Funding to Renovate, Expand Lowell School Approved by Council

Ai3 ArchitectsA view of what the renovation to the Lowell School, including the addition seen on the right, which has tall windows, including on the corners. The funds for Watertown’s third elementary school project got approval from the City Council Tuesday night. The Lowell Elementary School project, unlike the first two, will not be a brand new school. Instead the historic building will undergo a major renovation and will have some additions. The approval for borrowing $48.895 million for the Lowell project on Tuesday came on the same night that the Council approved borrowing $198 million to construct the new Watertown High School.

Council Approves Borrowing $198 Million for State of the Art, Green Watertown High School

Ai3 ArchtiectsA rendering of what the new Watertown High School will look like (note the colors have not been settled). The City Council approved borrowing $198 million to construct the new school. School and City officials hailed the City Council’s approval of funding to build the new Watertown High School as an important step not just for the students of Watertown, but the community as a whole. Tuesday night’s approval of the borrowing of $198.8 million opens the way for the final planning and construction of a state-of-the-art, and energy efficient building to be constructed on the site of the current school. The figure covers the cost of construction, plus the creation of temporary swing space at Moxley Field.

Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban Lifted Early

The Watertown Police Department announced the end of the winter parking ban. The WPD sent out the following announcement:

Police Chief Michael Lawn would like to inform you that Watertown will lift enforcement of the all night parking ban effective Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at 12:00 pm. The Department of Public Works, Police Department and Fire Department would like to remind motorists that keeping the streets clear allows for road repairs, street cleaning and easy access for public safety vehicles. To that end, all Departments encourage residents to make full use of off-street parking when it is available.

Sheepshearing Festival Returns to Gore Place, Tickets Now Available

Gore PlaceAfter a two-year hiatus, the Sheepshearing Festival returns in-person at Gore Place on April 23. The following information came from Gore Place:

Forced to move online by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sheepshearing Festival at Gore Place will return in-person on Saturday, April 23, 2022. Since 1987, this annual event has entertained guests with music, 100 craft and fiber artists, demonstrations of traditional shearing and herding dogs, and historic re-enactors, on the beautiful grounds of this historic, 50-acre estate. According to Executive Director and festival organizer Susan Robertson, “We’re proud that the Sheepshearing Festival has become a New England spring tradition for so many. People often tell us that spring doesn’t begin until the Sheepshearing Festival.

Woman Stabbed Multiple Times, Police Determine It Was a Domestic Incident

A woman suffered multiple stab wounds during an altercation that took place on Monday, March 21 on Cuba Street in Watertown. Watertown Police say the incident has been ruled domestic in nature. At about 8:33 p.m. on March 21, the Watertown Police received multiple reports of a disturbance on Cuba Street. Officers located a 35-year-old woman who had been stabbed multiple times. The Watertown Fire Department gave her medical aid and took her to a Boston hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Police Log: Hit & Run Driver Strikes Pedestrian, UPS Driver Accused of Taking $10K in Packages

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

March 2, 9:43 p.m.: Police were called to Grandview Avenue for a man asleep in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. Officers were able to wake him, and he said he dozed off because he was tired from working so much. He added he was waiting for a friend. Police discovered he had an outstanding warrant.

Registration for Pequossette & Kindergarten Summer Programs Opens Wednesday

The Watertown Recreation Department provided the following information:

The Watertown Recreation Department Pequossette Summer Program Packet is now available for viewing. Online registration will begin Wednesday, March 23 at 12:00pm by selecting the Online Registration link on the Recreation website. The website is: https://recreation.watertown-ma.gov and then select Online Registration at the top. In addition to registering online, you must fill out all the forms completely which are now fillable. Remember to use your child’s grade that he/she will in the fall of 2022.