Around Town

Alcohol, Drug Use Down Among Middle, High Schoolers, Vaping More Common Than Smoking

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Watertown High School and Middle School students are drinking, smoking and doing drugs less than they have in previous years, according to the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The study also looked at depression, suicide and bullying. Stephanie Sunderland-Ramsey, Program Coordinator of the group that organized the survey — Wayside Youth & Family Support Network — spoke to the School Committee on March 2. She believes the decrease is the result of efforts to education students and try to prevent them from using alcohol, tobacco and rugs. “We’ve existed on grant funding for the last 20 years, and so I would say it is prevention at work,” Sunderland Ramsey said.

Around Town

Proposal for Filippello Park Lights to be Heard at Town Council Meeting

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Filippello Park’s two athletic fields, picnic area, playground and more draw lots of visitors. The proposal to put lights on both playing fields at Filippello Park will be presented to the Town Council on Tuesday night. The presentation will be made at the Council meeting, which begins at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10. The vote on approving the funding for the project will be made at a future meeting, said Town Council President Mark Sideris. The proposal calls for replacing the existing lights on the Grove Street Field with LED lights on seven poles, and installing LED lights on four poles on the Arlington Street Field.

Arrests

Police Log: Possible Home Break-in, Man Tries to Steal Water Heater

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

Feb. 24, 11:04 p.m.: Police pulled over a vehicle near the intersection of Edenfield and Main Street for an equipment violation. The car had a brake light out and a license plate light out. After looking at her record, police found the driver had a suspended license and outstanding warrants.

Around Town

Watertown School Staff Member Sent Home as Precautionary Measure Related to Coronavirus

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A teacher from Watertown High School who had recently traveled abroad, was sent home as a precaution measure after the possibility of having been exposed to the COVID-19 “Coronavirus,” the Watertown Public Schools announced. Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston said the measure was taken out to be cautious, and was in line with recommendations by local, state and federal health officials. She also talked about a planned WHS trip to Europe during spring break. School officials said there has not been a confirmed case of the Coronavirus in the Watertown Public Schools, however, there is a staff member who went home just in case the person was exposed to the virus. “I can confirm there are no known or suspected cases of Coronavirus in Watertown,” said Galdston, who said she could not comment specifically about the case, or even if the person had been tested, due to federal HIPAA regulations protecting people’s medical records.

Schools

Watertown High School’s New Principal Introduced, Has Local Ties

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Watertown High School’s next principal, Joel Giacobozzi, right, shown with WHS students on the day he visited the school for his final interview in January. Watertown High School’s next principal has a wide breadth of educational experience, and also has ties to town. The School Committee formally met Joel Giacobozzi at Monday night’s meeting. Superintendent Dede Galdston picked Giacobozzi from the three finalists, who visited Watertown at the end of January. He currently serves as associate head master at Boston Latin, and previously was assistant principal at Scituate High School and took part in the principal internship program in the Boston Public Schools.

Cancer

Watertown Teen Seeks to Raise $20K for Cancer Research, Hosting Fundraiser Friday

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A Watertown teen seeks to raise $20,000 to help the fight against cancer in honor of a five-year-old patient. She will host an event Friday night in Watertown to help reach her goal. Susan Howard, who lives in town and attends Dexter Southfield in Brookline, started a fundraising campaign to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “My fundraiser began on January 24th and I only have until March 14th to reach my goal. I have a team of eight hard-working individuals who are helping me raise money as well, seven of whom are Watertown students and parents,” Howard said.