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.

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.

Elections

Warren Tolman Speaks Out Against NRA Video, Lands Endorsement

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Attorney General candidate and Watertown resident Warren Tolman spoke out this week against a video released by the National Rifle Association pushing for arming the blind. Tolman called the video exploitative, according to a statement released by his campaign. “The National Rifle Association’s lone goal is to stop any efforts that try to make our communities safer, despite the fact that we’ve lost 50,000 people to gun deaths since the Newtown tragedy,” Tolman said. “I have worked closely with the Perkins School for the Blind and advocates for more than a decade and I support their incredible work to enhance the lives of the visually impaired. The fact that the NRA would exploit blind people to push their extreme agenda with this insensitive video is just wrong.

Development

Residents Worry Eastside CVS Would Change Their Neighborhood

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The CVS/Pharmacy proposed in East Watertown would change the area, and make an already bad traffic situation worse, residents said at a meeting on the project. The store would go where the gas station now sits at the corner of Mt. Auburn and Arlington streets. It would also replace a small office building and the Elks Club and the parking lot would link to the lot on Wells Avenue. The project would make improve the Coolidge Square area by adding a pharmacy and sprucing up the site, said Bill York, attorney representing the developers at the meeting held at the Apartments at Coolidge School.

Government

Study of 70 Bus Sought in Effort to Improve Transportation on Arsenal St.

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A study of what can be done to speed up buses on the 70 and 70A bus routes has been requested by a group interested in improving public transportation on the Arsenal Street Corridor and beyond. A the transportation summit held Wednesday, elected officials, town officials, developers and members of groups interested in transit in the area met with MBTA officials. The group brainstormed ways to improve the service, which even T officials agreed can be slow and crowded. The area is one of the hottest areas of development in the Boston area. Developers of more than one project on the street have promised to contribute to a shuttle system to serve the area, but all agreed the MBTA service must be improved too.

Elections

Sheriff Koutoujian Endorses Warren Tolman for Attorney General

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Watertown’s Warren Tolman received an endorsement from a familiar face to town residents – Middlesex Sheriff and former State Representative Peter Koutoujian. On Thursday, Koutoujian announced his support for Tolman, pointing to his proven leadership and his vow to take on the National Rifle Association and push for fingerprint trigger locks. “As Sheriff, I see every day the importance of protecting our communities from gun violence,” Koutoujian said. “As the only candidate who will implement fingerprint trigger locks, Warren Tolman is the best choice for making our neighborhoods safer and moving the Commonwealth forward. Smart gun technology will save lives, and I’m supporting Warren Tolman for Attorney General because he will make it a reality.”

Development

Arsenal Street Hotel Gets Final Approval from Zoning Board

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Watertown will be getting a six-story hotel on Arsenal Street after the Zoning Board of Appeals approved the project Wednesday night. The 148-room hotel will be a Residence Inn by Marriott, said Bill McQuillan, the principal of developer Boylston Properties. Rooms in the hotel, which is aimed at business travelers, will cost about $175 a night, but prices fluctuate higher or lower depending on demand, McQuillan said. A number of Town Councilors applauded the project. “Some of us, including myself,  have been anxiously looking to bring a hotel to the Watertown community for the number of benefits it could bring,” said Town Council President Mark Sideris.