Government

Subcommittee Wants to Make Sure Sidewalk Green Areas Don’t Turn to Mud

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As the Department of Public Works officials upgrade streets and sidewalks around Watertown, they look to add a little green with a planting strip along the edge of the sidewalk, but many of these have become mud pits and bare earth. 

The Town Council’s Public Works Subcommittee seeks to prevent this from happening. Along with adding some green to Watertown’s streets, they also soak up water during rain storms which avoids sending it into storm sewers, said Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee. Subcommittee Chairwoman Cecilia Lenk said she takes care of the planting strip in front of her home and has kept it green, but she acknowledged it is not easy. “I am an avid gardener but it is really a lot of work,” Lenk said. She also acknowledged that the planting strips are not popular with some residents and property owners.

Entertainment

See the Trailer for Eliza Dushku’s Latest Film Which Raises Awareness of Autism

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In her latest film, Eliza Dushku plays the sister of an autistic woman looking for love. “Jane Wants a Boyfriend” has already been shown at a couple film festivals last month. The movie debuted at the Greenwich International Film Festival in Connecticut and also was a selection at the Lower East Side Film Festival in New York City. Both took place in June. Inspired by a true story, the film stars Louisa Krause as Jane and Watertown’s own Dushku as her sister Bianca. It is directed by William C. Sullivan and was written by Jarret Kerr. The description on the film’s website says: “Despite dealing with the everyday challenges of being on the autism spectrum, Jane looks to her older sister Bianca, to help her find her very first boyfriend.

Entertainment

Bluegrass Band Southern Rail Performing in Watertown’s Summer Concert

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The sounds of Bluegrass will be in the air during this week’s Watertown Summer Concert. 

Southern Rail has been playing for m ore than three decades and has 12 recordings to its credit. “Southern Rail’s performances are high-energy exuberant fun, with riveting harmonies, irrepressible humor and sparkling banjo, mandolin, and guitar solo work,” according to the Southern Rail website. The band features Jim Muller on guitar and lead vocals, Sharon Horovitch on acoustic bass and harmony vocals, Richard Stillman plays banjo and provides harmony vocals and John Tibert plays the mandolin and sings harmony vocals. For more information on Southern Rail and to see some videos of them performing click here. The free concert begins at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 16 at Saltonstall Park (next to Town Hall).

Development

Planning Board Approves Office Complex, Worries About New Entrance

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The renovation of the Verizon facility on Arsenal Street received approval from the Planning Board, but not without concerns for how the project would impact the nearby neighborhood of Coolidge Square. The proposed project, called Linx Watertown, would have 185,000 square feet of office space, featuring a two-story atrium lobby with a cafe. It would have a significant amount of green space and would be located along the Watertown Community Path so developers hope it some employees will ride their bicycles to work. Developer Boylston Properties also believes the location close to Coolidge Square will help attract companies, which they believe will relocate from areas such as Kendall Square in Cambridge and Rte. 128.

Police/Fire

Watertown Man Busted for Indecently Touching Young Girl at Pool

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Waltham Police arrested a Watertown man after he allegedly indecently touched an 11-year-old girl at a state pool. 

Victor Lopez, 37, of Watertown, was charged with indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, according to a report by WCVB Channel 5 News. Lopez, who is a Guatemalan citizen, was also forced to give up his passport. The incident occurred Saturday at the Connors Memorial Swimming Pool in Waltham. The girl told her mother that a man grabbed her in her “privates,” according to the WCVB report. A Watertown man was charged with indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl at a state swimming pool in Waltham Saturday.

Police/Fire

Watertown Man Arrested for Wearing ‘Ammo Belt’ on MBTA Bus

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The \”ammo belt\” worn by a Watertown man, and which landed him in hot water. Boston Police arrested a Watertown man after he boarded an MBTA bus wearing a what appeared to be a strip of ammunition around his waist. On Friday at about 4:20 p.m police responded to a bus that pulled over at Cambridge and Harvard streets in Brighton, according to the Boston Police Department’s website, BPDNews.com. {See and update on the case by clicking here}. “Officers learned that the driver had pulled the bus over as passengers began calling 911 when a male suspect boarded the bus with what appeared to be military grade ammunition strapped around his waist,” said the police report.

Business

New Furniture Showroom Offers Items from Around the Globe

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Watertown has a new place to find home furnishings from around the world with the opening of Mohr & McPherson on Pleasant Street. The company sent out the following announcement:

Mohr & McPherson, New England’s leader in Global Furnishings, has recently opened a new showroom at 604 Pleasant St. in Watertown. The showroom will feature a selection of imported carpets, colorful handmade accent pieces, poufs, accessories and gifts, spiritual and folk art from around the world and organic sculptural live-edge tables and free-form vine sculptures from Thailand, priced affordably. Visiting Mohr & McPherson is like visiting a museum where you can take everything home.

Real Estate

Five Homes Sold in Watertown This Week, See Them Here

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One home sold this week in Watertown, see the details here! $680,000 – 494 Belmont St., 8 room, 4 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, Colonial single-family home

$738,000 – 41 Katherine Road, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Colonial single-family

$401,500 – 40-42 Maplewood St. Unit 40, 6 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

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$450,000 – 51 Dexter Ave. Unit 51, 6 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

$407,000 – 3 Repton Cir. Unit 3113, 4 room, 1 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, Low-Rise condo/townhouse