Environment

Teen Tree Stewards Care for Town’s Trees, Learn About More Than Just Nature

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Half a dozen young nature enthusiasts have taken to the streets of Watertown this summer with a mission of caring for the town’s street trees and spreading the word about the importance of urban trees. 

The six teens are part in the Watertown Teen Tree Stewardship Program, which is sponsored by Trees for Watertown, a citizens group committed to protecting and promoting trees in town. Each day, the group has an activity. Sometimes it is looking around town for street trees that are in need of help, other times it is learning about trees and nature, and sometimes they are promoting their program, said David Meshoulam, founder and coordinator of the program. As Meshoulam drives the group around town, the former Newton North High School science teacher points out a “beautiful beech” or a tree that has not been properly planted. The teens have been keeping track of trees around town.

Election 2017

Councilor Dushku Struggled With Decision Not to Run for Reelection

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Having successfully run for Town Council twice, and getting the most votes in the At-Large race both times, Aaron Dushku will not to run for a third time – but the decision was not an easy one. 

With children growing up and parents growing older, Dushku said that felt he should to spend time with his family rather than on the Council. “My kids and this time with them – and my father has some problems – I would never get these years back,” Dushku said. “It was a really hard decision. I really like being a Town Councilor. I love being a Town Councilor.”

Election 2017

6 Running for Council, But Second Incumbent Out; School Comm Race Draws 6

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Half a dozen people will run for both Town Council and for School Committee, but a second incumbent Councilor has decided not to run for reelection. There will also be a race for Board of Library Trustees, but several will not have contested races including Town Council President and the two-year School Committee seat. The Town Council At Large race will have six candidates for the four seats, but there will be at least two new faces on the board after Aaron Dushku decided not to run for a third term. Earlier, Susan Falkoff announced she would not seek another term. On Monday, challenger David Stokes got his papers certified and Michelle Cokonougher turned in her papers and Flynn said he is confident she will have the 100 signatures of Watertown residents necessary get on the ballot.

Real Estate

Two Ranches and a Two-Family Home Sold in Watertown This Week

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Here are the three properties that sold in Watertown this week. $867,000 – 53 Fuller Road, 2 unit, 12 total room, 6 total bedroom, 2 Family multi-family home

$490,000 – 103 Madison Ave., 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Ranch single-family home

$581,000 – 183 Chapman St., 10 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Ranch single-family home

Sponsored by:

Police/Fire

Police Log: String of Theft of Tools from Homes and Vehicles, Woman Victimized by IRS Scam

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
July 17, 4:40 p.m.: An officer patrolling in Watertown Square spotted a vehicle in the left turn lane on Galen Street go straight across the intersection onto Mt. Auburn Street. The officer pulled over the driver, who was unable to provide a driver’s license. Police found the man was driving without a license and was driving his brother’s car.

Government

Plan Calls for Town’s Elementary Schools to be Renovated First, Then the High School

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An architecture firm hired by the Watertown Public Schools laid out a vision for how all five of the town’s schools could be renovated so they can provide a 21st century education, and recommended doing all three elementary schools at once followed by the high school and finally the middle school. Thursday night, Ai3 Principal Scott Dunlap presented a plan for upgrading Watertown’s five public schools over the next several years to a meeting held by both the School Committee and Town Council. Timeline
The timeline laid out by Ai3 – a firm that works solely on school projects – would start planning for the three elementary schools immediately with the goal of starting construction in late 2019 and completing the work by early 2021, Dunlap said. Meanwhile, the district would be working with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to get funding for and renovate Watertown High School. Construction would begin at the high school in early 2021. The timeline does not have an end date for work at WHS.

Real Estate

Condo On Sale For Under $200K in Watertown, One of Several Open Houses This Week

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There are a variety of properties to look at this weekend around Watertown. $599,900 – 204 Acton St., 8 room, 4 bed, 3 bath cape, Open House: Sunday 12:30-2

$529,900 – 278 Mount Auburn St Unit 278, 4 room, 2 bed, 1.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2 Monday 5-6

$544,900 – 4 Repton Cir. Unit 4402, 4 room, 2 bed, 2 bath garden, Open House: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$524,000 – 11 Nichols Ave. Unit 1, 7 room, 2 bed, 1.5 bath other, Open House: Sunday 12-2

$162,000 – 290 Pleasant St. Unit 109, 1 room, 1 bed, 1 bath mid-rise, Open House: Sunday 2-5

Sponsored by:

$569,000 – 11 Nichols Ave.

Business

Old Navy Closing its Arsenal Mall Store on Thursday!

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The Old Navy store in the Arsenal Mall will be closing its doors on Thursday, July 27. 

On Wednesday evening, the shelves were almost empty, the walls stripped and manikins were being removed by employees. The store had a sign out front Wednesday announcing the closing and encourage shoppers to go to the location in Boston’s Downtown Crossing. Old Navy is located inside one of the historic buildings in the mall, which will be renovated as part of the transformation of the mall into a mixed use complex known as Arsenal Yards. That building and the one where Marshall’s is located will be part of the first phase of construction at Arsenal Yards. In the second phase, which was approved in mid-July, a new building will be constructed along Arsenal Street in what is now the parking lot and will have retail along with a Hampton Inn & Suites hotel and a multi-story garage.