Around Town

Historic Paintings Removed from City Hall to be Restored Using Community Preservation Funds

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Charlie BreitroseEmployees from Maquette Fine Arts Services prepare one of the historic paintings in City Hall’s lobby to be removed from the wall for restoration. Stephen Munroe of Maquette, center, speaks with art preservationist Louise Orsini, right. Friday morning a quiet sense of anticipation filled the lobby of Watertown’s City Hall. The marble covered atrium was filled with history lovers and art preservationists waiting to see what secrets are held by a pair of paintings dating back to the early 1930s. The towering paintings have been inset into the walls of Watertown’s Town Hall (since 2021 City Hall) since it opened in 1932.

Around Town

Holiday Fun at Commanders Mansion’s Whoville Jubilee & Tree Lighting

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Charlie BreitroseA crowd gathered for the tree lighting outside the Watertown Commander’s Mansion on Saturday night. Watertown’s Commander’s Mansion shone with lights and welcomed hundreds of families for the 2022 Whoville Jubilee and Tree Lighting on Saturday. Visitors entered through an arch of lights, and were welcomed to the event by the Mayor of Whoville (City Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli). Charlie BreitroseVisitors to the Whoville Jubilee entered through an arch of lights. Food trucks served up goodies to hungry visitors, and free hot cocoa and cookies were provided for those feeling a bit peckish.

Around Town

Watertown High Basketball Teams Hosting Raiders Hoop Night

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown’s boys basketball reached the MIAA Div. 3 Final in 2022. This year’s team will be introduced at Raider Hoop Night. Both of Watertown High School’s 2022-23 varsity basketball teams will be introduced on Raiders Hoop Night. Youth players are invited to take part in skill stations and games with varsity players and coaches.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Caught Using Multiple Stolen Credit Cards, Suspicious Man Seen in Yard

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

Nov. 22, 2:53 p.m.: A man was stopped at Target after the store got multiple reports from four people out of the area who said someone was using their credit card at the Watertown store. Police were in the store on another matter and security informed them about the man who had been seen on video at the self checkout for more than 35 minutes. Security found that he fraudulently used several credit card numbers which he had loaded onto his Samsung Pay cellphone app.

Business

Watertown Life Science Company Cuts Staff by Over Half, Replaces CEO

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SQZ Biotechnologies announced a reduction of more than half the company’s staff, and appointed a new CEO after the resignation of its previous one. The company’s research focuses on cell therapies. The company based in Watertown, announced on Nov. 30, 2022, that Armon Sharei has step down from his role as chief executive officer and the Board of Directors. The Board appointed Howard Bernstein, former Chief Scientific Officer and current director, as interim CEO.

Schools

Perkins Students Show Some Bruins a Thing or Two About Goal Ball

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Charlie BreitroseBoston Bruins players Tomas Nosek, left, and Pavel Zacha, shake hands with one of the Perkins School for the Blind goal ball players. Two members of the Boston Bruins got a lesson on what it’s like to play a sport designed for people who are blind or vision impaired on Thursday afternoon. Pavel Zacha and Tomas Nosek each donned a pair of goggles that blacked out their vision, and had to defend a goal that was about 30 feet wide. On the other end were three experienced members of the Perkins School for the Blind goal ball team. Charlie BreitroseBoston Bruins player Pavel Zacha rolls the goal ball in the exhibition game against students from Perkins School for the Blind.