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The following information was provide by the Watertown Police. Incidents
Feb. 22, 4:06 p.m.: Three men were seen shoplifting by security at Home Depot. The men, who were in their 20s, entered the store, filled a shopping cart with merchandise, and exited the store without paying. They abandoned the cart, and two of the men fled on foot and one left in a vehicle.
The following letter was signed by 60 residents, and is being sent to the Superintendent of Schools and the School Committee:
Dear Dr. Galdston,
Before addressing anything else, we want to thank you for your stewardship of Watertown Public Schools during the pandemic over the past 12 months. As we approach the anniversary of our community’s move to remote learning, we recognize your work, leadership and sacrifices,and are cognizant that the personal tolls of our circumstances not only affect our families, but yours as well. In addition, we recognize the tremendous pressure you are under to immediately, and fully reopen our schools. While we empathize with the hardships of our fellow families and community members, we unequivocally cannot support this plan. Though a vocal group of ourpeers are demanding a full return to in-person learning, there are just as many families who want to keep their children remote or hybrid for the remainder of the school year due to safety concerns.
A rendering of what the new Watertown High School could look like. The view is from Common Street. Architects unveiled a new concept for the new Watertown High School that would keep the school in one building located on its current site. It would also be cheaper and would have a shorter construction period. The new plans would include building a temporary campus, likely next to Watertown Middle School.
“Moving Play” Playwright, Mwalim Morgan J. Peters (Mashpee Wampanoag), and Director Jaime Carrillo (Aymara). The following announcement was provided by New Rep Theatre:
On March 18, New Repertory Theatre, the Pigsgusset Initiative, and the Watertown Free Public Library invite you to a dynamic community conversation about local Indigenous history and the role of Indigenous culture keepers in challenging narratives that attempt to erase them. In May 2021, New Repertory Theatre will premiere their second Moving Play, centering on local Indigenous history. This virtual, interactive event affords members of the community an opportunity to speak with the Moving Play Playwright, Mwalim Morgan J. Peters (Mashpee Wampanoag), and Director, Jaime Carrillo (Aymara). Dr. Mishy Lesser, of the Upstander Project and the Pigsgusset Initiative, will moderate this inspired dialogue, which includes participation from the audience.
Deluxe Town Diner was one of several Watertown restaurants approved to have outdoor seating in 2020. Restaurants can apply again in 2021. Diners may have more outdoor dining opportunities in 2021 as the Town of Watertown is allowing restaurants to apply for additional outdoor space for temporary seating. Last year, the Town allowed some restaurants to have seating on the sidewalk in front of their business, or other places on their property, and 15 did so. The temporary permits were given to allow for increased capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Watertown Town Hall
The Charter Review Committee was given something to think about at the end of Tuesday’s meeting: a proposal to look at changes to the current form of government this year, but hold the next review a few years down the road to allow for an in-depth look at whether Watertown should make major changes to its government. The question was posed by Michael Ward, one of the Town’s consultants from the Collins Center at UMass Boston. He also put out the idea of removing the Town Council from the next Charter Review Committee. Town Council President Mark Sideris, who chairs the Charter Review Committee, said there would be no discussion of the proposal on Tuesday, but wanted the Committee members to have time to think about the proposal so they could discuss it at the next meeting on March 16. In the proposal, Ward suggested that the next Charter Review be held in four years (or possibly three or five) rather than waiting another 10 years.
The following letter was provided by the superintendents of school districts in the Middlesex League, including Watertown’s Deanne Galdston. Dear Commissioner Riley:
On Friday, February 26th, the Middlesex League Superintendents discussed your announcement for a full return of elementary students to in-person learning by April 2021. Currently, our districts are engaged in conversations about what a full return might look like, as is appropriate to the local context. There is nothing that we want more than for all of our students and staff to return to schools full time; however, your declaration without a thoughtful plan only exacerbates the challenges we face in schools and belies the current reality of the situation in which we find ourselves. We are nearing the first anniversary of the Middlesex League Superintendents’ decision to close schools on March 12, 2020, which predated the Governor’s school closure order a day later.
The following announcement came from the organizers of YardArt Waterotwn:
YardArt Watertown 2021 is the first annual outdoor art exhibition featuring the work of over 120 artists and art enthusiasts. The town-wide exhibit begins Friday, March 5th and runs through April 2nd and features a variety of art projects displayed on residents’ front yards and porches. The free, self-guided tour is a COVID-safe community event for anyone walking or driving through Watertown. YardArt locations are marked by yard signs and will appear on an interactive online map (coming soon, click here), along with creators’ statements and photos. A special temporary sculpture exhibit is on display at the Commander’s Mansion at Arsenal on the Charles.