Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/page/850/)
Ellen G. (Simpson) MacNeil of Billerica, died on Oct. 7, 2015, at the age of 67. She is the beloved wife of retired Watertown Police Officer Henry E.“Henny” MacNeil. Daughter of the late James V. and Dorothy (Hutchins) Simpson. Dear sister of Elaine D. Dorion of Watertown and James V. Simpson, Jr. of Scituate and dear sister-in-law of Donald MacNeil of Westford and the late Leonard MacNeil of Burlington.
One of the great Watertown High School football teams will be honored at the Watertown High School Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony on Oct. 17. The WHS HOF committee wrote up the following profile of the 1983 football team:
In a pre-season poll late in the summer of 1983, 9 of the 10 Middlesex League football coaches chose Watertown as the team to beat. Care to guess which coach voted for another squad? Upon its entrance into the powerful league in 1970, only Woburn had posted more wins on the gridiron than the Red Raiders, so it wasn’t unusual for John Barbati’s talented unit to garner so much acclamation. In fact, the Hall of Fame Coach called this lineup “one of the most unselfish I have ever coached.
Voters can learn about the candidates running for office in the Watertown Election at a series of upcoming candidate forums.
Pair of School Committee Forums
The Watertown Education Foundation and Watertown News will host a pair of forums for the School Committee candidates. The first will be Thursday, Oct. 15 from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St., in the Watertown Savings Bank Room. The second forum will be on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 7-9 p.m. in the Watertown Middle School Auditorium, 68 Waverley Ave.
The building boom in Watertown is not limited to the main arteries through town. Homes are being torn down and replaced with new residential projects, so town officials want to look at making rules and guidelines for new construction in neighborhoods. One of the goals that came from the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan is to protect Watertown’s residential neighborhoods. Some residents have complained that redeveloped properties have changed their street or neighborhood for the worse. As a way to control the redevelopment of neighborhoods, the Town Council has proposed creating Residential Design Guidelines.
Watertown has a hotly contested election with contested races for almost every seat. If you want to take part in the decision you must be registered to vote.
Wednesday, Oct. 14 is the last day to register so you can vote in the Nov. 3 Town Election. Residents can register at the Town Clerk’s Office on the ground floor of Town Hall, 149 Main St.
The first of the Tremedal Concerts will be held this Saturday at the First Parish Church in Watertown. The proceeds after expenses support Watertown’s sister community in El Salvador – Nueva Esperanza. The concert features Linda Waterfall, a prolific performer, recording artist songwriter who has been performing for going on 40 years. Watertfall performs on a double bill with Oen Kennedy Saturday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. at First Parish Church, 35 Church St. in Watertown.
Former Watertown basketball player Casey Brackett will be one of the inductees to the Watertown High School Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 17. The WHS HOF committee submitted the following profile of Brackett. By the time Casey Brackett walked the graduation line at Victory Field in 2003, the point guard extraordinaire was a two time Herald All-Scholastic, a Globe All-Scholastic, a Middlesex League MVP, a two-time League all-star, and had added his name to the WHS record book by becoming the school’s all-time leader in assists and steals. The tireless worker and deft defender also possessed a killer shooting range and was fearless driving the lane, scoring over 900 points in his decorated career.
On Sunday Oct. 4, 40 concerned citizens gathered at the Watertown Free Public Library to discuss what can be done about the Syrian refugee crisis. Watertown Citizens submitted the following article:
The event was sponsored by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment, and featured guest speaker Eva Millona, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), the state’s largest organization representing the foreign born. Ms. Millona described the work MIRA does to resettle immigrants and refugees, helping them learn English, find employment, and become American citizens. She shared much expertise and knowledge, and answered many excellent questions raised by attendees.