East Branch Library

Town Council to Consider Sale of Watertown’s East Branch Library

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The long vacant East Branch Library may be sold by the town, if the Town Council approves the proposal on Tuesday night. 

The 2,684-square-foot building at 481 Mt. Auburn Street was built in the 1920s and closed in 2006 after the main branch of the library was renovated and expanded. Now the town is considering selling the building and .28 acres of land to St. James Armenian Church for $1.2 million. The town put out a call for bids, which had to start at $1 million, and received just one bid.

Dede Galdston

School Committee Approves Contract for New Watertown Superintendent

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The School Committee officially welcomed Watertown’s next superintendent, Dede Galdston, on Monday night when they also approved her contract. 

Galdston told the School Committee she is grateful for the appointment and she is excited to be coming to Watertown. “First off, than you all for believing in me and having the confidence that I will shepherd you through the coming years and helping the children of Watertown move forward,” Galdston said. She will continue to work in her current position of assistant superintendent in Billerica through the end of June, but she has already started getting to know her new district. “I have been here already, and I can’t wait to get started with the work,” Galdston said. The incoming superintendent brought her husband and four sons to the School Committee meeting.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Older Couple Goes on Shoplifting Spree, Man Exposes Himself to Store Security

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
March 28, 7:45 p.m.: A man was stopped at Home Depot after security spotted him walk out of the store without paying for a DeWalt circular saw. When security tried to escort the man to the back office, the suspect grabbed the saw and tried to leave again when the security guard turned to walk to the office. The man was stopped and when police arrived the suspect was heard yelling derogatory comments at security. Later he dropped his pants, grabbed his genitals and shook them at employees, who were shocked and upset by the display.

Real Estate

Check Out This Week’s Watertown Open Houses

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Here are the properties that will be having open houses this week. $239,900 – 133 Warren St. Unit 3, 4 room, 2 bed, 1 bath low-rise, Open Houses: Saturday 1-2:30 Sunday 1-2:30

$699,000 – 76 Putnam St. Unit 76, 7 room, 3 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 12-2

$177,457 – 4 Repton Circle Unit 4207, 3 room, 1 bed, 1 bath mid-rise, Open House: Sunday 1-4

$709,900 – 78 Edenfield Ave., 2 unit, 10 total room, 4 total bedroom, Open Houses: Saturday 1-2 Sunday 1-2

$539,900 – 41 Wilson Ave. Unit 41, 6 room, 3 bed, 1f 1h bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

Sponsored by:

$729,000 – 32 Fairview Ave.

Around Town

Newton Firefighters Make Hefty Donation to Family of Fallen Watertown Firefighter

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The Watertown Fire Department received a visit from their friends in the Newton Fire Department this week, who came bearing a generous gift for the family of Joseph Toscano. The Newton contingent delivered a check for $10,000 for the family of Toscano, who lost his life in the line of duty on March 17. Newton Firefighter Union President Tom Lopez presented the donation along with firefighters Brian Albano and Brian McNamara and Deputy Chief Mike McNamara, according to Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Tom McManus. They gave the check to members of Group 2, the group on which Toscano worked for most of his 20+ year career. Watertown Deputy Chief Bob Quinn, Union President Rob Mannix and members of Group 2 posed with the Newton Firefighters for a photo to commemorate the visit.

Arrest

Man Arrested After Pulling Knife on Police Officer During Traffic Stop

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A 38-year-old Watertown man was arrested after he allegedly pulled out a knife on police who stopped to talk to him after he was found asleep behind the wheel of a running vehicle. 

Police came across the running vehicle on Purvis Street at Main Street on March 31 at 1:05 a.m. When police looked into the car, they saw a man, later identified as Mark A. Mackenzie, who appeared to be passed out at the wheel, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “While checking his welfare, the officer was able to wake him up,” O’Connor said. “It took yelling and banging on the window and the man appeared to be disoriented.” The man was asked to turn off his engine, and when he attempted to do so he turned the heat off and said he had shut off the engine, O’Connor said. The officer had to open the door and turn the car off.

Around Town

Watertown Library to be Closed Two Days This Week

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The Watertown Free Public Library will be closed on April 6 and 7 so carpet replacement work can take place. Other sections of the library have been closed during the the project, but the building will be closed on Thursday, April 6 and Friday April 7 for the whole day, the library announced. The library has more than 30,000 visitors a year, and more than 3.5 million since the renovated library opened in 2004. Find out more about the project here.