Around Town

Hatch Makerspace Settling Into New Home in Watertown Square

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Watertown Free Public Library officials hope to transform a small storefront in Watertown Square into a place where residents can be creative and learn some new skills. 

The spot on Summer Street, just off Mt. Auburn Street, is the new home of the Hatch Makerspace. For the first couple years of its existence it was located in the Arsenal Mall, but now it is right on the street in the heart of the town. Assistant Library Director Caitlin Browne said in the old location Hatch would get people from all over – Cambridge, Boston as well as Watertown – but the new spot should draw a lot of town residents or those working in town. “We love it.

Entertainment

See Photos from the 2017 Watertown Faire on the Square

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Hundreds came out to Saltonstall Park to check out the 2017 Faire on the Square on Saturday. Visitors enjoyed music and performances on two stages, games, food, and activities for children. The Faire also featured local businesses and organizations, and residents could meet the candidates in the upcoming local election. See some of the action from the 18th annual Faire on the Square.

Sports

Watertown Runs Into Tough Melrose Team in League Football Opener

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After scoring 50 and 48 points in their first two games, the Watertown High School football team held to two touchdowns in the 28-14 loss at Melrose Friday night. Watertown trailed 21-7 at halftime, with quarterback Nick McDermott throwing to John Korte for a second quarter touchdown. In the fourth quarter the Raiders pulled within one score when McDermott hit Mange Camara for a touchdown. Melrose’s Rey Guity ran for a 78 yard touchdown to reestablish the 14 point gap, according to the Boston Herald’s report. The Raiders fall to 2-1 and 0-1 in the Middlesex League.

Government

Pedestrians & Cars to Share Victory Field Driveway, Fencing to be Replaced

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The driveway at Victory Field will be transformed into an area where pedestrians, bicycles and cars will intermingle. 

The Ad Hoc Committee on Victory Field Phase 2 voted to make changes to the area between the two parking areas at Victory Field to make a shared use area. The area will be raised and the surface will be something different from asphalt, likely some sort of brick or paver. Tuesday’s meeting was the second time the committee had discussed the possibility of creating a shared space at Victory Field (read about the last meeting here). The group asked for some possible designs for the shared area and on Tuesday Designer Glenn Howard of CDM Smith presented some mock-ups for how the shared area might look with new surface, plantings and other features. The portion of the driveway that goes between the track and the football bleachers is quite narrow, and adding a sidewalk would just make it tougher for vehicles to pass each other, Howard said.

Real Estate

See All the Open Houses Around Watertown This Week

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Check out all the open houses around Watertown this week. $949,000 – 62 Robbins Road, 8 room, 4 bed, 2 full 2 half bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$489,000 – 81 Carroll St. Unit 81, 6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath townhouse, Open House: Saturday 11:30-12:30

$545,000 – 10 Locust Lane Unit D, 7 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 11-12:30

$659,900 – 5 Highland Ave., 8 room, 3 bed, 1 bath cape, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 11-1

$699,000 – 268 Palfrey St. Unit 268, 6 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-3 Sunday 12-3

$575,000 – 199 Coolidge Ave. Unit 514, 5 room, 2 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Friday 12-1:30 Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$629,900 – 46 Hall Ave.

Schools

Watertown Officials ID Solution for Overcrowded Buses to Minuteman

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Due to a jump in the number of students from Watertown going to Minuteman Regional Vocational School, the bus going to the school has been filled to the brim, and sometimes over capacity. 

Because Watertown is not a member community of Minuteman, responsibility for getting the students to school falls on the Watertown Public Schools. Watertown school officials learned in April that 62 students would be enrolling at Minuteman, which was three more than anticipated, according to a letter to parents from Superintendent Dede Galdston. In additions, two more students were enrolled because it was the best place to accommodate their educational needs. The district sent out letters to the families of students going to Minuteman asking if they would like to ride the bus to school, Galdston wrote, and by Aug. 15, 38 parents replied.