Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/18/)
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department.
Charlie BreitroseA truck plows a Watertown street.
Dozens of Watertown Department of Public Works crews and contractors plowed 20 inches of snow off Watertown’s 72 miles of roadway, after the snowstorm that hit the City on Jan. 25 and 26, City Manager George Proakis said. The City also issued 69 parking tickets and 50 warnings and fines for failing to shovel sidewalks.
Tuesday night, a citizens group presented the City Council with a petition to support a resolution encouraging the federal government to seek nuclear disarmament in the United States and the other eight nations that have nuclear weapons. The proposal split the Council, which rejected it down by one vote.
Increasing costs of special education tuition has contributed to the sharp increase in the school budget over the past few years, Superintendent Dede Galdston told the School Committee on Monday night, and for budget for the 2026-27 school year the district will have to find ways to close a multi-million dollar deficit.
City Councilor John Airasian, and School Committee member Lily Rayman-Read.
Two Watertown elected officials served their final meetings in December, and each was bid farewell by their colleagues. City Councilor At-Large John Airasian departs the Council after two terms (four years), and Lily Rayman-Read finished two-four year terms on the School Commmittee.
A pair of homes will hold open houses over the first weekend of 2026.
Anie Manoushagian and Arie Orchanian.
The Funeral Services for Funeral services for Anie Manaushigian and Arie Orchanian — who were killed in a car crash in Watertown on Dec. 23 — will be held on Jan. 5, 2026. Separate burials are planned. They have been moved to the First Armenian Church, 380 Concord Ave in Belmont.
Lyrical Faith was selected as the Mosesian Center for the Arts’ Ignite Fellow, one of the first group of Artists in Residence.
The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:
The Mosesian Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the selected artists for its 2026 Artist-in-Residence Program, including the inaugural Ignite Fellow and the newly created Emerging Artist at Mosesian Arts award. This cohort of artists will be in residence during the Winter and Spring 2026 sessions, bringing a wide range of creative practices to MCA’s studios and engaging the community through public programs and events.
It is the first weekend of the new year; many of us may be thinking about simply relaxing at home, reading a book, doing a puzzle or catching up on our laundry. But there are some events of note that could get you to put on your coat and step outside. On Friday evening, there is an inauguration party for all our newly elected town representatives. Let’s go celebrate with them! Saturday afternoon, you could go stretch your legs at Mount Auburn Cemetery’s introductory tour. Even if you have walked there before, the tour can be informative. Head to the library on Sunday afternoon to hear a classical guitar performance by Jhon Alvarado. It’s the start of their winter concert series, and it looks great. Finally, the Majestic 7 theater is showing “Marty Supreme” starting Thursday, and it’s getting good reviews. If you want more family friendly films, there are a lot of good ones there now, including “Wicked: For Good,” “Zootopia 2,” “David,” and the “Spongebob” movie. So put your laundry in to wash and then head out on the town. You can dry it later.
Details of the trash, recycling, and yard waste collection for 2026 are available in the Department of Public Works’ calendar. The calendars were mailed to homes and are available online. See details in the announcement sent out by the City of Watertown, below.
The Winter Parking Ban will be in effect starting on January 1, 2026. The City has options for off-street parking in municipal owned lots. See information provided by the City of Watertown, below.
Cris Patvakanian wrote “In the Shadow of Mount Khustup” after visiting Armenia in 2023.
A trip to his homeland of Armenian in 2023 changed Cris Patvakanian’s life, and the experience became the inspiration for his first novel.