Schools

LETTER: Details of the New Watertown Teachers Contract

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School Committee Chairman John Portz and I made up the school committee negotiating team for this new 3-year contract. We would like to thank WEA President Deb King and the members of the union negotiating team for enabling an honest and thoughtful process. And, thank you to the Superintendent, Business Manager and HR Director for their invaluable participation. As with any collective bargaining agreement, this one includes compromises by both parties, and in that context, I feel this contract has allowed us to tackle a number of important issues around school schedule, parental engagement, time on learning, and compensation. Strong parental involvement is part of the foundation of any high quality educational system.

Around Town

Watertown-Belmont Chamber Hosting Free Interactive Social Media Workshop

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Learn about how to use Social Media during a free interactive workshop hosted by the Watertown-Belmont Chamber of Commerce and ArcPoint Strategic Communications. The workshop is the Chamber’s second Business Before Hours workshop and will be held Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, from 7:30-9 a.m. at Watertown Police Community Center, 522 Main St. Learn about: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat and LinkedIn. The event is free and open to the public.

Arts

2 Watertown Galleries Hosting Openings for New Exhibits

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ROOM 83 Spring and Drive-By Projects, the two  Spring St. galleries  in Watertown have receptions on Saturday, Sept. 17. ROOM 83 Spring hosts Facsimile
Guest curator John Anderson has assembled a group of artists who make sly and playful facsimiles of things in the world. A show of objects that make us look twice and see something for the first time.

Around Town

Watertown Health Department Offers Series of Flu Clinics

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While it is still summer and temperatures are at record highs, this is the best time to start thinking flu vaccinations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone six months and older should get the flu vaccine as soon as the vaccine is available in your area, the Watertown Health Department announced. The Watertown Health Department will kick off our free public flu clinics on Thursday September 22nd from 9am – 11am at the Watertown Senior Center for those 55 and over, followed by a clinic on Tuesday September 27 from 5 -7 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library for 6 months and over. For a complete list of all of the Watertown Health Department’s Free Public Flu Clinic, see our schedule below or visit http://www.mylocalclinic.com for a list of all flu clinics in our area. Please remember to wear a loose fitting shirt and bring your insurance and Medicare cards with you for billing purposes where applicable.

Around Town

Improper Bostonian, Run by Watertown Family, Celebrates 25 Years

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The Improper Bostonian magazine, which is owned by two Watertown natives – Leon and Bob Semonian, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with a party in Boston. 

Nearly 300 people gathered at The Exchange in Seaport to celebrate with Wendy, her father Leon and the rest of the Improper team. Among those at the anniversary celebration were Linda Pizzuti Henry, Jenny Johnson, Billy and Meredith Starr and many more. Founded in 1991 by Mark Semonian of Newton, the locally owned family business is headquartered in the Back Bay of Boston reaches more than 550,000 readers. Leon Semonian (Mark’s father) owns the magazine, and did so with his brother Bob, who passed away a few months ago. Wendy Semonian Eppich, publisher of the magazine for the last 14 years, started as an intern at The Improper during the summer of 1991 and helped her brother release the first issue 25 years ago.

Around Town

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Hosts Back to School Night Party

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Watertown Boys & Girls Club will host a “Back to School Night” on Friday, Sept. 16 from 5-7 p.m. to celebrate the start of another fun year. Children, ages 7-18, are welcome to attend and enjoy art projects, free swim, capture the flag, dodgeball, and much more! Pizza, popcorn, and drinks will be available for purchase. Free for Club members; $2/child for non-members.

Around Town

One of the Heroes of the Watertown Shootout Addresses the Rotary Club

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Watertown Police Sgt. Jeff Pugliese, one of the officers who took on the Boston Marathon bombers in the Watertown Shootout, recently spoke with the Rotary Club of Watertown. Pugliese is a 37 year veteran of the Watertown Police Department. He shared some of the terrifying and horrific details from that night and gave Rotary members more insight into the event.

Around Town

Lottery for Low License Plate Numbers Taking Place Wednesday Night

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The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced today that Registrar of Motor Vehicles Erin Deveney will host the drawing for the Registry’s 2016 Low Number License Plate Lottery on Wednesday, September 7.  The drawing will begin at 8:00 p.m., and a portion of the drawing will be broadcast “live” on WBZ AM 1030.  All available low number plates will be drawn tomorrow night and lottery applicants and low-number plate enthusiasts can listen to the drawing by tuning in to AM 1030 or by visiting the station website:  www.cbsboston.com/nightside. This year, there are 183 plates that are part of the low plate lottery, surpassing the large pool of plates offered in 2015, when names were drawn for 156 low number license plates. During the 2016 drawing, applicants will be vying for the most sought after Massachusetts license plates, including 1H, 7J, 41Z, Q49, X77, 1972, and 2007. Entries for the 2016 lottery had to be mailed and postmarked by August 26, 2016 to be eligible for the drawing.  While there was no cost to apply to the lottery, if an applicant is selected as a winner, there is a fee to receive the license plate and there is a standard registration fee. Low number plates must be renewed every two years.