BYOB

Watertown Restaurants Will Soon be Able to Offer BYOB

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Watertown diners will have the option of bringing their own alcohol to some of their favorite restaurants after the Town Council adopted the bring your own bottle ordinance on Tuesday. People will have to wait several months, at least, before they can start bringing wine or beer to enjoy with their meal. The Council passes an amendment that delayed the start of the ordinance until April 1, 2016. The ordinance met some resistance on the council as well as from others. The vote was 6-3 to approve BYOB, with Councilor President Mark Sideris, and councilors Steve Corbett and Angeline Kounelis voting “No.”

Fire Contract

LETTER: Fire Union President Thanks Supporters, Responds to Council

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Editor,

As president of Local 1347 and on behalf of its membership, I would like to thank the residents of Watertown for their unwavering support over the years and particularly the past ten months. Your support helped galvanize us in our fight for fairness. Your lawn signs and our picketing, done respectfully and without incident helped us carry our message forward. This agreement fairly compensates our members for the hard work they perform day in and day out. We are honored and privileged to serve you.

Charity

Watertown Woman Walking to End Alzheimers in Honor of Grandmother

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Watertown resident Tori Wilbur will participate in the Central New Hampshire Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Arms Park in Manchester, N.H., the Alzheimer’s Association, MA/NH Chapter announced. “We are doing the Walk as a family in support of our grandmother,” said Wilbur, whose grandmother was diagnosed two years ago. “She is living with my grandfather but we are all helping to take care of her. We are a very close family of seven grandchildren who all love her very much.”

Sports

WHS Athletic Hall of Fame Honors 4 Phenomenal Field Hockey Sisters

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For the first time in its distinguished history, the Watertown High School Athletic Hall of Fame is proud to induct four athletes from the same family at the same time, according to a story submitted by the WHS HOF. Find out how to get tickets to the Oct. 17 ceremony below. Hall of Fame Field Hockey coach Eileen Donahue describes sisters Bethany ’95, Jane, ’98, Catherine, ’00, and Mary Rogers, ’03 as “humble, yet fiercely competitive champions on and off the field.” As athletes and coaches they have combined to contribute 10 State Championships. In the long line of field hockey greatness in this town, these sisters are among the best to ever wear the Red Raider uniform.

Fire Contract

Now that Fire Contract is Settled, It’s Time to Repair Relationships

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When the Town Council voted to approve the new Watertown firefighters contract the standing-room only room remained subdued, with only muffled congratulations exchanged by members of the Fire Department. 

More of a relief than a celebration, it demonstrated the trying times that accompanied the 6-year-plus contract impasse – particularly the 9 months since the arbitration award was rejected. Town Manager Michael Driscoll called the contract fair and fiscally responsible. Town Councilor Vincent Piccirilli said he could now vote for the contract because it did not contain a 3 percent raise in years when other town unions took no raises. Councilor Aaron Dushku said he realized the Council’s decision to reject the arbitration award angered people, but he thinks the new contract is fair. “It is a compromise we made,” Dushku said.

Fire Contract

See How the New Fire Contract Compares to the Arbitration Award

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Firefighters had to wait more than six years, plus nine months since the arbitration award was rejected, but they have a new contract approved by the Town Council Tuesday and a healthy raise. The amount in the contract may seem much larger than the arbitration award – $4.68 million vs. $2 million – but there are some key differences. First of all, the new contract is for seven years, while the arbitration award funding included four years. The additional years accounts for nearly $2.6 million of the $4.6 million difference.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Bust Massage Employee on Prostitution Charges

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Police arrested an employee of a massage business in Watertown on prostitution charges. 

Watertown Police conducted a sting on Orange Tree Body Works, 220 Waverley Ave., on Sept. 18. They had received several complaints and tips from concerned citizens about the activity at the business. Police arrested one employee after the sting, Bi Ou, on a charge of sexual conduct for a fee. “The Watertown Police Department would like to thank the public for their help in keeping our community safe,” the police said in the announcement of the arrest.

Around Town

Local Group Hosting Free Healthy Cooking Classes at the Library

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Head to the library on Thursday night to learn how to make Red Lentil Soup (a perfect dish for the cooler fall nights) and Panzanella Salad (made with last of the season locally grown tomatoes)! 

This is the first of two free Healthy Eating Cooking Classes presented by Live Well Watertown. The classes will be held on Thursday, Sept. 24 and Thursday, Oct. 8 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St. in Watertown.