Around Town

See All the Performances from the 2025 Dancing With the Watertown Stars

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Courtesy of Watertown Cable

The participants in the 2025 Dancing with the Watertown Stars took to the stage at Mosesian Center for the Arts on Sept. 12, and the winner was crowned. All the action was captured by Watertown Cable Access TV. See a replay of the event by clicking here. The event, hosted by the Rotary Club of Watertown, raises funds to support the Club’s keystone programs such as the High School Senior Scholarship program, Senior Cookout, support of local food pantries, and more.

Around Town

Trash Strike Has Ended, City Closing Temporary Drop Off Site

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A Watertown trash bin. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The strike by union employees working at Republic Services has ended as the two sides announced an agreement on Friday. The strike began on July 1, and lasted more than 11 weeks. A five-year deal was signed by the two sides, according to a joint announcement. Republic Services and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 25 have reached a five-year collective bargaining agreement.

Schools

School Building Committee Members Raise New Strategies to Keep Hopes of Middle School Renovation Alive

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Watertown Middle School (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)

While the possibility of totally renovating or rebuilding Watertown Middle School appeared to be over, some members of the School Building Committee brought up strategies that they said could still allow the project to happen. The Middle School was a major item on the School Building Committee’s agenda on Sept. 17. The meeting followed the Sept. 9 City Council meeting where City Manager George Proakis told the Council that he would not recommend that Watertown try to rebuild or fully renovate the Middle School.

Schools

Back to School: One School Welcomed a Large Kindergarten, Middle School Renovations Shift, Draft Cellphone Policy

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Cunniff Elementary School has a particularly large number of kindergartners this fall. (Photo by Watertown Public Schools)

Students in Watertown returned to class this month, including a large number of kindergartners on one campus. Back to School nights will be held this week, and the School Committee also heard about a proposal that would prevent students from using cellphones and other devices anytime during the school day. At Monday’s School Committee meeting, Superintendent Dede Galdston thanked the Watertown Schools’ faculty and staff for preparing the schools to welcome students to the 2025-26 School Year. The first day of class was Sept.

Around Town

Council Sees Plans for 2 Parks; Asks About Crosswalks Near Bemis Park, Facilities at How Park

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Drawings for the improvements at Bemis Park. Two parks on the westside of Watertown will be renovated in the near future, and City Councilors had questions about the features of the park, as well as the pedestrian crossings for one of the parks. Conceptual drawings of Bemis Park on Waltham Street, and How Park on Pleasant Street were presented by CBA Landscape Architects at the Sept. 8 Council meeting. The designs for Bemis Park, which features a little league baseball field, include a new playground, a splash pad, a porta-potty enclosure, and field improvements.