Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/page/870/)
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Aug. 20, 7:46 p.m.: Security at the Stop & Shop on Watertown Street spotted a man they recognized as a past shoplifter. They saw him take some packages of razors and beauty products from the health and beauty area of the store worth a total of $337.87. The 48-year-old homeless man was arrested on charges of larceny over $250.
The first human case of West Nile Virus has been diagnosed in Middlesex County, and health officials have advice for avoiding the mosquito-borne disease. The Watertown Health Department sent out the following information:
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has identified that the recent hot, dry weather along with historical patterns of mosquito-borne disease poses an increased risk of mosquito-borne virus. As a result, MDPH has elevated the risk level for West Nile Virus from Low to Moderate. Public health surveillance is done for mosquito-borne viruses – viruses that are carried and spread by mosquitoes. These viruses include West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Mosquitoes get WNV and EEE by biting infected birds.
MBTA officials have proposed to privatize some of the T’s express buses and the less-used suburban bus routes – including several in Watertown. The proposal calls for privatizing 32 routes, and removing 93 buses and their drivers, according to a report by the State House News Service run by WBUR. The routes on the privatization list fall into three categories – low ridership, express and late-night service. The routes in Watertown that would be impacted, and category are:
52 (Watertown to Dedham) – low ridership
7oA (Waltham to Cambridge) – low ridership
502 (Watertown to Copley Square) – express bus
504 (Watertown to Downtown Boston) – express bus
57 (Watertown to Kenmore Square) – late night service
Joe Levendusky, chairman of the Watertown Public Transit Task Force said he worries about the loss of quality and of middle class jobs if the MBTA privatizes the routes, in a story in on Wicked Local Watertown (click here to read more). The bus routes with fewer passengers have a net subsidy of $3.51 per ride and the routes cost $8.9 million annually while they bring in only $1.9 million in revenue annually, according to the MBTA.
Now through Sept. 7, the Watertown Police Department will team up with
Massachusetts State Police and more than 191 eligible local police departments across the state to curb impaired driving and save lives. The high-visibility campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, is funded by a federal grant administered through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS/HSD), according to an announcement from the Watertown Police Department. During the upcoming enforcement period, there will be a special emphasis on drunk-driving enforcement. Local drivers should expect to see more patrol vehicles, OUI checkpoints, and increased messaging about this reckless crime. In 2013, there were 10,076 people killed across the country in drunk-driving crashes.
The summer may be coming to an end, but there are still plenty of homes for sale around Watertown. $499,000 – 48 Springfield Unit 48, 7 room, 3 bed, 1 bath 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 p.m. Sunday 12-2 p.m.
$519,000 – 42 Buick St., 8 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath cape, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 p.m. Sunday 12:30-2:30 p.m.
$619,000 – 55 Buick St. 7 rooms, 3 bed, 1.5 bath other, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.
$489,000 – 38 Edgecliff Road Unit 2, 8 room, 3 bed, 2 bath 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 p.m. Sunday 12-2 p.m
$400,000 – 38 Salisbury Road Unit 38, 6 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2 family, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.
$734,000 – 11 Pearl St. Unit 1, 6 room, 3 bed, 3.5 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 1-2:30 p.m.
$734,000 – 13 Pearl Street Unit 2, 6 room, 3 bed, 3.5 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 1-2:30 p.m.
Sponsored by:
$289,000 – 164 Galen St. Unit 52, 3 room, 1 bed, 1 bath high-rise, Open Houses: Friday 5:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday 12-1:30 p.m. Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.
$1,170,000 – 324 Mount Auburn St., 2 unit, 13 total room, 7 total bedroom, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.
$599,000 – 324 Mount Auburn St.
A Watertown News reader sent in this photo of Nature’s own rat trap – a hawk! The Eastside of Watertown has seen an influx of rats this summer, which has prompted the Health Department and the Department of Public Works to put out bait boxes to try to poison the rats. Watertown’s Monika Koskova captured this image of a hawk with a dead rat on Aug. 25 at about 6:45 a.m. She said she talked to the Animal Control who said that the hawks could be hurt by the poison, too. Here are previous stories on the rat problem in Watertown:
Residents Share Horror Stories of Rats, Town Looking for Solutions
Town Taking Steps to Control Rats After Residents Report Sightings
Watertown’s St. Stephen’s Church recently welcomed people working to help Armenians in Syria, who provided an update on the situation there, and collected money for the Armenian Relief Society. According to a story in the Armenian Weekly, the event raised more than $3,500 to help the Syrian-Armenian community. The event was organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Boston “Sardarabad” Gomideh along with the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) “Leona Sassouni” and “Shushi” Chapters and the St. Stephen’s Church.
Dear Watertown,
I want to encourage Watertown citizens to consider the 2015/2016 Superintendent’s goals and the learning goals discussed at the August 10th School Committee meeting. Goal setting is a powerful tool that school districts use to achieve purposeful results. Goals help schools focus energy, attention, resources, and motivation. They inspire commitment and action or, in their absence, inaction. Watertown Public Schools (WPS) is a ~$45 million per year education system, serving 2700+ diverse students with a staff of approximately 550 people.