Missing Man

Body of Missing Watertown Man Discovered Off Deer Island

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The body of a missing 26-year-old Watertown has been located near Deer Island, Watertown Police announce Tuesday. 

Fisherman discovered the body on June 8 in the water near Deer Island, and State Environmental Police recovered the body. The Office of the State Medical Examiner positively identified the man as Nolan Gargas of Watertown, according to Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. The cause of death remains undetermined, O’Connor said. Gargas was reported missing on May 21, and his Toyota was found near the shore in Nahant. A $25,000 reward had been set up to find Gargas.

Interim Superintendent

Here Less Than a Year, Interim Superintendent Has Had a Profound Impact

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When John Brackett was appointed Watertown’s interim superintendent the town’s schools faces many issues – a leadership vacuum, schools needing modernizing and expanding and someone to oversee the finances. Last week, the School Committee said goodbye to Brackett, and lauded him for not just keeping the Watertown Public Schools in the same shape he found them but leaving them in a position to take the next step forward. Brackett was hired in late October 2016 following the sudden retirement of Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald in September and he will end his tenure on June 30, 2017. The Watertown Schools needed to hire not only a permanent superintendent but also a school business manager, prepare the district to renovate or rebuild all of its schools along with the business of running the schools each day. All of those have been accomplished or in the case of the school renovations, have made significant progress.

Around Town

New Rules for Commenting on Watertown News Stories

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Starting Monday, June 26, Watertown News will have new guidelines for commenting on stories on the site, with preference given to people signing their names to comments. Due to numerous complaints I have received from people in the community about people commenting anonymously or using a screen name, the rules for those who do not use their name will be different. I read comments before approving them to go on the site, but over the past year or so I feel some debates have gotten out of control. While I understand people may not want to use their own name, I also think it is not fair to allow people to make statements – especially directed at other commenters or people in the story – under the anonymity of a screen name. People will still be able to comment without their name, BUT, a person can only make one comment per story anonymously.

Around Town

CatholicTV One of Three Local Stations to Win Broadcast Awards

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Three local television stations – including one Watertown-based network – received top honors at today’s 52nd annual Gabriel Awards, presented at Laval University in Québec City, Canada, organizers announced. Watertown-based CatholicTV Network received “Religious Television Station of the Year” by the national Gabriel Awards. Also winning honors this year were Boston’s WCVB Channel 5 was named “Secular Station of the Year”; and New Hampshire’s WMUR Channel 9 received a Community Awareness and/or PSA – National or Local Release Gabriel Award for a New Hampshire Chronicle series entitled “Home at Last.” Both WCVB and WMUR are owned by Hearst Television. “The CatholicTV Network is deeply honored to be named Religious Television Station of the Year by the Catholic Academy,” said Bishop Robert Reed, President of CatholicTV and Auxiliary Bishop of Boston. “We are particularly proud to be recognized alongside of our neighbor, the award-winning WCVB Channel 5 in Boston, named 2017 Secular Television Station of the Year, for its outstanding programming and community service.

Real Estate

Here Are the Four Watertown Homes That Sold This Weekend

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These four home sold in Watertown this week. $680,000 – 9 Olcott St 9-11, 2 unit, 11 total room, 4 total bedroom, 2 Family – 2 Units Up/Down multi-family home

$175,700 – 4 Repton Circle Unit 4207, 3 room, 1 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Mid-Rise condo/townhouse

Sponsored by:

$730,000 – 115 Irving St. 115, 10 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

$535,000 – 123 Grove St. Unit 123, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

Arrests

Police Log: Woman Bought Alcohol for Teen, Man Tries Unsuccessfully to Flee Police

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
June 12, 5:50 p.m.: Police received a report of a customer causing a disturbance at Domino’s Pizza. The man left before officers arrived, and was seen riding his bicycle toward Watertown Square. Police located him and while checking his identity they found he had an outstanding warrant. The 25-year-old Waltham man was arrested on the warrant from Waltham District Court for destruction of property over $250.

Schools

Watertown Students Make Dean’s List, Graduate from UConn

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The University of Connecticut recently announced its dean’s list and graduates for the spring of 2017 and students from Watertown were part of both groups. Dean’s List

Melanie Kahn Chollette, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Liana Sandell, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Graduate

Ryan Philip DelRose, Bachelor of Arts, Applied Mathematical Sciences and Economics