Police/Fire

Watertown Police Arrest Major Drug Dealer After Long Investigation

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Watertown Police, working with the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force, arrested a 39-year-old town resident suspected of dealing narcotics in the area. 

The Watertown Police Detective Division executed a search warrant at 44C Robert Ford Road on Nov. 15, 2017, and discovered narcotics, cash, a firearm, ammunition and brass knuckles, according to Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. The arrest of Jason Alberto Dalencar, 39, of Watertown was the result of a six-month investigation. “Jason Dalencar was believed to be a major supplier of narcotics in Watertown,
Waltham, and Newton,” O’Connor said. The narcotics are the prescription opioid oxycodone.

State Tournament

Watertown Swimmers Head to State Meet After Successful Sectionals

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In its first year, the Watertown girls swim team will be competing at the MIAA State Swimming and Diving Championships this weekend. 

WHS has combined with the existing Arlington team to create a co-op team and the Arlington-Watertown squad has had some successes. Last weekend, the team competed in the North Section Meet at MIT and scored 40 points and placed 15th overall. “This is a huge improvement over last year’s team that finished 20th,” said head coach Adlar Su. Freshman Lily Barker, who is from Arlington, placed third in the 500 free with a time of 5:22.37 and ninth in the 100 free with a time of 51.55. Arlington-Watertown’s 200 free relay swam a 1:52.01, finished 12th and qualified for the State Meet.

Real Estate

See the 10 Open Houses Around Watertown This Weekend

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See all the open houses this week in Watertown. $469,000 – 38 Waltham St. Unit 38, 6 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath detached, Open House

$599,900 – 31 Duff St., 7 room, 4 bed, 2 bath cape, Open House

$915,000 – 150 Langdon Ave., 2 unit, 14 total room, 6 total bedroom, Open House

$409,900 – 44 Duff St. Unit 44, 6 room, 2 bed, 1 bath townhouse, Open House

$539,900 – 230 Westminster Ave., 8 room, 4 bed, 2 bath colonial, Open House

Sponsored by:

$549,000 – 12 Rose Ave. Unit 12, 6 room, 3 bed, 2 bath townhouse, Open House

$659,000 – 25 Rutland St., 7 room, 3 bed, 2f bath colonial, Open House

$699,000 – 26 Amherst Road Unit 26, 9 room, 5 bed, 2 bath detached, Open House

$549,000 – 19 Warren St., 7 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath cape, Open House

$599,000 – 16 Commonwealth Unit 16, 10 room, 4 bed, 2f 0h bath 2/3 family, Open House

Asbestos

School Officials Hire Firm to Remove Asbestos from Watertown High School

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A firm has been hired to remove the asbestos found at Watertown High School for more than a quarter million dollars. 

The asbestos was discovered during an inspection by EFI Global, the district’s asbestos consultant. There were a few locations, but the most prominent one was in the skim coat plaster on the walls and ceilings of classrooms in the high school. The district will hire Northstar, a licensed asbestos abatement firm, to work on the high school, said Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Mary DeLai. “The estimated time for the work will be 60 work days,” DeLai said. “It will probably take until March 1 to complete the abatement.”

Charity

Watertown Woman to be Honored for Work Spreading Education in Africa and Boston

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Born and raised in Watertown, Jane O’Connor has spread her work as an educator across the globe, and will receive an honor previously bestowed to Boston Police Commissioner William Evans and actor and peace and justice activist Martin Sheen. After being principal in the Watertown Public Schools for 24 years – at Cunniff Elementary School and Watertown Middle School – O’Connor worked to help at risk students in Boston, and took part in starting a school for girls in rural Africa. Her work will be recognized by the Paulist Center Community, which will present her with the Isaac Hecker Award for Social Justice at a ceremony in Boston on Saturday, Nov. 18. A group from Boston was interested in setting up a school for girls in an area of Rwanda that was hard hit by the 1996 genocide, and invited O’Connor to be a part of the effort.

Sports

Run for Watertown Boys Soccer Team Ends in State Semifinal

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LYNN – The Clippers took the wind out of Watertown’s sails with a goal just a minute into the MIAA Div. 3 boys soccer State Semifinal, added a second a few minutes later allowing Norwell to hold on for the 2-0 win at Manning Field. 

The Raiders finish their season on a run deeper than they have been since 2013, when the team also made the final four in the state. Watertown boys soccer coach Frank Cacia said it was an uphill battle after falling behind the South Section champs. “To come out flat, give up a goal then another goal. the second goal, it was unfortunate,” Cacia said.

Government

Town Council Approves Slight Increase in Residential Exemption for Property Taxes

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One issue heard often during the 2017 Town Election was residents wanting more relief on their residential property taxes. The Town Council took a step toward cutting bills by increasing the residential property tax exemption by one percentage point on Tuesday night. The residential exemption will be 23 percent in Fiscal 2018, which means owner occupied properties can get a break on taxes, but properties where the owner does not live or is not the primary residence will bear more of the burden. The annual property tax of the average valued owner-occupied home (assessed at $587,413) will be $6,092.59, which is up $160.43, or 2.7 percent. This year, for the first time, the Community Preservation Act (CPA) assessment will be added on for the first time.

33 Mt. Auburn Street

Find Out What is Planned for Lot at 33 Mt. Auburn Street at Community Meeting

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A community meeting will be held to discuss plans for a development at 33 Mt. Auburn Street. The property is currently a vacant lot, between the intersection with Taylor Street and the 7-Eleven. Developers 33 Mount Auburn LLC propose to build a mixed-use project with 15 residential units and 1,924 square feet of commercial space at 33 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown. Meeting Date:  Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location:  Town Hall, 149 Main Street, Second Floor, Council Chamber

For more information, contact: Janovsky/Hurley Architects, Inc. – Steve Hurley and Suela Muco at 781-489-6540.