Letters

LETTER: Mt. Auburn Street — Good Intentions Are Not Enough

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To the Editor:

I am a lifelong Watertown resident and proud to call this community home. It is precisely because of that pride and that history here that I feel compelled to write — on behalf of myself and many of my neighbors along East Boylston Street and Mount Auburn Street — about the ongoing construction that has disrupted our daily lives for so long that many of us can no longer remember a time when it wasn’t happening. While we understand that improving and modernizing our city’s infrastructure is no small task, and that the intentions behind this work are good, good intentions alone do not excuse poor execution. Noise and dust have become a constant, exhausting reality for those of us on East Boylston and Mount Auburn. And for some residents, the impact goes far beyond mere inconvenience.

Around Town

Watertown Elected Leaders and Community Activists Endorse Daniel Lander for State Senate

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Daniel Lander. The following announcement came from the Landers for Senate Campaign:

Daniel Lander announced that his state senate campaign had been endorsed by a slate of elected and community leaders in Watertown. These leaders include elected school committee members, labor activists, and democratic party leaders. They are supporting Daniel’s vision for a more progressive Massachusetts that will take on the status quo and fight the affordability crisis while standing up to the Trump administration. “I am so grateful to have earned the trust and support of so many amazing leaders in Watertown,” said Daniel Lander, Candidate for State Senate, “These leaders and so many others in Watertown have organizing to take on our some of our state’s most pressing issues: building affordable housing, protecting our immigrant neighbors, and making sure every child gets an incredible education.

Around Town

Youth TV Production Workshop Offered by Watertown Cable

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Cable Access Television:

WCA-TV’s Youth Workshop is back this summer for children between the ages of 9 to 14. Our students will learn the basics of video production, from scriptwriting to editing. By the end of the Workshop, students will have produced a film. This Workshop will run Monday-Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. during the weeks of July 20th and 27th. This Workshop is free of charge to all students thanks to a generous grant from the Watertown Cultural Council.

Elections

LETTER: Retired Judge Endorses Sen. Will Brownsberger

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To The Editor,

I am writing to enthusiastically support Senator Will Brownsberger’s re-election campaign and will be voting for him on Sept. 1. During my legal career, encompassing 20 years as a public defender and 24 years as a juvenile court judge, I have learned a lot about the legislative process and the importance of having an effective and forceful advocate who understands the issues and the needs of our community. Will has been in the forefront of youth and criminal legal reform efforts, and his voice is now needed more than ever. I work with a wide network of advocacy groups who realize the imperative of having someone who has the institutional history and credibility to get things done.

Environment

Watertown Swap Shop Returns, Eco Fest & Composting

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Solid Waste and Recycling Committee:

The Watertown Swap Shop re-opens for its second season this Saturday, May 2. The Swap Shop is located at the Recycling Center, 76 Stanley Ave., Watertown. The Swap Shop will be open on the first Saturday of each month, May to November, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., except July when it will be open on the second Saturday. Bring your no-longer needed small items in good condition to the Swap Shop and/or take up to eight items home with you. No clothing or textiles. For a full list of what you can donate, Visit: Swap Shop | Watertown, MA – Official Website

Want to know more about what Watertown is doing to address climate change? Come to Watertown’s Eco Fest on May 9th, which will include a clothing give away of clean used clothes donated by Watertown residents. https://www.watertownecofest.com

Watertown offers Free Curbside Composting with Black Earth for households of fewer than 8 units. Composting food scraps is a great way to reduce your waste and contribute to making Watertown a more climate resilient community. To learn more about how to join the free composting program, visit: https://www.watertown-ma.gov/885/Free-Curbside-Collection-Program. 

Compostable food scraps can also be dropped off at the Recycling Center between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Entertainment

Gore Place Tour, Pattern & Place: Wallpapers of the Mansion 1806-Present

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Gore Place.. Gore Place will host a set of special tours focused on the wallpapers in the mansion that dates back to the early 19th century. See more information in the announcement from Gore Place, below. From May 8 through July 10, visitors to Gore Place will get to view a special exhibition of Gore Place wallpapers as part of the regularly scheduled mansion tour. 

Guests interested in seeing the exhibition should make a tour reservation at goreplace.org. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Obituaries

OBIT: Michael Donovan, 38, Advocate for Children with Autism & Other Challenges, Devoted to Family & Friends

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Michael Donovan

The Donovan, Lazarus, Zinsmeyer, and Eurich families are devastated to share that Michael Maurice Donovan passed away on March 20th, 2026, from complications related to Marfan Syndrome. At only 38 years of age, this loving husband, son, brother, cousin, uncle and friend left us much too soon, but he will stay with us in rich memories. 

In his toddler years, Mike had long blonde hair and an irresistible, mischievous grin. Later at Shady Hill School, he found his quiet but razor-sharp wit, which he hid behind a subtle smile and a spark in his eyes until the moment came for the perfect quip. From an early age, Mike also possessed something that many of us still search for: the ability to completely and comfortably be himself. This gave him a quiet charisma and unflappable kindness that is hard to describe but impossible to forget. 

As a teenager, he became a leader on the lacrosse, soccer, and basketball teams at Beaver Country Day School, where he also uncovered a passion for English literature that stayed with him through his time at Occidental College.

Government

Detailed Plans for Watertown Square Project to be Presented at Open House

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Save the date for the Open House on Watertown Square Implementation on May 20, 2026, from 3-8 p.m. at 9 Galen St. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Join the Open House! The City of Watertown invites you on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, between 3-8 PM to 9 Galen Street for the Watertown Square Implementation Open House!Stop in anytime between 3-8 PM to visit stations that will inform you more about the Demonstration Project and the Urban Revitalization Plan. 

Topics that you can engage with at the Open House include:

A detailed outline of the drafted Demonstration Project Plan, as presented by City Manager Proakis in April. Guided tours of Demonstration Project area with members of the project team.