Field Hockey

Three Watertown Grads Earn College Field Hockey Honors, One Defensive Player of the Year

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John Quackenbos / Boston College AthleticsBoston College junior Jonna Kennedy, a Watertown High grad, was named the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year. A trio of former Watertown Raider field hockey players were named among the best in their respective conferences this spring. Boston College goalie Jonna Kennedy received the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year award, and was also named to the All-ACC First Team. Kennedy had a record of 7-5 this year, including 7-2 in the spring season and had three shutouts. She also was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week twice during the spring season.

Schools

School Building Committee Delays Submitting High School Project, Looking Closer at Where to Put Temporary Site

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Ai3 ArchitectsA rendering of what a two-story modular building could look like on Moxley Field. It could be the temporary location for Watertown High School while a new school is constructed. The submission of the Watertown High School project to the State has been delayed in an effort to look at where the temporary location of the high school will be during construction. 

The School Building Committee had been scheduled to vote on submitting the plan for the WHS project, including the use of Moxley Field as a site for a temporary school site, on Wednesday. Instead, Town Council President Mark Sideris announced the delay of the submission of the project. 

“We have a number of things we have to work out. A lot of concerns have been raised, and we believe the prudent thing to do is to continue talking, continue investigating and continue to have conversations with people to figure out the best approach that will get us a good high school and a good plan to get to that,” Sideris said. 

The proposal called for building the new high school on the current WHS, and moving the students to a temporary school made up of two-story modular classrooms at Moxley Field.

Around Town

Watertown Woman Honored by Boston Celtics as a “Hero Among Us”

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Watertown’s Cathy O’Grady was named a Hero Among Us by the Boston Celtics for her work with the Sophia’s Angels Foundation. The following announcement was provided by the Boston Celtics:

The Boston Celtics recently honored Watertown resident Cathy O’Grady as a ‘Hero Among Us’ for her role in spreading joy throughout the community and helping others in need. 

For over a decade, O’Grady has been serving the community through random acts of kindness and the generous donations of blankets, toys, food, and winter essentials for those in need, as well as masks throughout the pandemic. She is the founder of Sofia’s Angels Foundation, which has recruited hundreds of volunteers and raised thousands of dollars to spread joy in the lives of others. 

For her compassionate service, commitment to the community, and heart for giving, the Boston Celtics chose to honor Cathy O’Grady as a ‘Hero Among Us’ at their April 7th game against the New York Knicks. 

Government

Town Charter Changes Proposed to Allow Council to Hire Staff, Hold a State of the Town Meeting Annually

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Watertown Town Hall

Allowing the Town Council to hire staff to help them with their work, adding language to spell out the Council’s power, and requiring annual State of the Town meetings are some of the changes being considered by the Watertown Charter Review Committee. The Committee began looking at ways to alter the current Town Charter Tuesday, at the first meeting following their vote to keep the current form of government with a Town Council and the Town Manager serving as the executive rather than changing to one with a mayor as the executive. Assistants for the Council

The Committee’s consultant, Michael Ward from UMass Boston’s Collins Center, brought up some possible changes to address concerns raised at previous meetings. One issue raised was the Council’s ability to do its work, and having enough capacity to handle the duties of the Council. One way Ward suggested to address that issue was adding a piece to the Legislative section of the charter which would allow the Town Council to hire staff to help them with areas such as research into municipal issues, financial analysis or other areas.

Business

Get to Know Watertown Life Sciences in a Virtual Panel of Biotech Execs – Submit Your Questions

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Leaders of Watertown’s newest industry will be talking about their companies and the influx of life science into Town during the Watertown Business Coalition’s virtual event. A recent survey found about 50 biotech firms located in Watertown of various sizes and stages of development. Get to know life sciences from a panel of five executives from four life science companies located in Watertown. The event will be held on Thursday, April 29 from 4-5 p.m. To RSVP click here. The WBC’s Life Science Panel will include: Joanne Kamens, Executive Director of Addgene; Mark Bamforth, Founder, Exec.

Government

Volunteers Wanted to Distribute Flyers for Watertown Charter Review Committee

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The Charter Review Committee sent out the following announcement seeking volunteers:

Watertown Charter Review Committee Flyer Drop, Saturday, April 24 – Sunday, April 25. 

The Town of Watertown Charter Review Committee (CRC) needs many volunteers this weekend, Saturday, April 24 – Sunday, April 25 (and beyond, if needed) to drop off flyers to homes in your neighborhood to alert residents that the CRC is soliciting input from all residents on improvements to Watertown’s government. Learn about Watertown!-Interested volunteers, please contact John Gannon at (617) 905-4115 or at jggannon@yahoo.com. A raffle drawing of volunteers will be held for a donation to a charity or cause of your choice! Thanks! Crc Flyer 2021 0406 Final by Charlie Breitrose on Scribd

Charter Review Committee Votes to Keep Town Manager Form of Government

Arrests

Police Log: Man Who Drove Up on Sidewalk Faces OUI Charge, Shoplifter Hits Car in Lot While Fleeing

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

April 7, 4:31 p.m.: Police were called by someone who observed a woman sitting in a white car for an extended period and the caller said the woman was acting strangely. The vehicle was parked on Spruce Street and when officers spoke to the woman she said she was there because her boyfriend lived in the area. She was unable to tell police in which house he lived. When speaking with her, Police learned that there was a warrant for her arrest from the Brockton District Court for reckless endangerment of a child.