Government
City Councilor Caroline Bays Hosting Annual Public Meeting
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Caroline Bays
City Councilor At-Large Caroline Bays will host her annual meeting on April 27, 2026 at the Watertown Library
Student Cell Phone Ban During School Day Approved by School Committee
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The School Committee approved a Personal Electronic Device (PED) Policy that prevents students from using or having access to a device — such as a cell phone or tablet — during the entire school day, including during lunchtime and breaks.
Watertown Playground Named for Soldier Killed in Vietnam Will be Upgraded
Drawings of plans for renovating the Lt. Paul Sullivan Playground. (Source: City of Watertown)
A playground named in honor of a Watertown man who died in Vietnam will be getting an update, with new play structures and paving.
Noah Kahan References Watertown in a Song on His New Album
Noah Kahan, from his Facebook page.
Watertown got a shoutout in Noah Kahan’s latest album “The Great Divide.” The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter said he enjoyed the time he spent living in town.
City Hall Annex at Parker Building to Temporarily Close
The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:
The City’s Parker Building at 124 Watertown Street will be temporarily closed from May 2-12, 2026, to undergo electrical service upgrades in the building.
More Headlines
School Officials Outline Strategies to Improve Watertown’s Special Education Program
Restaurants Won’t be Allowed to Automatically Include Plastic Utensils Under New Ordinance
Council President Outlines City’s Protections for Undocumented Immigrants, Does Not Favor an Executive Order
Letters
LETTER: Group of Parents Support Bell-to-Bell Personal Electronic Device Ban in Watertown Schools
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Dear Watertown Community Members:
As parents and residents of Watertown, we have closely followed the discussions of the Watertown Public Schools (WPS) PED Task Force regarding personal electronic devices (PEDs) in our schools. While we understand the initial hesitation some feel regarding a complete ban, the more we examine the data and the neurobiology of our children, the clearer it becomes: a full, bell-to-bell ban for grades 9-12, including passing time and lunch, is not just a restrictive policy, but a necessary step to protect our students’ mental health and academic futures.
Police/Fire
Fire Hits East End Home, Residents Evacuated by Alert Witnesses
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Watertown Firefighters put out a fire at a home on Kimball Road. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Watertown Firefighters doused a house fire on Kimball Road Tuesday morning. Residents were not hurt thanks to alert employees of a Coolidge Square business.
Sports
BOSTON MARATHON: See How the 39 Watertown Runners Fares in the 2026 Edition
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Watertown had 39 participants in the 2026 Boston Marathon. The fastest male runner was Michael Creedon, and the top female was Courtney Hawkins.
Around Town
Parts of Mt. Auburn to be Repaved in Week of April 21-24
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The City of Watertown provided the following Mount Auburn Street Update for the week of April 21 – April 24, 2026.
Letters
LETTER: Resident Endorses Daniel Lander for State Senate
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To the Editor,
As a Watertown resident, I find it deeply unsettling how little we actually know about what happens behind the closed doors of our State House. In 2024, I was among the 66% of Watertown voters —and the 71.5% of folks statewide — who voted in favor of a ballot question to finally allow an audit of the State Legislature. We spoke with a clear, united voice, yet years later, legislative leaders have consistently blocked that audit.
Entertainment
Watertown Lit Squad Seeks Submissions for Their 2026 Poets and Writers Sampler
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The Lit Squad tent at the Watertown Arts Market.
Watertown’s Lit Squad is a cohort of writers who reside in Watertown and neighboring communities and who first gathered in 2021 to celebrate their word arts as part of the annual Watertown Arts Market.
Obituaries
Watertown’s Bob Hall, First Boston Marathon Wheelchair Champ & Advocate for Access, Has Died
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Bob Hall won the Boston Marathon’s first wheelchair division race in 1975.
Bob Hall, a Watertown resident and trailblazing wheelchair athlete and advocate for access, died at the age of 74. A private funeral service will be held at a later date, and visiting hours were held at Nardone Funeral Home on April 16.