Around Town
Several Open Houses Around Watertown This Weekend
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Check out the homes hosting open houses this week. 12 Walnut St. #B, $1,675,000, 4 bedroom 4 bathroom 2,859 sq. ft. Townhouse, Open houses: Saturday, Dec.
Around Town
Man Who Was Arrested for Drug Trafficking in Watertown Had 500 Grams of Fentanyl
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The U.S. Attorney’s office in Massachusetts provided the following announcement about the New York man arrested in the parking lot of the Watertown Home Depot for allegedly selling drugs to a federal informant. Members of the Watertown Police assisted in the operation. See the announcement below. A New York City man has been arrested and charged for allegedly distributing multiple kilograms of fentanyl in the greater Boston area that he transported from New York. Cesar Nunez Lopez, 42, was charged with three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Around Town
Toys Delivered to 100s of Watertown Families in Need by Police & Firefighters for the Whooley Foundation
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Some of the toys collected for the 2024 Sonny Whooley Foundation. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
The mission given to 40 Watertown police officers and firefighters Tuesday morning was to fill boxes full of gifts, and then deliver them to more than 150 families around the Community. They had their choice of hundreds of toys, games, balls, even bicycles that filled the Community Room at the Watertown Police Station. All were donated to or purchased with funds given to the John “Sonny” Whooley Foundation, named after a former Watertown Police officer who would raise money and give it to families in need during the holidays. Watertown Police Justin Chief Hanrahan looked over the hive of activity as people packed boxes with gifts.
Around Town
Council President Calls for Recognition of Watertown’s Efforts to Create Housing
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City Council President Mark Sideris speaks at the 2024 Inauguration. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Watertown City Council President Mark Sideris recently wrote a letter to the Boston Globe asking for recognition of the City’s effort to allow housing, going above and beyond the state’s requirements. The letter was published by the Globe on Dec. 14. He wrote it in response to an article the paper ran about how Lexington met the requirements of the MBTA Communities Law and has about 1,000 units in the pipeline to be constructed.
Police/Fire
Cambridge Man Arrested for Vandalizing Armenian Church; Watertown Police Log
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Watertown Police Chief Justin Hanrahan announced the arrest of a Cambridge man in relation to vandalism at one of Watertown’s Armenian churches in November. See the announcement, and this week’s Police Log, below. Chief Hanrahan is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of our investigation into the vandalism incident at St. Stephen’s Armenian Church on November 18, 2024. Thanks to the diligent efforts of our patrol and detective divisions, a Cambridge resident has been identified and will face criminal charges for their actions.
Around Town
A Pair of Homes in Watertown Were Sold This Week
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A condo and a two-family home were sold this week. 23 Springfield St. #23, $1,370,000, 4 bedroom 4 bathroom 2,503 sq. ft. Condo
56 N. Beacon St., $1,380,000, 4 bedroom 4 bathroom 3,070 sq.
Police/Fire
FBI Arrests New York Man for Allegedly Selling Drugs in Watertown
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The FBI arrested a man who traveled to Watertown from New York to allegedly sell drugs on Friday. The Boston Globe reported that Cesar Nunez Lopez, of New York City, went to a parking lot in town to meet a person he believed to be a buyer, but was actually a federal informant. Nunez Lopez allegedly sold the man fentanyl on three different occasions, including at the Home Depot parking lot in Watertown. He was arrested on drug trafficking charges. See more details in the Boston Globe report by clicking here.
Government
2025 Watertown Property Taxes Rising, But Bills Still Lower Than 2022
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Charlie BreitroseWatertown’s City Hall. Property taxes will rise nearly 6 percent over last year, but will still be lower than they were in Fiscal Year 2022 (2021-22). On Tuesday, City Council approved a property tax rate with the maximum amount of the burden shifted from residential to commercial, industrial and personal properties, and the maximum residential exemption for owner-occupied homes. During the Property Tax Classification Hearing, the Council heard from people concerned about the rising taxes, as well as the recent five-year property revaluation process. Tax Bills
The Council got to choose the maximum exclusion for residential properties, either 33 percent (the same as last year), 34 percent, or 35 percent.