Business

Watertown Trampoline Park ‘Launch’-ing Improvements for Second Year

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An old warehouse off Pleasant Street has been transformed into acres of fun for kids and the young at heart, and Launch Trampoline Park has more improvements coming as it nears its one-year anniversary. The 37,000-square-foot building features six trampoline areas and other fun activities, the facility has plenty of activities. The Watertown location, which opened in January, is part of the Launch franchise – partly owned by former Patriot Ty Law – but it is owned and run by Mark and Ginny Murphy. It offers dodgeball and extreme dodgeball courts (one with an extra wall of trampolines in the middle). Trampolines with basketball hoops to dunk on and a foam pit are also popular.

Around Town

Watertown Celebrating Being Named a Purple Heart Community

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The Town of Watertown will celebrate being recognized as a Purple Heart Community. Veteran’s Services Officer Mark Comeiro announced that the town will receive the recognition this week, and the ceremony marking the honor will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 5:30 p.m. in front of Town Hall. “Watertown will be recognized as A Purple Heart Community and we will honor all Watertown residents who are Purple Heart Recipients and families of deceased Purple Heart recipients,” Comeiro said. The mission of the Military Order of the Purple Heart is to foster an environment of goodwill and camaraderie among combat wounded veterans, promote patriotism, support necessary legislative initiatives, and most importantly, provide service to all veterans and their families, Comeiro said.

Charity

Belmont Watertown Methodist Church Holding Fundraiser

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The Belmont Watertown Methodist Church will hold a fundraiser for a program that provides assistance to immigrants to the area. 

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, diners who present a voucher at the Bertucci’s at 275 Centre Street in Newton or the one at Alewife at 5 Cambridge Park Drive in Cambridge will have 15 percent of the bill donated to New England Justice for Our Neighbors. The group welcomes immigrants into local Methodist churches and communities by providing free, high-quality immigration and legal services, education, and advocacy. Find out more about the Belmont Watertown United Methodist Church at www.bwumc.org or call 857-600-1282.

Eversource

STORM UPDATE: High School Loses Power, Flooding Reported

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The large rain storm rolling through Watertown Wednesday has cause some problems, especially with power around town. 

The rains fell long and very hard at times Wednesday. The National Weather Service received reports of rainfall ranging from just under 2 inches in East Boston to over 4 inches in Lexington as of 4:55 p.m.

With the afternoon downpour, street flooding has been reported on Arlington Street at 2:55 p.m. Water also reportedly started pooling in front of 444 Mt. Auburn Street at 3:04 p.m.

Street flooding was reported on Francis Street and at Nichols Avenue at Quimby Street at 11:45 a.m.

A tree came down on the sidewalk on Watertown Street, near the Hibernian Hall at 11:10 a.m.

Watertown High School is one of the places that lost power during Wednesday’s storm. According to a reader, at 9:22 a.m. the students were sheltering in place during the outage. Power was restored a short time later.

Around Town

New Group Formed to Fight Opiate Crisis Hosting Erase the Stigma Week

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In an effort to raise awareness that the opiate problem is not just a problem in other parts of the U.S. or in big cities, but also in Watertown, the Health Department joined with the several other departments and organizations to create Erase the Stigma Week. From Oct. 18 to 25, events will be held to spread the word about the crisis that has claimed the lives of nine Watertown residents this year. Events will be held at schools, as well as ones for the whole community. The events have been coordinated by W.A.T.E.R.town (Watertown Access to Treatment Educcation and Resources on Substance Use Disorders) – a  combined effort by the Town of Watertown, the Watertown Public Schools, service organizations, prevention advocates, treatment providers, clergy, individuals in recovery, concerned families and first responders.

Elections

Two Forums Coming Up for Watertown School Committee Candidates

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Come learn about the five candidates for Watertown School Committee at two upcoming candidate forums. 

The five candidates are incumbents Eileen Hsu-Balzer, Julie McMahon and Michael Shepard, and challengers Candace Miller and Kendra Foley. They are running for three seats in the Nov. 3 Town Election. The first will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15 from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library in the Watertown Savings Bank Room.

Flood Watch

Heavy Rains Overnight, Wednesday Could Cause Flooding in Watertown

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The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for an area including Watertown. 

Heavy rains could begin around 1 or 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning, and are expected to continue through the day and into Wednesday night. The forecast calls for between 1.75 and 3.25 inches of rain to fall in the area. Isolated thunderstorms are possible, too. Areas with poor drainage and low lying areas are at greatest risk of flooding.  

Real Estate

Summer Has Ended, but Watertown Real Estate Market Has Heated Up

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The monthly Watertown Real Estate Market Report by The Madden Team found that interest in the market had gotten stronger, even after the end of the summer. 

Compared to last month’s statistics, there seems to have been an increase in new to market activity rising from three new listings last month at this time to 10 new listings this month. Pending sales is slightly up, while total number of sales last week compared to last month’s same week is down 50 percent. The current inventory has remained mostly consistent since last month. There are the exact same number of multi-family homes available (6), while single families has only increased by one home (11 last month to 12 this month). The biggest increase is in condominiums which now has 25 active listings, which is up 5 condos since last month (20).