Government

Watertown’s New Veteran’s Officer Looking to Reach More Vets

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Mark Comeiro, Watertown’s new office of Veteran’s Services Officer and the long-time Navy man, hopes to find to veterans in town who might not even know they can get benefits. 

He arrived in February and has fallen in love with his new role. “For me it was a no brainer,” Comeiro said. “I have been here a few months, the community is top notch. They welcomed me.” He has been coordinating services for veterans of all ages, working with local veterans groups and planning for the Memorial Day Parade and other observances from May 20-25.

Government

Town Hall Summer Hours Include Late Hours and Early Closings

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Watertown Town Hall will adjust its hours over the summer, with later hours one day a week and early closing another. 

The Watertown Administration Building will start modified summer hours on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 and end on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. During this period, on Tuesdays, the Administration Building hours of operation shall be 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The hours of operation on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays shall remain 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Building Inspectors’ Office will be open for the transaction of business beginning at 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. or 7 p.m., when all offices in the Administration Building are open. Payments after business hours may be placed in the drop-off box located on Thaxter Street (between Library and Administration Building)
Summer Holidays
Memorial Day

In observance of Memorial Day, the Administration Building will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2015

Independence Day

In observance of Independence Day, the Administration Building will be closing on Thursday, July 2 at 2 p.m. and will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2015

Labor Day

In observance of Labor Day, the Administration Building will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015

Real Estate

Check Out the Dozens of Open Houses in Watertown This Weekend

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Home seekers have plenty of choices around Watertown this weekend. $589,000 – 68 Highland Ave., 4 bed, 2 bath ranch, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$409,000 – 235 Palfrey St., 3 bed, 1 bath home, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$689,900 – 73 Everett Ave., 4 bed, 2 bath contemporary Open House: Friday 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

$334,900 – 120 Duff St. Unit 120, 2 bed, 1 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$850,000 – 40 Katherine Road, 5 bed, 1 full 2 half bath Gambrel/Dutch, Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3 p.m. Sunday 1:30-3 p.m.

Story Sponsored by:

$749,900 – 13-15 Columbia St., 2 unit, 12 total room, 4 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Friday 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday 12-1:30 p.m. Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$439,000 – 15 Beacon Park, 2 bed, 1 bath bungalow, Open Houses: Saturday 1-2 p.m. Sunday 12-1 p.m.

$635,000 – 195 Chapman St., 4 bed, 1 full 2 half bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1 p.m. Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$750,000 – 87 Arlington St., 3 unit, 5 total room, 2 total bedroom 3 family, Open House: Sunday 2-3 p.m.

$815,000 – 456 Belmont St. Unit 24, 3 bed, 2 full 1 half bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 p.m. Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$569,000 – 24 Edenfield Ave., 3 bed, 2 bath colonial, Open House: Sunday 1-2 p.m.

$789,000 – 191 Edenfield Ave., 4 bed, 3 bath colonial, Open House: Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$839,000 – 11-13 Lyons Court, 2 unit, 10 total room, 4 total bedroom, Open House: Saturday 12-1:30 p.m.

Government

Watertown Will Have A Voice on Issue of Airplane Noise

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Watertown will get a say on a board that advises Boston’s Logan Airport about the noise and air quality related to the airport. Along with Belmont and Arlington, Watertown will have a new regional committee that advises the MassPort Community Advisory Committee – which also overseas airports in Bedford and Worcester. They got the seats thanks to State Sen. Will Brownsberger, who passed an amendment to the supplemental budget adding representatives from the three town with the support of several colleagues, including Watertown State Rep. Jonathan Hecht. Although the Federal Aviation Authority has control over air traffic, MassPort controls airport operations and “the inclusion of Arlington, Belmont and Watertown on the CAC will ensure that our communities have a seat at the table,” Brownsberger’s Legislative Aide Andrew Bettinelli told The Belmontonian. The problems started in the summer of 2013 when the FAA changed the pattern of flights from runway 33L.

Entertainment

Revels Joining Perkins School for Free Celebration of Spring

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Celebrate the coming of spring with a free concert featuring the Revels and students from Perkins School for the Blind. The concert will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. in Dwight Hall at Perkins School for the Blind’s, 175 N. Beacon St., Watertown. Admission is FREE

This hour-long performance of seasonal music and dance will feature the Perkins School Secondary Program Chorus (Arnie Harris, director), The Revels Singers, song leader and musician David Coffin, guest soloists and a great band of musicians. And it wouldn’t be a Revels celebration of spring without morris dancing and a visit from the ancient and mysterious Padstow ‘Obby ‘Oss, all the way from Cornwall, England! “Revels’ partnership with Perkins School for the Blind these many years has been rewarding for all of us in so many ways.

Entertainment

Mass Audubon Hosting Event at a Mall in Watertown

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You are invited to the “Birds and Bugs” event presented by Mass Audubon on Saturday, May 16. The Arsenal Project will introduce them to the wonders of natures around you. Right outside your door… the world is alive! Birds singing, building nests, finding food – insects and other invertebrates are active, too,” reads the announcement.

Schools

Watertown’s PEP Grant Touches Far More than Gym Classes

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The Watertown Public Schools have got an influx of more than $500,000 into the schools to improve the fitness and wellness of children in town. The money came from the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant, and much of the focus has been on improving physical education classes (see details here). But that is not the only benefit of the three-year grant, Director of Wellness and Extended Services Donna Ruseckas told the School Committee. The Recreation Department and the Boys and Girls Club of Watertown have also received equipment as part of the grant. Ruseckas said she plans to put in fitness activities around Watertown’s schools for children and their families.

Business

New Tufts Health Plan Foundation President Has Ties to Obama Administration

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Tufts Health Plan today announced that Nora Moreno Cargie has been named president of the Tufts Health Plan Foundation. Moreno Cargie joined Tufts Health Plan one year ago as executive director of the Foundation and vice president of corporate citizenship. The Tufts Health Plan Foundation sent out the following announcement:

“Nora’s new designation is in recognition of her accomplishments this past year and her growing role within the organization,” said James Roosevelt Jr., Tufts Health Plan’s chief executive officer. “The Foundation board of directors is particularly proud of how Nora has advanced the Foundation beyond grantmaking toward meaningful engagement strategies that focus on convening communities, building systems and best practices, influencing policies and investing in collaborations that help move our communities – particularly the most vulnerable – toward achieving the World Health Organization’s goals for age-friendly communities.”

“The success of the Foundation’s recent Building Age-Friendly Communities summit, hosted in partnership with The Boston Foundation, is a prime example of the leadership Nora has shown in our communities,” added Thomas P. O’Neill, III, chairman of the Tufts Health Plan Foundation board of directors. “Our board looks forward to continued collaboration with Nora as we engage with community leaders in this important work.”

As president of the Tufts Health Plan Foundation, Moreno Cargie will be responsible for leading the Foundation’s work in healthy living with an emphasis on older adults.