Around Town

Watertown Library Welcomes New Trustee, Emily Izzo

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A panorama of the Watertown Free Public Library. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Free Public Library:

On February 19, the Watertown Free Public Library Trustees and Town Council President Mark Sideris selected Emily Izzo to fill the open seat on the Library Board of Trustees. She will serve until the next election in November, 2021. A Watertown resident, Izzo works as a municipal finance law attorney with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. She is looking forward to the opportunity to expand the impact and shape the future of Watertown’s well-loved public library.

Around Town

Alcohol, Drug Use Down Among Middle, High Schoolers, Vaping More Common Than Smoking

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Watertown High School and Middle School students are drinking, smoking and doing drugs less than they have in previous years, according to the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The study also looked at depression, suicide and bullying. Stephanie Sunderland-Ramsey, Program Coordinator of the group that organized the survey — Wayside Youth & Family Support Network — spoke to the School Committee on March 2. She believes the decrease is the result of efforts to education students and try to prevent them from using alcohol, tobacco and rugs. “We’ve existed on grant funding for the last 20 years, and so I would say it is prevention at work,” Sunderland Ramsey said.

Around Town

Proposal for Filippello Park Lights to be Heard at Town Council Meeting

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Filippello Park’s two athletic fields, picnic area, playground and more draw lots of visitors. The proposal to put lights on both playing fields at Filippello Park will be presented to the Town Council on Tuesday night. The presentation will be made at the Council meeting, which begins at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10. The vote on approving the funding for the project will be made at a future meeting, said Town Council President Mark Sideris. The proposal calls for replacing the existing lights on the Grove Street Field with LED lights on seven poles, and installing LED lights on four poles on the Arlington Street Field.

Around Town

Watertown School Staff Member Sent Home as Precautionary Measure Related to Coronavirus

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A teacher from Watertown High School who had recently traveled abroad, was sent home as a precaution measure after the possibility of having been exposed to the COVID-19 “Coronavirus,” the Watertown Public Schools announced. Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston said the measure was taken out to be cautious, and was in line with recommendations by local, state and federal health officials. She also talked about a planned WHS trip to Europe during spring break. School officials said there has not been a confirmed case of the Coronavirus in the Watertown Public Schools, however, there is a staff member who went home just in case the person was exposed to the virus. “I can confirm there are no known or suspected cases of Coronavirus in Watertown,” said Galdston, who said she could not comment specifically about the case, or even if the person had been tested, due to federal HIPAA regulations protecting people’s medical records.

Around Town

Summer Positions Available at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club

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Watertown Boys & Girls Club announced it is now accepting Camp Counselor applicants for the 2020 calendar year. Swim Camp Counselors

Requirements:

16 years of age minimumLifeguard certified preferred but not requiredFirst Aid & CPR certified or the ability to attend our certification courseBackground in youth work preferred but not requiredPrevious swimming experience a plusAvailable from June – August 

Summer Adventure at Hale Camp Counselor

Requirements:

High school graduate or entering final year of high schoolFirst Aid & CPR certified or the ability to attend our certification courseBackground in youth work preferredAvailable from June – August 

Summer Camp Aide * Works with both Swim Camp and with Summer Adventure

Requirements:

Experience in a school, after-school and/or camp program in a 1:1 roleAcademic Paraprofessional and/or enrolled in school, working towards an applicable degreeExperience and familiarity working with children with mental health and/or behavioral needsExperience working in an inclusive setting preferredExcellent communication skillsFlexibility and ability to adapt to changing circumstancesFirst Aid & CPR certified or the ability to attend our certification courseAvailable from June – August 

Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to the Watertown Boys & Girls Club Directors listed below:

Swim Camp Counselor Applicants: ehickey@watertownbgc.org

Summer Adventure at Hale Camp Counselor Applicants: rmoise@watertownbgc.org 

Summer Camp Aide: roneill@watertownbgc.org

Around Town

Watertown Challenger Baseball Seeks “Buddies” to Help Athletes

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The Watertown Challenger Baseball program allows children special needs to participate in little league. Watertown Youth Baseball announced it is seeking buddies to help the athletes this season:

Baseball season is just around the corner and the Watertown Challenger Baseball team is looking for volunteers. We need Buddies*, a couple of pitchers and someone to manage equipment. All volunteers are required to fill out a CORI form. What is Challenger Baseball?

Andrea Martocchia

Police Seek Information About Accident That Killed Watertown Teen

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A Watertown resident and Minuteman High School junior died when a car struck him while he was riding a motorcycle in Belmont. Police seek information about the accident to help their investigation. Andrea “Dre” Martocchia, 16, died on Feb. 27 at about 4 p.m. after the accident at the intersection of Winter Street and Robinwood Road in Belmont, heading north toward. Rte.

Around Town

Registration Open for the Sheriff’s Youth Public Safety Academy

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Children interact with local first responders during the Middlesex Sheriff’s Youth Public Safety Academy. Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian has announced registration for the popular Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) will open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. Now entering its 21st year, YPSA is an educational, low-cost summer camp option for Middlesex County families. The camp is open to children ages 8-12 and is held at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Training Academy in Chelmsford.  Last year, more than 1,000 youngsters participated in the program. YPSA is comprised of six, one-week camps, beginning the first full week of July (6-10) and running through the second week of August (10-14).  Transportation to and from designated bus stops, as well as breakfast and lunch are provided daily, with a graduation ceremony held each Friday in Chelmsford. Participants are not required to reside in one of the communities with a designated bus stop, but will be picked up and dropped off at those locations.