Police/Fire

Watertown Police Bust Two Suspects on Drug Charges

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Watertown Police busted a man and a woman after finding cocaine and prescription pills on them. Police received a call reporting that a woman in a car who had a rubber tube tied around her arm and appeared to be injecting herself with a needle in the parking lot of Dunkin’ Donuts on Mt. Auburn Street, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. When officers arrived, they found to two women in the car. “As they were talking to the two females, a man came up to ask what was going on and said he was ‘with the two girls,'” Lawn said.

Government

See When You Can Meet With Sen. Brownsberger at the Watertown Library

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Senator Will Brownsberger will hold office hours in Watertown from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 in the café at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main Street. All are welcome to during this time to discuss issues, ask for help in dealing with state agencies, or talk about any other topic of concern. At all other times Senator Brownsberger can be reached at his State House office at 617-722-1280 or his cell phone at 617-771-8274. His email address is William.Brownsberger@masenate.gov. The senator’s website at willbrownsberger.com provides many details on his positions and is also a place for open dialogue and public feedback. Senator Brownsberger’s communications director, Jeanne Mooney, can be reached at the same office number.

Charity

Win a Tesla Test Drive at the Pennies for Patients Basketball Game Tonight!

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On Thursday, March 27, at 6 p.m. Watertown Middle School hosts a charity basketball game to raise money for Pennies for Patients – which provides funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The game between students and staff is a rematch of a contest earlier in the year which went to three overtimes and ended in a tie! Tesla of Watertown has donated a 24 hour Tesla test drive which will be awarded to the winners of a silent auction at the game. Tesla will have a car on display in our parking lot. The lobby and auditorium at the middle school are dedicated to Peter Clough who died at 32 of Lymphoma 20 years ago. Several members of the Clough family will be attending the event.

Government

Council Asks for Transportation Improvements from Group Studying MTBA

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With changes at the MBTA, and this winter’s transportation woes, the Watertown Town Council will send a letter to the committee set up by Gov. Charlie Baker to examine the MBTA. Last year, Watertown invited MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott to town and showed her the town’s transportation challenges and areas of heavy development that will need transit. The town council followed up with a letter to make sure Watertown’s needs are still in the minds of MBTA officials. The MBTA has shared its ideas for improving the 70 bus route along Main and Arsenal streets, but improvements are also sought for the 71 and 73 routes to Harvard Square. Scott, however, resigned after the challenges the MBTA had during the heavy snows this winter.

Business

Penalties Could Stiffen for Businesses That Do Not Shovel Snow

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Businesses that do not shovel snow could pay a stiffer penalty if the Town Council subcommittee adopts the recommended changes to the town’s snow ordinance. In the current ordinance, commercial properties get a warning for the first violation, a $25 fine for the second violation and a $50 fine for the third. The Rules and Ordinances Committee recommended some changes, said chairman and Councilor Ken Woodland. “To encourage compliance with the town’s ordinance, (the committee) recommended the town should eliminate what is a mandatory warning for first time offenders,” Woodland said. “The committee also recommend increasing increasing the quantity of fines and increase for subsequent fines.”

Around Town

10th Annual Wedding Faire Coming to Watertown’s Commander’s Mansion

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Brides and grooms-to-be can find caterers, photographers, entertainers and more for their big day at the ninth annual Wedding Faire at the Commander’s Mansion in Watertown. Meet the top wedding professionals from the Boston area and see the latest bridal fashions at the event on March 1 and 2 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sample food and prizes will also be given out during the event. Vendors include caterers, florists, photographers, bakeries, entertainment, transportation and more. Different vendors will be featured each day. Tickets cost $5 and is good for the whole weekend.

Entertainment

Free Classical Music Performance Coming to Coolidge Apartments

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On Saturday, March 28 at 7 p.m. musicians from the Longy School of Music will be at the Apartments at Coolidge School for a free performance. The Spring Performance will include operatic performances and selections from Broadway by graduates from the Longy School of Music. Doors open to the auditorium at 6:50 p.m. (This performance is geared toward an adult audience).

Schools

Recommended Watertown School Budget Includes 21 More Staff Members

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The School Committee’s Budget and Finance Subcommittee will submit a budget that would be $2.695 million more than the current school year and would include more than 20 additional teachers and other staff. 

The total budget for Fiscal 2016 (the 2015-16 school year) will be $41.9 million. The Public Hearing on the FY 16 budget will be held at the next School Committee meeting on April 6 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall. Among the new staff requests are one teach each for Cunniff and Hosmer elementary schools. These teachers will help avoid large class sizes, said Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald.  

Librarians will also be added to Hosmer, Cunniff, and Watertown Middle School.