Around Town

Lawyers Group Holds Meeting Looking at Watertown Lockdown Last April

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The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild will hold the fourth in a series of meetings looking at the lockdown in Watertown during the hunt for the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects last April. On March 5 at 7 p.m., the group will hold a meeting to provide a safe space for people to address concerns over how the lockdown was conducted, according to the announcement from the group. Some issues brought up include whether the lockdown was necessary, the effect on people who were searched and whether the U.S. Constitution was followed. It will also look at how the lockdown impacted the Fourth Amendment – The Right To Be Secure In One’s Home And Person From Unreasonable Searches and Seizures. The meeting will be at the First Parish Church of Watertown, 35 Church St., from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Parking is available at lots on Summer Street and in the Watertown Square municipal lot.

Sports

Watertown Grabs High Seeds in Basketball Tourney

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The Watertown girl’s and boy’s basketball teams earned high seeds in the MIAA North Section basketball tournament. The Raiders earned top seed in the Div. 2 girl’s pairings announced on Friday. Watertown (19-1) hosts a quarterfinal game against the winner of the Marblehead-Newburyport game on March 1 at 7 p.m. according to the MIAA tourney site. This is a step up in divisions for Watertown from previous years.

Around Town

Council Opens Way for Multi-Story Hotel in Watertown’s East End

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The Town Council opened the way for a multi-story hotel to be built in town, but only in a small area on the east side of town on Arsenal Street by unanimously voting to change a town zoning ordinance. The change of the zoning ordinance allows a hotel of up to 79 feet and seven stories tall, and it will be limited to the Industrial 1 (I-1) Zone. The Council also considered extending the changes in the zoning to I-2 and I-3 zones. One such hotel  has been proposed at the former Charles River Saab site which is in the I-1 zone. Other changes to the zoning include a reduction of parking requirements to .75 cars per room and one for each employee at peak times, and allowing employees to park one behind another blocking them in.

Around Town

Watertown’s Commander’s Mansion Hosts Wedding Faire

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Brides and grooms-to-be can find caterers, photographers, entertainers and more for their big day at the ninth annual Wedding Faire at the Commander’s Mansion in Watertown. Meet the top wedding professionals from the Boston area and see the latest bridal fashions at the event on March 1 and 2 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sample food and prizes will also be given out during the event. Vendors include caterers, florists, photographers, bakeries, entertainment, transportation and more. Different vendors will be featured each day. Tickets cost $5 and is good for the whole weekend.

Charity

Woman Running the Boston Marathon to Raise Money for the Watertown Police Foundation

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Dawn Castillo Harper made it within a mile of finish her first marathon when the race came to a halt when bombs went off near the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon. The Back Back resident will be back in 2014, this time she is raising money for the Watertown Police Foundation. “When we thought about what the Watertown Police did on April 19th last year, we realized that they are part of the reason there will be a safer Boston Marathon in 2014,” Harper said, whose fundraising being helped by her running partner in 2013 Haley Dowling. “This is our way of saying thank you to all the police in Watertown.”

The first in a series of fund raisers will be held on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Donohue’s Bar and Grill, 87 Bigelow Ave.

Business

What Market will Go into the New Development on Arsenal Street?

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A rendering of the proposed development on Arsenal Street. Photo: The Hanover Company. By Charlie Breitrose

The new development proposed for 202 Arsenal Street includes a small market, but which one has not been decided. Residents asked if it would be a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods or even a Market Basket. Developers from the Hanover Company and Cresset Development said they do not have a tenant for the site.

Around Town

Snow Storm Hits Watertown Thursday

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Snow covers the road at the Arsenal on the Charles in front of athenahealth. Photo: Charlie Breitrose. By Charlie Breitrose

[Updated 4:02 p.m.] The snow has turned to rain. Watch out for downed branches and power outages. The snow may return later.

Schools

Watertown Middle School Gym Roof Needs Replacing

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{Originally Posted on the Watertown News Facebook page on Feb. 12, 2014}

By Charlie Breitrose

The roof over Watertown Middle School’s gym has been leaking, and school officials will be applying to the state to get money to replace it. The project will cost about $605,000, the School Committee learned last week. Watertown will apply for money from the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s Accelerated Repair Program. The leaks have caused events at the gym to be canceled, said Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald, and there are fears that the floor will be damaged by water sitting on it for extended periods of time.