Around Town

Candidate Q&A: School Committee

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Charlie BreitroseThe public gathered outside the new Cunniff Elementary School before open house on Tuesday. Three spots on the Watertown School Committee are up for grabs, and half a dozen candidates have put their name forward. The School Committee has four-year terms, and two incumbents seek another term. Longtime School Committee member, and current chair, John Portz announced in June that he would not be running for re-election in 2021. Amy Donohue and Lily Rayman-Read seek re-election, and four challengers are running for spots on the Committee: Jessica Middlebrook, Jennifer Nicholson, Colleeen Mahoney Farherty and Rachel Kay.

Elections

Candidate Q&As: Library Trustees

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Watertown Free Public LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. Watertown voters will be selecting the Trustees for the Watertown Free Public Library on Nov. 2. There are three spots available in the 2021 election. The Board of Library Trustees oversees the budget for the Watertown Library and works with the Library staff on how to spend the budget, as well as working on special projects and initiatives at the library.

Real Estate

Halloween Weekend Open Houses Around Watertown

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See the properties hosting open houses in town this weekend. $575,000 – 127 Nichols Ave. Unit 127, Condo – 2/3 Family, 1,219 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 3 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 11:30-1

$685,000 – 94 Highland Ave. Unit 94, Condo – 2/3 Family, 1,577 Living Area Sq.

Election 2021

Candidate Q&As: Town Council At-Large, Council President

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Watertown Town Hall

The Town Council will have some new members, including at least one from the Councilor At-Large race. Four seats are up for election on Nov. 2, along with the Town Council President, who is elected by the entire town. The other four councilors are District Councilors (see their Q&As by clicking here). Councilors At-Large

A field of seven candidates includes three incumbents (Caroline Bays, Tony Palomba and John Gannon), and four challengers (John Airasian, Daniel D’Amico, James Mello and Megan O’Halloran).

District A

Candidate Q&As: District Town Councilors

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Town of WatertownA map of Watertown’s Districts: Peach is A, Red is B, Lime Green is C, Green is D.

The Town of Watertown has four districts, each of which is represented by a Town Councilor. In the 2021 Watertown Election three of four districts have contested races. See how each of the candidates responded to a variety of questions by clicking on their name under “Candidates” for each district. District A

Represents the East End of town, District A includes the area of town east of School Street, including Coolidge Square, as well as some streets west of School Street that are between Walnut Street and Mt. Auburn Street.

Around Town

New Barbecue Restaurant in Watertown Holding Soft Opening

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Barbecue lovers will have a new spot to visit in Watertown beginning Thursday, Oct. 28. The Don’s BBQ Restaurant will hold a soft opening starting at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the restaurant located at 93 School St. (the former Avenue Deli and Strip T’s location). The owner, Sebastian “The Don” DiFelice, specializes in Texas-style barbecue, and the restaurant uses only USDA Prime cuts for his briskets, pork shoulder, and pork loin ribs sourced in New England.

Sports

Watertown Youth Hockey Looking to Grow, Skating and Hockey Lessons Start Soon

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown Youth Hockey players practice at the John A. Ryan Arena. Watertown Youth Hockey will soon start its popular Learn to Skate program, and coaches hope that eventually the young skaters will move on to the youth hockey teams.

Watertown Youth Hockey has been around since the early 1970s, if not longer, said Watertown Youth Hockey President Jason Tourville, who also coaches in the program. A few years ago the program shrank when multiple players moved to other programs in the area, but a new generation is coming up through the program. There are some pros and cons about being a smaller program. “The upside is the community, you get to know each other,” Tourville said.

Football

Watertown High Football Grabs Overtime Win, Golfers Take a Swing at State Tournament

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown senior Mason Andrade scored a touchdown in the Raiders’ win over Wakefield. Here he runs the ball against Belmont in 2019. The Raiders handed Middlesex League foe Wakefield its second loss of the season with an overtime victory. The win helped Watertown’s chances of qualifying for the State playoffs. Also this week, the Watertown High School golf team played in the North Section tournament.