Federal Court

Watertown Man, Restaurant Owner Sentenced by Federal Judge

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The following announcement was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Massachusetts:

A former owner of restaurants in Boston and Chelsea was sentenced Thursday, Nov. 7 in federal court in Boston for tax fraud convictions. Burhan Ud Din, 50, of Watertown, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to three years of probation, 500 hours of community service and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $140,372 in back taxes. In August 2019, Din was convicted by a federal jury of six counts of willful failure to collect and pay over tax. From 2009 to 2013, Din defrauded the government and avoided paying payroll taxes owed by fried chicken restaurants located in Chelsea, downtown Boston and Jamaica Plain.

Schools

MassBay College Invites Prospective Students to Fall Open House

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Prospective students attended MassBay Community College’s spring open house. MassBay Community College announced will hold its annual Fall Open House on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 at 9 a.m.. President David Podell along with faculty, staff, and students will be on hand to greet and welcome prospective students and their families to the Wellesley Hills campus. The Fall Open House is an opportunity for prospective students to meet and talk with current students, faculty, and staff to learn about the 70 degree and certificate programs offered at MassBay and transfer opportunities.

Around Town

Residents Invited to Meeting on Redesign of Watertown Square

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Watertown Square. Find out about plans to redesign Watertown Square at a public meeting on Dec. 3. Organizers sent out the following information:

Join Us for a Public Meeting

When:         Tuesday, December 3                      Open House, 6:30 to 7:00 p.m.                      Presentation and Q&A, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.Where:        Perkins School for the Blind                      Grousbeck Center                      55 Beechwood Avenue, Watertown                      Parking available in lot off Beechwood Ave.; follow signs for event parking

The Town of Watertown is redesigning Watertown Square to improve mobility and safety for all users (including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and vehicles). At this public meeting, the project team will present three conceptual plans (of the original six shared at the Open House in July 2018) for further discussion and analysis. We will also review the potential benefits of each alternative.

Entertainment

Young Watertown Actors Join Cast of WCT’s “In the Heights”

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Children’s Theatre:

Watertown Children’s Theatre presents a little slice of New York City in the MainStage Theater at the Mosesian Center for the Arts with In the Heights. The sixth-12th grade cast of In the Heights, featuring Watertown residents Aidan Alvarado, Saro Iskenderian, Tamsin Lepera, Ella Meshoulam, Bianca Skraly, and Maya Wilson celebrates community, roots, and chasing your dreams in this contemporary musical on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m., November 16 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. in the MainStageTheater, Dorothy and Charles Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown.  This production contains mature content and may not be appropriate for all audience members. For more information, visit WCT’s website at www.watertownchildrenstheatre.org or call 617-926-ARTS.

Around Town

See What’s Going on at the Senior Center in November

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Watertown Senior Center

The Watertown Senior Center has plenty going on in November, including the Holiday Boutique, bus trips, exercise classes and much, much more. See details in the highlights from the Senior Center Newsletter below:

With Thanks from the Director

We look forward to seeing you at the Senior Center this month! We will be learning about the music of Bing Crosby with Mr. Bruce Hambro, offering free Flu Shots with the Watertown Health Department, providing exercise classes each day including Chair Volleyball on Friday mornings, and SHINE meetings by appointment for Medicare Open Enrollment in addition to our usual calendar of events. Stop in and see us. The carpeting is new too!

Around Town

Find Out When Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban Starts

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A snowy road in the East End of Watertown. With winter around the corner, the WatertownPolice released details of the overnight street parking ban. See the announcement below:

Watertown Chief of Police Michael P. Lawn has announced the 2019-2020 Winter Parking Ban dates. Effective December 2, 2019, and continuing to April 1, 2020, the Winter Parking Ban will be in effect and strictly enforced. The regulation reads in part; “No vehicle may remain on any public way for more than one hour between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. all days of the week.”

For residents who lack sufficient off-street parking, the Town allows for temporary parking at any municipal parking lot and other locations noted:

• The police station at 552 Main Street (visitor’s parking lot only) • Any public school parking lot • Marion Road parking lot at Victory Field • O’Connell Park, (lot at the corner of Boylston Street and Mt Auburn Street) • Grove Street parking lot at Filippello Park (No parking in the spaces along the driveway)

Please note that these locations may be used free of charge, however vehicles may only use available spaces after 7 p.m. and must be moved/removed by 7 a.m. the following day.

Elections

LETTER: Council Candidates Respond to Concerned Watertown Homeowner’s Questions

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Watertown’s Town Hall. Dear Editor,

Like last election, the Concerned Watertown Homeowners Association asked the At Large candidates a series of YES/NO policy questions that will effect our community. Their answers below. As always we thank them for their time and candor, and hope this helps voters make informed decisions on voting day. We did not receive answers from candidates Michelle Cokonougher and Clyde Younger

John LabadiniPresidentConcerned Watertown Homeowners Association.

Elections

LETTER: Former Councilor Announces His Endorsements for 2019 Election

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I’m writing this little note just to share my thoughts on the Town Councilor At-Large race in Watertown. As some may know, the candidates have been under some good scrutiny with respect to policy questions in the forums, questionnaires and interviews in our local media and I think we all appreciate that. I also want to say that I appreciate each and every one of the candidates running for office here in town regardless of whether or not I may disagree with some of their priorities.  Thank you all for stepping up to do good for our city and for being willing to volunteer your precious time in the most noble endeavor of representing your constituency. That being said, I wanted to briefly share where I stand on the candidates in case anyone is still reading.  

Anthony Donato, a native son of our town and childhood friend to many of us may have once been thought to stand alone on those credentials but I think that his work in the last two years leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind that he offers so much more than that. He stands in the company of very few councilors in his dedication to researching and listening to differing points of view on the issues that come before the council and I think that speaks volumes. He has expressed his willingness to push on the town-wide shuttle bus system that is a languishing initiative in need of champions and has been an impartial vote on several not-so-sexy but nevertheless important ordinance updates and improvements in his first term. Tony Palomba, is as compassionate, caring and loving a person as I’ve ever met.  He works every day in the support of his community and anyone who reaches out to him gets called back and heard.