54 Bus

MBTA Would Add New Bus Routes in Watertown as Part Revamping of Bus Service

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Charlie BreitroseAn MBTA bus in Watertown. The MBTA has proposed some major changes to its bus service, including more frequent runs for the 70 Bus and the addition of two routes: one serving Newton and Waltham, and another that goes from Riverside Station in Newton to Arlington and includes Belmont. The changes are part of the Better Bus Program, the MBTA’s proposal to revamp parts of the bus system to meet the changing needs of the Greater Boston area due to shifting demographics, new employment centers, increased traffic congestion and changing travel patterns, according to the MBTA’s website. Recently, the MBTA released a proposed map of the new bus routes (click here to see an interactive map). The changes impacting Watertown include increasing the frequency of the 70 Bus from the current service, every 30 minutes or less during midday and on weekdays, to every 15 minutes or less seven days a week under the proposed plan.

Bud's Goods

Bud’s Goods, Watertown’s Second Cannabis Dispensary, Opening Soon

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Bud’s GoodsBud’s Goods, Watertown’s second marijuana dispensary, will soon be opening on Pleasant Street. Watertown’s second recreational marijuana dispensary will open soon on the west side of town. Owners want it to have a homey feel and it will be the only “small cannabis” operator. Bud’s Goods is slated to open on May 20, according to the store’s social media. The dispensary is located in the mixed use development at 330 Pleasant St.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Backed Car Into Woman, Driver Hits Parked Construction Vehicle

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

May 5, 9:30 p.m.: A Watertown man who has a harassment prevention order against a neighbor called police to report that the neighbor violated the terms of the order. The neighbor had gone into the basement and damaged some of his property, and was caught on video. Also, the neighbor blocked the man’s car in the driveway. Police responded and determined the neighbor had violated the harassment prevention order.

Government

City Council Tips Hat Toward Who Will be the Next City Manager

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City Manager Finalist George Proakis. The decision is not official, but a majority of members of the City Council said that they would choose George Proakis to be the next Watertown City Manager after interviewing the three finalists on Thursday night. The official vote will be made at a future meeting. Proakis, who is Somerville’s Executive Director of Somerville’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development, has not been the manager of a city or town, but Councilors said they liked his vision. Councilor Caroline Bays said that all three candidates appealed to her, and said if all three were combined they would have a “miracle manager.”

Homepage Featured

Firefighters Battled 2 Alarm Fire in Two-Family Home on Sycamore Street

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A fire damaged damaged a two-family home on Sycamore Street Tuesday night. The Watertown Fire Department responded shortly after 7 p.m.

“The fire was reported after downstairs tenants heard the smoke alarms going off upstairs and went out to find smoke coming from the second floor rear,” said Provisional Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson. Crews in #Watertown battling a 2 alarm fire. #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/gBYpGHQRsn— Matt Kaminsky (@matty_kam) May 11, 2022

Engine 3 arrived first and began to attack the fire. Deputy Fire Chief Rob Iannetta, the incident commander, called a second alarm shortly after arriving.

City Manager

City Manager Finalists Discuss Police, Libraries and the Senior Center

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During Monday’s City Manager Finalist community forum the three candidates shared their thoughts on a number of items, including hiring the next Police Chief, libraries, and the Senior Center and senior services. The three City Manager finalists are: George Proakis (Executive Director of Somerville’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development), Norman Khumalo (Hopkinton Town Manager), and John Curran (Billerica Town Manager). Read more about the Finalists here. Police

One of the first duties of the next Watertown City Manager will be to hire a new Police Chief, with Michael Lawn announcing his retirement effective June 3. Curran hired a new police chief in Billerica in December, and said the qualities he would like to see in the next chief are: “They need to know what Police Reform is, they need to know the (Massachusetts) POST (Peace Officer Standards & Training) Commission, they need to be someone who is of the guardian philosophy, and they need to be also someone up to speed in being able to do community policing and getting out into the community.” 

Curran said he believes in the “guardian philosophy” of policing where police are “here to help you, work with you, and get to know you.” Developing relationships with different groups in town is key, he added.

City Council

City Manager Finalists Discuss Why They Want to Come to Watertown

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Watertown City Hall

The three finalists for Watertown City Manager met with the public, and answered questions on Monday night. They shared some of their philosophies and approach to leadership, as well as why they want to become the City’s chief executive. Each of the finalists, John Curran, Norman Khumalo and George Proakis, spent an hour fielding questions from the public. Proakis, the Executive Director of Somerville’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development, has worked in Somerville for 12 years, and before that he worked in Lowell for seven years. He said that Watertown is a unique and excellent place.

Arrests

Police Log: Four Men Arrested on Gun Charge, Former Landlord Clashes with Former Tenant

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

April 25, 1:51 a.m.: An officer patrolling on Warren Street spotted a vehicle stopped diagonally across a lane. The officer looked inside the 2008 Honda Accord and saw a woman asleep behind the wheel with the engine running. Police woke her and officers detected a strong odor of alcohol from her breath. A half-full bottle of tequila was found in the center arm rest of the rear passenger seat.