Around Town

Water Main Break Shuts off Water, Slows Traffic in Watertown Square

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A water main break has cut service to businesses in Watertown Square and has slowed traffic in the area. According to the Department of Public Works private contractor performing repairs for a private customer struck the water pipe. The DPW had to shut down the water from Main Street to Baptist Walk, which left all the businesses in the are without water. The incident occurred about 200 feet east of Main Street, according to the DPW, and two of three inbound traffic lanes on Mt. Auburn Street have been closed.

Around Town

Police Log: Car and Motorcycle Stolen, Group Missing 43 iPhones

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. 
Arrests
Aug. 12, 10:34 p.m.: Officers were on Patten Street looking for a suspect in a different investigation when they stopped a black truck. They found the driver had a revoked license. They also discovered that the female passenger had a warrant for her arrest. The driver, a 33-year-old man from Taunton, was arrested on a charge of driving with a revoked license.

Around Town

Belmont Group Hosting Forum About Stormwater Issues

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A citizens group in Belmont will host the event “The Trouble with Municipal Stormwater in Belmont: Challenges and What Everyone Can Do to Help,” which is open to people from all communities. 

The group sent out the following announcement:

“According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Belmont’s municipal stormwater system has been in “significant violation” of the Clean Water Act for the last three years, based on bacteria levels recorded at storm-drain outfalls. Belmont is currently the only municipality in Greater Boston under such a warning.” Boston Globe, 8/14/2015

What can we all do to learn more about stormwater issues in our town, and what we can all do to help? The Belmont Citizens Forum is holding a free, public, educational forum on stormwater called Water Trouble: A Neighbor-to-Neighbor Dialogue about Storms, Floods, and Water Quality, on Thursday, Sept. 10, 7-9 p.m., at Winn Brook School, 97 Waterhouse Road in Belmont, with these goals in mind. Registration starts at 6:45 p.m.

We are joining with our Arlington and Watertown neighbors to have a conversation about stormwater and how it affects our towns.

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Watertown Community Gardens Has Plots Available for Town Residents

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If you have wanted to garden, but don’t have space or the right kind of spot, you can get a plot at one of the Watertown Community Gardens. 

The group sent out the following announcement:

Would you like to garden more but don’t have enough space?  enough sun? enough experience? Then consider joining Watertown Community Gardens. We rent garden plots at our two community gardens and can support new gardeners while you learn.

Around Town

Big Bash Planned for Commander’s Mansion’s 150th Birthday!

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The Commander’s Mansion in Watertown is turning 150 years old this year and a big – and free – celebration is planned. The community event will be held on Sunday, Sept. 13 from 1-4 p.m. at the mansion, located in the Arsenal on the Charles Complex. The USS Constitution Color Guard will kick off our festivities, thanks to the Watertown Veterans’ Services Department. Enjoy some food, activities, games and Touch-A-Tank!

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Watertown Art Students Bring Life to Wall in Coolidge Square

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A group of Watertown High School students have transformed a once gray wall in East Watertown now overflows with colorful fruit, vegetables and flowers. The mural went up on the wall next to Uncommon Grounds at the corner of Mt. Auburn Street and Melendy Avenue. This is the third collaboration between students from Watertown High School and artist Gregg Bernstein. The first two – the first along the path between Whites and Waverly avenues and second on Baptist Walk in Watertown Square – were large walls.

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Federal Money to Fight Heroin Crisis Coming to Massachusetts

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Massachusetts and the New England area will receive federal money to battle the influx of heroin into the region. On Monday, Michael Botticelli, Director of National Drug Control Policy, announced $13.4 million in funding for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) across the country, according to an announcement from President Obama’s Office of National Drug Control Policy. Of this money, $2.5 million will fund the Heroin Response Strategy, an unprecedented partnership among five regional HIDTA programs —New England, Appalachia, Philadelphia/Camden, New York/New Jersey, and Washington/Baltimore — to address the severe heroin threat facing those communities through public health-public safety partnerships across 15 states. The New England HIDTA also will receive $265,000 to advance a range of drug use prevention initiatives and to support HIDTA operations, the announcement said. “The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program helps Federal, state, and local authorities to coordinate drug enforcement operations, support prevention efforts and improve public health and safety,” said Director Botticelli.

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Golf Tournament Raises Big Bucks for Watertown Boys & Girls Club

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The Watertown Boys and Girls Club held its 38th Annual Stephen P. Mugar Memorial Golf Tournament this week at the Oakley Country Club. Well over 100 golfers joined in for a gorgeous day of golf followed by a dinner and auction on Aug. 10. The event raised over $170k to support our Academic Success, Healthy Living and Character Development programs, which serve hundreds of youth each year. The Watertown Boys & Girls Club wishes to thank all our golfers, volunteers, hole sponsors and supporters.