Environment

Watertown’s Tree Warden Receives Statewide Recognition

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Watertown’s Tree Warden received statewide recognition for his work. 

Chris Hayward, who serves as tree warden as well as the Conservation/Preservation Agent, received the 2017 Seth H. Swift Tree Warden of the Year from the Massachusetts Tree Wardens and Foresters Association. The Tree Warden of the Year Award recognizes a tree warden who exhibits leadership, dedication, and a commitment to the profession. The annual award is named in honor of longtime member and past president Seth “Swifty” Swift, who passed away January 1, 2004. Hayward, who has worked for the town for nearly 12 years, said he was honored to receive the award, which he noted is not given every year. “I was surprised,” Hayward said.

Boys Basketball

Watertown’s Impressive Tournament Run Ended by Skilled Hanover Team

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BOSTON – Everything looked set up for Watertown High School’s boys basketball team to put away another MIAA State Tournament win, with the score tied going into the fourth quarter, but the Raiders shooting went cold and Hanover took over over for a 46-40 State Semifinal win at the TD Garden on Monday afternoon. Watertown head coach Steve Harrington had his team looking poised to go to its first Div. 3 State Final since 2011, but Hanover’s defense tightened during the last stanza of the showdown. (See how the game went here.)
“Defensively, we were outstanding in the first half,” Harrington said. “And to their credit it was their defense.

Schools

School Committee Unanimously Selects New Superintendent

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Members of the School Committee enthusiastically and unanimously chose Dr. Dede Galdston to be Watertown’s next superintendent on Monday night. School Committee members said Galdston, currently Assistant Superintendent in Billerica, has the experience, temperament and even the personality that they believe will allow her to successfully lead the Watertown Public Schools. School Committee Vice President Kendra Foley said she wanted to make sure that the next superintendent was the best fit for Watertown, and she believed Galdston has the qualities needed to lead the town’s schools. The two finalists, Galdston and Arthur Unobskey, were selected from 31 applicants, and then came to town for a day long interview and tour of the schools. Teams of School Committee members and school administrators then visited their districts, said School Committee Chairman John Portz.

Closings

BIG SNOW: Watertown Declares Snow Emergency, See Closings & Impacts

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The expected heavy snow storm has caused many closings, cancellations and postponements, plus the Department of Public Works has declared a snow emergency. At 5 a.m., DPW Superintendent Gerry Mee declared a snow emergency for the town. This means vehicles must be off the public roads, or else may be towed. The snow emergency is in effect until further notice. Residents may park in public parking lots, including the municipal lot behind CVS, the Police Station, the Library and the Watertown Public Schools.

Sports

EMASS FINAL: Watertown’s Tourney Run Ends at The Garden

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BOSTON – The Watertown High School’s boys basketball team take the big stage on Monday afternoon Eastern Mass. final – a place familiar to the Raiders but not for their opponent, Hanover. This is the Raider’s 10th trip to the TD Garden to play in the state semifinals, but before this year the Indians had never even reached the South Section final. Follow the game live here. The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.

broadstreet.watch({ networkId: 1336 })

Game over.

Boys Basketball

Playing in the Garden a Family Tradition for the Watertown Basketball Team

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In the celebratory mayhem after Watertown High School’s victory in Saturday’s Div. 3 North Section boys basketball final, Raiders’ junior center John Korte was mobbed by two of his biggest fans – his sisters Francesca and Felicia. The two sisters know a thing or two about playing in big games for the Raiders, both having been on girls basketball squads who made tournament runs: Felicia played on the team won in the Garden last year and made it to the State Final, and the Raiders made the North Section final twice (2013 and 2014) when Francesca played for Watertown. Felicia is a freshman on the UMass-Lowell basketball team, and Francesca played hoops during her first two years at Wellesley College. And Korte is not the only play on the current Raiders basketball team who are following in the footsteps of older siblings.

Around Town

Applicants for Arlington St. Marijuana Dispensary Hosting Community Meeting

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The applicants seeking to open a medical marijuana dispensary on Arlington Street will host a community meeting for neighbors and residents to find out more about the proposed facility. Alternative Therapies Group, which seeks to locate a Medical Marijuana Dispensary at 36 Arlington St. (which also includes GymIt), will host a Community Meeting on Thursday, March 30, 2017, in Town Hall, 149 Main St. in the Council Chambers at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Chris Edwards, Executive Director, Alternative Therapies Group, at info@atgma.org or 617-549-8575. The applicants sent out the following announcement:

Alternative Therapies Group (“ATG”) has been operating the very first Registered Marijuana Dispensary in Salem, MA since June 2015.

Schools

Watertown Schools Offers Track Program for Students with Disabilities

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This year, the Watertown High School track and field team will offer an adaptive track program for students in grades 2-12 with disabilities. Students will participate in stretching, running and racing activities on the Victory Field track. WHS athletes will be mentoring/coaching under the supervision of parent volunteers. The four-week program is open to students in grades 2-12, and will run from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on April 11, April 18, April 25 and May 3. Mail the application (below) with a $25.00 check made payable to Nancy Alberico to:

Nancy Alberico
C/O WHS Track & Field Boosters
25 Duff Street
Watertown, MA 02472

Questions/Feedback to: nancy.alberico@commonmoves.com or call 617-974-6101.