Around Town

Parts of Mt. Auburn to be Repaved in Week of April 21-24

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The City of Watertown provided the following Mount Auburn Street Update for the week of  April 21 – April 24, 2026. No work will be performed on Monday, 4/20/2026, due to the holiday. Milling and Paving

Milling (removal of the top layer of pavement) and paving will occur on Mount Auburn Street between Boylston Street and Chauncy Street and on School Street between Porter Street and Adams Avenue. Detours will be in place for this work. Please see details belowTraffic and Sidewalk Impacts

Starting 4/21/2026 through 4/24/2026, a detour will be in place on School Street for milling and paving operations.

Letters

LETTER: Resident Endorses Daniel Lander for State Senate

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To the Editor,

As a Watertown resident, I find it deeply unsettling how little we actually know about what happens behind the closed doors of our State House. In 2024, I was among the 66% of Watertown voters —and the 71.5% of folks statewide — who voted in favor of a ballot question to finally allow an audit of the State Legislature. We spoke with a clear, united voice, yet years later, legislative leaders have consistently blocked that audit. It is frustrating to live in a state that is consistently rated as one of the least effective legislatures in the country. To me, transparency isn’t just a political buzzword; it’s a major problem because, right now, we simply don’t know what our legislators are doing.

Entertainment

Watertown Lit Squad Seeks Submissions for Their 2026 Poets and Writers Sampler

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The Lit Squad tent at the Watertown Arts Market. Watertown’s Lit Squad is a cohort of writers who reside in Watertown and neighboring communities and who first gathered in 2021 to celebrate their word arts as part of the annual Watertown Arts Market. Since then they have exhibited at each WAM with a sales booth for their works, a program of featured readings and open mic, and with a new edition of their POETS AND WRITERS SAMPLER, featuring brief samples of local writers’ works.. They’re now open to receive submissions for the 2026 edition. See announcement and guidelines below.

Letters

OP-ED: Thoughts on the Proposed Updated Noise Ordinance

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(NOTE: The City Council’s Committee on Rules and Ordinances will discuss the proposed updated Noise Ordinance. Tuesday, April 21, 6 p.m. City Hall in the Lower Hearing Room and remote. See more info here). 

By Rita ColafellaWatertown Resident

Last year, I opposed the adoption of the COVID era (2019-2024) noise ordinance draft. That same framework has resurfaced in discussions of the 2026 proposal. The core problem with the earlier draft was its reliance on vague, subjective standards like “plainly audible,” where violations do not depend entirely on objective measurement. This invites arbitrary enforcement where everyday sounds, from a humming air conditioner to a child’s birthday party, can trigger citations simply for being heard next door.

Around Town

Historical Tours Focuses on Watertown During the Revolution

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The following announcement was provided by the Historical Society of Watertown:

The Historical Society of Watertown invites you to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the fight for American Independence by taking a walking tour of “Watertown During the Revolution.”

Dates: Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 10:00amSunday, May 24, 2026 at 10:00amSunday, June 7, 2026 at 10:00am(3 chances to take this walking tour)

Meeting Place: Zussman Memorial Park beside 66 Galen St. (The tour will be cancelled for rain.)

Join Historical Society of Watertown walking tour leaders Lynne O’Connell and Beth Houston for a 90-minute walking tour to learn about the important role that the town played during the American Revolution. After the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, the Provincial Congress assembled in the town’s Meeting House, making Watertown the seat of the Massachusetts government for 18 months. As a result, many prominent Revolutionary War figures boarded in town, including Paul Revere and Joseph Warren. On the tour, we’ll visit the sites of important dwellings (many of which are no longer standing), public spaces, monuments and plaques as we make our way to the 1772 Edmund Fowle House, where the Executive Council of the Provincial Congress met.

Schools

MassBay College Hosting Annual Spring Open House

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MassBay Community College announced it will hold its annual Spring Open House on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on its Wellesley Hills campus. The signature event on the College’s recruitment calendar, the Spring Open House is an opportunity for prospective students to talk with current students, faculty, and staff to learn about the 70 degree and certificate programs offered at MassBay. Participants will learn about the Massachusetts free community college programs, including eligibility requirements and how to take advantage of this opportunity to attend MassBay for free. Additional topics include how MassBay credits transfer to bachelor’s degree programs, free academic support services, information for veterans, free resources available on campus such as emergency grants and free food, information about free mental health counseling, and more. The Open House will feature a self-guided tour of campus and on-the-spot-admissions where staff will help attendees start the process of enrolling for college.

Entertainment

CARTOON: Small Saves Shows What’s Under the Mask

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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.”

Around Town

Recreation Department Starting Youth Field Hockey in Fall, Registration Open

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Registration is open for a new program offering from Watertown Recreation: Youth Field Hockey. See more information in the announcement from Recreation Department, below. Get ready for a fun, team-focused fall season with the Watertown Recreation Youth Field Hockey Program! Whether your child is new to the game or looking to build on their skills, this league provides a positive, instructional environment centered on development, sportsmanship, and fun. We proudly compete in the Baystate Youth Field Hockey League, offering a consistent and supportive experience for all players.