Schools

Watertown Rotary Club Offering Scholarships, See How to Apply

By |

The following information was provided by the Rotary Club of Watertown:

All residents of Watertown who are high school seniors and applying to college are eligible for Watertown Rotary Scholarships. The amount of each award and the number of scholarships granted are determined on a yearly basis. 

All eligible residents must submit completed applications, postmarked no later than April 12, 2024 to:

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEEROTARY CLUB OF WATERTOWNc/o Anthony Donato42 Arden RoadWATERTOWN, MA 02472

The form must be completed in full and accompanied by a transcript and letter of recommendation to be considered a valid application. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee. All information supplied on this form will be kept strictly confidential. Only one application need be submitted to be eligible for consideration for all scholarships available through the Rotary Club of Watertown.

Around Town

Turkish Restaurant Serves Traditional Dishes in Longtime Watertown Dining Spot

By |

Halva Kebabs serves up a variety of grilled meats. (Courtesy of Halva Kebab)

A spot in town that has long been an eating destination is serving hungry diners once again. Halva Kebab opened in the former New Yorker Diner spot near Watertown Square, and is serving up a wide range of kebabs and other Turkish dishes. While the owners are new to the area, they have a long tradition of running restaurants, said co-owner Joseph Dagdelen. “We have another location in New Jersey,” he said.

Government

This Week: Short Term Rentals, Increase Tax Exemptions & Study of City Council Salaries

By |

The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on whether to allow short-term rentals in Watertown. A City Council committee will look at increasing the exemption allowed on personal property, which would reduce the burden on businesses. The full Council will meet Tuesday and discuss establishing a committee to examine Councilor salaries. Monday night at 6 p.m., the City Council’s Committee on Budget and Fiscal Oversight will discuss increasing the personal property tax exemption from $5,000 to $10,000. The Watertown Business Coalition supports the idea, saying it would give some tax relief to small businesses.

Around Town

Documentary Film on Plastics to be Screened at Watertown Church

By |

The following announcement was provided by Beyond Plastics Greater Boston:

First Parish Watertown in collaboration with Beyond Plastics Greater Boston and Oceana will host a free film screening of Rory Fielding’s documentary “We’re All Plastic People Now” on Tuesday, March 19th at 7:00 PM at First Parish Watertown, 35 Church St., Watertown. 

The film addresses the global plastic pollution crisis and features Oceana’s Plastics Campaign Director Christy Leavitt and Oceana board member Ted Danson. It also shows the chilling reality of how pervasive plastic pollution is in our lives. Plastic is everywhere from the air we breathe to the water we drink. 

Solving the plastic pollution crisis requires that we curb single-use plastic production and cut off the problem at the source. Reuse and refill systems can move us away from throwaway plastics. The future can include less plastic if we turn off the tap and invest in non-toxic reuse together.

Around Town

Summer Garden Internships Available for Middle & High School Students

By |

The Public Arts & Culture Committee is pleased to announce the launch the second year of the Summer Garden Internship in partnership with Watertown School Gardens and the Watertown Community Gardens, part of the Edible Watertown project. 

This opportunity is for students entering grades 6-12, enrolled in middle or high school. Required 50 hours between July 8 – August 16, 2024. Summer Garden Interns will take care of the Watertown school gardens. Practical hours in the garden will be supplemented with educational outings to other garden sites as well as sessions with local experts on garden ecology. This is a great opportunity for anyone with a love of the outdoors and a passion for nature.

Schools

Students from The Guild School Volunteer at the Watertown Food Pantry

By |

Students from The Guild School sort items and put the on the shelves at the Watertown Food Pantry. (Courtesy of The Guild School)

The following piece was provided by The Guild School:

Each week, a group of Guild School students and vocational services staff volunteer at the Watertown Food Pantry. Volunteers sort items into bins, bag vegetables, stock the shelves with food items, and check expiration dates. Students work on travel training skills to get to and from the pantry. The Guild for Human Services serves more than 160 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities annually through educational, residential, and clinical programming.

Police/Fire

Man Arrested on Charges of Assaulting a Woman Along the Charles River Path

By |

A Newton man was arrested in connection to an assault of a woman that took place on the path along the Charles River in Watertown. Sandeep Khandke, 69, of Newton, was arraigned on Friday in Waltham District Court on a charge of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, according to the Massachusetts State Police. The State Police received a report of an assault in Watertown on the Charles River Greenway, which is State property. Troopers from the Boston State Police Barracks responded. “The victim reported that a man with a cane had sat down next to her and while the two were talking, the man touched the victim’s leg and chest,” the State Police press release said.