Letters

LETTER: Hope is Not a Strategy — Pleasant Street and Beyond

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(Updated June 16, 2026 at 2:24 p.m.)

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

I want to mention three meetings, one that I attended on June 5th that City Council President Mark Sideris conducted. These meetings are a relatively new concept as a result of our last Charter review. Each councilor is required to have one community meeting a year and invite the public. It’s a good idea. I also want to mention the Watertown Planning Board meeting on June 10th on zoom that I attended (thank you to my friend who kept track of this stuff and mentioned it to me when I was otherwise occupied).

Around Town

LETTER: Thank You to the Community for a Fabulous Watertown Helps Out

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Dear Editor,

Wow! Watertown, you knocked Watertown Helps Out (WHO) out of the park! The Watertown Community Foundation has organized WHO for 12 years and this was the best one yet. Watertown residents, community partners, corporate sponsors, students, and city leaders came together in an extraordinary month of community service. Together, we logged more than 1,000 volunteer hours dedicated to 40 different projects directly supporting 20 nonprofit organizations across our city.

Around Town

Wayside Receives Grant to Support Health & Substance Use Prevention Program

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The Wayside Multi-Service Center is located on North Beacon Street in Watertown. (Courtesy of Wayside)

The following announcement was provided by Wayside Youth & Family Support Network:

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Cummings Foundation to support the launch of its Seeds of Wellness pilot program within the organization’s Multi-Service Program. Wayside is one of 150 nonprofits selected through a highly competitive process from 959 applicants as part of the Cummings Foundation’s annual grant program, which distributed $35 million this year. The funding will be provided over three years. The Seeds of Wellness pilot will enhance Wayside’s Multi-Service Center existing mental health and substance use prevention services by creating opportunities for youth to connect with nature, build resilience, and strengthen relationships with trusted adults through community volunteers.

Around Town

Sidewalk Work Continues in Coolidge Square This Week

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The process of removing, reconfiguring, and pouring new sidewalks in Coolidge Square continues during the week of June 15, 2026. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Sidewalk Grading & Forming

Sidewalk fine grading will take place at School Street and Hillside Road. Sidewalk forming will take place between Winsor Ave. and Hillside Road.

Government

Applicants Wanted to Serve on City Boards and Committees

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Photo by Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

City Manager George Proakis announced he seeks residents to serve on the Conservation Commission, the Environment & Energy Efficiency Committee, the Historic District Commission, and the Stormwater Committee. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Make a Difference, Join a Committee, Board or Commission

City Manager George J. Proakis is seeking Watertown residents interested in serving on the following Committees, Boards or Commissions. Vacancies as of June 11, 2026

Conservation Commission

Environment & Energy Efficiency Committee

Historic District Commission

Stormwater Committee

Visit the Boards and Commissions page to learn more. 

Access the Universal Application.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Announce Promotions to Captain, Lieutenant and Sergeant

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Three Watertown Police officers received promotions: Mark Lewis, far left, Ken Swift, second from right, and Joseph Farrar, far right. They are pictured with Police Chief Justin Hanrahan, center, and City Manager George Proakis, second from left. (Courtesy of Watertown Police)

Three Watertown Police officers received promotions this week during a ceremony at the Watertown Police Station. See more details in the announcement from the WPD, below. Chief Justin Hanrahan is pleased to announce the promotions of Kenneth Swift to Captain, Mark Lewis to Lieutenant, and Joseph Farrar to Sergeant, effective Thursday, June 11, 2026.

Environment

Watertown Area in Level 3 Critical Drought

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The Mass. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs announced that the region that includes Watertown has reached Critical Drought levels. See more information in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. During the month of May, the state of Massachusetts received between 1-3 inches of rain, which was 1.3 to 3 inches below normal. Rivers and streams throughout the region are running below normal levels, even if they may have seen a slight increase right after a rain event.

Entertainment

COMIC: Small Saves Tries to Get a Slice of the Cake

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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.”