Police/Fire

Watertown Firefighters Save Dog from Fire on Adams Street

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A fire that began in the kitchen of a multi-family home on Adams Street was extinguished by the Watertown Fire Department on Wednesday. The Fire Department responded to a call at 5:31 p.m. on March 5 after resident reported smoke alarms sounding and smoke coming from the upper floors. “The fire, which originated in a third-floor apartment kitchen, was quickly brought under control by responding crews,” said Watertown Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson. When they arrived, crews forced entry into the apartment and found a fire in the kitchen area, Nicholson said. Firefighters from Engine 1 advanced a hose line to extinguish the flames while other teams ventilated the structure and checked for further fire spread.

Around Town

East End Open for Business During Road Construction, City Has Map of Parking Alternatives

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A map of alternative places to park during construction on Mt. Auburn Street in Coolidge Square. (City of Watertown)

The roadway through one of Watertown’s major business centers is being reconstructed, but the City reminds residents and customers that Coolidge Square is “Open for Business.” The stretch of Mt. Auburn Street in front of businesses like Artemis Yoga, Olespana, Dunkin’, and 7-Eleven is being torn up, theses businesses remain open.

Around Town

Watertown Housing Authority Hires New Executive Director

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Jaqueline Sullivan was chosen as the new Executive Director of the Watertown Housing Authority. (Contributed Photo)

The Watertown Housing Authority has a new executive director, after the Board of Commissioners voted to hire Jaqueline Sullivan, who had served as the Deputy Director of the WHA. She succeeds Michael Lara, who left to become the Executive Director of the Newton Housing Authority. See the WHA announcement below. On February 12, 2025, the Watertown Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the hiring of Jacqueline Sullivan as WHA’s new Executive Director.

Government

Get a Look at the Inner Workings of City Government at the New Watertown Civics Academy

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Watertown residents can get an in depth look into how the City’s government works, and even get a chance to see how they would deal with some real-world situations during a new program offered by the City. The City of Watertown recently announced the first Watertown Civics Academy, and residents can apply now through March 21. “Civics Academy is a 6-week program, meeting on Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. from May 8 to June 12, 2025. Each session will cover a different theme and topic within Watertown’s government, from the City Council, to our Public Works Department, to the way the City approaches Climate resiliency, and much more – all directly from the Watertown City Staff!,” the City’s announcement said. The idea for the Civics Academy came from Watertown City Manager George Proakis, according to Tyler Cote, the City’s Community Engagement Specialist, who is helping to plan the sessions.

Sports

Watertown Takes Care of Business in First Round of Boys Basketball State Tournament

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Watertown junior Will Carty led the Raiders in scoring against Oakmont in the State Tournament win. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Not all winning streaks are created equal. Some teams go on a roll, pile up the wins, but something may be amiss with regards to their play — and eventually they get exposed. In other instances, and this is where we are with Watertown boys basketball, a team finds its way and puts together an impressive run. On Jan. 22, the Raiders woke up having lost two in a row including a home loss where Wakefield pushed them around in the second half, and at Winchester where they gave up their high for the season in a 87-62 loss. But, starting on Friday, Jan.

Sports

Watertown Girls Basketball Rolls Past Previously Unbeaten Oakmont in State Tourney

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Watertown senior Caroline Andrade led the Raiders in scoring against Oakmont in the Round of 32 State Tourney game. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

On paper. A common-used phrase when analyzing a game that has yet to occur is “on paper,” as in the Oakmont High School Girls Varsity Basketball team, on paper, should be feared. They won 20 in a row, and only a loss in their last game kept them from being undefeated. And so, despite  coming into tonight’s Round of 32 MIAA Div. 3 State Tournament game against Watertown as the  18-seed, perhaps “on paper” Watertown, the 15-seed, should be worried- and the underdog? The MIAA determines seeding based on strength of schedule, a.k.a. quality of opponent, margins of wins and losses, and record. As far as Watertown was concerned, they knew they earned their 13-8 record, 11-5 in a very competitive Middlesex League. Oakmont, located west of 495, plays in the Mid-Wachusett League, and clearly the MIAA didn’t believe their record alone, while impressive, was enough to warrant a higher seed. Well, boys and girls, the MIAA got it right. Watertown came out of the gate strong, played an almost-flawless first quarter on the way to a 19-5 lead after one, and never looked back.  Watertown came away with a 63-43 win in a game that got unnecessarily chippy at the end, but fortunately no one got hurt.

Government

City Will Add New Position of Human Services Director

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City of WatertownThe Parker Annex Building is the recommended home of the City’s new Health and Human Services Department. A new position will be added to the City government, the director of Human Services, after the City Council approved implementing the recommendations of the Health and Human Services Assessment report. On Tuesday, the Council unanimously approved the recommendations, and the Human Services Director position has been posted on the City’s Employment d webpage. The Council also approved transferring $38,000 from the Council Reserve to fund the new position for the rest of the fiscal year. Rob Buchanan, Principal at Health Management Associates (HMA), presented the recommendations of the assessment to the City Council’s Committee on Human Services at a meeting on Feb.

Sports

Watertown Hockey Wins Double Overtime Thriller in State Tournament

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The Watertown-Wayland hockey team celebrates a 4-3 double overtime victory over Pembroke in the MIAA Div. 3 State Tournament. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

For a moment, the Watertown-Wayland boys hockey team’s season ended Wednesday at John A. Ryan Arena, but then the sudden death tally by Pembroke was ruled “no goal” by the referees. The Raiders used their new lease on life to score the winner in the 4-3 double overtime and propel the team to the Round of 16 of the MIAA Div. 3 State Tournament.