Schools

Different Kind of Graduation Planned for Watertown’s Class of 2020; Students Can Choose Grades or Pass/Fail

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One of the signs that went up around town to celebrate Watertown High School’s graduating seniors. Watertown High School’s graduating seniors will be receiving their diplomas at Victory Field, but no in the way they would have expected in the pre-pandemic world. The Class of 2020 will have a drive-up graduation on Saturday, June 20, where they will arrive in a car full of family members, get out and march on the field with Pomp and Circumstance playing and receive their diploma, said Superintendent Dede Galdston at Monday’s School Committee meeting. Students will also have a professional photo taken. The rain location will be the WHS auditorium.

Around Town

Online Meeting to be Held on Cunniff School Construction

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The latest rendering of the new Cunniff Elementary School, with the solar array in the parking lot. Construction will soon begin at Cunniff Elementary School, and school officials will host a meeting to discuss the construction activities around the Westside school. Town Council President Mark Sideris said he had hoped to have the meeting in person, but could not do so due to the COVID-19 restrictions. The meeting will be held on Zoom, and the public can participate by joining the meeting on Zoom or by phone. Also, they can tune in on Watertown Cable.

Around Town

See the Rules for Using Watertown’s Parks, Fields and Track After COVID-19 Reopening

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Watertown’s Casey Park on Watertown Street. Some of Watertown’s recreational facilities will open for public use Wednesday, June 3, as part of the State’s COVID-19 reopening plan. However, there will be some rules and restrictions. Some of the rules include mandatory wearing of face masks, keeping at least 6 feet part and the facilities are only open to Watertown residents. Failure to follow the rules may result in the closing of facilities to all users.

10th Middlesex

Candidates for 2 State Rep. Seats Appearing in Online Forum

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Watertown is part of two districts in the House of Representatives and both have contested races in 2020. The candidates will appear on an online video forum hosted by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment. The forum will be held on Zoom and will take place on Sunday, June 7 from 1:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. A link to join the forum will be posted on the group’s website: http://watertowncitizens.org/

“We invite all to join us to hear from the candidates for State Representative as they share their perspectives on Peace, Justice and the Environment,” the announcement from the Watertown Citizens group said. Most of the town, 9 of 12 precincts, is located in the 29th Middlesex District, which also includes parts of Cambridge. State Rep. Jonathan Hecht has announced he is stepping down.

Business

Tufts Health Plan Leaving Town, Real Estate Investor Taking Over Building

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Tufts Health Plan will leave its offices on Mt. Auburn Street after swapping it with Spear Street Capital for a property in Canton. Shown here, runner gather for the Watertown Police Department’s Finish Strong Road Race. Tufts Health Plan will be swapping its Watertown headquarters for a location in Canton after it merges with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and the building on Mt. Auburn Street will be acquired by a real estate investor.

Schools

11 Watertown Students Graduating from Minuteman, Including Valedictorian

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Minuteman High School’s 121 member strong Class of 2020 includes nearly a dozen students from Watertown, one of whom is the class valedictorian. The vocational technical school will hold a drive-in graduation ceremony on Friday, June 5, at 2 p.m., at the school, 758 Marrett Road, Lexington. The ceremony will also be streamed live on YouTube. “While this is clearly an unusual way to hold a graduation, we hope that it will be a way for students and their families to share their excitement and create a happy memory of this milestone,” wrote Minuteman Superintendent-Director Edward Bouquillon. The graduates from Watertown are (with their program of study and future plans):

Emely AlmonteRouaa AlwazTJ DaleyFahad KhanAnthony LeoneElizabeth LinarteVasiliki MarandianosMichael McNamaraSabrina RaposoRenee ThompsonZachary Umbsen

Rouaa Alwaz (VALEDICTORIAN), BiotechnologyElizabeth Linarte, Biotechnology, University of Mass. Lowell – Pre-Dentistry Honors ProgramMichael McNamara, Carpentry Sabrina Raposo, Cosmetology, Entering the Workforce – CosmetologyVasiliki Marandianos, Culinary Arts / Baking, Entering the Workforce – Culinary ArtsRenee Thompson, Culinary Arts / BakingEmely Almonte, Early Education & CareAnthony Leone, Electrical WiringTimothy Daley, PlumbingFahad Khan, Programming & Web, Bunker Hill Community College – Software DevelopmentZachary Umbsen, Programming & Web

Visit the Minuteman High School Class of 2020 Instagram page to see more of the graduates.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Scammed for Over $20K, Plaque Stolen from Veteran’s Grave

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

None

Incidents

May 18 3:06 p.m.: Police were contacted by an Standish Road resident and her daughter after they found unusual activity on her bank account. She received a notice from their bank about several pre-authorized withdrawals from the account, and an estimated $30,000 had been taken and deposited into an unknown PayPal account. The account has been frozen by the bank and the family. They were able to recover approximately $22,000.