Schools

Watertown High School Project Remains On Budget Even With Expanded Gym, Increase in Construction Costs

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Ai3 ArchitectsThe size of the gym at the new Watertown High School has been increased by more than 3,200 sq. ft. so it can fit two, full-sized basketball courts. Planning for the new Watertown High School is approaching a critical stage when State officials will lock in the project budget. The School Building Committee learned this week that the new school remains under the $200 million target even accounting for increasing cost of construction and expanding the size of the gym.

City Manager

A History of Watertown’s Town Managers, 1981 to the Present

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City Manager Michael Driscoll will retire in January after 29 years in the position. by DeWitt Henry

As Watertown prepares for Michael Driscoll’s retirement after his 29 years of service as Town Manager; and as the City Council works with the specialized consulting firm Community Paradigm Associates LLC to search for his successor, it may be useful to remember how Michael Driscoll himself was hired. I refer readers to https://www.watertown-ma.gov/1065/Town-Council-Yearbook as well as to the Watertown Public Library’s archives of The Watertown Sun and the Watertown Press along with the Town of Watertown’s Annual Reports for these decades. THE FIRST MANAGER, PETER BOYER (1981-86)

Watertown’s government changed in 1980 from a Town Meeting and Selectman form to the Town Council and Manager form. The first town manager search was conducted by a Council presided over by Louis Andrews, a former Selectman, and included Roberta Miller, Marilyn Devaney, John Diliberto, Wayne MacDonald, William Oates, Mark Basile, and Renato D. Ray Musetti.

Around Town

Nationwide Health & Wellness Program for Kids Started with Local Organization Teaming with Watertown Boys & Girls Club

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A local non-profit organization that provides health and wellness classes to youth around the country got its start by working with the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. One for Health was created by a pair of friends since junior high school, Bruce Campelia and Tom Miller, who came up with the idea in 2011 while sitting next to Lake Winnipesaukee. They wanted to do something to help change the tide of rising childhood obesity and poor health in America, and came up with the idea of providing free classes. Miller had experience building brands having started an advertising specialty business from scratch and making it into a firm that is well known in the industry. Campelia founded technology start-ups and later moved into health and created a wellness center in Pennsylvania.

Chapter 74

School Committee Creating Committee to Study Vocational Education Options for Watertown Students

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The School Committee will create a committee to look at options for vocational and technical education available to Watertown students, including programs at Watertown High School, as well as vocational schools in the area. For many years, the primary option for Watertown students looking for training in a trade or other vocational program was Minuteman High School in Lexington. Superintendent Dede Galdston said Minuteman recently built a new school and the past couple years it has been difficult for students from Watertown to get admitted because the city is not a member of the Minuteman District. Programs at WHS

Watertown High School now offers one Chapter 74 Career and Technical Education Program which prepares students to work in a profession, or to pursue further in college. The first group of students, 10 seniors, have been going through the Engineering Technology program since they were sophomores and will finish the program this year, Galdston said.

Around Town

Hundreds Get in the Holiday Spirit at Watertown’s Tree Lighting

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Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown Tree Lighting and other activities drew a crowd at the Commander’s Mansion. Hundreds of children and their parents flocked to the Commander’s Mansion Saturday evening for the Watertown Tree Lighting. One lucky family was selected in a raffle to turn on the lights on the Christmas tree set up outside the Mansion. The winning ticket was selected by the Mayor of Whoville, played by City Council President Mark Sideris. The winning family was escorted over to the light switch next to the tree by a parade led by the Tuba Guy.

Car Theft

Police Log: Car Rented Out Through App Missing, Dozens of Bottles of Perfume Taken from Store

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

None

Incidents

Nov. 23, 7:20 a.m.: A 2015 Chevy Malibu was vandalized on Morrison Road. The windshield was smashed with a blunt object, both driver-side windows were struck with a blunt object and the hood had scratches on it. A large rock found nearby is suspected to be the object used to break the windows.

Alexandria Real Estate

Mosesian Center for the Arts Celebrates Opening of New Space, Return of Live Performances

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Charlie BreitroseVisitors get their first look inside the renovated lobby of the Mosesian Center for the Arts. From the outside, the Mosesian Center for the Arts looks as it has for years, but step inside the front doors and you are greeted by a new lobby that draws you in and showcases works of art on its walls. Thursday evening, the Arts Center located in the Arsenal on the Charles, held a grand opening for its new and improved lobby, and a return of the performing arts. A soft opening was held on Nov. 12 when the first stage show in more than a year-and-a-half went on — the Watertown Children’s Theatre Production of Mama Mia.

Artificial Turf

Residents Air Concerns Over Artificial Turf & Field Sharing with BB&N, Council Maintains Agreement

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BB&NThe plan of the athletic complex on Grove Street, on the right, presented in November 2020 when the City of Watertown and Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (BB&N) agreed to a field sharing plan that includes the City’s fields at Filippello Park. Residents for and against the field sharing agreement between the City of Watertown and Buckingham Browne & Nichols School spoke for nearly two hours Wednesday night during a special City Council meeting. In the end, the Council took no action, which means the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the city and the school remains in effect. Opponents of the agreement focused mostly on health and safety concerns due to the two fields being covered with artificial turf. Others said they were concerned that the Council entered the agreement without knowing artificial turf would be installed, and that the agreement calls for “green open space,” which they said means grass.