Top 10 Stories of the Year on Watertown Patch
See which stories were the most popular with readers this year.
In just a couple months since Watertown Patch launched, there has been plenty of news in town. Looking back at the abbreviated year, Patch compiled the top stories of 2010.
There have been triumphs on the athletic fields, controversial condo developments and plenty of meetings in Town Hall.
Rather than picking which news events were the most important or had the most impact, however, we allowed the readers to do the picking for us. The following stories were the most read stories, according to the page views tracked at Patch headquarters:
10) Afternoon snowstorm makes roads slick, causes accidents (Dec. 20)
A mid-afternoon snowfall turned the streets of Watertown slick and for about an hour drivers had a hard time staying in control of their cars. No serious injuries were reported, but it made it tough to get around town.
9) Man attacked at Stop & Shop (Nov. 3)
A man waiting at the customer service counter at Stop & Shop on Watertown Street was attacked. Another man came in, dragged him into the parking lot and then punched and kicked him.
8) Chef Pradhan Brings a World of Experience to Red Lentil (Nov. 4)
Food writer Colleen Thompson interviewed Pankaj Pradhan, the chef at Watertown's Red Lentil restaurant. The chef shared some of his experiences in the culinary world, along with a recipe.
7) The Ins and Outs of Watertown's Winter Parking Policy (Dec. 6)
As the overnight street parking ban took effect, Watertown's winter parking policy was examined, and compared to the overnight parking rules of nearby communities.
6) Woman Embodied the Spirit of Watertown (Nov. 5)
Columnist Marian Ferro remembered friend and former-Watertown resident Ann Labadini Hamel. She passed away this fall from cancer, but she did not let her illness dampen her spirits.
5) Watertown Woman Struck, Killed by Orange Line in Malden (Nov. 15)
Tragedy struck in Malden when a 41-year-old Watertown woman was struck and killed by a MBTA Orange Line train in Malden.
4) Bentley Students Making a Difference at Boys & Girls Club (Nov. 3)
Students from nearby Bentley University play a special role at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. The college students volunteer to help run after-school programs at the center.
3) Watertown Police Officer Fired after Disciplinary Hearing. (Dec. 1)
Town officials fired a Watertown police officer after finding that he improperly delivered a restraining order, and then lied to his superiors about what he did.
2) Woman Struck by Hit-and-Run Driver on Mt. Auburn Street (Dec. 1)
A woman crossing Mt. Auburn Street, near Sacred Heart Church, was struck by a car. The driver did not stop, and the woman suffered minor injuries.
1) Bugaboo Creek Restaurants Close, Including Watertown Location (Nov. 17) The
Bugaboo Restaurant in the Arsenal Mall closed its doors as part of a wave of closings by the chain's owners on the East Coast.
Paul Angiolillo
11:49 am on Saturday, January 1, 2011
The near-completion of a dedicated, non-motorized corridor in Watertown, the Branch Path was a pleasant surprise to find out about (http://watertown.patch.com/articles/watertown-bike-path-closer-to-becoming-a-reality). In both the long run and the Big Picture, such innovative solutions to recreational, transportation, and environmental issues will make a huge difference in the attractiveness and quality of life in U.S. cities and towns--witness the popularity of the Minuteman Bikeway in Arlington, Lexington, and beyond. It's good to see that Watertown is in the mix.