Police/Fire

Fallen Watertown Firefighter Remembered Eight Years After Dying in House Fire

By |

Watertown Fire DepartmentFirefighter Joseph Toscano, a 21-year veteran of the Watertown Fire Department, died on March 17, 2017 after collapsing during a fire. St. Patrick’s Day is a somber one for the Watertown Fire Department. Each year since 2017 Watertown Firefighters pay tribute to Joe Toscano, who lost his life fighting a fire on Merrifield Avenue. On Monday, current and former members of the Watertown Fire Department lined up on Bigelow Avenue, near the home where Toscano collapsed and died during a house fire.

Around Town

FY26-30 Five Year Capital Plan Includes Funds for Middle School Project, Roads, and Renovating Victory Field

By |

Watertown’s five-year capital plan for Fiscal Years 2026-30 by the has 51 items, including replacing Watertown Middle School, road repair, and renovating parts of the Victory Field complex. The City Council voted to recommend the budget be included in City Manager George Proakis’ Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget. For FY26 the total proposed capital spending is $38.49 million, which includes $23.2 million in school building projects. The cost is covered by tax revenue, state dollars, grants, and borrowing. Based on the revised FY26 revenue projection, the total proposed FY26 capital spending would be 17.9 percent of the $215 million operating budget, or 7.1 percent without the school building projects, known as “Building for the Future.”

Around Town

Council Vice President Appears on Eye on Watertown Podcast

By |

Vincent Piccirilli, District C City Councilor and Council Vice President

Watertown Council Vice President and District C Councilor Vincent Piccirilli spoke with former Council President Clyde Younger, host of the Eye on Watertown Podcast. Topics covered included housing and the MBTA Communities Law, the City logo, and Piccirilli’s possible political future. Younger was joined by guest co-host Charlie Breitrose, editor of Watertown News. The podcast was recorded at the Watertown Cable Access studio. See the podcast by clicking here.

Police/Fire

Names of a Dozen Accused Customers of Busted Brothel Ring Revealed at Court Hearing

By |

The identities of 12 of the men accused of being customers of an interstate prostitution ring which used apartments in buildings, including in Watertown and Cambridge, were released on Friday in Cambridge District Court. One of the apartment building used by the prostitution ring was Blvd & Bond apartments located in Arsenal Yards in Watertown. Other places used by the ring were located in Cambridge, Dedham, Virginia, and California. The accused were identified about 16 months after the bust of the high-end commercial sex ring which operated in Massachusetts and Virginia. At the hearing, Cambridge District Court Clerk Sharon Casey said she would file charges against all of them, according to a report by Boston 25 News.

Around Town

Watertown’s Winter Park Had Ended for 2025

By |

The City of Watertown announced the end of the Winter Parking Ban effective Friday, March 14, 2025. The announcement, sent via the City’s Everbridge system, adds that “If there is a snowstorm, it will go back into effect.” Watertown’s Parking Ordinance does not allow parking overnight all year, but the City enforces the ban during the winter, typically from the Monday after Thanksgiving to April 1. Earlier this year, the City Council held a special hearing after a group seeking to end the Winter Parking Ban submitted a petition with several hundred signatures. Read about the meeting here.

Real Estate

More Than 2 Dozen Open Houses in Watertown This Week

By |

Homebuyers have a wealth of choices of open houses this week around town. See the list of properties hosting tours below. 166 Worcester St., $949,900, 3 bedroom 2 bathroom 1,934 sq. ft. Single Family, Open houses: Saturday, March 15 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Sunday, March 16 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

30 Boyd St.

Around Town

City Manager Talks About Life Science Sector, Federal Funding, Future of Watertown Square & More in His City Update

By |

Watertown City Manager George Proakis covered a variety of topics in his City Update on Tuesday. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown’s economic prospects remain promising, despite a downturn in life sciences and uncertainty in future funds from Washington, City Manager George Proakis said during his City Update at an event hosted by the Watertown Business Coalition on Tuesday. During the event at the Hampton Inn & Suites, he also spoke about the possible reuse of the former Police Station property, how the new Cultural District could help the local economy, and the redevelopment of Watertown Square. Life Science Sector

While the lab boom of the early 2020s has waned, Proakis said that the industry still remains solid. “We have 4 million square feet of lab space now, and while vacancies are currently high, indicators are the industry is still growing, with job growth outpacing layoffs, and I think that last thing that is the key is the industry built very aggressively in the lab field of the last couple of years,” Proakis said.