Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/guest-writer/)
The Watertown Business Coalition encourages the community to shop, eat, and spend locally on Nov. 29 — Small Business Saturday. See more info in the announcement from the WBC, below. Small Business Saturday is THIS Saturday, November 29th! This holiday tradition, backed by American Express, celebrates small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The new Northeast Health Services clinic on Pleasant Street in Watertown. (Photo by Mario Joseph Forgione)
An outpatient mental health care clinic opened in Watertown on Pleasant Street, with another near town on Soldier Field Road in Brighton. Both are part of Northeast Health Services and offering a variety of services. See details in the announcement from Northeast Health Services, below. Northeast Health Services, a trusted provider of outpatient mental health care throughout Massachusetts, has expanded access to quality mental health care with the opening of two new clinics in the Boston area.
From Nov. 24 to 26, drivers will see lane shifts and parking restrictions on two stretches of Mt. Auburn Street as crews raise man holes and install drainage. See details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Raising Buried Structures
Crews will be raising buried utility structures, such as manholes and valve boxes, within the newly paved area along Mount Auburn Street between Lloyd Road and Boylston Street.
Drainage will be installed along Russell Street and Broadway for the Watertown High School project. There will be lane closures from Monday to Wednesday this week. See info provided by Vertex, Watertown’s project manager, below. Please be aware that a drainage liner will be installed on Monday 11/24 from Russell St along the lower portion of Broadway to the drain manhole at 24 Broadway. The duration of this work is expected to take 3 days and will require a one lane closure on Broadway from Monday, 11/24/25 thru 11/26/25.
Massachusetts State House (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
A bill to strengthen protections for health care workers that was passed the Massachusetts House of Representatives with no opposition was spearheaded by Watertown State Rep. John Lawn. See information about bill H.4767 provided by Rep. Lawn’s office, below. The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill on Nov. 19, 2025, that strengthens protections for health care workers, establishes preventive and protective standards to reduce the risk of violence, improves health care facility incident reporting, enhances interagency coordination to safeguard privacy, and creates legal protections for certain employees harmed in the line of duty. “Health care workers are heroes who are responsible for saving lives and for improving the overall health of our Commonwealth, which is why we owe it to them to ensure that they are able to do their jobs without fear for their wellbeing,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy).
Watertown will have a shortened Winter Parking Ban this year, but when the City Council voted to approve the change it also voted to approve stiffer fines for those who do not move their vehicles during a snow emergency. See information about the new Winter Parking Ban rules, and information about places in town to park if you don’t have a driveway or parking spot. Also see how to sign up for alerts so you can know when a Snow Emergency is declared in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Enforcement of the City’s overnight winter parking ban this season will begin on January 1, and end on March 1, 2026. Starting on January 1, no vehicle may remain on any public way for more than one hour between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. all days of the week. The City Council also approved an increased fine of $100 for parking on the street during a declared snow emergency. For residents in need of off-street parking options beginning on January 1 or during a snow emergency, please visit the Winter Parking Ban webpage where you can find the City’s available off-street parking options.
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. Combining this with the love of cartooning Small Saves emerged in 1991 and took on a life of his own. “To play goal – then come home and draw Small Saves — is my ideal definition of a good day.”
Perkins School for the Blind’s Chorus Chamber Singers will perform in two Holiday Concerts. (Photo from Perkins School)
Perkins School for the Blind students will perform in the school’s annual Holiday Concerts on its campus in Watertown. The public is invited to attend the free event. See details provided by the school, below. Get into the holiday spirit with festive music performed by students at Perkins School for the Blind, featuring traditional and popular carols, classical music, choral arrangements and instrumental works.