Fallen Firefighter

Town Exploring Creating Memorial to Fallen Watertown Firefighter

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The corner of the street where the fire that took the life of Watertown Firefighter Joe Toscano occurred could be named in his honor, as Watertown firefighters seek to create a memorial for their fallen comrade. Tuesday night, the proposal was brought forward officially by East End Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis, who was supported by members of the Watertown Fire Department. “This past March 17 a tragedy occurred in our community, something I hope we never go through again,” Kounelis said. “It is a morning that many of us will never forget.” She proposed that the Town honor Toscano for making the “ultimate sacrifice” of giving his life in the line of duty by creating a permanent memorial.

Business

Watertown’s Celebrity Chef Joining Forces with The Talk Restaurant

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Two of the biggest names in the Watertown food scene have teamed up. Food Network featured chef Mike Fucci has become the head chef at The Talk Restaurant, the Watertown Square spot owned by Kaz and Lisa Keuchkarian. Fucci has run Chef Mike’s Kitchen catering business for many years, and has not worked in a restaurant for about 15 years. In February, he appeared on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen and won the challenge for football food called “Fry-Day Night Bites.” Moving into a restaurant kitchen is an exciting and sudden opportunity for Fucci, who got a call on July 5 asking him if he wanted the job.

Around Town

Linx Office Building Gets Tenant with Biotech Company Relocating from Cambridge

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The office building built on the site of the former Verizon truck yard in the East End of Watertown got its first tenant with a biotech firm relocating to the spot from Kendall Square in Cambridge. According to a Banker & Tradesman report, C4 Therapeutics, which is developing treatments for cancer and other diseases that will not become drug resistant, will lease about a quarter of the 185,000 sq. ft. of office and lab space in Linx Watertown. The property was redeveloped by Boylston Properties, the group behind Arsenal Yards – the redevelopment of the Arsenal Mall – and has built the Residence Inn by Marriott on Arsenal Street.

Government

Netting at Victory Field Track Scrapped, Walkers to be Prohibited at Certain Times

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The Victory Field Committee made compromises when addressing safety of Victory Field by voting against having netting on the ends of the field, but the compromise also means that the track will be closed to walkers during certain times while high school teams use the field. When deciding whether to put up the safety netting, the Ad Hoc Committee on Victory Field Phase 2 tried to balance the needs of athletic teams using the track and turf area inside with the needs of people using field as a public park. For years the oval area has served as home to the Watertown track and field team, and the field inside the track is used by both high school and youth sports groups. The facility is also part of the Watertown park system, and the track is a popular place for residents to walk and run. A proposal by designers at CDM Smith made two years ago, when the project was first discussed, includes netting at the ends of the field to protect users of the track from flying balls – particularly lacrosse and soccer balls.

Entertainment

The First of Two Free Family Movie Nights Coming This Friday

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The Watertown Police and the Recreation Department will host a pair of free family movie nights – the first one this Friday – with games, activities and food. The Police and Recreation departments sent out the following announcement:

Please join us…

Friday, July 14 (Showing Disney’s Moana)

Friday, August 11 (TBD)

6:30-10 p.m.

Watertown Elementary students, bring your friends and family for a night of fun and excitement! The festivities will be held outside in the park at 552 Main St., behind the Police Station

6:30- 8:00 Games, Face Painting, Popcorn, Pizza and Refreshments

8:00 The Movie will begin! Please park in the front of the police station!

Around Town

Historical Society Hosting Celebration of Treaty Day, Reading of Declaration of Independence

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The Historical Society of Watertown announced it will celebrate two significant historical events for the town, the state and the nation during the Treaty Day celebration. The Historical Society announced that everyone is welcome at the free event on Saturday July 15, 2017, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Edmund Fowle House, 28 Marshall St., Watertown. The Treaty Day 2017 event marks two important occasions in history that occurred at the Edmund Fowle House in Watertown: the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence to the citizens of Watertown on July 18, 1776; the signing of the first treaty negotiated by the new nation with a foreign power, namely the St. John’s (a.k.a. Maliseet) and Mi’kmaq Tribes of Nova Scotia on July 19, 1776.

DPW

Multi-Year Sewer Repair Projects to Start in Three Areas of Town

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The Department of Public Works will begin a multi-year sewer project in two areas of town with the help of money provided by the MWRA. 

The work begins with investigation of the sewer pipes under the streets using a camera that travels through the system searching for areas where pipes has been damaged, said Dennis Sheehan, the DPW’s Director of Administration and Finance. The pipes will also be cleaned. Cracks and damage can allow sewage out but also allows water into the pipes, which ultimately costs the town more money, Sheehan said. “The goal of the program is to reduce the amount of clean water being diverted to Deer Island and prevent the town paying (the treatment of) ground water infiltrating into the system,” Sheehan said. Next year, the DPW will repair the damages areas found by the cameras this year.

Development

New Hotel Proposed for Arsenal Mall to be Discussed by Planning Board

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The Planning Board will discuss the second phase of the Arsenal Yards project, which includes a hotel to be added in a new building planned for what is now the parking lot of the Arsenal Mall. 

Phase 2 focuses on Building B, which is on the west sided of the site, next to the Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates offices. Along with the retail space on the ground floor there will be a hotel and a parking structure (see architectural drawings here). Developers Boyslton Properties announced they plan to build a Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton with 150 rooms. The six-story hotel replaces the 79-unit residential building originally planned for Building B. It will have a garage with six levels, including an underground level. The plans got mixed reviews from the public during a community meeting held in May. See the documents submitted to the Town can be seen here (click on Phase Two Building B in the left column).