Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/guest-writer/page/499/)
Michael Aiden Cullen
A Funeral Mass for Michael Aiden Cullen will be celebrate on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 in St. Luke Church, Belmont at 10:30 a.m. Mr. Cullen passed away in his Watertown home on Friday evening after a time of failing heath. He was 97. He is the beloved husband of the late Anna L. (Colarusso).
The following information was provided by the Watertown High School Robotics Team:
Students at Watertown High School have received grant funding for their robotics team as they work to enhance their skills in science and engineering. Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer, recently awarded a one-time $3,000 grant to Watertown High Robotics Team 2423 to support their participation in the FIRST Robotics program. Watertown High Robotics Team 2423 will use support from their Bayer Fund grant to participate in FIRST Robotics educational programs and competitions. FIRST enables teams of students to compete with others in building, designing and programming their own robots to perform preassigned tasks, giving students a chance to get involved with real-world engineering.
“Students who participate in FIRST Robotics programming learn STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills and become experienced problem solvers,” said Michelle Insco, Senior Manager, Community Engagement. “Bayer Fund prioritizes the investment in hands-on learning experiences for students like those at Watertown High to encourage their development into future scientists, engineers, and computer programmers.”
Bayer Fund’s sponsorship of FIRST Robotics teams continues the nonprofit’s intentional support of programs that improve STEM education.
James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net. Combining this with the love of cartooning, Small Saves emerged in 1991 and took on a life of his own. “To play goal–then come home and draw Small Saves — is my ideal definition of a good day.”
The new Watertown High School logo, the shield, was approved by the School Committee on Tuesday. Watertown school officials invite the public to hear about the project to rebuild or renovate Watertown High School at a forum on Nov. 19. The Watertown Public Schools sent out the following announcement:
The Watertown High School Building Committee will be holding its first community forum on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Watertown High School to discuss the planning and process around the proposed new high school project.
The following information was provided by Eversource:
Eversource invites Massachusetts students to demonstrate their energy efficiency knowledge by entering its seventh annual Eversource Challenge. The competition promotes energy conservation, energy efficiency and sustainability and is open to kindergarten to high school students in Eversource’s Massachusetts electric service territory. Deadline for registration is March 17, 2020. All entries must be received or postmarked by March 27, 2020. “Year after year, our students continue to amaze us with their creativity and innovative energy efficiency ideas,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Penni Conner.
The Watertown Tree Lighting Ceremony returns to Watertown Square in December. The Rotary Club of Watertown are pleased to announce that the ninth annual Tree Lighting event will be held on Friday, Dec. 6 in Watertown Square. A reception will follow at the Watertown Savings Bank (WSB) main office in Watertown Square. Santa Claus will arrive to the Square by fire truck at 5:15 p.m.; the tree lights come on at 5:30 p.m.; and the reception to follow immediately after at WSB, where attendees will enjoy refreshments, holiday music, and visit with Santa Claus.
The Watertown mall Giving Tree is up and filled with wishes from children who are members at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. Brighten the holidays for these children by taking an ornament from the tree and purchasing their wish. The Watertown Mall’s giving tree is adorned with ornaments for this Holiday season and will benefit the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. The Giving Tree is located in the common area of the mall, near Miss Maria’s School of Dance. All are invited to simply take an ornament off the tree, buy the gift listed on the tag, and return it to mall staff unwrapped (Management Team, Maintenance Staff, Security Officers).
Law enforcement made four arrests on prostitution charges at Watertown massage parlors after a sting by the Watertown Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The Watertown Police sent out the following press release:
On Friday, November 8, 2019, the Watertown Police Detective Division assisted by the FBI Boston Division Child Exploitation-Human Trafficking Task Force and members of the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure Investigations conducted an undercover operation of massage parlors in Watertown. The goal of the operation was to identify establishments that do not comply with local, state and federal regulations, as well as to identify potential minor and adult victims of human trafficking. These inspections resulted in the arrest of the following individuals, all on charges related to sexual conduct for a fee:
Worarat Soontronwatee (age 30) of Malden arrested at Season Therapy, 12 Belmont St. Sandy Ferchiou (age 51) of Boston, arrested at Sukhothai, 8 Riverside St.