Fiscal 2022 Budget

Town Budget: Watertown Will Pay for New High School Without Tax Override, Fund to Buy Land to be Created

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Ai3 ArchitectsA view from Columbia Street of what the new Watertown High School could look like. The new Watertown High School will be built without a tax increase from a debt exclusion, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced during Tuesday night’s presentation of the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. The FY22 budget will total $164.43 million, which is an increase of $976,720 — or 0.6 percent — above the current fiscal year. The budget includes a $1.5 million increase in State Aid from FY21, but does not include an expected $10 million that Watertown will receive as part of the Federal American Rescue Plan Act in FY22 and FY23. High School Funding

Driscoll saved the announcement of the high school project funding to the end of his budget highlights.

Around Town

New Lights Will Illuminate Softball Field at Park in Watertown

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Charlie BreitroseThe softball field at Filippello Park is undergoing a renovation and upgrade, including seven new lights on poles, new dugouts and backstop and a scoreboard. This spring, the softball field at Filippello Park has undergone a modernization, with new lights, a scoreboard, and a new backstop going up at the East Watertown park. Work continues at the field, and when it is complete seven light poles will light the softball field, which sits near the parking area off Grove Street. The project has been many years in the planning, said Watertown Recreation Director Peter Centola, who wanted to make facility upgrades at the Town’s parks a priority when he was hired in 2009. “I was here with Musco Lighting, we met on this field in the spring of 2010,” Centola said.

Entertainment

Band Making Music Video in Town With Grant from Watertown Cultural Council

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Lucretia’s DaggersLucretia’s Daggers (from left – Maxx Charvelle, Lucretia X. Machina, and Donni Darko) is making a music video in Town with the help of a grant from the Watertown Cultural Council. The group’s lead singer Lauri Murphy, aka Lucretia X. Machina, has lived in Watertown for 30 years. Most know her as Lauri Murphy, but the Watertown resident goes by Lucretia X. Machina when she sings lead for Lucretia’s Daggers, a band that is celebrating its 20th anniversary. To celebrate, the group is making a video of one of their songs around Watertown with the help of an arts grant and funds raised through a crowd-funding website. Murphy has lived in Watertown for 30 years, and is a founding member of the Watertown Environment & Energy Efficiency Committee (WE3C).

Entertainment

Watertown Greek Church Hosting Gyro Fest, Pre-Order Open for Pick-up Only Event

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Watertown’s Taxiarchae Greek Church will host Gyro Fest on Saturday, May 15 from noon to 7 p.m.

The menu includes Greek favorites such as gyros, pastitsio, spanakopita, loukoumades and baklava. The event is pick-up only. You can pre-order, prepay and set up a time to pick up your order. See the menu, and how to order by clicking here. Taxiarchae Greek Church is located at 25 Bigelow Ave.

Arrest

Police Log: Customer Threatens to Harm Tufts Health Plan Employees, Food Delivery Man Stiffed for Bill

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The following information is provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrest

April 11, 11:57 p.m.: An officer patrolling in Watertown Square saw a white Toyota at the traffic light, and when the light turned green the vehicle did not move. The officer honked his horn to try to gain the driver’s attention but the person did not respond. The officer then saw that the driver appeared to be passed out with the car in drive and the driver had her foot on the brake pedal. After several attempts to wake her by knocking on, and shaking the vehicle the operator woke up.

Around Town

Deal to Sell Watertown Mall Closes, Purchased by Owners of Arsenal on the Charles

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The Watertown Mall — home to Target and Best Buy — has been sold for $130 million to the owner of other major properties in Town. The sale by Watertown Mall Associates Limited Partnership and New York-based Rosen Associates to Alexandria Real Estate Equities closed on Thursday, according to a story on Bisnow Boston which reported the closing of the deal. Alexandria has become a big player in biotech in Watertown. It also owns the Arsenal on the Charles and the former Mount Auburn Club. 

The future of the property is not clear, with Target having a lease through 2033, according to Bisnow.com. Other tenants of the Watertown Mall include the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Joyful Garden restaurant, Miss Maria’s School of Dance, Carter’s and Work N’ Gear.

Field Hockey

Three Watertown Grads Earn College Field Hockey Honors, One Defensive Player of the Year

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John Quackenbos / Boston College AthleticsBoston College junior Jonna Kennedy, a Watertown High grad, was named the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year. A trio of former Watertown Raider field hockey players were named among the best in their respective conferences this spring. Boston College goalie Jonna Kennedy received the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year award, and was also named to the All-ACC First Team. Kennedy had a record of 7-5 this year, including 7-2 in the spring season and had three shutouts. She also was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week twice during the spring season.

Around Town

Check Out the Open Houses in Watertown This Weekend

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Homebuyers have more than a dozen open houses to visit this weekend. $1,000,000 – 101 North Beacon St. Unit 301, Condo – Mid-Rise, 1,163 Living Area Sq. Ft., 5 Room, 2 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom, Open House: Sunday 10-12

$789,000 – 20-2 Chester St. Unit 2, Condo – Townhouse, 1,820 Living Area Sq.