Government

Watertown’s Noise Ordinance Needs More Work Before Subcommittees Will Approve

By |

Two Town Council subcommittees looked at proposed changes to the Town’s Noise Ordinance Monday night, but little progress was made, and the Councilors agreed more work needed to be done. The committees on Rules & Ordinances and Human Services had met at least three times, dating back to 2017, before Monday. They took up the issue after receiving a variety of complaints about noise in Town. Some came from residents upset by lawn and garden work being done early on weekends, others about amplified music at church services or from Town parks. Others worry about the noise from all the construction occurring around town.

Michael Lahiff

Retiring Watertown High Athletic Director Helped Build a Successful Program

By |

After 11 years, Michael Lahiff will be stepping down as Athletic Director at Watertown High School at the end of June. During that time, he helped bring WHS back into a championship winning program, with athletes who are both competitive and show good sportsmanship, and with many teams lead by teacher-coaches. Lahiff retires after 39 years in education in Stoneham, Somerville and Watertown. He spent the last 24 years as athletic director, first in Stoneham and then at WHS. “I was on the other end of the world for most of the rest of my career, Somerville and Stoneham twice,” Lahiff said.

Elections

Senate Candidate Geoff Diehl Visits Watertown Greek Festival

By |

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Geoff Diehl visited the Watertown Greek Festival on Saturday. Watertown resident and Republican State Committeeman Steve Aylward showed Diehl around the festival. Aylward was Diehl’s co-chairman in the ballot question that repealed the linkage of the gas tax to inflation. Diehl received the most votes at the Republican Convention by 30 points to be the candidate to face Democrat Elizabeth Warren. He also received the endorsement of the Watertown Town Republican Committee. The visit to the Greek Festival was not the first time that Diehl had visited Watertown.

Around Town

Memorial to Paul Sullivan, a Bright Young Man Killed in Vietnam, Unveiled in East Watertown

By |

The smile of a fresh-faced young man in uniform beams from the bronze plaque on the stone recently placed on Arlington Street, but the marker is a memorial to the young man with a bright future who lost his life serving his country 50 years ago this summer. On Sunday, family, friends and community members came to the unveiling of the Lt. Paul J. Sullivan memorial near the corner of Arlington and Mt. Auburn streets, along with a flag pole dedicated to all who served in the Vietnam War. Dozens of Sullivan’s family members came to the event — brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and even grand nieces and nephews. Among those in attendance was Sullivan’s widow Margie Edson, who helped unveil the stone with two of Sullivan’s nephews, Paul Joseph Sullivan and Paul Joseph Donato.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Chooses Wrong Spot to Drink Beer, Shoplifter Caught Changing Prices

By |

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
June 11, 6:22 p.m.: A concerned citizen reported seeing a man inside a Chevy Blazer drinking beer on Baptist Walk near Spring Street. The person also saw the man trying to start the vehicle and heard the motor cranking. Police responded and when officers approached the man threw his keys out the window. The man told officers he thought “it was a safe place to drink beers.”

Real Estate

Single Family Colonial in Watertown Goes for $1.75 Million & More Home Sales

By |

The sales prices of Watertown homes continue to rise, with one single-family going to $1.75 million. $765,000 – 223 Westminster Unit 0, 5 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

$585,000 – 21 Knowles Road Unit 21, 6 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$917,500 – 5 Lovell Road, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, Colonial single-family home

Sponsored by:

$990,000 – 11 Fayette St. Unit 11, 8 room, 4 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

$815,000 – 46 Washburn St. Unit 46, 7 room, 4 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

$1,750,000 – 95 Barnard Ave., 12 room, 5 bedroom, 5 full bathroom, Colonial single-family home

Schools

New Principal Selected for Watertown Middle School, Along with Lowell Assistant Principal

By |

Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston announced appointment of the new Watertown Middle School principal and the new assistant principal at Lowell Elementary School. Donna Martin has been selected as the new WMS Principal. She succeeds Kimo Carter, who is leaving after 13 years to become assistant superintendent in Weston. The superintendent also appointed Candice Whitmore as the assistant principal at Lowell School. This is a new position for the 2018-19 school year (Fiscal Year 2019).

Schools

Conceptual Designs for Renovation of Watertown’s Elementary Schools Approved

By |

Details of what Watertown’s three elementary schools will look like after they are renovated came more into focus Thursday when the School Building Committee approved the conceptual designs for Hosmer, Cunniff and Lowell elementary schools. With the approval, the architects from Ai3 will move onto the schematic design phase of the project. The conceptual designs provide a guide for where designers will put new additions and which areas will be renovated inside the existing buildings, said Scott Dunlap, principal of Ai3. He added, however, that architects are still “pushing and pulling” the floor plans inside the buildings. Thursday’s meeting began with a walk through of the Hosmer site, where Ai3 had staked out the corners of the proposed new school building that would be built in front of the building with the auditorium and gym, ask you look from Mt.