Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/prominence/homepage-featured/page/135/)
Add this label to posts to display them in the featured area on the homepage.
Greetings:
Today, we say farewell to a friend and colleague, Michael J. Driscoll. In happiness and sorrow; Michael offered his favorite traditional Irish blessing, from an ancient Celtic prayer. “May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
Watertown City Manager George Proakis. This week, School officials announced an agreement on the Watertown teachers’ contract, but even when that is signed Watertown has six unions on the municipal side yet to be settled. This week, the City Manager revealed his philosophy when approaching these negotiations and how the City budget could impact the talks. He released a memo to the City Council outlining the contracts and the Watertown budget at Tuesday’s Council meeting. While making the budget, Proakis said he and his team are following the Council’s budget priorities, which include creating walkable neighborhoods and small business programs, improving infrastructure, using green vehicles, and upgrading parks and playgrounds.
Watertown teachers will soon have a new contract. The Watertown Educators Association and the School Committee announced Tuesday that a settlement had been reached, and it must now be ratified by the union and then approved by the School Committee. Details about the contract have not been released. At the most recent School Committee meeting union representatives spoke about some of the areas they sought more from the district, including salaries in line with neighboring districts and guaranteed parental leave for both parents of a newborn. Teachers went to work to rule in late January to show their displeasure with the fact they were working without a contract and wanted a contract that would put them on par with other districts in the area.
Charlie BreitroseVictory Field is home to Watertown High School’s football team, along with the field hockey, girls and boys soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, and baseball teams.
On Feb. 6, the School Committee supported the recommendation to replace the artificial turf surface at the field most used by Watertown High School’s athletic teams, however some did so with strong reservations because it would be a different type of artificial turf. The artificial turf field at Victory Field is nearing the end of its recommended life. The City plans to replace it with another artificial turf, but with an organic material between the plastic blades of grass. The final decision on whether to approve the project will come from the City Council, and the funding would come from the City’s budget, not the Schools.
Michael Driscoll
The following information came from Nardone Funeral Home:
Michael J. Driscoll, Retired Watertown City Manger, Age 70, of Watertown & East Dennis, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Saturday February 11, 2023. Beloved husband of Jane (Ohnemus) Driscoll. Loving father of Amy Driscoll & her partner John Indeck, Allison Privitera & her husband David, Aileen Driscoll, Sarah Giorgio & her husband Nicholas. Cherished ‘Papa’ to Charlie Driscoll, Lola Giorgio and the newest arrival Brooks Giorgio. Dear brother of Brian, Paula Wheeler, Mark, Peter, Leanne Norris.
Charlie BreitroseThe first three modular sections that will be part of the temporary Watertown High School were delivered to Moxley Field on Friday. The first sections of modular classrooms arrived at Moxley Field Friday, and will continue to trickle in until there are enough to build a two-story temporary campus to house Watertown High School during the construction of the new building. The interim campus will go up on what was the grassy area near Watertown Middle School. The high schoolers will also utilize an area of the Middle School during their three years at the site. When all are delivered, they will be installed.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrest
Feb. 5, 2:28 p.m.: The staff at Ulta Beauty at Arsenal Yards spotted a man using a fake ID to make a purchase. The man had a Maryland driver’s license with a different person’s name on it and asked to use an Ulta credit card with the fake name from the license. Police were alerted and when the investigated they located a vehicle outside the store and found a Dyson hairdryer valued at $600 and two more valued at $430, along with several fragrances.
The man who led Watertown’s municipal government for nearly three decades, former Town Manager Michael Driscoll, passed away on Saturday. Driscoll worked for the Town, and now City, of Watertown for 45 years, beginning as the manager of the John A. Ryan Arena in 1977, became treasurer collector in 1985 before becoming Town Manager in 1994. He grew up in Woburn and lived in Watertown with his wife, Jane. He has three daughters and one step daughter: Amy, Allison, Aileen, and Sarah.
The City of Watertown sent out a statement that read, in part: “We are saddened to share the news that former Watertown City Manager Michael Driscoll passed away early on February 11, 2023 after receiving treatment for cancer over the past year. …