Government

Schools, Streets Make Up Big Part of Watertown’s 5 Year Capital Plan

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The town would spend nearly $450 million on building projects and equipment under the recommended five-year Capital Improvement Plan. The plan is nearly $80 million higher than the five-year plan for 2018-22, due in part to upcoming school building projects.Town Manager Michael Driscoll presented the conceptual Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2019-23 Tuesday night. The plan will be considered by the Council’s Budget & Fiscal Oversight Committee as it considers the budget for Fiscal Year 2019, which begins June 30, 2018. The Building for the Future school renovation or rebuilding projects makes up a large portion of the plan. The plan has $283.7 million set aside in total, with $125.1 million for the three elementary schools and $158.6 million for the high school project.

Business

Watertown Belmont Chamber of Commerce Closing After Nearly 50 Years

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The board of directors of the Watertown Belmont Chamber of Commerce announce that the organization will be closing after nearly half a century of existence. 

In an announcement sent to members and other members of the community, the board of directors said that they believe members will be better served by being part of a larger chamber group, and encouraged members to join the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber of Commerce. The NNRCC is offering WBCC members a 50 percent off the annual membership to join. The Watertown-Belmont Chamber has been without a permanent executive director for more than a year, and moved out of its office space on Main Street in February 2017. Among the events the Chamber hosts in Watertown is the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. The Newton-Needham Chamber is expected to host events in Watertown.

Sports

Watertown Track Sets Record at Coaches Div. 5 State Relay Meet

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Watertown High School’s boys track team excelled at Sunday’s MSTCA Div. 5 State Relays, finishing fourth place overall and one relay setting a new Div. 5 record. The meet, held at Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Boston, featured the best teams from around Massachusetts of comparable size. The 4 x 200 relay team of Nick Cordeiro, Nathan Follett, Edie Ferreira and Mangé Camara placed first with a time of 1:35.71.

Real Estate

Watertown Colonial Revival Home Sells for Well over $1 Million

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Two homes sold this week, including a Colonial for more than $1 million. $1,380,000 – 64 Russell Ave. 9 room, 5 bedroom, 3 full & 1 half bathroom, Colonial Revival single-family home

$720,000 – 32 Royal St., 2 unit, 10 total room, 5 total bedroom, 2 Family multi-family home

Sponsored by:

$720,000 – 49 Bradford Road Unit 2, 8 room, 4 bedroom, 3 full & 1 half bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

Arrests

Police Log: Wallet Stolen from Apartment, Drugs Found on Shoplifter

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Jan. 9, 4:19 p.m.: A tow truck driver brought in a car that had been involved in a minor accident in Boston to Perfection Auto Body and the driver got a ride in the tow truck. Later the driver was found asleep in the cab of the tow truck and refused to get out. Police were called and when they looked into the man’s background they discovered he had a warrant for his arrest.

Around Town

BC Scientist from Watertown Helps Discover Oldest Known Butterfly

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While searching for the remains of plants and pollen in 200 million year old sediment, Boston College scientist and Watertown resident Paul Strother and a Dutch colleague discovered the remains of an ancient butterfly much older than ever found – a discovery that may change the understanding of prehistoric plants. While spending time in Germany in 2012, Strother examined some cores from Northern Germany with Bas van de Schootbrugge, a Dutch microfossil paleontologist who at the time had a lab in Germany. It took a few years, and collaboration with a number of other scientists, to find out just what they had found. “It sort of shows how sciences works, sometimes,” said Stother, a research professor in paleobotany in BC’s Department of Earth & Environmental Science. He lives in Watertown with his wife Ceclia Lenk, a former Town Councilor.

Real Estate

Nearly a Dozen Open Houses in Watertown This Weekend

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Homeseekers have several open houses to choose from this weekend. $925,000 – 67-69 Dexter Ave., 2 unit, 13 total room, 6 total bedroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12:30-2, Sunday 12:30-2

$750,000 – 691 Main St., 2 unit, 12 total room, 4 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 1-2 Sunday 1-2

$389,900 – 120 Pierce Road U: 120, 5 room, 2 bed, 1.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1 Sunday 1-2

$599,000 – 16 Commonwealth Unit 16, 10 room, 4 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30

$599,000 – 12 Flint Road Unit 2, 7 room, 4 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

Sponsored by:

$829,900 – 784 Belmont St., 2 unit, 9 total room, 5 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$489,000 – 40 Waltham St., Unit 2, 6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30

$799,900 – 122- 124 Waverley Ave., 2 unit, 13 total room, 4 total bedroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$489,000 – 37 Copeland St., 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath bungalow, Open House: Saturday 1:30-2:30

$529,000 – 24 Franklin St. Unit 24, 4 room, 2 bed, 1 bath low-rise, Open House: Saturday 12-2

$641,000 – 49 Bradford Road Unit 1, 6 room, 2 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

Around Town

Watertown Addiction Recovery Center Has Creative Approach to Getting Sober

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An addiction recovery center that started as a place for rock musicians to get sober has moved to Watertown and found success in treatment that includes art and music in the therapy. Right Turn, located on Arsenal Street, began in 2003 when Woody Giessmann – former drummer of The Del Fuegos – realized there was a need for recovery for musicians and other creative people. The center’s first offices were located in Arlington, but moved to Watertown a few years ago when it needed more space. In 1993 Giessmann became an addictions specialist after facing drug and alcohol addictions while he was a musician, said Gabrielle “Abby” Dean, clinical director for Right Turn, who has been working with Giessmann since 1995

“Musicians kept calling him saying ‘I need help,'” Dean said. Enough musicians or their agents called, Dean said, and they decided to start groups for people looking to get sober.