Government

School, Town Officials Hashing Out Watertown School Budget

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The Watertown School budget for Fiscal 2015 came in 16 percent higher than the previous year, but Town Manager Michael Driscoll planned for 3 percent increase. Now he and Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald are looking at how much the education budget can increase. The pair, along with School Committee Chairwoman Eileen Hsu-Balzer sat down last Thursday and Friday to go over the request for more staff and for goods and services. The schools want the equivalent of 32 more full-time positions, including 22 teachers. [ad]

He said the total request, $42 million, would not be realistic in one year, and would not be sustainable under Proposition 2 1/2 rules where towns can only increase the tax levy more than 2.5 percent without going to voters.

Around Town

Franklin St. Residents Reflect on the Capture of the Bombing Suspect

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A year ago, it seemed like every law enforcement officer was focused on Franklin Street with the second Boston Marathon Bombing suspect cornered in the now infamous boat. A year later, residents reflected on that evening. NBC News interviewed a couple from Watertown who had recently moved to Franklin Street and suddenly found themselves huddled in a neighbors house after police evacuated them. Lori and Brendon Toye’s fence still has 21 bullet holes in it, and Lori said the sound of helicopters still rattles her. Read the entire NBC News story by clicking here.

Business

Grab Some Grub from Food Trucks in Watertown

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Need a bite to eat, try something new at the Commander’s Mansion, which will host food trucks five days a week beginning April 21. The trucks park on Talcott Avenue near the entrance to Arsenal Park,, and will offer a variety of goodies through the week, said Tammy McKenna, facilities manager at the Commander’s Mansion. “Last season we implemented a Food Truck pilot program once/twice a week and it was well received,” McKenna said. “This season we were given the go-ahead to open it up five days and it starts next Monday the 21st (of April) running through October 3rd.” The trucks are open to everyone.

Around Town

Arabic Classes in Watertown Schools Returning for a Second Year

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Watertown middle and high school students have a rare opportunity to learn the Arabic language, and they will be able to for at least another year. The grant that brought a teacher from Egypt to Watertown has been renewed for a second year, said Watertown Middle School Principal Kimo Carter. The grant program is sponsored by the U.S. State Department and targets languages believed to be important for the future, including Arabic and Mandarin Chinese. “We got another grant from the Teachers of Critical Language Program,” Carter said. “Another teacher from Egypt will teach Arabic at the middle school and high school next year. The reason why we got it is because of the success of the program.”

Around Town

Man Growing Beard to Raise Money for Martin Richard Foundation

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Joshua Vernon is growing a beard to be Watertown Strong and to raise money for a charity created in memory of one of the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing. For the second year, Vernon will grow out his facial hair for the Boston Bruin’s Beard-A-Thon. This year, all the proceeds benefit the Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation an the Boston Bruins Foundation. Last year, Vernon raised $4,000 during the Beard-A-Thon and he has set a goal of $2,000 this year. You can see Vernon’s profile and pledge by going here: https://www.beardathon.com/bruins/WatertownStrong/profile.aspx

Around Town

Watertown Baseball Team Dedicating Season to Fallen Firefighter

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Players of the Watertown High School baseball team wear special hats this season with the words “LT ED WALSH BFD” embroidered on them to honor a former Raider player. Lt. Edward Walsh, the Boston firefighter killed fighting a blaze in the Back Bay graduated from Watertown High School and he played for the Raiders on the baseball diamond. Watertown baseball Coach Aram Manoukian is good friends with Ed’s younger brother Mike. After Walsh’s death, the team wanted to do something to honor him. “The players decided pretty much immediately that they wanted to dedicate the season to him, for being the hero that he clearly was,” Manoukian said.

Police/Fire

See How the Watertown Boy’s Lacrosse Team Paid Tribute to Lt. Ed Walsh

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Members of the Watertown High School boy’s lacrosse team took the field last week with a special honor for fallen Boston Firefighter and Watertown native Edward Walsh. The team all put the message “LT. EW 33” on a piece of athletic tape and put it on their helmets during the game against Belmont. Lt. Walsh graduated from Watertown High School in 1989 and worked on Boston Engine 33 when he died fighting a fire in the Back Bay. Click here to see a video about the tribute on NESN’s website.

Government

Public Works Wins Award for Work When Bombing Suspects Came to Town

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Watertown’s Public Works Department may not get the same heralding as the Police and Fire departments for the work during the search for the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, but the workers will get a big accolade this summer. The American Public Works Association announced it will present Watertown with the Exceptional Performance Award in Adversity at the annual conference in Toronto this August. On April 19, 2013, after Watertown Police faced off with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects the Public Works Department closed off many streets in town and provided lights, among other things, to help law enforcement and the search for the second suspect.  

Public Works Director Gerald Mee received the announcement earlier this month, and Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced it at Tuesday’s Town Council Meeting. “I appreciate their efforts and it is well deserved,” Town Council President Mark Sideris said at the meeting.