Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/14/)
Massachusetts Poet Laureate Regie Gibson recited several of his poems at the 2026 Unity Breakfast. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Massachusetts’ Poet Laureate inspired the crowd at the 26th annual Unity Breakfast. During the event on Monday, awards were presented to a group monitoring immigration enforcement and supporting immigrants rights in Watertown, and a man who has been a big part of keeping the Unity Breakfast going through the Pandemic.
The Watertown Public Schools may ask the City to tap the Special Education Stabilization Fund created several years ago for a rainy day. The 2026-27 School Budget may be stormy, as the district faces a shortfall of $2.5 million as of Monday’s School Committee meeting. Other ways to make up shortfalls may include reinstating athletics and extracurricular fees.
Watertown City Hall
Watertown residents were not overcharged on the CPA surcharge on their tax bills, City officials said, but bills in fiscal year 2025 looked different from other years, leading to the appearance that they were calculated differently.
A rendering of the new Watertown High School from Ai3 Architects.
After originally hoping to open Watertown’s state-of-the-art new high school after spring break, Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston said that the school will not host classes until the fall of 2026.
The following announcement was provided by Housing for All Watertown:
Housing for All Watertown will host its third annual Happy HAW-lidays Cookie Exchange on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 5-7 p.m. in the Social Hall of First Parish of Watertown, located at 35 Church Street. The event is open to the public and welcomes community members of all ages!
Daniel Lander.
The following announcement was provided by Team Lander:
On Dec. 15, Daniel Lander announced his candidacy for State Senate in the Suffolk and Middlesex District. Running to take on the cost of living crisis in Massachusetts, Daniel will prioritize making our communities more affordable and great places to live, while challenging the inaction and inertia of the State Senate.
Gore Place announced it will be giving back to the community with free tours on Dec. 19, 2025. See more information in the announcement from Gore Place, below.
Perkins School for the Blind student Hugh helps Watertown Savings Bank sort coins as part of a work experience partnership. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Students from Perkins School for the Blind have the opportunity to expand their education by leaving campus and learning on the job by working for businesses and organizations in and around Watertown.
Watertown senior Jimmy Shrestha finished second at the Wakefield Lisitano Tournament over the weekend. Here he competes at the 2025 State Meet. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
The Watertown wrestlers had a successful return to the mats when five Raiders placed in the top five at the Wakefield Lisitano Tournament on Dec. 13.
Greetings Councilors:
Now that the electorate is aware of the Flock Safety camera fiasco; the Council is backpedaling to save face with a public process. Please: don’t insult us by spinning the words.
Nikola Atanasov
Nikola Atanasov, age 77, passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. He was the beloved husband of Dragica “Carol” (Lesar) Atanasov, with whom he had shared over 52 wonderful years of marriage.
The Watertown Fire Department is hiring firefighter-paramedics, and is starting alternative pathways to be hired. Find out more at an upcoming information session. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below.