Around Town

Plaques Unveiled to Remember Five Firefighters Who Lost Their Lives Serving Watertown

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Charlie BreitroseThe memorial plaques for the five Watertown Firefighters who died in the line of duty are unveiled by Watertown firefighters Rob Mannix, left, and Paul LaFauci on April 13, 2022. David Morrill, far left, attended the ceremony on the 63rd anniversary of his father Charles’ death. Five Watertown Firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty will have a permanent place at the Watertown Fire Headquarters. Each was memorialized with a plaque placed on the front of the building. The Watertown Fire Department unveiled the plaques to Willard Streeter, Gilbert Nichols, Ernest Ford, Charles Morrill and Joseph Toscano on Wednesday afternoon.

Around Town

Watertown City Hall, Senior Center & Library Closings This Weekend

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

Hours at some of Watertown’s municipal buildings will be impacted by Good Friday, Easter and Patriots Day. The City of Watertown sent out an announcement saying that City Hall and the Senior Center will close at 1 p.m. on April 15 in observance of Good Friday. Both buildings will be closed on Monday, April 18 for Patriots Day. The Watertown Free Public Library will be closed on Sunday, April 17 for Easter, and on Monday, April 18 for Patriots Day.

Boston College

Hall of Fame Hockey Coach, Watertown Native Jerry York Retires from BC

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Boston College AthleticsBoston College men’s hockey coach Jerry York, a Watertown native, announced his retirement on April 13, 2022. Here he lifts the NCAA Championship trophy in 2010. He won five titles in his career. After coaching for half a century, the last 28 years at Boston College, Watertown’s Jerry York announced his retirement. The Hall of Fame coach is the winningest coach in NCAA hockey history.

Boston International Film Festival

Watertown’s Majestic 7 Theaters Hosting Boston International Film Festival Screenings

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The Boston International Film Festival will be held in the second half of April, and this year several of the screenings will take place at Watertown’s Majestic 7 cinemas. Nine of the sessions will take place at the movie theaters located in Arsenal Yards at 81 Arsenal Yards Blvd. with the first session on Friday, April 15 and the final one on Monday, April 18. Other showings will be held at AMC Boston Common Theaters. Click here for the entire 2022 Boston International Film Festival schedule, and to get tickets.

Fiscal Year 2023 Budget

FY23 Watertown School Budget Adds Funds for Several Positions

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The Watertown Public Schools budget for Fiscal Year 2023 will include a 3.5 percent increase, and planned additions for the 2022-23 school year include funding for equity coordinators, drama and music teachers, assistant principals and a family engagement and communication specialist. The total budget will be $55.63 million, which is a $1.88 million increase from the previous fiscal year, said Superintendent Dede Galdston, who presented her recommended budget to the School Committee Monday night at the meeting held at Cunniff Elementary School. Most of the increase, about 80 percent, will go to providing a level-service budget, Galdston said, which is maintaining the programs and services provided during the current school year. The remaining funds, $370,835, will mostly be spent on new staff and positions. No budget area has increase significantly, Galdston said, but the Administration and Curriculum budget appears to be much higher than FY22 (46.8 percent more).

Sports

Watertown’s Lauren Kelly Brings Cup Home After Winning Women’s Pro Hockey Title

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Boston PrideWatertown’s Lauren Kelly, right, celebrates after winning the Isobel Cup with the Boston Pride. It was the second straight title for the women’s professional hockey team. Watertown Middle School students greeted staff member Lauren Kelly with a big sign last week, and she brought along a great item for show-and-tell: the Isobel Cup, awarded to the team that wins the Premier Hockey Federation championship. Kelly, who works with autistic students in the Connections Program at WMS during the day, plays defense for the Boston Pride on nights and weekends. The women’s professional hockey team recently traveled to Tampa, Fla., for the Isobel Cup Playoffs, and came home champs after winning three straight games.

Arts

Watertown Business Coalition Hosting Morning With the Arts Networking Event

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The Watertown Business Coalition invites the public to hear about what’s going on in the arts in the City, and do some networking. The WBC provided the following information:

When: Wednesday, April 13, at 8:30am

Where: Mosesian Center for the Arts

What: Join us for our next IN-PERSON Coffee Connect where you will have the chance to see old friends and meet new people from the business and arts community in Watertown, see the newly renovated MCA, and hear from MCA Executive Director Darren Farrington about the 2022 Calendar of Events at the MCA. ADDITIONALLY, our friend Liz Helfer (Watertown Public Arts & Culture Planner) and Kristen Kenny (Watertown Arts Market Chair) will speak on initiatives and opportunities coming to town including the next Watertown Arts Market in August at Arsenal Park! 

Refreshments to be provided by Danish Pastry House and Dunkin’/Riverside Management. Free Event RSVP NOW! 

Arrest

Police Log: Shoplifter Chased Down in Allston, Check Taken from Mail and Altered

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

March 28, 11:12 a.m.: Home Depot security approached a Watertown detail officer to alert him to a shoplifter fleeing the store. The officer put out a description of the suspect, who was spotted on Arsenal Street near the bridge over the Charles River heading into Boston. The man did not stop when officers told him to do so. They chased him into Boston and stopped him on Western Avenue near the Watertown line.