Entertainment

Oscar Winner Spotted Filming in Watertown Neighborhood

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Hollywood star George Clooney was spotted in Watertown this week working on his latest film. The two-time Oscar winner was seen near Bemis Park, off Waltham Street on the Westside of Watertown, on Thursday, according to WBC Channel 4. View this post on Instagram A post shared by WBZ-TV 4 (CBS Boston) (@wbztv)

Clooney is directing the Amazon Studios film The Tender Bar, whose stars include Ben Affleck, Tye Sheridan (Cyclops in X-Men: Dark Phoenix) and Lily Rabe, whose credits include American Horror Story, according to IMDB. IMDB describes the plot as: A boy growing up in Long Island seeks out father figures among the patrons at his uncle’s bar. The screenplay was written by William Monahan, who also wrote The Departed.

Government

Health Director Rips Governor’s Decision to Take Vaccinations Away from Local Health Departments

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Watertown Health Director Larry Ramdin said he was “extremely disappointed” with Gov. Charlie Baker’s decision to remove local health departments from the COVID-19 vaccination process and handing it to privately run vaccination sites. Ramdin told the Board of Health that received word of the change on Wednesday, the same day that the Watertown Health Department gave vaccines to 100 residents age 75 or older. He said health departments have better training and can administer more doses than pharmacies and other vaccination sites. “We have been going through this. Every one of the clinics we host is a drill for an emergency dispensing site.

Sports

Girls Hoops Coach Thanks Team After Challenging 2021 Season, Boys Hoops Makes League Final

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Three seniors on the Watertown girls basketball team closed out their career this week, from left, Leah D’Amico, Morgan Beirne and Christina Zouein. The season ended Wednesday for the Watertown High School girls basketball team with a loss in the first round of the Middlesex League playoffs, but Head Coach Pat Ferdinand still called it an “incredible season.” The Raiders had to adjust to the season shortened by COVID-19, and the safety guidelines put in during the pandemic, including having to wear masks while playing and not having fans in the stands. The team even had to find ways to work on their game even when they couldn’t practice in person, Ferdinand said. He particularly thanked the three seniors, Leah D’Amico, Morgan Beirne and Christina Zouein.

Real Estate

Multiple Open Houses in Watertown This Weekend

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See this week’s Watertown open houses. $779,900 – 22 Myrtle St., Single Family – Detached Colonial, 1,815 Living Area Sq. Ft., 7 Room, 3 Bedroom, 2 Full & 1 Half Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 2-3:30 Sunday 2-3:30

$338,000 – 32 Whites Ave. Unit F4401, Condo – Garden, 695 Living Area Sq. Ft., 3 Room, 1 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 11-2 Sunday 11-2

Sponsored by:

$339,000 – 112 Mt.

Government

Charter Review Committee Takes Straw Poll, Reviews Current Document

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Watertown’s Town Hall. The Charter Review Committee gave a little insight into which way its members are leaning in the question of whether to keep the current form of government or change to one with a mayor. The committee took a straw poll toward the end of Tuesday night’s meeting, in which six of the 15 members said they were leaning toward keeping the current government with a council and strong town manager. None said they were leaning toward a mayoral form, but nine abstained. The vote was proposed by Town Councilor Ken Woodland, who said he wanted to help give the consultants from the Collins Center at UMass Boston an idea of what to work on for future meetings.

Sports

Watertown Boys Hoops Cruises vs. Lexington, Girls Fall & Boys Hockey Triumphs

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Watertown senior Gabe Spinelli scored 39 points in the Raiders’ win over Lexington in the Middlesex League Tournament. Gabe Spinelli’s 39 points led Watertown’s dominating 75-57 win over Lexington in the first round Middlesex League boys basketball tournament game, Wednesday at WHS. The Raiders claimed the second seed in the special tournament organized by the league after the MIAA decided not to hold winter sports tournaments due to COVID-19. After the game, Watertown Head Coach Steve Harrington said he would love to be coaching the team in the State Tournament, but was happy with how his team played in the league tourney. Lexington, the seventh seed, kept the game tight in the first half.

Around Town

State’s COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility List Expanded

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Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn gets a COVID-19 vaccination shot during the clinic for police and firefighters run by the Watertown Health Department. Massachusetts residents ages 65 and older can begin getting the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Thursday, Feb. 18, along with others added to the groups that qualify. The additions to the vaccination list were announced on Wednesday by the Mass Department of Public Health. Others added to the list include people who have at least two comorbidities, as well as residents who live and work in low-income or affordable senior housing facilities.

Schools

Several Positions Would be Added in Watertown School’s “Level Service” Budget

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The Watertown School schools have a little over $100,000 left in next year’s budget after preserving the current staffing and programs, the School Committee heard last week. Director of Finance and Operations Heidi Perkins presented the level-service budget last week, which would be $53.75 million including a 3.5 percent increase in funding from the Town. That amount does not include other funds such as state special education circuit breaker money, which will add about half of the increase that makes the total budget $57 million. While the budget will go up by about $1.8 million, Perkins said that only six percent of that will be available for new proposals. The level-service budget, however, does include some new positions.