Real Estate
Five Watertown Properties Were Sold This Week
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Three condos and a pair of two-family homes were sold this week.
Frigid Conditions Saturday Followed by Major Snow Storm Forecast to Drop Up to 20 Inches on Watertown
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Teddy KokorosA major snow storm is forecast to drop 15 inches or more on Watertown on Jan. 25 and 26. Above, Main Street on the westside of Watertown during the Jan. 29, 2022 blizzard.
A major snow storm will hit Watertown beginning on Sunday, dumping as much as 20 inches of snow over two days. The storm will be preceded by dangerously cold wind chill.
Residents Express Concerns About Using Flock License Plate Reading Cameras in Watertown
Members of the Watertown Police Department discussed different technology used by the WPD, including a proposal to use the Flock Safety cameras. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
A room full of residents expressed their concerns about the Watertown Police Department’s proposed use of Flock Safety cameras in town, with the biggest issues about how the images collected by the license plate capturing system would be used outside Watertown and who would have access. As the debate over whether cameras should be used in the City, legislation at the state level could help reduce concerns.
Police Log: Man Caught Breaking Into a Vehicle, Fraudulent Health Insurance Policy Opened in Resident’s Name
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department.
Poet Laureate Speaks at Packed Unity Breakfast; Award Given to Group Monitoring Immigrant Enforcement
Massachusetts Poet Laureate Regie Gibson recited several of his poems at the 2026 Unity Breakfast. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Massachusetts’ Poet Laureate inspired the crowd at the 26th annual Unity Breakfast. During the event on Monday, awards were presented to a group monitoring immigration enforcement and supporting immigrants rights in Watertown, and a man who has been a big part of keeping the Unity Breakfast going through the Pandemic.
More Headlines
Watertown Schools May Tap City’s Special Ed Fund, Add Athletics Fees to Make up Budget Deficit
Watertown Property Owners Were Not Overcharged on Property Taxes, Confusion Caused by Change in Software
New Watertown High School Opening Pushed to September
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.
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.
Around Town
Keeping the Charles Clean: A Conversation on Stormwater Innovation in Watertown
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The following announcement was provided by the Charles River Watershed Association:
Join CRWA staff and City of Watertown officials for an in-depth conversation about stormwater — what it is, how stormwater pollution impacts the Charles River, and the major challenges municipalities face in managing it.
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?
Real Estate
19 Open Houses Around Town This Weekend
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Nearly 20 properties are hosting open houses in Watertown this week.
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.”
Schools
Watertown Students Make Dean’s List, Presents Research Project
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Watertown students attending college at Saint Anselm, James Madison, the University of Wisconsin, Northern Essex Community College, Hofstra, Assumption, SNHU, and Lasell made the dean’s list during the fall of 2025, and a student at Emmanuel College presented his research project.