Government

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Easier This Year, Starts Saturday

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The process has become easier for Watertown residents to dispose of items such as garden chemicals, motor oil and other automotive fluids, kitchen cleaners and other household hazardous waste. Disposing of household hazardous waste is free and Watertown residents no longer have to pre-register – just bring proof of residency. The town sent the following announcement and the first disposal day will be Saturday, April 18 in Lexington:

The Town of Watertown is pleased to announce the 2015 schedule for collection of Household Hazardous Waste Products. As in the past years, the collection will take place at the Minuteman Household Hazardous Products Facility at 60 Hartwell Avenue, Lexington, MA from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates (which are Saturdays unless otherwise indicated):

April 18th
May 16th
June 20th
July 18th
August 15th
September 13th (this is a SUNDAY)
October 17th
November 7th

This event is free of charge to Watertown residents. Advanced registration is NO LONGER required; Watertown residents must bring identification or proof of Watertown residency to participate in a collection event.

Around Town

Council Approves Town Building Renovations, Vehicle Purchases

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Watertown’s capital improvement plans will focus on repairs to the some schools, library, two fire stations and Town Hall, as well as purchasing new vehicles. Tuesday night, the Council approved the Fiscal 2016-20 Capital Improvement Plan Tuesday night. See the entire list of recommendations adopted by the council by clicking here. The Council is working on the Fiscal 2016 budget, which begins on July 1, 2015. But it also includes recommendations from Fiscal 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Sports

Last Chance for Nominations for WHS Athletics Hall of Fame

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The Watertown High School Athletic Hall of Fame announces the deadline for nominating members for this year’s class is Thursday April 30. Founded in 1992, the Hall honors individuals and teams who have made significant contributions to the community through their time as student-athletes or in support of various athletic programs at Watertown High School. This year’s inductees will be honored at the banquet in the fall. Recent inductees include former Raider greats Bob Murgo, Renee Gaudette, George Salvitti, and current boys’ basketball coach Steve Harrington. For more information about the Hall, and how to nominate your favorite athlete, visit wcatv.org/watertown-hall-fame.

Business

New Assisted Living Center Opens in Watertown Square

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More than 200 people gathered at The Residence at Watertown Square Wednesday evening to celebrate the Grand Opening of Watertown’s newest assisted living and memory care community for seniors.  Watertown-area officials and residents, staff associates, Watertown Square community residents and LCB Senior Living staff joined in celebration, culminating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to the announcement from LCB Senior Living. The Residence at Watertown Square, located at the corner of Spring and Summer streets, is a unique community, offering seniors a unique combination of sophisticated city living and access to the area’s many resources and attractions. The community includes 90 Independent, Assisted and Memory Care Living apartments. Independent Living residents at the community will have their own apartment with kitchenette and bath, along with the peace of mind of 24-hour security, three gourmet meals prepared and served restaurant style on-site, available laundry and cleaning services, a full activities program, building and grounds maintenance, and a host of optional services. Assisted Living residents will have all of the above, along with assistance with the activities of daily living, including dressing, bathing medication reminders, and other services.

Around Town

Help Out on One Boston Day at Watertown’s Filippello Park

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Volunteers are sought to help clean up Filippello Park on One Boston Day. 

Classic Rock Radio Station, WZLX – 100.7, is recruiting its listeners to help clean up Filippello Park as a service to the town of Watertown on April 15, 2015 from 10 a.m. to noon, in commemoration of One Boston Day, “a holiday aimed at honoring ‘the resiliency, generosity and strength of the city’ on the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings.”

All are welcome to participate. Various town departments will be assisting the WZLX team with this effort. Please use the 195 Grove Street entrance. WZLX contact: Chris Rucker, 617-746-1462

Watertown Health Department contact: Deborah Rosati, 617-972-6446

Schools

School Day Starting Later at One School, Bus Added After School

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In an effort to reduce the amount of time students have to wait for buses after school at one Hosmer Elementary School the School Committee voted to start school later. 

Students routinely wait five to ten minutes for the bus to come to take them home, and at least once a bus was 20 minutes late. The three buses must make a run from the middle school, before picking up Hosmer students. In a move to give buses more time the School Committee voted to make the time change. They considered moving the time of both the Hosmer and Watertown Middle School, but decided to just change the elementary school’s schedule, said Superintendent Jean Fizgerald. “An alternative solution was to start 10 minutes later,” Fitzgerald said.

Business

Watertown Moving Company Sponsoring Special Olympics Athlete

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Special Olympics Massachusetts athlete Amanda Church is one of only seven athletes representing Massachusetts and the United States at the Special Olympics World Games this year. Olympia Moving & Storage will be sponsoring Amanda and her trip to the 2015 World Games. World Games will be the largest sporting event in 2015, featuring over 7,000 athletes from 177 countries. The Games begin July 25th in Los Angeles, according to the announcement sent out by Olympia. Amanda has been competing with Special Olympics since 1998. She has won numerous gold medals and was inducted into the Special Olympics Massachusetts Hall of Fame in 2012.

Around Town

Watertown Church Hosting Big Rummage Sale

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The First Parish of Watertown, 35 Church St., is holding its annual rummage sale on Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be books, audio and video tapes, DVD’s, children’s clothes, linens and white goods, kitchen and household items, small electronics and appliances, arts and crafts, bric-a-brac, sporting goods, toys and games, small furniture and many more treasures. Come and shop!