Sports

Watertown’s Abbi Peterson Heading to NCAA D3 Track Championships

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Bridgewater State AthleticsWatertown High grad Abbi Peterson earned Athlete of the Week honors and will be competing in the NCAA Div. III Nationals. The following announcement was provided by Bridgewater State Athletics:

For the second time this season, Bridgewater State University junior Abbi Peterson has been selected as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week. A native of Watertown, Peterson captured top honors in the high jump last week at the MIT Final Qualifier as she posted a mark of five feet, 4.25 inches (1.63 meters). Bridgewater State AthleticsHigh jumper Abbi Peterson has won the MASCAC Track Athlete of the Week six times over the indoor and outdoor track seasons.

Entertainment

La Festa Italiana Returns to Waltham Common

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The following announcement was provided by the Italian American Alliance:

Cheers everyone! La Festa Italiana; The Italian Style Festival is returning this year to Waltham for an encore at 610 Main St. Waltham, MA 02452 (Waltham Common), Saturday, June 11, 2022 (rain date June 12th) from 10 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

It’s an enjoyable day, packed with fun events aimed at celebrating and promoting the ITALIAN culture and heritage. The live entertainment; food; crafters; children’s amusements, games and activities; music; dancing; etc. will provide an exciting day for everyone, young and old. The Italian American Alliance promotes mutual cooperation between its members and the community, while reinforcing the society’s common goals and preserving the historical significance and achievements of Italians and Italian Americans. 

GET YOUR COMFY SHOES, BRING YOUR APPETITE, AND COME HAVE SOME FUN ON JUNE 11th!!!

Around Town

Paid Summer Internships Available for High Schoolers

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The Watertown Community Foundation sent out the following information:

About High School Internship Program

Eligibility 

Since 2015, WCF  has offered stipends to high school students living in Watertown, attending any school, to do a summer internship for at least 20 hours of voluntary work per week for at least six weeks.  Students gain valuable professional experience, learn more about an area of interest, all while earning an income.  Applications are due in the spring, and all students can contact Adrienne Eaton at Watertown High School to learn more.  

Stipend Amount 

Students gain valuable professional experience, learn more about an area of interest, all while being paid a $1,000 stipend.    

Internship Types 

Grant recipients have been interns in summer education programs, doctor’s offices, veterinary clinics, theater programs, a makerspace, and non-profit organizations working to alleviate poverty among others. Students are encouraged to talk with their high school guidance counselor to learn more. Submission Instructions 

Students (regardless of where they attend high school) should email Watertown High School guidance councilor Adrienne Eaton adrienne.eaton@watertown.k12.ma.us

Timeline 

Applications being accepted now for summer internships. See contact information above to receive information about application process. Questions? Email info@watertownfoundation.org 

Around Town

LETTER: Too Much Land in Watertown Square is Being Wasted

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This letter was inspired by the commenting process on the Watertown Comprehensive Plan. If you haven’t participated yet, it’s not too late! But I wanted to get this letter in front of a wider audience because this problem affects all of us. Too much land in Watertown Square is wasted by ground-level parking lots. Watertown is small by area, and we only have one central downtown location.

Schools

LETTER: The Right Place for Solar Panels at Schools

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We as a city are moving forward in many ways. However, the use of our land is not one of them. There is a place for everything. But do we put solar panels on the ground using up valuable acreage in our four-square mile city? Apparently, we did so at the new Cunniff School, installing an array adjacent to the parking lot on the north side of the hill. 

Solar panels belong on roof tops and on parking lot canopies; using valuable ground space is not a favorable location.

Lt. Paul J. Sullivan

Record Amount of Money Awarded by Lt. Paul J. Sullivan Scholarship Committee

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Eleanor DonatoThe 2022 Lt. Paul J. Sullivan Scholarship winners. Back Row – Claire Fabian, Eoin Morrissey, Aidan Flanigan, Catherine Fabian, Paul Leonelli, Martin Mont, Keefer Glenshaw. Front Row -Maeve Walsh, Isabella Mecuri Hanna, Delanie Lombard, Kristen Coleman, Meredith Greene. Not Pictured-Elyanna Bell and Warren Stevens II

The following announcement was provided by the Lt. Paul J. Sullivan Scholarship Committee:

Congratulations to the 54th Lt. Paul J. Sullivan Scholarship recipients. A total of $34,500 was presented to these fifteen wonderful young men and women. Awards were presented on Sunday, May 22nd. 

The Lt. Paul Sullivan Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the winners of the 54th Scholarship Awards.

Around Town

Residents Can Shape Decisions in Watertown by Taking Vision & Needs Survey

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The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

Watertown is beginning the process of updating our Comprehensive Plan to guide policy and decision-making over the next 10+ years. Citizen engagement and community input will be important throughout the planning process. Please participate in the Vision and Needs Survey to share your thoughts about life in Watertown today and its future by June 3, 2022. 

Click here to find the survey. Find out more about the Comprehensive Plan process by clicking below:

City Wants Input on Comprehensive Plan, Providing Multiple Opporunties

High Stakes Standardized Tests

OP-ED: The Hidden Cost of MCAS – Why We Shouldn’t Let the Test Dictate the Future

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By Brendan Bean, a Watertown resident who has taught in the Boston Public Schools for nearly 10 years. 

Standing outside my school in the morning, the brightly shining sun and chirping birds signal the start of that anxiously anticipated season here in Massachusetts. No, not spring; MCAS season. For many across the state, it feels like we have been building towards this for several months, if not all year. For teachers, this is understandable, as standardized tests like the MCAS have a direct impact on federal funds for schools. For students, however, the MCAS seems to loom over everything like Heartbreak Hill for marathoners.