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Council Approves FY27 Capital Items With Funds for Street Repair, Park Projects and the New Middle School

By Charlie Breitrose | 8 hours ago

The City Council approved 36 items from the Capital Improvement Program for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, including road repairs, some money for the Middle School project, park projects, and requests from the Fire and Police departments.

LETTER: Watertown Grieves Civil Rights Leader Bernard Lafayette Who Helped Spread Dr. King’s Teachings to Town

Dr. Bernard Lafayette and Watertown Kingian Nonviolence Trainer Holly Cachimuel, who is a former Watertown teacher.(Photo by Chuck Dickinson)

The death of legendary civil rights icon Dr. Bernard Lafayette on March 5 resonates deeply throughout the city of Watertown. “Doc” first came here for several days in 2016, at the behest of former Watertown Middle School teacher Ruth Henry. Henry had trained in Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Resolution under Dr. Lafayette. Lafayette had promised Martin Luther King, Jr. before his 1968 assassination that he would spread King’s nonviolence teaching and practice around the world.

Detailed Designs of Middle School Being Created to See if City Can Afford a New School

A vision of what a new Watertown Middle School could look like created by Ai3 Architects and presented to the School Committee in June 2025.

Architects have started creating detailed designs for a new Watertown Middle School to determine how much a new school would cost, and that information will be used by the City to see whether Watertown’s budget can handle a project expected to cost significantly more than $100 million.

What New Industries Might be Attracted to Watertown, Changes to the Square Discussed by City Manager

City Manager George Proakis spoke at the Watertown Business Coalition’s City Update on March 5, 2026. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown became a magnet for life science companies in the last several years, and City Manager George Proakis said the building boom in that industry may be slowed, but other industries may be attracted to the same things: proximity to Boston and the universities in the area, easy access, and a nice place to be.

More Headlines

Several Owls Visit Mount Auburn Cemetery During Long-Running Program Hosted by Owl Enthusiasts & Rescuers

School Committee Votes on Watertown Middle School Start Time for 2026-27

Boston Bruins Player Gets an Education About a Sport for the Blind at Perkins School

Entertainment

WEEKEND FUN: Elvis Presley Movie, St. Patrick’s Celebration, Middle School Musical, Concert at the Library

By Charlo Maurer, Contributor | March 6, 2026

All the weekend’s offerings I found this week are all music related. Friday evening you might catch the newly released film about Elvis called Epic: Elvis Presley in Concert. It’s gotten remarkable reviews. Catch the Middle School’s production of “Willy Wonka Jr.” on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. On Sunday, starting in the morning, you can get in a St. Patrick’s Day mood early by taking your family to Donohue’s Bar and Grill for some Irish tunes and dancing. Sunday afternoon there is a Latin Jazz concert at the library, with Claudio Ragazzi and Georgie Rodriguez. Ragazzi is a film composer and guitarist. Rodriguez is a celebrated Puerto Rican multi-instrumentalist and composer. They are getting some great musicians for their winter concert series. Yes, did you notice that I skipped Saturday. Don’t you need to do your laundry?

Real Estate

18 Open Houses Around Watertown Over the Weekend

By Charlie Breitrose | March 6, 2026

The Watertown real estate market is busy this weekend, with 18 open houses to visit.

Around Town

First Parish Church Hosting Concert Benefiting Helen Robinson Wright Charitable Fund

By Guest Writer | March 5, 2026

Charlie BreitroseFirst Parish Church of Watertown.

First Parish Watertown will hold a benefit concert for the Helen Robinson Wright Charitable Fund. See details in the announcement provided by the church, below.

Around Town

Belmont-Watertown UMC Hosting Musical Fundraiser for New England Justice for Our Neighbors

By Guest Writer | March 5, 2026

The following announcement was provided by the Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church:

Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church presents its annual fundraising concert, “Hearts to Help,” in support of New England Justice For Our Neighbors (NEJFON), an agency which provides free legal services to low- and no-income immigrants.

Around Town

Watertown Porchfest Will be Back in May, Registration Open

By Guest Writer | March 5, 2026

Porchfest returns to Watertown in May, and registration has opened. See more information in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below.

Entertainment

Aznavoorian Sisters to Playing Boston Debut Concert at the Armenian Museum of America

By Guest Writer | March 4, 2026

The Armenian Museum is hosting the Boston area debut of the acclaimedAznavoorian Sisters (cellist Ani Aznavoorian and pianist Marta Aznavoorian) on March 28.

The Armenian Museum of America recently announced the first Music in Color concert of the season featuring acclaimed cellist Ani Aznavoorian and pianist Marta Aznavoorian, making their Boston debut as a duo, on Saturday, March 28, at 7:00 p.m.

Around Town

Recreation Department Looking at Starting Youth Field Hockey Program, Sent Out Survey

By Guest Writer | March 4, 2026

The Watertown Recreation Department provided the following announcement:

Please fill out our Interest Survey

Watertown Recreation is exploring the possibility of launching a Youth Travel Field Hockey Team to join the Baystate Youth Field Hockey League in the Fall of 2026.

Obituaries

OBIT: Donald Joseph “Don” Quinn, Watertown High Grad, Worked for 30 Years at Shipley Corp., Voice of Hudson Sports

By Guest Writer | March 4, 2026

Donald J. Quinn

Donald Joseph “Don” Quinn July 17, 1941 – February 27, 2026

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Donald Joseph “Don” Quinn announces his passing after a short battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born on July 17, 1941, in Watertown, Massachusetts, to the late Richard and Mary Quinn, Don lived a life defined by love, family, dedication, and community spirit.