Sports

Nearly 2 Dozen Watertown Athletes Named League All-Stars

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Natalie Nigito PhotographySenior running back Billy McHugh was one of the Watertown High School athletes named Middlesex All-Stars. The Watertown Public Schools announced that 23 Watertown Raiders athletes have been recognized by the Middlesex League as All-Stars for the Fall 2022 sports season. See the announcement below:

The state champion Raiders field hockey team saw five players pick up honors. Senior co-captains Lizzie Loftus and Maggie Driscoll were named to the All-Conference team and were crowned Co-MVPs of the Freedom Division. Junior Molly Driscoll also earned All-Conference honors.

Government

Arsenal Street Renovation Will Go Through Mid-2024, Bids Requested

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A section of Arsenal Street on the east end of the major roadway in Watertown has been redesigned and will be repaved. The project is expected to run though mid-2024. The call for bids put out by the City of Watertown on Dec. 22 is for a project including the reconstruction includes 3,422 feet of roadway from Arsenal Way to Greenough Boulevard, and will install traffic signals at four locations. The full depth of the roadway will be replaced, and granite curbing and cement sidewalks will be installed.

Government

See Which Roads Will Be Repaired in 2023, Condition of City’s Roadways Declining

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Six roads made the City’s road repair list for 2023, and another will be part of the longer-road program. City Councilors also heard a report of a meeting where the Department of Public Works said the City’s road rating had dropped. Repair List

On Dec. 13, the City Council approved the funding for the annual road repair program, as well as longer street projects in future years. Roads that will be repaired in 2023 are: Bates Road, Bates Road East, Essex Street, Nash Street, Francis Street and Bradshaw Street.

Government

City Buying Former Parker School, Council Approves Funds & Deal

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City of WatertownThe City of Watertown will purchase the former Parker School building on Watertown Street. The City of Watertown will purchase the former Parker School, now an office building, and use it for municipal offices as well as renting out space. The purchase was approved by the City Council on Dec. 13, along with transferring $12 million to help with the deal. The total cost will be $14 million, and City Manager George Prokis said he expects the purchase to be completed by mid-January 2023.

Around Town

Watertown’s Parking Ban Suspended Over Holidays

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Police Department:

Effective December 23, 2022 enforcement of the All Night Parking Ban will be temporarily suspended – barring any snowfall that would require plowing or sanding. Should there be a snow event please refer to the City website for available off-street parking locations. The City of Watertown is monitoring weather forecasts that include a potential for winter precipitation and/or icing on Saturday morning December 24, 2022, and therefore a parking ban may be implemented for a period of time if it becomes necessary for snow/ice removal operations. Please monitor the City’s website, social media, WCA-TV and other sources for any potential announcements that would temporarily put a parking ban back in place. Police Chief Thomas Rocca encourages all homeowners to continue using available off-street parking during the overnight hours.

Around Town

Watertown Celebrates Festival of Lights with First Hanukkah Menorah Lighting

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Charlie BreitroseRabby Dovid Zaltzman of Chabad Watertown lights the menorah at Arsenal Yards during the Hanukkah celebration. The Festival of Lights was on full display in Watertown Monday night, with a Hanukkah Menorah lighting, a gelt drop, and even a fire dancer. The first annual Watertown Menorah Lighting took place in a courtyard at Arsenal Yards, and the event was organized and presented by Chabad Watertown, a recent addition to town. Rabbi Dovid Zaltzman, from Chabad Watertown, said Hanukkah celebrates a miracle that occurred back in Biblical times. The Jewish people had just defeated the Greeks in a war, but during the war the Jewish Temple was damaged.

Around Town

Watertown Police Take Children to Shop With a Cop at Target

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Charlie BreitroseMembers of the Watertown Police Department took a group of kids from the Watertown Boys & Girls Club shopping at Target. One afternoon last week, the aisles of Target were filled with children looking for toys, clothes and other gifts. The kids were accompanied on their holiday shopping trip by members of the Watertown Police Department as part of the annual Shop with Cop program. The children, who came from the Watertown Boys & Girls Club, anxiously awaited the trip, said Peter Gardula, Director of Mission Advancement at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. “They’ve been looking forward to doing this the last three or four days,” Gardula said.