Schools

Committee Selected to Choose New Mascot to Go With Watertown Raiders Name

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An 18-member committee has been appointed to find a new image to represent Watertown High School. The Committee is called the Mascot Screening Committee, but on Monday night School Committee Chairman John Portz said the Raiders name will not be changed, nor will the school’s red and black colors. The group has been given the task of finding a mascot, or logo, that represents the high school, its teams, clubs and other organizations. The current status of the mascot is confusing. While the image of the dancing cartoon American Indian can be seen around town, that is not the official mascot for the high school.

Government

Athenahealth Hosting Info Meeting on Joint Effort to Improve Roads, Paths Near its HQ

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Find out more about the I-Cubed program that the Town of Watertown, Athenahealth and the Department of Conservation and Recreation are exploring, and would result in improvements to the public roads and infrastructure near the Athena headquarters. The state would contribute $25 million to improve infrastructure around the Arsenal on the Charles, which is home to Athenahealth and other businesses, as well as the Mosesian Center for the Arts. The money comes from tax revenue created by new jobs added by Athenahealth. The proposed work would improve the roadway, intersections, streetscapes, and increase connectivity of public transportation, pedestrian paths and bicycle routes. In February 2016, Athena said the following improvements would be included in the I-Cubed projects:

Arsenal Street – streetscape improvements, bus stop and shelters and improved crosswalks
North Beacon Street – improvements at the intersections at Greenough Boulevard and Charles River Road (including a traffic signal at Greenough), cycle tracks, streetscape and stormwater improvements
Squibnocket Park – parking, pedestrian access including paths and boardwalks along the river, river overlooks, canoe and kayak launch and storage house
Arsenal Park and Commander’s Mansion – improvements to Talcott Avenue, a path through Arsenal Park and the Commander’s Mansion

According to the state’s website, I-Cubed projects must include an economic development project approved by the municipality.

Entertainment

Watertown Resident Brings Red Sox Mascot Wally to Life in Animated Tale

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Watertown’s Danielle Gillis was just getting her animation production company off the ground when she got the call from the Big Leagues, and received a challenge that thrilled the lifelong Red Sox fan – bring Wally the Green Monster to life in an animated special. 

Wally’s Opening Day premiered the day before opening season on NESN, and features the voices of many actors hailing from the Boston area (watch the video here). It features Wally, the Red Sox mascot, his sister Tessie, a fictional rookie player (voiced by Boston-raised Sedale Threatt Jr.) and the Boo Birds, a couple of smart-mouthed seagulls. The cartoon was the vision of Linda Pizzuti Henry, wife of Red Sox owner John Henry. “She wanted a create A Charlie Brown Christmas type of evergreen children’s special about Wally,” Gillis said. Gillis had met Pizzuti Henry when she was working at Soup2Nuts.

Around Town

Watertown Police 5K Honors Fallen Firefighter Joe Toscano

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The Watertown Police Finish Strong 5K Race and Walk started as a way for the community to come together after the lockdown and manhunt for the Boston Marathon Bomber, and this year it came together to honor one of the town’s fallen heroes. 

Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn said the fourth annual race was dedicated to Watertown Firefighter Joe Toscano, who died fighting a fire just a couple blocks from Tufts Health Plan, where the race started and ended. He told Toscano’s wife, Maureen, that not only are Watertown Firefighters and firefighters around the state behind her family, the entire community supports them. Maureen thanked those who supported Joe, and said he would have enjoyed the celebration. “I know Joe’s looking down, just so impressed by the crowd, by the beautiful day and by the love and support that you all provided for us,” she said. “This is getting harder instead of easier right now, but it’s time like this that we really feel stronger because of you guys.”

This year the race drew 607 registered runners and walkers.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Business Owner Hit by Unhappy Customer, Multiple OUI Arrests

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
April 10, 12:36 p.m.: An officer monitoring traffic on Waltham Street spotted a speeding vehicle. When the vehicle was pulled over the driver did not have his license on him. Police discovered his license was revoked for being a habitual traffic rules violator. They also found he had an OUI conviction.

Real Estate

See the Four Watertown Homes That Sold This Week

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Four homes sold this week in Watertown. $440,000 – 22 Madison Unit 22, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, condo/townhouse

$500,000 – 64 Evans St. Unit 64, 9 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

Sponsored by:

$609,500 – 31 Ladd St. Unit 31, 7 room, 4 bedroom, 3 full bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

$671,000 – 25 Paul St. Unit 25, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

Department of Public Works

See the Road Projects in Watertown that the DPW Will Work on This Year

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Spring is here, which means the start of construction season for road projects. The Department of Public Work has a long list of projects they are working on, and projects they have coming down the road. See if your street or ones in your neighborhood made the list:

2017 Water Main Replacements

The Town’s annual water system improvement program seeks to replace undersized or inadequate water mains to improve water quality, fire flows, water pressure and volume. The following streets are included in this year’s program:
Katherine Road (Church Street to Common Street)
Priest Road
Hazel Street (Quimby Street to Dexter Ave.)
Westland Road, Woodleigh Road, and Edgecliff Road (Hillside Ave. to Woodleigh Road)
Bellevue Ave.

Entertainment

Revels Teams with Perkins School for Free Celebration of Spring Concert

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Revels will once again perform with Perkins School for the Blind for the Celebration of Spring Concert. The concert will be held Thursday, May 25, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. at Perkins School for the Blind’s Dwight Hall – 175 North Beacon St., Watertown. Admission is FREE. Revels sent out the following announcement:

Join us as Revels partners with Perkins School for an inspiring, music-filled Celebration of Spring. Enjoy traditional English songs, songs from the Islands, and from Early America performed by the talented Perkins School Secondary Program Chorus (Arnie Harris, director), aRevels chorus of adults and children, musician/song leader David Coffin, a youngrapper sword dance team, plus a great band of Revels musicians.  Last but not least, expect a wild visit from the ancient and venerable Padstow ‘Obby ‘Oss, all the way from Cornwall, England!