Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/page/2/)
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Jan. 13: Police received a report of a suspicious car idling on Melendy Avenue. Officer Francis Yannizzi responded and saw the vehicle. When he approached the vehicle drove off.
Massachusetts Poet Laureate Regie Gibson recited several of his poems at the 2026 Unity Breakfast. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Massachusetts’ Poet Laureate inspired the crowd at the 26th annual Unity Breakfast. During the event on Monday, awards were presented to a group monitoring immigration enforcement and supporting immigrants rights in Watertown, and a man who has been a big part of keeping the Unity Breakfast going through the Pandemic. The Unity Award at the 2006 Watertown Unity Breakfast went to the Rapid Response Network, while the Sue Kuder Unsung Hero Award went to Chuck Dickinson. Poet Laureate
Before the presentation of the awards, Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Regie Gibson, recited several of his pieces related to Dr. King and the struggles of today.
Watertown captain Jimmy Shrestha and the Raiders defeated Belmont and Lexington last week. seventh. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Watertown’s wrestlers continued their successful season going 2-0 last week, with wins over Belmont and Lexington, and competed in a tournament. The Raiders defeated Belmont 45-29 and Lexington 45-30, said Watertown Wrestling Coach Kevin Russo. “They are both solid teams, so the performance by our team was great to see,” Russo said.
Three condos and a pair of two-family homes were sold this week. 290 Pleasant St. APT 220, $585,000, 1 bedroom 1 bathroom 1,309 sq. ft. Condo
19 Chauncey St., $1,275,000, 1 bedroom 1 bathroom 3,223 sq.
The Watertown Public Schools may ask the City to tap the Special Education Stabilization Fund created several years ago for a rainy day. The 2026-27 School Budget may be stormy, as the district faces a shortfall of $2.5 million as of Monday’s School Committee meeting. Other ways to make up shortfalls may include reinstating athletics and extracurricular fees. Superintendent Dede Galdston provided the budget update on Jan. 12, before the School Committee’s budget hearings officially start.
The following announcement was provided by the Charles River Watershed Association:
Join CRWA staff and City of Watertown officials for an in-depth conversation about stormwater — what it is, how stormwater pollution impacts the Charles River, and the major challenges municipalities face in managing it. Learn how Watertown is implementing innovative solutions and leading the way in stormwater management within the Charles River watershed. Where: Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St., Watertown
When: Thursday, Jan. 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Link to event page: https://www.crwa.org/events/keeping-the-charles-clean-a-conversation-on-stormwater-innovation-in-watertown
Link to register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/j8j77de
Nearly 20 properties are hosting open houses in Watertown this week. 7 Melville Ter. #2, $950,000, 3 bedroom 3 bathroom 1,718 sq. ft. Condo, Open houses: Friday, Jan.
Watertown City Hall
Watertown residents were not overcharged on the CPA surcharge on their tax bills, City officials said, but bills in fiscal year 2025 looked different from other years, leading to the appearance that they were calculated differently. The issue came to the Administration’s attention when former City Councilor Angeline Kounelis sent a letter after she could not figure out why her FY2025 bill was different from previous and later years. It appeared that the CPA surcharge was applied to the entire property value, before the residential exemption was applied. It wasn’t a matter of new math, but rather new computer software, according to the explanation video produced by Watertown Community Engagement Specialist Tyler Cote. “It’s really just taking two different paths to the same end,” Cote said.