Development

Reappointment of ZBA Chair Stirs Heated Debate Among Council, Others

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Despite objections from residents, the Town Council recently voted to reappoint Melissa M. Santucci Rozzi as Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Councilors voted nearly unanimously to reappoint Rozzi during a Town Council meeting Tuesday, March 10. Prior to the vote, several councilors said they had heard from residents who were unhappy with Rozzi after the ZBA approved a controversial proposal for a CVS in Coolidge Ave. Despite objections from residents, every member of the council expressed support for Rozzi except Tony Palomba, who said he was disappointed at how his fellow councilors reacted to the public’s criticism of Rozzi. Palomba voted present.

Development

Town Hosting Zoning 101 Presentation on How Developments are Approved

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To say Watertown has become a hotbed for development is an understatement, and town officials want to let residents and others know about the process developments go through for approval and the state and local laws and regulations that must be followed. Town Council President Mark Sideris announced the public presentation, “The Zoning Act and Municipal Regulation of Land Use,” at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting. It will be held Thursday, March 19 from 6:30-9 p.m. in the Watertown Free Public Library’s Watertown Savings Bank Room. At the meetings, attorneys Mark R. Reich and Carolyn Murray of Kopelman and Paige – the town’s attorneys – will cover the process from pre-permitting to consideration of by the Planning and Zoning boards through the approval and issuance of variances and special permits, Sideris said. Following the presentation, a question and answer period will be held.

Government

Watertown Progressives Holding Open Meeting This Weekend

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Progressive Watertown, a new chapter of Progressive Massachusetts, is holding an Open Meeting on Sunday, March 15 at 4:00pm in the Auditorium at the Apartments at Coolidge School, 319 Arlington Street. At this meeting, voting members will be electing a Steering Committee, which in turn will be electing Co-Chairs and voting to approve a Mission Statement. Visit www.progressivemass.com to join and become a voting member of this new local chapter. For more information contact Richard Marcus at progressivewatertown@gmail.com

 

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Schools

Scholarship to be Awarded in Honor of Local Man Killed Vietnam

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The Lt. Paul J. Sullivan Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the 46th annual Lt. Paul J. Sullivan Scholarship. The Scholarship Award of $4,000 will be awarded to a deserving high school senior to perpetuate Paul’s memory. There will also be awards for the other finalists. Last year, a total of $17,000 was awarded to seven young men and women. Paul was a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Watertown and a graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Waltham in 1961. He was a 1965 graduate of Boston College.  During those years he participated on many area athletic teams, most notably in the areas of basketball and baseball. He worked for the Watertown Recreation Department as a park instructor. After his college graduation, Paul taught at the West Jr. High School in Watertown and coached at Sacred Heart High School in Newton and St. Patrick’s High School in Watertown. He volunteered for the Army, graduating from OCS and Ranger training. He was sent to Vietnam in early July 1968 and was killed in combat on August 9, 1968. He left behind his wife, his family, and his friends, all of whom had been deeply touched by his life. 
This Scholarship was established in his memory by his family and friends to be awarded annually to that young person who best exemplifies the kind of person Paul was. Over the years, 47 young men and women have been recognized as recipients of the Lt. Paul J. Sullivan Scholarship and 184 other young people have received recognition and financial assistance as finalists. Thousands of dollars have gone to college scholarships, sponsorship of athletic teams, and support of programs for youth. Candidates may qualify for the scholarship if they belong to the following parishes:
Sacred Heart – Newton; St.

Sports

GARDEN BOUND: Watertown Boys Hockey Team Beats Norwell in State Semi

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A trip to the Cape in early March does not make for a nice vacation, but the Watertown boys’ hockey team will remember their trip forever after they won the state semifinal against Norwell 3-0 to clinch a trip to the TD Garden for the MIAA Div. 3 state final. The game at Gallo Arena in Bourne started out rough for the Raiders, who absorbed plenty of offensive pressure from the Clippers in the first period. Watertown managed only five shots in the first stanza, while Raiders’ senior goalie Anthony Busconi stoped all 11 Norwell shots, some from just feet away. “I thought the first period we weren’t very good,” Waterotwn head coach Mike Hayes said.

Sports

LIVE: Watertown Boys Hockey Faces Off Against Norwell in State Semi

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The puck drops at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday when the Watertown boys’ hockey team looks to keep its magical tournament run going all the way to the Garden for the state final. Follow the action live below! The Raiders (14-3-7) face a tough Norwell (21-1-3) team, the South Section champs in the MIAA Div. 3 state semifinal at Gallo Arena in Bourne.  

Watertown has been on a tournament run deeper than has been seen since 1991, when the Raiders also reached the state semifinal.

Charity

LETTER: Group Struggling to Keep Up with Needs of Watertown’s Most Vulnerable

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It’s no secret that this has been a brutal winter, with record snow and cold temperatures. For those who are fortunate to live in warm homes, the weather may be inconvenient and annoying, but still manageable. However, for many other Watertown residents, the weather has put their lives in crisis. No one knows this better than Nancy Dutton, Administrator of the Helen Robinson Wright Charitable Fund, and the Rev. Mark Harris, minister of the First Parish of Watertown, where the fund is based. It’s Monday morning, and Nancy and Mark have just begun their workday.

Business

Tufts Health Plan Collects Items to Help Older Homeless Settle Into New Homes

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Tufts Health Plan recently wrapped up a household supply drive for Hearth, a local nonprofit that helps homeless older adults find secure, stable housing. Many of the supplies (though by no means all of them – there were lots of extras!) were assembled into baskets that will be given to the newly settled clients to help them establish their homes. Baskets contained toilet paper, paper towels, a bath towel and washcloths, dish towels, dish soap, kitchen sponges, latex gloves, all purpose cleaner, shampoo, soap, body lotion, a toothbrush and toothpaste, laundry detergent and a reusable shopping bag. The Tufts Health Plan Foundation currently also supports Hearth with a grant to fund outreach case managers, who actually help individuals find the housing.