Government

City Manager Speaks About the City Budget, Staffing, Streets & Watertown Square in Local Podcast

By |

City Manager George Proakis spoke about development in Watertown, adding staff to the City government, the state of Watertown’s streets, and more on the Eye on Watertown podcast. He was joined by Assistant City Manager for Community Development and Planning Steve Magoon. Co-hosts Clyde Younger and Charlie Breitrose spoke with Proakis and Magoon on March 31 at the Watertown Cable podcast studio. Proakis shared some details about the future of the Sterritt Lumber site, recently purchased by the City. He also talked about his leadership style.

Entertainment

Two Plays Coming to Watertown in Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s 2025-26 Season

By |

The 2025-26 season for Actors’ Shakespeare Project features three plays, two of which will go on stage at Watertown’s Mosesian Center for the Arts. See details in the announcement from the theater company below. Actors’ Shakespeare Project is proud to announce our 2025-26 Season line-up. We hope you’ll join us for three masterpieces of literature that invite audiences and artists to reflect on how narratives shape identity, and how art can dismantle the walls that confine us.These three productions form a tapestry of defiance: Macbeth exposes the mechanics of control. Little Women redefines who gets to tell their story. Gem of the Ocean reclaims marginalized histories.Our current season — wrapping up with A Midsummer Night’s Dream this month — has been one of our biggest and most successful yet, with our momentous move to Watertown ushering in a new era for ASP, and new opportunities on the horizon.The best way to help ASP continue to build on this success is becoming a subscriber today. Subscribers never pay ticket fees, can switch their seats at any time free of charge, and save up to 30% on single ticket prices.

Sports

Gold Kings Hockey Teams Lifts Trophy, Cliched First Title in Watertown With Comeback Win

By |

The Boston Gold Kings celebrate scoring in Game 2 of the PPSHL Finals. The Gold Kings won the game 5-4 against Salem. (Photo by John Merritt)

Two goals in the third period capped a dream playoff run by the Boston Gold Kings, who won Game 2 of the finals 5-4 over the Salem Sasquatch and clinched the team’s first title in its second year of existence. The Gold Kings lifted the Power Play Senior Hockey League (PPSHL) trophy on home ice at the John A. Ryan Arena on March 29. The semi pro team now seeks to keep improving and hopes to see the league add more competition, said Cameron Labrecque, the Gold Kings’ General Manager & Director of Hockey Operations.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Arrest Man Suspected of Having Child Pornography

By |

A Watertown man faces charges of possession of child pornography after an investigation by Watertown Police. Police, working with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force searched a home in West Watertown on Wednesday and took Patrick Athridge into custody. Watertown Police posted the following announcement on social media on April 3, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.:

Chief Justin Hanrahan announces that on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at approximately 6:00 PM in the West End of Watertown members of the Watertown Police Department, in collaboration with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, executed a search warrant in Watertown. As a result of the investigation, Mr. Patrick Athridge was taken into custody and charged with possession of child pornography. Mr. Athridge is scheduled to be arraigned later today in Waltham District Court.

Around Town

Armenian Photo Archive Celebrates 50 Years; Runs Exhibit Space in Watertown, Holding Event the Library

By |

A photo from the Project Save archive, which preserves the Armenian experience. (Courtesy of Project Save)

Project Save, the photo archive that has preserved original photographs, the stories, identities, and histories of the Armenian diaspora celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, and has opened an exhibition space in Watertown where the public can view changing exhibits. A temporary exhibition is now on display at the Watertown Library. The organization began in the 1960s when founder Ruth Tomasian was living in New York City. It was officially registered in 1975.

Government

Gov. Healey Concerned About Impacts of Federal Funding Cuts & Tariffs, Sees Housing as State’s Biggest Challenge

By |

Gov. Maura Healey speaks with Charles River Chamber President & CEO Greg Reibman during the Chamber’s Government Affairs Forum on March 31. (Photo by Leise Jones)

NEWTON — Gov. Maura Healey worries about the uncertainty in the economy created by policies coming out of Washington, as well as federal funding cuts negatively impacting some of Massachusetts’ biggest industries, she told an audience at the Charles River Regional Chamber event on Monday. Other challenges to maintaining one of the strongest economies in the United States includes creating more housing and the cost of energy, Healey said at the Chamber’s Government Affairs Forum at the Newton Marriott. Congressman Jake Auchincloss also appeared at the event. Massachusetts receives the most NIH (National Institute of Health) funding per capita, but that funding — some of which is used for life science research and development — may be at risk if cuts are made by the Trump Administration.

Police/Fire

Council Committee Exploring Cost of Adding a Second Fire Department-Run Ambulance

By |

The Watertown Fire Department has run its own ambulance since 1975, and has offered paramedic service since 2017. The one ambulance cannot always cover all the calls, however, and the City Council is looking at whether to add a second ambulance. Currently, when the WFD’s ambulance is not available, Watertown uses Pro EMS, a private ambulance company in Cambridge. Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson told the City Council’s Committee of the Budget and Fiscal Oversight that there is a significant difference in response time depending on which ambulance is dispatched. “Regarding response times, National Fire Protection Association standards require emergency medical services to respond within 9 minutes 90 percent of the time,” Nicholson said, according to the Committee report.

Police/Fire

Two Protesters Struck by Truck Mirror Near Tesla Facility, No Serious Injuries Occurred

By |

Two people were struck by a vehicle’s side mirror during a protest at the Tesla repair facility on Pleasant Street in Watertown Saturday. No serious injuries were reported. Watertown Police officers, who were on the scene of what is becoming a weekly protest, attended to the two people struck. Both refused medical treatment, according to the statement from the WPD. Police also identified a suspect, but no further information was released.