Building for the Future

School Building Committee Looking at Costs of Creating Net Zero Energy Schools

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An example of a rack that holds photo voltaic panels. Similar racks are planned to go in the parking lots of Hosmer and Cunniff schools in an effort to generate electricity. Architects designing Watertown’s new elementary schools are searching for enough space to place solar panels to make them net zero energy schools, however the biggest challenge to meeting the energy efficiency mark could be the project budget. Scott Dunlap, project architect for the three elementary school projects, showed the School Building Committee plans for Hosmer to place enough photo voltaic panels to cover the school’s energy use, while at Cunniff architects still need to find space for more panels. Lowell School will be renovated, so designers are not seeking to make the school net zero.

Around Town

Santa Visits Watertown Square for Tree Lighting Celebration

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Santa Claus poses for photos during the Watertown Tree Lighting celebration. Dozens of children and their parents stood on a snow covered Watertown Square Delta Friday evening awaiting the delivery of a special package: Santa Claus. Frosty the Snowman entertained the crowd as they awaited Santa’s arrival. Saint Nick arrived in a Watertown Fire Department SUV for the ninth annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, which was hosted by the Rotary Club of Watertown and Watertown Savings Bank. Santa Claus steps out of a Watertown Fire Department SUV for the Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Around Town

Watertown Remembers Attacks on Pearl Harbor

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Watertown held a commemoration of the anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor on Friday. The Watertown Fire Department Honor Guard bowed the flags as a wreath was placed in the Charles River. Watertown’s veterans marked the 78th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor with a ceremony on Friday afternoon. Watertown veterans came out to honor the memory of those lost at Pearl Harbor in 1941. The ceremony took place at the Watertown Dock, in Watertown Square where Watertown’s Veterans Services Officer Patrick George addressed those in attendance.

Around Town

Police Log: Pair Caught Taking Several Power Tools, Police Break Up Fight

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

Nov. 26, 5:54 p.m.: Security at Home Depot spotted a man and woman in the store and the man was known as a chronic shoplifter. The pair went to the power tool section of the store and took items out of their packaging and placed some in the carriage pushed by the woman and the man hid some in his clothing. The man had three Milwaukee Drills on him.

Around Town

See Photos from the Commander’s Mansion Christmas Celebration

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Santa Claus was busy Thursday night at the Commander’s Mansion Christmas Celebration. The Commander’s Mansion decked the halls for the annual Christmas Celebration on Thursday night. Lights decorated the Commander’s Mansion inside and out. The line to visit Santa Claus stretched out the door, through the upstairs hallway and into two more rooms. Visitors could also spend time with Mrs. Claus. Dancers from Ballroom in Boston performed for the attendees of the Commander’s Mansion.

Real Estate

Several Open Houses This Weekend in Watertown

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See the properties that you can visit this weekend around town. $925,000 – 125 Marshall St., 2 unit, 12 total room, 6 total bedroom, 2 Family multi-family home, Open House: Sunday 12-2

$599,000 – 210 Belmont St. Unit 7, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 1-2:30

$649,000 – 79 Church St. Unit 79, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse, Open House: Sunday 1-3

$475,000 – 131 Coolidge Ave. Unit 225, 4 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, High-Rise condo/townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 11:30-1

$619,000 – 14 Maplewood St.

Real Estate

Watertown Had Two Condos Sell This Week

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See the properties that sold this week in Watertown. $285,000 – 38 Carey Ave. Unit 2, 4 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Low-Rise condo/townhouse

$716,000 – 145 Waverley Ave. Unit 145, 5 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

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Schools

Architects Examining Possible Spots for New Watertown High School

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Designers showed a mockup of a new school building that could fit on the current Watertown High School site. One of the biggest questions with the project to rebuild or renovate Watertown High School is where the building will be located. Wednesday night, project architect Scott Dunlap, of Ai3 Architects, presented some of the options to the School Building Committee, along with some of the pros and cons of each site. “The challenge of the Building Committee over the next three months is not to decide on the design of the high school, or even pick a location, but to identify which sites would be viable for consideration,” Dunlap said. The three main sites being examined are the current high school site, the combined Victory Field complex/Department of Public Works Facility, and Moxley Field.