Around Town

Watertown Man Supports Group that Helps Children Who Have Lost a Parent Through His Employer’s Charity

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Watertown’s Jay Hughes presented a check to Cara Belvin, founder of Empower. The money was from the charity run by Movement Mortgage, where Hughes works. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

A dozen years ago, Watertown’s Jay Hughes met a woman who started a non-profit organization to help young women who had lost their mothers by giving them a special day on Mother’s Day. Hughes was the emcee of an auction in Scituate for Cara Belvin’s organization, Empower. The event raised more than $30,000 and got Belvin’s effort moving toward what it is now — a group that has an impact internationally.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Shoplifting Suspect Stopped After Driving Away, Home Repair Scams

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. From a prior week:

April 25: A resident of Stoneleigh Road whose back yard abuts Oakley Country Club’s golf course was in the yard when the resident saw a golfer come up to the fence and began relieving himself. Vines and bushes blocked the man but the resident saw a stream coming into the yard. The resident yelled at the golfer and called the police. The golfer was gone before police arrived.

Around Town

Historic Photo Presented to Watertown Veterans Group is a Reminder of a Tradition of Service

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George McMasters, Commandant of the Marine Corps League Shutt Detachment holds the historic photo of the memorial outside the Post. He and Ed Aucoin, right, were presented the photo by Joyce Kelly of the Historical Society of Watertown. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Two of the leaders of Watertown’s veteran groups recently reflected on the sacrifices made by members of the military from town when they were presented a photo of the dedication of a memorial to Watertown servicemen who died in First World War. The memorial still sits outside the Marine Corps League Charles Shutt Detachment on Mt. Auburn Street.

Around Town

Blood Drive Being Hosted by Watertown Knights of Columbus

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The Knights of Columbus Watertown Council #155 will host an American Red Cross blood drive on Saturday, May 31. The blood drive is scheduled for May 31, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Basement Hall at Saint Patrick’s Church, 212 Main St., Watertown. To register click here: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/donation-time?zipSponsor=02472

Walk ins are welcome. Questions, contact Nino Hanna at Ninos44@gmail.com

Around Town

Chamber Breakfast: Time to Join “Team Massachusetts,” Despite Sobering Economic Numbers

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Former Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao, right, and Interim Secretary Ashley Stolba spoke at the Charles River Regional Chamber Spring Business Breakfast. (Photo by Leise Jones)

NEEDHAM — Statistics and trends shared by an economist from the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston painted a sobering picture for the Boston Metro region, but the former Mass. Secretary of Economic Development gave a pep talk for the attendees of the Charles River Regional Chamber’s Spring Business Breakfast. Employment has not reached pre-Pandemic levels, some of the regions key areas — life sciences and higher education — have fared poorly or faces challenges, cost of living is high, and opinions about prospects for the future are negative, said Mary Burke, principal Economist and Policy Advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Also at the Business Breakfast at the Needham Sheraton was Interim Secretary of Economic Development Ashley Stolba, as well as her predecessor, Yvonne Hao.

Government

City of Watertown Maintains Highest Bond Rating for 2025 Municipal Bonds

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The City of Watertown maintained its high bond rating by S&P Global Ratings for the 2025 general obligation bonds. Watertown will have more than $56 million in general obligation loans that will be used for capital projects, including the construction of the new Watertown High School. City officials received a letter from S&P dated May 16, 2025 informing them of the AAA bond rating for the $56.83 million series 2025 general obligation municipal-purpose loan bonds. Projects to be funded with the bonds include high school improvements, street reconstruction, middle school HVAC replacement, sewer system improvements, and vehicle and equipment replacement. The letter reads: “The stable outlook reflects our expectation that Watertown will continue to produce surplus operating results and growing reserves, given stable revenues supported primarily by property taxes and a forward-looking management team.”

Government

City Watertown Retirees Will Get a Pension Boost After Council Vote

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This week, the City Council voted to give City retirees an increase in their pension benefits, while maintaining a fully-funded pension system. Retirees typically get an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 3 percent a year, said City Manager George Proakis, but that increase only applies to the first $14,000. On May 13, the Council voted to increase the amount that the COLA is applied to by $1,000. The pension number is fixed based upon an employee’s years of service and their age when they retired, Proakis said. The increase came at the request of the Watertown Retirement Board, said City Council President Mark Sideris.