Sports

Watertown Feasts on Belmont During Shutout Win in the Thanksgiving Game

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown senior Nathan Master celebrates after the Raiders defense stopped Belmont during the Thanksgiving Game. Senior Mason Andrade set the tone for Watertown by pancaking a Belmont blocker on the opening kickoff of the annual Thanksgiving Day football game. The Raiders continued to pound the Marauders all game, emerging with a 25-0 win over their rivals. Watertown improved to 7-4, winning four of their last five games, and snapped a two-game losing streak to Belmont. The game was not played last year.

Government

Council Upset That Property Taxes Will Rise Despite Big Increases in Commercial & Industrial Tax Revenue

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Watertown Assessor Earl Smith had some good news for the City Council Tuesday night that new development has brought in several million in new tax dollars. However, what stood out most was the bad news that he had for homeowners — a property tax increase for Fiscal Year 2022. The new life science developments in Watertown will bring in millions of dollars of new tax revenue for the City but due to the restrictions of the state law regarding shifting the tax burden away from residential properties, the average residential tax bill will rise by $287 or 4.3 percent, Smith said. The total tax levy for the City of Watertown in Fiscal Year 2022 will be $134.4 million, Smith said. The increase would have been more if the Council did not approve an increase in the amount of the Residential Exemption, given to owner-occupied properties.

Government

Council to Decide on Watertown Property Tax Rates at Meeting Tuesday

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Charlie Breitrose

Tuesday night, the City Council will hear the tax rate presentation from the Town Assessor, and recommendations for tax breaks for residential properties and owner-occupied homes. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber in City Hall, 149 Main St. It will also be broadcast on Watertown Cable Access’s Government Channel (Comcast Channel 9, RCN Channel 13, and on wcatv.org). On Tuesday, Chair of the Board of Assessors Earl Smith will present the Fiscal Year 2022 Tax Classification Hearing to the Council. The members of the Council will then decide on the rate, and on ways to ease the burden on residential property owners.

Business

New Restaurant on Arsenal Street Packs Flavors from Around the Globe into Takeout Dishes

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Flavor Boom!Six of the 10 entrees served up at Flavor Boom!, which opened recently on Arsenal Street. A pair of foodies have opened up their own restaurant in Watertown that serves up bold dishes from around the world which are designed to be taken out and enjoyed at home or work. Flavor Boom! began about three months ago in a space in a commercial block on Arsenal Street, and now has a menu with 10 entrees inspired by the cooking of places like China, Spain, Indonesia, France and Thailand. Owner Jim Tao said he came up with about half of the dishes and the others were the creation of his cooking partner Harry Liao, or “Chef Harry.”

Field Hockey

CHAMPS! Watertown Field Hockey Team Wins Overtime Thriller Against Sandwich to Claim Program’s 19th Title

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Charlie BreitroseThe Raiders celebrate after scoring the winning goal in sudden death overtime in the Div. 3 Field Hockey State Final. HANOVER — Patience and hard work paid off for the Watertown High School field hockey team, Saturday. It took more than 77 minutes of play, but the Raiders prevailed 1-0 over Sandwich in the State Final. After a deadlocked hour of regulation play, Watertown and Sandwich went to overtime to decide who was the best team in MIAA Div.

Government

New Councilor Sworn In, Will Serve the Remainder of the Term Representing District D Before Serving Full Term

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Charlie BreitroseEmily Izzo was sworn in as District D Councilor on Thursday night. She will fill the remainder of the term for the vacant seat representing the westside of Watertown before starting her first full term. Westsiders have a Councilor again with newly elected District D Councilor Emily Izzo’s swearing in on Thursday evening. Unlike the other new City Councilors, Izzo will start serving before the start of the new term in January because she is filling a vacant seat. Her predecessor, Ken Woodland, stepped down from the Council in April to take a position with the state that prohibits him from serving on the council.

Adrianna Williams

Watertown Field Hockey Returns to the State Final with Victory over Pentucket

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown freshman Adrianna Williams, number 2, is congratulated after scoring early in the State Semifinal against Pentucket on Wednesday. The goal was the only one in the Raiders’ 1-0 victory. READING — The Raiders are back where they have been so many times before — the field hockey State Final — after defeating Pentucket 1-0 on Wednesday night. The trip, however, will be the first for the current Watertown players. A goal by freshman Adrianna Williams 3:39 into the first quarter provided early breathing room for second seeded Watertown (22-0) in the MIAA Div.

Business

Gov. Baker Visits Watertown Life Science Company to Celebrate Apprenticeship Program

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Charlie BreitroseGov. Charlie Baker speaks to one of the apprentices in a new program where she is being trained to work for Watertown-based life science company Arranta Bio. Gov. Charlie Baker visited one of Watertown’s life science companies which is doing its part to train workers to participate in the creation of treatments for infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases and cancer through a new apprenticeship program partially funded by the state. Baker visited Arranta Bio on Pleasant Street on Tuesday to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week. He was joined by, among others, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta, and Governor’s Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney from Watertown. During the event, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $2.7 million in new grant funding for 19 organizations to support apprenticeship programs across Massachusetts.