25th Watertown Unity Breakfast to be Held on MLK Day, Start Pushed Back

UPDATE (Jan. 19, 4 p.m.) Organizers of Watertown’s MLK Unity Breakfast announced that Monday’s event is still on, but the start time is being delayed one hour so people have time to dig out from Sunday’s snowstorm. The breakfast is now at 9:30 a,m. and the program will start at 10 a.m.

The following announcement was provided by the World in Watertown:

World in Watertown is thrilled to invite you to the 25th annual Watertown Unity Breakfast on January 20, 2025 from 8:30-11 a.m.! 

This year will be in-person at the Hellenic Cultural Center, 25 Bigelow Ave., Watertown. A hot breakfast from Wicked Bagel will be served at 8:30 a.m. followed by music, roundtable conversations, student essays, and the presentation of the Unity Award.

City Facilities Closed on MLK Jr. Day, Trash Pick Up to be Delayed

Charlie BreitroseA closeup of the section of the Kingian Nonviolence Mural featuring Martin Luther King. Monday is Martin Luther King Day, and multiple City of Watertown buildings will be closed for the holiday, and trash pickup will be impacted. See the announcement from the City below. Watertown City Hall, Parker Annex, Library, Department of Public Works office and Senior Center are closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday. Please be aware that there is a one delay for trash and recycling pickup for the week due to the holiday.

UPDATED Weather Forecast: 5+ Inches of Snow Sunday Followed by Frigid Temps

Sunday will bring 5 to 9 inches of snow, followed by a stretch of cold, winter-like weather, with mostly sunny to partly cloudy days and chilly nights. Strong northwest winds will make it feel colder than the actual temperatures, especially during the day. With clear to partly cloudy skies at night, temperatures will drop into the low to mid-20s, making for brisk evenings. The persistent cold and gusty winds will keep outdoor activities cool and require warm layers. Be prepared for a crisp and quiet winter week ahead.

Snow Emergency Declared for Sunday’s Winter Storm

The City of Watertown has declared a snow emergency for the snow storm forecast to drop five inches or more on the area. See details in the announcement sent out by City officials. The City of Watertown has declared a Snow Emergency starting at 4:00 PM on Sunday, January 19, 2025, due to expected snowfall. The Snow Emergency will remain in effect until further notice. On-street parking is banned, and vehicles left on the street are subject to be towed.

City to Install Electric Vehicle Chargers in Four Lots, Will Eventually Charge for Power

Watertown residents will have more places to charge electric vehicles (EVs) in public parking lots. For now, the charging will be available for free, but in the next several months the City will begin charging for the electricity. A loan order approved by the City Council on Tuesday will allow the City to purchase eight charging stations to go in four locations: Nichols Avenue Lot, the Phillips Building (the lot for the School Administration’s office and the Senior Center behind 30 Common St.), at the John A. Ryan Skating Rink (1 Paramount Place), and at the Police Station (552 Main St.). The two chargers at the skating rink will be fast chargers, and the other locations will get two dual-port charging stations, said City Manager George Proakis. He added that the loan is for $180,000 and the projected cost of the eight stations is about $136,000, so the City will look at a couple other locations to install EV chargers.

Little Local Conversations Speaks With Life Science Worker & Semi-Pro Hockey Player

Watertown podcaster Matt Hanna has been busy recently. His recent guests include an employee of a non-profit life science firm in town, and a member of Watertown’s own semi-pro hockey team, the Gold Kings. Plus, he started Little Local Weekly, where guests on the podcast can provide updates. Alyssa Cecchitelli, Addgene

Meet Alyssa Cecchetelli! She’s the Associate Director of Plasmid Services at Addgene, a nonprofit life science organization here in Watertown.