OP-ED: Preventing Owls & Raptors from Being Poisoned by Rodenticides

Photo by Katherine Patterson

By Katherine PattersonWatertown Resident

On Sunday, January 11th, we were amazed to see a beautiful barred owl sitting on a low branch in our backyard. We live next to Whitney Hill in Watertown, and had been hearing barred owl calls in the evening over the past few weeks (“who cooks for you?!”).

UPDATED: Watertown Schools Call Second Straight Snow Day, Snow Emergency Ends Tuesday

(Updated on Feb. 23, 2026 at 6:11 p.m.)

The Watertown Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2026 due to the snow storm that hit the area Sunday and Monday. The Library and Senior Center will be closed and the Food Pantry will operate at the Parker Building. Other buildings will have a delayed opening on Tuesday. See details in the announcements, below.

LETTER: State Legislation Needed to Stop Local Police From Assisting ICE

Across the US, we are witnessing ICE violence perpetrated with apparent impunity. On TV and social media, we see lawlessness and general chaos. A functional society needs the rule of law — built on stable precedents, clear processes, and established procedures to ensure the safety of every resident. Currently, that safety is being undermined by a federal administration that shifts rules on a weekly basis, while operating without a transparent strategy or the tactical oversight necessary to protect civil liberties.