Around Town

Watertown Library Partially Reopening Next Week, Will Have Hours for At-Risk Patrons

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Watertown Free Public Library

The Watertown Library sent out the following announcement:

The Watertown Free Public Library will reopen to the public on Monday, July 27. Using the Library will be a very different experience until coronavirus is no longer a major health concern. We are very excited to invite our patrons back. Unfortunately, we cannot offer all of the services that so many have been able to depend on, but it won’t be forever. This is what we can do for you now until the time comes that is safe to resume our regular services.

Around Town

This Week at the Farmers Market: Blueberries, Microgreens & More

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The Watertown Farmers Market provided the following information:

It’s that time of year – summer fun is in full swing! The weather is warm, lots of grilling and time outdoors. The market is filled with beautiful produce including sweet corn, summer squash, and other goodies to bring home to your table. This week we continue to enjoy our summer favorite: delicious blueberries! Loaded with antioxidants, blueberries can be used in both sweet and savory dishes.

Around Town

Watertown’s First Medical Marijuana Dispensary Opening Soon

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Natural Selections, Watertown’s first medical marijuana dispensary, will be opening soon. Inside a building tucked behind a retail building and next to a hotel, sits a bright, modern showroom with glass cases displaying products that has not been available in Watertown previously — marijuana and related items.

Watertown’s first medical marijuana dispensary will open for business on Tuesday, July 28 at 10 a.m. Alex Hardy, Chief Operating Officer of Natural Selections, said the facility is prepared to welcome patients. “We are 100 percent ready to rock and roll,” Hardy said, standing in the retail area of the dispensary at 23 Elm St. The dispensary is located in a building in the back of the property on Elm Street, just off Arsenal Street (and near the Residence Inn by Marriott). During discussions at the Town Council, Planning and Zoning Boards, the issue of parking was raised.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Serial Shoplifters Spotted at Target, Resident Caught in Rent Deposit Scam

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Arrests

None

Incidents

July 6, 6:02 p.m.: The manager of the General Market on Waverley Avenue discovered that someone paid with a counterfeit $100. A man came in to cashed in some lottery tickets and purchased new scratch tickets. He owed $10 and gave a $100 bill to the person at the register, who gave back $90. Later the manager realized it was a fake bill. The suspect is described as an African-American man, around 20 years old, wearing a black sweatshirt with “Air Jordan” on the front, a black baseball hat, dark pants and a white medical mask.

Police/Fire

Watertown Man Arrested in N.H. Child Pornography Investigation

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The eight suspects arrested in a child pornography investigation in Nashua, N.H., including Juan Correa of Watertown (bottom, left)

A Watertown man faces charges of possession of a “Child Sexual Abuse Image” after being arrested by police in New Hampshire. Juan Correa, 31, of Ladd Street in Watertown, was arrested by Nashua Police on July 15 on a charge of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Image, police announced. He was released on personal recognizance bail, and he will be arraigned in Hillsborough County Superior Court South on Aug. 20. The arrest was one of eight made in an investigation by the Nashua Police Department and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force focusing on child exploitation during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Nashua Police.

Around Town

Watertown Library Now Offering Scheduling for Curbside Pickups, Placing Holds

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Bags prepared to be delivered to patrons of the Watertown Library as part of the curbside pickup program. The Library is now offering scheduled pickups and putting holds on items.

The following information was provided by the Watertown Library:

The Watertown Free Public Library’s curbside pickup service is growing more popular with every passing week. Since WFPL launched the service on May 11, Library patrons have placed over 3,000 pickup orders for books, DVDs and other materials. On busy nights, as many as 200 book bags are delivered to patrons in the Library parking lot. In order to meet the growing demand for this service, WFPL is making some changes to the curbside pickup process.

Around Town

Watertown Residents Can Apply for Rental Assistance

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Watertown residents struggling to cover their rent due to the COVID-19 outbreak can apply for rental assistance of up to $1,000. The Watertown Community Foundation has teamed with MetroWest Collaborative Development and Wayside Youth & Family Network to provide rental assistance for families who are behind (or arrear) in rent. The assistance will be awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis. The Watertown Community Foundation received funds from the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund, said Executive Director Jan Singer. “Our grants from MA COVID-19 Relief Fund have gone directly to MetroWest Collaborative Development, who is administering the program,” Singer said.

Adult Use Marijuana

Council Approves Host Community Agreement with 2nd Adult-Use Marijuana Dispensary

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An adult-use marijuana dispensary planned for the Westside of Watertown entered into a Host Community with the Town after the Town Council approved the agreement on Tuesday night. Buds Goods & Provisions is applying to open a recreational marijuana dispensary in the new development at 330-350 Pleasant St. The company now must apply for a license from the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) before it can apply to the Watertown Zoning Board for a special permit. They can open when both are approved. The ballot measure that legalized adult-use marijuana prohibits communities from banning them, but allows them to limit the number to 10 percent of the number of liquor licenses.