Police/Fire

Watertown Police Buy Family New Refrigerator After Officer Discovers They Were Facing Desperate Situation

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Watertown Police Officer Frank Forde. (Courtesy of Watertown Police)

A Watertown Police officer bought a family a new refrigerator after learning that a family was in a difficult situation and could not afford to replace their broken one. Officer Frank Forde learned that the family’s refrigerator stopped working, and that the father has a serious medical condition and he could not work, Watertown Police Chief Justin Hanrahan in a post on the WPD Facebook account. “Officer Forde started a collection around the police station with numerous department members contributing and quickly raised money to purchase a new refrigerator for the family,” Hanrahan said. “This is just one example of the amazing work being done by the officers of the Watertown Police Department everyday.”

Government

Hear from the Hopefuls for Governor’s Council in Their Candidate Q&As

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The candidates for District 3 Governor’s Council: Marilyn Petitto Devaney, left, and Mara Dolan. Democrats will have a contested race that includes a local candidate to vote on during the Sept. 3 State Primary, the District 3 Governor’s Councilor, or “Councilor” as it appears on the ballot. Watertown resident and incumbent Marilyn Petitto Devaney is challenged by Concord’s Mara Dolan, who lived in Watertown for a time. The same two candidates faced each other in 2022, and Petitto Devaney won after receiving nearly 51 percent of the votes.

Government

Council President & City Manager to Present Annual State of the City Address in September

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Watertown’s annual State of the City address will take place on Sept. 4, 2024. The first one was held last August. The event is required to be held annually with the changes to the City Charter were approved by voters in 2021. The City of Watertown provided the following information:

The Watertown State of the City address will be broadcasted live from WCA-TV’s studio on September 4, 2024 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. 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. 

Watch live online, or on Comcast 22 and RCN 13.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Allegedly Strangled Domino’s Employee, Phone Hacked and $20K in Bitcoin Stolen

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Aug. 8, 10:43 p.m.: An officer at Church and Main streets saw a Toyota SUV go through a red light. The driver was pulled over and when the officer spoke with the driver it was discovered the man had a warrant for his arrest. Hufeyin Alaskan, 21, of Waltham, was arrested for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Around Town

Federal Judge Rules Boys & Girls Club Can Evict Day Care Center

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Watertown Cable

A Federal Bankruptcy Court judge sided with the Watertown Boys & Girls Club’s motion to allow them to evict the First Path Day Care Center from the facility on Whites Avenue. On Monday, Judge Janet E. Bostwick rejected First Path’s request for a preliminary injunction preventing the eviction, and ruled that the bankruptcy filing does not prevent the Boys & Girls Club evicting the day care center, according to a report by the Boston Globe. In the ruling, Bostwick said lease had “unequivocally expired,” according to the Globe, and that under state law any other agreements “needed to be in writing to be enforceable.” First Path has been located in the building owned by the Watertown Boys & Girls Club for 26 years, and currently serves 60 families. In December 2021, the Boys & Girls Club informed First Path that its lease would not be renewed because it seeks to expand its program into that space.

Around Town

Watertown Advocate for People with Disabilities to Receive Highest Honor in Field of Blindness

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Kim Charlson, executive director of the Perkins School for the Blind’s Library. She will receive the highest honor from the American Foundation for the Blind. (Courtesy of Perkins School)

Longtime director of the Perkins Library and chair of the Watertown Commission on Disability Kim Charlson, has garnered honors and accolades, and later this year she will receive one more when she receives the highest honor in the field of blindness. In September, the Watertown resident will receive the 2024 Migel Medal at the American Foundation for the Blind’s (AFB) annual leadership conference, along with Susan Mazrui. “It is an honor to recognize these two outstanding leaders, who have spent their lives making the world more inclusive and accessible for those who are blind or have low vision,” AFB President and CEO Eric Bridges said in announcement about the award.

Government

Final Watertown Square Area Plan is Out Now, See More Here

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The City of Watertown released the final version of the Watertown Square Area Plan, which was endorsed by the City Council and Planning Board. Read the full version, which includes all the amendments and additions added during the July 16 public hearing by clicking here, and see some of the highlights in the announcement provided by the City, below. The Watertown City Council and Planning Board held three Public Hearings between June and July to discuss the Area Plan. After discussions among themselves and hearing from the public, the Council and Planning Board officially endorsed the Plan on July 16, 2024. 

What is in this Plan Document? Click Here to Read the Plan

Much of this Plan Document remains unchanged from the initial draft released on May 30, 2024.

Around Town

City Manager Clarifies City’s Role in Dispute Between Day Care and Boys & Girls Club

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Watertown City Manager George Proakis. [UPDATED: The story was updated on Aug. 15 at 8 a.m. about the status of the building permit.]

City Manager George Proakis weighed in on the City of Watertown’s role in the ongoing strife between First Path Day Care Center and the Watertown Boys & Girls Club over the space leased to the daycare provider. He said he was limited in how much he could say because First Path has ongoing suits against the City. The dispute over First Path’s lease at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club became public in recent weeks, first with a letter from the Boys & Girls Club leaders saying they have plans to expand the Club’s program but the day care has not left the space after its lease expired.