Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/page/553/)
Watertown native and Northeastern graduate Lauren Kelly is going pro. The defender signed to play for the Boston Pride of the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL). Kelly completed a successful career at Northeastern this spring, scoring 25 goals and adding 39 assists in 140 career games. In the 2017-18 season, she led all defenders in NCAA Div. I women’s hockey with eight power play goals.
An oil leak on Main Street caused quite a mess on the roadway, and with traffic, which had to be rerouted late Monday and into Tuesday near Watertown Square.
An underground pipe leaked and leaking mineral oil, on Main Street between Whites Avenue and Cuba Street, was discovered around 8 p.m. on Monday, according to an announcement from the Town of Watertown. Eversource and Clean Harbors responded to the area, and traffic was diverted from Waverley Avenue to Spring Street in Watertown Square. “This is one big mess we got going on right here,” Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn told WHDH Channel 7. An environmental consultant working for Eversource examined the oil and found that no PCBs were present in the spilled liquid, according to the Town. The mineral oil encases some pipes owned by Eversource that contain electrical lines, police told Fox Channel 25.
Students who live farther from school will get priority for seats on the school bus under the changes to the Watertown Public School’s Transportation Policy, passed by the School Committee last week. The state requires districts to provide free transportation for students in grades K-5 who live 2 miles or more walking distance from school, said School Committee member Eileen Hsu-Balzer, who is chair of the Policy Subcommittee. In Watertown the limit for free bus transportation is dropped to 1.5 miles for those going to Hosmer Elementary School. Also, sixth graders who live 2 miles or more from Watertown Middle School get to ride for free. The Watertown Schools also provide free transportation for students attending the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Lexington.
The following announcement was sent out by the Human Resources Committee:
The Town Council’s Committee on Human Resources continues its discussion of affordable housing in Watertown with a meeting on Thursday, Aug. 2 at 7:15 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers. The theme of the meeting is Zoning and Affordable Housing. The Committee will hear from Steve Magoon, Assistant Town Manager and Director of Community Development and Planning and special guest, Larry Fields from the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance.
The Committee will be holding additional meetings on the topic of affordable housing in September, October, and November. The schedule is listed here. Sept. 6 Statewide and Regional Organizations and Resources
Sue Connelly, Massachusetts Housing Partnership
Karina Milchman, Massachusetts Area Planning Council
State Legislator, Massachusetts Housing Bond Bill (TBD)
Oct. 4 Affordable Housing Development
Jennifer Van Campen, MetroWest Collaborative Development
Representative Michael Connolly, Real Estate Transfer Fee
Steve Magoon, Assistant Town Manager and Director DCDP
Nov.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
July 16, 8:36 p.m.: Police were alerted about a woman wanted on warrants, and they located her on Pilgrim Road. The 41-year-old Watertown woman was arrested on the warrants out of Waltham District Court, a default warrant for larceny under $1,200 and a second default warrant for driving with a suspended license and marked lanes violation. July 21, 8:18 p.m.: An officer patrolling in Watertown Square saw a vehicle run a red light going from Galen Street onto Main Street. The driver was stopped on Main near Whites Avenue.
A trio of Watertown properties sold this week. $815,000 – 14-16 Irma Ave., 2 unit, 12 total room, 6 total bedroom, 2 Family multi-family home
$636,000 – 87 Watertown St. Unit 87, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 3 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse
$727,000 – 78 Putnam Unit 78, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse
Sponsored by:
The new director of the Watertown Department of Public Health has been appointed, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced Friday. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Larry A. Ramdin to the position of Director of Public Health, effective Aug. 27, 2018,” Driscoll said in the announcement (see the letter below). Ramdin has over 40 years experience working in the field of public health, and has been head of local health departments in Salem and Reading for the past 11 years. He also worked for six years for the City of Newton as an environmental health specialist.
Watertown Police responded to a death at a Westside cemetery on Thursday morning, and have ruled the incident a suicide. A resident walking a dog spotted the body in the Ridgelawn Cemetery, near the fence separating the cemetery from the Cunniff School. Police were alerted at about 6 a.m., said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. The adult male had been there a few hours, police estimate, when he was found. It took several hours for Watertown Police to identify the man, O’Connor said.