Around Town

Residents Can Borrow Variety of Tools & Equipment from Watertown Library

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Library:

Snowshoes, KitchenAid Stand Mixer, power washer — these items have nothing in common except that they are all things you can now check out with your library card. On January 6 the Watertown Free Public Library (WFPL) launched a new collection of non-traditional library materials known as the Library of Things and they’re waiting to be used. “A Library of Things is not uncommon in public libraries and there are so many reasons we’re excited to now offer our own collection” says Katie Kottas who is in charge of Circulation and Access Services. Of course it is fun, but it’s also economical. A lot of people don’t need or want to purchase items they may only use once or twice.

Around Town

Supporters Thank State Rep. Jonathan Hecht for Years of Service to Watertown

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Newly retired State Rep. Jonathan Hecht thanked the supporters who gathered outside his home to thank him for his work representing Watertown for almost 15 years. Longtime 29th Middlesex State Rep. Jonathan Hecht received a serenade some of his biggest supporters on Wednesday, who thanked him for his 12 years representing Watertown on Beacon Hill. Supporters from Watertown and Cambridge sang Hecht a song thanking him for his work on Beacon Hill, including the improvements to the Charles River Park, the Watertown/Cambridge Greenway bicycle and pedestrian path, support for clean energy, transportation and health care. Hecht came out of his home, still bleary eyed from his last day as state rep, which lasted until the early hours of Wednesday. He told the gathering of about two dozen people the day had been a strange and bittersweet one.

Ari Koufos

Watertown Real Estate Sales Strong Despite Pandemic; See the Top Agents, Offices

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The pandemic threw some new challenges at real estate agents in 2020, but the Watertown home sales remained almost as strong as the prior year. The total sales in Watertown figure in 2020 was $586.21 million from 413 properties. The prior year, 429 properties sold for about about $4 million more than 2020. As in prior years, the top agent for Watertown home sales was Ari Koufos, broker/owner of Realty Executives. He sold 23 properties for $22.23 million.

Around Town

Recipient of the 2021 Watertown Unity Award Announced

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The Unity Breakfast committee will present the 2021 award to Rhode Moise, Program Director at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club, at the MLK Day Unity Breakfast on Jan. 18. The following announcement was provided by the Unity Award Committee:

A favorite annual tradition at each MLK Day Unity Breakfast is the presentation of the Unity Award. The Unity Award recognizes an individual or group that is furthering Dr. King’s vision of racial, social and economic justice right here in our town. The Unity Breakfast committee is honored to present this year’s award to Rhode Moise, Program Director at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club.

Business

State Offering New Round of Pandemic Grants to Small Businesses

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Grants are available for small businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. A new round of grants for small businesses negatively impacted by the pandemic has been announced by state officials. Sectors given priority for the grants include restaurants, hair and nail salons, gyms and fitness, indoor recreation, event support and independent retailers. The Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) has up to $668 million available to support businesses in sectors experiencing the most significant economic hardship and a loss of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The application deadline is Jan.

Schools

COVID-19 Numbers Low in Watertown Schools, Officials Look at When to Increase In-School Time

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The Watertown Public Schools have significantly lower COVID-19 positive test rates than the Town, and more than two-thirds of students and staff are participating in the district’s free testing program. Superintendent Dede Galdston said that the staff and students tested in the district’s pool testing is 0.15 percent, which is below the most recent positivity rate Townwide, which was 4.4 percent as of Dec. 28. She discussed the COVID-19 rates and the testing program, along with what factors will be considered when looking at increasing the amount of in-school learning during Monday’s School Committee meeting. Galdston credits staff and students taking the COVID-19 protocols seriously for the low rates of the virus.

Entertainment

Dance Film & Photography Exhibit Showing at Watertown Art Studio

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A shot of the new art installation at Room 83 Spring, “up in the air,” by Margaret Wiss. Watertown art studio Room 83 Spring is hosting an exhibition featuring the work of one artist, who has produced a film featuring dance as well as a photography exhibit. The show, up in the air, features the work of Margaret Wiss, a young, bright, emerging star, according to Room 83 Spring founders and co-curators Ellen Wineberg and Cathleen Daley. The show can be seen by coming into the studio, or from outside. “The whole show can be seen through our  windows and is especially vivid in the deep dark winter nights,” Wineberg and Daley said in the show’s announcement.

Around Town

COVID-19 Cases Slightly Down in Watertown, Positive Test Rate Up

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The numbers of new cases of COVID-19 in Watertown dropped slightly in the most recent community-by-community report by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), but the percent of positive tests rose. The number of cases over the prior 14 days in the Dec. 24 report (released on Dec. 31) was 236, down from 241 the prior week. The drop was the first since the DPH’s Sept.