Police/Fire

Residents Come Out to Thank Watertown Police During a Tough Time for Cops

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Some Police Departments in America have had some difficult and testing times recently, but Thursday evening a group of about 30 people came out to an event to support the Watertown Police Department in their efforts to avoid troubles facing other departments. The ceremony was held in the evening sun on the plaza next to Town Hall. Organizer Marilyn Petitto Devaney said that she abhors the killing of black men by police, but added that for each bad police officer, there are millions of good ones, including those in Watertown. “We are here for only one purpose – to collectively say thank you to our Watertown Police officers, and say that we support them,” Petitto Devaney said.  

Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn remembered the five officers killed in Dallas by a man saying he was retaliating for recent killing of black men by police in Minnesota and Louisiana.

Schools

Watertown Field Hockey Coach Up for USA Today Coach of the Year

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USA Today High School Sports is looking for the high school coach of the year and Watertown High School field hockey coach Eileen Donahue is one of the 20 nominees. Besides receiving the honor of being coach of the year, if Donahue wins the WHS athletic department would receive $1,000. The school of the second place coach gets $500 and the third place one gets $250 for the athletic department. Donahue and the Raiders have compiled quite a resume, with seven straight state titles and the national record for the longest unbeaten streak, that stands at 160 after the end of the 2015 season. Voting began on Thursday and runs through Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 2 p.m.

To vote, go to: http://contest.usatodayhss.com/

Letters

LETTER: Praise for Sensitivity of Watertown Police, Call for Citizen’s Academy

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Dear Editor:

As we express our condolences to the families regarding the events this week involving the fatal police shootings of Afro-American civilians in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Falcon Heights, Minnesota that culminated in an atrocious attack and slaying of five (5) of our Police Officers and wounding seven (7) others in Dallas, Texas we are all numb from shock. It goes without saying that racial division cannot continue to prevail in our country! It points out how fortunate we are in Watertown to have the brave men and women in blue who protect us 365 days a year; day in and day out. In 1989, I was contacted by our late Police Chief Robert Kelly. He proudly outlined to me the racial sensitivity training program that had been implemented by his department in Watertown.

Real Estate

Check Out All the Open Houses This Week in Watertown

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Watertown has 16 properties for home buyers to choose from this week. $282,000 – 56 Ralph St. Unit 56, 5 room, 1 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 1:30-3:30

$424,900 – 119 Spruce St. Unit 1, 6 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Friday 5-6 Sunday 1-2:30

$675,000 – 11 Hersom St. Unit 2, 6 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath detached, Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3 Sunday 12-2

$499,900 – 37 Jefferson Ave., 11 room, 3 bed, 1 bath ranch, Open House: Sunday 11:30-1:30

$749,000 – 124 Riverside St, 7 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath colonial, Open House: Sunday 1-3

$418,000 – 10 Oliver Road Unit 3, 6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Friday 11-12:30 & 6-7:30 Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2 Monday 6-7:30

$770,000 – 153 Summer St.

Development

Athenahealth’s Proposal for Arsenal Complex Gets Good Reviews

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After years of hashing out the details of the massive overhaul of the Arsenal on the Charles complex, Athenahealth officials presented their master plan to the Planning Board Wednesday night and overall received a positive response but there were still some concerns. 

Some big changes would be made to the former U.S. Army facility on Arsenal Street, including several new buildings, some retail space, parks, bicycle and pedestrian paths and a large new parking garage on the far west end of the site. The garage, which will fit 1,623 vehicles, will stand 58.5 feet tall at the highest spot but 54 feet on the side closest to homes. It would have eight floors of parking, with two underground. The garage had been one of the major points of contention for residents living near the complex. Steps have been taken to reduce the size of the garage and lessen the impact.

Charity

Casino Night Will Raise Funds for Cops for Kids with Cancer

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The Watertown Police will put on a Casino Night for a good cause this fall, with the proceeds going to a charity that helps the families of children fighting cancer. On Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 from 7 p.m. to midnight, a Casino Night will be held at American Legion Post 440 in Newton. Proceeds benefit Cops for Kids with Cancer, which provides thousands of dollars to families to help pay for the costs that insurance does not cover when a child undergoes cancer treatment. Last year, a the charity presented a Watertown family with a $5,000 check to help them out as their son underwent treatment for a rare form of leukemia.

Government

Grants Could Pay for Half the Cost of Filipello Park Project, Including Dog Park

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Grants could go a long way toward completing the final piece of Filippello Park, a project that stretches back to the 1980s. The Town Council heard a presentation from project consultant Glenn Howard of CDM Smith for renovating the Grove Street entrance of Filipello Park, which will include a large dog park. The current project first started in 2012, Howard said, and has gone through a handful of versions before reaching the one presented Tuesday night, which has a 27,000 square foot dog park, 16,000 square feet of open space and a basketball and a futsal soccer court. Town Councilors said they liked what they saw in the plan, adding that they appreciate designers and the Recreation Department taking into account the wishes of many groups in town. “This shows every time the Recreation Department and other departments met with the public they were listening,” said Councilor Ken Woodland.

Lowell School

Interim Principal Named for Lowell School After Principal Takes New Job

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The Lowell School will have an interim principal next fall to replace Elizabeth Kaplan, who has taken another job in the district. 

Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald announced this week that Philip Oates will be taking over as interim principal at the Lowell School. “He comes to this job with 10 years teaching experience and a deep commitment to the students of the Lowell community and Watertown,” Fitzgerald said. “I would like to thank the search committee for their dedication and hard work during the search process.” Oates has worked as a seventh grade math teacher at Watertown Middle School. He was brought in after Kaplan was named the Watertown Public School’s K-5 Math and Science Coordinator.