Schools

Perkins School for the Blind Celebrates Graduation for the Class of 2016

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The Class of 2016 celebrated graduation day recently at Perkins School for the Blind. The school based in Watertown held the big event in historic Dwight Hall, and when the 12 graduates took the stage to, “the room erupted in camera flashes and cheers, with a few high-fives mixed in,” according to the school. Two members of Perkins’ Class of 2016 delivered remarks, including Ashley Riva, a student in the school’s Deafblind Program, who delivered her speech using sign language. Senior Class President Brendan Flynn about the opportunities he received at Perkins, including vocational training that prepared him for life in the real world, according to Perkins. Read more about the graduation by clicking here: http://www.perkins.org/stories/news/celebrating-the-perkins-class-of-2016?utm_campaign=infocus%20june2016&utm_source=in%20focus&utm_medium=email

Around Town

Woman Riding 200 Miles to Help Bring Salad Bar to Watertown School

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Watertown-based ChopChop magazine encourages children and families to eat healthier, and in the latest issue the magazine interviewed a woman who will bicycle 200 miles in California to bring salad bars to Watertown’s schools. Jenn LaVardera works for Dole, and will be riding in the Tour de Fresh, which goes from from Napa Valley to Monterey to raise money for “Move Salad Bars to Schools” in Watertown. The registered dietitian told ChopChop about bicycling, and why she wants to help bring salad bars to schools. “Fruits and vegetables are the healthiest foods on the planet. They have so many nutrients that keep your body healthy and strong.

Real Estate

Four Watertown Homes Sold This Week, Including a $1 Million Townhouse

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Here are the four properties that sold this week in Watertown. $370,000 – 34 Williams St., 4 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Colonial single-family home

$384,500 – 290 Pleasant St. Unit 209, 1 room, 1 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Mid-Rise condo/townhouse

Sponsored by:

$515,000 – 4 Repton Cir. Unit 4214 5 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, condo/townhouse

$1,040,000 – 18 Hudson St. Unit 18 9 room, 4 bedroom, 3 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

Arrests

Police Log: Man Arrested After Driving Through a Front Yard and More

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
June 13, 9:05 p.m.: A man was spotted breaking into a vehicle on Nichols Avenue. A witness saw a man walking around vehicles on Nichols and then leaned into a vehicle. As she went to call police she saw the owner of the car approach and then chased the suspect down the street. Police arrived and canvased the area.

Business

More Than 300 Tufts Health Plan Employees Help During Volunteer Day

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More than 325 employees from Tufts Health Plan spent the day volunteering with community organizations throughout the Greater Boston area, this week, completing more than 900 hours of service in one day. Volunteer Day is one way Tufts Health Plan demonstrates its commitment to community, inviting all employees to spend the day in service with and for community organizations, according to Tufts Health Plan. It was a beautiful day – and so rewarding to learn more about the great work of our community partners. Nearly 40 volunteers spent the morning building ramps and striping the Community Rowing parking lot to make it possible for rowers with disabilities to access the water. More than 50 volunteers tackled landscaping projects at the Dimock Center in Roxbury, spreading more than 20 yards of mulch and planting more than nine dozen annuals and perennials to beautify the grounds.

Around Town

Reporter Honored for Story About Unsolved Murder of Ex-Watertown Police Officer

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WBUR reporter and Watertown resident Bruce Gellerman received a New England regional award for his piece on the unsolved murder of a former Watertown Police Officer. Gellerman’s piece “Who Killed Gail Miles?: The Unsolved Murder of a Retired Watertown Cop,” won the Edward Murrow R. Award award for Best Investigative Reporting from the Radio Television Digital News Association. (See the story here). Miles, who was 61, was found brutally murdered on Dec. 3, 2011 in her Roxbury home.

Real Estate

A Wide Variety of Homes Having Open Houses This Week

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See all the properties having open houses in Watertown this week. $849,900 – 129 Dexter Ave. 2 unit, 17 total room, 7 total bedroom, Open House: Sunday 12-2

$899,900 – 20 Emerson Road, 8 room, 3 bed, 2 full 2 half bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$484,500 – 30 Harrington St., 2 unit, 6 total room, 3 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 1-3 Sunday 11-1

$484,500 – 30 Harrington St., 6 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath cape, Open Houses: Saturday 1-3 Sunday 11-1

$524,900 – 26 Pine St., 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath ranch, Open House: Sunday 11-1

$688,000 – 34 Chester St., 34, 6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Friday 11-12:30 Saturday 11-12:30 Sunday 11-12:30

$439,900 – 238 Arlington St. Unit 238, 7 room, 3 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Saturday 12-2

$769,000 – 21 Capitol St., 8 room, 4 bed, 1.5 bath victorian, Open Houses: Friday 12-1 Saturday 12:30-2 Sunday 12:30-2

$499,900 – 14 Falmouth Road, 7 room, 2 bed, 1 bath colonial, Open House: Sunday 1-3

$895,000 – 22 Garfield St., 9 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath other, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1 Sunday 12-1

Sponsored by:

$699,900 – 11 Hersom St. Unit 2, 6 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$789,000 – 153 Summer St.

Government

Potential Shuttle Routes Revealed from Harvard Square to Watertown

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A shuttle that would enhance Watertown’s public transportation offerings has been proposed that would link businesses and residents on Arsenal and Pleasant Streets to Harvard Square, but other routes would not be part of the service, yet. The proposal came from the 128 Business Council, which is working with the town to create a Transportation Management Association (TMA), of which the shuttle would be a piece. Patrick Sullivan, of the 128 Business Council, told the Council’s Transportation subcommittee that he believes a shuttle could make six runs in the morning and six in the evening if it went from Harvard Square, cut down Coolidge Avenue and ran along Arsenal Street, and finally turned around in Watertown Square. While the stops are at certain businesses and apartment complexes, it would be open to everyone. Employees of corporations would ride for free, and a fare would be charged to other riders, but how much is not known yet.