Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/page/2/)
Properties around Watertown will host open houses from Friday, June 26 to Sunday, June 28. 20-22 Franklin St., $1,149,900, 4 bedroom 2 bathroom 2,330 sq. ft. 2 Family, Open houses: Saturday, June 27 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Sunday, June 28 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
48 Beacon Park, $1,180,000, 3 bedroom 4 bathroom 1,650 sq. ft.
Perkins School for the Blind President and CEO David Barth, right, speaks with a student during the White Cane Walk. (Courtesy of Perkins School for the Blind)
David Barth did not take the most direct route to becoming Perkins School for the Blind’s President and CEO, but he told Watertown News that the work helping some of the most vulnerable children get the education, services, and rights that they deserve is something he has done during his whole career. Barth joined the Perkins team in September 2025, after many years working on behalf of children around the globe with the U.S. government (including USAID) and non-governmental organizations, most recently as Vice President of International Programs at Save the Children. Barth is Perkins’ 11th director, and he said taking over an institution with a long and storied history of work for the blind and visually impaired is an awesome responsibility. “So this job is a privilege, because you get to conduct this orchestra of really, really, really talented people who are really, really committed,” Barth said.
(UPDATED: June 25, 3:10 p.m.: the Watertown Children’s production is in July, stay tuned for more information)
The Pride month celebration continues this week with the Tipsy Tea Party on Sunday. The final weekend of a play by a new theater company is at the Mosesian Center. Take a tour of the historic Gore Mansion and learn about the intricacies of the wallpaper in the former governor’s home on Saturday. In the mood to make something, learn how at the Hatch Makerspace on Friday. TIPSY TEA PARTYSunday, June 28, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.Commander’s Mansion, 440 Talcott Ave.
The Parker Annex Building (Courtesy of City of Watertown)
City officials have learned what it’s like to renovate a 100+ year old building, and the unwanted surprises that come with it. On Tuesday night, the City Council approved a $373,000 budget transfer to cover the cost of unexpected additional repairs, as well as to insulate the Parker Annex. The former elementary school on Watertown Street opened in 1914, and was sold by the Town in 1986. In 2022, the now City of Watertown bought back the building, which has been turned into office space. Since then, the City has been planning to turn Parker in to a City Hall annex, and hired contractors to renovate the building.
A group of Hosmer Elementary School students met at Casey Park on Fridays this Spring to form a Bike Bus and ride to school. (Contributed Photo)
During the spring, a group of students and their families rode their bicycles from the Southside to Hosmer Elementary School, forming what became known as the Bike Bus. The first Bike Bus took place on May 1, and continued every Friday (weather permitting) and concluded on Thursday, June 18 before the Juneteenth holiday. “The kids would start at Casey Park and make multiple stops along their way to Hosmer to pick up more friends,” said Maureen Schrader. “This all stemmed from Jennifer Beatty’s son, Rory, wanting to ride his bike to school.”
The candidates for the Suffolk & Middlesex State Senate seat will appear at a forum hosted by the Watertown and Belmont Democratic Town Committees. Incumbent Will Brownsberger and challenge Dan Lander will discuss their view on the issues at the forum. The event will be held on Tuesday, June 30 at 7 p.m. at the Coolidge Apartments, 319 Arlington St. in Watertown. The Suffolk & Middlesex District includes Watertown, Belmont, and parts of Cambridge and Boston.
The large W adorns the wall of the glass stairwell near the intersection of Common and Spring streets. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
On a tour of the nearly completed new Watertown High School, a group saw classrooms that look ready to host classes, along with some of the gems of the new building: the gymnasium, the auditorium, and a two-story media center (a.k.a. the library). Christy Murphy of owner project management firm Vertex gave an update on the status of the project before the group toured the building. “We are about 97% complete, that’s in dollars, but there’s a lot of details (left). So, as we’re walking around, you’re going to see spaces that are shockingly done — some furniture’s here — finishes,” Murphy said.
A trio of condos and a single family home were sold this week. 29 Laurel St #29, $1,065,000, 4 bedroom 3 bathroom 2,211 sq. ft. Condo
312 Charles River Road, $825,000, 3 bedroom 1 bathroom 2,434 sq. ft.