Business

Watertown Savings Bank Donates to Homeless Veterans

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Watertown Savings Bank (WSB) made a $5,000 donation to the New England Center for Homeless Veterans (NECHV). The bank presented the check at WSB’s annual Club 50 holiday party, on behalf of the more than 3,500 Club 50 members, according to the bank’s announcement. NECHV President and CEO Andrew McCawley was on hand to accept the donation. “Veterans are an incredibly important asset to this country, our society and to business; they bring a wealth of leadership, selflessness and commitment to mission to everything they undertake,” McCawley stated. “Your generous giving is essential to our providing the best and most effective aid to those who have served this country.”

The NECHV is dedicated to ending homelessness for our Nation’s Veterans.

Sports

Watertown Girls’ Basketball Team Takes Down Belmont

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Watertown opened the girls’ basketball season on a high note by taking down rival Belmont, Tuesday night. 

Watertown took an early lead, leading 13-4 at the end of the first quarter, but the Marauders fought back to tie the game in the third quarter. The Raiders pulled away and won the game at Watertown Hight School 53-42. Watertown was lead by junior Nicole Lanzo’s 11 points. Junior guard Felicia Korte scored 10, and senior guard Gianna Coppola and junior guard Michaela Antonellis added 8 apiece.

Around Town

See How the Watertown Boys’ Basketball Fared Against Belmont

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The Raiders team had a tough start to the 2014-15 boys’ basketball season against their rivals from Belmont Tuesday night. The game started well for Watertown, which lead by 8 at the end of the first quarter, and 26-23 at halftime. The Marauders, however, looked different in the second half, outscoring the Raiders 43-23 in the second half. Belmont hit six 3-pointers in the second half after making none in the first half. Watertown was led by senior guard Mike Hagopian, who scored 18 points including two 3-pointers.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Report Finds 2nd Friendly Fire Incident in Search for Bombing Suspects

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A second incident where police officers mistakenly fired on other law enforcement in Watertown during the search for the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects has been detailed in a report looking at the response to the bombings. WCVB Channel 5 Investigates reported this week that an undercover State Police SUV had its back window shot out and one of the bullets narrowly missed a State Police lieutenant. Several shots were fired, according to the report by Kathy Curran, in the incident which took place on Adams Street after an erroneous report that bombing suspect Dzokhar Tsarnaev had stolen a State Police SUV, according to the report. In the first shootout, MBTA Police Officer Dic Donohue was hit by friendly fire as officers tried to stop Tsarnaev from driving away from the area of Dexter Avenue and Laurel Street. See the entire Channel 5 report by clicking here.

Letters

LETTER: Your Gift Can Support Music in Watertown Schools

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Dear friends,

Friends of Watertown Music was formed in the summer of 2011 in response to severe budget cuts in the Watertown Public Schools music program.  Since then, we have raised funds and awarded grants that include salaries to expand teaching positions, teacher initiatives for their classrooms, and instrument needs.  By offering partial funding for critical needs in the music program, we create immediate music opportunities for students and provide the Schools a way to incorporate the full cost into the general school budget. Please consider joining us in our efforts to continue to enrich, sustain, and develop the music program in the Watertown Public Schools.  May we include your name in our 4th Annual MusicFest program?  We have four donor levels:  Soprano (up to $25), Alto ($50), Tenor ($75) and Bass ($100 or more).   You can donate with PayPal or any credit card on our website:  http://watertownmusic.org/, or checks may be sent to Friends of Watertown Music, 43 Paul St., Watertown, MA 02472

This year we have been pleased to award a $5,863 grant to the WPS music program to ensure that all elementary students receive music education classes with an appropriate student:teacher ratio.  This support will help reduce the burden on overextended music teachers throughout the system by adding a new teacher.  The Schools are matching our funds in a 2.5 to 1 ratio, creating a 0.4 FTE at the Hosmer School that also includes pre-school and pre-kindergarten music classes. The Middle School Jazz Band, originally funded by a 2012-13 Friends of Watertown Music grant of $6,800, is now fully integrated into the music program.  One of our key goals has been to fund initiatives that are then sustained in the general school budget.  We have every expectation that this year’s grant will also function as seed money and allow the cost of the new position to become a permanent part of the music program. Friends of Watertown Music, Inc., incorporated in 2014, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.  All donations are fully tax deductible within the limits of the law.

Schools

Watertown Students Get a Taste of Computer Programing

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Students of all ages tried their hands at computer programing when the Watertown Public Schools participated in the Hour of Code. The world-wide event attracted millions of people to spend an hour learning about computer coding. In Watertown, students in elementary, middle and high school participated in the Hour of Code. The skill is one that could be very important in the future of these students, said Education Technology and Library Coordinator Toni Carlson. “There is going to be a huge need for computer programing,” Carlson said.

Development

Town Looking to Buy Small Piece of Land in Watertown

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The Town Council approved purchasing a small piece of former railroad property near Arsenal Street that could be key to nearby new developments. 

The Council approved spending $35,000 for the 3,300-square-foot parcel located at the end of Phillips Street. The state got the first right of refusal when the Pan Am Systems/Boston & Maine Corp. placed the right-of-way for a the former Watertown Branch of railroad up for sale. On Dec. 2, the town received a letter saying that the state did not intend to purchase the land, and notified officials that “The Town of Watertown has been designated as the purchaser for the [railroad] parcel.”

Sports

See Which Watertown Athletes Made the Globe’s All-Stars

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Watertown had a successful fall season, and four athletes were honored for their play by the Boston Globe. Boy’s soccer player Rafael DeSouza earned the Div. 3 player of the year from the Boston Globe. In his senior year, DeSouza scored 11 goals and added 12 assists, grabbed the Middlesex MVP award and was named All-New England by the EMSCA. He scored 36 goals and had 26 assists in his career and is a two-time EMass All-Star, according to the Globe.