Police/Fire

Hands-Free Driving Law Goes into Effect Sunday Feb. 23

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Massachusetts drivers can face a fine of up to $500 for violating the hands-free law, beginning Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. The law aims at preventing drivers from being distracted by their cellphones while driving. This includes not only texting while driving, but also talking on the phone while holding the cellphone or dialing manually. Driver’s cannot even hold a phone while driving, even if not using it, and can only touch it to put it into hands-free mode.

Basketball

2 Watertown Basketball Teams, 1 Hockey Team Earn State Tourney Bids

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Watertown senior guard Gevork Karapetyan and the Raiders got the fourth seed in the Div. 3 North Section tournament and will host a first round game. Watertown High School will have three teams in the state tournament brackets this winter, with both the boys and girls basketball teams along with the boys hockey team being seeded by the MIAA state committee on Friday. The Raiders boys basketball team took the highest seed, slotting in fourth in the Div. 3 North Section bracket.

Around Town

Recreation Department Seeking Applicants for Part-Time, Summer Jobs

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Recreation Department:

The Watertown Recreation Department is now accepting applications for the following positions for the 2020 calendar year. This includes immediate employment as a part time member of the staff throughout the year or seasonal work during the summer months. Applicants must be entering the 9th grade (Fall 2020) or older to be considered. Positions Available: Program Directors, Program Supervisors, Program Staff, Program Counselors, Counselor in Training, Nurse, Specialists, Pequossette Staff, Park Instructors, Program Staff, Park Rangers, Coaches and Scorekeepers. If you are looking for employment to begin before the summer season, please complete your application and an interview will be scheduled with the Director of Recreation.

Around Town

Watertown’s Hidden Wetlands Could be Possible Community Preservation Projects

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Walker’s Pond, on the Westside of Watertown, is one of the town’s hidden wetlands and a possible place for the Community Preservation Funds to be spent. With “water” such a prominent part of the name of the town, one might expect it to be flush with wetlands. The Charles River, of course, is Watertown’s most significant body of water, but there are several others that are not as visible. Some can be seen from roadways around town, if you know where to look, others are tucked into the woods, and a number are surrounded by graves. Leo Martin, chair of the Town Conservation Commission recently took Watertown News on a tour of the town’s wetlands.

Around Town

Watertown Cable Show Finds Out the Latest with the Community Preservation Committee

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In the latest episode of Watertown Cable show Inside Watertown, Elodia Thomas, second from right, and Lanae Handy (right) joined hosts John Airasian, left, and Charlie Breitrose to talk about the Community Preservation Committee. Two people deeply involved in Watertown’s Community Preservation Committee were the guests on the latest episode of Watertown Cable’s Inside Watertown. Elodia Thomas, chair of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), and Lanae Handy, the CPC’s Community Preservation consultant, joined co-hosts Charlie Breitrose and John Airasian at the Watertown Cable Studio, recently. They talked about the latest happenings with the group who recommends how the town’s CPA funds are spent. The CPC recently held its first public forum (see video here), where attendees learned about what the CPA funds can be spent on, and then had the chance to gave ideas for projects they would like to see in Watertown.

Basketball

Watertown Boys Basketball Team Looks for Good State Tourney Run, Give Coach Milestone Win

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Watertown senior guard Gevork Karapetyan handles the ball against Winchester Tuesday night. Despite losing the regular season finale, the Watertown High School boys basketball team looks poised for the State Tournament. Before the 68-42 loss to Winchester Tuesday night, the Raiders had a nine game winning streak. Watertown ended the regular season with a record of 15-6, and Head Coach Steve Harrington expects the Raiders to get a three or four seed in the MIAA Div. 3 North tournament. 

“We will get a home game and hopefully we’ll win and get a second game,” Harrington said.

Business

Watertown Business Coalition Hosting After Hours Networking Event

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Watertown’s Commander’s Mansion. Head to the historic Commander’s Mansion and network with people from Watertown businesses and other local groups at the After Hours event. The Watertown Business Coalition’s recent Coffee Connect drew nearly 50 people, and the group invites people to its next event on Thursday, March 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Watertown Commander’s Mansion, 440 Talcott Avenue, Watertown (the Arsenal on the Charles). Network with others from the Watertown business community, enjoy appetizers and a cash bar, and hear about development and the Arsenal Corridor. The event is free.