Around Town

Public is Invited to Attend the Watertown Youth Wellness Community Forum

By |

The results of the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey will be discussed at a community forum hosted by the Watertown Youth Coalition and the Watertown Public Schools. The Watertown Youth Wellness Community Forum will be held on Thursday, Jan. 8 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Learning Commons at Lowell Elementary School, 123 Lowell Ave. The announcement from the Watertown Youth Coalition said:

“We will present and discuss the findings from the 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and work together to explore how data relates to: Youth Belonging, Youth Connections with Trusted Adults, Youth Perception of Substance Use Prevelance.” Light refreshments will be served.

Around Town

Watertown Historian Backs Bill Exonerating People Accused of Witchcraft Prior to Salem Trials

By |

Marilynne Roach, center-right, and State Rep. Steve Owens, center-left, at the State House on the day that Roach spoke during a hearing about exonerating the victims of witch trials before the ones in Salem. (Photo by Caroline Enos / The Salem News)

Watertown historian and author Marilynne Roach who has researched the Salem Witch Trials recently testified at the State House for a bill that would exonerate the eight people, including two with ties to Watertown, found guilty of being alleged witches before the Salem 1692 panic. Roach has written multiple books about the Witch Trials in Massachusetts, and wanted to find a way to give those found guilty some justice. “A few months ago I spoke with Rep. Steven Owens at one of his regular visits to the Senior Center to ask about getting a bill to clear the names of the people found guilty of witchcraft before the well-known Salem outbreak,” Roach said. “Needless to say, the verdicts were based on faulty evidence.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Distributes $43,000 in Donations to Food Pantries

By |

Food collected from multiple locations across the City during theCommunity Food Drive, running through December 31, 2025. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

The Watertown Community Foundation received $43,000 in donations to support Watertown’s food pantries since the City of Watertown’s Community Food Drive began on October 31. These funds have been distributed to the Watertown Food Pantry and Watertown Catholic Collaborative Food Pantry to purchase and distribute food at each pantry. Residents from Watertown, Belmont and nearby communities also continue to contribute shelf-stable pantry goods at multiple drop off locations in our schools and across the city during the Community Food Drive. An estimated one to two tons of food each week have been distributed among the food pantries, the Watertown Community Fridge, and, as needed, to the city’s social service providers since November 10.

Around Town

Affordable Condo in Watertown Going on Sale

By |

An affordable rate condo in Watertown will be sold. See more information provided by the City of Watertown below. There is an affordable condo for sale at Riverbank Lofts, located at 290 Pleasant St, Unit 116, Watertown for $230,762. The Open House is Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 10:00am-1:00pm. The Condo has:

1 bedroom, 1 bathroom – approx.

Around Town

Winners of the Watertown Business Coalition’s Holiday Decorating Contest Announced

By |

The results are in for the of the first annual Watertown Business Coalition Holiday Decorating Contest. Honors were handed out by a both a panel of WBC judges and by the vote of the public. See more details in the announcement from the Watertown Business Coalition, below. After much festive deliberation (and serious admiration of tinsel, twinkle lights, and creativity), we want to give a HUGE congratulations to our 1st and TIED for 2nd Place Winners & People’s Choice Winner for WBC’s 1st Annual Holiday Decorating Contest! The winners are:

WBC’s Judging Panel Winners

1st Place: Cass School of Floral Design

The “wow factor” of the displays at Cass Flowers blew our judges away!

Around Town

Charles River Watershed Association Hosting Screening of Dam Removal Documentary at Watertown Library

By |

Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown Dam near Watertown Square slows the flow of the Charles River. A group is advocating removing the dam. The following announcement was provided the Charles River Watershed Association:

Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) will host a free premiere screening on Jan. 8 at the Watertown Free Public Library of its new short documentary, Reconnecting Rivers. 

Produced by CRWA and Turnaround Films, the documentary delves into the challenges posed by defunct dams on the Charles River – with a particular focus on Watertown Dam – and what is being done to address them. 

A panel discussion on the documentary and defunct dams on the Charles will follow the screening. Panelists include Watertown Councilor At-Large John Gannon; Beth Lambert, Director of the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration; Brad Chase, the Diadromous Fish Project Leader at the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries; and CRWA Indigenous Consultant Hartman Deetz.

Obituaries

OBIT: Louise Nugent, 94, Beloved “Grammy,” Artist, Served in the Navy’s WAVES

By |

Louise Nugent

Louise M. (Roche) Nugent, of Watertown, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on December 21, just three days shy of her 95th birthday. Louise was born and raised in Watertown and Newton, Massachusetts. She was drawn to the arts from an early age and after her graduation from Newton High School went on to study and graduate from the Massachusetts College of Art. Louise then began her professional career as a draftswoman, where she was known for her patience, kindness, and strong work ethic. Louise also proudly served in the U.S. Naval Reserve, better known as the WAVES.