Entertainment

Budding Artist: 87-Year Old Painter’s First Exhibition Hosted by Watertown Library

By |

Seda MavetosianMargarita Avetian stands in front of some of the paintings in her exhibition at the Watertown Library. During the month of March, the paintings of an emerging Watertown artist have been displayed in the Library’s art gallery. Margarita Avetian has only been painting for two years, but her work has received rave reviews from other artists. Not bad for someone who never had any artistic training during any of her 87 years. Avetian’s daughter, Seda Matevosian said her mother got started by chance when she was putting on a fun artistic activity for some of her family and friends.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Busted in Drug Investigation, Crypto Currency Stolen

By |

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

March 16, 3:52 p.m.: Security at Best Buy reported a man who had taken several video games and left the store without paying. Police located a man fitting the description near Nike at Arsenal Yards and he was unwrapping a Nintendo DS game. Officers spoke to the man who said he was at Best Buy and when he was leaving he realized he had not paid for the games, but he continued to exit the store. Police looked inside the man’s backpack and found 10 Nintendo games, plus a Nintendo DS game that had been reported stolen from a vehicle parked in the parking lot near Best Buy.

Government

Watertown’s New Director of Senior Services Has ‘a Commitment to Seniors’

By |

Lydia McCoy has been appointed Watertown’s new Director of Senior Services. Watertown’s new Director of Senior Services, Lydia McCoy, comes to town with range of experience working with seniors. Last week, City Manager George Proakis announced McCoy’s appointment. She will oversee the Council on Aging, the Watertown Senior Center, and the Watertown Food Pantry. “Ms. McCoy has a broad range of experience, an educational background, and a real commitment to seniors,” Proakis told the City Council.

Government

City Splitting Up Financial Positions After Failing to Find “Unicorn”

By |

Watertown City Hall

After the City Council struggled to hire someone to replace retired Auditor and Financial Director Tom Tracy, City Manager George Proakis recommended that the job be split into two. Last week, Proakis told the City Council of his plan to split up the duties that Tracy had, rather than trying to find someone with the same skills. Tracy retired in October after working for nearly 30 years in Watertown, and has stayed on part-time to help Proakis with his first budget as City Manager. “We’ve done a pretty broad search, we hired a consultant and we made some real progress in searching all corners for this type of position,” Proakis said. “After taking a significant look at this I have come to the conclusion that the combined chief financial officer/auditors are unicorns.

Around Town

City’s Rodent Control Program Using Smart Traps to Eliminate & Track Pests

By |

With the problem of rodents growing around Watertown, and more expected as a result of a pair of major road projects, the Department of Public Works will deploy more robust rodent control methods. The City will use dozens of smart traps that will both take care of rats and other rodents, and also provide information such as where the “hot spots” are, said Tom Watkins, Director of Administration and Finance for the Watertown DPW. “The Anticimix technology does represent a change in the way we are approaching our efforts in addressing rodent control in the City,” Watkins said. “The Anticimix is a SMART technology that provides us real live data for which we will use to strategically locate the traps as the program moves forward.” The City, in partnership with Modern Pest Services, will deploy 40 of the traps on Arsenal Street and 30 on Mt.

Around Town

A Look Inside the Watertown Home Selling for $2.6 Million

By |

Real Estate AdvisorsThe home on Robbins Road selling for $2.6 million. Perched near the top of the hill above Watertown High School sits a newly constructed home with a modern look, bright spacious rooms, and views far beyond the City limits. The asking price for the 4,718 sq. ft. single family home: $2.6 million.

Government

City’s 5-Year Capital Plan Includes Park Projects, School Improvements, and Demolishing the Old Police Station

By |

The five-year Capital Improvement Plan includes 43 items, including 19 new items for Fiscal Year 2024. Projects in the pan include the new Watertown High School, the Victory Field track and courts area, the second part of the Arsenal Park renovation, and the demolition of the old Police Station. In addition, the capital plan also includes a field house at Victory Field, an extension of the Community Path, replacement of the spray pad at Filippello Park, lighting improvements at Saltonstall Park, improvements to the baseball field at Casey Park, and improvements to Sullivan Playground. There are also multiple projects at Watertown’s schools, improvement projects at the Library, the newly acquired Parker School office building, and at the John A. Ryan Skating Arena. Purchases of vehicles and equipment for the Fire Department and the Department of Public Works also made the list.

Around Town

Court Renovation & Multi-Sport Rink at Moxley Field Approved

By |

CDM SmithA drawing of the approved project to resurface the basketball and tennis courts at Moxley Field and add a multi-sport rink with boards. The area of Moxley Field which now has two tennis courts and a basketball court will be renovated, and one of the tennis courts will be replaced by a multi-sport rink. On March 16, the City Council approved the project, which had been in the queue for capital projects since Fiscal Year 2016, said City Manager George Proakis. The $1.38 million project includes the demolition and removal of the current courts, and the creation of the new courts and the rink. The grassy area of Moxley Field will be the temporary home of Watertown High School while the new building is constructed.