Around Town

Public Hearing Scheduled Ahead of Watertown’s Cable License Renewal with Comcast

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Cable Access Corp.:

Watertown Cable Access Corp (WCA-TV) and the City of Watertown will be holding a Public Ascertainment Hearing on Tuesday, July 22nd at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. This hearing will take place in advance of formal negotiations with Comcast regarding the renewal of the city’s 10-year cable license, which is set to expire in October 2025. Comcast, City officials, and WCA-TV’s Board of Directors will be present to hear from the public and gather feedback on the following topics: 

Comcast’s compliance with its currently existing cable license

The city’s future needs related to cable access

The impact of WCA-TV and why local television is such a vital resource for the city

Why This Matters:

A cable license is important because it delivers programming to cable TV subscribers, offers free cable TV connections to the city, schools, and community locations, and provides essential community media funding support. For WCA-TV, cable funding makes up about 98% of their annual revenue, which is the case for many other community media stations across the country. Without a cable license, community media stations would cease to exist.

Around Town

Mt. Auburn St. Project Will Impact Arlington/Grove Intersection This Week

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The construction on Mt. Auburn Street continues with more drainage installation during the week of June 23-27, and work will also take place at the intersection of Arlington and Grove streets. See where the traffic impacts will be in the announcement from the City of Watertown below. Beginning Monday, June 23, 2025, Newport Construction will resume drainage installation on Mount Auburn Street between Kimball Road and Lloyd Road. Additionally, Newport Construction will be eliminating the existing telephone manhole and installing a new telephone manhole located at the intersection of Grove Street and Arlington Street. Traffic and Sidewalk Impacts

During this work, you can expect temporary lane shifts and possibly lane closures, but one travel lane in each direction will remain on Mount Auburn Street.

Obituaries

OBIT: Sandra B. Roberts, Beloved Mom, Nana, Real Estate Entrepreneur & Philanthropist

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Sandra Roberts

Sandra B. Roberts, of Wellesley, died peacefully on the morning of June 16th. She was 86 years old. Born Sandra Louise Brown on May 26th, 1939 in Boston, “Sandy” was the only child of Frederick Brown, a professional musician and band leader, and his wife Christine (Peyton), a realtor. Sandy grew up on Harnden Avenue in Watertown, Massachusetts, and graduated from Watertown High School in 1957, where she was a Cheerleader and an active member of the WHS Theater, Glee Clubs and Chorus. A talented pianist, Sandy spent a year studying at the Boston University School of Music before transferring to Boston College where she majored in Education.

Weather

Weather Forecast: Hot Week Ahead With Temps as High as 100 Degrees

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After a string of gloomy weekends, summer is finally making a firm arrival across Eastern Massachusetts. Friday and Saturday offer ideal early summer conditions: dry, warm, and sunny. But starting Sunday, a dangerous and prolonged heat wave sets in. A strong upper-level ridge will park over the region, driving highs into the 90s and pushing dew points into the oppressive category, producing heat index values over 100°F in many locations. Peak heat is expected Monday through Wednesday.

Around Town

Boys & Girls Club Unveils Space Where New After School Program for Grades K-3 Will Be Housed

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The public got their first look at the new space at the renovated space at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The Watertown Boys & Girls Club recently unveiled the newly renovated space on the bottom level of the clubhouse, which will serve as home to the new KidConnect After School Program. On June 12, the Club welcomed the public to take a look around the space that will be a key space for the Club, said WBGC Executive Director Gary Beatty. “We’ve called it the new foundations, that has been the project that has brought this space to life, because we are in the bottom of our building — it’s the lower levels — but it really is creating a foundation for the future of our organization,” Beatty said. “We have a really proud and storied past, and now we’re looking into the future to decide how we’re going to continue to support the kids in our community, the families in the community who have been so reliant on what we do here at the Boys & Girls Club every day.”

Obituaries

OBIT: Mary Barry, 89, Devoted Volunteer, “Matriarch” of Her Neighborhood

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Mary Barry

Mary E. (O’Connor) Barry, 89 years young, of Watertown, MA, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2025. Beloved wife of the late Edward F. Barry Jr. Loving mother to Edward F. Barry III and his wife Marjorie (Marguerite) of Windsor Locks, CT, Patricia A. Barry of Atyrau, Kazakhstan, Patrick C. O’Connor and his partner Eileen Collett of Watertown, Nancy E. Barry of New York, NY, and Susan M. Barry of Arlington, MA. Dearest Nana to Matthew M. Barry of Windsor Locks, CT, and Charlotte Hannah Barry of Brooklyn, NY. Mary is the cherished sister to John J. O’Connor and his wife Ellen, of Newton, MA, Robert J. O’Connor of Palmetto Bay, FL, and Edward P. O’Connor of Pinecrest, FL. She is also survived by her nieces, nephews and many cousins here and abroad.

Around Town

Watertown Group Will be Removing Invasive Plants That Harm Monarch Butterflies

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Charlie BreitroseA monarch butterfly

The following information was provided by Watertown Community Gardens:

Do you have Black Swallow Wort (BSW) on your property? Are you interested in removing and learning more about BSW? Come join us on June 22, 2025, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.! One of the many actions as part of the 2025 Mayors’ Monarch Pledge is to continue invasive species removal efforts that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for Monarch butterflies and other pollinators. The invasive plant of interest is the Black Swallow-Wort (BSW), which is poisoning Monarch caterpillars across Watertown.

Around Town

Discover Coolidge Square in the June WBC Walk N Talk

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Discover Coolidge Square in the next Watertown Walk N Talk hosted by the Watertown Business Coalition and Live Well Watertown. See more details in the announcement provided by the WBC below. The June Walk N Talk will visit Coolidge Square Businesses and see some of the gems that make Coolidge Square a destination. 

Stay tuned for information about which businesses we will visit and where it will begin. The Walk N Talk, co-sponsored with Live Well Watertown, provides an opportunity to engage with fellow community members, support local Watertown businesses and participate in physical activity. Whether you’re looking to relax, network, or enjoy the outdoors, these walks offer a perfect blend of recreation and community engagement.