Watertown News | Page 2 | Your Source for Local News

Watertown Receives Statewide Award for Arsenal Park Renovation

By Charlie Breitrose | March 27, 2026

The sign welcoming people to Arsenal Park.(Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown’s newest park renovation received a statewide award at the Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association Conference in Springfield this week.

Proposed Watertown School Budget Cuts Multiple Positions, Increases Athletics, Busing Fees

Watertown School officials, with the guidance of the School Committee, have reduced a shortfall of $2.5 million and came up with a budget that would have a $700,000 surplus, according to the presentation made Monday by Superintendent Dede Galdston.

City Has $4M Left from Elementary School Projects, Which Will Go to High School & Middle School Projects

Cunniff Elementary School is one of three elementary schools in Watertown to be rebuilt or renovated. The projects closed out with a combined surplus of $4 million. The new school opened in 2021. (Photo by Watertown Public Schools)

Watertown’s elementary school building projects finished with a surplus of more than $4 million, which will allow the high school construction project to stay on budget, and fund designs for a potential new middle school.

Members of Congress Get a Look Inside Watertown’s School Lunch Program, School Farming Class

Congresswoman Katherine Clark and Congressman Jim McGovern have lunch with Hosmer School second-graders Maya and Daphne. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

A pair of enthusiastic Hosmer Elementary School ambassadors showed two members of Congress around their school Wednesday, ending with a meal cooked up by the school cafeteria staff that featured produce grown in Watertown High School’s hydroponic farm.

More Headlines

JIM’S VIEW: Gold Kings, Sasquatch Split First Two Playoff Games, Deciding Game 3 Will be Played in Watertown

Contractors Coordinating with East End Businesses Ahead of Sidewalk Replacements

New Watertown High School Nearly Done, Remains on Budget

Schools

Watertown Student Named Semifinalist for Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship

By Guest Writer | March 26, 2026

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation logo

The following information came from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation:

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced today that Yuanzhe Wang of Middlesex Community College is among the semifinalists for its highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The Foundation named 485 semifinalists for the scholarship, which supports the nation’s top community college students with financial need seeking to complete a bachelor’s degree at four-year colleges or universities.

Letters

LETTER: Chamber Encourages Council to Adopt Local News Day Resolution

By Guest Writer | March 26, 2026

The following letter was sent to City Council President Mark Siders by the Charles River Regional Chamber:

Dear Council President Sideris,

On behalf of the Charles River Regional Chamber, I write to urge the Watertown City Council to designate April 9 as Local News Day.

Around Town

Find Out About Proposed Solar Project at Gore Place During Developers Meeting

By Guest Writer | March 25, 2026

A Public Information Meeting for the Gore Place Agrivoltaics project will be held on Tuesday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m.

Government

Watertown Hires New Assistant City Manager for Community Development & Planning

By Guest Writer | March 25, 2026

The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Watertown City Manager George Proakis announces that Kennan Rhyne, AIA, AICP, will be the City’s new Assistant City Manager for Community Development and Planning.

Around Town

Hibernians Invite Public to Ham-O-Rama on March 28

By Guest Writer | March 25, 2026

The Ancient Order of Hibernians will host Ham-O-Rama on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Hibernian Hall, 151 Watertown St., Watertown.

Around Town

Eco Fest Returns to Watertown in May with Family-Friendly Fun

By Guest Writer | March 24, 2026

The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Save the date for Eco Fest, Watertown’s second annual sustainable resource fair: Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Commander’s Mansion, located at 440 Talcott Ave. Eco Fest is a family-friendly event where our community can access a variety of programs and resources available to make their homes and lives more sustainable.

Schools

Watertown Students Make Dean’s List at Several Colleges During Fall Semester

By Guest Writer | March 24, 2026

Students hailing from Watertown made the dean’s list at UMass Amherst, Holy Cross, Georgia Tech, St. Lawrence, Tufts, Simmons, St. Michael’s, and Emmanuel.

Elections

LETTER: As State Sen., Daniel Lander Will Fight for More Permanently Affordable Housing

By Guest Writer | March 24, 2026

For the first time since 2011, we have two candidates for State Senate whose records and priorities we can actually compare.