Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/page/674/)
There are three open houses to view this weekend in Watertown. $177,457 – 4 Repton Circle Unit 4207, 3 room, 1 bed, 1 bath mid-rise, Open House: Sunday 1-4
$289,000 – 10 Williams St. Unit 37, 3 room, 1 bed, 1 bath mid-rise, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2
$684,500 – 81 Summer St., 2 Units, 4 Total Beds, 2 Total Baths, Open House: Saturday 11-1
Sponsored by:
The proposed medical marijuana facility in East Watertown got the Planning Board’s approval and now has just one more hurdle before final approval. Wednesday night the Planning Board approved the special permit request from Natural Selections to open a dispensary at 23 Elm Street, and the board gave the dispensary one more day of operation than recommended in the Community Development and Planning’s staff report. The staff report recommended that the dispensary be allowed to be open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Chief Operating Officer of Natural Selections, Aidan O’Donovan, asked that the days of operations be extended to Sundays. Not everybody like the idea of having the dispensary open seven days a week. Town Councilor Lisa Feltner said that while the area is zoned industrial it has many other types of properties.
After nearly 100 years in Watertown, the East Branch Library building has been sold and could become a park in the short term and will become part of the St. James Armenian Church campus in the longterm.
Tuesday night, the Town Council voted to sell the property at 481 Mt. Auburn Street to the church for $1.2 million. See some of the background on the sale here. The decision was a bittersweet one for East End Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis, and others on the Council.
Tickets are now available for the Watertown Education Foundation’s Dancing With the Stars fundraiser. The Watertown Education Foundation 4th annual Dancing With the Stars will be held Friday, May 5, 2017 at The Hellenic Cultural Center, 25 Bigelow Ave., Watertown. Doors open at 6 p.m. and hors d’oeuvres & appetizers will be served. The dancing begins at 7:30 p.m. Cash bar. The Watertown Education Foundation sent out the following information:
Our dancers have, or have had, children in the Watertown Schools, they are business owners, community leaders, coaches, friends and neighbors.
A group looking to create a a community of people 55 and older living in private homes but sharing common facilities and having a voice in the design and operation of their neighborhood. First Parish Unitarian Universalist Arlington and Middlesex Senior Cohousing will host a conversation about this model for aging in place with those interested in creating and participating in such a neighborhood in the Metro North Boston area. The event will include a slide presentation followed by small group discussions. The event will be on Saturday, April 22 from 1-3 p.m. at the First Parish Arlington Unitarian Universalist Church, 630 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington. To Register click here.
After the first effort to come up with a mascot to go along with Watertown High School’s Raiders nickname stalled, school officials will once again look at the issue.
Two years ago the School Committee decided to let the status quo remain, which was to have no emblem to represent the Raiders. The issue became a contentious one because some groups – particularly WHS alums – felt they were not being included in the discussion because the selection process was limited to students at the high school. Others opposed the use of the cartoonish Native American symbol being used by many youth sports, and some opposed any logo portraying an Indian. Interim Superintendent John Brackett said he has been approached by several people asking for a mascot for the high school. “(The mascot) brings a common identity to the Watertown High School Raiders, and are often used by other youth groups,” Brackett said.
On Wednesday night, the Watertown Planning Board has two major agenda items – the medical marijuana dispensary proposed for Elm Street and the apartment complex on Morse Street. Two weeks ago, Natural Selections – the group seeking to open the marijuana dispensary – received a the vote it needed from the Town Council to move on to seek a special permit from the Planning and Zoning boards to open up a dispensary at 23 Elm Street in East Watertown. On Wednesday, April 12, the dispensary will appear before the Planning Board for the first time. According to the application submitted by Natural Selections, the dispensary would occupy 2,755 square feet of Building 2 on the site (behind A-Affordable Auto Insurance) and will have 22 parking spaces. Before the vote is taken by the Planning Board there will be an opportunity for resident to give their input.
The fourth annual Watertown Police Department Finish Strong 5K race will be held on April 30, and there is still time to sign up. The WPD put out the following announcement:
We cordially invite you to participate in the 4th annual Watertown Police Finish Strong 5K road race and walk. This event will support the Watertown Police Relief Committee and the Watertown Police Supervisors Association. The Watertown Police Relief Association was organized in 1936 and changed to the Watertown Police Relief Committee in 2008. Our membership is comprised of sworn personnel, regardless of rank, as well as all retired officers.