Schools

Changes to School’s Extended Day Program But No Extra Seats; Plans for PreK & Preschool

By |

The Watertown Public Schools Extended Day program has been so popular that it consistently has more applications than spots available. School officials said the number of spots will not be increased, but efforts will be made to try to prevent students being on the waitlist for more than one year. The School Committee heard updates on the Extended Day — the district’s after school program for children in grades K-5 — as well as the PreK and district’s Preschool programs at its Jan. 6 meeting. Debi Cornelius, Director of Community Education, said the Extended Day Program is full with 410 students, and officially has 35 students on the waitlist, including 14 at Hosmer, 15 at Lowell and 6 from the PreK program.

Sports

Watertown Wrestlers Excel at Tournament, Basketball Teams Hit Stride

By |

Watertown Senior Brady Gleason stands atop the podium after winning his weight class at a wrestling tournament at Belmont High School. (Courtesy of Watertown Athletics)

A pair of Watertown High School wrestlers took home titles and other Raiders placed at a tournament in Belmont last weekend. And both the WHS girls and boys basketball teams have had successful starts to the season. Watertown seniors co-captains Brady Gleason and Tessa Master won their brackets at the Brendan Grant Tournament in Belmont, said Watertown Head Coach Kevin Russo. “Brady Gleason (175 pounds) – was seeded third and came in 1st.

Government

Woman Honored for Her 40+ Years Working for the City and Her Upcoming Retirement

By |

Surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues, Ingrid Marchesano celebrated her upcoming retirement from the City of Watertown after more than 40 years. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The City Council Chamber was packed with people recently, not for a government meeting but to celebrate a woman who has dedicated nearly half a century working for the Town (now City) of Watertown. Jan. 28 will be Ingrid Marchesano’s final day working for the City of Watertown. Before she left, on Dec.

Schools

Student Leads Effort to Install Fridge at Watertown School to Save Unopened Items for Community Fridge

By |

Third-grader Naomi Ward stands next to the fridge where food is saved after lunches at Lowell School and donated to the Watertown Community Fridge. She helped raise money to purchased the fridge. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Thanks to the effort of an elementary school student, bags full of food from lunches at one Watertown school will be saved and made available to those who visit the Watertown Community Fridge. Setting up a program to collect the food and make it available to those who need it was a multi-year effort. Now third-grader Naomi Ward first got the idea of trying to save food from lunches at Lowell Elementary School when she was in first grade.

Business

One Watertown Restaurant Closes, a New One Opens

By |

Some of the South of the Border dishes being served at Plazita Mexico Tacos. As 2025 begins, Watertown has seen one restaurant close, while an addition has been made to the eating scene. Restaurant Says ‘Bye Bye’

Olespana Whiskey & Tapas Bar on Mt. Auburn Street announced that it will be closing. The restaurant that served Spanish food, pizza and other dishes had opened in the former Mount Auburn Grill space in 2023.