Police/Fire

Argument Leads to Co-Worker Being Stabbed at Watertown Tire Store

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An argument between co-workers at a Watertown tire store ended in a fight in which one was stabbed by a tire tool. A staff member at Doctors Express urgent care alerted Watertown Police that a man who had suffered a stab wound came in for treatment on Sept. 13 at 2:38 p.m.

“The staff explained that a patient came in with a minor stab wound,” said O’Connor, who added that they man had left before police arrived, but the business got his name and his place of employment — Town Fair Tires. The store is located west of Doctors Express on Arsenal Street. When police spoke with the man, he said that he had gotten into an argument with a co-worker while working in one of the bays at Town Fair Tire, and the incident turned physical.

Schools

Architect Chosen to Design Watertown High School Project

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Meet the new architect, same as the old architect. The firm chosen by the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s Design Selection Panel — Ai3 Architects of Wayland — is the same group designing the three elementary school renovation projects in town. The decision, made at a meeting at MSBA headquarters in Boston on Tuesday, pleased Watertown Public Schools officials, said Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston. “We are very, very excited that Ai3 was the top ranked design firm selected to work forward with our high school project,” Galdston said. The panel included 13 members appointed by the MSBA, plus three representatives from Watertown — Galdston, Town Manager Michael Driscoll and Town Council President Mark Sideris.

Real Estate

Watertown is Full of Open Houses This Weekend

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With more than 20 open houses this weekend, Watertown homebuyers have a lot of choices. $900,000 – 321 Winchester St., 8 room, 4 bedroom, 3 full bathroom, Cape single-family home, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 11:30-1

$950,000 – 10 Edgecliff Road, 2 unit, 14 total room, 5 total bedroom, 2 Family multi-family home, Open Houses: Saturday 11-12:30 Sunday 11:30-1

$389,000 – 10 Williams St. Unit 38, 3 room, 1 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Mid-Rise condo/townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 2-3:30

$519,900 – 131 Coolidge Ave. Unit 526, 4 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, condo/townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 1-2:30

$809,900 – 23 Hearn St. Unit 1, 8 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 11-12:30 Sunday 11-12:30

$459,000 – 24 Appleton St.

Around Town

Watertown’s Big Celebration, the 20th Faire on the Square, is Around the Corner

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Charlie BreitroseA crowd gathers to watch a dancing group perform at the 2018 Faire on the Square. Watertown Square will be filled with music, flying acrobats, dancers, ponies, kids rides and hundreds of booths during the annual Faire on the Square. The 21st annual event will be held Saturday, Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Saltonstall Park (next to Town Hall). The Faire will feature 160 exhibitors, including local businesses, organizations, sports groups and Town Departments, said Dan McCarthy of DM Productions, chairman of the Faire Planning Committee, who also ran the entertainment for years.

Government

Town to Pay Property Taxes of Parents of Those who Died Serving in the Military

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The Town of Watertown will pay the property taxes for parents or guardians of servicemen and women who died serving in the military, and also increased the amount of property taxes veterans can work off through a Town program. Tuesday night, the Town Council unanimously approved the two programs, which are part of the BRAVE Act which are optional for cities and towns to adopt. The act aims at improving services to veterans and was passed by the State Legislature and signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in 2018. Town Councilor Ken Woodland said the passage of the provisions was another example of how Watertown supports veterans. “I am very proud of this Council and this community,” Woodland said.

Police Cruiser

Take at Look Inside a Watertown Police Cruiser

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Watertown Police officer Ryan Vaughan shows what is inside a Watertown Police cruiser. Watertown Police Officer Ryan Vaughan showed Watertown News around a police cruiser. The WPD has transitioned from the old Ford Crown Victorias to Ford Explorer SUVs. Vaughan, who has been an officer for six years, said the all-wheel drive vehicles fare better in snow and wet weather. The cruiser is like a mobile office, with a computer and communication equipment.

Around Town

Heather Zarkadas Memorial 5K Run Benefits Family of Watertown Resident

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The 3rd Annual Heather Zarkadas Memorial 5K Fun Run & Walk will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28 to benefit the family of the Watertown resident lost to cancer. Heather was a Watertown resident and reading specialist who taught in the Lexington Public Schools. She passed away in March 2016 from complications from her breast cancer treatment and left behind her husband Jim and three daughters. Jim is the co-owner of Fit-Z’s Bar & Grill on Main Street.

Schools

Superintendent Unveils Goals for Watertown Public Schools

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Dede Galdston, current assistant superintendent in Billerica, interviewed for the Watertown Superintendent’s job Monday night. Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston’s goals for 2019-20 include providing more feedback to teachers, working on the school building projects and community more with parents and the community. The School Committee heard the final draft of the goals at the September School Committee meeting. The goals are:

Goal 1 (Student Learning): Fair, Effective Educator Goal Setting, and EvaluationGoal 2 (District Improvement): Effective communication with larger school communityGoal 3 (District Improvement): Building for the Future Elementary and High School ProjectGoal 4 (Equity): Systems and structures that ensure equityGoal 5 (Student Learning): Increase student achievement for all students in the Watertown Public SchoolsGoal 6 (Student Learning): Tiered systems of supportGoal 7 (District Improvement): Shared vision for district improvement

Galdston said she wants to make sure teachers are observed and also get feedback about their performance. “Last year, we focused on educational goal setting which did very well.