Government

Watertown Man Finds His Name was Falsely Used in Anti-Net Neutrality Letter to FCC

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Watertown’s Joel Mullaney is a software engineer and supporter of keeping Net Neutrality, so he was shocked to find that his name was signed to comments sent to the FCC asking for Net Neutrality regulations to be rolled back. 

Mullaney’s was just one of more than 450,000 people who have discovered their identity had been stolen and used to send fake anti-net neutrality comments to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai. Net neutrality is principle that internet service providers and governments regulating the Internet should treat all data on the internet the same, and not slowing or speeding up data from particular sources, or or charging differentially by user, website or type of application. FCC officials are considering changing the regulations that the Obama Administration put into place to strengthen net neutrality saying that they have led to a reduction in investment by major service providers. Opponents say the major internet providers, such as Verizon, Comcast and AT&T, will be able to play favorites, and it will likely favor big companies while hurting small ones and start-ups. Mullaney first heard about the fraudulent comments when he came across a thread on Reddit.

Police/Fire

Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio Announces His Retirement

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Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio told the Town Council Tuesday night that he has filed for retirement. 

Orangio has served as Fire Chief for more than 13 years, but he has decided to step down. “I have some health issues,” Orangio said. “It is time to pass the reins.” The Fire Department has been selling T-shirts to raise money to help Orangio and his family as he battles cancer, Deputy Fire Chief Bob Quinn said at a previous meeting. Town Manager Michael Driscoll said that he remembers appointing Orangio as a firefighter in 1989, and when be became a lieutenant in 1997, a captain in 2000 and then chief in 2004.

Government

Groups Seek More Time on Watertown Fields, But Space and Time is Limited

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Youth sports groups want more time on the town’s playing fields, adult sports groups want to make sure they don’t lose their space, but the answer appears to be something more elusive that time in Watertown – space. Last week, the Town Council’s Human Services subcommittee heard from many groups who use the town’s fields and tried to find a way to accommodate all of them. After the Watertown Schools (both physical education and athletic teams) the next two users that receive the most hours are Watertown Youth Baseball and Softball, and Watertown Youth Soccer. Bill Furtado, president or Youth Baseball and Softball said while his group gets a lot of hours, the have specialized fields – diamonds – that cannot really be used for other sports. Soccer, meanwhile, seeks to use the same fields as many other users.

Sports

WHS Sports: Girls Lacrosse Faces Medway, Softball Makes Tourney, Girls Tennis Players Post Wins in Tourney

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The Watertown girls’ lacrosse team played a close first half but fell in their first round State Tournament game on Tuesday night. 

The game with Medway was tied at halftime, but in the second half Medway pulled away to win 10-4 in the MIAA Div. 2 East Section first round game at Victory Field. The Raiders end the season with a record of 11-6. Softball Team Makes State Tournament

After posting one of the best records in years, the Watertown High School softball team was seeded 1oth in the MIAA Div. 2 North tournament.

Around Town

Group of Watertown Families Putting on Big Yard Sale

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A group of families will get together to host a yard sale this weekend. Multi-Family Yard Sale – Saturday June 3, 8 a.m to 1 p.m at 43 Partridge St., Watertown. Great variety of items include, clothing, kitchenware, bric a brac, books, electronics, appliances, and much much more. Come on down, find great deals, Everything must go!

Around Town

Watertown Memorial Day Parade Shines Despite the Drizzly Weather

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The steady drizzle on Memorial Day did not dampen the patriotic spirits of people who came out to cheer on Watertown’s annual parade on Monday. 

Featured speaker Cynthia Talbert, a retired captain in the U.S. Navy,  reminded those at the ceremony after the parade that Memorial Day weekend is not all about cookouts, sales and a long weekend. “I am reminded of the simple inscription on the Korean War Memorial – Freedom is Not Free,” Talbert said. “It is important to remember why we are here. We hope every war puts and end to all wars, sadly that is not the reality.” Finding a way to inspire men and women to join the military is important, said Talbert.

Police/Fire

Sen. Markey Wants to Give Feds Drug Detection Tech Used Now in Watertown

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Sen. Edward Markey visited Watertown to talk about legislation he has introduced that would provide border agents with the same technology to find illicit and dangerous drugs that the Watertown Police Department current uses. 

In just a couple minutes a handheld device made by a company in Waltham can test a substance through a plastic bag or glass and let police know if it is something harmless like sugar or the lethal synthetic opioid, fentanyl. The drug has replaced heroin as the drug of choice for many dealers and users in Massachusetts, but it is 50 times more powerful than heroin and can be deadly even if it just touches your skin. Recently an Ohio police officer overdosed on fentanyl which he was exposed to when he just brushed it off his uniform. Last year, Massachusetts had an estimated 2,069 opioid related deaths and nearly 70 percent of them involved fentanyl, putting the state the second highest per capita for synthetic opioid related deaths, behind New Hampshire, Markey said. “Fentanyl the Godzilla of opioids.

Sports

Watertown Track Athletes Mentor Students with Disabilities

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Watertown High School’s track team recently teamed up with students with disabilities to show them about their sport. The four week Watertown High School Adaptive Track Program finished a successful firsst season. WHS athletes mentored students with disabilities in running, jumping, stretching and throwing. The participants were ages 7 to 16 and they received certificates and medals upon completion of the program. The program was started by the WHS Track Booster Club.