Around Town

Watertown Eco Fest will Feature Sustainable Vendors, Demonstrations & Activities for All Ages

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The second annual Watertown Eco Fest will feature activities including electric bike test rides, vendors of sustainable products, activities for kids, and more. The event, hosted by the City of Watertown, will also include representatives from City departments and community organizations focused on sustainability. Eco Fest will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9 at the Commander’s Mansion, 440 Talcott Ave., Watertown. Watertown Sustainability Planner Mia Kania said Eco Fest the City created Eco Fest after the City Council approved the Resilient Watertown Climate and Energy Plan. “It started last year, which was right after we had expanded the Sustainability Team, essentially doubling,” Kania said.

Business

Robotics Company Builds on Watertown’s History of Manufacturing in Former Mill Building

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Tutor Intelligence’s Data Factory 1, which has 100 AI robots performing tasks, is part of the company’s new headquarters at Riverworks in Watertown (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

A building along the Charles River in Watertown where textiles were once made has a new tenant involved in manufacturing. Tutor Intelligence creates AI robots that are used by companies from coast to coast. On April 23, Tutor hosted a grand opening at its offices in Riverworks, a building on Pleasant Street that was previously home to Boston Scientific, and prior to that was known as Aetna Mills. The company spent most of its first five years on the other side of Watertown in a space on Coolidge Hill Road under Eastern Clothing. Tutor outgrew that space and looked for a larger facility, said Tutor’s CTO Alon Kosowsky, who co-founded the company with CEO Josh Gruenstein.

Around Town

Lafayette Celebrated (Again) in Watertown for Contributions to American Revolution

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Watertown officials celebrated the new historical marker in honor of General Lafayette. From left, Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli, Council President Mark Sideris, Marilynne Roach of the Historical Society, City Manager George Proakis, Julien Icher of the Lafayette Trail, Joyce Kelly from the Historical Society, and City Councilor Caroline Bays. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

On a drizzly, cool morning, a small crowd of Watertown history buffs came out to celebrate a Frenchman who played an important role in winning the American Revolution. During the ceremony, Watertown’s newest historical marker was unveiled, honoring the Marquis de Lafayette, who served as a general in the American Army. On Sunday, April 19, the red sign with a blue border and white lettering was presented by Julien Icher, Founder & President of The Lafayette Trail Inc.

The marker celebrates a visit by Lafayette, said Marilynne Roach from the Historical Society of Watertown.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Multiple Shoplifters Arrested, Fake Trial Scam Costs $14K and Illegal Dumpings

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. April 12: A woman took $213 worth of merchandise from CVS on Mt. Auburn Street, and was seen leaving in a black Mercedes. April 13: Multiple pieces of furniture and a mattress were left in the dumpster at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. April 13: A resident received a letter from Cambridge Savings Bank about a new bank account opened in the person’s name.

Sports

JIM’S VIEW: Boston Renegades Beep Baseball Team Plays At Fenway Park For The First Time

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The Boston Renegades, who practice in Watertown, got to play at Fenway Park for the first time on April 12. The beep baseball team has members who are visually impaired and others who are not, all of whom wear blindfolds. (Photo by Jim Vershbow)

BOSTON — Bravery. It comes in all shapes and sizes. Among the bravest, in my opinion, are those individuals who are forced to live their lives visually impaired. Sight is a precious thing, and not having it is one of the cruelest things you could inflict on any human being. Yet, over the years so many incredible techniques and equipment have been devised and developed to allow the visually impaired community to do things that those of us with sight take for granted. One of those things is the opportunity to play the great sport of baseball, more commonly known to the visually impaired community as Beep Baseball.

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. Calls for heavy smoke from the home at 8 Kimball Road came in for a fire at about 7:30 a.m. and a working fire was called at about 7:40 a.m. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The home sits yards from Mt.

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. Creedon finished the 26.2 mile route from in a time of 2:33:41. He finished 530th overall and was the 506th fastest male. Hawkins, who ran for the Boston Athletic Association team, finished in a time of 2:49:30, and was the 130th fastest woman.

Schools

Watertown School Bus Fees Increasing, District May Buy Electric Buses

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by Pixabay

School bus fees will rise $200 for students who don’t qualify for the mandated busing areas of town in the 2026-27 school year. School officials will also look at purchasing its own buses, which would be electric. Increasing school bus fees was one of the steps taken to balance the school budget for Fiscal Year 2027. School officials had to close a $2.5 million gap. This year, students were charged $300 to ride the school bus, with a family cap of $475, said Superintendent Dede Galdston.