Alcohol

Watertown Middle, High School Students to be Screened for Drug Use Next Year

By |

Tuesday night, the School Committee approved a policy for screening middle and high school students to see if they are using drugs or alcohol. 

Known as SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment), the screening will be required for all schools in Massachusetts, said Donna Ruseckas, Director of Wellness and Extended Services for the Watertown Public Schools. She told the School Committee about the screenings during a special School Committee meeting Monday night (see the slide presentation here). The screenings will be verbal ones, and will be done in seventh and ninth grades, Ruseckas said. The purpose is to catch drug and alcohol use early, so that it does not become a further problem. National data shows that 32 percent of people who started drinking at age 15 went on to become alcoholics, Ruseckas said, compared to just 9 percent of those who started at age 21.

Around Town

Congresswoman Clark Highlights Event Raising Awareness of Heroin Crisis in Watertown

By |

The second annual Erase the Stigma event will be held in November, and the featured speaker will be Congresswoman Katherine Clark. Last year, W.A.T.E.R.town Task Force for Substance Use Disorder presented the first Erase the Stigma event to raise awareness about the crisis of heroin and opioids impacting Watertown. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, Nov. 17 from 7:30-9 p.m. at Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverley Ave. in Watertown.

Football

Watertown Football Team Grabs Top Seed in North Section Playoffs

By |

The Raiders are top of the heap in the Div. 3 North Section football bracket. 

On Sunday, the MIAA released the state football brackets, and Watertown earned the top slot in the North Section Div. 3. With a record of 6-1, the Raiders host eighth-seeded Austin Prep (2-5) at Victory Field in the section quarterfinals on Friday at 7 p.m. The winner takes on the victor of the Newburyport-Pentucket game the following week. The second seed in the North is Triton, at 5-2, which was seeded ahead of 6-1 Bishop Fenwick because of their seeding score, which is based on the strength of schedule and how opponents fared in other games.

Around Town

Concert and Breakfast Planned for Watertown’s Veterans Day Observances

By |

The Watertown Veterans Services Office presents two events to mark Veterans Day this November. 

On Thursday November 10, 2016, Watertown proudly presents the World Famous Hal McIntyre Orchestra. The group is directed by Watertown’s Don Pentleton and stars Steve Marvin. The concert will be at the Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverley Ave. The performance will be from 7-9:30 p.m. and the doors will open at 6:30 p.m. This is a free concert and open to the public. Veterans Day Breakfast

On Friday, Nov.

Government

Council Subcommittee Discussing Potential Medical Marijuana Centers in Watertown

By |

This week, the siting of possible medical marijuana centers in Watertown will be discussed by the Town Council’s Economic Development and Planning subcommittee. 

After a statewide ballot question was approved in 2012 allowing the sale of medical marijuana in Massachusetts, the Town Council approved such facilities in certain areas. The law prevented the town from outright opposing all medical marijuana centers. The Council’s decision allows these centers in Watertown if they get a special permit, and the facility must be more than 500 feet from places where children congregate and can only be in the Industrial Zones. Most of these properties are along Arsenal and Pleasant streets. East End Councilor Angeline Kounelis said she has received calls from groups looking to open a medical marijuana facility in her district.

Real Estate

A Quartet of Watertown Homes Sold This Week

By |

These two home sold in Watertown this week. $193,000 – 20 Riverside St. Unit 1-6, 2 room, 0 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, condo/townhouse

$510,000 – 37 Jefferson Ave., 11 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Ranch single-family home

Sponsored by:

$447,500 – 131 Coolidge Ave. Unit 125, 6 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, High-Rise condo/townhouse

$510,000 – 19 Highland Ave. Unit 19, 8 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, condo/townhouse

Football

Watertown Football Team Beats Stoneham in Overtime

By |

The Watertown football team completed the pre-tournament season with an overtime win at Stoneham on Saturday. 

The game was tied 8-8 after regulation, but the Raiders closed it out in overtime for a 16-8 win. Watertown finishes the pre-tournament part of their schedule with a record of 6-1 and a league record of 4-1. The MIAA will announce the tournament seedings on Sunday, and the Raiders look to get a good spot. The game was played at Stoneham on Saturday afternoon.