Cold Snap

Frigid Temperatures Coming This Weekend, Are You Ready?

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With a cold snap coming to the Watertown area this weekend, make sure you are ready for the frigid temperatures. 

The lows will dip under zero Saturday night, and the high Sunday is forecast to be just 9 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. A Wind Chill Warning has been issued for the Boston area from 4 p.m. Saturday to noon Sunday. The wind chill factor will drop temps to 20-30 below zero, and frostbite can occur within 10 minutes in those conditions if your skin is exposed, according to the National Weather Service warning. Make sure you and your home is prepared for the bitter cold. The Red Cross has some tips for you and your home:

Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm.

Real Estate

Here are This Week’s Open Houses Around Watertown

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There are several homes holding open houses this weekend around town. $529,900 – 40 California St.. 6 room, 2 bed, 1.5 bath bungalow, Open House: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

$249,900 – 109 Warren St. Unit 4, 4 room, 2 bed, 1 bath mid-rise, Open House: Saturday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

$395,000 – 101 Hillside Road Unit 101, 6 room, 2 bed, 1f 0h bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sponsored by:

$849,000 – 9 Purvis St. U: 9, 9 room, 4 bed, 2 full 2 half bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 12-1:230 p.m.

$849,000 – 7 Purvis St.

Around Town

World Marathon Challenge Winner Becca Pizzi Coming to Race at Donohue’s

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The woman who recently ran seven marathons on seven continents in seven days will be in Watertown for a 5K race this weekend. Donohue’s sent out the following announcement:

We are honored to welcome the first american woman’s World Marathon Challenge winner Becca Pizzi to our “Run Your Heart Out” 5K. She is joining us for a meet and greet and will autograph your race bib. She will be showing off her bling and her wonderful spirit. Please join us for the 5K after party at Donohue’s Bar and Grill.

Around Town

Wayside Center Providing Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

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Find out how to tell the difference between normal teen problems and something that could turn into a serious mental health problem through the Youth Mental First Aid training provided by the Wayside Multi-Service Center in Watertown. Wayside, a program of the Wayside Youth and Family Support Network, will provide training to parents, relatives, teachers, and others who work or spend time with teens. The funding for the trainings comes from SAMHSA (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The training lasts eight hours, during which participants will learn the risk factors and symptoms of mental health problems in adolescents and teens, said Stephanie Sunderland-Ramsey, Prevention Program coordinator for the Wayside Multi-Service Center who leads some of the trainings. Some mental health challenges which adolescents commonly face include anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, AD/HD, disruptive behavior disorders and substance use disorder.

Development

Town Council, Planning Board Will Have to Agree on RMUD Changes

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When the hearing on the RMUD zoning changes was postponed, it meant the proposal was not voted on within the 90 day period, so a new procedure will be needed when the hearing is held on March 2. After Tuesday’s Council Meeting, Town Council President Mark Sideris said the meeting will be a joint session between the Town Council and the Planning Board. They will convene at the Watertown High School Auditorium on March 2 at 6 p.m.

While the Town Council will vote on the proposed changes to the zoning of the east end of Arsenal Street (including the malls and parts of Arsenal Street, Elm Street and Coolidge Avenue), the Planning Board must weigh in, too, Sideris said. “They have to have a say because we didn’t take up the proposal within 90 days,” Sideris said. The new zoning would allow residential, commercial and office developments in an area now zoned for industrial.

Boston Marathon Bombing

MBTA Officer Dic Donohue, Injured in Watertown, Announces Retirement

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Dic Donohue thanked the first responders who saved his life after he was injured in the Watertown shootout with the Boston Marathon Bombers during his retirement announcement. The MBTA officer – now sergeant – was hit in the leg during the mayhem in East Watertown on April 19, 2013 when Watertown Police and other law enforcement fought it out with the Tsarnaev brothers. Watertown firefighters attended to Donohue even as the scene remained precarious and got him to Mount Auburn Hospital, where he recovered despite losing a massive amount of blood. On Wednesday, Donohue announced the would be retiring from the MTBA Police. He still suffers a great deal of pain, according to the report form WCVB Channel 5.

Arrests

Man Busted for Identity Fraud While Trying to Upgrade His iPhone

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Watertown Police arrested a man from the Big Apple for allegedly using false driver’s licenses to upgrade his two iPhones at Best Buy. On Feb. 3 at 5:30 p.m., police were called to the store in the Watertown Mall after security suspected a customer was up to no good. The suspect, identified as Darell I. Grosvener, 22, of New York City, came in and tried to upgrade two phones to iPhone 6S, worth $400 each, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “As a standard practice, customers are asked for their cell phone number, zip code and the last four digits of their Social Security number,” O’Connor said.

Development

Date and Location of RMUD Meeting Has Been Changed, Again

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Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced Tuesday that the meeting to discuss the Regional Mixed Use District zoning amendments has been changed. The original meeting date was cancelled due to snow. A joint public hearing on the Regional Mixed Use District Text and Map Amendment will be held with the Planning Board and Town Council on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 starting at 6 p.m. in the Watertown High School Auditorium, 50 Columbia Street, Watertown. The official meeting notice reads, in part:

BP Watertown Retail LLC submitted a petition request for a Zoning Ordinance Amendment and Map Amendment to create a new Zoning District, Regional Mixed Use District (RMUD), and further to amend the Watertown Zoning Ordinance (WZO). The amendments are intended to be in keeping with and implement the recently adopted 2015 Comprehensive Plan and the Future Land Use Map, which identifies an area for Regional Mixed Use. This request was reviewed by DCDP Staff and by the Planning Board and now includes amendments of, but may not be limited to:

Modified Definitions (open space),
Use Tables (mixed-use, cemeteries, assisted living, new/used vehicles for sale, light industry, heavy industry, and accessory uses) and Use Notes,
Dimensional Table (change of setbacks, coverage, impervious surface, minimum opens space, height)
Dimensional Notes (overall length and faced lengths),
new RMUD Section (intent, purpose, district delineation, dimensional criteria, authority, and procedure) – Creates a new Master Plan process and identifies the Planning Board as the permit granting authority
Site Plan Review (LEED and Energy Assessments requirements) and Parking, and updates to other sections as appropriate.