See How to Reserve Your Spot for the 26th Annual Watertown Unity Breakfast

World in Watertown is thrilled to invite you to the 26th annual Watertown Unity Breakfast on Jan. 19, 2026 from 8:30-11 a.m. 

Join us in person at the Hellenic Cultural Center, 25 Bigelow Ave., Watertown. Get your ticket at  https://watertownunitybreakfast.eventbrite.com

A hot breakfast from Wicked Bagel will be served at 8:30 a.m. followed by music, roundtable conversations, student essays, and the presentation of the Unity Award. Every year, the community in Watertown, Massachusetts, comes together on Martin Luther King Day to honor his life and civil rights legacy by recommitting to foundational principles of racial, social, and economic justice. 

All ages are welcome to attend the event! The suggested donation for adult attendees is $10-$25.

Join the Community Read of Works by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Community Read: Works by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will take place on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026 at the Watertown Free Public Library. See the announcement provided by the Unity Breakfast organizers. Please join us for a Community Read on Sunday, January 11 from 2:00-3:30 in the MasterangeloRoom of Watertown Public Library. Together we will be reading aloud a work by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and discussing its message and relevance for today.

Watertown Library Invites Public to Join the Cook the Books Group

The Watertown Free Public Library. (Courtesy of WFPL)

Cooking enthusiasts are wanted to join the Watertown Free Public Library’s cooking group. See details in the announcement from the Library, below. The 2025 Cook the Books group celebrated a delicious year of recipe swapping with a cookie exchange at the Watertown Free Public Library! 

Once a month, the Cook the Books Group meets in the Library café to share favorite cookbooks, recipes, and food. Members share cooking tips and tricks while bonding over great food and great company.

LETTER: A Constitutional Question for the 250th Anniversary

As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Constitution, we should confront a structuralquestion that receives far too little attention: What happens if a President refuses to comply witha ruling of the Supreme Court? Over decades, both Congress and the Court have contributed to a presidency with more concentrated power than the Framers intended. Congress has weakened itself through gridlock and partisan entrenchment. The Supreme Court, through decisions expanding presidential immunity and narrowing avenues for accountability, has further strengthened the office. The result is a modern presidency that holds the only practical enforcement authority in the federal system.

Watertown Musician Receives Iguana Music Grant from Passim

Passim awarded Watertown artist Zachariah Hickman a grant which will enable him to fund his new recording project. See more information about the Iguana Music Grants from Passim, below. Passim has announced the 2025 recipients of its Iguana Music Fund, awarding $40,000 to 23 New England-based artists. Established in 2008, the Iguana Fund supports musicians at critical stages of their careers, providing resources for community and career building projects including recording, equipment purchases, and event creation. This year’s recipients represent a wide range of genres, cultural traditions, and artistic approaches, reflecting the depth and diversity of the region’s music ecosystem.

See How to Dispose of Your Christmas Tree

Watertown residents can put their Christmas trees out for pickup through Jan. 19. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. The Department of Public Works (DPW) will be picking up Christmas trees through the week of Monday, January 19, 2026. To ensure your tree is collected, remove all ornaments, lights, and decorations and place it on the curb on your designated trash and recycling day.

LETTER: Watertown’s Trash Pickup is Broken

The New Trash Pickup Rules Don’t Work

Three years ago, Watertown significantly changed the rules around trash pickup. Previously, we could get rid of most things easily by putting them out with the trash. Now, the system is to call Republic to schedule a pickup for bulky “burnables” such as old furniture, and they charge a variable amount per item determined by Republic based on size and shape. They won’t take them otherwise. Similarly, so-called “white goods” such as electronics and small appliances must also be scheduled with Republic, and mattresses need to be scheduled with yet another different service.