Government

Watertown’s Second Dog Park Could Be Built on the East Side

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Dogs may have their day on the East Side of Watertown with the Town Council looking at building the town’s second facility for pooches. This spring, the town’s first dog park opened in How Park on Pleasant Street. The town has studied putting a second one in one of the parks in East Watertown, said Town Manager Michael Driscoll. Tuesday night, the Council voted to send the issue to the Public Works subcommittee. The two parks being examined as places to put the dog park are Arsenal Park and Filippello Park.

Elections

Warren Tolman’s AG Campaign Supported by a Kennedy

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Warren Tolman got an endorsement from the first family of Massachusetts politics recently when a Kennedy announced his support of the Watertown Democrat’s run for Attorney General. Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy endorsed Tolman following a discussion on mental health at the Hope House Boston on Monday, where the two discussed enforcing mental health parity, reforming the criminal justice system, and improving substance abuse treatment. “For as long as I’ve known Warren Tolman, he’s been a voice for those suffering from mental health disorders and a tireless advocate in the cause to combat substance abuse,” said Kennedy, co-founder of One Mind for Research, a non-profit organization dedicated to mental health research and treatment, and founder of Kennedy Forum, an advocacy organization committed to advocating for mental health parity. “I’m supporting Warren Tolman to be the next Attorney General because he is dedicated to using the office to take action on these interlocked issues. He has developed an insightful approach to address mental illness and substance abuse and I look forward to partnering with him to ensure mental health parity.”

Tolman spoke about how as Attorney General he would hold insurance companies and providers accountable for providing mental health and substance abuse treatment.”It’s a great honor to receive the support of Patrick Kennedy, a dedicated leader for improving mental health treatment nationwide,” Tolman said. “Congressman Kennedy’s vocal advocacy to expand and fight for mental health parity has advanced the scope of mental health treatment and improved the lives of millions of Americans.

Business

Watertown Mall Officials Welcome New Hotel, Additions at Arsenal Project

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The Watertown Mall sits across the street from the Arsenal Project, and next to where the new hotel will be built, and that suits the management of the Watertown Mall just fine. The Watertown Mall, which is home to Target and Best Buy, along with several other stores and the Registry of Motor Vehicles, would benefit by more people coming to that area of Arsenal Street, said Patricia Stenson, manager of the Watertown Mall. The owners of the new hotel, Boylston Properties, also owns the Arsenal Project (formerly the Arsenal Mall) has plans to upgrade the mall and add restaurants. The group has also purchased the Verizon Facility located near Nichols Avenue but has an address of 480 Arsenal Street. It could become office space.

Around Town

Victory Field Neighbors Worried About Future of Track Area

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The fence around the Victory Field tennis courts sits less than 100 feet from the back window of the home of Elodia Thomas and Bruce Coltin. The couple worries that proposed changes to the track area of the athletic complex will mean they will have to endure more light, noise and other annoyances in their home. In April, Thomas learned that the Recreation Department plans to renovate the track and courts at Victory Field. The plan calls for replacing the track and installing an artificial turf field and adding lights around the track. The courts would be redone, and a street hockey rink that can be frozen in the winter has also been proposed.

Transportation

MBTA Exploring Using the Watertown Yard to Help Add More Buses

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The MBTA will not be able to add more buses to crowded routes or add new routes until they add more buses – but before that can happen the buses need a place to be stored and serviced. During a meeting to discuss transportation on the Arsenal Street corridor last week, MBTA officials said the need places to store and service 80 buses to meet existing needs. The Watertown Yard, on Galen Street near Watertown Square, could be part of the solution. The facility used to be a center to service trolley cars when the Green Line’s A Line ended in Watertown. Now the area is only used as a bus stop and turn around at the end of routes such as the 57, and express buses to Boston.

Police/Fire

Suicidal Woman from Watertown Rescued in Acton

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A Watertown woman who went missing on Friday evening was found injured in the woods by Acton Police on Saturday morning. A car was found parked on Main Street in Acton Friday evening and Acton Police discovered it belonged to a 29-year-old woman who Watertown Police were searching for because she was possibly suicidal, according to a report in the Lowell Sun (click here to see the story). The woman was found at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday with self-inflicted wounds, and she was taken for treatment at Emerson Hospital in Concord, according to a report on Acton Patch (see the story here). The woman’s name was not released.

Real Estate

See the Watertown Homes that Sold This Week

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Here are the homes that sold in Watertown this week – see where they are located. $440,000 – 3 Repton Circl Unit 3102, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, Mid-Rise condo

$252,500 – 32 Whites Ave Unit F-8802, 1 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Hi-Rise condo

Sponsored by:

$763,500 – 160 Standish Road, 3 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom, Colonial single-family home

$525,000 – 5 Royal Street, 3 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom, Colonial single-family home

$376,500 – 290 Pleasant Unit 218, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, Mid-Rise condo

Find out how to sponsor Watertown News real estate stories, or how to highlight your open house listing by emailing WatertownMaNews@gmail.com.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Pair Nabbed at Target for Shoplifting, Home Broken Into and More

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

July 28, 4:20 p.m.: A man turned himself in at the Watertown Police Department. The 29-year-old Watertown man was arrested on a warrant from Chelsea District Court for probation violation. July 29, 4:07 p.m.: Police received word of a man at the Cortiva Institute who had a warrant for his arrest. The 28-year-old Boston man was arrested on the warrant from Brighton District Court for assault and battery.