Around Town

Fire Department Looking to Hire Paramedics to Run 2 Ambulances; Keep Hydrants Snow Free

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The Watertown Fire Department received funding this year to run two ambulances, and now the challenge is to hire enough paramedics to run both. Watertown Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson also discussed a fire during the winter when a hydrant had to be shoveled out so that multiple hoses could be used to fight the fire. In 2025, the City Council approved funding for eight more paramedics so that a second ambulance could be run by the Watertown Fire Department 24/7. City Manager George Proakis said he has been working with Nicholson, the Human Resources Office to try to get enough staff on board, and opened an alternative pathway for hiring under Civil Service. Nicholson said the Fire Department has made some hires, but still have a couple of openings, and more are expected over the summer.

Around Town

Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Revolution With Historical Tour of Watertown

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Edmund Fowle House, home of the Historical Society of Watertown. The Historical Society of Watertown will host a walking tour focused on Watertown During the Revolution on May 24 and June 7. See more details in the announcement from the Historical Society, below. The Historical Society of Watertown invites you to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the fight forAmerican Independence by taking a walking tour of “Watertown During the Revolution.”

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.

Around Town

Mount Auburn Cemetery Becomes First Cemetery in the U.S. to Earn AGZA Green Zone Certification

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The following announcement was provided by Mount Auburn Cemetery:

Mount Auburn Cemetery, the American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA), and Quiet Communities announced that Mount Auburn has become the first cemetery in the United States to earn AGZA Green Zone® Certification, cutting carbon emissions by 16 tons annually. The designation marks a shift from gas-powered handheld landscaping equipment to battery-powered tools, creating a cleaner, quieter, and healthier environment for people and wildlife alike and offering a model for how cemeteries and other large landscapes can operate more sustainably. The AGZA Certified Green Zone program is a four-level program designed to transition landscape maintenance operations away from fossil fuel-powered equipment to battery electric-powered equipment and other low impact alternatives. AGZA and Quiet Communities implement the program for parks, municipalities, institutions, and businesses across the country, providing education, training, support, and metrics that demonstrate reductions in emissions, noise, and other impacts over time. “As the first garden cemetery in the United States, we have a responsibility to continue leading in how landscapes like ours are cared for,” said Matthew Stephens, President & CEO, Mount Auburn Cemetery.

Around Town

Creating Community, One Micro-Forest at a Time

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The following announcement was provided by Trees for Watertown:

Come to a FREE Workshop on Saturday May 23 at the Watertown Free Public Library, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

What is a micro-forest? A micro-forest is a multi-layered plant community of native species — a special kind of “mini pocket park” that can provide urban cooling and natural habitat, and eventually can sustain itself without significant human care, even in a space as small as the corner of a Watertown Yard. Much like the larger Miyawaki forest at Watertown’s Lowell Middle School (Stop by to visit! The forest is beautiful in its second Spring!), a well-designed micro-forest creates a resilient urban oasis of shade and beauty for humans, and food and shelter for native birds and animals. Miyawaki forests, public shade trees, private shade trees, pollinator gardens, bioswales — especially when native plant species are used, all these forms of natural green infrastructure support the urban ecosphere that supports us, and all temper the punishing effects of climate change.

Around Town

Porchfest 2026: People Pour Into the Streets of Watertown to Catch More than 200 Bands

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Populace closed out the day at a venue on Main Street during 2026 Watertown Porchfest. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The combination of free concerts, the a warm spring day, and the hopes of seeing a Grammy nominated singer made Watertown Porchfest 2026 a huge community celebration. The third annual event boasted more than 200 performances at over 80 locations around Watertown on Saturday, May 16. Some of the venues were institutions — such as the Watertown Free Public Library, First Parish Church, and Gore Place — as well as multiple businesses. Watertown Middle School students held a bake sale during Watertown Porchfest.

Charity

Watertown Community Foundation Awards Inaugural Education & Youth Development Grants

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

The Watertown Community Foundation has awarded $39,475 in the inaugural Education and Youth Development grant cycle. This new grant program creates access to opportunities for Watertown youth that foster skill-building, creativity, leadership, confidence and resilience, while creating pathways for all young people to thrive. The Watertown Public Schools (WPS) was the largest grant recipient, receiving $22,575 to support six programs and provide student internship support. One of the grants, totaling $5,000, was awarded to the WPS Student Opportunity Fund, which covers the cost of student activities, field trips, and clubs for families who need support. This grant increases the district’s Student Opportunity Fund by approximately 25% for the 2026–2027 school year — a year that will see the reinstatement of athletics and activity fees at the middle and high school levels.

Around Town

Watertown Pride 2026: Parade, Performances, Food & Other Festivities

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Pride Committee:

Watertown Pride returns for its fifth year on Saturday, June 6, featuring a parade that kicks off at Moxley Park at 11 a.m. and culminates in a festival at Saltonstall Park from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees can enjoy live music, drag, a circus performance, food trucks, family-friendly activities, public health resources, and opportunities to connect with LGBTQIA+ neighbors and allies. As always, Watertown Pride is free and open to all. The Watertown Free Public Library Bookmobile at Watertown Pride 2025

Saltonstall Park is wheelchair accessible, and the City of Watertown Communications Department is funding American Sign Language interpreters on the main stage. Braille maps will be provided by Perkins School for the Blind. Keynote Speaker Chastity Bowick at Watertown Pride 2025

Attendees are encouraged to gather at Moxley Playground at 10 a.m. on the morning of June 6 to make signs or decorate their outfits, bicycles, and strollers with colorful Pride regalia.