Government

Fire Chief: Adding Paramedics to Department is a Quality of Life Issue

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The move to have the Watertown Fire Department handle paramedic service in-house is a matter of quality of life, said Fire Chief Mario Orangio. The Fire Department will hire four paramedics with a grant from FEMA, and some current members of the Fire Department will train to in advanced life support so the Watertown can provide its own paramedic service (read more here). Right now the town uses Armstrong Ambulance, which is based in Waltham. When Watertown runs its own ambulances the response time will be cut down. “The best thing is it will save time,” Orangio said.

Sports

See Photos from Watertown Baseball and Softball Opening Day!

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A parade of young ballplayers marched down through town to Casey Field Saturday morning for the opening day of Watertown Baseball and Softball. The weather finally cooperated. The season was already delayed a couple weeks by weather, said League President Greg Salvucci. The special guest at the ceremony was Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio. He recalled opening day back in 1978 when he was a player when the game was snowed out.

Sports

Take Me Out to the Ball Game – in Watertown!

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It’s time to play ball for Watertown’s young baseball and softball players. Opening Day for Watertown Baseball, Watertown Softball and Watertown Challenger is Saturday, May 3. Teams will kick off the season with a parade, beginning at Saltonstall Park on Main Street, and ending at Casey Field on Watertown Street. The parade will be led by Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio. Casey Field will host the opening ceremonies, then there will be a full slate of games.

Around Town

Watertown Firefighters Now Armed with Antidote for Heroin Overdoses

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Deaths from overdoses caused by heroin and other opioids has risen in Massachusetts, and has even impacted Watertown. The Watertown Fire Department is one of the first departments to have access to an antidote for overdoses. Starting on Feb. 20, all Watertown fire vehicles began carrying Nalaxone, a drug that can be given as an antidote to a person suspected of suffering from an opioid overdose, said Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio. Opioids also include prescription painkiller medicines codeine and oxycontin.