Police/Fire

Shoplifter Facing Many Other Charges After Spitting on Police

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A woman caught shoplifting at Target got herself into more trouble when she would not go quietly with police officers. The suspect, identified as Ryaneesha Rice, 24, of Jamaica Plain, was spotted put an air purifier under her cart and asked to receive credit for it. For that and some other items she received a total of $383.23 on a gift card, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. She was caught and taken to the security office. When police arrived she was not cooperating. Rice began swearing at officers and when they tried to hand cuff her she yelled obscenities at the officers.

Schools

Watertown Schools Preparing for Growing Enrollment

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Watertown’s schools will grow by more than 180 students over the next 10 years, according to projections by school officials, and the district will have to figure ways to fit these students into the schools. 

First priority is figuring out next year, the 2015-16 school year, when the school are expected to have four fewer students than the enrollment for the 2014-15 school year – 2,579 for PreK-12. The challenge next year will be the larger than normal grades at Cunniff and Hosmer schools, school officials said at Monday’s School Committee Budget and Finance Subcommittee meeting. Cunniff’s two fourth grade classes are projected at 25 and 26 in 2015-16, and Hosmer’s third grade is projected to have three classes of 26 and one of 25. Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald said the district plans to add a teacher to each of the schools, but not to create a new class. “Both principals will use the teachers for smaller instructional groups,” Fitzgerald said.

Letters

LETTER: Resident Reminds Dog Owners to Keep Parks Clean

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The first day of spring has arrived and the mounds and mounds of winter are finally shrinking. Evidence of grass emerges in spotty areas around the apartments at the Coolidge School. Sullivan Park is still crusted with white but soon the field will be ready to take on the all American game of baseball. Spring training had already begun and opening day is around the corner. Here in Watertown we wait for the season to begin.

Letters

LETTER: Heathy Technology Series Educating Parents & Kids

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{This is the first in a series of three articles about the Watertown Lecture Series focusing on children and technology.}

In today’s hyperconnected world, the way adolescents “learn, play, and interact has changed more in the past 15 years than in the previous 570 years. In 2010 U.S. adolescents spent an average of 8.5 hours per day interacting with digital devices, up from 6.5 hours in just 2006. Thirty percent of the time they are simultaneously using more than one device, bringing daily total media exposure time to 11.5 hours.”

This past Wednesday, we launched the Healthy Technology Speaker Series thanks to a generous grant from The Watertown Community Foundation. The series is a collaborative effort between local parents, Watertown Public Schools, the Watertown Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC), the Watertown Boys and Girls Club, Wayside Youth and Family Services, the Watertown Youth Coalition, Live Well Watertown, the Watertown Education Foundation and Families for Depression Awareness. The first event featured Laura Indigo, who led us through mindfulness activities for adults and children, and Jon Mattleman, who framed the problem of the hidden and emotional consequences of the internet and digital space. Mindfulness activities help us—whether we are 5 or 95—reconnect to our feelings, thoughts, and bodies.

Government

Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban Ending Soon!

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The long winter is almost over for Watertown residents – the Winter Parking ban will be lifted on Wednesday, April 1. Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau announced the enforcement of the ban of on-street parking overnight in town will end. He added, however, that keeping streets clear will help repairs and emergency access even after the ban ends. “The Department of Public Works, Police Department and Fire Department would like to remind motorists that keeping the streets clear allows for road repairs, street cleaning and easy access for public safety vehicles,” Deveau said. “To that end, all departments encourage residents to make full use of off street parking when it is available.”

Schools

Watertown Students May Get More Access to Technology

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Some Watertown students may have access to computers the entire school day next year if the school budget is approved. 

The $532,867 technology request includes $78,750 for 210 new Chromebooks, said Toni Carlson, career and technical education coordinator. “We have a pilot (program) where eighth-graders will have a computer in their hands from the beginning of the day until the end of the day,” Carlson told the School Committee’s Budget and Finance Subcommittee. The students will pick them up at the beginning of the day and return them to the carts to charge at the end of the day, Carlson said. When students must pick up and put away computers during each class period cuts into the teaching time, she added. Small pilots have already been successful in single classrooms at Watertown Middle School and now officials want to expand it, Carlson said.

Government

Recreation Department Opens Victory Field for Public Use

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A sign of spring is the opening of Victory Field by the Recreation Department. 

Recreation Director Peter Centola announced that the athletic complex on Orchard Street is open for use. He reminds residents that parking is only for Victory Field users from 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Those parking at Victory Field overnight must remove their vehicles by 8 a.m. and can begin parking again at 10 p.m.

“Parking is restricted to marked spots only,” Centola said. “Please do not park anywhere else. Do not move cones!” If parking fills up at Victory Field, additional parking can be found at the Department of Public Works at 124 Orchard St., next to the football field.

Police/Fire

Watertown Man Killed When Hit by Car on Mass Pike

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A Watertown man was struck and killed by a car after he was in a separate accident on the Mass. Turnpike. 

Arkloo Wong, 81, of Watertown was involved in a collision with another driver near the Allston-Brighton Tolls on the westbound side of the Pike late Friday night. He exited his car to speak with the other driver and a car driven by a 30-year-old Brighton man hit Wong. Wong was pronounced dead at the scene and Coury was taken to hospital for treatment. No charges have been filed but the accident remains under investigation.