Around Town

Podcast Focuses on People, Places & Stories of Watertown

By |

Matt Hanna has spent the last several months getting to know people living and working in Watertown, and has produced more than 20 episodes of Little Local Conversations. He provided the following information about his ongoing project:

Hi there! I’m Matt Hanna, a Watertown resident of 14 years now, and I want to share with you a little project I’ve been working on to dig a little deeper into the people, places, stories, and ideas of Watertown. Matt Hanna

I’ve always enjoyed living here and over the years in the city I’ve gotten married, had a kid, been a stay-at-home parent, sheltered in place, worked, and volunteered and I’ve experienced the city in all the ways those different life stages and points of view have brought me. But it wasn’t until quite recently that I started to truly appreciate how wonderfully unique Watertown is and especially how many amazing people have shaped and are shaping the city, in big ways for everyone to see, and in smaller, but no less important ways within smaller communities.

Around Town

Local Man Hopes to Find a Kidney Donor for Himself or Another Person in Need

By |

James Pagounes, second from right, seeks an organ donor before his kidneys fail. He is shown here with his family: wife, Joanne, and sons Othon, Kimon, and Iraklis. (Contributed Photo)

James Pagounes first learned he had something wrong with his kidneys when he got an abdominal ultrasound 15 years ago. “The doctor said, your stomach looks fine, but the guy looks and finds that my kidney has a problem,” he recalled. “It’s been declining ever since then.

Schools

Wage Increases, Bonuses Proposed for Staff of Extended Day Program

By |

The Extended Day program run at Watertown’s elementary schools serves 400 students, but officials have struggled to find and keep staff to run the after-school program. Extended Day is operated by Watertown Community Education, which is a self-sustainingdepartment of Watertown Public Schools. Its funding comes from tuition and fees, rather than from taxpayer dollars. The program is able to accommodate more than 90 percent of the demand, but there is a waiting list of 38 students for this fall. In a memo to the School Committee, Debi Cornelius, Director of Community Education, wrote:

“The challenges our community faces with after-school care are not unique to Watertown.

Around Town

Vendors & Sponsors Can Register for the 2024 Faire on the Square

By |

Watertown’s biggest celebration returns for its 25th year in September, and vendors and sponsors can sign up now. The City of Watertown provided the following information:

The 25th Anniversary of Watertown’s Faire on the Square is scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 12-5 p.m. at Saltonstall Park. Vendor registration is open through August 30, 2024. Visit www.faireonthesquare.com to learn more and register! Sponsorship opportunities for the Faire on the Square are now available!

Around Town

July 23 is Deadline to Comment on Possible Watertown Dam Removal

By |

Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown Dam near Watertown Square slows the flow of the Charles River. A group is advocating removing the dam. The consultants examining the possible removal of the Watertown Dam presented their findings after studying the area near the dam over the Charles River just west of Watertown Square. The public can comment on the proposal until July 23. The dam was discussed at a public meeting held on July 9 at the Watertown Library.

Around Town

Dozens of Watertown Students Make Dean’s List at UMass Amherst

By |

The following announcement was provided by UMass Amerst:

Below is a list of local students who were named to the dean’s list at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for the spring 2024 semester. In order to qualify, an undergraduate student must receive a 3.5 grade-point average or better on a four-point scale. WATERTOWNAriana Rose AufieroKenan Emre CancaPhilip Richard CentolaAidan Paul ConneelyAidan Henry CurryCarina Bella DeLorioRiley Francis DonlanTrisanne Phillipa DunstanRita Queenie HackettBenjamin Harrison HeepJackson Wallace HelieOlivia Juliet-Mei HooverAlyce JudgeLara Jacqueline KebabjianIlana KrebsLiam LawnMaeve Ella LawnAni Nanor ManjikianDavid Armani ManoukianRobert MartirosyanSaron NebiyeMadeline Mildred PoplawskiAram Alexander ReichJohn Payton-Michael RileySydney Willow RosenthalHenry Peter SarrisSabreena ShahOscar Robinson ShepardMason Thomas SmithBenjamin Roubik SurenianIsabella Delmaschio TancredoDaniel Kevin TattrieHrachya Tigran TonyanMichael J VarnumGregory Steven VenizelosAnna Rose Zarkadas

Watertown Students Earn Academic Honors at 11 Colleges

Around Town

2 Watertown Field Hockey Players Take Part in National Junior Championships, One Named to Junior Olympics Team

By |

The following announcement came from USA Field Hockey:

Following evaluation at the 2024 Junior Nexus Championship, presented by Osaka Hockey, USA Field Hockey is pleased to announce the athletes who have been selected to play in the 2024 Girls AAU Junior Olympic Games, including Reagan Driscoll of Watertown. This year’s event will take place at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, North Carolina, from July 29 to August 1. These selected athletes will have the opportunity to participate alongside some of the best athletes in other sports, from across the country. AAU Junior Olympic Games athletes have until Friday, July 19, 2024 to register online through their USA Field Hockey Membership Account. If a player declines their invitation, an alternate will be notified.