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Team New Day Sweeps the 2021 Watertown Summer Basketball League Finals

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Watertown RecreationTeam New Day took on Team HBC in the finals the Papas Elite League championship. The Watertown Summer Basketball League wrapped up for the year with a two game sweep by the 2021 champions. See the game report provided by the Watertown Recreation Department, below. The Summer of 2021 will go down as an unusual year for the Watertown Recreation Department’s Men’s Summer Basketball League. Due to COVID concerns, the league got a late start, but fortunately there was a positive response from some of the veteran teams in the Papas Elite League.

Government

Watertown Hiring School Crossing Guards

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The following announcement was sent out by the Town of Watertown:

The Town of Watertown seeks to hire School Crossing Guards to work under the supervision of the Watertown Police Department. 

Responsibilities include monitoring vehicle and pedestrian traffic at assigned crossings to assist school children crossing the streets, while providing for the orderly movement of traffic. Must be able to communicate effectively with school children, parents and drivers, ensure that children cross the street properly and safely. 

Must be able to stand for the entire shift and to tolerate exposure to all types of weather conditions, maintain a high level of awareness, be reliable and have the ability to use judgement and work independently. Qualifications

High School diploma (or GED). Must be available to work Monday through Friday, during the school year. Shifts are approximately one hour and there are two shifts per day. Must be able to pass a CORI/SORI background check and pre-employment physical.

Around Town

Watertown Man Tests Positive for West Nile Virus, See Tips for Avoiding Mosquitos

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Health Department:

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today a human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in Watertown. The case is a 79 year old male. The West Nile Virus risk level to in Watertown remains at moderate. This means that residents need to take appropriate precautions outlined below. Although serious illness caused by WNV is uncommon, there have been 216 cases of WNV in Massachusetts between 2001 and 2020.

Obituaries

OBIT: Paul Stephen, 69, Devoted to His Family, Big Boston Sports Fan

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Paul Stephen. Stephen, Paul, 69 of Cumberland Rhode Island,  passed away at Miriam Hospital on August 26 after a brief hospitalization. Paul grew up in Watertown, attended Watertown schools and graduated from Watertown High School in the Class of 1970. He was an avid golfer and a member at Oakley Country Club for many years and eventually had to limit playing golf due to health issues. Growing up, he and his family closely followed Boston area sports and as season ticket holders, never missed a Bruins home game.

COVID-19

LETTER: Call for Requirement for Watertown Teachers to be Vaccinated

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Editor,

As teachers return to school this week, and students joining them next week, we still do not know whether vaccines will be mandated for teachers and staff in Watertown Public Schools. We do know that the CDC, state government, and the largest teachers union in Massachusetts are all recommending school staff be vaccinated.  Medical professionals, including Dr. Fauci, are saying that the best way to protect children under 12 who are not yet vaccinated is to surround them with vaccinated people. Many school districts have already put this common sense requirement in place. We are fortunate to be in a community where the majority of adults are vaccinated, including the majority of teachers. But, the data from the last 18 months show that when there was Covid-19 transmission in schools, it was usually driven by unvaccinated school staff.

Around Town

Sept. at the Library: Bollywood Dance Class, Movie Nights Return & Get Ready for Zine Fest

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Watertown LibraryThe Watertown Library is hosting Zine Fest. Find out what’s going on at the Watertown Free Public Library in September in the announcement from the Library below:

On Saturday, 10/2, the Watertown Free Public Library is hosting WFPL Zine Fest — a day-long celebration of zine culture and DIY publishing. Whether you are a prolific zinester, or just want to learn what zines are and why they matter, we invite you to explore the marketplace, attend talks, and browse the Library’s brand-new circulating zine collection. Check out the festival schedule and RSVP on our Zine Fest page. Coming up this month, join a Bollywood dance class, explore Catholic Mount Auburn, and get an intro to coding with JavaScript.

Transportation

Labor Day Weekend Travel Tips from MassDOT

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The following information was provided by MassDOT:

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is advising the public to plan ahead for Labor Day Weekend travel, drive in off peak hours if possible, utilize available technology tools for trips including www.mass511.com, consider public transportation if possible to reach destinations and bring a face-covering as some municipalities have a mask mandate for indoor venues. “We expect traffic levels to be high this Labor Day Weekend especially during the afternoon hours on Thursday and Friday,” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “Anyone driving should plan ahead, anticipate that trips will take longer than expected, and if possible use public transportation to reach destinations.”

Due to the anticipated higher than normal daily traffic volumes for several days leading up to and including Monday, Labor Day, MassDOT is taking several steps to ease congestion:

Shutting down scheduled non-emergency construction effective at 5 a.m., Friday, September 3. Scheduled road work will then resume at the start of normal business hours on Tuesday, September 7. Deploying the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 between Boston and Quincy earlier than usual in the afternoon by opening at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, September 2 and at 1:00 p.m., on Friday, September 3. The HOV lane will be closed on Monday, September 6.

Around Town

Team New Day Wins Game 1 of Watertown Summer Basketball Finals in OT

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Watertown RecreationHBC and Team New Day faced off in the Papas Elite League summer basketball league final Monday night. Game 2 is Tuesday. Game 1 of Watertown’s summer basketball league finals was an overtime thriller, with Team New Day prevailing over HBC. The finals continue Tuesday night at Saltonstall Park beginning at 7 p.m.

The Watertown Recreation Department provided the following report on the first game of the final. GAME 1: NEW DAY 62, HBC 55

The first game of the 2021 Papas Elite League best of three championship lived up to to its billing with an overtime thriller.