Around Town

How Many People Face Hunger Discussed During Episode of Watertown Cable Show

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Inside Watertown co-hosts Bob Airasian, left, and Charlie Breitrose were joined by Tias Tilson (second from right) and Stephanie Venizelos. (Screenshot from WCA-TV video)

The number of residents facing food insecurity spiked during the COVID-19 shutdown, but even though the Pandemic has waned many people still are in danger of going hungry. The latest episode of Watertown Cable Access TV’s Inside Watertown focuses on hunger and food insecurity in Watertown. Guests Tia Tilson, Executive Director of the Watertown Community Foundation, and Stephanie Venizelos, Community Wellness Program Manager (including Live Well Watertown) joined co-hosts Bob Airasian and Charlie Breitrose. Tilson and Venizelos spoke about about how many people are using resources in the City such as the food pantries and the state’s food assistance programs, as well as ways that people can help out.

Government

Council Approves 2024 Budget, Including Amendment to Pay for Judgment in Sexual Discrimination Case

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

The Fiscal Year 2024 budget approved by the City Council Tuesday night includes an additional $3.6 million to cover the amount owed to a police officer who won a sexual discrimination suit by the City. Watertown’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget includes several new positions in the Planning Department, Health Department and to create a new Constituent Services program. It also includes funds for the Watertown High School project, and to make the City’s buildings and vehicles more energy efficient. The total FY 2024 operating budget will be $194,013,029 after the Council approved an amendment to put an additional $3,699,029 into the budget, moving it from the Free Cash fund into the Settlement Account, said City Manager George Proakis. In November 2022, a Middlesex Superior Court jury sided with Kathleen Donohue, the first female detective in the WPD, in her civil suit against the Watertown Police Department.

Schools

Watertown Schools Retirees Include Spanish, Social Studies & Music Teachers, a Special Educator & More

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The Watertown Public Schools will say farewell to nine educators and staff at the end of the school year, including some who have worked in the district for decades. At last week’s School Committee meeting, Superintendent Dede Galdston spoke about each of the nine retirees, who work in schools and departments around the district. Mark Boudreau

He worked as the woodshop and construction technology teacher at Watertown High School for 21 years. “Mark is the very epitome of a vocational educator, a consummate wood working and construction technology professional who takes pride in mentoring students in the safe operation of tools to achieve a desired hands-on result,” Galdston said. “Mark’s projects and classes introduced numerous students into the very real possibility of careers in Finish carpentry and the trades in general.”

Police/Fire

Police Log: Customer Threatens Employee Who Won’t Take Return, Several Unemployment Frauds

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

None

Incidents

May 29, 7:25 p.m.: A man discovered that someone used his Bank of America credit card at the Nike Store in Watertown. He reported that the card was stolen or lost on May 22, but he was not sure where. He looked at his statement and saw unauthorized purchases at the Nike Store for $57.98 on May 28. Other charges were made at the Nike store in Chestnut Hill for $192, at Finish Line in Cambridge for $201.56, at Footlocker in Cambridge for $140, and $269 at a CVS in Cambridge.

Government

This Week: Planning Board Hears Citizens Petitions, Council Voting on Budget

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Watertown City Hall

The Planning Board will discuss two citizens petitions to change Watertown’s zoning on Wednesday night, and the City Council will vote on the City budget on Tuesday night. Also, a City Council committee will discuss the role of the Election Commission, and the Library Trustees will meet about the screening committee for the Library Director search. A pair of citizens petitions will be discussed by the Planning Board. One calls for reducing the maximum Floor Area Ratio (the square footage allowed in relation to the size of the property) in the Central Business District. This area includes part of Watertown Square and an area along Main Street.

Around Town

Challenger Baseball Program Has Allowed All Watertown Children to Play Ball for 10 Years

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The players and buddies in the Watertown Challenger Baseball program, which is for players with physical and mental challenges. (Photo courtesy of Watertown Challenger Baseball). Ten years ago, Watertown Youth Baseball added a program that allowed children with a physical or intellectual challenge to get on the field and play ball. And each year, participants in the Challenger Baseball program get to play in an special event sponsored by NESN where they play similar programs from other communities around Massachusetts. The program got rolling in 2013, but had to take a few years off during the Pandemic, said Greg Salvucci, a past president of Watertown Youth Baseball and Softball.

Business

Seven Watertown Companies Receive Tax Incentives from State to Create Jobs

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Seven companies from Watertown received part of the $24.4 million being awarded by the state to create new jobs in the life sciences industry. The Healey-Driscoll Administration and Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) announced the MLSC Tax Incentive Program program last week. It will provide incentives for 43 life sciences companies, which are expected to create 1,584 jobs, according to the program’s announcement. The Watertown companies will received between $150,000 and $750,000 in tax incentives and will create a combined 140 jobs. The Watertown companies receiving the incentives are:

AffiniT Thereapeutics, $375,000, 25 jobs

Corner Therapeutics Inc., $150,000, 10 jobs

Disc Medicine Inc., $150,000, 10 jobs

Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc., $150,000, 10 jobs

Lyra Therapeutics Inc. $300,000, 20 jobs

Tome Biosciences Inc., $750,000, 50 jobs

Treeline Biosciences Inc., $225,000, 15 jobs.