Elections

See What Candidates for 10th Middlesex State Rep. Seat Said About Health Care, Housing & More

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Candidates for 10th Middlesex State Representative, John Lawn and Alison Leary, appeared on a live debate on Watertown Cable Access TV. (Screenshot from WCA-TV)

Transparency on Beacon Hill, the cost of health care, and challenges facing each of the candidates for 10th Middlesex State Representative were among the topics discussed by the two candidates running for the seat representing parts of Watertown, Newton, and Waltham — incumbent John Lawn and challenger, Alison Leary. The 10th Middlesex district includes parts of Watertown precincts 9, 10, 11, and 12. Both candidates are Democrats who will be on the ballot for the State Primary election on Sept. 1, 2026.

Government

Watertown Tax Relief Legislation Signed by Governor, Preventing 18% Jump in Property Taxes

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Massachusetts State House (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown residential property owners could have faced increases of around 18%, but special legislation approved recently on Beacon Hill will prevent that. See the announcement provided by the City of Watertown, below. Gov. Maura Healey signed into law H.5569, the property tax classification bill that will protect Watertown residential taxpayers from an estimated 18% increase in future tax bills. This comes after months of hard work by Sen. Will Brownsberger, and Reps. John Lawn and Steve Owens working with their colleagues on Beacon Hill, as well as the advocacy by the City Council President Mark Sideris and City Manager George Proakis at the State House to get this bill passed.

Schools

School Committee Funds Second School Bus to Meet Demand for Riders in 2026-27

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by Pixabay

The Watertown Schools will run a second bus this year due to high demand for seats during the school year that begins in September. For the past three years middle school students received free busing while Watertown High School students attended the temporary high school at Moxley Field, which sits just across the street from Watertown Middle School. The move was made it part to reduce the traffic going to and from the two campuses. With the new high school opening in September, high schoolers will not be attending class at the Moxley campus. In April, the School Committee voted to change the school bus policy, and increased bus fees.

Schools

Student Numbers Growing at Watertown’s Elementary Schools

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Hosmer Elementary School will be the largest school in 2026-27, but the total number of students will drop from last year despite the district’s elementary enrollment growing. (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)

With the opening of school just over a month away, Superintendent Dede Galdston said the number of elementary school students is expected to be more than 100 higher than last year. At the July 27 School Committee meeting, Galdston said the current number of registered students is 1,474 at the elementary level. “That’s about 150 more students than we had last year,” Galdston said. The largest will be Hosmer Elementary School, with 632 students, but that number is lower than last year.

Schools

The Public Will Get to Tour the New Watertown High School Before the First Day of Classes

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The main entrance to the new Watertown High School on Columbia Street. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The new Watertown High School will welcome students for the beginning of School in September, and the public will be able to take a look around before the first day of classes. The first day of school is Sept. 8, 2026, but a grand opening for the new High School will take place on Sept. 2 at 3 p.m., said City Council President Mark Sideris, who is chair of the School Building Committee.

Schools

School Committee Approves Interim Student Services Head, Creates Subcommittee to Review Special Education

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The School Committee approved the hiring of the interim Director of Student Services, who will oversee the special education program in the Watertown Public Schools, and also created a subcommittee focused on Student Services that will look at the district’s special education program. The moves made at the July 27 meeting, came in the wake of a push by parents of students in the special education program to make changes to the program and remove the Director of Student Services for not providing the services needed by students and creating an environment of fear and distrust. The discussion around Watertown’s Special Education program has become heated, including an online threat directed toward one of the School Committee members. Parents Concerns

For the past few School Committee meetings, parents have spoken about their experiences, their concerns about the special education program in Watertown, and what they would like to see change. Many have spoken about not feeling heard, being targeted for asking for services for their children, and not trusting Watertown special education program.

Entertainment

Watertown Arts Day — Enjoy the 6th Arts Market, Dance, Culture & Community

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Watertown will be brimming with arts activities on Aug. 8, 2026. The day begins with the annual Watertown Arts Market at Arsenal Park, featuring more than 100 artists, music, performances, kids’ activities and food for sale. Afterward, catch a Latin dance performance and lessons nearby, hosted by the Mosesian Center for the Arts. See details provided by the Watertown Arts Market, below.

Sports

Watertown Man Leaps into National Finals of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior

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Matt D’Amico (right) who grew up in Watertown, with American Ninja Warrior Coach and business partner Lucas Reale during the recent Eastern Regional Finals. (Photo by Scott Everett White/NBC)

Remember when you were 6 years old and got your first baseball mitt or hockey stick, in anticipation of playing games that would become the passion of a lifetime? Well, there’s a whole new generation of young athletes passing on team sports for the opportunity to attend Obstacle Training Facilities that offer Ninja Warrior classes. Matt D’amico represents one such example, a local boy turned young man, and his story of independence, effort, determination and maturity – ultimately leading to success in more ways than one. Matt D’amico, 25, lives in Billerica, but is born and bred in Watertown. Matt attended Watertown schools until eigth grade and then was home-schooled through the age of 16. At that point, he made a decision that has changed his life in only good ways- Matt began training to be an American Ninja Warrior. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 🇳🇬Akbar Gbajabiamila🇺🇸 (@akbar_gbaja)

For the uneducated, which included me prior to writing this story, “Ninja Warrior” is a highly demanding obstacle course competition and sport.