Entertainment

Mall Hosting Event with Snow-Themed Stories, Songs & Crafts

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The Watertown Family Network will host a “Let it Snow,” an event featuring snow-themed event including stories, songs, crafts and surprises. The event will be held at the Watertown Mall on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 10 a.m.

The free event for children includes story time, singing and a chance to make some winter crafts. It will take place near Carter’s in the mall at 550 Arsenal Street in Watertown. Watertown Mall is wheelchair accessible and accessible by MBTA Bus routes 70 and 70A. For more information on these and other events, call 617-926-4968 or visit our website at www.watertown-mall.com.

Obituaries

OBIT: Mary Ellen Koumjian, 95, Active Member of St. Jude’s Church

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A Mass of Celebration for Mary Ellen (Howard) Koumjian will be held on Thursday January 15, 2015 in the Church of St Jude, Waltham at 10:30 a.m.

Mrs. Koumjian, a daughter of the late Martin J. and Ellen (Cullinan) Howard, died peacefully in the Armenian Nursing Center, Jamaica Plain. January 15, 2015 at the age of 95. Born in Somerville, she was a proud 1937 graduate of Girls High School, Boston. After marrying her husband John, they moved to Watertown where they raised their children. Mary Ellen was a member of St. Jude’s Sodality, St.

Obituaries

OBIT: Francis Mooney, 74, Therapist, U.S. Marine

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A Funeral Mass for Francis M. Mooney will be celebrated on Friday, January 16, 2015 at 9 a.m. in the Church of Saint Patrick, Watertown. Mr. Mooney was a son of the late George and Mary (MacLellan) Mooney. Born in Boston, he was a graduate of Watertown High School and Boston College, class of 1963. He passed away Tuesday morning in the Mount Auburn Hospital after a lengthy illness, age 74. After college, Francis enlisted in the U.S. Marines, serving 12 years, reaching the rank of Captain.

Police/Fire

Watertown Car Dealership Struck by Tire Thief

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A nighttime thief struck a Watertown car dealership, stealing a dozen tires from trucks left on the lot. Sometime on the night of Jan. 10 or early hours of Jan. 11, a thief or thieves struck Watertown Ford on Pleasant Street, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. “Someone stole 12 tires and rims from three trucks on the property worth $1,000 to $1,200 each,” Lawn said.

Development

See What the Town’s Design Standards, Guidelines Will Look Like

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Come and see what Watertown’s new design standards and guidelines will look like at a community meeting on Jan. 22. 

The meeting – the third in the series of community meetings on the design standards and guidelines – will be held at Watertown Middle School on Thursday, Jan. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m.

At a meeting in October, consultant David Gamble of Gamble Associates explained what design standards and guidelines can do and what they cannot do. They can:

Improve the character of new developments
Articulate standards of quality
Provide Examples
Represent spatial and dimensional criteria graphically

Gamble also warned they can also go too far, and make all new buildings look the same or be too restrictive. What they can’t do is:

Regulate building use
Replace zoning or building codes
Redesign streets and public rights-of-way
Masterplan areas of the town

The town has created a website about the design standards and guidelines: http://www.watertown-ma.gov/index.aspx?NID=831
See previous stories on this subject:
Design Standards – What They Are, What Residents Want
Town Council Rejects Moratorium, Will Fast Track New Design Guidelines
Town Hiring Consultant to Create New Design Standards, Guidelines

Government

See the Openings Available on Watertown Boards and Committees

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Looking for a way to give back to your community – one way is to serve on a town board, committee or commission. Here are the openings currently available. Town Manager Michael J. Driscoll is seeking Watertown citizens interested in serving on the following Town Boards, Commissions and Committees in accordance with Ordinance # 2007-46, an Ordinance on the Timing and Process of Appointments to Town Boards, Commissions and Committees. Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest accompanied by a resume or other information concerning background or experience by email to townmgr@watertown-ma.gov or Town Manager’s Office, 149 Main Street, Watertown, Massachusetts 02472. Board/Commission: Board of Health 

Description: Provide for fulfillment of its duties under M.G.L. 111:5, 26-33 and other sections including enforcement of the state Sanitary and Environmental Codes, reporting diseases dangerous to the public health, and enforcement of other applicable state and local laws and regulations.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Expert Giving Advice on Dealing with Issues in Kids Due to Marathon Bombing

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With the beginning of the trial of the Boston Marathon Bombing suspect, memories of the tragic and disturbing events of April of 2013 could come up – especially in children. The Watertown Public Schools will host a forum for parents to help them deal with situations that may arise. 

On Wednesday, Jan. 14, a licensed clinical psychologist will speak at Watertown High School from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to talk about emotions and reactions children may have as the Bombings, and shootout and manhunt in Watertown come up with the start of the trial. The event was organized and provided by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA). The event includes:

A discussion of how such events impact the lives of our children.

Around Town

Ice Open at Watertown’s Outdoor Skating Rink

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Ice skaters now have a place to hit the ice and enjoy some fresh air with the opening of Watertown’s outdoor rink at Casey Park. Dozens of residents came out on Sunday to get the first crack at the new rink, which has a complete set of hockey boards, said Recreation Director Peter Centola. The skating area is located at Casey Park, on Watertown Street. “Although all the ice surface was not entirely ready, approximately 75 percent was and about 50 participants skated, or played hockey and seemed to enjoy themselves,” Centola said. Recreation officials will work out a schedule so different skating activities or different ages can be created and maintained.