Real Estate

Nine Properties to Check Out Around Watertown This Weekend

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Here are this week’s Watertown open houses. $500,000 – 9 Oakley Road Unit 9, 8 room, 3 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3 Sunday 1:30-3

$509,900 – 225 Westminster Ave., 6 room, 3 bed, 2 bath cape, Open Houses: Saturday 12:30-2 Sunday 12:30-2

$475,000 – 103 Madison Ave., 7 room, 3 bed, 2 bath ranch, Open House: Sunday 11:30-1

$789,900 – 276 Palfrey St. Unit 276, 6 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30

$825,000 – 274 Palfrey St. Unit 274, 6 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30

Sponsored by:

$650,000 – 25 Paul St. Unit 25, 6 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 11-1 Sunday 11-1

$449,900 – 87 Boylston St.

Real Estate

See the Five Properties that Sold This Week in Watertown

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Two condos and two halves of two-family homes sold this week in Watertown. 496,000 – 308 School St. Unit 2, 6 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$520,000 – 97 Poplar St. Unit 97, 8 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$683,000 – 788 Belmont St. Unit 1, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 3 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

Sponsored by:

$699,000 – 134-2 Edenfield Ave.

Police/Fire

Fallen Watertown Firefighter, Husband and Father of 5 Mourned by Friends

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Friday morning, Watertown lost a great father, a talented cook and an excellent firefighter when a 21-year veteran of the Watertown Fire Department collapsed at a fire and died later at the hospital. Joseph Toscano, 54, of Randolph, joined he Watertown Fire Department in September 1996, and leaves behind his wife Maureen and five children between the ages of 12 and 19 – three boys and two girls. Deputy Fire Chief Bob Quinn knew Toscano well, having chosen him to be his aide and driver 12 years ago when Quinn became a fire deputy. “I got to select my aide when I became deputy,” Quinn said. “I chose him because he was a good firefighter, and a smart guy.”

Fire

Firefighter Dies Fighting a 2 Alarm Fire in East Watertown

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A Watertown firefighter died after collapsing while fighting a two alarm fire on Merrrield Avenue Friday morning. Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn choked up as he told the media that a Watertown firefighter had lost his life. “Our officers in were able to evacuate two people from the home as well as some pets,” Lawn said at about noon. “During the course of the fire a firefighter collapsed. He was transported to Mt.

Eversource

Pickup Truck Knocks Down Utility Pole, Knocks Out Power to Hundreds

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A pickup truck swerved off a West Watertown road and struck a utility pole, knocking out power to nearly 200 in the area. 

The accident occurred around 6:40 a.m. Friday and reportedly involved a commercial van. The white full-sized pickup hit the pole on Philip Darch Road, about a block from Lexington Street. The pole broke a few feet from the bottom, fell, and took down power and other utility lines. No injuries were reported, according to Watertown Police. An Eversource official said that about 175 customers in the area lost power.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Caught in Drug Sting, Road Rage Incident and Counterfeit Bills

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
March 8, 11:27 a.m.: A Lawrence man was arrested in Watertown as part of a drug sting that also included busts in Dorchester and Brighton. The arrest came after a two-month investigation by the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force and the Boston Police Drug Control Unit. Police found fentanyl – a prescription opioid – and cash when they searched the home on Riverside Street. The man, identified as Carlos Alfredo German-Peguero, 25, of Lawrence, was arrested on charges of trafficking in fentanyl, giving a false name and on an immigration detainer.

Grand Jury

Man Who Phoned in Bomb Threat, 2 Who Broke into Gas Station Indicted

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A man who allegedly phoned in a bomb threat to his worksite was among the four suspects in crimes that occurred in Watertown who were indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan’s Office announced. 

Lawrence Benjamin, 27, of Lowell, was charged with willfully communicating a bomb threat willful and malicious communication of false information to public safety answering points. The Assistant District Attorney is Jessica Noble. On Sept. 26, State Police received a 911 call from a person saying there was a bomb at a building on Bridge Street, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. Watertown Police were contacted and went to the address to evacuate the building, which is under renovation. Police linked the phone number where the call came from to Benjamin, O’Connor said, and the man gave police a false name and claimed his phone had been stolen.

Good Friday

Watertown School Calendar Includes Classes on Good Friday in 2018

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The School Committee approved the 2017-18 school calendar for the Watertown Public Schools, and it includes some changes from past years, including that school will be in session on Good Friday. 

Whether to have school on one of the holiest days on the Christian calendar was debated by school administrators because having that day off would push back the last day of class into the last week of June and because there are no other days off for religious holidays for any religion, said Interim Superintendent John Brackett. “I am cognizant of traditions and traditionally Good Friday has not been a school day, and that Good Friday, for many families remains a very important day within their religion,” Brackett said. He added, however, that the Watertown Schools celebrate the diversity of all students in the schools. He pointed to the recent statement released by the schools after President Trump signed the Executive Order banning travel into the U.S. by people of several countries. The statement read, in part: “We treat all students with respect, have high expectations for all, want parents to be our partners, and expect students, educators, and parents to respect the unique qualities that characterize each of us.  Together, we build and support a diverse and respectful community.”