Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/7/)
City Manager George Proakis spoke at the Watertown Business Coalition’s City Update on March 5, 2026. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Watertown became a magnet for life science companies in the last several years, and City Manager George Proakis said the building boom in that industry may be slowed, but other industries may be attracted to the same things: proximity to Boston and the universities in the area, easy access, and a nice place to be.
Marcia Wilson holds a Eurasian Eagle Owl during the Eyes on Owls event at Mount Auburn Cemetery. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Mount Auburn Cemetery recently welcomed a couple who have devoted their lives to observing and caring for owls. They have traveled around New England in search of the raptors, from Crane Beach in Ipswich to Rye, New Hampshire, to Nantucket, and have ventured as far as Alaska, Serbia and Nunavut in the north of Canada to catch a glimpse of owls.
Watertown Middle School (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)
The debate over when to start the day for middle school students returned to the Watertown School Committee this week, focusing on what time the school day should begin for the 2026-27 school year. The discussion has been complicated by impact on after-school sports and the shortage of fields in town.
Boston Bruin Alex Steeves learns about goalball from two members of Perkins School for the Blind Towerhawks. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Boston Bruins center Alex Steeves has played in some tough environments — Montreal, Toronto, Madison Square Garden — but on Monday he entered the Perkins School for the Blind’s gym to try his hand at a new sport: one which requires him to play blindfolded.
The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Free Public Library:
The Boston Globe and Minuteman Library Network, which includes the Watertown Free Public Library, recently announced a partnership providing their cardholders with access to Boston Globe digital content. This new collaboration continues The Boston Globe’s extensive work with library systems across Massachusetts.
Check out this weekend’s open houses in Watertown.
Watertown’s first Civics Academy drew such good reviews that in its second year it will be even longer so that participants can learn even more about how local government works and city departments function.
Jirat Saengthong
Jirat Saengthong of Watertown set a new standard at Bridgewater State in the 200 freestyle during the Little East Conference Championships in Wellesley on Feb. 14.
I suggest you start the weekend at Nzuko restaurant where on Fridays they hold a Canvas & Karaoke night. You can sing, then paint or paint then sing, either way a fun combination for the beginning of your weekend. Saturday night there are two rock bands playing at the Canadian American Club. I love the name, Lazy Boy Rockers, don’t you? I have two suggestions for your kids at the end of their school vacation week. How about taking them to a Kid’s Clip and Climb at Central Rock Gym? It’s offered on Saturday and Sunday at two midday times. Reserve them a spot soon! There are some fun PG movies for the kiddos this weekend, including “Goat,” an animated film about a basketball playing goat. Back to adult fun, on Sunday afternoon at the Mosesian, Edwin O. Munera is going to be playing classical guitar, including numerous original pieces that were inspired by various cultures around the world. There is plenty of fun to be had in town this weekend for the adults and the kids in the household.
Life science clusters in Watertown in 2025. The image appears in Watertown Bio’s 2025 Life Science Industry Report.
The biotech industry, while slowed, still has some life in Watertown, according to a recently published study. The City boasts the third most life science firms of any community in Massachusetts, the fourth most venture capital investmentd, and 20 new firms came to town in 2025.
The Little Local Conversation podcast gets in depth with a variety of people in Watertown, and recent episodes have focused on a woman who imports coffee from her home country, one of the people behind the City of Watertown’s 311 Service Center, and a founding member of a Watertown-based theatre company.
Watertown residents can learn first aid and CPR from Watertown’s Public Health Nurse. See details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below.