Arsenal Project

New Mall Entrance, Paths Could be Included in Arsenal Mall Renovation

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Some significant changes to the roadways around the Arsenal Mall could be in store as part of the major renovation project. The master plan for the Arsenal Project will soon be submitted to the town, and the architects and planners behind the project met with the public for the fifth time Wednesday night. Traffic and transportation was a major focus, along with some updated views of the mall. The plan for the mall includes a movie theater, a grocery store, a bowling alley, more restaurants and a few hundred housing units. The new development would add more than 6,300 trips (a car going to and leaving counts as two trips) during a typical weekday, according to Giles Ham, traffic engineer with Vanasse & Associates.

Police/Fire

Man Tries to Gain Entry to Elderly Woman’s Home Posing as Utility Worker

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A man saying he was from the utility company tried to gain access to an elderly woman’s home in a suspected scam. A Beechwood Avenue resident reported an unknown male came to her door claiming he was from a utility company. He said that they would be shutting down the electricity in the area for three days, so he wanted to set up a generator in her back yard, according to Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “He said he would have to have access to the interior of her house and her backyard,” O’Connor said. The woman said he also asked how her “hubby” was doing?

Entertainment

Artists Wanted for Newton Open Studios Fall Juried Art Fest

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Newton Open Studios will host its ninth annual Fall Juried Art Fest in Nov. and artists are wanted for the show. The Fall Juried Art Fest is open to artists who live, work, volunteer, or attend art classes in Newton, or who is a member of a Newton arts organization. ARTSCOPE’s Kaveh Mojtabai (Founder and Publisher) and Brian Goslow (Managing Editor) will jury show, which will take place Nov. 5-6, 2016.

Development

Changes Made to Garage in Athenahealths’ Renovation of the Arsenal Complex

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Some significant changes have been made to the proposed first phase of the Arsenal on the Charles renovation, including an alteration of the garage. 

Tuesday night, official from complex-owners Athenahealth discussed Phase 1 of the project, which will go before the Planning Board in September. The most significant change will be the removal of one of the two underground levels of parking in the new structure going on the west side of the Arsenal on the Charles. The change was made because there were some concerns about groundwater and soil removal, said Bob Corning, senior principal with Stantec. “The massing and height of the garage will be the same,” Corning said. “The underground level will be a bit taller to allow for stacked parking (cars on lifts) in the future if necessary.”

Elections

See What a Group of Voters Decided About Legalizing Marijuana in Mass.

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Following three days of presentations and testimony a group of voters from around the state have put together a statement to help voters navigate Question 4, the ballot measure that, if passed, would legalize the sale of marijuana in Massachusetts. The group of 20 voters, who are from a range of areas, backgrounds and ages, met in Watertown as part of the Massachusetts Citizens’ Initiative Review pilot program. State Rep. Jonathan Hecht was one of the people spearheading the effort, which also was lead by Tufts University’s Tisch School of Civic Life, as well as, Healthy Democracy, a group that started the CIR process in the state of Oregon. Last week, the voters heard from proponents and opponents of the ballot measure, along with five neutral experts in fields relevant to marijuana legalization, including health, finance, the law and people from states where marijuana has been legalized. The created a statement that, if the CIR process is adopted by the Massachusetts Legislature, would be included in the voter information pamphlet sent out by the Secretary of State’s office.

Around Town

Watertown Group Hosting Candlelight Vigil for Those Lost to Addiction

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Watertown Overcoming Addiction will hold its second annual Candlelight Vigil to remember those lost to drug use and addiction. Last year, hundreds of friends and families of those who lost their battle with substance use, and many others filled St. Patrick’s Church’s Lower Hall. This year’s vigil will be held on Sept. 21, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the Lower Hall at St.

Police/Fire

Woman Followed by Strange Man While Running Through Watertown

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A woman reported being followed by a stranger on her run around Watertown, and he approached her two separate times, according to police. A couple driving through Coolidge Square stopped a police officer and a 35-year-old woman told the officer she was followed by a man just about 15 minutes earlier, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “She was out on Aug. 25 about 6:30 p.m. running down Common Street toward Watertown Square,” O’Connor said. “She got the feeling she was being followed and she stopped and turned around and saw the same man stopping and starting to walk.”

Arsenal Park

Subcommittee Wants to Look at Putting Temporary Lights at Park

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With a growing youth sports program and limited field space in Watertown, a Council subcommittee recommended allowing temporary lights at a town park. The Human Services subcommittee voted to support having temporary lights at Arsenal Park, said Councilor Aaron Dushku, vice chairman of the subcommittee. “The council will listen to the report, ask questions and make a vote when we next reconvene as a whole,” Dushku said. “Naturally, this will be a recommendation to the administration that they work out the finer details of the process -some of which were discussed.” The subcommittee meeting was well attended, with a large contingent of residents who live near Victory Field.