Charter Review: Library Trustees Argue to Keep Board Elected, School Committee Discussed

The Watertown Free Public Library. Two Watertown Library Trustees told the Charter Review Committee the board should remain an elected one, saying that having to run for the position keeps them more in touch with the desires of the community. The discussion took place during Tuesday’s Charter Review Committee meeting. Members also of the School Committee gave their input to the group that is examining the equivalent of the Town’s constitution and will likely propose changes. The Committee also discussed the draft timeline of the Charter Review process, and the new website.

Watertown Church Holding Candlelight Vigil for Armenian, Artsakh Soldiers

Flag of Artsakh

An Armenian church in Watertown will hold a candlelight vigil on Sunday for the fallen soldiers. The outdoor vigil will take place at the St. Stephen’s Armenian Church, 38 Elton Ave., on Nov. 22 at 5:30 p.m.

An Instagram post from St. Stephen’s said:

“Join the Greater Boston Armenian Community in unity and solidarity for a Candle Light Vigil to honor our fallen soldiers.

Police Warn of Door-to-Door Sales Scam in Watertown

Watertown Police warn residents to beware after two incidents reported by residents who bought magazines from door-to-door sales people who turned out to be scammers. The two incidents involved three scammers who knocked on doors saying they were selling magazines to raise money. One said it was for the Watertown Boys & Girls Club and the other was for domestic violence shelters but there are no such efforts, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. He added that incidents were part of a larger scam that has impacted several Metro Boston communities. At 5:54 p.m. on Nov.

Students Traveling Out-of-State for Thanksgiving Must be Tested or Quarantine

Watertown students who travel outside of Massachusetts to a high-risk area must either get a negative test for COVID-19 or quarantine for 14 days before returning to school for in-person learning, Superintendent Dede Galdston announced Wednesday. Most states have been put on the the Massachusetts Restricted Travel list, but three of the lower risk ones are in New England — Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont — along with Hawaii. When returning from a high-risk state, students must get a negative PCR test prior to returning to school according to the Massachusetts regulations, Galdston wrote. Students must quarantine while waiting for test results. Galdston also wrote that the schools will have two remote days after the Thanksgiving break, on Nov.

Former Detective Suing Watertown Police Department, Police Union for Sexual Discrimination

A former Watertown Police officer has sued the Watertown Police Department and the Police union for “gender discrimination and retaliation” after she was forced to leave the department. The suit also alleged that it was due in part to an intimate relationship she was having with a superior officer. A copy of the civil suit filed in Middlesex Superior Court was obtained by the Boston Herald, which ran a story and a column on Tuesday evening. See the story here. The suit said that former WPD detective Kathleen Donohue faced “sexually charged comments,” and “dangerous rumors” about false affairs, the Herald reports.

Watertown High Drama Presenting Virtual Version of “The Crucible”

The Watertown High School Dramatic Arts Department has taken the saying, “The show must go on,” to heart, and will be presenting the fall play, The Crucible, in a remote format. The play will be recorded remotely, and will be available for people to watch online on Nov. 20-22 on the Watertown High School website. When the school year began, all the schools in Watertown operated remotely, and performances indoors were not allowed under the Massachusetts COVID-19 regulations. WHS student Ryan Leonard, who is the stage director for The Crucible, said it wasn’t clear whether there would even be a play.

Boston Restaurant Opening Second Location in Watertown

The following announcement was provided by Arsenal Yards:

Boylston Properties and Wilder proudly announced today that they’ve leased 3,000 square feet at Watertown’s Arsenal Yards to local celebrity chef and restaurateur, Jason Santos. Following the success of Buttermilk & Bourbon in Boston’s Back Bay, the nationally-recognized chef will open his second location of the popular restaurant in the new neighborhood in 2021, bringing a taste of Southern hospitality to Watertown. The New Orleans’ inspired restaurant will be an exciting addition to the eclectic mix of offerings at Arsenal Yards, which will offer a true neighborhood experience with its more than one million square feet of retail shops, residential apartments, life science space, and a 146-room hotel when construction is completed in Fall 2021.   

“For a chef of Jason Santos’ caliber to open his next restaurant at Arsenal Yards only adds to the incredible level of buzz that Arsenal Yards and the town of Watertown is currently receiving,” said Bill McQuillan, Principal at Boylston Properties. “And while COVID-19 continues to greatly impact our communities and neighborhoods, we couldn’t be more grateful to share some positive news about one of the best chefs and restaurant groups in Boston. Our team is committed as ever to creating a unique place for people to work, live, and simply just enjoy, and Jason and Buttermilk & Bourbon are the perfect complement to this lasting, energized experience that we’re creating at Arsenal Yards.”