Business

Watertown Insurance Agency Brings in Big Haul for Toys for Tots

By |

The H & K Insurance Agency set a goal and accomplished it – they broke their own record for the amount of items they could collect for the Toys for Tots Drive. 

For the past several years the Watertown Square insurance agency has hold the drive that benefits the U.S. Marine Corps effort to collect toys to distribute to less fortunate children during the holidays. This year they tried to spread the word so they could up the ante and bring in more toys. “So far each year has been a little more successful than the last. But this year, thanks to the kindness of everyone involved, we have pretty much doubled our haul for the kids,” said Paul Perry, CISR, AAI Treasurer/General Manager of H & K Insurance. Even after the drive had officially ended, people were still coming in to drop off toys.

Government

LETTER: Watertown Republicans Condemn Endorsements of Dems by GOP Officials

By |

The Watertown Republican Town Committee released the following statement about fellow GOP members endorsing Democrats in the Nov. 4 election:

A Resolution of Censure

Whereas; prior to the November 4th election, the GOP controlled roughly 15% of the State Legislature, and no Statewide Constitutional Office…

And Whereas; it was therefore incumbent upon all Republican office-holders and high-profile, celebrated former officer-holders, to actively support faithful Republicans seeking office, or at the very least not cause divisions by endorsing their Liberal Democrat opponents…

And whereas; in spite of the fact that former Governor William Weld endorsed Barack Obama for President in 2008, the MA-GOP Leadership embraced him upon his return to Massachusetts, welcoming him back into the inner circle of decision-makers and party strategists, further celebrating the former Governor as a great Party Patriarch by honoring him with the Prestigious Lincoln-Reagan Award, and then showcasing him at the 2014 State Convention…

And whereas; Former Governor William Weld endorsed Michael Day, an extremely Progressive Democrat, who was also endorsed by the Uber-liberal “Mass Alliance” group, over Caroline Colarusso, a well qualified conservative Republican running for State Representative in the Republican friendly 31st Middlesex District, in which the Weld endorsed Democrat, Michael Day, went on to win by 1%… And whereas; Former Governor William Weld endorsed Richard Moore, another very Progressive Democrat and entrenched incumbent over Ryan Fattman another well qualified and conservative Republican rising-star in the Worcester/Norfolk State Senate District race…

And whereas; Republican Essex County Sheriff endorsed the radical agenda-driven Uber-Liberal Maura Healey over the well-qualified Republican candidate John Miller for Attorney General…

And whereas; former MA-GOP Chair and current Chair of the MA Republican State Senate PAC, Brian Cresta endorsed Theodore (Ted) Speliotis, a Progressive Democrat who holds a 10% (f-) rating from Mass Fiscal Alliance and a similar grade from Citizens for Limited Taxation, over Republican Tom Lyons in a race for 13th Essex State Representative, in which Speliotis went on to win by 2%… And whereas; Lawrence Republican (Former) Mayor Michael J Sullivan and Republican City Councilor Marc Laplante endorsed Progressive Democrat Marcos Devers over Republican Roger Twomey in the 16th Essex race for State Representatives…

And whereas; the Republican Party unity is necessary to End to One Party Rule in Commonwealth…. And whereas; the aforementioned actions, by the aforementioned High Profile Republicans caused deep wounds to party unity, furthermore they may well have had serious negative impact on the outcomes of the aforementioned races…

Therefore be it resolved; that on this day, December 3rd, in the year of Our Lord 2014, at a regularly scheduled meeting, we the duly elected members of The Watertown Republican Town Committee condemn in the strongest possible manner, the aforementioned endorsements of Democrats by the aforementioned high profile Republicans….

Government

State Will Study Ways to Improve Mt. Auburn Street

By |

A section of Mt. Auburn Street in Watertown and Cambridge will be studied by the state to come up with “solutions for traffic,” the Department of Conservation and Recreation announced. The goal of the $500,000 study is to identify potential safety measures, bus prioritization, and accessibility along the intersections of Fresh Pond Parkway and Mount Auburn Street, according to the DCR’s announcement. The DCR will issue a request for proposals (RFP) within the next 45 days to select a contractor to conduct the traffic study. The areas in the study include from the Mt.

Real Estate

See Which Homes Sold in Watertown This Week

By |

Home sales continue to keep rolling in even as winter approaches. Sold – $576,000 – 170-172 Church Street in Watertown, MA
2 unit, 12 total room, 5 total bedroom, 2 Family – 2 Units Up/Down multi-family home

Sold – $300,000 – 32 Whites Avenue U:D42 in Watertown, MA
4 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Mid-Rise condo/townhouse

Sold – $300,000 – 7 Sawin Street in Watertown, MA
6 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, single-family home

Police/Fire

Police Log: Home Broken Into, Man Passed Out in Car Gets OUI

By |

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

Nov. 24, 6:08 p.m.: Police responded to a report of a disabled vehicle on Arsenal Street. They found a Nissan Rogue partially in the travel lane and with its left front tire on the sidewalk. Police found man was passed out, lying over the center console and the vehicle was in drive.

Government

School, Town Discuss Reasons for Last Year’s Budget Freeze

By |

School and Town officials have been looking into why the school budget got in such bad shape that a spending freeze was put into place, and then why the schools ended up with a budget surplus. The budget appeared so out of balance in January that freezes were made on most purchases, including paper for classrooms. This move was made after Town Auditor Tom Tracy recommended the School Administration do so. Special education costs also came in higher that expected, and on May 20, 2014 Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald reported a $640,000 shortfall. A week later the deficit has been adjusted to $355,000 and by June 2 the “perceived deficit” was gone, according to a report by the Council’s Education and School Systems Matters Committee. In August, the School Department reported a surplus of $770,000.

Schools

Congresswoman Clark Visits New Class at Watertown School

By |

Congresswoman Katherine Clark recently made a special visit to Watertown’s Cunniff Elementary School to see a new program where special education and mainstream students work together in the same class. The inclusion class at the Cunniff, which started this fall, allows special education students to spend more time in with their classmates, and in some cases mean they do not have to go to specialized programs located outside of Watertown. In her latest email update, Clark references her visit to Watertown. “I had a great visit with students and teachers at Cunniff Elementary School in Watertown,” Clark’s email reads. “Cunniff’s mission is to provide a supportive and challenging learning environment to maximize academic achievement, social responsibility and lifelong learning by attending to the intellectual and developmental needs of all of our students.”

Police/Fire

Police Charge Man Who Drove Into Watertown Starbucks

By |

A 76-year-old man faces charges after an incident in the parking lot of the Watertown Starbucks during which he allegedly struck numerous cars and crashed into the building. Witnesses told police a car came into the parking lot of Starbucks on Mt. Auburn Street and while he backed into a space on the far side of the lot, he sideswiped a car, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. “Then he sped forward across the parking lot striking another vehicle,” Lawn said. “He went back into reverse and hit two parked cars.”