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Mass. Health Department: West Nile Virus Mosquito Fond in Watertown

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The Watertown Health Department sent out the following announcement:

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Watertown, Massachusetts. In 2017, 5,496 mosquito samples were tested for WNV and 290 samples were positive. Watertown had 3 WNV positive mosquito samples identified in 2017. WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state, and are found in urban as well as more rural areas.

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‘Equalizer 2’ Actor Also Appearing on Watertown Cable Show

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Watertown Cable host Fred Grandinetti has an eye for talent. He has had some actors who have gone on to the big screen to be guests on his show, Drawing With Fred. Grandinetti announced that award winning actor, Kazy Tauginas — who can be seen in the new movie Equalizer 2  — will appear on Drawing With Fred which airs on The Watertown Channel. Tauginas, a professional boxer, spars with a partner and quickly swallows a can of spinach to introduce a Popeye cartoon. Taugnias stars, and wrote the screenplay, for the award winning film Standing Eight.

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LETTER: Resident Likes the Landscaping of the New Pedestrian Bridge, Railings Not So Much

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Watertown resident Chuck Dickinson came across crews putting in the landscaping at either end of the new pedestrian bridge across the Charles River, and he liked the crew’s work so much that he took some photos. 

The Department of Conservation and Recreation installed the new bridge at the end of May in place of the old one, which was not handicap accessible. He also took a few photos of the new bridge, including the side railings (which he said are quite tall). Dickinson submitted the following write-up:

After a long-anticipated installation of the new Thompson Pedestrian Bridge, landscapers from DCR contractor MON Landscaping (Dartmouth, MA) labored in the hot sun on the days before and after the Fourth of July holiday to plant new shrubs and trees on both sides of the Charles River. The landscaping is a needed finishing touch to the bridge project, as it softens the concrete and asphalt approaches on both sides of the river with greenery and foliage. Although many are unhappy with the high railings on the new bridge that obscure or limit river views, the bridge’s landscaping is likely to be welcomed and appreciated by all.

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Town Solves Filippello Park Parking Problems for Fall, Not Long Term Ones

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Watertown’s Filippello Park draws many visitors, from those going for a stroll, to children enjoying the playground, to sports leagues playing on the softball or soccer fields. The demand usually ramps up during the evenings, and park users will park on nearby streets, so residents of those areas struggle to find a spot of their own. 

Monday night, the Town of Watertown held a meeting about plans for the park during the fall, but the room full or residents had bigger issues on their minds. Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon announced that the two playing fields at Filippello Park will not close, as previously discussed, during the fall. The Town looked for field space in other towns, or at Daly Field, in Brighton, but little was available, and none with lights. With the fields remaining open, parking had to be found because the main lot off Grove Street will be closed while the entrance that end of the park is renovated during the fall.

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Family Mental Health Support Group Announces Upcoming Meeting

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The following information was provided by the National Alliance for Mental Illness:
Family Mental Health support group:  NAMI Family Mental Health Support Group is a free, structured, confidential peer-led support group for the families of individuals living with mental illness.  
A support group will be held on Tuesday, July 10, 7 – 9 p.m. at the Newton Wellesley Hospital, at 2014 Washington St. in Newton 02461, on the second floor of the main building in the Bowles Conference Center. This is organized by the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI).

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Spots Available in the Watertown Boys & Girls Club Annual Golf Tournament

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Watertown Boys & Girls Club will host their annual golf tournament on Monday, August 13, 2018 at the Oakley Country Club. The tournament honors one of the Club’s original founding members, Stephen Mugar. His children and grandchildren generously perpetuate his legacy by sponsoring this annual event. The Mugar Family will match the tournament’s net profits up to $80,000, thus making this the largest annual fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the Club’s yearly revenue. Foursomes and single golfer tickets can be purchased at http://bit.ly/WBGCGolf2018, along with sponsorships of varying levels.

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Changes Coming to Charles River Road, Including New Crosswalks, Re-striping of Road

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A representative from the Department of Conservation and Recreation visited Charles River Road last week to speak with neighbors about how to make the newly repaved roadway safer, including adding more crosswalks. The tour was organized by State Sen. Will Brownsberger and State Rep. Jonathan Hecht. The goal of the re-striping is to increase the connections to between the neighborhood, the Charles River, the Riverside Park, as well as slowing traffic, said Jeffrey Parenti, Deputy Chief Engineer of the DCR’s Division of Planning and Engineering. After the new striping, there will be some changes to Charles River Road. The roadway will remain one lane in each direction for motor vehicles, and there will bebike lanes in each direction.