Around Town

Third Annual Life Science Panel Hosted by Watertown Business Coalition

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The Watertown Business Coalition will host the third annual Life Science Panel on April 25 featuring representatives from four local life science companies. The first WBC life science event was held in April 2021 during the virtual days of the pandemic. Last year, the group held an in-person event at Hosmer Elementary School. This year’s event, “Biotech in Our Back Yard,” will be on Tuesday, April 25 at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. The event begins at 5:30, and the panel will run from 6:00-7:00, followed by networking and food provided by Branch Line. 

The moderator will be Merle Kummer, the founder of CoLab which partners life science companies in the City with Watertown High School students to coordinate class visits, field trips and internships.

Schools

Schools Using COVID Grant to Help Make Up $1.3M Deficit

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The Watertown Public Schools face a shortfall of $1.38 million for the next school year, but the gap will be narrowed by using some grant funds Watertown received for COVID relief. On Monday night, Superintendent Dede Galdston presented the district’s budget for Fiscal Year 2024. The Watertown Schools will have an operating budget of $57,583,829, which is an increase of $1.947,279 over FY 23, or 3.5 percent. To provide a “level services budget,” where the same educational experience and programs are provided, Galdston said there was a deficit of $1.38 million. Salaries account for about 80 percent of the budget, Galdston said, and the level services budget includes the raises for teachers in the recently approved contract, along with the step and lane change increases given for years working in the district and earning work-related college credits.

Around Town

Mural Coming to Watertown Square Celebrates Artist’s Love, Vision for His New Hometown

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The mural, called “I See a Dream,” planned to be created on the wall outside CVS in Watertown Square by Amir Tabatabaei. A large wall in the center of Watertown will get a bright new look when a local artist creates a mural inspired by his experience moving to his new hometown. The project will be the first public art for its creator since he emigrated from Iran. Amir Tabatabaei will work on the mural that will go on the side of the CVS on Main Street in Watertown Square starting this spring. It will start where the gate opens onto Merchant’s Row, the alley off of Main Street, and unfolds along the wall.

Around Town

See Artwork Around Watertown, Join a YardArt Guided Tour

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The creativity of Watertown residents is on display this month during YardArt. A couple of guided tours are scheduled to visit some of the displays, or create your own using the list on the YardArt website. A walking tour on April 14 will be led by Public Arts & Culture Planner Liz Helfer, and on April 23, the Bike & Pedestrian Committee will lead a bicycling tour. Guided YardArt Watertown Walking tour: Friday, April 14, 2023, at 1pm

Meet in front of the Watertown City Hall at 149 Main Street with Public Arts & Culture Planner, Liz Helfer. Liz will take you on a tour of nearby YardArt locations and discuss upcoming public art in Watertown. The tour will take approximately one hour and start at 1pm.

Around Town

Patrick’s PALS 3 on 3 Tourney Raising Funds for Research of an Inherited Cause of Autism

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The Patricks PALS 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament will take place at Bentley this year. The event raises money for research into Fragile X Syndrome. The Patrick’s PALS 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament returns in for the 27th time, and it will have a new home at Bentley University. This year’s tournament will take place on June 3, 2023, at Bentley University’s Dana Physical Education Center. The event raises money for FRAXA Research Foundation, which does research into Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited cause of autism and intellectual disabilities that affects 1 in 4,000 boys and 1 in 8,000 girls worldwide, according to FRAXA.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Woman Wearing Wig Tries to Cash Check, Man Seen Taking Baby Monitors on Several Dates

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

March 27, 8:47 p.m.: Officers on Arsenal Street saw a vehicle driving westbound dragging two construction cones under the front bumper and speeding. The cones came from a construction site farther down Arsenal, near Louise Street. Police pulled the vehicle over and the driver had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. He performed field sobriety tests and did not pass four.

Government

This Week: Main St. Project at Planning Board, School Budget & Council Considers Linkage Fees

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown’s City Hall. There are some big meetings this week, including the first time a City board will consider the major mixed-use project on Main Street. The School Budget will be presented by the Superintendent which currently faces a deficit of nearly $1.4 million. And, the City Council will discuss the proposed linkage fees on developments to create affordable housing. Superintendent Dede Galdston will present her recommended FY24 School Budget to the School Committee on Monday, April 10.