Government

Watertown Fields will be Open, but Not Likely Ready for Gametime

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After being closed due to wet conditions, Watertown’s recreation facilities will be open for use on Saturday, but perhaps not ready for primetime. Recreation Director Peter Centola, announced the fields would be open on April 5, but added “Please be advised that although the facilities will be open for use, they will most likely not ready for game play this weekend.” The game preparation by the Department of Public Works staff was hindered both by the recent rains and the preparation for the wake and funeral of fallen Boston Fire Lt. and Watertown native Edward Walsh, Centola said. “Although the fields are open, I would ask that all residents and groups who use the field, to only utilize areas that are dry and safe to participate on,” Centola said. To use of the facilities for games, groups must reserve them and get a permit, Centola said.

Around Town

Scenes from Fallen Firefighter Edward Walsh’s Final Farewell

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Watertown-native and Boston Fire Lt. Edward Walsh was remembered Wednesday as a kind, caring man who was devoted to both of his families – his wife, kids and mother, as well as the Boston Fire Department. Walsh died in a fire in the Back Bay on March 26 along with firefighter Michael Kennedy, and on Wednesday his funeral was held in the church in which he was baptized 43 years ago – St. Patrick’s Church. Firefighting runs in the Walsh family, said Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio. His father, Ed Sr., was on the Watertown Fire Department, along with two of Walsh’s uncles.

Police/Fire

See Photos from the Wake for Fallen Boston Fire Lt. Edward Walsh

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Firefighters from around the country pay respects to fallen Boston Fire Lt. Edward Walsh, a Watertown Native. Photo by Charlie Breitrose
Firefighters from far and wide filed into St. Patrick’s Church in Watertown Square Tuesday to pay their respects to fallen Boston Fire Lt. Edward Walsh. 

The 43-year-old Watertown native died fighting a fire in the Back Bay last week. On Tuesday, the downtown streets of his hometown were devoid of cars, but filled with firefighters and police officers in dress uniforms.

They showed up by the bus full and marched to the church on Main Street, just down the street from Town Hall and Watertown Fire Headquarters. They came from Walsh’s department in Boston, and from Watertown – where his father and uncles worked and where his cousin and brother-in-law now work.They were joined by firefighters from around Massachusetts, the east coast and and across the country.

Schools

Schools Superintendent: This is the True Cost of Running a District

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The School Committee got the final recommended budget from school staff, and Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald said it is the amount required to run the district and educate students the way she believes is right. The total amount recommended is $46.48 million for the 2014-15 school year (Fiscal 2015). With about 3.5 million offset by grants and other funds, the town’s share would be about $43 million – or about $6 million more than the previous year. “This is the true cost of running a school district,” Fitzgerald said. “We’re at the tipping point.

Around Town

Watertown Roads, Parking Restrictions for Fallen Firefighter’s Wake, Funeral

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Boston Fire Lt. Edward Walsh of Watertown will be remembered with a wake Tuesday and funeral Wednesday. Photo: Boston Fire Dept. Fallen Boston Firefighter and Watertown native Edward Walsh will be remembered with a wake on Tuesday and funeral on Wednesday, causing some roads in Watertown Square to be closed and parking restrictions.The Watertown Police Department announced a list of roads to be closed during the services for Lt. Walsh, one of two Boston firefighters killed last week in a fire in the Back Bay. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1989 and his mother worked for the school district, according to School Committee Chairwoman Eileen Hsu-Balzer. The wake is Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St.

Business

Item Made in Watertown Will be Featured in Red Sox World Series Celebration

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When the Red Sox celebrate the 2013 World Series championship on Friday, a special item made in Watertown will be featured. The banner that will be unfurled during the celebration comes from New England Flag & Banner, according to a piece in the Boston Globe. The Dexter Avenue-based business provides banners, flags and other items for pro and college sports teams, according to the company website. This will not be the first championship banner made by New England Flag & Banner. They produced items for recent Celtics and Bruins championships and they also made banners used by Boston College and other teams, both local and around the nation.

Around Town

Boston College, Watertown’s Jerry York Heading to Frozen Four

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The Boston College men’s hockey team booked another trip to the NCAA Frozen Four under head coach Jerry York, a Watertown native and resident. The Eagles defeated Hockey East rival UMass-Lowell 4-3 in the Northeast Regional Final in Worcester on Sunday evening. BC had one goal leads in the first and second periods – one by Kevin Hayes and the second by Bill Arnold. Both times the Riverhawks tied the game up before the end of the period. In the third Lowell took a lead just 43 seconds into the period.

Around Town

See Photos of the Procession for Fallen Boston Firefighter from Watertown

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Watertown residents came out of their homes, left their businesses early and lined Mt. Auburn Street to pay their respects for fallen Boston Fire Lt. Edward Walsh Friday evening. Joining the line of vehicles were Boston Fire trucks, including Walsh’s Engine 33 and Ladder 15, on which the other fallen Boston firefighter, Michael Kennedy, worked. Watertown Fire vehicles also rolled through town along with police vehicles from many departments, including Boston, Watertown, Newton, the State Police and more.