Police/Fire

Fire Department Swears in 7 Promoted Members, New Firefighter

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Three new Watertown Fire lieutenants — Scott Twombly, Glen McManus and Ralph Mele — were sworn in by Town Clerk John Flynn during a ceremony outside the Commander’s Mansion on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The Watertown Fire Department honored eight of its members on Wednesday during a swearing-in ceremony. Seven received promotions and one firefighter was officially welcomed to the WFD. The Fire Department periodically holds swearing in ceremonies to recognize promotions and new members of the department.

Real Estate

Many, Many Open Houses Around Watertown This Week

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See the open houses this week on the Watertown real estate market. $499,000 – 131 Coolidge Ave. Unit 116, Condo – Mid-Rise, 1,270 Living Area Sq. Ft., 5 Room, 2 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom, Open House: Sunday 1-2:30

$399,000 – 28 Duff St. Unit 28, Condo – Townhouse, 874 Living Area Sq.

COVID-19

Watertown Schools Moving to Hybrid on Oct. 27

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Watertown elementary school students will return to school, part time, beginning Oct. 27. Superintendent Dede Galdston sent out the announcement Thursday evening. Superintendent Dede Galdston said the decision was be based on the state’s latest report on the number of COVID-19 cases and rate of positive tests in Town. In a letter to parents Galdston wrote: “…

Around Town

Watertown Churches Holding Services to Pray for Armenian Soldiers, Peace in Artsakh

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Flag of Artsakh

Two Armenian Churches will hold prayer services this week for the soldiers in Armenia and Artsakh who have been fighting in an ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan. The current military conflict began in late September in the area known as Artsakh (formerly Nagorno-Karabakh), an area of mostly ethnic Armenians. The area was placed within the borders of Azerbaijan when it was part of the Soviet Union, but is governed by ethnic Armenians as the Republic of Artsakh. Tensions date back decades, and a six year war was fought from 1988-94

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the St.

Schools

State Auditing Watertown Schools’ Decision Not to Move Up Change to In-Person Learning

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The Watertown Public Schools are being audited by the state regarding the district’s decision not to move up the start of hybrid learning in the schools. Watertown School officials received a letter from the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) this week informing them of the audit. On Tuesday, Superintendent Dede Galdston confirmed that Watertown is being audited. The district is one of two being audited, according to a story on MassLive.com, along with East Longmeadow. Both were among the 16 districts to receive letters from DESE pushing them to return to in-person learning, at least part time, because the rate of COVID-19 was not high under the state’s virus tracking system.

Arrests

Man Caught in Watertown With Drugs, Firearm; Also Had Warrants in Boston, California

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Watertown Police arrested a California man on drug charges and warrants after the Boston Police tipped them off that he was staying at a hotel in Town. Boston detectives learned that Marcus Leydon was staying at the Residences Inn by Marriott on Arsenal Street, and informed Watertown Police that he was wanted for a carjacking in Boston on a warrant out of Roxbury District Court, according to Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. Leydon also had warrants in his name for failing to stop for police and other traffic violations in from Brookline, and one from Santa Clara County in California for manufacturing a controlled substance. Watertown Police went to the hotel on the afternoon of Oct. 13 and encountered Leydon in the lobby.

Business

Health & Fitness Businesses Highlighted by Local Biz Group

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In a time when gyms, exercise studios and other health and fitness business are struggling, a local business group have made it easy for Watertown residents to find local options. The Watertown Business Coalition has put a tab on its webpage (watertownbusinesscoalition.com) linking to nearly 50 health and fitness providers in Watertown. Rich Baez, who works at Boston Specific Chiropractic in Watertown Square, hopes the tab will help both local businesses and residents. “The health tab is really a great option for the community to get together and support each other,” Baez said. “A lot of businesses today are struggling to stay open or leverage their dollars smartly.”

COVID-19

No Vote on Watertown Schools Moving to Hybrid; Supt. Optimistic for Oct. 27 Opening

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School officials are optimistic that Watertown elementary school students will return to classes part time in a hybrid model beginning Oct. 27, and the middle school could go to a hybrid model weeks earlier than originally planned. The School Committee met Monday night, during a meeting held virtually over Zoom, but did not take a vote on the start of hybrid learning in Watertown. Instead, they left the decision up to the superintendent. On Thursday, Oct.