Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/page/455/)
Santa Claus waved from the middle of his adoring fans at the Watertown Tree Lighting Celebration. The Holiday Spirit will be in full swing this week in Watertown with a couple of events for people to enjoy. Thursday night, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 pm. the Commander’s Mansion, located at 440 Talcott Ave. will host a Christmas Celebration.
A lot of money was raised and spent on the 2015 Watertown Election. The Town Council’s list of priorities for next year’s budget includes funding the school building projects, funding streets and sidewalks. Also, two new ones were added: funding a climate & energy master plan and hiring a consultant to help with the review of the Town Charter. The list of 15 priorities was approved by the Town Council at the Nov. 26 Council meeting.
Tuesday, Dec. 3 is Giving Tuesday, and if you would like to give locally, here are a few opportunities. The following came from the donation information provided by these Watertown-based groups:
Watertown Community Foundation
There is no better way to see the true impact of your donation than to give where you live. We hope you’ll think of the Watertown Community Foundation on #GivingTuesday. Make a local impact every single day of the year.
Snow started early Tuesday and will get much heavier during the day. Watertown School officials closed the Public Schools Tuesday due to the snowfall. Also, town facilities will open late due to the storm. A Watertown Public Schools Twitter post sent out Monday night reads:
“Due to the timing of the storm that is predicted for tonight and into the morning hours, all Watertown Public Schools, including the offices, will be closed tomorrow, December 3.” Watertown Town Hall, the Library and the Senior Center will open at 10 a.m. due to the snow storm, according to an alert sent out by the Town Administration.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Nov. 21, 11:52 a.m.: A Mt. Auburn Street resident parked in the municipal lot on Boylston Street at 9 a.m. and when the person returned at 11:52 a.m. the 2001 Toyota Corolla was gone. Later that day, at 2:07 p.m., officers who were looking for the vehicle discovered it in the lot behind the Dunkin’ Donuts in Watertown Square.
Andy Papas, who has ties to Watertown, makes his New Rep Theatre debut in the current production of “Oliver!” Andy Papas has starred on stages across the country, but the actor and singer will be making his debut in the town where his family has made a name in a different arena. Papas will play Mr. Bumble in the New Rep’s production of Oliver! The play started its run Monday, and will be on the Mosesian Center for the Arts’ MainStage through the end of December. Papas grew up in Winchester, but his father, grandfather and uncle are from Watertown and were famed for their accomplishments on the football field.
Watertown’s Rodrigo Freitas celebrates after scoring the winning goal in double overtime over Dracut in the 2019 North Section quarterfinal. Watertown junior Rodrigo Freitas received several honors following the 2019 boys soccer season, including making the All-State team, League MVP, and was one of five Raiders to make the Middlesex League All-Stars. Freitas and the Raiders won the Middlesex League Small (Freedom) Division and got to the North Section Semifinals. He was one of three Middlesex League players named to the All-State team. The midfielder also made the Middlesex League All-Conference team — the best players from the Small and Large school divisions — and the Eastern Massachusetts All-Stars
Other Raiders on the League All-Stars are senior Gevork Kaapetyan, senior Devon Breen, junior Nicholas DiPace and junior Caiden Kiani.
A total of 10 motor vehicle break-ins that took place over two nights were reported to Watertown Police. In all cases, the vehicles were not secured, Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. Residents can take a simple step to prevent these crimes. “Lock your doors,” he said. The first set of break-ins took place overnight from Nov.