Watertown Group Protests Bank for Link to ICE Detention Centers

Some of the protesters at Watertown’s De-ICE Citizens Bank Campaign on June 13. (Contributed Photo)

The following article was submitted by Indivisible Progressive Watertown:

On Saturday, June 13, Indivisible Progressive Watertown hosted its third stand out this year in front of the East Watertown Citizens Bank branch at 630 Mt. Auburn St. Twenty-five people gathered to protest Citizens Bank’s connections to ICE prisons. 

In addition to holding signs and passing out flyers to passersby and customers, attendees also “chalked the walk” with related messages. The stand out was part of a National Week of action organized by the De-ICE Citizens Bank coalition https://www.de-icecitizensbank.org/ to call attention to the role Citizens Bank plays in financing CoreCivic and the GeoGroup, two private prison companies running ICE Detention Centers. The GeoGroup is the owner of Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, where inmates are participating in hunger and labor strikes. https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/hundreds-at-delaney-hall-join-detained-people-across-country-in-hunger-strike-against-inhumane-conditions. 

As a result of the abuse at Delaney Hall, Jersey City has withdrawn $265 million from Citizens Bank https://jcitytimes.com/jersey-city-to-pull-millions-from-bank-over-ice-detention-financing/. If you have an account with Citizens Bank and aren’t ready to close your account, you can sign the De-ICE Citizens Bank Not with our Money Pledge: https://www.de-icecitizensbank.org/take-action.

Inside the City’s 311 Service Center, Where Staff Fields the Public’s Questions, Requests & More

311 Service Center staff — Constituant Service Director Laura Murray (left) and Constituent Services Representative Stephanie Owens — outside their office City Hall. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Inside a small office in the back corner of City Hall sits the heart of Watertown’s 311 Service Center. The two-woman operation fields calls, texts, emails, and other messages about potholes, people trying to reach a City employee, and occasionally to report something strange they have just witnessed. The system is called 311 because that is the number people can call from within the City limits. In late 2023, Laura Murray came in as Constituent Services Director to turn the old See-Click-Fix program into a one-stop customer services center for residents, businesses, and others.

Watertown Community Foundation Challenge to Raise $25,000; Gifts Doubled Until June 26

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

The Watertown Community Foundation has launched a matching gift campaign to raise $25,000 in community donations and unlock up to $25,000 in matching funds. Through June 26, 2026, all gifts to support the work of the Watertown Community Foundation will be matched dollar for dollar — thanks to WCF’s Board of Directors. “With rising prices, we can see that people are struggling,” said Lauren Coughlin Unsworth, Board Co-President, Watertown Community Foundation. “When you give by June 26, your gift will go twice as far to help. Thanks to the leadership and generosity of our Board of Directors, we were able to offer this matching fund to respond to need at a critical time.”

The Watertown Community Foundation uses gifts from community members to fund grants to nonprofits and programs that serve people who live and work in Watertown and has awarded a total of $136,000 so far in 2026.

LETTER: Thank You to the Community for a Fabulous Watertown Helps Out

Dear Editor,

Wow! Watertown, you knocked Watertown Helps Out (WHO) out of the park! The Watertown Community Foundation has organized WHO for 12 years and this was the best one yet. Watertown residents, community partners, corporate sponsors, students, and city leaders came together in an extraordinary month of community service. Together, we logged more than 1,000 volunteer hours dedicated to 40 different projects directly supporting 20 nonprofit organizations across our city.

Wayside Receives Grant to Support Health & Substance Use Prevention Program

The Wayside Multi-Service Center is located on North Beacon Street in Watertown. (Courtesy of Wayside)

The following announcement was provided by Wayside Youth & Family Support Network:

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Cummings Foundation to support the launch of its Seeds of Wellness pilot program within the organization’s Multi-Service Program. Wayside is one of 150 nonprofits selected through a highly competitive process from 959 applicants as part of the Cummings Foundation’s annual grant program, which distributed $35 million this year. The funding will be provided over three years. The Seeds of Wellness pilot will enhance Wayside’s Multi-Service Center existing mental health and substance use prevention services by creating opportunities for youth to connect with nature, build resilience, and strengthen relationships with trusted adults through community volunteers.

Sidewalk Work Continues in Coolidge Square This Week

The process of removing, reconfiguring, and pouring new sidewalks in Coolidge Square continues during the week of June 15, 2026. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Sidewalk Grading & Forming

Sidewalk fine grading will take place at School Street and Hillside Road. Sidewalk forming will take place between Winsor Ave. and Hillside Road.

Watertown Area in Level 3 Critical Drought

The Mass. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs announced that the region that includes Watertown has reached Critical Drought levels. See more information in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. During the month of May, the state of Massachusetts received between 1-3 inches of rain, which was 1.3 to 3 inches below normal. Rivers and streams throughout the region are running below normal levels, even if they may have seen a slight increase right after a rain event.

OBIT: James “Larry” Coe, 80, CPA in Watertown Sq., Singer & Lover of Classical Music

Larry Coe

James Laurence “Larry” Coe of Watertown, Massachusetts passed away peacefully on June 5, 2026, at the age of 80. Larry was born in New Rochelle, New York and grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald R. Coe, mother Nancy H. Coe Hill, and brother Donald R. Coe. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Doris, daughters Julie (Ben) and Maggie (Eckehard), son Peter (Caitlin), and four grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Susan Coe and Jean Culver (Kevin), along with nephews and nieces.