Development

Find Out About the RMUD Proposal at Upcoming Citizen Led Meetings

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Sustainable Watertown hosted a meeting last week to help people wade through the complexities of the process for rezoning the area near the Arsenal Project and Watertown Mall, and the group has more meetings planned. 

The informal meetings are a time to learn about what the RMUD (Regional Mixed Use District) in the East End could mean for Watertown, how the process works and even what some of the jargon actually means. The second meeting will be held Wednesday, Jan. 13 from 6:45-9 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library

TOPICS: Open Space and Green Space, Definitions, Public Stewardship of the Riverway, Local and State Ordinances and Laws Protecting the River and Riverway, 100 Foot Buffer; Public Parks, Public Access. Nancy Hammett, Presenter

Meeting No. 3 – Tuesday, Jan. 19, WFPL, Time: 6:45-9 p.m.

TOPICS: Traffic, Transit (Including TMA -Traffic Management Association & TMD – Traffic Management District), plus a Street Network Vision within RMUD and connectivity to Watertown consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.

Charity

Watertown Group Sends Food, Clothing and Diapers to Syrian Refugees

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Over the past month, a Watertown group collected a wide range of items to send to refugees in Syria, and last week they took what they collected filled up an SUV to ship it off. Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment collected non-perishable food, diapers, sanitary products of all kinds, clothing and winter coats at First Parish Church. The items barely fit into the SUV. The items were delivered to NuDaySyria in New Hampshire, where they will be packed, shipped and delivered directly to refugees. For more information about NuDaySyria’s support operation and activities, visit www.nudaysyria.net.

Arsenal Project

Arsenal Mall Owners Reveal Some Visions for Revamping Their Property

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Residents got a clearer picture of what to expect if the owners of the former Arsenal Mall get the OK to redevelop their property at a meeting Saturday where there were also some mending of fences that were damaged during previous meetings. A complex of smaller buildings with shops and residences would replace the open parking lot currently in front of the Arsenal Project. In addition the newer section of the mall linking the two long historic buildings would be taken down and the historic buildings would be made more inviting. The development could be made if and when the Regional Mixed Use District zoning is approved, which includes not on the Arsenal Project, but the Watertown Mall, other properties east of the mall on Arsenal Street and sections of Elm Street and Coolidge Avenue. The RMUD is currently being considered for approval by the Town Council.

Sports

SPORTS UPDATE: WHS Basketball & Hockey, and Amateur Boxing

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Watertown’s girls basketball team got back on track after suffering its first loss of the year. 

The Raiders went to Stoneham on Tuesday and won 57-27, with Katelyn Rourke and Nicole Lanzo scoring a combined 33 points. Friday night, Watertown came home and defeated Wilmington 58-37. The Raiders are now 7-1 and 6-0 in the Middlesex League. Boys Basketball
The Raiders had a mixed start to the New Year, which ended on a very positive note. The Raiders fell in a home game to Waltham 48-44 on Jan.

Obituaries

OBIT: Ellen Griffin, 87, Immigrated from Ireland as a Teenager

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A Funeral Mass for Ellen C. “Eileen” (Cooney) Griffin will be celebrated on Tuesday, Jan. 12 in Our Lady Help of Christian Church, Newton at 10:30 a.m.

Mrs. Griffin, a daughter of the late Timothy and Julia (Keohane) Cooney. She was born in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland. She moved to the United States at 19 years old. She passed away in the St. Elizabeth Hospital, Brighton on Friday afternoon after a brief illness.

Real Estate

See the Three Homes that Sold in Watertown This Week

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A pair of homes sold in Watertown during the first week of 2016. $565,000 – 188 Boylston St. Unit 2, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

$317,000 – 81 Pierce Road Unit 81, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

$450,000 – 64 Fayette St. Unit 64, 8 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

Sponsored by:

Hazmat

UPDATE: Watertown Building Evacuated, Hazmat Team Responds

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Residents of 109 Warren Street in Watertown were evacuated after a bad chemical smell was detected about 4 p.m. on Saturday and two firefighters went to hospital after having bad reactions. The cause of the hazardous odor was household chemicals. “After an investigation it was determined that the home owner had used a strong drain cleaner in the home and did not properly follow the manufacturer’s specifications, which led to the noxious odor,” said a release from the Watertown Police Department. Two Watertown firefighters had an adverse reaction to the odor, and were taken to Mount Auburn Hospital for precautionary reason, according to the release. Both were evaluated and released.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Arrested for Harassing Police, Car Windows Broke in Thefts

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Dec. 28, 1 p.m.: A man in Target took several bottles of vitamins and some other items and exchanged them for a refund of $477.09. When he was detained, police discovered that he had several warrants. The 47-year-old Cambridge man was arrested on charges of larceny over $250, warrants from Dudley and Worcester District Courts and two fugitive warrants out of the state of Georgia.