Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/page/3/)
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. March 8: Police responded to Best Buy for a shoplifter. They got the man’s description and located the suspect near Hampton Inn & Suites. The man admitted to shoplifting from Best Buy and had two speakers in a bag. When he took the speaker he removed the “spider” anti-theft devices.
Cliff Cook (far right) from the Watertown Affordable Housing Trust, and Allison Eck, of Watertown Community Converstations, talked about the upcoming ADU Community Dialogue with Inside Watertown hosts Bob Airasian (left) and Charlie Breitrose. (Screenshot from Watertown Cable)
The latest episode of Inside Watertown focused on the discussion over accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are sometimes called in-law units or granny units. The guests on the Watertown Cable show talked about the upcoming community dialogue
Cliff Cook, a member of the Watertown Affordable Housing Trust, explained what ADUs are, and how Watertown has complied with the State’s recently added zoning requirement to allow the units. However, the input from the dialogue will help City officials decide if Watertown wants to go farther and allow ADUs in more situations. The Community Dialogue on Monday, March 24 will be led by Watertown Community Conversations (WCC), explained Allison Eck, a facilitator with WCC.
Watertown Fire DepartmentFirefighter Joseph Toscano, a 21-year veteran of the Watertown Fire Department, died on March 17, 2017 after collapsing during a fire. St. Patrick’s Day is a somber one for the Watertown Fire Department. Each year since 2017 Watertown Firefighters pay tribute to Joe Toscano, who lost his life fighting a fire on Merrifield Avenue. On Monday, current and former members of the Watertown Fire Department lined up on Bigelow Avenue, near the home where Toscano collapsed and died during a house fire.
Watertown’s five-year capital plan for Fiscal Years 2026-30 by the has 51 items, including replacing Watertown Middle School, road repair, and renovating parts of the Victory Field complex. The City Council voted to recommend the budget be included in City Manager George Proakis’ Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget. For FY26 the total proposed capital spending is $38.49 million, which includes $23.2 million in school building projects. The cost is covered by tax revenue, state dollars, grants, and borrowing. Based on the revised FY26 revenue projection, the total proposed FY26 capital spending would be 17.9 percent of the $215 million operating budget, or 7.1 percent without the school building projects, known as “Building for the Future.”
Vincent Piccirilli, District C City Councilor and Council Vice President
Watertown Council Vice President and District C Councilor Vincent Piccirilli spoke with former Council President Clyde Younger, host of the Eye on Watertown Podcast. Topics covered included housing and the MBTA Communities Law, the City logo, and Piccirilli’s possible political future. Younger was joined by guest co-host Charlie Breitrose, editor of Watertown News. The podcast was recorded at the Watertown Cable Access studio. See the podcast by clicking here.
Four condos, two single family homes, and a townhouse were sold in Watertown this week. 88 Cypress St. #1, $1,020,000, 3 bedroom 3 bathroom 1,862 sq. ft. Condo
35 Parker St.
The identities of 12 of the men accused of being customers of an interstate prostitution ring which used apartments in buildings, including in Watertown and Cambridge, were released on Friday in Cambridge District Court. One of the apartment building used by the prostitution ring was Blvd & Bond apartments located in Arsenal Yards in Watertown. Other places used by the ring were located in Cambridge, Dedham, Virginia, and California. The accused were identified about 16 months after the bust of the high-end commercial sex ring which operated in Massachusetts and Virginia. At the hearing, Cambridge District Court Clerk Sharon Casey said she would file charges against all of them, according to a report by Boston 25 News.
The City of Watertown announced the end of the Winter Parking Ban effective Friday, March 14, 2025. The announcement, sent via the City’s Everbridge system, adds that “If there is a snowstorm, it will go back into effect.” Watertown’s Parking Ordinance does not allow parking overnight all year, but the City enforces the ban during the winter, typically from the Monday after Thanksgiving to April 1. Earlier this year, the City Council held a special hearing after a group seeking to end the Winter Parking Ban submitted a petition with several hundred signatures. Read about the meeting here.