10th Middlesex

Owens, Lawn Win in Watertown State Rep. Races

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After Tuesday’s election, Watertown has one new State Representative and one returning to the State House. In the three way race for the 29th Middlesex seat, former chair of the Democratic Town Committee Steve Owens took nearly 60 percent of the vote. He received 7,602 votes, or 61 percent, in the district that includes most of Watertown and part of Cambridge. Town Council President Mark Sideris got nearly 24 percent, with 2,972, and consultant David Ciccarelli got about 15 percent (1,851 votes). In Watertown, Owens got 4,148 votes, or 60 percent of the vote, while Sideris got 25 percent (1,757 votes), and Ciccarelli got 1,091 votes (15 percent).

Police/Fire

Firefighters Extinguish Fire in Unoccupied Watertown Home

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Watertown Firefighters responded to a fire that broke out in an unoccupied home on Friday night. The call reporting the fire came in just after 11 p.m. on Aug. 25, said Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson

“Upon arrival we could see fire on the second floor. At that time I ordered a Working Fire,” Nicholson said. “The building was being rehabbed and was unoccupied, which we confirmed with a search.”

Elections

Watertown Firefighters Back Candidate in State Rep. Race

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The Watertown Firefighters union endorsed John Lawn in his re-election bid for the 10th Middlesex State Representative seat. Local 1347 announced its endorsement on Facebook on Friday. The message cited Lawn’s work with Fire Chief Bob Quinn to get a second set of turnout gear (the clothing worn by firefighters during calls). “Before we received the back up turnout gear we were forced to wear the wet, carcinogen contaminated turnout gear after any fire we had. With the rise in occupational cancer, it has been discovered that cancer causing agents enter our bodies through our skin, as well as respiratory systems,” the announcement said.

Sports

High School Sports to Look Much Different During 2020-21

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The Raiders celebrate a first quarter touchdown against Burlington at Victory Field. Many details remain up in the air for high school sports this school year, but some things are already clear: there will be no Thanksgiving Day football game and no field hockey state championship for Watertown this year. The COVID-19 pandemic will have a great impact on Massachusetts high school sports, particularly on the fall season, which will have no state tournaments in 2020 (tourneys in other seasons have not been decided yet). Also, the football season will be delayed until early 2021. The MIAA announced those and other details about high school sports last week.

Schools

Watertown Schools Set Later Start Date, Staff to Use Extra Time to Prep for COVID-19 Learning

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The School Committee voted Monday night to move the first day of school to Sept. 22, 2020, but teachers and staff will return to work before Labor Day. The time before classes start will be used for training and preparation for teaching during COVID-19. This includes starting with virtual learning for almost all students. This model will continue until students can return to school in smaller numbers than a typical school year.

Arrests

Police Log: Pair Pinched on Drug Charges, 2 Bicycles Stolen

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

Aug. 11, 1:20 p.m.: A Watertown Police detective was dropping something off at an address on Sycamore Street when he spotted two men asleep in a black BMW. The detective recognized the car and when he looked inside he saw a large clear plastic bag with a brown substance inside, which he believed was fentanyl. Other items consistent with drug dealing were also found in the car.

Schools

School Committee to Discuss Reopening of Watertown Schools

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With the beginning of school just weeks away, the Watertown School Committee will discuss the reopening plan on Monday night, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m.

At the last School Committee meeting, members voted to go with the “Bridge to Hybrid” plan, where Watertown students will start the year remotely and then move to a hybrid model where students will alternate days attending classes in person and remotely. With the goal of moving to a hybrid model when the COVID-19 outbreak allows, students will be split into two cohorts for the elementary and middle schools. These will be used when the in-person learning begins under the hybrid model, but the cohorts will also be used in the beginning when students are doing remote learning. See the draft sample school schedules by clicking here.

Around Town

Candidates Q&As for 10th Middlesex State Rep.: Lawn vs. Leary

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Candidates for the 10th Middlesex State Representative election, John Lawn of Watertown and Alison Leary of Newton. Incumbent State Rep. John Lawn faces a challenge from Newton City Councilor Alison Leary for the 10th Middlesex State Representative seat, which includes the Westside of Watertown. Watertown News presented each candidate with a set of questions about their positions, concerns and more. See what they said. Both seek the Democratic nomination for the 10th Middlesex District.