Around Town

New Parking Meters in Town Lots Will Take Credit Cards

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New parking meters, like this one, will be installed in Watertown’s Municipal Parking Lots. They will accept credit cards as well as coins. The Town of Watertown provided the following announcement:

During the week of January 19-22, installation of new parking meters will begin, replacing all of the existing meters, both on-street and in municipal parking lots—the Watertown Square Municipal Lot and the Wells Avenue Lot in Coolidge Square. Credit cards can now be used to pay for parking. In the near future, mobile payment by cell phone will also be accepted.

Around Town

Additional Free COVID Testing Times for Watertown Residents

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The following announcement was provided by the Town of Watertown:

The Town of Watertown is offering, by appointment only, one – free COVID-19 Test for Watertown residents. Testing is free, does not require a medical referral and you do not need to have COVID-19 symptoms to get tested. Pre-registration is required to receive a test (preregistration details below) and we ask that you only sign up for one test to allow other residents access to testing. Testing will be held inside the Commander’s Mansion 440 Talcott Avenue on the following dates and times:

Tuesday, January 19, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday, January 20, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PMTuesday, January 26, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday, January 27, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PMTuesday, February 2, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday, February 3, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PMTuesday, February 9, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday, February 10, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

In order to obtain an appointment a Watertown resident must pre-register by clicking on the following link: https://proemscovidtesting.as.me/watertown

This is not a drive up test. Watertown residents who have an appointment will enter into the Commander’s Mansion and with the assistance of Pro Ambulance employees will conduct a selfadministering nasal swab (PCR test).

Around Town

Watertown Musician Uses Pandemic to Record First Solo Album

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Watertown’s Daniel Radin recorded his debut solo album, “Good Things” in his home basement. He used the name Lake Saint Daniel for his latest project. Watertown’s Daniel Radin usually spends a lot of time on the road touring with his rock band, but his performance schedule was cut short by the Pandemic. He made the most of his time at home by recording his first solo album. Recently, Radin received a grant from Passim’s Iguana Music Awards to help pay to put out his new album, Good Things, which he put out under the name used for his most recent project — Lake Saint Daniel.

Police/Fire

Council Approves First Part of $4 Million Police, Fire Radio Upgrades

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Watertown’s Police and Fire departments will be getting new portable radios as part of upgrades to the first responder radio system that has become unreliable. On Tuesday night, the Town Council approved borrowing $1.77 million to fund the first of two phases in the $4 million plan to upgrade the Townwide radio infrastructure. The second phase is planned to be completed next year. The system is used by the Police, Fire and Department of Public Works to communicate. The system also links Watertown’s first responders with police and fire departments in nearby communities, as well as regional fire and police organizations.

Alexandria

Harvard, MIT Investing in Biotech Manufacturing Center in Watertown

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A biotech manufacturing center will be created in this building in the Arsenal on the Charles. The Massachusetts Center for Advanced Biological Innovation and Manufacturing is a joint effort between Harvard, MIT, area hospitals and biotech firms.

Harvard University is coming back to the Arsenal on the Charles, this time teaming with MIT, local hospitals and corporate sponsors to create a biotech manufacturing center in the former U.S. Army Arsenal. The new center will be called the Massachusetts Center for Advanced Biological Innovation and Manufacturing, and will be located in 40,000 sq. ft. of a building located off North Beacon Street in the complex.

Police/Fire

Man Acting Suspiciously Toward Girl Reported at Watertown Park

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A mother called Watertown Police after a man appeared to be filming her young daughter and acting suspiciously at Fillippello Park. The incident occurred at about 11:50 a.m. on Jan. 7, and was reported shortly before 3 p.m. that day, according to Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. The woman said she was at the tot lot in the East End park with her 2-year-old daughter at the time. “While she was she there, she became aware of an adult male who appeared to be filming, FaceTiming or something else on his phone and she felt he was filming her child,” O’Connor said.

Around Town

Pair of Large Red Foxes Spotted by Watertown Resident

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A large red fox was seen walking on Jensen Road on the Westside of Watertown over the weekend. Large foxes have been seen wandering the streets of West Watertown. Watertown News reader Tracy Scott took photos of a pair of red foxes as they walked though the backyard of her Jensen Road home, and on the streets near the park behind the Watertown Police Station (the old Browne School Playground). “We have been living here for 4 years, we have never seen a fox here,” Scott said. “Both these foxes were large.

Around Town

UPDATE: Dozens of Pairs of Shoes Donated by Watertown Native, Rec. Dept. Will Distribute

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Watertown native Robert Marra with Peter Centola, who was Marra’s fold coach at WHS and is now Director of Watertown’s Recreation Department. Marra donated 60 pairs of shoes to the Town, which will give them away to residents. (Updated Jan. 13, 2021 at 8:45 a.m.)

Watertown residents can get a free pair of shoes thanks to a Watertown native who wanted to help his hometown. Robert Marra works and lives in Ashland now, but he grew up in Town.