Business

Council Asks Board of Health to Create Rules, Oversight of Biotech Companies

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Following a wave of input from concerned residents, Watertown officials will look at ways to make sure that biotech labs in town are safe. 

The issue arose in August when the developers of Arsenal Yards proposed changing office space in the renovated Arsenal Mall into space for biotech research and development. The issue is not likely an isolated one, with biotech being one of the fastest growing industries in the United States and in Massachusetts, and other communities in the area are taking steps to attract this sort of company. Residents noted that other towns have regulations for laboratories and some have committees to oversee biotech companies and advise the Board of Health. At Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, Council President Mark Siders said steps will be taken in Watertown to increase oversight of biotech facilities. “Watertown falls a little short when regulating these types of laboratories,”  Sideris said. A memo from Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon to the Town Council said that the Watertown Board of Health will develop a framework for overseeing biotech companies.

Around Town

Watertown Rotary Hosting Senior Citizen Cookout on Sunday

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Watertown seniors are invited to the Rotary Club of Watertown’s Senior Citzen Cookout on Sunday, Sept. 16. This is a free event, with food, entertainment and more. 

The event will be from noon to 3 p.m. at the Sons of Italy Hall at 520 Pleasant St. in Watertown. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.

Entertainment will be provided by DJ Rock’n Richard Picceri and Maria’s School of Dance.

Choking

Watertown Man Honored For Saving Woman Choking on Food

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Daniel Petkiewich has worked at Not Your Average Joe’s in Watertown for three and a half years, and when he realized a diner was choking on food he leapt into action to save the woman’s life. 

The Watertown Police Department honored Petkiewich for his heroic actions with a certificate and a special coin on Wednesday. He learned choking safety techniques when he was a manager at Joe’s for a time. Petkiewich also credits his training as a member of the U.S. Army. “I was in for 11 years, active and Reserve,” Petkiewich said. “We were trained, but not usually for that type of choking.”

Entertainment

New Book Seeks to Inspire the Youngest Children to Build Friendships, Love Nature

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A new book for infants and toddlers, written by a woman who grew up in the area, seeks to inspire friendships and embraces nature. 

Amy (Airasian) Fathers’s book The Squirmy Wormy helps young ones learn about the fun aspects of the varying seasons and serves to inspire their own adventures in the natural world. The author grew up in Belmont and the daughter of of Paul Airasian, former Co-Owner of Eastern Clothing of Watertown; Interim Director of Watertown/Belmont Chamber of Commerce; and Co-Host of the cable show Inside Watertown. She had the idea for the book when her son was born in 2015, but made the dream of authoring a children’s book a reality at the beginning of this year by diving head first into the publishing process. “I wanted to write a book that inspires kindness and love and teaches children to build lasting friendships while enjoying the simpler things in life,” Fathers said. Fathers’ describes the book as a fun and engaging tale of three friends — Squirmy, Squeak and Andy — who, despite being different, have forged a tight bond of friendship that helps them weather any season.

Schools

Grades at Some Watertown Schools Full; Students Face Heat in First Week

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The school year has begun in Watertown, and preliminary enrollment figures put classes at the town’s elementary schools at or under the class size guidelines, but some are right at the limit. Superintendent Dede Galdston gave the enrollment figures to the School Committee last week, just days into the school year. The Watertown Public School’s class size guideline calls for classes of no more than 20 for kindergarten and first grade, 22 for second and third grades and 24 for fourth and fifth. As the opening of school approached, there were some grades which worried Galdston. “One area of concern, originally, was kindergarten numbers,” Galdston said.

Real Estate

Seven Watertown Homes Sold This Week

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Check out all the homes that sold in Watertown. $897,000 – 23-25 Adams St., 2 unit, 13 total room, 5 total bedroom, 2 Family multi-family home

$700,000 – 1000 Belmont St., 6 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Cape single-family home

$450,000 – 35 Purvis St., 6 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Bungalow single-family home

$470,000 – 131 Coolidge Ave. Unit 525, 4 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Mid-Rise condo/townhouse

Sponsored by:

$435,000 – 151 Coolidge Ave. U:408, 4 room, 1 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, High-Rise condo/townhouse

$726,000 – 188 Boylston St. Unit 2, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, condo/townhouse

$860,000 – 298 Waverley Ave., 2 unit, 12 total room, 5 total bedroom, 2 Family multi-family home