Mario Orangio

Watertown Says Goodbye to its Fire Chief Who Loved the WFD Almost as Much as His Family

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Friends, family and fellow firefighters packed St. Patrick’s Church Friday morning to say goodbye to Mario Orangio, a man who always had a smile on his face and who loved the Watertown Fire Department almost as much as he loved his family. 

The Watertown Fire Chief from February 2004 to October 2017, Orangio was as appointed chief when he was just 37. Father Matthew Conley, parochial vicar for St. Pat’s and Sacred Heart Catholic churches, who is also the Fire Department’s chaplain, said the pain of Orangio’s death was worsened by the fact that he was taken by pancreatic cancer at such a young age. “Adding to the sting of this day is that Mario was only 51 years old and battled a horrendous disease,” Conley said. “He was just too young.”

Police/Fire

Headstones, Monument Damaged by Vandal at Cemetery in Watertown

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A statue and several headstones were damaged by a vandal at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Watertown. The damage was discovered on Tuesday evening at about 7 p.m., and Watertown Police are investigating. “It was reported by someone who frequents the cemetery,” said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “The person called up reporting vandalism at the cemetery.”

Fire Department

Watertown Fire Department Mourning Death of Chief Mario Orangio

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Former Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio died overnight, and the Watertown Fire Department is preparing to honor their leader later this week. News of Orangio’s passing spread over social media Tuesday morning. Orangio officially stepped down as Fire Chief in October, but had been battling pancreatic cancer for months. He was 51 years old. He grew up in Watertown and became a firefighter in 1989.

Around Town

Winter Parking Ban Dates Announced by Watertown Police Chief

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Watertown Chief of Police Michael P. Lawn has announced the 2017-2018 Winter
Parking Ban dates. Effective November 27, 2017 and continuing to April 1, 2018 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)
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. Vehicles must be removed from school property no later than 6 a.m. Violators may be towed.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Struck by Vehicle, Man Arrested for Drug Possession

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

Oct. 23, 2:55 a.m.: Police responded to CVS on Main Street for a report of suspicious activity. While they were there they encountered a man and in the course of speaking with him police discovered the man had a warrant for his arrest. The 45-year-old Waltham man was arrested on the warrant for trespassing.

Police/Fire

Updated: Police Seeking Identity of Woman Who Stole Wallet at Russo’s

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Update: Watertown Police announced on Nov. 3 that they had identified the woman. Original story:

Watertown Police seek help identifying a woman suspected of taking a wallet from Russo’s. 

On Oct. 24 at 4:45 p.m. a woman reported that her wallet had been taken from the market on Pleasant Street. The woman mistakenly left her wallet in a shopping carriage when she was putting her groceries into her vehicle. When she realized what she had done she returned to the store, but the wallet was gone, according to Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor.

Arrests

Police Log: Driver Hits Van Head On, Faces OUI Charge; Campaign Signs Vandalized

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Oct. 17, 5:26 p.m.: An officer patrolling on Arlington Street spotted a vehicle being driven by a person he knew to have a suspended license due to an OUI pass by. The officer radioed in to have other officers be on the lookout, but the same vehicle came back in the opposite direction so the officer pulled the vehicle over. The driver had a strong odor of alcohol and showed signs of intoxication.

Police/Fire

Two Men Arrested for Dealing Drugs During the Daytime on Arsenal Street

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A Boston man and a New Jersey man face drug dealing charges after being arrested by police following an investigation by drug investigators from Middlesex County and Boston. On the afternoon of Oct. 21 members of the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force – which includes an officer from Watertown – working with the Boston Police Drug Control Unit were watching two individuals in the parking lot of Target on Arsenal Street, near Friendly’s, said Watertown Police Sgt. Thomas Grady. “The officers observed behavior consistent with drug dealing,” Grady said.