Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/)
Perkins School for the Blind student Hugh helps Watertown Savings Bank sort coins as part of a work experience partnership. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Students from Perkins School for the Blind have the opportunity to expand their education by leaving campus and learning on the job by working for businesses and organizations in and around Watertown.
For the first time, the Watertown Public Schools’ Special Education program has failed to earn a grade of “Meets Requirements” from state officials. The School Committee heard a report about the shortfalls and possible solutions at its Dec. 8 meeting.
Watertown’s contract with the Flock Safety company for eight license plate reading cameras was signed in September, but City officials are working on changing the section covering when data will be shared with other law enforcement. Meanwhile, a neighboring community terminated its contract with Flock, and another is determining its own policy for using the cameras.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department.
Watertown senior Jimmy Shrestha finished second at the Wakefield Lisitano Tournament over the weekend. Here he competes at the 2025 State Meet. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
The Watertown wrestlers had a successful return to the mats when five Raiders placed in the top five at the Wakefield Lisitano Tournament on Dec. 13.
Greetings Councilors:
Now that the electorate is aware of the Flock Safety camera fiasco; the Council is backpedaling to save face with a public process. Please: don’t insult us by spinning the words.
Nikola Atanasov
Nikola Atanasov, age 77, passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. He was the beloved husband of Dragica “Carol” (Lesar) Atanasov, with whom he had shared over 52 wonderful years of marriage.
The Watertown Fire Department is hiring firefighter-paramedics, and is starting alternative pathways to be hired. Find out more at an upcoming information session. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below.
Expect lane shifts and parking restrictions along the stretches of Mt. Auburn Street this week as construction crews work on drainage installation dig test pits. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below.
Three condos, a townhouse, and a three-family home were sold this week.
The lights are back on at the Watertown Middle School Gymnasium and the 2025-26 Basketball Season is underway. While Boys Hoops travelled to Belmont to open their campaign, the Girls opened at home to begin the the third and final interim season of hoops at the Middle School before beginning play at the new High School Gym in December of 2026. Coach Mike Tempesta, in his third year at the helm, and his young and small (as in only ten dressed) squad got off to a good start with a 63-54 win over the cross-town rival Marauders.
James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net.