Around Town

New Bagel Store Opening in Watertown This Weekend, Will Soon Serve Brunch

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Wicked Bagel will open its Watertown location on June 1. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown will have a new place to grab bagels, coffee, and soon brunch when Wicked Bagel opens on School Street. The location at 68 School St., the former Porcini’s spot, will be the third for Wicked Bagel, which also has stores in Lexington and Woburn. Wicked Bagel opens for business on Saturday, June 1, and will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wicked Bagel President Maria Mahoney said customers will get a discount during the opening weekend, with 25 percent off the entire order for walk-ins on Saturday and Sunday. The Watertown store will have something that the other two locations do not offer – brunch with alcohol available.

Government

Edible Watertown Program Receives National Endowment for the Arts Grant

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The artwork from Edible Plants 2022, Clockwise from top left: Daylily by Patti Murphy, Bee Balm by Niloufar Keyhani, Elderberry by Marija Draskic
Brancazio, Wintergreen by Kate Martens, Mayapple by Carol Leonesio, Mountain Mint by Cat Bennett, Huckleberry
by Donna Calleja, Red Bud by Debajyoti Biswas, Bearberry by Connie Henry, and Garlic Chives by Jaclyn Kain. The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The Public Arts & Culture Committee is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $20,000. This grant will support the Edible Watertown: Expert Pairings project. In total, the NEA will award 1,135 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling more than $37 million as part of its second round of fiscal year 2024 grants. “Projects like Edible Watertown exemplify the creativity and care with which communities are telling their stories, creating connection, and responding to challenges and opportunities in their communities—all through the arts,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD.

Government

Hours of Watertown City Hall, Senior Center & More Changing After Council Vote

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Hours will be changing for Watertown City departments in City Hall, the Parker Annex, along with the Senior Center, after a City Council vote on Tuesday. These facilities will be open later on Tuesdays and close earlier on Fridays throughout the year. City Manager George Proakis said at a previous meeting that the change in hours would help the city recruit employees, and that many surrounding communities have early closings on Fridays. One area of concern was resident’s ability to pay bills at the Treasurer’s office on Fridays. “There have been discussions about how it affects particular employees, and how it impacts the public as a whole,” Proakis said.

Police/Fire

Details of How a Man Tricked a Watertown Woman Into Ending Her Pregnancy Revealed, Suspect Arraigned

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The man accused of giving a Watertown woman medicine that, unknown to her, would end her pregnancy, was arraigned in Court on Tuesday. More details of how he tricked his ex-girlfriend were revealed. Robert Kawada, 43, of Brookline, was charged with poisoning, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a pregnant person and assault and battery on a household or family member. Also, he was held on $100,000 bail, ordered to stay away from the victim, and to wear a GPS device, according to WCVB Channel 5. The woman met Kawada on a dating app in January, and they went on a few dates.

Around Town

See Photos from the 2024 Watertown Memorial Day Parade

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Watertown veterans marched in the 2024 Memorial Day Parade. (Photo by Natalie Nigito Photography)

Watertown veterans were joined by youth sports teams, scouts, the Watertown Police officers and Firefighters, bands and more during the 2024 Memorial Day Parade. The event ended with a ceremony at Victory Field that included the unveiling of a new tribute to veterans. Following the parade, a ceremony was held at Victory Field which included the unveiling of a chair honoring prisoner of war and missing in action. The POW-MIA Chair of Honor represent those service members who are unable to fill them because of their sacrifices, as well as reminding people of the men and women who serve our country every day.

Around Town

Watertown’s Oldest House to Open to Public on June 1

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The Browne House, built in 1698, is the oldest standing house in Watertown. The following announcement was provided by Historic New England:

On Saturday, June 1, all 38 Historic New England historic properties are open free to the public, including the Lyman Estate in Waltham and Browne House in Watertown. Join us for a fun day of fantastic storytelling! At the Lyman Estate you’ll see rooms used in the Greta Gerwig’s film adaptation of Little Women and the veranda where Jo and Laurie exuberantly danced during the ball. Also enjoy the grounds of this National Historic Landmark and visit one of the oldest greenhouses in the United States.Hear the story of the Lyman family at the mansion, which is also used today as a venue for weddings and corporate events.

Around Town

Memorial Day Parade 2024: See Which Groups Will be Marching

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The Watertown Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, May 27 beginning at noon at City Hall and ending at Victory Field. Following the procession, a ceremony will be held, which will include the dedication of a POW-MIA Chair at the field. The parade route starts at City Hall, heads west on Main Street, turns onto Waverley Avenue, and then onto Orchard Street. Parade Divisions

First Division

Watertown Police Department

Watertown Savings Bank

Watertown City and Local Officials

Shutt Detachment/VFW Post 1105/AMVETS Post 41

Navy Sea Cadets

Waltham American Legion Band

Watertown Fire Department

Second Division

Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard

Knights of Columbus

Watertown High School and Middle School Band

Ancient Order of the Hibernians

The National Lancers

Panto Classic Automobiles

Watertown Historical Commission

Fred Bolzan Photography

North End Marching Band

Third Division

Watertown Scouts, Packs, Troops

The Roma Band

Watertown/Belmont Youth Football and Cheerleading

Watertown Council on Aging (Friends of the COA)

Watertown Youth Soccer

The Tony Barrie Band

Watertown Sons of Italy

Wind Jammers

Perfection Towing

Nonantum Children’s Christmas

For groups participating, staging will take place behind the Watertown Library and City Hall. Staging may begin at 10:30 a.m. The only vehicles that should remain in the library lot after staging should be vehicles in the parade.

Government

Date and Venue for Next Watertown Square Area Plan Meeting Announced

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The City of Watertown provided the following announcement:

The Watertown Square Area Plan will be discussed at the Joint Hearing on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Watertown Middle School Auditorium at 68 Waverley Avenue in Watertown. Please note the updated date and location. The Joint Hearing will be to discuss the plan document submitted to the City Council and Planning Board prior to the Hearing. This plan document will also be shared on the Project Website, on the City of Watertown’s website and social media prior to the Hearing on June 13, 2024. The online participation information will be released closer to the event, along with the Public Hearing’s agenda and the plan document.