Schools

Following False Alarms Watertown Schools to Hold Emergency Drills, Also Seek to Improve Communication System

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After a series of false alarms in the security systems at Watertown’s new schools, the district plans to hold drills for the students, and will look for ways to avoid more incidents in the future. The Watertown Public Schools opened two brand new elementary schools, a third underwent a major renovation and expansion, and students at the high school have a new, temporary home. The new buildings also have new technology, including a multi-hazard notification system, said Superintendent Dede Galdston. All four new schools have had false alarms, she said, some due to wiring and other when the panic button was pressed by mistake. “We want to make sure people understand that these happen and that we will do to prevent that from happening again,” Galdston said.

Business

Watertown Marketing & Communications Company Names New CEO

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The following announcement was provided by Greenough Communications:

Greenough Communications, a leading brand marketing and communications agency, announces Nikki Festa O’Brien as its new CEO. Festa O’Brien, who joined the Watertown-based agency as President in 2022, will continue to drive growth and deliver best-in-class services for clients. Under her leadership, Greenough will execute its mission to focus on the moments that matter while creating all the memorable moments in between. Greenough Communications has a rich history of serving healthcare, technology, and business services clients, delivering impactful integrated campaigns. With Festa O’Brien at the helm, the agency has recently expanded its roster with a number of exciting new clients across portfolios, including Ameresco, BioBuilder, CorVel, IQE, symplr and Thirona.

Government

Replacing Watertown Senior Center Included in City’s 5-Year Capital Plan

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Courtesy of the City of WatertownThe City’s Capital Improvement Plan includes replacing the Watertown Senior Center. Building a new Senior Center made the list of projects planned to be undertaken by the City of Watertown over the next five years, Watertown City Manager George Proakis at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Proakis presented the Fiscal Year 2025-29 Capital Improvement Plan, which includes $210 million of projects with $93 million of general obligation bonds to cover part of the cost. Senior Center

The City explored replacing the Senior Center in 2022 as part of a review of the Phillips Building site. That study by Ai3 Architects, done during the planning for the new Watertown High School, looked at tearing down the former Phillips School, but Proakis said that would be too disruptive for the Watertown Public Schools administration, as well as Watertown Cable that now resides in the basement.

Around Town

Piece of Watertown History Highlighted in New York Times

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The head of Watertown’s Boston Post cane which says, “Presented by The Boston Post to the OLDEST CITIZEN of Watertown” (Photo courtesy of Joyce Kelly)

Beginning in the first decade of the 20th century, hundreds of communities around New England handed out canes to the oldest resident, including Watertown. For many year Watertown’s cane was missing, but it was recovered in 2009. So who has the cane now — no body. A story about the canes, first handed out in 1909 by the Boston Post newspaper, recently appeared in the New York Times. The authors interviewed Charles Morash, who helped recover Watertown’s cane in 2009.

Around Town

Unity Breakfast Honors Refugee Support Group, Local Activists During 2024 MLK Day Event

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A group that provides support to refugees, a resident who created a group for LGBTQ+ people, and longtime social activists were honored during the 2024 Watertown Unity Breakfast. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Watertown held the annual celebration of the civil rights leader’s work for the 24th time. It is organized by the World in Watertown. As with the past three years, the 2024 version was held virtually with a broadcast on Jan. 15.