Sports

Raiders Relay Team Rocks at Track Outdoor Nationals

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A foursome from Watertown High School finished third place at the New Balance Outdoor National, the highest finish for a team from the school. 

The sprint relay team of sophomore Nicholas Cordeiro, junior Vasken Kebabjian, senior Austin Lin and senior Jeremy Breen ran a 3:37.25 and finished third of 60 teams in the Emerging Elite competition at the meet at North Carolina A&T in Grensboro, N.C. In the race, the first two legs are 200 meters, the third is 400 meters and the final one is 800 meters. The finish is the highest ever for a Watertown team in 40 years of the competition. The Raiders team could not compete under the Watertown High School name due to MIAA rules, so they named themselves Shamrock Track Club. Lin also ran the 400 in 50.74 and finished 34th in the Emerging Elite race.

Arsenal on the Charles

Athenahealth Reveals Plans to Cut Number of Cars Coming to Arsenal Site

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Athenahealth released details of how it will seek to reduce the number of people driving to work alone, and it will participate in the town’s effort to bring a shuttle to Watertown. 

On Wednesday, the company that owns the Arsenal on the Charles released its Transportation Demand Management plan that was created as part of its proposal to redevelop the former U.S. Army facility on Arsenal Street. The plan calls for the company to employ a full-time, on-site Transportation Demand Management Coordinator, as would any subsequent owner of the complex. It will also join MassRides, a group that will “encourage healthy transportation options for employees.” Athenahealth’s plan said the company will participate in the Watertown Transportation Management Association, which is likely to include a shuttle. The company said it would contribute in a proportional way with other developments in the area.

Death in River

Watertown Man Dies After Being Pushed into Charles River by Friend

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A Watertown man died after being pushed into the Charles River by a friend on Tuesday evening. Mitchell Harrison, 26, of Watertown, fell in to the water and was under for many minutes before divers found his body, according to a Boston Globe report. Harrison was pushed into the river near the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge by Lenny Quintero-Flores, who said the victim was his best friend. Quintero Flores apologized after a court hearing on Wednesday. He now faces manslaughter charges, according to WCVB Channel 5.

Environment

Places Sought to Install Green Infrastructure to Cut Stormwater Going to River

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Spots around town are being considered to put “green infrastructure” projects that will reduce the amount of rain runoff going into the storm sewers and eventually into the Charles River. Tuesday night, consultants working with the town presented more than 20 options for places on town-owned property where project such as rain gardens, tree trenches that collect stormwater or permeable pavement can be installed. The efforts grew out of the town’s need to meet new, more stringent stormwater regulations from the federal government, which requires the town to reduce the amount of pollutants, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, going into the river. The water going into storm drains does not get treated before going into the river. Interested residents filled the Town Council chamber to hear more about the effort.

Letters

LETTER: Concern Over Pace of the Watertown Schools’ Master Plan

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Watertown Strong Schools provided a summary of the first meeting of the Steering Committee of the Master Planning Design Process for the Watertown Public Schools. School officials are looking to build the town’s schools for the 21st Century and deal with growing enrollments. Unofficial Minutes: Meeting of the Steering Committee of the Master Planning Design Process on 06/15/2016 – Key Points and Commentary

Note: These are NOT official minutes. Commentary can be found at the bottom of the minutes. Written by: Kate Coyne and David Stokes

Committee members: John Portz, Co-chair; Liz Yusem, Co-chair; Dr. Jean Fitzgerald, Superintendent; Charles Kellner, Director, Business Services; Vincent Piccirilli, Town Council Vice-President; Michael Dattoli, Town Councilor; Steve Magoon, Assistant Town Manager and Director, Community Development and Planning; Deb King, WEA President and WMS teacher; Toni Carlson, K-12 Educational Technology and Library Coordinator; Dr. Kimo Carter, WMS Principal; Alyson Morales; Pete Caron; Mike Shepard; Elaina Griffith; Chris Lowry.

Around Town

Watertown High School Student Wins Multiple Television Awards

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The budding Watertown High School television production program received several honors this year thanks to the work of one enthusiastic student. 

Senior Rebecca Grossman won four awards in the Boston/National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences high school competition for her work this year in the WHS television production program, which is just a few years old. “When I came (to the School Committee) in January 2015, one of the goals was within 3-5 years I hoped to compete in the student broadcast awards,” said WHS TV instructor Todd Robbins. “We are well ahead of schedule. Not only did we compete but we did very well.” Last year, the school competed in seven categories, but did not win any awards.

Government

Board of Health Looking to Make New Regulations on Tobacco Use

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The Watertown Board of Health will consider changes to the town’s rules on tobacco, including banning smoking in new tobacco retailers and smoke bars and requiring e-cigarette liquids to be in child proof containers. 

The Watertown Health Department sent out the following announcement:

The Watertown Board of Health will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 22 in the Town Administration Building, 149 Main St., Third Floor Conference Room at 7:20 p.m. to hear comments from the public about proposed amendments to their current tobacco sales regulation entitled “Regulation Regarding Smoking and the Sale and Use of Tobacco Products.” Many of the proposed amendments are updating terminology and language commonly used across the state. The proposed substantive amendments include expanding the definition for tobacco products to include products that rely on vaporization. Additionally, banning smoking and electronic cigarette use in “smoking bars” (cigar bars, hookah bars) and “retail tobacco stores” (tobacconists, vape shops) that have not been in operation before April 1, 2016. The proposed changes also include incorporation of the state’s Attorney General regulations on the sale and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products and electronic smoking devices as well as requiring that all e-cigarette solutions be sold in child-resistant packaging.

Government

Watertown Looks Around at Other Towns for Ideas to Improve Transportation

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Local efforts to improve transportation when Watertown officials have little influence on the MBTA can be tough, but they looked at what some neighbors are doing for inspiration. Transportation directors from Newton and Waltham, as well as a consultant who works on transportation plans, came to a forum on June 16, organized by the Watertown Pubic Transportation Task Force, the Town Council an the Department of Community Development and Planning. Both Waltham and Newton have completed extensive transportation planning efforts and are close to making recommendations a reality. Watertown will be embarking on such a transportation planning effort soon. Ralph DiNisco, principal of transportation planners Nelson Nygaard, gave some advice to Watertown. “Plan for things you want, not the things you are afraid of,” DiNisco said.