Around Town

Lt. Gov. Hears from Local Businesses at Chamber Event, Pushes for Housing, Job Training & Free PreK

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Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, right, spoke at the Charles River Regional Chamber’s Spring Business Breakfast where Joe Prestejohn (left), owner of Cabot’s Ice Cream, was honored. (Photo courtesy of Charles River Chamber

NEEDHAM — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll stressed the importance of small businesses to make communities places where people want to live when she spoke at the Charles River Regional Chamber, but she added that Massachusetts faces challenges that could hurt business big and small such as the cost of housing, lack of qualified and even the cost of childcare. Driscoll also heard directly from business owners about some of the things that make it more difficult for them to thrive. She gave the keynote address at the Chamber’s Spring Business Breakfast on June 2. During the event, held at the Sheraton Boston Needham Hotel, the Chamber also honored Joe Prestejohn, the retiring owner of a Newton institution — Cabot’s Ice Cream & Restaurant.

Around Town

Raiders Baseball Team Looks Back on Successful Season After Exiting Tournament

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Photo by Brianna WilliamsThe Raiders season ended in the MIAA Div. 3 Round of 32, but the Raiders had one of their best seasons in years. FOXBOROUGH — Watertown senior captain Casey Williams pitched a complete game with five strikeouts, but the Raiders fell by a run to Foxborough in the MIAA Div. 3 Tournament on Tuesday. For the Round of 32, 38th seed Watertown High School traveled to face the sixth seeded Warriors. Along with strong pitching, Watertown had strong field work from senior captains Johnny Cacace, Robbie Iannetta and Daniel Tattrie. 

However, Foxborough took the lead early in the first inning by scoring a run.

Around Town

Watertown Teaming with Belmont for 2 Day Juneteenth Celebration

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This year’s Juneteenth Celebration will expand to include not just two communities but will be held over two days. The annual celebration hosted by the Watertown Citizens for Black Lives. For the third year in a row, Watertown’s Juneteenth Celebration will be held in the Watertown Free Public Library. That will take place on Saturday, June 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Sunday, June 18, the celebration moves to Belmont’s Beech Street Center and Town Field from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Juneteenth began as a celebration of the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. It has grown into a broader celebration.

Around Town

Rain Can’t Dampen Watertown Pride Extravaganza Festivities

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(Photo by Maya Shwayder)The JP Honk band performs during the second Watertown Pride Extravaganza at Saltonstall Park. Set against a gray, rainy sky, the rainbows of Watertown’s 2023 Pride festivities looked especially bright on Saturday. Families, folks, and four-legged friends of all shapes, sizes, and identities gathered on Saltonstall Park to mark the second year in a row that that space had hosted the celebration. “It’s perfect,” said Carey Conkey-Finn, Teen Services Supervisor at Watertown Free Public Library and Pride team co-leader. “We got some extra tents in a pinch.

Schools

Watertown High School Class of 2023 Overcame Challenges With a Positive Attitude

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by Charlie BreitroseWatertown High School Valedictorian Shannon Fitzpatrick addresses the Class of 2023 during the graduation ceremony. When the Watertown High School Class of 2023 ended their freshman year remotely in March 2020, they could have been discouraged for the rest of their high school career. However, they chose to band together and rise above their obstacles by avidly displaying school spirit, kindness and positivity throughout their four years. 

The ceremony, originally supposed to be held at Victory Field, was moved to the Kelly Gymnasium on June 2 due to a rainy forecast. Students, faculty, family members and friends crowded the gymnasium, making for a touching and special moment as this will be the last class to graduate from the present high school before it is demolished this summer. See the list of graduates here. 

Valedictorian Shannon Fitzpatrick looked back at her time at Watertown High as a journey.

Sports

3-Run Homer Powers Watertown Baseball Team to State Tournament Upset

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by Brianna WilliamsThe Watertown High School baseball team celebrated a Preliminary Round win over Arlington Catholic. ARLINGTON — The Watertown High School baseball team began the MIAA Div. 3 Tournament with a 7-2 win over Arlington Catholic. The 38th-seeded Raiders traveled to 27th seed Arlington Catholic’s home field on June 3 for the Preliminary Round matchup. 

