Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/page/936/)
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in the Church of St. Patrick, Watertown on Saturday morning, February 14, 2015 at 9 AM for Adelard “Al” St. Onge. Mr. St. Onge passed away on Wednesday morning surrounded by family in the E.N. Rogers Memorial Hospital, Bedford, MA after a lengthy illness.
Looking for ways to reduce the amount of un-shoveled sidewalks around town, on Tuesday night Town Council President Mark Sideris asked Council subcommittees to look at bolstering the current ordinance and consider a requirement for residential properties to shovel their sidewalks. While concerned with the state of sidewalks around Watertown, Sideris commended the Department of Public Works for their work clearing snow from town streets. “We have all been dealing, over the last couple weeks, with an unprecedented amount of snow,” Sideris said. “I want to thank the DPW for all the work keeping the roads open.”
The town has a requirement for owners of commercial buildings to clear snow from sidewalks around their property. Sideris said he has seen some sidewalks that have not shoveled snow from any of the recents storms, beginning with the blizzard.
When Father Athanasios Nenes was named as the new priest at the Taxiarchae Church in Watertown, he was returning to a familiar place.
On Jan. 18 Bishop Metropolitan Methodios came to Watertown for the installation of Nenes as priest of Taxiarchae Church. “It was very emotional, to tell you the truth,” Nenes said. “A great number of people came to greet me.” Nenes was born in Bridgeport, Conn., and moved to Greece at a young age.
State Sen. Will Brownsberger invites residents to apply to be part of the 74th Citizens’ Legislative Seminar (CLS). The seminar will be held this spring on Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the State House. Each senator may nominate one constituent to participate. The CLS is a great opportunity for residents to get a firsthand look at how the legislative process works, and have a better understanding of state government. Sen. Brownsberger encourages constituents in the Second Suffolk and Middlesex District to apply to this two-day seminar.
Seven Watertown first responders who put their lives on the line during the shootout with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects received the nation’s ultimate honor Wednesday. Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder awarded the Medal of Valor to five Watertown Police officers and two Watertown Firefighters at a ceremony at the White House on Wednesday, according to an Associated Press report. “You’re a rare breed,” Biden said to the recipients. “You’re all crazy. We love you for it.
Councilors,
On January 28, a discouraging event in town governance occurred here in this chamber. Against the wishes of 400 hundred Watertown residents who signed a petition; in disregard of the testimony of approximately 40 East End neighbors; against the advice of the Planning Board; contrary to the expressed goals of the Comprehensive Plan; but in accordance with the advice and counsel of Town Planning staff, the Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5-0 to approve a special permit for a proposed CVS project that a preponderance of Watertown residents feel detrimental to Coolidge Square and the East End in general. This decision is one in a long history of poor development decisions in Watertown that can fairly be described as acts of municipal self-mutilation. Many residents feel that the character of Watertown is being destroyed project by project. This dysfunction must end now.
Catch a free screening of “Frozen” and help a local food pantry. The Arsenal Project will show Disney’s animated favorite and you can also meet Frozen’s very own Olaf, Anna, Sven and Elsa.
The event is free if you bring two canned goods per person. The items will go to the Watertown Food Pantry. The Frozen event begins at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Feb.
Now it its fourth year, the Friends of Watertown MusicFest will be held in March, and musicians are still being sought to play at the event. The fundraiser for the music program in the Watertown Public Schools will be held Friday, March 6, from 5:30-9:30 p.m., at the Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverly Ave. in Watertown. The event features over 50 performances by musicians of all ages, musical styles, and abilities, and an instrument petting zoo. “MusicFest is a lively, eclectic evening of music for the whole community,” says FoWM Board Member Heidi Greisch.