Schools

See How Much Athletic Fees Might Go Up Next Year

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Parents of Watertown middle and high school athletes may be shelling out more for their children to play sports in the fall. The increase has been proposed by Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald to cover a shortfall of $90,000 in the athletic budget. The Watertown School Committee will debate whether to increase the athletic fees and by how much at their meeting on Aug. 5. The recommended increase is $125 at the high school, which would make it $325.

Business

10 Local Companies Showcase New Products at Athenahealth

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On Wednesday, July 9, 10 companies will showcase new products at athenahealth as part of the Mass Innovation Nights series. The event will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. at athenahealth in the 311 Center Atrium at the Arsenal on the Charles. Register Now: bit.ly/massinno64

See information about the companies and their products by clicking this link: MIN64 athena flyer w descr

Development

LETTER: Town Officials Out of Sync With Constituents on Development

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To the Editor:

I write in response to Councilor Piccirilli’s recent statements in which he warns that the moratorium on development in the Arsenal Corridor could impact town and school budgets. Indeed the Councillor is one of many who plan on funding new priorities with revenues generated by new development. On its face, this appears to be a good strategy, but it is not a justification to rush ahead and make bad concessions that will affect generations to come. The town has already suffered a good deal of bad real estate development. I support the moratorium, but only with reservations.

Police/Fire

Man Attacked, Robbed While Walking Through Arsenal Park at Night

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A man was attacked and robbed by three men while he walked through Arsenal Park on the evening of July 1. 

Police received a call at 9:28 p.m. from the victim, a 28-year-old man from Newton, who went over to the IHOP on Soldiers Field Road after the attack. “The victim was visibly shaken and had lacerations on both knees and had pain on his head and back,” said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. The man left work at the Arsenal Project and said he walked through nearby Arsenal Park. “He was struck from behind and knocked to the ground,” Lawn said. “He was kicked in the midsection and was attacked by 3-4 black males, possibly wearing backpacks.”

Schools

Problem with Fire Sprinklers Floods the Lowell School

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A problem with the fire suppression system over the weekend at the Lowell School damaged parts of the building, said Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald. At Monday night’s School Committee meeting Fitzgerald said that the school is not accessible because of the damage. “It caused significant damage and right now we can’t go in at all,” Fitzgerald said. The power has been shut off and the boiler room was flooded, she said. The school had a new boiler delivered, but it has not been installed yet, Fitzgerald said.

Development

Councilor Warns Building Moratorium Could Impact Town, School Budget

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Residents concerned about the pace and size of development in Watertown have requested a building moratorium on Arsenal Street, but a Town Councilor said stopping the projects could impact the town and school budgets. The town relies heavily on property tax revenues to fund town departments, including the Watertown Public Schools. Town Councilor Vincent Piccirilli said that new development is one of the keys to increasing the budget. The schools too rely heavily on the town’s appropriation. “The school appropriation increased almost 7 percent (for Fiscal 2015), and how were we able to do that under Proposition 2 1/2, was though new growth through new development in town,” Piccirilli said.

Around Town

Hundreds Turn Out for Watertown Library’s 5K Race

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The first ever WFPL 5K road race drew nearly 200 runners and raised money for the Watertown Free Public Library. On Saturday, June 21, 2014 runners of all ages gathered at the Watertown Free Public Library with their friends and families to participate in the first ever Watertown Library fun run. Emily Miranda, supervisor of Children’s Services, thanked the participants in the race:
“We at the library are inspired by our incredible patrons, and this event truly exemplified the spirit of this community. So what can you do now that the race is over? Support the library by taking advantage of all of the resources and programs we have to offer.  Ask questions!

Around Town

Celebrate the First Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Watertown

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Two weeks after the United Stated declared its independence from the British, the document proclaiming the new nation was read for the first time in Massachusetts in Watertown. The next day the first treaty entered into by the U.S. was signed in town, too. On Saturday, July 19, 2014, the Historical Society of Watertown will mark the anniversaries of these events with a reading of the Declaration of Independence and a celebration of the Treaty of Watertown. The free event will be Saturday from noon-4 p.m. at the Edmund Fowle House and Museum, 28 Marshall St. The Declaration was first read on July 18, 1776, and on July 19, 1776, a treaty was signed with the St.