Around Town

City Deploying Rodent Control in Areas of Big Road Construction Projects

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown, MA has begun using Anticimex SMART technology, provided through Modern Pest Services, a licensed pest control company. The SMART City concept is an intelligent, non-toxic, always-on solution for pest control, and was developed to provide municipalities and community organizations access to a comprehensive solution to rodent control. The City of Watertown, in partnership with Modern Pest Services, is conducting site evaluations and has deployed SMART equipment in tactical areas of the city to identify, monitor, and control rodent “hot spots” to reduce rodent pressure throughout the city. Modern Pest has begun rolling out strategic deployment of above-ground SMART boxes, which monitor and control rodent activity while providing real-time data for proactive pest control in the community. These Smart Boxes have been initially deployed on Mt.

Police/Fire

Watertown Fire Department Remembers Fallen Firefighter Six Years Later

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Watertown Firefighters honored their fallen colleague, Joe Toscano, who died fighting a fire on March 17, 2017. Friday, the Watertown Fire Department marked the sixth anniversary of losing one of their own in the line of duty. On March 17, 2017, Firefighter Joseph Toscano died during the aftermath of a fire on Merrifield Avenue. On Friday, Watertown Firefighters stood at attention and observed a moment of silence during a brief ceremony at the intersection that now bears Toscano’s name — Merrifield and Bigelow avenues. Joe Toscano

Toscano served as the aid to retired Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn during the time Quinn was a deputy chief.

Government

Deadline Approaching to Take Comprehensive Plan Survey

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The City of Watertown released the draft Comprehensive Plan update in late February and held an open house on March 9. Those who did not have a chance to comment on the plan then can still do so by filling out an online survey. The deadline to fill out the survey is Friday, March, 24. The survey also covers the draft Open Space and Recreation Plan. “Your participation will help the City better understand your interests and incorporate your ideas in the plans and their implementation,” the City’s announcement said.

Around Town

State Climate Bill to “Make the Polluters Pay” Kicked Off in Watertown

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Charlie BreitroseEnvironmental activists from around Massachusetts gathered at the Commander’s Mansion to celebrate the filing of the Polluters Pay Bill in the State Legislature on Friday. Environmental advocates gathered in Watertown to celebrate the filing of a new bill in the Massachusetts State House that would make the companies that produced the oil that created greenhouse gases pay for the impact on the climate. The event took place at the Commander’s Mansion, which is located in a former Federal Superfund Site — the U.S. Army’s Watertown Arsenal — because co-sponsors liken the legislation to a Climate Change Superfund. The bill is known as the Polluters Pay Bill, said Watertown State Rep. Steve Owens, who is a co-sponsor along with State Sen. Jamie Eldridge. “The principle of the Polluters Pay Bill is very simple: those who made the mess should be the ones to clean it up,” Owens said.

Around Town

Jon Taffer in Town to Visit His Restaurant, Sees Area as Strong Market

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Charlie BreitroseJon Taffer meets patrons at Taffer’s Tavern in Watertown. TV host turned restaurateur Jon Taffer recently stopped by the eatery in Watertown that bears his name: Taffer’s Tavern. Just five months after opening, the restaurant in Arsenal Yards has been doing well, as is the Boston area, he said. The host of Paramount Network’s Bar Rescue has fond memories of the Boston area, having run a nightclub and bar convention from an office in Newton. “I have always loved this city.

Entertainment

Watertown Author’s Book Added to Library of Congress

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Watertown’s Fred Grandinetti had his book about Popeye cartoons of the 1960s accepted into the Library of Congress’ reference collection. He is pictured with Popeye and Brutus dolls which represent how they looked in the cartoons of the era covered by the book. A Watertown author recently had one of his titles added to The Library of Congress’ reference collection. Fred M. Grandinetti’s Popeye the Sailor; The 1960’s TV Cartoons, made the select list of books cataloged in the Library of Congress. “I am very proud to have one of Popeye’s cartoon series included in their collection,” said Grandinetti, who said the book was accepted after going through the application process for inclusion in the collection.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Caught Trying to Steal Bikes, Person Peered Into Home’s Garage

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

March 3, 9:40 p.m.: A witness spotted a man with a large pair of bolt cutters near the bike racks in the garage for the apartments at Arsenal Yards. When the man saw the witness he ran and hid behind a vehicle. Police were contacted, and the located the man near Sweet Greens. When they were speaking with him they discovered he had a warrant for his arrests.