Police/Fire

Watertown Company Will Pay Nearly $4.7 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

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The following announcement was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts:

EyePoint, Inc., formerly EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (EyePoint), has agreed to pay $4,678,981 to resolve allegations that it paid kickbacks to Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) to induce the ASCs to purchase its drug, DEXYCU. This scheme, the government alleges, violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act. 

The government contends that EyePoint’s unlawful scheme took two forms between January 2019 and March 2023: illegal payments from EyePoint to ASCs through an “Assurance Program;” and illegal payments from EyePoint to ASCs via the provision of free DEXYCU samples. The company, headquartered in Watertown, Mass., has admitted and accepted responsibility for the following facts. First, through its “Assurance Program,” EyePoint covered ASCs’ costs when federal insurance programs denied coverage of the drug, either by paying the ASCs cash or by providing them with free replacement DEXYCU. Second, EyePoint gave thousands of free samples to ASCs and the ASCs used the no-cost DEXYCU on patients whose commercial health insurance would not pay for the drug.

Development

Community Meeting to be Held for Proposed Multi-Family Development Just of Main Street

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A community meeting about a proposed multi-family development on Church Hill Street will be held on July 30 in City Hall. The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT – COMMUNITY MEETING NOTICE

The project applicant will be holding a Public Information Meeting as required by the Watertown Zoning Ordinance related to 6 & 12-14 Church Hill Street proposed multi-family development on Thursday, July 30, 2026. This community meeting is required prior to formal application and public hearing in front of the Planning and Zoning Boards. PROJECT DESCRIPTION and LOCATION:

The project proposes constructing a 3-story multi-family building with 9 residential units and a ground floor parking garage fronting on Church Hill Street. The meeting is presented by the project team, sharing existing site context, conditions, and the redevelopment plans.

Around Town

Deadline Approaching to Apply for Community Preservation Funds

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The deadline to apply for Community Preservation Act funds is Monday, July 27, 2026. See more details from the City of Watertown, below. The Community Preservation Act (CPA) was approved by the legislature and signed by Governor Paul Cellucci in September 2000. Watertown residents voted to adopt the CPA in November 2016. This state law, MGL Chapter 44B, allows cities and towns to raise funds through a surcharge on local real estate taxes to:

Buy, create, preserve open space and rehabilitate and/or restore open space that is acquired or created using CPA funds

Acquire, preserve, rehabilitate, or restore historic resources

Acquire, create, preserve, and support community housing

Acquire, create, preserve, and rehabilitate and/or restore passive and active outdoor recreation facilities

Before applying for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds, please read the entire CPA application package, which includes the:

1.

Entertainment

See What’s Happening at the Rink in This Week’s Small Saves Cartoon

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James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net. Combining this with the love of cartooning Small Saves emerged in 1991 and took on a life of his own. “To play goal – then come home and draw Small Saves — is my ideal definition of a good day.”

Check out Small Saves’ website at smallsaves.com 

Schools

Students from Watertown Make Dean’s List at Three Colleges

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Local students made the dean’s list at Georgia Tech, Northern Essex Community College, and Salve Regina. See the information provided by the universities. Georgia Tech

Flynn Coyne of Watertown, MA, made the Dean’s List for the Spring 2026 semester at the Georgia Institute of Technology. This designation is awarded to undergraduate students who have earned a 3.0 or higher academic average for the semester. Northern Essex Community College

Congratulations Catherine Elliott, of Watertown on earning a spot on the Dean’s List for the Spring ’26 semester!

Government

Tree Hearing Planned for Proposed Removal of 4 Trees

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A Public Shade Tree Hearing will be held about the proposed removal of four trees on public property on Channing Road, Elmwood Avenue, Fairview Avenue, and Webster Street. See more information from the Watertown Tree Warden, below. Public Shade Trees are protected by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 87. The removal of a healthy public tree requires an advertised public hearing. If a tree is declared by a Tree Warden to be an immediate hazard to the public, a hearing is not required.

Obituaries

OBIT: Carolyn Beach Tolman, Nurse Practitioner, Grew Up in Watertown & Married Her High School Sweetheart

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Carolyn Beach Tolman

Carolyn Beach Tolman of Watertown, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, passed away on July 13 after a long and valiant battle with cholangiocarcinoma. She spent the final few weeks of her life surrounded by loved ones. Carolyn continuously defied the odds and surprised her medical team with her positive energy and unceasing will to live. However, cancer was only a small part of Carolyn’s life and speaks nothing to the legacy she leaves behind. 

Carolyn grew up in Watertown where she met her high school sweetheart, Warren Tolman, who became her husband of 39 years. Warren and Carolyn’s marriage was one of deep love, admiration, and friendship.