Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/)
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.
Marcia Wilson holds a Eurasian Eagle Owl during the Eyes on Owls event at Mount Auburn Cemetery. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Mount Auburn Cemetery recently welcomed a couple who have devoted their lives to observing and caring for owls. They have traveled around New England in search of the raptors, from Crane Beach in Ipswich to Rye, New Hampshire, to Nantucket, and have ventured as far as Alaska, Serbia and Nunavut in the north of Canada to catch a glimpse of owls.
Watertown Middle School (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)
The debate over when to start the day for middle school students returned to the Watertown School Committee this week, focusing on what time the school day should begin for the 2026-27 school year. The discussion has been complicated by impact on after-school sports and the shortage of fields in town.
Boston Bruin Alex Steeves learns about goalball from two members of Perkins School for the Blind Towerhawks. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Boston Bruins center Alex Steeves has played in some tough environments — Montreal, Toronto, Madison Square Garden — but on Monday he entered the Perkins School for the Blind’s gym to try his hand at a new sport: one which requires him to play blindfolded.
The Annual Watertown MusicFest is coming up and musicians can now sign up to take part in the event that supports the music program in the Watertown Public Schools. See more in the announcement from the Friends of Watertown Music, below.
By Linda ScottWatertown Resident
This is the second part of three looking at the impacts of the Life Science Industry on Watertown. Part One focused on the impact on housing and the environmental impacts. In Part Two, we’ll look at the costs to the City of Watertown to maintain safe control over the Life Science industry and its effects on our community.
In Part Three, we’ll look at linkage fees and how they could help our community. We’ll also look at how our community got into a position where in Watertown, a city well known for its fiscal responsibility, residential property taxes could soar to 18 percent higher by 2027.
See the homes that were sold this week in Watertown.
By Linda ScottWatertown Resident
This is the second part of three looking at the impacts of the Life Science Industry on Watertown. Part One focused on the impact on housing and the environmental impacts. In Part Two, we’ll look at the costs to the City of Watertown to maintain safe control over the Life Science industry and its effects on our community.
St. Patrick’s Church will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 14. See information provided by the church, below.
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.
By Linda ScottWatertown Resident
A quick overview:
In Part One of this series, we’ll explore housing disruption and environmental issues plaguing Watertown.
In Part Two, we’ll look at the costs to the City of Watertown to maintain safe control over the Life Science industry and its effects on our community.
In Part Three, we’ll look at how our community got into a position where in Watertown, a city well known for its fiscal responsibility, residential property taxes could soar to 18 percent higher by 2027.
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?