Around Town

Watertown Police Log: Drunken Driver Strikes 3 Cars, Laptop Taken

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

April 15, 8:59 p.m.: A 52-year-old Watertown man was arrested on charges of simple assault, domestic assault and battery and on two outstanding warrants. He was arrested on Robert Ford Road. April 16, 4:48 p.m.: A 35-year-old Watertown man was arrested after an incident on Warren Street. He faces charges of domestic assault and battery on a person over age 60.

Around Town

New Group Seeks Watertown’s Input on Public Transit

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Watertown residents concerned about how the town is served by public transportation are invited to join a discussion this week. The newly formed Watertown Task Force on Public Transit will meet for the first time on Thursday, May 1 at the Watertown Free Public Library in the Trustee’s Room at 7 p.m.

The town has officially requested the MBTA to engage in dialog about the state of public transit in town, and the task force is gathering comments from residents. “We are going to set up a permanent body of citizens to debate and talk about public transit issues, and bring up ideas and propose solutions to the state representatives and the MBTA,” said Joe Levendusky, a resident who helped start the task force. ”

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The meeting will help lay out the comments that will be presented to Beverly Scott, general manager of the MBTA, who is expected to attend a Town Council meeting on May 27, Levendusky said. The task force is an initiative of Sustainable Watertown.

Around Town

Watertown Budget Will Be Revealed This Week

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Details about the Fiscal 2015 budget – including how much money the schools will receive – will be made public on Tuesday evening. Town Manager Michael Driscoll will present his budget to the Town Council on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Town Hall. The School Committee approved Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald’s request for $42 million from the town, which would be $6 million  or 16 percent more than the funding received in Fiscal 2014 (click here for more details). When Driscoll presented his preliminary budget in October he said all departments, including the schools, should expect a 3 percent increase. Two weeks ago, Driscoll said the school budget request, which included more than 30 new jobs (including 22 new teachers), would actually cost the town $341,ooo more than requested because of health care and other benefits.

Around Town

Funding for Watertown Dog Park Approved

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Dogs will soon have a place to run off leash in Watertown after the Town Council approved funding to build a dog park. The dog park will be located at How Park, on Pleasant Street, and will include a 200-foot x 100-foot fenced in area. The cost of installing the fencing will be $5,600, and the Council also approved $400 for any cost overruns. The vendor, Ideal Fence Inc., told Community Development and Planning Director Steve Magoon that the fence could be installed as soon as two weeks after the funding is approved. Town Councilor Aaron Dushku noted that the fence on the schematic drawings has only one gate.

Around Town

Midwives at Mount Auburn Hospital Reach Milestone

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The midwives at Mount Auburn Hospital hit a milestone recently – they delivered their 11,000th baby. The baby was Angelia Piantadosi, who is the daughter of Danielle and Paul Piantedosi and sister of Adrianna of Watertown. She was delivered by midwife Arianna Stein of Medford. “I delivered both of Danielle’s babies. This milestone is even more special because I delivered their first baby as well,” Stein said.

Around Town

Peace Pole to be Erected at Watertown Library

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A pole will be “planted” Saturday outside the Watertown Free Public Library to promote harmony and collaboration. The eight sided pole will have the word Peace written on it in the eight most common languages in Watertown, said Town Councilor Tony Palomba. There are 50 languages spoken in Watertown and others will be recognized on the base of the pole. Along with the pole, a planter will be installed. The flowers were donated, Palomba said, and the area will be taken care of by the library staff.

Around Town

Boston Marathon Entries from Watertown Soar in 2014

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The number of Boston Marathon entrants from Watertown has spiked a year after the bombing at the finish line and events that culminated in the shootout with and stopping of the bombing suspects in town. In 2012, 38 Watertown residents ran the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Copley Square in Boston (Ed. Note: I could not find the 2013 numbers but they were similar). This year 76 town residents are running, according to the Boston Athletic Association. In addition, a dozen Watertown Police officers (including 5 from the list of town residents) and one Watertown Firefighter are running the race.

Around Town

Winners from the Finish Strong Race and Youth Dance Performance

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On Saturday, Watertown marked the anniversary of April 19, 2013 with a road race and a family celebration at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center. The top male runner was John Lequin of Salem, who finished the 5K race in a time of 17:54.7. The top female finisher was Jill Wilder of Waltham, who had a time of 18:54.3. After the race, people headed to the Armenian Cultural Center where they enjoyed, pizza, sandwiches and drinks while students from the Maria’s School of Dance performed.