Schools

Teachers Added to Reduce Class Sizes, Other Positions Unfilled

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Each of Watertown’s elementary schools received a new teacher to help reduce the size of classes, but the district did not hire all the teachers it had hoped. Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald discussed school enrollment and new hires at Monday’s School Committee meeting. Hosmer School has 850 students this fall, Lowell School has 388 students and there are 312 children at Cunniff School. “At each school, class size was something very important to parents – and to all of us,” Fitzgerald said. “Each school got an additional general education teacher to help with class size.”

Around Town

Fallen Firefighter Ed Walsh to be Honored at WHS Football Game

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On Friday night, Watertown native and fallen Boston Firefighter Ed Walsh will be honored at the Watertown High School football game. Lt. Walsh died fighting a fire in the Back Bay in March. His funeral was held at St. Patrick’s Church in Watertown and thousands of firefighters from around the country came to pay tribute (see more here). Other WHS sports teams have paid tribute to Walsh, who attended the high school, including the baseball and lacrosse teams.

The game will be at 7 p.m. on Oct.

Around Town

Tufts Health Plan Foundation Awards $880K in Grants

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Organizations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island received more than $880,000 during the second cycle of the Tufts Health Plan Foundation’s grant awards. More than 25 percent of grants this cycle are for programs which have not been funded previously by the Tufts Health Plan Foundation, according to an announcement from the foundation. These include intergenerational programs in Somerville and Worcester, evidence-based Tai Chi and Fall Prevention programs in Boston and Johnston, RI, and a new driving assessment program for older adults through Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod. Also receiving funding for the first time this cycle is the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging’s Aging Mastery program, which was created by the National Council on Aging to empower participants to make small but impactful changes in their health behaviors. The program will be offered in nine Massachusetts communities selected through a bid process.

Business

Boylston Properties Discusses Plans for Verizon Building

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Boylston Properties plans to turn the Verizon Building behind the Watertown Mall into office space. The owner of large parcels on the Eastside of Watertown said it plans to turn the building at 480C Boylston St. into a 160,000 square-foot office building, according to a story on Banker & Tradesman’s website. Boylston Properties President William McQuillan said he hopes to create space for biotech or technology companies. Read the whole story here: http://www.bankerandtradesman.com/news161379.html

Government

See How the Schools Used Nearly $1 Million From the Town

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At Monday’s School Committee meeting, Watertown School officials detailed how they used an infusion of nearly $1 million it received from the town budget last spring. The one-time funds were provided as a boost to the curriculum. The money went to upgrade technology and to update curriculum materials, said Assistant Superintendent Dari Donovan. The district received $210,000 from the Fiscal 2014 budget and $750,000 from the Fiscal 2015 budget. Due to tight budgets, curriculum materials have not been updated in some time, Donovan said.

Around Town

Watertown Library Now Offering Digital Copies of Yearbooks, More

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The Watertown Free Public Library will offer a new digital resource to look at historic Watertown High School yearbooks and has plans to add more resources. Through BiblioBoard, library users can view various WHS yearbooks from 1925 and 1958. Find pictures of yourself or family members in old editions of The Annual. Highlights from The Annual include everything from photos of the high school’s marching band in a 1955 parade to advertisements from beloved local businesses such as one for a prom dress from Mary Burns’ formal boutique for only $19.95, according to the announcement. Users can access BiblioBoard through the library’s website (watertownlib.org) or synch with the device of their choice, including the iPad, iPad mini, Kindle Fire, Galaxy, Nexus and more.

Real Estate

Take a Look at the Homes that Sold in Watertown this Week

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Three homes sold this week in Watertown, see the details below. $585,000 – 180-182 Boylston St., 2 unit, 10 total room, 4 total bedroom, 2 Family – 2 Units Up/Down multi-family home

Sponsored by:

$521,000 – 313 Common Street Unit 2, 9 room, 4 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$560,000 – 56 Bartlett Street Unit 56, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse