech and language
Fine Motor (OT)
Gross Motor (PT)
Pre-Academic Readiness
Screenings are by appointment only. Families with concerns are encouraged to
contact the preschool to make an appointment by calling 617-926-7765 or e-mail
Karen.feeney@watertown.k12.ma.us

The arena screenings will be held at Early Steps Integrated Preschool located at the Hosmer Elementary School, 1 Concord Road on the following dates and times:
Monday, Oct. 22, 12:00–12:30, 12:30–1:00
Monday, Nov.