Around Town

TV Host Visits Watertown to Meet Fans & Promote His Bourbon

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Jon Taffer, host of “Bar Rescue” poses with fans at an event at Gordon’s Fine Wine and Liquor last week. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Last week, a line of people snaked around the aisles of Gordon’s Fine Wine and Liquor in Watertown. They eagerly awaited the entrance of the man after whom the drink they were purchasing was named. Jon Taffer arrived shortly after 6 p.m, and was greeted by a fellow TV personality, Jason Santos, when he stepped through the doors of the store inside Arsenal Yards. Santos also owns Buttermilk & Bourbon in Arsenal Yards.

Around Town

Watertown Business Coalition Hosting Coffee Connect on West Side

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The Watertown Business Coalition announced its latest coffee connect will be held at the Watertown Police Department, and feature West Side City Councilor Emily Izzo. The event will be on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 8:30 a.m. in the Community Room at the Police Station, 552 Main St., Watertown. The Watertown Business Coalition announced:

“The WBC Coffee Connect networking hour returns!!! Come say hello to our friends at the Watertown Police Department and have coffee and refreshments with City of Watertown employees, residents, friends and your business community.

Sports

Former Watertown Hockey Player Named Coach of Prep School

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Mike Busconi

Watertown High School graduate Mike Busconi will take the helm at The Winchendon School as the prep school’s head hockey coach. Busconi played for Watertown High School and served two years as captain. He made the Middlesex League All-Star team in 2012. After WHS, he attended The Winchendon School for a Post-Graduate year. “Super excited about it to be back,” Busconi told the New England Hockey Journal.

Schools

Old School Has New Look, Public Gets First Look Inside Lowell Elementary After Renovation

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Parents and students explore the learning commons, a new addition to Lowell Elementary School. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Before the new Lowell Elementary School opened its doors on Tuesday afternoon, the hundreds gathers were entertained by student musicians, including the Lowell chorus who sang the Beatles’ song “Here Comes the Sun.” The song has a fitting line, “It seems like years since it’s been here.” The sun shone on the ceremony held outside Lowell School. The outside looked very similar to the school the students, teachers and staff left a few years ago, but inside it is filled with light, and features an expanded cafeteria, a new library, and a group learning commons with windows stretching two stories skyward.

Government

Council President Candidate Forum a Week Away, Submit Your Questions

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Join WCN, Watertown Cable Access Corp and the Watertown News for an election forum featuring the two candidates running for City Council President in Watertown’s local election. Incumbent Mark Sideris is being challenged by former Town Council President Clyde Younger. The two will answer questions during a forum at the Watertown Free Public Library’s Watertown Savings Bank Room on Wednesday, October 11th at 6 p.m. The library is located at 123 Main St. Residents are invited to submit questions to the candidates by emailing watertownmanews@gmail.com. The forum will also be broadcast live on WCA-TV’s Public Channel.

Around Town

Watertown Rotary Club Welcomes Seniors to Cookout, Brings Back a Tradition

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Older residents filled the ballroom at the Sons of Italy for the Rotary Club’s Senior Citizens Cookout. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

A Watertown tradition was renewed on Sunday when the Rotary Club of Watertown welcomed hundreds of older residents to the Senior Citizens Cookout. The event at the Sons of Italy hall was the 28th, said Deb Boyajian, the Senior Cookout event chair, but there had been a break. “We haven’t had it since 2019, so we didn’t know what to expect in terms of how many people are going to come,” Boyajian said. Previous editions of the Senior Cookout were so popular that people lined up out the door to get in at the start of the event, said Rotary member Maria Papadopoulos.

Government

Watertown Tax Relief Takes Step Toward Approval in State House

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Wikimedia Commons / ChensiyuanMassachusetts State House. A request that would provide relief to residential property owners in Watertown moved a step toward approval when the House of Representatives approved the Home Rule Petition recently. In August 2022, City Councilors John Airasian and Emily Izzo brought forward the request, which was approved by the Council, to request that Watertown be able to shift the tax burden from residential properties to commercial, industrial and personal properties. Airasian was pleased to see the petition make progress: “This should have a sizeable impact on the residential real estate taxes.” Izzo added in her email to constituents:

“The Home Rule Petition brought to the City Council by Councilor Airasian and myself has passed the House and is now pending approval by the Senate.