Government

Watertown Hires New Assistant City Manager for Community Development & Planning

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Watertown City Manager George Proakis announces that Kennan Rhyne, AIA, AICP, will be the City’s new Assistant City Manager for Community Development and Planning. Rhyne is an experienced municipal planner and architect who brings to Watertown an impressive background of leading and contributing to complex planning projects across the region. She most recently served as Principal of her own consulting firm since 2023, where she advised the cities of Boston, Lowell, Quincy, and many other cities and towns on projects related to land use planning, zoning, urban design, and public policy. Rhyne previously served as Deputy Director for Comprehensive Planning in Boston’s Planning and Development Agency, including a stint as Interim Director of Planning in 2022. During her time with the City of Boston, she conducted extensive planning studies that addressed housing needs, economic development, climate resiliency, transportation, and open space.

Around Town

Hibernians Invite Public to Ham-O-Rama on March 28

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The Ancient Order of Hibernians will host Ham-O-Rama on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Hibernian Hall, 151 Watertown St., Watertown. There will be four rounds and 160 chances to win, a 50/50 raffle, raffle baskets, and other items.

For more information contact laohwatertown@gmail.com.

Around Town

Eco Fest Returns to Watertown in May with Family-Friendly Fun

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Save the date for Eco Fest, Watertown’s second annual sustainable resource fair: Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Commander’s Mansion, located at 440 Talcott Ave. Eco Fest is a family-friendly event where our community can access a variety of programs and resources available to make their homes and lives more sustainable. This year’s event will feature a vendor tent, clothing swap, e-bike test rides, kids’ activities, an EV showcase, and more. Also consider signing up for the Community Paddle (registration on Watertown’s recreation website) in the morning before making your way over to the Mansion for some learning, fun, food, and community. Check out the Eco Fest website, watertownecofest.com, to learn more about this year’s programming and how to participate!

Schools

Watertown Students Make Dean’s List at Several Colleges During Fall Semester

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Students hailing from Watertown made the dean’s list at UMass Amherst, Holy Cross, Georgia Tech, St. Lawrence, Tufts, Simmons, St. Michael’s, and Emmanuel. See the announcements provided by the colleges and universities, below. Holy Cross

College of the Holy Cross congratulates the students named to the Fall 2025 Dean’s List for outstanding academic achievement during the spring semester of the 2025-26 academic year.

Elections

LETTER: As State Sen., Daniel Lander Will Fight for More Permanently Affordable Housing

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For the first time since 2011, we have two candidates for State Senate whose records and priorities we can actually compare. 

On State Legislature transparency, the rights and opportunities of the most marginalized, consistent support for State House staff to unionize, and his “fighting head on” approach to our dire housing affordability crisis — I am sure of where Daniel Lander will be leading us as State Senator. 

He will be at the forefront of the fight for more permanent affordable housing and, because he understands its urgency, it will remain one of his top priorities. And he understands that while more market rate housing is vital, alone it will not help affordability. Daniel’s track record shows his commitment and ability to get down to brass tacks and work on many fronts so that people can afford to live where they choose. For example, Daniel will actively advocate for social housing in Massachusetts — publicly owned, mixed-income developments built in partnership with housing authorities and nonprofit developers. Models like Willow Park right here in Watertown show how this works, giving cities the tools to create permanently affordable housing for low- and middle-income households.

Entertainment

“The Mushroom Cure” to Play Mosesian Center for the Arts April 10–11 for Special Live Filming

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The following announcement was provided by “The Mushroom Cure”:

Writer and performer Adam Strauss will present his acclaimed solo show “The Mushroom Cure” at the Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown, Massachusetts, on April 10 and 11, 2026. The performances will be filmed to create a feature film of the live show, executive produced by bestselling author Michael Pollan and journalist Hamilton Morris. The Mushroom Cure is the true story of Strauss’s quest to cure his severe obsessive-compulsive disorder with psychedelics. The show has received widespread critical acclaim for both its emotional depth and humor, with The New York Times writing that it “mines a great deal of laughter from disabling pain” and the Chicago Tribune calling it “arrestingly honest and howlingly funny.”

Each performance will include a post-show conversation. On Friday, April 10, Strauss will be joined by Hamilton Morris for a discussion on psychedelics and mental health.

Around Town

Lane Shifts, Parking Restrictions on Parts of Mt. Auburn Street This Week

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Planned roadwork on Mt. Auburn Street will result in lane shifts and areas of restricted parking as drainage and conduit is installed and test pits are dug. See more information provided by the City of Watertown, below. As the construction season resumes, we’d like to highlight the progress made during the previous season along Mount Auburn Street. The map below illustrates completed work and the specific locations where it has taken place.

Government

Sen. Brownsberger Seeks Summer Interns, Hosting MassHealth Changes Webinar

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Will Brownsberger

State Sen. Will Brownsberger announced that his office seeks applications for summer internships, and his office will be hosting an information session about changes to MassHealth. See more info in the announcement from the Senator’s office, below. Summer internships

The Office of Senator Will Brownsberger is accepting applications for part-time, unpaid internships for the summer of 2026. Applications are due Monday, April 6. Read our website post for details about the internships and how to apply.  Contact me at anne.mazzola@masenate.gov with any questions.