Business

What New Industries Might be Attracted to Watertown, Changes to the Square Discussed by City Manager

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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. Proakis spoke about the City’s economic and financial outlook during the Watertown Business Coalition’s City Update on Thursday morning at the Hampton Inn & Suites. His outlook for Watertown’s economic future was positive, despite the dip in the City’s most prominent industry: life sciences. “We are still in a community, in a state that is well invested in new growth.

Around Town

Several Owls Visit Mount Auburn Cemetery During Long-Running Program Hosted by Owl Enthusiasts & Rescuers

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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. Mark and Marcia Wilson presented Eyes on Owls on Feb. 21 at Story Chapel, a program that Mount Auburn Cemetery has hosted since 1997.

Schools

School Committee Votes on Watertown Middle School Start Time for 2026-27

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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. The issue of later start times for middle schoolers was discussed in 2017, with the recommendation to move the start time for middle schoolers to from 7:40 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. based on research about teens sleep habits and circadian rhythms, showing that students in middle school do better with later start. In 2018, the start of the school day at Watertown Middle School moved to 8:30 a.m.

In the fall of 2023, the start time moved back to 7:45 a.m. when the high school moved to the temporary campus on Moxley Field so that the two schools did not have drop-offs and pick-ups at the same time. With the new WHS opening in the fall of 2026, there had been discussions about when to start the Middle School in 2026-27.

Schools

Boston Bruins Player Gets an Education About a Sport for the Blind at Perkins School

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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 NHL player visited the campus in Watertown to play goalball, a game designed for the blind and visually impaired. Because participants have a range of visual abilities, every player wears an blackout goggles so their vision is completely blocked. Bruins player Alex Steeves throws the ball down court during a game of goalball at Perkins School.

Around Town

New Signage for Paintings in City Hall Provides a Historical Perspective

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The historic paintings in Watertown City Hall now have signs with information about the town’s history. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The entry lobby in City Hall is beginning to look like a room at the Museum of Fine Arts, with the addition of signs to accompany the recently restored historical paintings of Watertown. The foyer of City Hall has long been home to a pair of paintings depicting Watertown, one showing the town in the 1630s when it was founded, and one in the 1930s, around the time when City Hall was built. The signs have been installed in front of the paintings that hang on either side of the entryway off of Main Street. The Historical Society received money from the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to pay for the creation and manufacturing of the signs. The contents went through several iterations before reaching the final version, said Watertown Community Preservation Coordinator Lanae Handy.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Arrested for Causing Disturbance at Restaurant, Police Locate Man Wanted on 3 Warrants

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Feb. 16: An officer spotted a vehicle traveling at 45 mph in a 30 zone on Common Street. The vehicle then made a right on a red at a no turn on red intersection. Officer Colton Bailey pulled the vehicle over and discovered the driver had a warrant for driving on a suspended license — a subsequent offense.

Government

City Relaxing Sidewalk Shoveling Rules After Blizzard, Keeping Parking Ban in Place

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Snow banks left from plowing and shoveling after the blizzard of Feb. 22 and 23. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The City of Watertown will give residents a break from the sidewalk snow shoveling rules after the blizzard of Jan. 22 and 23 dumped around 15 inches of snow on top of snow remaining from the storm in January. But the overnight parking ban — scheduled to end on Feb.

Police/Fire

Firefighters Battle Two Alarm Fire, Slowed by Snow Around Hydrants

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Charlie Breitrose

Watertown Firefighters battled a blaze on Flint Road on Tuesday, and efforts were slowed because some hydrants in the area were not shoveled out after Monday’s storm. A resident heard a smoke alarm at about 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 and found a fire on the third floor. A second alarm was ordered quickly by incident commander Deputy Chief Daniel Tardif to ensure adequate resources and support for the firefighting operations, said Watertown Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson. Flames could be seen coming out of the roof of the home in the footage from NBC 10 Boston.