Schools

Schools Rolling Out Student COVID-19 Testing Week After Thanksgiving

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Watertown students will be able to be tested for COVID-19 for free starting the week after Thanksgiving, in an effort to keep schools open for in-person learning and to stop the spread of the virus in the school and broader community. Galdston told the School Committee about the district’s testing program on Monday, the same night that a piece on the Watertown Public Schools’ COVID-19 testing program (for which she was interviewed) aired on the NBC Nightly News. “In the 45 minute interview, that was cut to 30 seconds, we spent a lot of time talking about how Watertown has really gone above and beyond to keep our students and our staff safe,” Galdston said. “Here is just another safety net we have for all of our people within our community.” School Committee member Lily Rayman-Read, who teaches in the Cambridge Public Schools, said the NBC story caught the interest of educators in other communities.

Schools

NBC News Features Watertown School’s COVID-19 Testing Program

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A screenshot of Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston’s appearance in an NBC Nightly News piece. A national newscast spotlighted the Watertown Public School’s COVID-19 testing program on Monday. Wearing a Watertown Middle School face mask, Superintendent Dede Galdston was interviewed by NBC Nightly News about the testing program, where students can be tested for free. She described the return of the schools to partial in-person teaching with the district’s hybrid program. “People haven’t said we can’t do this, they said, wow, this is hard, but how can are we going do it?”

Business

Fees for Liquor Licenses, Others in Watertown Waived for 2021

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Watertown Town Hall

The Licensing Board voted to waive fees for liquor licenses and other fees charged to do business in the Town of Watertown for all of 2021 in an effort to help them endure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Thursday night, the Board heard a proposal to eliminate the annual fees for liquor licenses for restaurants, which is $2,700 for most. After a discussion, Licensing Board members decided that not just those, but also fees for other businesses should be removed for 2021. Other communities have already made changes to their liquor license fees, said David Doneski, the attorney that works with the Licensing Board. Newton and Needham approved a 50 percent reduction in fees, and Malden and Quincy waived the entire fee.

Police/Fire

Police Seek Suspect in Two Home Break-ins in Watertown

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Two Watertown homes were broken into on Saturday afternoon, and Watertown Police seek a suspect who might have been involved in other recent break-ins. The two break-ins took place on Avon and Sunnybank roads between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Nov. 21, according to a Watertown Police Department’s Twitter post. WPD is investigating 2 house breaks that occurred yesterday between 4-8pm on Avon Rd & Sunnybank Rd. Please report any unusual activity.

Real Estate

Two Watertown Condominiums Sold This Week

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See the properties that sold this week on the Watertown real estate market. $865,000 – 22 Priest Road Unit 1, Condo – Townhouse, 2,009 Living Area Sq. Ft., 7 Room, 3 Bedroom, 2 Full & 1 Half Bathroom

$289,000 – 62 Carey St. Unit 1, Condo – Garden, 600 Living Area Sq. Ft., 4 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom

Sponsored by:

Government

Charter Review: Library Trustees Argue to Keep Board Elected, School Committee Discussed

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The Watertown Free Public Library. Two Watertown Library Trustees told the Charter Review Committee the board should remain an elected one, saying that having to run for the position keeps them more in touch with the desires of the community. The discussion took place during Tuesday’s Charter Review Committee meeting. Members also of the School Committee gave their input to the group that is examining the equivalent of the Town’s constitution and will likely propose changes. The Committee also discussed the draft timeline of the Charter Review process, and the new website.

Around Town

Watertown Church Holding Candlelight Vigil for Armenian, Artsakh Soldiers

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Flag of Artsakh

An Armenian church in Watertown will hold a candlelight vigil on Sunday for the fallen soldiers. The outdoor vigil will take place at the St. Stephen’s Armenian Church, 38 Elton Ave., on Nov. 22 at 5:30 p.m.

An Instagram post from St. Stephen’s said:

“Join the Greater Boston Armenian Community in unity and solidarity for a Candle Light Vigil to honor our fallen soldiers.