Police/Fire

Pair of Watertown Men Pull Handgun Out of Charles River, Had Been Reported Stolen

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Watertown DPW

Two men from Watertown pulled up a firearm from the depths of the Charles River last week. The handgun had been reported stolen. Patrick Rourke and Isaac Russo went out on a kayak and searched for metal objects on the river and they found something after just a few minutes, according to the report on WHDH Channel 7. They soon realized it was a real firearm. They contacted Watertown Police who notified the Massachusetts State Police, who have jurisdiction because the Charles falls under the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Two Cars Vandalized, Multiple Packages Taken

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Sept. 9, 4:40 a.m.: An officer patrolling on Arsenal Street heard a man yelling. He was arguing with another person and the officer went to speak with both of them. When Police did a background check on the man they found he had a warrant for his arrest.

Business

New Indian Restaurant Opens in Former Location of Strip T’s

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A restaurant serving Southern Indian dishes has opened in Watertown on School Street. Chennai Eats moved into the former Don’s BBQ/Avenue Deli/Strip-T’s space at 93 School St. in Watertown, the Boston Restaurant Talk website reported. The menu features dosas, chaat, biryani, Indo-Chinese dishes, as well as a variety of curry and other Indian dishes. Meat and vegetarian options are available.

Around Town

Agreement Reached to Allow Day Care to Stay in Boys & Girls Club Until New Home is Ready

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The Watertown Boys & Girls Club building also houses First Path Day Care Center. First Path Day Care Center and the Watertown Boys & Girls Club have negotiated an agreement which would allow First Path to remain in the Club’s building so that children can attend the day care while construction is finished on its new facility. The day care center has been located in the Boys & Girls Club building since 1998, but the Club has plans to expand its program so in 2021 it informed First Path that its lease would not be renewed. The lease was supposed to end on May 31, 2024, and the Club’s board gave an extension to June 30, but First Path wanted two more months to allow work on their new facility to be finished. First Path declared bankruptcy in an effort to prevent an eviction, and the Boys & Girls Club filed a motion in Federal Court to remove the eviction protection.

Around Town

Watertown Gifted BlueBike Station, Also Using Grant to Expand System

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Arsenal YardsThe BlueBike station outside Arsenal Yards. Watertown will have up to four new BlueBike stations after being gifted one bikeshare docking station and receiving a grant for up to three more. A 19-bike station was donated to the City of Watertown by BlueCross BlueShield and Lyft, City Manager George Proakis announced at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. “They ended up with a spare station, and communities could apply for it,” Proakis said. “We responded and this is a free station being granted to us as a gift.

Government

See When the Rescheduled State of the City Will Take Place

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The City of Watertown announced the new date and location for the rescheduled State of the City Address by City Council President Mark Sideris and City Manager George Proakis. The State of the City had originally been scheduled to be a live broadcast from the Watertown Cable Access studio on Sept. 4, but was postponed because Proakis tested positive for COVID-19. The City provided the following announcement:

The Watertown State of the City address has been rescheduled for September 19, 2024, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. and will be held at the Watertown Free Public Library, at 123 Main St, in the Watertown Savings Bank Room (please note the new location). City Council President Mark Sideris and City Manager George Proakis will deliver the State of the City together, before transitioning to Q+A and answering resident-submitted questions.

Around Town

Residents Share Their Desires for Watertown Square with City’s Economic Development Planner

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Residents on a tour of Watertown Square shared their vision for the area with Watertown’s Senior Planner for Economic Development Erin Rathe. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Two members of the City of Watertown staff who will be designing the new Watertown Square led a group of more than a dozen people on a walk through the area to get an idea of what residents want to see in the center of town. The walk, held on Sept. 5, was part of Live Well Watertown’s Walk N Talk series, and was led by Erin Rathe, the City’s Senior Planner for Economic Development. Joining her was the Director of Community Design, Erika Oliver Jerram.