Schools

Watertown Parents Start a Petition Asking for Vote of No Confidence for Superintendent

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A group of Watertown parents have started a petition asking for the School Committee to take a vote of no confidence for Watertown Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald. The petition, which would also be sent to the Town Council, was started on Change.org, and as of 5:45 p.m. had 20 supporters. The first paragraph of the lengthy petition reads:

“We, the undersigned Parents of children who are attending or have attended Watertown Public Schools, and community members who share similar concerns, have composed this letter to express our dissatisfaction with the current superintendent, Jean Fitzgerald.” The organizers, who were not named in the petition, wrote that “it is the petitioner’s’ position that the Superintendent has acted inefficiently, incompetently, and with conduct unbecoming of a Superintendent.” This, the petition says, is enough to terminate and dismiss Fitzgerald under her contract.

Business

Final Touches Being Put on New Marriott Hotel in Watertown

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The new Residence Inn by Marriott has risen up off of Arsenal Street, and the final work is being done in an effort to open the new hotel in a few weeks. The builders of Watertown’s first new hotel in town for decades hosted a hardhat tour for invited guests on Tuesday. The goal is to open the hotel by the end of August, said Alejandro Miranda of Boylston Properties, the developer of the hotel. The six story building erected in the former location of Charles River Saab has views of Boston on one side and long vistas in all directions from the top floor. The hotel, which will have 150 rooms, is aimed at business travelers who will stay for an extended amount of time.

Sports

2 Watertown Summer Basketball League Finals Games on Tap Thursday Night

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Two games will be played in the finals of the Watertown Summer Basketball League Thursday night, with the third and decisive game of the Papas Elite League starting the action, followed by Game 1 of the O’Brien-Jerahian Legends League finals. Papas Elite League
On Tuesday, the top seed Game Creek overwhelmed Donohue’s Kaos with a score of 69-56 to force a rubber game on Thursday for the Papas Elite Championship. After leading comfortably in the early going, the offense became one dimensional and the defense porous as the undermanned yet motivated Game Creek dominated each play. Each possession became critical and both teams had their opportunity to seal the victory with key plays late in the game. Game Creek’s Chris Baudinet led all scorers with 21 points in the first half, while teammates Zak Ray and Nick Schmiemann scored 17 and 10 points each.

Around Town

Those Killed in Action, Gold Star Families Honored Thursday at Moving Wall

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The visit of the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall officially opens with a ceremony Thursday evening at 7 p.m. which will also honor servicemen and women killed in action and Gold Star Families. The half-size replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be at Gore Place in Waltham starting Thursday and will be on view through Aug. 15. Thursday’s ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. and Watertown Veteran’s groups will take part, said Watertown Veteran’s Agent Mark Comeiro. There will be other ceremonies taking place during the Moving Wall’s visit.

Government

Stiffer Fines, Stricter Enforcement of Commercial Snow Removal Approved

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Fines for businesses and commercial properties which do not shovel the sidewalk in front of their property will face stiffer fines and stricter enforcement this winter. 

The Town Council approved changes to the existing commercial snow removal ordinance Tuesday night. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Councilor Angeline Kounelis. “We receive so many calls from residents about sidewalks that have not been cleared, and then it gets compacted and compacted more until it is icy.” In one storm during the winter of 2015, the Department of Public Works spotted nearly 60 violations. The amount commercial property owners can be fined increased from $25 and $50 up to $100, $200 and $300.

Around Town

Variety of Furniture, Appliances Available at Estate Sale This Weekend

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A casual estate sale will be held Saturday, Aug. 13 in Watertown, with a variety of pieces of furniture and appliances for sale. 

The sale will be held at 113 Riverside St. in Watertown. Multiple items are for sale for cash and carry, including a couch, washers and dryers, refrigerators, tables and more. The sale will begin at 8 a.m. and end at 1 p.m.

See more items and photos here: http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/gms/5723106051.html

Around Town

Learn About Watertown’s History Pieces Produced by Watertown Cable

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Dating back to 1630, Watertown has a long and interesting history, some of which can still be seen. Watertown Cable Access Television has been producing segments for history lovers, which can be accessed on the WCATV website. 

The segments have been created by WCA-TV’s Dan Hogan and Andrea Santopietro as part of their Watertown Weekly News program. All of the videos are less than 7 minutes long. The Abraham Browne House near the new Police Station, is featured in one piece. The house was built in the late 1600s and early 1700s, and was saved and restored beginning in 1919 after nearly falling apart.

Entertainment

The Love Dogs Bring Some Swing to the Final Watertown Summer Concert

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Summer is winding down, but you still have one more chance to catch a free Watertown Summer Concert. Longtime Watertown favorite, The Love Dogs will play the final Watertown Summer Concert on Thursday, Aug. 11. Now in their 20th year entertaining, The Love Dogs combine elements of jump blues, New Orleans R&B and early rock ‘n’ roll into their own sound. Lead singer Eddie “Duato” Scheer is backed by a large horns section, a Fender guitar, boogie-woogie piano and drums.

The Love Dogs Play Aug.