Being the lower seed mixed with the cold air temperatures and bouts of rain, the Raiders faced challenges, but nothing the players and coaches, especially Watertown head coach Aram Manoukian, felt they could not conquer. “I knew they’d be good.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Party Guest Gets Out of Control, Chimney Repair Scam

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

May 22, 3:39 a.m.: Police received a report of a suspicious man at Arsenal Mall. Security spotted a man looking into windows at Marshalls, and then was seen inside the parking garage. The man went into a port-o-potty and would not come out until police arrived. When he did, police spoke to the man and learned that he had a warrant for his arrest.

Schools

Congratulations to the Watertown High School Class of 2023!

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by Charlie BreitroseA Class of 2023 graduate hugs Principal Joel Giacobozzi after getting his diploma on Friday. Congratulations to the 150 Watertown High School seniors who graduated Friday at the ceremony at the WHS Gymnasium. Watertown High School Class of 2023

(Honors: + Cum Laude Society, ^ National Honor Society, * Seal of Biliteracy, # Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction)

Nasim Abenaou

Johnny Abizeid

Bonsu Panin Acheampong

Aneeq Ahmed

Sandra Ali Alnamous

Payton Gian Andrade

Nicole Erica Babayan

Gayane Badalyan *

Thandiwe Naomi Alua Baker +^

Adrianna Elaina Benites ^

Gabriela Bondaryk ^

Jhulia Gabriela Borel Macedo

Henry Byrne Broadstone

Max Edward Burke

Lexi Burroughs

John Anthony Cacace +^

Serena Jean Calix

Aidan John Campbell

Brendan Patrick Campbell

Gabriel Celio Chaves Carvalho *

Ana Alice Castro

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Beatriz de Oliveira Castro

Phillip Morais Castro

Raymond Chen

Aren Cimenian

Raphaela Samara Coelho *

Miguel Angel Colon

Aidan Paul Conneely

Brianna Renora Cooper

Michael Fenton Corbett

Amanda Cosco ^

Collin Kerian Cox

Avaree Louise Crockton ^

Adrina Sima D’Arrigo ^

Caio Mesquita De Souza

Carina Bella Delorio +^

Briella Marie Demis

Emmalina Olive Rosana Devoy

Jack Edward Dickie

Riley Francis Donlan ^

by Charlie BreitroseStudents welcomed people to the 2023 Watertown High School Graduation Ceremony in their first language. More than a dozen languages were represented, including these Portuguese speakers. Bridget Mary Donohue

Margaret Grady Driscoll +^

Ricardo Mardoqueo Duran Amaya #

Iris Margaret Egan +^*

Mariangel Escobar Sierra *

Isaiah Junior Etienne

Allison Anne Fijux ^

Kelsey Fitzgerald

Kaitlyn Elizabeth Fitzpatrick +^

Shannon Marie Fitzpatrick +^

Catherine Bridget Fleming

Daou Emmauel Ignacio

Marina Claire Garcia-Rangel ^

Sean Patrick Gately

Jaylen Chavi Gonzalez

Emma Katherine Griffith

Camila Cardoso Guimaraes

Levon Gukasyan

Karen Maral Guler ^

Katherine Flynn Haley

Alique Mara Haserjian +^#

Johanna Hernandez #

Orlando Antonio Herrera

Cindy Chenyun Hong +^*

Sandra Emilio Hoxha

Ivy Huang

Brianna Marie Hume +^*

Robert John Iannetta +^*

Xavier Scensor Ip

Alyce Judge

Vana Rose Karaguesian *

Alexandra Christophile Karalis

Davit Karapetyan ^

Lara Jacqueline Kebabjian ^*

Hovanes Kehyeian

Jack Stratton Kelley

Abel Keshishian

Lwana Fawaz Khalil *

Paige Elizabeth King ^

Eric Vitaliy Kozorez

Derin Kugu

Benjamin Alden Kullman

Esmeralda Laurore

Maeve Ella Lawn +^

Ashley Bomfim Leal ^*

by Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown High School gym was packed for the Class of 2023’s graduation on Friday.