Schools

Asbestos Abatement Will be Costly in School Projects, Soil for Foundations in Good Shape

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Asbestos was found deep in the walls of Hosmer Elementary School, which will result in higher costs of demolition when the new school is built.

Architects gave the School Building Committee some good news and some bad news with the costs related to hazardous material removal and the grounds where foundations will be built for the upcoming construction projects. In preparation for the construction projects at Watertown’s three elementary schools, architects have been looking at the conditions for demolition of the current schools, and to put in foundations for the new ones. The Bad News

When the schools were examined the schools for hazardous materials some asbestos was found in some hidden places, said Scott Dunlap, project architect for Ai3 Architects. The school with the most was Hosmer Elementary. “What we found at Hosmer we have only seen it a couple times,” Dunlap said, who described a layer of asbestos buffering between the exterior brick wall and the cement blocks inside.

MBTA

Changes to Bus Routes in Watertown Begin Sept. 1

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The Express Buses going to and from Watertown Yard will be impacted by changes made by the MBTA beginning in September. Planned changes to improve some of the MBTA’s bus routes will take effect on Sept. 1, 2019, including some that go to Watertown. The changes are part of the Better Bus program, and on Sept. 1 the express bus routes to Watertown Yard will see some changes.

Legends League

Finals of Summer Basketball Legends League Begin Thursday

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Teams in the O’Brien-Jeharian Legends League battled for a spot in the finals Tuesday night. The matchup for the finals of the O’Brien-Jerahian Legends will pit the top two teams in the Watertown Summer Basketball League’s legends league. Both semifinals went to three games. On Tuesday night, Johnson Club defeated Control Club, 54-49. In the other semifinal, Finnegan Club won by 10 points over Kaos Club, 59-49.

Gas Lines

Gas Line Replacements Will Impact Streets in and Around Watertown

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National Grid will be replacing natural gas lines to service a new development just over the town line in Belmont, but the project will impact users of two main roads in Watertown. A representative from the utility appeared before the Town Council earlier this month to discuss the portion of the project in Watertown, which will go down Lexington Street. Then the project continues to Belmont Street. In Watertown, the work will replace 350 feet of 12 inch gas line from Lexington Street at Warren Street to the island at Lexington and Belmont streets. A representative for National Grid at the meeting said the new gas line is needed to allow capacity for a new development in Belmont.

Soccer

Watertown High Soccer Teams Close to Kicking Off Season

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Watertown’s boys and girls soccer teams will soon be taking the field for the 2019 season. Here Rodrigo Freitas dribbles the ball against Gloucester at Victory Field. Pictured, Watertown’s Justin Viasus passes during the State Tourney against Pentucket at Victory Field last season. The Watertown High School soccer teams will soon kick off their season, and both the boys and girls teams will look to do even better that last year. In 2018, the boys made the State Tournament but were knocked out in the sectional quarterfinal.

Around Town

Architects Discuss School Gardens, Playgrounds & Outside Learning Spaces

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A drawing showing the outdoor learning space outside Lowell Elementary School. The amenities surrounding Watertown’s three elementary schools after they are rebuilt or renovated are taking shape, but the School Building Committee and others have some concerns about handicap accessibility, deliveries and more. The designers of the town’s three elementary schools, Ai3 Architects, showed the School Building Committee details of the plans for the playgrounds, outdoor learning spaces, school gardens and even delivery areas at the Aug. 21 meeting. Gardens & Outdoor Learning Areas

The designers are working with teachers, staff and the district’s School Garden Coordinator, Judy Fallows, to help design the school gardens.

Field Hockey

Watertown Field Hockey Opens Season Next Week

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The Raiders won the North Section title in 2018 but fell short of winning the state championship. The 2019 campaign begins in the first week of September. The Watertown High School field hockey team will be seeking to retake the State crown in 2019 after falling in the playoffs, last year, for the first time in nearly a decade. The Raiders, who are coached by soon-to-be hall of fame coach Eileen Donahue, have a scrimmage at Div. 1 power Walpole on Sept.

Eileen Donohue

WHS Field Hockey Coach to be Inducted into Hall of Fame

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Watertown field hockey coach Eileen Donahue speaks to her players. Donahue will be inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The following announcement came from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association:

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is honored to announce that head field hockey coach at Watertown High School, Eileen Donahue, will be inducted into the NFHCA Hall of Fame  this year. This fall, Donahue will begin her 33rd season at the helm of the Watertown High School field hockey program — a team she’s led since 1986. Her tenure with Watertown is full of record-breaking performances and a dominance enjoyed by only a handful of coaches in the history of high school sports.