Government

New Middle School Moves a Step Closer to Reality; Council Approves Funds for Parks Projects

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A vision of what a new Watertown Middle School could look like created by Ai3 Architects and presented to the School Committee in October 2025. The possibility of building a new Middle School in Watertown moved a step closer to becoming a reality at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The Council also approved funding for projects at City parks, the library, Police Station, and for Watertown’s Treaty Day celebration. On June 9, the Council approved a $3 million transfer of funds from the Middle School Stabilization Fund to pay for the design development of a possible Middle School. City Manager George Proakis stressed that the Council is still deciding whether or not to proceed with the project.

Government

City Council to Consider Changes to Noise Ordinance, Including New Allowed Hours for Lawn Work

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Watertown’s City Hall. Proposed changes to Watertown’s Noise Ordinance will soon be discussed by the City Council, including changes of hours for lawn and garden maintenance. In the latest in a series of efforts to update the City’s Noise Ordinance, the Council’s Committee on Rules and Ordinances held meetings in May and June to discuss changes. The Committee’s report was presented at the June 9 City Council Meeting by Councilor Nicole Gardner, chair of the Rules & Ordinances Committee. The Committee agreed to a statement of purpose for the Noise Ordinance, which said:

“Noise pollution is a serious hazard to public health, welfare, safety, and quality of life.

Around Town

Effort to Start Food Co-op Half Way There, Board Starting to Seek Sites

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The effort to bring a food co-op to the Watertown area reached a major milestone recently, and has gained momentum in its effort to open a retail store. The Charles River Food Co-op surpassed the 1,000 member mark, which is a “big deal,” said Sam Garwin, president of the Co-op’s Board of Directors. “Two-thousand represents the number of people where, if we had that many people who were on a regular basis shoppers at our store, that would bode very well for the long-term success of the store,” she said. “So 1,000 means we’re halfway there, which is amazing.” A co-op is a business that is 100% owned by its co-op shareholders.

Business

WORLD CUP: Local Watch Parties & Festivities But Less Economic Impact Than Predicted

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Fans from around the globe will be coming to the United States for the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off June 11, including for several games in the Boston area. There are plenty of ways to take in some of the atmosphere and the spirit of the world’s largest sporting event in and around Watertown. The 2022 World Cup was viewed by 5 billions people globally, according to FIFA (compared to about 115 million for the Super Bowl in the United States), and thousands of fans at the stadiums but it may not be as big an event for the local economy as once thought. The United States is a co-host, with Canada and Mexico, of the tournament featuring 48 teams and 104 games. The Americans will not play in Boston in the group phase, when the U.S. faces Paraguay (June 12), Australia (June 19) and Turkiye (June 25).

Around Town

Watertown Farmers Market Opens This Week, See Who Will be There, Including New Vendors

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The Watertown Farmers Market returns on June 10, 2026. (Courtesy of Watertown Farmers Market)

The Watertown Farmers Market season begins this week, with the first market of 2026 taking place on Wednesday. See more information about what to expect, how to get there, and food asssistance programs in the announcement provided by the Watertown Farmers Market, below. We’re excited to kick off the 13th year of the Watertown Farmers’ Market in the newly renovated park space! Stop over next Wednesday, June 10, 2026, from 2:30-6:30 p.m. to celebrate all the market has to offer!Join us to welcome back familiar faces and welcome newcomers.

Schools

Congrats Grads! — See Photos from the Class of 2026

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A member of the Watertown High School Class of 2026 gets a hug after receiving her diploma (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The 175 members of Watertown High School’s Class of 2026 celebrated their graduation at Victory Field Friday afternoon. See the list of graduates and photos from the ceremony. Watertown High School Class of 2026

(+ Cum Laude Society, ^ National Honor Society, * Seal of Biliteracy, % Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction, # Pre-Engineering Pathway, £ Pre-Medical Assist Pathway)

Sofia Alejandra Aedo Figueroa

Jafar Raad Al Hilfy

Arianna M Alvarez

Samuel Alves Cerqueira

Aiden Lukas Anker

Manal Anwar

Monika Arakelyan

Eduard Christopher Askaryan

Mazen Mohammad Atiyyat

A 2026 graduate grabs a selfie after receiving her degree. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Kevin Augusto

Houria Awan *

Tobalashe Opeyemi Banjo +^*

Ryder Joseph Barenholtz ^

Abel Killian Barker

Stefano Aldo Barresi

Davit Gevorg Barseghyan *

Gerver Isaac Boteo

Ariana Araxi Boyajian ^

Brixton Panda Brandt

Lucas Joseph Bray

Gabriella De Freitas and Sofia Rojas sing “Dreams” during the graduation ceremony.(Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Cameron Edward Burke

Marissa Rose Cabral

Mariajose Calderon Castellanos %

Nicholas Daniel Calidonna

Christian Alberto Calix

Joshua Carias Coronado

Danilo Chaves Carvalho

Luciana Castro Guevara ^*

Mia Ann Caterino +^*

Anastasia Chernikova *

Berat Cinar

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Angelina Luz Colon ^

Theresa Helen Corbett

Joshua Sevelle Crespo

Gustavo Ferreira Da Silva

Karina Daldemian ^

Edmond Augustine Daly

Ana Beatriz Lima DaSilva %

Gabrielly Ferreira De Freitas +^%

Ketly Carla De Oliveira

Isaac Gabriel Demelo

Hannah Oliveira Dempsey

Ixchel Mayan Tankard Diaz

Aysha Din +^

Vanessa Sandra Duenas

Almc Elwagia %

Principal Joel Giacobozzi speaks to the Class of 2026 during graduation at Victory Field. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Ned Elwagia *

Arthur De Albuquerque Ferraz +^%

Moya Nicole Flanagan +^

Tyler Joseph Flynn

Danica Erin Foley +^

Gavin Robert Foley

Evelyn Johnson Follett ^

Higor Franca Camara

Joshua Rennan Ferreira Freitas

Arianne Yailyn Galdamez

Tristan Gabriel Galeano Gordillo

MacKenzie Erin Gilligan ^

Yensi Angelly Giron +^%

Jake Ryan Gobbi

Nash Macabee Goldstein

One of more than a dozen groups of students gave a welcome in their home language at the 2026 graduation ceremony.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Rabbi Harassed, Teens Suspected of Setting Small Blaze at Home Depot

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. May 20: Loss prevention at Target spotted a man who they recognized from previous incidents. Police were called and arrived as the suspect left the store. He said he was told by an unidentified friend to walk out with merchandise, and that he thought the items were paid for. The suspect did not have the items with him, but officers were able to locate $309 worth of merchandise behind a wall at the Residence Inn by Marriott.

Business

Family-Run Company Has Created High Tech Medical Parts for Decades in Watertown

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Father and son, Paul (right) and Taylor Heanue, run High Tech Turning, which manufactures parts for medical device manufacturing. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The Charles River has been a center of manufacturing for centuries, and the tradition continues today. A 40-year-old company that makes millions of parts each year in its facility that sits just a block from the river. High Tech Turning, located at 16 Bridge St., creates thousands of tiny parts used in high-tech medical devices. The company has moved around a few times in its four decades — to Waltham and the other side of the river on California Street — and has called Bridge Street its home for the past quarter century, said President and CEO Paul Heanue, who founded the company.