Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/7/)
Watertown City and State officials appeared before a joint committee at the State House on Jan. 27, 2026, to discuss the City’s Home Rule Petition. Pictured, from left, Steve Owens, George Proakis, John Lawn, Earl Smith, and Mark Sideris.
The City of Watertown’s effort to prevent a tax hike for residential property owners, which could be as high as 18%, cleared a major hurdle when it was approved the the House of Representatives on Beacon Hill.
Watertown residents will see an increase of 4.5% in both the water and sewer rates for the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2026, which is slightly higher than forecasted a year ago. However, the future increase could be significantly higher than projected due in part to an error made calculating future year revenues.
The Watertown Police Department is considering purchasing a drone like this one made by Paladin Drones (Photo from Paladin)
An automated drone is one of the new technologies being considered by the Watertown Police Department. On July 9, the City Council’s Public Safety Committee held a hearing to ask questions and hear from the public about the possible use of a drone.
Those looking to join other soccer fans in Watertown to catch the World Cup Final have two choices of venues to catch Sunday’s big game.
(UPDATED July 2, 8:55 a.m.: The library will be open until 7 p.m. Friday.)
With temperatures forecast to reach 100 degrees this week, the City of Watertown has compiled a list of places to keep cool during the heatwave.
Flamenco Boston (left) and Los Mambiseros will perform during Fiesta Saturdays at Mosesian Center for the Arts.
The Mosesian Center for the Arts will presents two outdoor concerts featuring the sounds, dance and culture of Latin America this summer. See more information provided by the MCA, below.
Watertown Senior CenterThe Watertown Senior Center.
In-person programs at the Watertown Senior Center will be postponed while the parking lot is under construction from July 7-10, 2026. Virtual and off-site programs will still be held. See more details in the announcement from the Department of Senior Services, below.
Watertown’s Eileen Ryan was nominated as a Commonwealth Heroine by State Sen. Will Brownsberger. (Courtesy of Will Brownsberger’s office)
Watertown’s Eileen Ryan was one of 147 women from across Massachusetts to be nominated for the Commonwealth Heroine Award. She was nominated by State Sen. Will Brownsberger. See more information in the announcement about Ryan, and nominees from Watertown’s State Representatives in the announcements from the legislators’ offices, below.
Registration is open for Grace Chapel Watertown’s Kidsweek, which will take place from June 20-24, 2026. See more information in the announcement from Grace Chapel, below.
The Watertown Community Foundation received enough donations to unlock a $25,000 matching gift. See the announcement from the Community Foundation, below.
Caution tape blocks off an area of sidewalk under construction in Coolidge Square in early June 2026. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
The focus of the Mt. Auburn Street Project this week will be sidewalk replacement between School Street and Hillside Road, as well as near Adams Street. There will also be drainage on Mt. Auburn between Bates Road adn Bailey Road. and tree trench installation between Spruce Street and Stearns Road. See more information from the City of Watertown, below.
Two condominiums and a two-family home were sold this week.