LETTER: Willow Park Needs Community Support to Win State Funding

Can you imagine sleeping with your children in your car tonight? Or bedding down beneath an overpass, hoping that layers of tarp and wool blankets can stave off the cold and snow? Housing is a human right. Public housing fills a crucial need in our community, ensuring that every person has a roof over their head and a decent place to call home, regardless of their circumstances. That’s why we support the proposed redevelopment of the Willow Park public housing complex in Watertown. 

Now we’re asking you to join us by signing a letter of support.

Road Construction Continues This Week on Mt. Auburn Street

Crews will be out on Mt. Auburn Street installing drainage and making test pits along the thoroughfare this week. See exactly where in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. The Mount Auburn Street Complete Street Project is a MassDOT funded and managed initiative to fully reconstruct State Route 16, creating a safer, more accessible street for all users, whether traveling by car, bicycle, transit, or on foot. Below, you’ll find this week’s project update, including upcoming construction activities, anticipated traffic impacts, a look at the project’s final design in the area of work, and access to view more info on the projects history and details.

COMIC: Small Saves Has Big Hockey Aspirations

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.”

Watertown Group Announces First 2 Films in Monthly Palestinian Film Series

The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment:

The Palestine-Gaza Committee of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment is launching a series of documentary and feature films that will explore the history and culture of the Palestinian people and provide a picture of their life under Israeli occupation. The series gets underway at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 9 Russell Ave., Watertown, with the showing of “1948: Creation and Catastrophe.” A discussion will follow the presentation. Admission is free.

Students Can Apply for 58th Annual Lt. Paul Sullivan Scholarship

A scholarship has been given in honor of Lt. Paul Sullivan for 58 years. The 58th Lt. Paul J. Sullivan Scholarship will be awarded in 2026. Students living in Watertown or in area parishes can apply for several scholarships awarded in honor of the Marine from Watertown who died serving in Vietnam. The Lt. Paul Sullivan Scholarship Committee provided the following information:

We are looking for well-rounded student-athletes who are actively involved in their school, religion, and community. While grades and athletics are important components, CHARACTER is by far the most essential quality we look at in determining finalists.

OP-ED: Reasons Why Council Should Pass a Nuclear Disarmament Resolution

by Jeanne TrubekMember of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the EnvironmentPeace and Common Security working group

On Tuesday, February 10, the city council will be requested to support a Back From the Brink resolution asking our U.S. government to work toward world nuclear disarmament. This request comes from a citizen petition initiative. We obtained close to 500 signatures of Watertown residents on petitions requesting the City Council to support this resolution that asks our government to pursue a verifiable agreement to eliminate nuclear weapons and to enter into negotiations with other nuclear-armed states to eliminate their nuclear arsenals. This agreement must remove the option of using nuclear weapons first for every country with nuclear weapons. In the U.S. we must end the sole authority of the President to launch a nuclear attack.

OBIT: James “Jim” Brennan Jr., 63, Computer Wizard & Educator

Jim Brennan

A Mass of Christian Burial for James “Jim” Joseph Brennan, Jr. of Watertown will be celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 39 Sixth Street, East Cambridge. Jim was born in Willimantic, Connecticut, to the late James Joseph Brennan, Sr. and Donna Marie (Smith) Brennan. He passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 26, 2026, at the age of 63.