Designing of Watertown’s New Elementary Schools Entering the Home Stretch

An illustration showing one corner of the new Cunniff Elementary School. This corner, closest to Warren Street, is where the media center will be located. Architects will soon be completing the designs for Watertown’s elementary schools, and the committee overseeing the project wants to give input before the final touches are put on the plans. The end of the design development stage will be in late July, and some on the School Building Committee want to get more details on the materials that will be used on the exterior and what the interiors of the new school will look like. On June 5, Ai3 Architect’s Scott Dunlap provided an update on the school designs, including touching on what the exteriors will look like.

Events to Raise Awareness About Alzheimer’s Planned in Watertown This Saturday

On Saturday, June 15, the eighth annual Hope Lap will be held at Victory Field as part of the Longest Day. The event is just one that day in Watertown to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s Disease. For the past several years, Watertown’s Judith Johanson has dedicated her time to spread awareness about Alzheimer’s Disease, raise money to find a cure and advocate for more research. The effort started after her husband Steve was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s just before he turned 59. One of the annual events held in Watertown is the Longest Day walk at Victory Field, which the Johanson’s started eight years ago in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Association.

In Effort to Improve Communication with Residents Town Holding Listening Meetings

Watertown Town Hall

The Town Council wants to improve the way the town communicates to the public and a subcommittee in charge of the issue will begin a series of listening meetings with an informational meeting in June. The Council’s Committee on Media and Public Outreach will be hosting a series of “kitchen table conversations” around town, but first it is recruiting people to host these events, said Town Councilor Tony Palomba. “Being host is easy,” Palomba said. “You organize a meeting at your home or in a public location for 6-8 neighbors and friends at some point in July, August or early September to discuss a series of questions related to public engagement.” In particular, the effort is aimed at people who do not ordinarily participate in town government, Palomba said.

Rotary Club of Watertown Awards $10,000 in Scholarships

The Rotary Club of Watertown awarded more than $10,000 in college scholarships to 11 high school seniors. The award winners were presented to students from Watertown High School, Waldorf School and Mt. Alvernia High School. H. Nish Boyajian Memorial Scholarship – Neila Magloire, $1,000 WHSStephen Everett Memorial Scholarship – Gabriella Venezia, $1,000 WHS Domenic “Dick” Trabucco Memorial Scholarship – Christopher J. Iannetta, $1,000 WHS Domenic “Dick” Trabucco Memorial Scholarship – Olivia Lampasona $1,000 WHS Student Speaker Award – Sukeina Attar, $1,000 WHS Rotary Merit Scholarship – Smaranda Costiner, $1,000 Waldorf Rotary Merit Scholarship – Meron Hagos, $1,000 WHS Rotary Merit Scholarship – Levon Haroutunian, $750 WHS Rotary Merit Scholarship – Kristen Tracy, $750 WHS Rotary Merit Scholarship – Mairead Walsh, $1,000 Mt. Alvernia Rotary Merit Scholarship – Christine Zhu, $1,000 WHS

TV Show Starring Kevin Bacon Films in Watertown Monday

Trucks and trailers being used by crews filming the TV show “City on a Hill” took over part of the parking lot at Filippello Park on Monday. Watertown residents got one degree of separation from Kevin Bacon Monday, when the actor came to town to film an episode of a new Showtime detective show. Evidence of the Hollywood production could be seen in the parking lot at Watertown’s Filippello Park, off Grove Street, which served as the staging area for about a dozen trucks, trailers and other items being used for the making of “City on a Hill.” However, the stars of the show — Bacon, Aldis Hodge and Jonathan Tucker — could not be seen at the park. “They are filming in Mount Auburn Cemetery,” said Watertown Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon.