Around Town

Find Out About the Candidates Running to Replace State Rep. Hecht

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Three candidates seek to become the new State Representative for the 29th Middlesex District, which includes much of Watertown and part of Cambridge. Watertown News reached out to the candidates and asked them some questions about their priorities, experience and themselves. Three Democrats are running to replace retiring State Rep. Jonathan Hecht. No Republican is on the ballot. The district includes Watertown Precincts 1-9, as well as, Cambridge Ward 9, Ward 10’s Precinct 3 and Ward 11’s Precinct 2.

Early Voting

Find Out About Early Voting, Mail In Ballot Drop Offs & Who’s Running

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The 2020 Election is nearly here, with voters in Watertown and Massachusetts going to the polls twice in two months. Many voters are taking advantage of the mail-in ballots, and early voting starts soon. The Town Clerk’s office has already received hundreds of mail in ballots, which are available due to the COVID-19 outbreak, said Watertown Town Clerk John Flynn. State officials send the requests for mail-in ballots to the Town Clerk’s office, and staff sends out the ballots. “We have mailed out over 7,000 ballots,” Flynn said. “This is the first challenge to an incumbent U.S. Senator for years.

Around Town

Rising COVID-19 Cases Concerns Watertown Health Director

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An upturn in the new COVID-19 cases concerns Watertown Health Director Larry Ramdin, who worries that the state may go back into more strict shutdown rules if the trend gets worse. During the first week of August, Watertown had its first COVID fatality reported since the second week of May, bringing the total to 24. For the first time in several weeks, the number of new positive COVID-19 cases is into the double digits in Watertown, and the state numbers are growing by around 2,000 a week. “People are going on vacation, it is summer, there is a little complacency,” Ramdin said. “People are going to social gatherings, they are not social distancing, not wearing face coverings, expose themselves.”

Around Town

Long-Time Watertown Square Restaurant Closing This Week

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The DPW discovered a culvert deep under Watertown Square that was not on any plans. An institution in Watertown Square for more than three decades will close its doors this week. Stellina Restaurant, at 47 Main St., announced that it will serve its last dinner service. “After 34 years in Watertown, Stellina will close after Saturday August 22. Please join us for our last week,” the restaurant’s website announced.

Around Town

Solar Panels Donated to Watertown Boys & Girls Club Will Generate Power, Funds

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Solar panels are being installed on the roof of the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. They were donated by Peter Glick and Rise Up Solar. The Watertown Boys & Girls Club received a donation of an array of solar panels, which will reduce electricity costs in the short run, and long term will generate revenue for the club. The solar panels were donated by Peter Glick who teamed up with Rise Up Solar, a Cambridge-based company which helps community-based non-profits gain access to solar panels. The Club will reap the environmental and financial rewards.

Government

Water & Sewer Bills Will Rise Over 8%, Council Grudgingly Approves Rates

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Watertown residents will see their water and sewer bills increases by more than 8 percent with the approval of the Fiscal Year 2021 water and sewer rates by the Town Council on Tuesday night. The Council voted 8-1 to approve the rates, with Lisa Feltner voting “no.” All the councilors expressed concern and/or disappointment about the rate hike. Some asked for ways to give some relief, or even to create a fund for those who have trouble paying their bills, but nothing emerged from Tuesday’s meeting. Watertown’s Water and Sewer budgets pay for the expenses of running the systems through the money collected from customers.

Elections

Council Moves Polling Place from Senior Housing to Middle School

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After hearing from many people worried about having voters coming into a senior apartment building during the 2020 elections, the Town Council voted to move the polling location to Watertown Middle School. A temporary location for Precincts 11 and 12 is needed because the normal voting location, Cunniff Elementary School, is under construction. School construction at Hosmer Elementary School also impacted Precinct 2, which will move to the Hellenic Cultural Center. The locations will be used for the Sept. 1 State Primary and the Nov.