Around Town

Sidewalk Work, Lane Shifts and Parking Restrictions on Mt. Auburn Street This Week

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Construction of the Mt. Auburn Street Project this week includes work on sidewalks, but business entrances will still be accessible. Also, expect require lane shifts and parking restrictions. See details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Traffic Line Striping – Overnight Work

Traffic line striping is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, 2026, beginning at 8:00 p.m. and lasting approximately four hours.

Government

City Hall Annex at Parker Building to Temporarily Close

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City’s Parker Building at 124 Watertown Street will be temporarily closed from May 2-12, 2026, to undergo electrical service upgrades in the building. All City Departments who work in the Parker Building will be relocated to Watertown City Hall’s Lower Hearing Room (ground floor of 149 Main Street) during the temporary closure. Members of the community needing to communicate with the departments below can continue to reach them by phone, or by visiting the Lower Hearing Room during their normal operating hours, which can be found on the City’s website. Public Health

Inspectional Services Division

Zoning & Code Enforcement

Planning & Zoning

Information Technology

Public Buildings

The Watertown Food Pantry will be closed on their regularly scheduled days of May 5 and May 12, 2026, due to the service upgrades. To account for the closed dates, the Food Pantry will run a temporary schedule at their location in the Parker Building on:

Tuesday, April 28, 10am – 2pm (regular hours)

Friday May 1, 10am – 2pm

Wednesday, May 13, 10am – 2pm

Thursday, May 14, 10am – 2pm

Tuesday, May 19, 10am – 2pm (regular hours)

The City has communicated with all private tenants in the Parker Building, who will not be able to operate in the building during this closure.

Schools

Class of 2019 Can Get Copies of Their School Records They are Destroyed

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Members of the Class of 2019 can get copies of the records before they are be destroyed. See more information in the announcement from the Watertown Public Schools, below. Kathleen Desmarais, M.Ed, Director of Student Services, is notifying the public that in accordance with Massachusetts Student Records Regulations temporary records which have been maintained by the school system for the Class of 2019 are about to be destroyed. Former students have the right to receive copies of any or all of these records prior to their destruction. After July 1, 2026, only the transcript, which includes the minimum information necessary to reflect the student’s educational progress, will be on file for at least 60 years.

Entertainment

COMIC: See What Caught Small Saves’ Eye

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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.”

Government

Council to Discuss Watertown’s FY27 Budget at 3 Public Hearings

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Watertown City Hall

The City Council will hold three public hearings on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget on May 6, 11 and 12 at 6 p.m each day. The meetings will take place in City Hall, will be televised by Watertown Cable Access, and will be available by Zoom (click here for links). See more details provided by the City of Watertown, below. In accordance with the Watertown City Charter and the Council Rules, the Honorable City Council will meet, as the Committee of the Whole, for the purpose of holding public hearings on the City Manager’s Proposed Budget for the Fiscal Year 2027. The public hearings on the City Manager’s Proposed Budget for the Fiscal Year 2027 will be held as follows:

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 – 6 PM

Constituent Services

Information Technology

City Clerk / Elections

Community Development & Planning

Health and Human Services Departments

Public Safety Departments

Non-Department Appropriations (Debt, Capital Projects, Etc.)

Monday, May 11, 2026 – 6 PM

Human Resources

Public Buildings

Library

Recreation Departments

School Department

Department of Public Works

Water & Sewer Enterprise Budgets

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 – 6 PM

City Council

City Manager

Auditing

Procurement

Assessing

Treasurer / Collector

Parking Lots & Meters

City Attorney

Department Heads will be available for questions at the above scheduled hearings.

Letters

LETTER: How Did That Garage Get There??

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“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” George Bernard Shaw

To quote one of our Watertown residents in Watertown News regarding the survey for the (failed) city logo, “There is a FlashVote asking for input on which of 4 versions of this logo people prefer. Not sure why this project has continued without community input until – ‘which version of this logo do you prefer?’ The comments in this thread were clear, sensible and seemingly went completely unheard…”

This feels very familiar. How did we get to a place where we’re considering the fine points of a four or five story parking garage in the CVS parking lot before Watertown residents were even asked what, if anything, should be put in this space? Have the Square businesses even been polled by our City Council (the people who represent them) about what they’d like to see? Now that the idea of this garage has been so strongly introduced, would they even feel comfortable speaking up?

Entertainment

Exhibit “The Jane Gang: Drawing Meets Painting” Opens at Watertown Art Gallery

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The following information was provided by Storefront Art Projects:

Storefront Art Projects presents: “The Jane Gang: Drawing Meets Painting” featuring Jane Goldman and Friends. The exhibit runs May 2-30, 2026. A reception will be held on Saturday, May 2, 1-4 p.m.

With art by: Jane Goldman, Sharon Adams, Diana Bailey, Barbara Berke, Mike Claflin, Henrietta Davis, Sarah Hickler, Fran Hiller, Barbara Hoppin,Sally Lebwohl, Melinda Mesmer, Joan Savitsky, Sandy Shaw, Betsy Tuttle, Betsy Zeldin

Since the pandemic, well known artist Jane Goldman has been teaching Zoom classes in drawing and watercolor. The participants have become supportive friends who inspire Jane and each other. 

Jane’s students say: “Jane Goldman combines professional rigor with playful creativity, offering mentorship in watercolor that is personal, challenging, and inspiring.” 

“I learned to love watercolor painting in Jane’s class. Each time I pick up a paint brush I’m challenged to capture the magic of light on paper!” 

“Drawing with Jane on Mondays has been a highlight of my week for the past couple of years.

Entertainment

Community Day at Historic House in Watertown: Tours, Music, Games, Family Activities

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The following announcement was provided by Historic New England and the Historical Society of Watertown:

Join Historic New England and local cultural organizations for an afternoon of history, culture, and connection. Explore the Browne House, enjoy family-friendly activities and lawn games, browse books at the mobile library, and meet your neighbors as we celebrate Watertown’s rich heritage. Participating organizations include:

Watertown Free Public LibraryHistorical Society of WatertownWatertown Public Arts & CultureThe Pigsgusset InitiativeCharles River Museum of Industry and InnovationGore PlaceFriends of Mount Auburn

WHEN: Saturday, May 2, 10:00 a.m.– 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Browne House, 562 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

● Parking in the Police Station lot next door or on Main Street is encouraged. There is no parking on site for this event.● There are steps to enter the house, and the site is not equipped with ramps, elevators, or lifts. And there is no public restroom.