Chicago

WHS Bringing the Song, Dance and Fun of the Musical “Chicago” to the Stage

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Watertown High School seniors Toni Carton, left, and Yeraz Kaligian play the leads in school’s production of “Chicago.” When Watertown High School Drama teacher Kacie Kirkpatrick picked Chicago as the spring musical, she hoped to generate excitement. Judging by the reception she got from her leads, she succeeded. Chicago, the High School Edition, will hit the WHS stage on Feb. 28, 29 and March 1.

Real Estate

Nearly a Dozen Properties Hosting Open Houses in Watertown

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Check out all the open houses around Watertown this week. $549,900 – 91 Spring St. Unit 11, Condo – Low-Rise, 1,190 Living Area Sq. Ft., 5 Room, 2 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 1-2:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$509,900 – 14 Fuller Road Unit 14, Condo – 2/3 Family, 1,200 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 1-2:30

$579,900 – 31 Ashland St.

Fiscal 2021 Budget

Prelim School Budget Adds Handful of Positions, Most of Increase Goes to “Level Service”

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The School Committee got the first look at next year’s school budget, and while the Town Manager has allotted a 5 percent increase, most of the increase will be used to maintain the same level of services as the current school year. There will be a handful of positions added to the district. On Monday night, Heidi Perkins, the district’s Director of Finance and Operations, told the School Committee that nearly 95 percent of the $2.52 million increase for Fiscal Year 2021 (the 2020-21 school year) will go to maintaining a level service budget. The total budget is $52.9 million. “Available for the FY21 budget priorities will be $145,022, or 5.8 percent of the 5 percent increase,” Perkins said.

Development

Councilors Say They Hear Resident Concerns, But Pass Galen Street Zoning

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The Town Council Chamber was filled with residents there to hear about the decision on rezoning parcels along Galen Street. Developers are interested in building biotech lab buildings on the site south of the Charles River. Residents concerned about the impact of a proposal to change the zoning for properties along Galen Street jammed the Town Council Chamber Tuesday night. The change paves the way for a biotech lab project to be built on east side of Galen Street on property that includes for the former Colonial Buick GMC dealership. After hearing from the public during public forum, and then having a 1.5 hour discussion of their own, Town Councilors voted 8-1 to approve the zoning change requested by the owners/developers of the property.

'80s Music

Get Back to the ’80s at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser

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Take a trip back to the 1980s and raise money to help the youth of Watertown. Leap Back to the 80s at the fundraising event and support the Watertown Boys & Girls Club Great Futures Campaign. The evening of fun for adults 21 and over features a DJ spinning the hits of the ’80s, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, from 6:30–11:30 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club, 25 Whites Ave., Watertown.

Police/Fire

Police Nab Man Who Broke into Home in Watertown

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Watertown Police took custody of a man wanted for breaking into a home in East Watertown on Feb. 6, but still seek a second suspect. Two men broke down the back door of a three-family home on Dexter Avenue, and took an estimated $5,000 in items from one of the units, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “They were interrupted when the upstairs neighbor came home,” O’Connor said. “They fled through the backdoor.”

Animal Control

Animal Control Investigating Dead Cat Found in Bag in Charles River

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The Charles River near Watertown Square. A resident walking along the Charles River in Watertown spotted a trash bag with a dead cat inside, Watertown’s Animal Control Officer reported. The bag was discovered on Thursday, Jan. 30, but someone walking on the California Street side of the river. The bag was weighed down by a rock, according to Karen O’Reilly, Watertown’s Animal Control Officer.