Real Estate

Million Dollar Listing Among Open Houses in Watertown This Week

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Home buyers have a wide range of properties to check out this weekend, with prices ranging from the $300,000s to over $1 million. $1,240,000 – 324 Mount Auburn St. – 2 unit, 13 total room, 7 total bedroom, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$429,000 – 62 Edward Road, 7 room, 4 bed, 1 bath cape, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 p.m. Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$339,000 – 289 Waverley Ave. Unit 1, 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$349,000 – 12 Dana Ter. Unit 1, room, 1 bed, 1 bath 2 family, Open House: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

$659,900 – 703 Main St., 9 room, 3 bed, 2 bath split-entry, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 p.m. Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$749,000 – 11 Pearl St.

Development

Arsenal St. Office Project Approved Despite Concerns About New Entrance

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The Linx office complex which has an Arsenal Street address but backs onto the streets of Coolidge Square received approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals. As part of the project, which will turn the underused Verizon building into a 185,000-square foot office building, a new entrance will be added on the north side of the site onto Nichols Avenue. This feature was a plus for some and a minus for others. Architect John Sullivan said the new entrance will help the office be part of the area. “It will reunite the site back into Watertown and tie it into Coolidge Square and Arsenal Street,” Sullivan said.

Letters

LETTER: Former Councilor Concerned About Process to Choose Police Chief

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Open letter :

I am respectfully requesting that the Town Councillors request that the Town Manager implement the standardized Civil service exam for Chief of Police. Watertown implemented the standardized exam for over 70 years when the Town Manager threw it out and replaced it with Role Playing and Assessment Center i.e. -when appointing Chief Deveau. It is most fair that a chief be chosen from the civil service exam based on Police knowledge. One of the questions asked in the role playing section to the applicants for Chief was : ‘How would you handle a complaint from a member of the Town Council? In fairness to anyone who applies-please request the Manager to return to the Standardized civil service exam that is also objective – not subjective.

Police/Fire

Downed Power Line Sparks Fire, Knocks Out Power

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A downed power line caused a small fire in the yard of a Watertown home on Thursday morning. At about 5:45 a.m., the electrical line fell onto the front lawn of a house on Spring Street near Fayette Street – a couple blocks from Watertown Square. Firefighters responded quickly but had to wait for an Eversource crew to come and shut off power before the flames could be doused. Power was cut in the neighborhood and a section of Spring Street was been closed while the line is repaired. Eversource restored power at about 8:45 a.m.

Elections

Watertown Election Ballot Starting to Come into Focus

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More candidates have been officially certified to appear on the Nov. 3 Watertown Town Election ballot, and there will be a preliminary election this fall. Here is what the ballot would look like if the election was Wednesday, as of noon. (I = incumbent). Town Council President

Mark Sideris (I)

Town Councilor At Large (Four Seats)

Patryce Gergopoulos
Michael Dattoli
Aaron Dushku (I)
Susan Falkoff (I)
Tony Palomba (I)

District A Councilor

Angeline Kounelis (I)
Bob Erickson

District B Councilor

Kevin McDonald
Lisa Feltner
Patricia Van Dinter

District C Councilor

Vincent Piccirilli (I)

District D Councilor

Kenneth Woodland (I)
Bob McCarthy

School Committee (Three Seats)

Eileen Hsu-Balzer (I)
Candace Miller
Kendra Foley

Library Trustee (Three Seats)

Michael Hanlon (I)
Sheppard Ferguson

A number of incumbents have taken out papers to run, but have yet to get their signatures certified.

Police/Fire

Two Women Busted for Shoplifting and Taking a Purse at Target

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Two women face charges after allegedly taking merchandise from Target, and one of the women also is charged with taking a purse. Target security spotted two women with two children taking items off the shelf and concealing items under a child’s car seat in a carriage. They were stopped when they attempted to leave the store without paying, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. One of he pair was identified as Isabel Lara-Krasikov, 29 of Mattapan. “As security was detaining them, (security officers) were informed that a customer reported a purse was stolen,” Lawn said.

Around Town

Local Yoga Studio Holding Class With Fees Being Donated to Charities

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A local yoga studio will offer classes at a reduced rate, with the funds for the classes going to local organizations and charities. Groundwork yoga + wellness is excited to announce a new weekly class starting in mid-August: Community Yoga. The purpose of this class is to provide an opportunity for people to explore the benefits of yoga at a reduced price, experience various teaching styles, and to support local organizations or charities that offer wellness programs or initiatives. Certified yoga instructors will be donating their time to teach the classes, and students attending the classes will be encouraged to donate $5-$10 per class, according to the announcement. All of the funds raised will be donated to pre-selected local organizations or charities that support or provide wellness programs.

Megan Dattoli, Watertown resident and owner of GROUNDWORK yoga + wellness, 402 Trapelo Road in Belmont, is seeking input from local residents about which wellness programs they would like to support.