COVID-19

Positive COVID Test Reported at Watertown School, Reopening Still Going Ahead

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Hosmer Elementary School in Watertown. The Watertown Public Schools had a person test positive for COVID-19 in the same week that the elementary schools are preparing to welcome students back for in-person learning. Superintendent Dede Galdston announced that a person at Hosmer Elementary School had tested positive, but added that the case would not stop plans to start hybrid learning at the school on Tuesday. Watertown school staff can participate in free testing for the virus provided by the Broad Institute in Cambridge, but Galdston said that the positive test was not through that program. “…

Government

Watertown’s First CIO Seeks to Improve Communication with Residents, Make Town More Transparent

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Watertown’s Chief Information Officer Chris McClure. The Town of Watertown’s first ever Chief Information Officer, or CIO, came on board on Oct. 19, and has a slew of changes he would to make so Town officials can communicate more effectively with residents and make the government more transparent. Christopher McClure comes to Watertown from North Andover, where he was the information technology (IT) director. He plans some big changes for the Town’s social media accounts, the website and other technology.

Arrests

Police Log: Customer Threatens Geek Squad, Driver Faces OUI Charge After Driving on 3 Wheels

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

Oct. 12, 11;11 p.m.: State Police sent out a be-on-the-lookout alert to Watertown and Newton police for an erratic driver that had gotten off the Mass Pike at Exit 17. Watertown Police located the vehicle in the parking lot at Repton Place on Pleasant Street. They found the driver half asleep in the car, with the motor running.

Around Town

Hundreds Donate to Food Pantry During Drive-Thru Food Drive

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The drive-thru food drive, organized by the Watertown Community Foundation, drew good traffic during the event on Oct. 17 at the food pantry. Watertown residents showed up in the hundreds to donate to the Watertown Food Pantry. The event was held on the afternoon of Oct. 17, and Watertown Food Pantry Coordinator Kathy Cunningham said the event got a good response.

Police/Fire

Fire Department Swears in 7 Promoted Members, New Firefighter

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Three new Watertown Fire lieutenants — Scott Twombly, Glen McManus and Ralph Mele — were sworn in by Town Clerk John Flynn during a ceremony outside the Commander’s Mansion on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The Watertown Fire Department honored eight of its members on Wednesday during a swearing-in ceremony. Seven received promotions and one firefighter was officially welcomed to the WFD. The Fire Department periodically holds swearing in ceremonies to recognize promotions and new members of the department.

COVID-19

Watertown Schools Moving to Hybrid on Oct. 27

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Watertown elementary school students will return to school, part time, beginning Oct. 27. Superintendent Dede Galdston sent out the announcement Thursday evening. Superintendent Dede Galdston said the decision was be based on the state’s latest report on the number of COVID-19 cases and rate of positive tests in Town. In a letter to parents Galdston wrote: “…

Schools

State Auditing Watertown Schools’ Decision Not to Move Up Change to In-Person Learning

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The Watertown Public Schools are being audited by the state regarding the district’s decision not to move up the start of hybrid learning in the schools. Watertown School officials received a letter from the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) this week informing them of the audit. On Tuesday, Superintendent Dede Galdston confirmed that Watertown is being audited. The district is one of two being audited, according to a story on MassLive.com, along with East Longmeadow. Both were among the 16 districts to receive letters from DESE pushing them to return to in-person learning, at least part time, because the rate of COVID-19 was not high under the state’s virus tracking system.

National Merit Scholars

Eight Watertown High Seniors Honored by Named National Merit Scholarship Program

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Eight Watertown High School seniors have been named National Merit Scholarship Commended Students, which is the most in one year that anyone at the high school can recall, Principal Joel Giacobozzi told the School Committee this week. Watertown High School sent out the following announcement:

The principal, Joel Giacobozzi, of Watertown High School announced that eight seniors have been named Commended Students in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, has been mailed toeach scholastically talented senior. About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2021 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2021 competition by taking the 2019

Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).The following seniors have received this Letter of Commendation and a follow-up phone call from Principal Giacobozzi:

Henry YusemThomas PowderlyMaud NeeleyHarriet NeeleyRita HackettCarolyn GulleyAllison FitzpatrickDyanne Bonyuet