College Sports

Watertown’s Sydney Poulin Represents Endicott for NCAA Woman of the Year

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David Le / Endicott CollegeWatertown’s Sydney Poulin was named as Endicott College’s nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year. The following information came from Endicott College Athletics:

Endicott field hockey student-athlete Sydney Poulin ’22, of Watertown, has been chosen as Endicott College’s NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee. The NCAA Woman of the Year program was established in 1991 and honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service, and leadership of graduating female college student-athletes from all three divisions. To be eligible, a nominee must have competed and earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and must have earned her undergraduate degree by Summer 2022. Poulin, Eliza Timms from Salve Regina, and Erica Dimmick from the University of New England were eligible to be selected as the Commonwealth Coast Conference’s (CCC) nominee by the league’s Senior Woman Administrators.

Alexandria Real Estate

Roadwork on Mt. Auburn & Arsenal Streets Could Overlap

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Two of Watertown’s major roadways in the eastern part of town are scheduled to be undergoing roadwork at the same time. On Aug. 9, the City Council approved funds to replace water mains on Mt. Auburn Street, and also accepted easements provided by properties on Arsenal Street to allow for improvements along the sidewalks. Some of the work will occur simultaneously, which concerned some Councilors, including Tony Palomba.

Andrea's House of Pizza

Watertown Pizza Place Closing After Four Decades

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Andrea’s House of Pizza will be closing. A favorite spot for Watertown pizza lovers will be closing after 40 years serving local diners. Andrea’s House of Pizza in Coolidge Square will be closing this week, said Alex Taoultsides, who co-owns Andrea’s with his father Stratos. “Our last day is August 19th,” he said. “After 40 years it’s time to retire.”

Government

Council Asking Legislature to Allow Residential Property Tax Relief

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Wikimedia Commons / ChensiyuanMassachusetts State House. City officials requested that the State Legislature give Watertown an exception to a state law that would give residential property owners a break on their taxes. For years Watertown has shifted the burden of property taxes from residents to commercial, industrial and personal property taxpayers. The City Council has voted for the maximum shift of 175 percent. State law, however says that the total portion of the residential tax cannot be below the higher of 50 percent of the tax levy or the lowest percentage of the tax levy made up by residential property tax since the the City created tax classifications for different types of properties.

Around Town

Police Log: Driver Tries to Flee After Striking Truck in Parking Lot, String of Catalytic Converter Thefts

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

Aug. 1, 11:50 p.m.: A driver backed his 1998 Toyota van into a commercial truck parked in the lot for Dunkin’ Donuts at 49 Mt. Auburn St. Then the driver tried to leave the parking lot heading the wrong direction, but several customers stood in front of the vehicle to prevent it from leaving.

Climate & Energy Plan

Council Approves Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gases & Prepare for Impact of Climate Change

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The Climate & Energy Plan approved by the City Council on Tuesday has multiple goals, including reducing the use of fossil fuels, increasing the number of electric vehicles, cutting the amount of waste created in Watertown, and preparing the City and residents for the impact of severe weather. The City has been working on the plan since March 2021, and formed a 35-member Stakeholder Advisory Group, working groups, conducted two surveys, and held meetings to discuss the five areas of the plan: Building & Energy, Transportation & Mobility, Natural Resources, Infrastructure & Waste Management, and Public Health & Community Preparedness. One of the major goals of the plan calls for making the City of Watertown carbon neutral by 2050, said Ed Lewis, Watertown’s Energy Manager. “Buildings are the biggest (contributor), the fat rabbit in this: 56 percent of gas comes from buildings,” Lewis said. “Transportation accounts for a little over 40 percent.” 

The plan calls for cutting all heating of homes and buildings by oil or natural gas to zero percent by 2050.

Around Town

State Officials Celebrate National Farmers Market Week in Watertown

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown celebrated National Farmers Market Week on Wednesday. Along with the normal throngs of people seeking fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, fish and more, a group of state officials attended the Watertown Farmers Market Wednesday to mark National Farmers Market Week. The weekly market, held every Wednesday at Saltonstall Park, not only provides access to locally grown and produced food, it serves as a place for the community to come together and to provide nutritious items to those who struggle to pay for food. Massachusetts has more than 200 farmers markets, said John Lebeaux, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, but most others are not held in such picturesque locations, including parking lots. “I love this site here.

City Clerk

Most Watertown Voting Locations Will be Usual Spots, Council to Examine Election Decision Process

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After initially proposing that several precincts would move to different polling locations for the September 2022 election, which would particularly impact residents in the eastern half of Watertown, the final plan only moves one precinct on a temporary basis. The Council not only voted to set the polling locations for the 2022 elections, but also adopted an optional state statute regarding the voter registration deadline, and the process for assigning police officers to voting locations. The City Council received an initial memo from City Clerk Janet Murphy on Aug. 3 that suggested moving precincts 1 and 3 from the Hellenic Center to the Hosmer School, as well as precincts 4 and 5 from the Phillips School to Hibernian Hall. Acting City Manager Tom Tracy said he received a new memo and forwarded it to the Council on the afternoon of the day of the Council meeting on Aug.