Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/guest-writer/)
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.
Families are invited to the Watertown Police Department’s National Night Out on Aug. 4, where there will be a movie, food, bounce houses, police dog demos, and more. See details provided by the WPD, below. Join the Watertown Police Department and the Watertown Recreation Department for a free, fun-filled community celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, from 5-8 p.m, followed by a movie beginning at 8 p.m.
Come down to the Watertown Police Department at 552 Main St.
The following announcement was provided by Watertown Cable:
It’s time for WCA-TV PSA Day! Watertown nonprofits and organizations have the opportunity to sign up to film a PSA at WCA-TV Studio on Aug. 17, 2026 from 1-4 p.m.
WCA-TV will edit the PSA for you. All you need to do is bring an idea and script. The PSAs created will then be broadcasted on WCA-TV’s Public Channels, as well as uploaded to our site.Organizations have the option to film to coordinate with WCA-TV to film a PSA at a different location.
Gore Place will host tha annual Corn Roast on Aug. 13, featuring locally grown corn, music, ice cream, and a beer garden. See details provided by Gore Place, below. Celebrate the sweet corn season with a Corn Roast at Gore Place. Enjoy roasted corn freshly picked from local farms, live music, and ice cream, plus the Mighty Squirrel biergarten! Bring a picnic blanket to stay and enjoy the music. This is a great way to support local farms, local businesses and your local museum.
The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:
The Watertown Community Foundation welcomes four new board members to the Board of Directors over the last year: Rachel Kaprielian, Christina Murphy, Dwayne Parmley and Erin Webb. The Watertown Community Foundation relies on the Board of Directors to provide strategic leadership and guidance for its grant making efforts, oversight and stewardship of the Foundation’s financial resources, and bring valuable insight, expertise and community connection to identify and address opportunities and challenges in Watertown. Rachel Kaprielian serves as President and CEO of Triangle, Inc., a leading human services nonprofit dedicated to empowering people with disabilities to live, work, and thrive in their communities. She brings decades of leadership spanning government, public policy, human services, workforce development, and corporate affairs. Rachel began her public service as a Watertown Councilor at-Large before being elected to six terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing Watertown and Cambridge.
The following announcement was provided by the Pan-Mass Challenge:
This Aug. 1 and 2, the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) will bring together more than 6,000 cyclists and 4,000 volunteers on Aug. 1-2 to raise money for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Participants from local communities will be among those helping support the PMC’s mission to fund lifesaving cancer research and treatment. The PMC, which raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraiser in the world, is aiming to raise more than ever this year, with a fundraising goal of $79 million.
Watertown students earned degrees from Tufts, UMass Amherst, and University of Wisconsin. Local students also earned honors from Tufts, Holy Cross, UMass Amherst, and Wisconsin. The following information was provided by the colleges and universities:
Graduates
Tufts University
More than 3,600 students across all schools graduated from Tufts University on May 17 during a university-wide commencement ceremony that featured the awarding of honorary degrees to a number of academic, business, and civic leaders making a positive impact on the world. The following students were among those who graduated:
Leyla Mandel of Watertown (02472)
Eraste Talla Ngoualadjo of Watertown (02472)
UMass Amherst
Approximately 7,000 students received bachelor’s degrees in over 100 majors at the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Undergraduate Commencement on May 15, 2026 at the McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
Below is a list of students from your area that received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst:
Watertown, MA
Philip Richard Centola Levon Gukasyan Benjamin Harrison Heep Olivia Juliet-Mei Hoover Deion Adam Howe Duncan Alexander Lepera Sophia Lucille Noble Gregory Steven Venizelos
University of Wisconsin-Madison
More than 9,100 students, including students from your area, earned degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in May 2026. The university held its Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony for doctoral, MFA, and medical professional candidates at the Kohl Center on Friday, May 8 and its ceremony for undergraduate, law, and other Master’s degree candidates at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, May 9.
The Mt. Auburn Street Project during the week of July 27-31 includes sidewalk work from Boylston to School streets, Hillside Avenue to Upland Road, and School Street to Amherst Road. Drainage work will take place from Bates Road to Russell Avenue. The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:
Sidewalk Grading & Forming
Sidewalk fine grading will take place on Mount Auburn Street between Boylston Street to School Street and Hillside Avenue to Upland Road. Concrete Placement
Concrete placement will take place on the westbound sidewalk along Mount Auburn Street between Boylston Street to School Street.