Schools

School Committee Approves Interim Student Services Head, Creates Subcommittee to Review Special Education

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The School Committee approved the hiring of the interim Director of Student Services, who will oversee the special education program in the Watertown Public Schools, and also created a subcommittee focused on Student Services that will look at the district’s special education program. The moves made at the July 27 meeting, came in the wake of a push by parents of students in the special education program to make changes to the program and remove the Director of Student Services for not providing the services needed by students and creating an environment of fear and distrust. The discussion around Watertown’s Special Education program has become heated, including an online threat directed toward one of the School Committee members. Parents Concerns

For the past few School Committee meetings, parents have spoken about their experiences, their concerns about the special education program in Watertown, and what they would like to see change. Many have spoken about not feeling heard, being targeted for asking for services for their children, and not trusting Watertown special education program.

Real Estate

Record Breaking Home Sale in Watertown, Single Family Goes for $2.6+ Million

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The home that fetched a record-breaking figure in Watertown. (Courtesy of Compass)

A four-bedroom Colonial near Oakley Country Club sold for the highest price on record for a single-family home in Watertown. The home at 122 Garfield Street closed for $2.65 million on July 15, 2026. The seller’s agent was Sarah Shimoff of Compass. The home with four bedrooms, three full baths and one half bath was rebuilt and refinished in 2016-17, and has views of the Country Club.

Elections

State Rep. Candidate Debate to be Hosted by Watertown News, Watertown Cable

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In the first of two debates for races in the Sept. 1, 2026 State Primary, the candidates for 10th Middlesex State Representative will appear in a live televised debate on Watertown Cable Access Television. The debate is co-sponsored by Watertown News. State Rep. John Lawn and challenger Alison Leary, who is a Newton City Councilor, will be in the Watertown Cable studio for the debate on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026 at 7 p.m. The moderator will be Watertown Cable Anchor Jim Vershbow.

Real Estate

More Than a Dozen Open Houses Around Watertown

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Watertown home seekers have 14 open houses to visit over the weekend of July 24-26. 10 Purvis St. #10, $1,225,000, 3 bedroom 3 bathroom 1,893 sq. ft. Condo, Open houses: Friday, July 24 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Saturday, July 25 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Sunday, July 26 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

12 Bennett Road, $699,900, 3 bedroom 1 bathroom 1,184 sq.

Entertainment

WEEKEND FUN: Arts Pop Up, Watertown Children’s Theatre, Pair of Art Exhibits, Music & Theater Performance, Screening of “Hamilton”

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“DEMOCRACY IS A VERB AND SO IS LOVE,” by Julia Csekö is on display at exhibits at the the Mosesian Center for the Arts. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The Watertown Arts Market is still a couple weeks away, but you can see several artists and listen to live music at the Arts Pop Up on Saturday. The Mosesian Center for the Arts is featuring a pair of art exhibits. The Watertown Children’s Theatre presents an electropop opera on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Friday, Mount Auburn Cemetery presents a performance of music and theater.

Around Town

TREATY DAY 250: Pact Signed in Watertown in 1776 Remains Alive 250 Years Later

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Members of the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet tribes traveled to take part in the celebration fo the 250th anniversary of the Treaty of Watertown (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Hundreds packed a theater in Watertown on Saturday to celebrate an event that took place 250 years before. The town was the site of the signing of the United States’ first treaty with a foreign nation — the Treaty of Watertown. Descendants of the signers of the document from the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet tribes emphasized that the agreement that was forged as a wartime alliance also created friendships and provided rights and protections for the signers that are still important in 2026. The City of Watertown joined with the Historical Society of Watertown, and members of Maliseet, Mi’kmaq tribes, as well as representatives of the Massachusett Tribe, whose territory includes Watertown, to plan a grand celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Treaty of Watertown on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. Around 50 members of the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet tribes came down from Maine, and parts of Canada for the Treaty celebration.