Around Town

Citizens Petition Seeks to Limit Size of Building in Watertown Square

By |

The Central Business District can be seen in red. It is located in Watertown Square. Tuesday night, the City Council will consider a citizens petition to reduce the size allowed for new buildings going up in the area around Watertown Square. The City Council will meet on Tuesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. in City Hall, and will also have remote participation by Zoom. The agenda also includes a vote on funding for the recommended projects from the Community Preservation Committee.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Shoplifters Arrested, Pair of Unemployment Frauds

By |

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

April 10, 4:29 pm.: A man was seen at Target taking an electric scooter. Security followed the man who got into a grey 2008 Toyota Camry and they got the plate. Police got the description and pulled the vehicle over on Arsenal Street. The scooter was in the back seat.

Schools

Local Company Visits WHS Class Bearing Gifts & Knowledge of Biotechs

By |

Charlie BreitroseWatertown High School teacher Kelly Hannon works with students in her anatomy and physiology class. A Watertown High School science class recently got a visit from representatives from one of the City’s life science companies, which also provided some donations that will help students learn about the human body. In early April, three employees of Enanta Pharmaceuticals stopped by a WHS anatomy and physiology class to speak to the students about their work. Joyce Sweeney Gibbons told the students that she did not take a direct road to her current position as senior scientist in virology at Enanta. “If you have no idea what you want to do, that’s OK,” Sweeney Gibbons said.

Around Town

Local Woman Looking to Turn Her Passion for Nails into a Business

By |

Some nails designed and created by Watertown’s Rickteyzia Simmons, who plans to open a nail salon called Candy Paint. What started as a pandemic hobby has turned into a calling for a Watertown woman, who now hopes to turn her passion for nail design into a local business. Rickteyzia Simmons currently works as a high school teacher in Cambridge and works on nails during her free time, but she is working to open her own nail salon, Candy Paint by Teyzia, in Watertown. Simmons taught herself how to do her own nails, and got a good response. “It was my pandemic hobby.

Around Town

Watertown Remembers the Chaos, Concern and Celebrations During the Shootout & Search for the Marathon Bomber

By |

Police patrolled the streets of Watertown on April 19, 2013, searching for one of the Boston Marathon Bombers. Photo courtesy of Jade Burke. It seems like ages ago and at the same time just like yesterday that Watertown was rocked by gunfire and explosions, then went into lockdown as police scoured homes and yards for the Boston Marathon Bomber, before locating and capturing him in a boat parked on Franklin Street. On April 19, 2023, the 10th anniversary of the Watertown Shootout and Manhunt, Watertown News is sharing the memories of readers of that monumental day in our community. The area was already on edge.

Schools

Watertown Superintendent Given Raise, Makes Salary Close to Average for Comparable Districts

By |

Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston. Watertown Superintendent of Schools Dede Galdston received a 3 percent raise from the School Committee, which will put her around average for comparable school districts. The raise makes her salary $193,636.91 for Fiscal Year 2023, which runs through the end of June. The Superintendent deserves the raise, said City Council President Mark Sideris, who works with her on three boards. “I believe that that is a very reasonable request and I believe that from where I sit in positions on the School Building and School committees and the City Council, we have a superintendent who goes above and beyond constantly,” Sideris said.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Scammer Posed as Customs Agent, Car Stolen from Gas Station

By |

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

April 8, 6:43 p.m.: A shoplifter at Target grabbed a bike buggy, left the store without paying and fled. Police received a description, and they located the man walking toward the bike path behind Target. He had hidden the buggy behind a dumpster near the path, but officers found it and returned it to the store. Police also determined the man was wanted on a warrant from South Boston District Court for possession of a Class A drug, possession of a Class B drug, and intent to distribute a Class B drug.

Sports

Watertown Pro Hockey Player Earns League Award for Perseverance, Sportsmanship

By |

Boston PrideBoston Pride defender Lauren Kelly won the Premier Hockey Federation’s Denna Laing Award. The following announcement was provided by the Premier Hockey Federation:

The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced that defender Lauren Kelly of the Boston Pride has been selected as the Denna Laing Award recipient for the 2022-23 regular season. The award was determined by Denna and her family and goes to the player who most exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the sport. “Selecting the winner of this year’s Denna Laing Award was extremely difficult because there were many deserving candidates, each traversing their own adversity with relentlessness and a positive attitude,” said Laing. “This year’s winner, Lauren Kelly, has garnered the respect of her coaches, teammates, opponents, officials, and fans.