Around Town

See the Watertown Peer Leaders “I Am” Video

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The Watertown Peer Leaders group at Watertown High School recently wrapped up an anti-drinking and drug campaign with the release of a video. 

The video premiered at an event at the Watertown Police Station on May 19. Sara Berkowitz, Peer Leadership Advisor for the Watertown Youth Coalition wrote the following announcement about the “I Am” video:
The Watertown Youth Coalition, a program of Wayside Youth & Family Support Network would like to recognize the hard work of their Peer Leaders, a group of informed, dependable, open-minded and dedicated Watertown High students who recognize and accept people for who they are. They are committed to making healthy choices and representing those decisions at school and in the community. Peer leaders take on many roles, working with teachers, students, parents and community members to run activities, promote diversity and acceptance and role model positive behavior. They develop surveys, lead presentations and help prevent substance abuse among youth in Watertown.

Real Estate

Check Out the Open Houses in Watertown This Weekend

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Looking for a home in Watertown – here are some open houses in town on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1. 62 Green Street Unit 62 – $439,000, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, condo/townhouse; Open House: Sunday 3-4 p.m.

4 Repton Cir Unit 4402 – $399,000, 2 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, Mid-Rise condo; Open Houses: Saturday 1-3 p.m., Sunday 1-3 p.m.

42 Maple Unit 42 – $559,000 5 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom, Townhouse condo; Open Houses: Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

19 Pierce Road Unit 64 – $319,000, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, Townhouse condo; Open House: Sunday noon-1 p.m.

233 Warren Street – $639,000, 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, colonial; Open Houses: Saturday 2-3:30 p.m., Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

14-16 Washburn St Unit 14 – $569,000, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, townhouse; Open House: Sunday noon-1:30 p.m.

6-8 Summer St. Unit 1 – $529,000, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 Family condo; Open Houses: Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

175 Lovell Road – $925,000, 4 bedrooms, 3 full and 1 half bathrooms, Colonial;Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday 2-3:30 p.m.

37-39 Irma Ave. – $565,000, 2 units, 4 total bedrooms, 2 Family home; Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday 1:30-3:30 p.m.

160 Standish Road – $745,000, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, Colonial; Open Houses:
Saturday noon-2 p.m. Sunday noon-2 p.m.

32 Whites Ave Unit D28 – $318,000, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, Mid-Rise condo; Open Houses:
Friday 3-5 p.m. Sunday 2-4:30 p.m. Monday 1-3 p.m.

23-25 Highland Avenue – $599,000, 2 units, 6 total bedrooms, 2 Family; Open House: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

41 Bancroft St. – $569,900, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathroom, Colonial; Open Houses:
Saturday noon-2 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

7 Lloyd Road Unit 7 – $415,000, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, Garden condo; Open Houses Saturday 2-4 p.m. Sunday 2-4 p.m.

104 Coolidge Hill Road Unit 7 – $425,000, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Townhouse condo, Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3 p.m. Sunday 1:30-3 p.m.

31 Standish Road – $599,000 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, Colonial; Open Houses: Saturday noon-2 p.m. Sunday noon-2 p.m.

112 Charles River Road – $759,000 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, single-family home, Open Houses: Saturday noon-1:30 p.m. Sunday noon-1:30 p.m.

19-21 Bates Road – $749,900, 2 units, 6 total bedrooms, 2 Family home; Open House: Sunday 2:30-4 p.m.

313 Common Street Unit 2 – $519,000, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 Family condo; Open House: Sunday 1 p.m.

233 Warren Street – $639,000, 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, Colonial; Open Houses: Saturday 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday noon-1:30 p.m.

51-57 Dexter Avenue – $1,799,000, 4 units, 8 total bedrooms, 4 Family Side by Side; Open House: Sunday 2-3:30 p.m.

57 Dexter Avenue Unit 57 – $479,900, 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, Townhouse condo; Open House: Sunday 2-3:30 p.m.

