Desired Qualities of Next Police Chief to be Discussed by Council’s Public Safety Committee

Watertown City Hall

The City Council’s Public Safety Committee will hold a meeting to discuss the desired qualities for Watertown’s next Police Chief. The meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber in City Hall, 149 Main St. The meeting will also be available for remote participation at: https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/84458822834, as well as audio only by phone: (877) 853-5257 or (888)475-4499 (Toll Free) and enter Webinar ID: 844 5882 2834. Public may comment by email by sending a message to vpiccirilli@watertown-ma.gov

The meeting will be televised through WCATV (Watertown Cable Access Television):http://vodwcatv.org/CablecastPublicSite/?channel=3

New Watertown Fitness Studio Hosting Grand Opening Celebration

Karina Bergevin will welcome people to the Owl Fitness Studio’s grand opening celebration. (Courtesy of Owl Fitness Studio)

OWL Fitness Studio recently opened the doors to its studio in Watertown and invites the public to attend a grand opening celebration. The celebration will take place on Friday, Sept. 8, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the studio located at 468 Main St. Light fare will be provided by Olivia’s Bistro and Quebrada Bakery.

Rocker Tells Bruce Springsteen About His Watertown Origins on Stage at Gillette Stadium

During Bruce Springsteen’s recent concert at Gillette Stadium, one of the members of the E Street Band revealed that he was born not just in the Boston area, but in Watertown. During the band’s performance of “Glory Days” the band asked the crowd “Do you want to go home?” to which guitarist Steven Van Zandt responded, “You know, I was born here,” according to a report on Boston.com. Springsteen responded, “In Boston?” And, Van Zandt specified, “Yeah, Watertown!” 

According to the report, he spent his first several years before moving to New Jersey.

See How Labor Day Impacts Watertown City Facilities & Services

Watertown LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. Multiple City-run facilities in Watertown will be closed on Monday for Labor Day, and the holiday will impact trash and recycling pick-up. The City of Watertown announced:

Watertown City Hall and Senior Center are closed in observance Labor Day, on Monday, September 4, 2023. Please note: Trash and recycling pickup is delayed one day. The schedule is Tuesday, September 5 – Saturday, September 9, 2023.

Enrollment Up at All Levels in Watertown Schools, Especially at the High School

Enrollment is up at Watertown High School, despite moving into the temporary location at PFC Ricard Moxley Field. (Courtesy by City of Watertown)

Watertown’s schools are growing at all levels, and some classes at two elementary schools are near or at capacity, Superintendent Dede Galdston told the School Committee. The biggest growth, however, is at the secondary level. Typically, School officials wait until September to provide the first enrollment report to the School Committee, Galdston said, but she wanted to inform members before school started incase they receive questions about it. “Our enrollment is up,” Galdston said.

Changes to Watertown Schools Attendance Policies, Other Policies at Middle and High Schools

The new school year brings new policies for the Watertown Public Schools, including families being asked to report student absences with an online form, new rules for tardies at the high school, and actions for middle school students failing math and English Language Arts. The School Committee heard about changes to the student handbooks at Watertown Public Schools starting this fall at the Aug. 21 meeting. Absences

Superintendent Dede Galdston said that the big change for the procedures when a student is absent is filling out and sending in a Google form online. “If you have an excused absence, any absence, you have to fill out a form, a Google form, instead of an email or phone call,” Galdston said.