Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/571/)
On April 22, 2025, the City Council voted to approve funding for capital projects, heard from the City Manager about the City logo, heard about the re-organization plan, set limits for revolving funds, and supported a bill on Beacon Hill about Community Media Programming. See the highlights of the meeting provided by Municipal Policy Analyst Doug Newton.
A new Irish and American bar will replace a neighborhood favorite on the Westside of Watertown.
The Watertown Fire Department has requested adding enough paramedics to run a second ambulance. Currently, the Fiscal Year 2026 budget does not include the money for the eight paramedics, but the request will be discussed by a City Council committee.
Water service was restored to residents of the East End on Tuesday afternoon several hours after a water main break near Coolidge Square.
Charlie BreitroseResidents packed the Council Chamber for a Town Council Meeting.
The Charter Review Committee tackled a couple of issues impacting the Town Council, including whether the Vice President should have term limits, and when and how the Council should determine its own salaries.
Wimpy is celebrating a big birthday this year. This image is from “Egypt Us” (1960), one of the cartoons aired on the Watertown Cable special.
“Drawing With Fred” host Fred Grandinetti provided the following piece:
The Watertown Cable Access Channel will be celebrating a milestone birthday of a comic strip character considered to be one of the greatest ever conceived; J. Wellington Wimpy!
Check out this week’s Watertown open houses.
Jessica Middlebrook announced her run for School Committee. She is shown with her two daughters at Watertown Town Hall.
My name is Jessica Middlebrook and I am thrilled to announce my candidacy for Watertown School Committee.
Matthew Stephens, Mount Auburn’s 14th President & CEO. (Photo by Richard Morgenstein)
Mount Auburn Cemetery sent out the following announcement:
The Mount Auburn Cemetery Board of Trustees has unanimously selected Matthew Stephens to be its 14th President and CEO. A vocal advocate for the power of green spaces in urban environments and an outstanding business leader with strong experience in strategic planning, Stephens will begin in his new role in September.
The blooms of the black swallow-wort. The plant is poisonous to butterflies and other animals.
By Nicole Gardner and Douglas Hood
Black swallow-wort is a non-native, highly invasive plant that is poisonous to butterfly populations and other animals, and which toxifies the soil to benefit itself and harm other plants. We need to act right now to stop its spread and protect the Monarchs, other animals, and other plants.
The Town Council moved forward proposed rules that would apply to short-term rentals — such as those booked through Airbnb or Vrbo — in Watertown, but could not come to an agreement on what the maximum number of guests at a rental would be.
Kathleen Cunningham, coordinator of the Watertown Food Pantry, received the Commonwealth Heroine award recently. She was recommended for the honor by State Rep. Steve Owens, shown right.
State Rep. Steve Owens provided the following announcement:
Kathleen Cunningham, of Watertown, was honored as a member of the 2021 class of Commonwealth Heroines.