Entertainment

July at the Library: Author Talks Art Heist, Nature Walk and Kids Gardening

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The Watertown Free Public Library has plenty going on in July, with author talks, kids gardening, a nature walk and more. 

Here are some of the highlights of the July events at the Library:

Stephen Kurkjian to Speak About Art Heist
Tuesday, July 14 at 7 p.m.

Three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Stephen Kurkjian will speak about his book, Master Thieves, regarding the unsolved art robbery at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Kurkjian “recounts all the major theories, talks to some of the would-be masterminds, and seems to have a pretty good idea who might be responsible…” – The Boston Globe

Birds Along the Charles River
Saturday, July 18 from 10-11:30 a.m.
Rain date: July 25. Inspired by summer reading pick, H is for Hawk, we’re inviting you to enjoy a guided river walk with naturalist photographer Carole Berney. Walk is limited to 15 people, age 16 and up. Meet by the front entrance of the library.

Government

Council Subcommittee Working on New Snow Shoveling Rules

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The snows of winter may have melted, but snow shoveling and plowing remains a hot topic with the Town Council. 

On Tuesday, July 7 the Budget and Fiscal Oversight and Public Works subcommittees will meet to discuss a funding source for the enforcement of the current snow ordinances as well as any future changes that may be made to these ordinances. They will also determine how to effectively enforce a possible new residential snow ordinance. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at Town Hall in the Town Council Chamber.

Development

Design Standards and Guidelines Get Final Approval With Some Dissent

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After more than nine months of work, Watertown’s new Design Standards and Guidelines have been approved, but not without some concerns. Before Watertown began working on the design guidelines and standards, developers only really knew what they could not build on a piece of land, said Assistant Town Manager and Community Development and Planning Director Steve Magoon. The standards and guidelines were one of the recommendations of the town’s Comprehensive Plan, passed last week. They were also the result of a push for something to deal with the development boom in town. The new standards and guidelines will give developers an idea of what the town would like the project to look like, said David Gamble, the town’s consultant in drawing up the standards and guidelines.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Watertown Police Chief Has Some Regrets About Handling of Capture of Bomber

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Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau told the Boston Globe about some of the regrets he had about how the capture of Boston Marathon Bomber Dzhokar Tsarnaev was handled in April 2013. Deveau said that many of the officers that responded after the shootout got in the way. He also said most were not trained in SWAT tactics, which led to some confusion during the capture of Tsarnaev in the boat on Franklin Street, reports the Globe’s Jaclyn Reiss. When the call went out that the suspect was in the boat, there was confusion with who was in charge of what, Deveau said. Also, many did not have proper equipment for such a tactical situation.

Business

Hundreds of Tufts Employees Volunteer Around Watertown

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Nearly 220 Tufts Health Plan employees demonstrated with their actions that community matters during the company’s annual volunteer day. Embodying Tufts Health Plan’s mission to improve the health and wellness of the diverse communities it serves, teams set out to clean and beautify three Watertown landmarks, made cards for the elderly, and helped homeless and low-income children get new clothes and toys. “Our employees are generous in giving of their time, treasure and talent to support the communities where they live, work and play,” said Nora Moreno Cargie, Tufts Health Plan Foundation president and Tufts Health Plan vice president of corporate citizenship. “We’re committed to magnifying their passions and commitment through these efforts especially our Corporate Volunteer Day.”

“Employee volunteering is at the heart of our Corporate Citizenship program, and it’s clear from testimonials and surveys that employees appreciate the chance to give back to their communities,” said Stacey Mann, Tufts Health Plan’s enterprise manager for corporate citizenship. Corporate Volunteer Day service projects included:

Sprucing up and planting spring and summer perennials at The Old Burying Place in Watertown
Painting a retaining wall and railing in Watertown’s Coolidge Square in preparation for a public art mural students and residents will paint involving Watertown High School
Scraping and painting the water feature and removing debris at Filippello Park in Watertown
Making “Happy Summer” cards for elderly Meals on Wheels recipients through Ethos
Inspecting and sorting donations, stocking shelves and compiling packages for Brighton-based Cradles to Crayons

Sports

Watertown Youth Softball Starts Summer Season With a Win

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Watertown Youth Softball plays year ’round, and the girls of summer started the latest season with a win. In first game of the summer, Watertown won a barn burner 15-14 over Waltham with the help of a grand slam hit by Haley Bass. The girls play their home games at the Lowell Field. They have a combined 28 games to play vs towns such as: Wakefield, Lynnfield, Stoneham, Newton, Charlestown, Lincoln-Sudbury, Medford, Woburn, Reading, Cambridge, Waltham, Lexington, Winchester, Billerica, and Acton-Boxboro. A complete schedule can be viewed at www.wybb.org. Come on out and cheer for the girls!

Police/Fire

Man Wanted for Series of Flashing Incidents Arrested in Watertown

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Watertown Police arrested a man who allegedly exposed himself to women numerous times at bus stops in the area. 

A woman alerted police that the man was sitting at a bus stop on Arsenal Street, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. “Power were approached by a woman who said there was a male party at the bus stop and had exposed himself numerous times in the past and is at the bust stop,” Lawn said. When officers approached the man, he began to walk away, Lawn said. They finally stopped him and found that he had warrants from Waltham District Court for six counts of indecent exposure, Lawn said. Laurie F. Galusha, 75, of Hyde Park, was arrested on the warrants and for one count of open and gross lewdness for a prior incident in Watertown, Lawn said.