Around Town

Federal Money to Fight Heroin Crisis Coming to Massachusetts

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Massachusetts and the New England area will receive federal money to battle the influx of heroin into the region. On Monday, Michael Botticelli, Director of National Drug Control Policy, announced $13.4 million in funding for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) across the country, according to an announcement from President Obama’s Office of National Drug Control Policy. Of this money, $2.5 million will fund the Heroin Response Strategy, an unprecedented partnership among five regional HIDTA programs —New England, Appalachia, Philadelphia/Camden, New York/New Jersey, and Washington/Baltimore — to address the severe heroin threat facing those communities through public health-public safety partnerships across 15 states. The New England HIDTA also will receive $265,000 to advance a range of drug use prevention initiatives and to support HIDTA operations, the announcement said. “The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program helps Federal, state, and local authorities to coordinate drug enforcement operations, support prevention efforts and improve public health and safety,” said Director Botticelli.

Schools

Elementary Foreign Language, Anti-Drug Program In Superintendent’s Goals

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Superintendent Jean Fitzpatrick revealed her proposed goals for the 2015-16 school year, and they include creating a foreign language program in Watertown’s elementary schools, starting an anti-drug program and get state money for a high school building project

Last week, Fitzgerald told the School Committee about her goals. The School Committee will wait until the Sept. 16 meeting to vote to improve them because they want to give parents time to comment on the goals. Among her draft goals, Fitzgerald proposed creating an implementation plan for a five-year comprehensive foreign language program at the elementary school (FLES). She said she plans to present the plan to the School Committee in February 2016, so that there will be time to include the program in the in the Fiscal Year 2017 budget process.

Development

Public Input Wanted on Proposed Changes to Pleasant Street Zoning

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The Town Council wants to hear from Watertown residents and others about proposed changes to the Pleasant Street Corridor District. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m. to gather input from residents about the proposed changes. A number of changes have been proposed for the area on the Westside of town. The major change would be creating three sub-zones within the Pleasant Street Corridor.

Around Town

Golf Tournament Raises Big Bucks for Watertown Boys & Girls Club

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The Watertown Boys and Girls Club held its 38th Annual Stephen P. Mugar Memorial Golf Tournament this week at the Oakley Country Club. Well over 100 golfers joined in for a gorgeous day of golf followed by a dinner and auction on Aug. 10. The event raised over $170k to support our Academic Success, Healthy Living and Character Development programs, which serve hundreds of youth each year. The Watertown Boys & Girls Club wishes to thank all our golfers, volunteers, hole sponsors and supporters.

Real Estate

Several Homes Sold This Week Around Watertown

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See details about the six homes that sold around Watertown this week. $440,000 – 28 Knowles Road Unit 28, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

$369,000 – 248 Waverley Ave. Unit 248, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$620,000 – 125 Coolidge Ave. Unit 701, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, High-Rise condo/townhouse

Sponsored by:

$730,000 – 115 Marshall St., 2 unit, 11 total room, 4 total bedroom, 2 Family multi-family home

$640,000 – 102 Rutland St., 8 room, 3 bedroom, 3 full bathroom, Cape single-family home

$713,500 – 13-15 Columbia St., 2 unit, 12 total room, 4 total bedroom, 2 Family multi-family home

Police/Fire

Police Log: Traffic Stop Finds Cocaine, Clothes Stolen From Moving Couple

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Aug. 3, 10:36 p.m.: A Dexter Avenue resident called to report a man who had followed them home from a restaurant after they had gotten into an argument with him. The suspect left the area when police arrived. Officers followed him and pulled him over on Laurel Street for failing to signal when turning.