Government

Residents Wanted to Serve on a City Board or Advisory Committee

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Make a Difference, Join a Board or Committee

City Manager George J. Proakis is seeking Watertown residents interested in serving on the Historical Commission, Council on Aging, Human Rights Commission, Memorialization Committee, Public Arts and Culture, Stormwater Advisory Committee, and Traffic Commission. Please visit the Boards and Commissions page to learn more. Access the Universal Application

Join the Residents’ Advisory Committee! The Residents’ Advisory Committee assists with recruitment, evaluation, and selection of candidates for appointments to the City’s volunteer Boards, Commissions, and Committees. The Resident Advisory Board works with the City Manager to establish policies and practices to actively encourage a diverse pool of applicants, recognizing the importance of diversity in appointments, including, but not limited to, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, and ethnicity. Applicants should submit a letter of interest accompanied by a resume or other information concerning background or experience to JoAnna Hand by email to jhand@watertown-ma.gov or City Manager’s Office, 149 Main Street, Watertown, Massachusetts 02472.

Weather

No Snow Emergency, But Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban Still in Effect

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The City of Watertown will not declare a snow emergency for the storm that began Sunday, Jan. 18, but on-street parking is prohibited overnight. See details in the announcement from the City, below. In preparation of the incoming winter storm, the City of Watertown would like to share a few key updates to the community. The City of Watertown will not be declaring a snow emergency due the incoming snow fall happening on January 18, 2026.

Around Town

Drainage Work on Mt. Auburn Street This Week, No Construction Monday

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While the majority of the Mt. Auburn Street Project has paused for the winter, drainage work continues on small portions of the roadway. See details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Work is not scheduled for Monday, January 19, 2026, due to the holiday. 

Drainage Installation

Crews will perform drainage installation on Mount Auburn Street between Richards Road and Oakley Road. Traffic and Sidewalk Impacts

During this work, you can expect temporary lane shifts and possibly lane closures, but one travel lane in each direction will be maintained on Mount Auburn Street.

Around Town

Registration Open for Boys & Girls Club’s 2026 Club Adventure Summer Camp —11 Weeks of Action-Packed Fun

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Boys & Girls Club:

Watertown Boys & Girls Club is delighted to announce that registration is now open for its 2026 Club Adventure Summer Camp, a full-day summer camp program providing fun, safe, and enriching programming for youth ages 7–12 years. This year’s summer camp program is slated to open on June 22 and will run for 11 weeks total, including the final week of summer vacation from Aug. 31–Sept. 4, 2026, just ahead of the Labor Day holiday. 2026 Club Adventure Summer Camphttps://watertownbgc.org/wbgc-programs/summer/

Club Adventure Summer Camp provides a fun, supportive environment where children build confidence, make lasting friendships, explore new activities, and enjoy memorable experiences under the guidance of trained and caring staff.

Entertainment

Cartoon: Small Saves’ Television Interview

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James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net. Combining this with the love of cartooning Small Saves emerged in 1991 and took on a life of his own. “To play goal – then come home and draw Small Saves — is my ideal definition of a good day.”

Letters

LETTER: Do You Know Where Your Neighborhood is Going? (Part 2)

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Looking at Trends

Looking back on the past few years, I see a trend:

1 – The Watertown Square Planning process was a plan to rezone our city core. The MBTA state Law that mandated zoning for 1701 new housing units was a major part of this process, and yet a plan for 1,701 didn’t even reach our councilors’ desks, not to mention the community. After community input for 1,701 units, the City came back with a plan for 6,320 units and effectively defined Watertown Square as an area that extended west on Main to Lexington Street and up Galen, almost to the Mass Pike. The City ultimately “settled” for a number just over 3,000 (3,133) units. The response from our City government when this bait and switch was pointed out?

Letters

LETTER: Do You Know Where Your Neighborhood is Going?

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Part One: Preserving Our Neighborhoods

“Preserving neighborhood character involves balancing tradition with growth through strategieslike historic designation, context-sensitive zoning (scale and setbacks), protecting green spaces, community engagement, and rehabilitation of existing buildings, all while fostering a sense of place, often focusing on a neighborhood’s unique look, feel, and activities, rather than just enforcing uniformity, to maintain stability and appeal.”

The above AI definition of preserving neighborhood character is a far cry from the standard, knee-jerk response to the phrase “preserving a neighborhood’s character” as a racist construct. (See also this AI definition: The phrase “preserving neighborhood character” has a complex history rooted in racially exclusionary policies [often referred to as redlining] that were used to maintain segregation in housing in the United States. While seemingly neutral today, the language was historically used as a coded way to prevent people of color from moving into predominantly white areas”). Can it be used for these purposes? Sure.