Police/Fire

Names of a Dozen Accused Customers of Busted Brothel Ring Revealed at Court Hearing

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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.

Around Town

Watertown’s Winter Park Had Ended for 2025

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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.

Real Estate

More Than 2 Dozen Open Houses in Watertown This Week

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Homebuyers have a wealth of choices of open houses this week around town. See the list of properties hosting tours below. 166 Worcester St., $949,900, 3 bedroom 2 bathroom 1,934 sq. ft. Single Family, Open houses: Saturday, March 15 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Sunday, March 16 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

30 Boyd St.

Around Town

City Manager Talks About Life Science Sector, Federal Funding, Future of Watertown Square & More in His City Update

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Watertown City Manager George Proakis covered a variety of topics in his City Update on Tuesday. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown’s economic prospects remain promising, despite a downturn in life sciences and uncertainty in future funds from Washington, City Manager George Proakis said during his City Update at an event hosted by the Watertown Business Coalition on Tuesday. During the event at the Hampton Inn & Suites, he also spoke about the possible reuse of the former Police Station property, how the new Cultural District could help the local economy, and the redevelopment of Watertown Square. Life Science Sector

While the lab boom of the early 2020s has waned, Proakis said that the industry still remains solid. “We have 4 million square feet of lab space now, and while vacancies are currently high, indicators are the industry is still growing, with job growth outpacing layoffs, and I think that last thing that is the key is the industry built very aggressively in the lab field of the last couple of years,” Proakis said.

Around Town

Watertown Receives State Cooling Corridors Grant to Plant Trees

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Launch of the Cooling Corridors Program in Chicopee, MA, in 2024 (Contributed Photo)

Watertown was one of the communities to receive a grant to plant trees as part of the state’s Cooling Corridors program. See more information in the announcement from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, below. The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced over $1.3 million in grants from the Cooling Corridors program, which focuses on planting trees along popular walking routes and in environmental justice neighborhoods across Massachusetts. The funding, through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ (EEA) Division of Conservation Services, will go to 13 municipalities and one nonprofit organization to combat the rising heat residents are experiencing due to climate change. The program prioritizes planting trees in environmental justice (EJ) neighborhoods – communities that often face more environmental challenges – and along paths that connect people to important places like schools, healthcare providers, and senior centers. 

“Investing in green spaces is vital for the health and well-being of our residents,” said Governor Maura Healey.

Sports

Watertown Wrestlers Make History at New Englands, One Finishes Second

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Watertown Senior Tessa Master made history by finishing second at the New England Wrestling Championships. Here she won the MIAA Div. 3 State Tournament. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Senior Tessa Master made more history for the Watertown High School wrestling program by becoming the school’s highest finisher at the New England Wrestling Championships — improving on her junior-year performance. She was joined in Providence, Rhode Island, by fellow senior Brady Gleason, the first Raider boys wrestler to make the regional meet.