Around Town

Public Meeting to be Held in Watertown on Affordable Housing Incentives Study

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

On March 26, 2026, at 6 PM, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) staff will present the preliminary results of its testing of potential incentives to promote affordable housing in Watertown. The MAPC study is designed to provide the City with recommendations for voluntary incentives to encourage more and/or deeper affordability in new market rate developments, as well as recommendations for incentives to encourage affordable developments. MAPC tested certain incentives using financial models of market rate and affordable developments. The test results, along with discussion of other incentives not suitable for such testing, will be the basis for MAPC’s final report. Members of the public will have an opportunity to ask questions and comment at the meeting, as well as an opportunity to provide written comments.

Around Town

Several Owls Visit Mount Auburn Cemetery During Long-Running Program Hosted by Owl Enthusiasts & Rescuers

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Marcia Wilson holds a Eurasian Eagle Owl during the Eyes on Owls event at Mount Auburn Cemetery. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Mount Auburn Cemetery recently welcomed a couple who have devoted their lives to observing and caring for owls. They have traveled around New England in search of the raptors, from Crane Beach in Ipswich to Rye, New Hampshire, to Nantucket, and have ventured as far as Alaska, Serbia and Nunavut in the north of Canada to catch a glimpse of owls. Mark and Marcia Wilson presented Eyes on Owls on Feb. 21 at Story Chapel, a program that Mount Auburn Cemetery has hosted since 1997.

Around Town

First Parish Church Hosting Concert Benefiting Helen Robinson Wright Charitable Fund

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Charlie BreitroseFirst Parish Church of Watertown. First Parish Watertown will hold a benefit concert for the Helen Robinson Wright Charitable Fund. See details in the announcement provided by the church, below. The Helen Robinson Wright Charitable Committee joyfully announces the annual benefit concert on Saturday, March 21st at 7 p.m. David Rivera Bozon, tenor, will be singing A Night of Song, singing Classical, Broadway and Popular hits accompanied by Hector Vargas, piano. The Suggested donation is $30 for adults, $20 for students and families to be negotiated at the door.

Around Town

Belmont-Watertown UMC Hosting Musical Fundraiser for New England Justice for Our Neighbors

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The following announcement was provided by the Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church:

Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church presents its annual fundraising concert, “Hearts to Help,” in support of New England Justice For Our Neighbors (NEJFON), an agency which provides free legal services to low- and no-income immigrants. 

Enjoy a beautiful “Pops” program of contemporary music performed with choir and classical instruments covering the music of artists such as the Beatles and Michael Jackson. A special Piano-Four-Hand rendition of Queens “Bohemian Rhapsody” is featured. The concert is directed by Yilin You and will be held in BWUMC’s beautiful sanctuary. Refreshments will follow. There is a suggested donation of $25 with all proceeds going to NEJFON. 

Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church is located at 421 Common St., Belmont, MA See more at www.bwumc.org

Find out more about NEJFON at https://newenglandjfon.org/

Around Town

Watertown Porchfest Will be Back in May, Registration Open

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Porchfest returns to Watertown in May, and registration has opened. See more information in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Watertown Porchfest will return to porches, lawns, and driveways on Saturday, May 16, 2026, with performances running from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Following the massive success of previous years, which saw over 70 locations and nearly 150 performance groups, the 2026 event promises another day of community, creativity, and music

Key Information for 2026:

Event Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026

Event Hours: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Registration: Opens March 2, 2026

Cost: Free to register and free to attend

What to Expect

Porchfest is a grassroots community event featuring free music and performances hosted outside private homes, businesses, and organizations. Performers: All genres and styles are welcome, including solo acts, full bands, dance, and spoken word.

Around Town

Recreation Department Looking at Starting Youth Field Hockey Program, Sent Out Survey

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The Watertown Recreation Department provided the following announcement:

Please fill out our Interest Survey

Watertown Recreation is exploring the possibility of launching a Youth Travel Field Hockey Team to join the Baystate Youth Field Hockey League in the Fall of 2026. Before moving forward, we’d like to gauge interest from families in the community. Your feedback will help us determine whether this program is viable. Proposed Program Structure

Grades 1–4

1 Practice Per Week

Sunday Morning Games (8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) 

Grades 5–8

2 Practices Per Week

Sunday Morning Game (8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) 

Estimated Cost: $150–$190 per playerhttps://forms.gle/7XhhAJhqNqqyqSxq7

Around Town

Watertown Cartoonist Hosting Drawing Demonstration at Senior Center

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(Art by Dave Hudon)

Watertown cartoonist and cable show host Fred Grandinetti will appear at the Watertown Senior Center to demonstrate cartoon drawing. See more info below. Come to the Watertown Senior Center on March 9th from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and learn how to draw classic cartoon characters. Fun and nostalgia. Hosted by Fred M.

Around Town

New Signage for Paintings in City Hall Provides a Historical Perspective

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The historic paintings in Watertown City Hall now have signs with information about the town’s history. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The entry lobby in City Hall is beginning to look like a room at the Museum of Fine Arts, with the addition of signs to accompany the recently restored historical paintings of Watertown. The foyer of City Hall has long been home to a pair of paintings depicting Watertown, one showing the town in the 1630s when it was founded, and one in the 1930s, around the time when City Hall was built. The signs have been installed in front of the paintings that hang on either side of the entryway off of Main Street. The Historical Society received money from the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to pay for the creation and manufacturing of the signs. The contents went through several iterations before reaching the final version, said Watertown Community Preservation Coordinator Lanae Handy.