Schools

Watertown Planning for Opening of School; Looking at Masks, Testing & In-Person Classes

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The beginning of the 2021-22 school year is just over a month away in Watertown, but some significant details remains uncertain due to the increased number of cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, particularly the Delta Variant. Superintendent Dede Galdston told the School Committee Monday night that she plans for in-person learning for all students, but there could be some virus-related requirements such as regular testing and wearing of masks. The final decision will come later this month. “I think it is too fluid, with what’s going on with the virus,” Galdston said. “As we get to mid- to later in August I will make a recommendation based on feedback — from the Health Department, from our teachers, from our families — to determine what is going to be the safest options for our students as we return to school on Sept.

Around Town

August at the Senior Center: Summer Supper, Flower Arrangements, a Book Club and Much More

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Town of WatertownWatertown Senior Center

The Senior Center has many activities during the month of August, including some in-person events. In the August Watertown Senior News, put out by the Council on Aging, Director of Senior Services Anne-Marie Gagnon writes that the Senior Center is open and welcoming residents again. She added that there will be no meals (with a couple of exceptions below) provided because the kitchen remains closed, but people are welcome to bring their own food. Also, visitors may want to bring a sweater because the windows will remain open to provide circulation inside the senior center. Here are some of the events going on this month at the Watertown Senior Center:

Book Club

Held at the Library and on Zoom

Wednesday, August 11 at 9 am

We will be discussing Emma, by Jane Austen.

Entertainment

Watertown Art Show Raising Money for Children’s Cancer Research, Veterans with PTSD

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A new gallery in a Watertown apartment complex will feature art from nearly a dozen artists, and proceeds from the show will benefit children’s cancer research and veterans with PTSD. Art Saint Hope is the brainchild of Shamere Ross, the lead technician at Elan Union Market apartments, who wanted to give artists an opportunity to showcase their work and raise money for charity. Money raised will go to St. Jude’s Hospital, which does children’s cancer research, and Camp Hope for soldiers returning from war who are going through PTSD. “It is special because it not only raises money for these two great initiatives, but it also helps struggling artist who are not able to show and sell works at many other popular galleries.

Entertainment

Two Summer Concerts This Week: Compaq Big Band & Band from U.N.C.L.E.

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Music lovers will have not just one but two concerts to attend this week in Watertown’s Saltonstall Park Concerts. The regularly scheduled Compaq Big Band, with vocalists Ed Scheer from The Love Dogs, will play on Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 6:30 p.m. The band has been around for 46 years, and the 2021 edition includes a 19-piece band. The music ranges from Big Band legends such as Glenn Miller, to classics from Frank Sinatra, Billie Holliday and others, and hits through the years up to today. See more about the Compaq Big Band by clicking here.

Homepage Featured

Police Log: Suspect Seen on Video Going to Bathroom on Driveway, Fire Damages Home

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

None

Incidents

July 19, 12 p.m.: A woman wanted to cancel a flight she had booked on Priceline and contacted a number she found online. The person she thought was a customer service representative gave her a promotional offer to rebook the flight. She was told she would have to pay $300 in Target gift cards. The woman went to Target and bought the cards, and then contacted the number and gave the person the gift card numbers.

Election 2021

UPDATED: See Who Will be on the Watertown Town Election Ballot in November, Library Trustee Not Running

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Charlie Breitrose

(Originally posted July 28. Updated July 3o at 12:50 p.m.)

Town Clerk Janet Murphy certified the candidates for Watertown’s Town Election, to be held on Nov. 2, 2021. There will be six contested races in the Town Election: Councilor At-Large, Council Districts A, B and D, School Committee and Board of Library Trustees. Constance Henry announced July 30 that she will run for District D Councilor.

ARPA

Local Data Consultant Discovers Line in Federal Law that Cost Watertown Millions in Pandemic Relief

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CivilyticsWatertown’s Jared Knowles, president of Civilytics, discovered a line in the ARPA Pandemic relief act that cost Watertown millions in aid. A small data analysis firm discovered a five word section in the American Rescue Plan Act that cost communities such as Watertown millions in federal dollars compared to small towns in other states. Watertown-based Civilytics Consulting looks at a variety of data, including public financing, K-12 and higher education and public safety. While examining the ARPA funds found a surprising thing when they sent out their estimates for what states receive, said Jared Knowles, president of Civilytics. “One person called us and said ‘I’m getting told by our state we are getting a lot less than this,'” Knowles said.