39 Franklin Street Unit 39 – $699,000, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday 1-2:30 a.m.

Government

See Highlights from the MBTA GM’s Visit to Watertown

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Beverley Scott, the general manager of the MBTA, got the full Watertown experience this week when she toured the town and spoke with residents and the Town Council. Residents had plenty to say – some complaints and some requests – for Scott. The head of the T rode the 71 bus into town. Then Town Councilor Aaron Dushku picked her up and along with State Rep. Jonathan Hecht and resident Joe Levendusky, they visited Arsenal Street. The group tried to get over to the other booming area – Pleasant Street – but traffic and time did not allow, Dushku said.

Sports

Raiders Win Shootout in Lacrosse Tournament Game

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Watertown’s boys lacrosse team defeated visiting Marian 22-19 in a high scoring state tournament game at Victory Field on Wednesday. The Raiders’ offense was led by Matt Donnell and Jason Hughes, who each tallied hat tricks. The high scorer in the game was Marian’s Brendan Walsh who netted 8 goals. Eight-seeded Watertown (9-8) will travel to face No. 1 seeded Dover-Sherborn (14-3) for the MIAA Div.

Letters

LETTER: Parent Urges Officials to Prioritize Keeping Class Sizes Low

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To the Editor:

Watertown Strong Schools has spent a lot of time focused on understanding the state of Watertown Public Schools. We analyzed data, met with town leaders and residents, interviewed administrators, and surveyed teachers. What we have concluded and have worked to clearly and objectively explain, is that the schools are at a crisis point. If left unchecked and underfunded, the problems will continue to get worse. While the Town Manager’s current education budget has made many positive steps and is larger than it has been in the past, it will not address class size in any meaningful way.

Sports

Watertown Baseball Team Picked for Post Season

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The Watertown High School baseball team hits road for its first state tournament game. The Raiders look to continue a season that the players dedicated to fall Boston Firefighter Ed Walsh, a WHS alum and former baseball standout (click here for more details). Watertown plays on Thursday, May 29 at 3:30 p.m. at Bishop Fenwick. Watertown (10-10) got the 18th seed in the Div. 3 North Section tournament.

Government

Funding Retirement System Will Save Money Later, Won’t Help Schools Now

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The Fiscal 2015 budget includes $12 million to fund the shortfall in the retirement system, but in a few years it will reap $32 million in savings. Like all communities in Massachusetts, Watertown has an unfunded liability in its retirement benefits and the difference must be made up. The town now funds about 68 percent of the benefits, and needs about$53 million to fully fund it. The town had been working toward funding the shortfall by 2022 by paying in about $10 million a year, but last year the Watertown Retirement Board – at the request of the Town Council – voted to accelerate the funding of the shortfall. Each year from Fiscal 2015 to 2018 Watertown will pay an additional $1.575 million toward funding retirement benefits – meaning the town will pay in $12.2 million in Fiscal 2015 and keep adding until it pays $16.9 million in Fiscal 2018.

Letters

LETTER: Final Push for the Watertown School Budget

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Dear Editor,

I am the mom of a current and soon-to-be WPS student, as well as a public policy researcher who has worked for two decades across four continents with colleagues in government, business, and academia. I became focused on WPS when I realized that across the fifth grade, students were receiving minimal feedback, spending more time memorizing worksheets than engaged in project-based learning, and experiencing increased behavioral problems. Examining MCAS results, I noted that 20% of WPS students who were proficient in math in third grade, no longer met minimal standards by fourth grade, despite the fact that statewide, students perform better from year to year. As a mom, I am deeply concerned to see Watertown children falling behind, disengaged, and exposed to growing behavioral issues. Watertown Strong Schools formed as parents came together, sharing concerns about increasing class sizes, overburdened teachers, and a decline in student wellbeing. WSS focused on understanding the situation at WPS, the budget process, and school and town dynamics. We analyzed data, examined budgets, met with leaders, attended town meetings, held community meetings, interviewed administrators, and surveyed teachers.