Around Town

School Officials Say $6 million Hike Needed to Provide Excellent Education

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Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald, second from left, Assistant Superintendent Dari Donovan, second from right and financial specialist Frank Colvario presented the first draft of the Fiscal 2015 Watertown School Budget. Director of Student Services Arlene Shainker also participated. Photo by Charlie Breitrose

By Charlie Breitrose

School officials discussed a very preliminary school budget for the 2014-15 school year, but one number stuck out – an increase of $6 million or 16 percent officials said they need to provide the education that Watertown’s students need. The increase is based on what principals and program directors said they needed to run their school or program right, said Assistant Superintendent Dari Donovan said during Thursday’s School Committee Budget and Finance Subcommittee meeting. “This is what people really feel like that need to proved an excellent education to students next year,” Donovan said.

Around Town

Is Your Street on the Watertown Road Improvement Plan?

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Road repairs are coming to Watertown. Photo by Charlie Breitrose

By Charlie Breitrose

The list of Watertown roads that will be repaired, and in some cases completely rebuilt, was approved by the Town Council last week. The projects will repair 12 roads and will cost $25 million. Some will be repaired with the reclamation method, where the entire road is taken up, ground up and laid down again. Others will be fixed with the mill and overlay, where the top layer is ground down and a new layer of asphalt is put down.

Around Town

Transportation Improvements May be in Watertown’s Future

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MBTA Buses may be one of the things improved under the Legislature’s Transportation Bond Bill. By Charlie Breitrose

Several proposals to improve transportation in Watertown have been included in the Legislature’s Transportation Bond Bill, including for buses, multi-use paths and intersection improvements. A summary of the proposals was collected by State Sen. Will Brownsberger’s office. The projects are proposed over the next five years. The joint House and Senate bills bot include:

$725,000 to create and improve the Community Path in Watertown
$1.3 million to create construct a multi-use path from Arlington Street in Watertown to Fresh Pond in Cambridge along a former railroad.

Around Town

A Dog Park May be Coming to a Watertown Park Near You

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By Charlie Breitrose

Dogs may soon have a place to run and play in Watertown. The Town Council voted Tuesday to ask town staff to explore the cost and timeline for building a dog run area in How Park on Pleasant Street, and investigate putting another one at Arsenal Park or Filippello Park. In addition, residents will be able to use a dog park being built as part of the new apartment complex being built on Waltham Street. The run at How Park would be 200 feet by 100 feet, and would be along the sloped area near Pleasant Street, said Watertown Director of Economic Development and Planning Steve Magoon. “It is sloped and has some trees, so it is not good for a ball field, but it is a good place for dogs to run around,” Magoon said.

Around Town

Watertown’s Commander’s Mansion Hosts Wedding Faire

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Brides and grooms-to-be can find caterers, photographers, entertainers and more for their big day at the ninth annual Wedding Faire at the Commander’s Mansion in Watertown. Meet the top wedding professionals from the Boston area and see the latest bridal fashions at the event on March 1 and 2 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sample food and prizes will also be given out during the event. Vendors include caterers, florists, photographers, bakeries, entertainment, transportation and more. Different vendors will be featured each day. Tickets cost $5 and is good for the whole weekend.

Business

What Market will Go into the New Development on Arsenal Street?

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A rendering of the proposed development on Arsenal Street. Photo: The Hanover Company. By Charlie Breitrose

The new development proposed for 202 Arsenal Street includes a small market, but which one has not been decided. Residents asked if it would be a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods or even a Market Basket. Developers from the Hanover Company and Cresset Development said they do not have a tenant for the site.