Entrants Wanted for Chili Cook-Off at Faire on the Square

This year’s Chili Cook-Off at the Faire on the Square will be for restaurants and professional cooks from Watertown. There is still time to enter the contest, which will be judged at the Faire on Sept. 13, 2025. See the information provided by the City Events Team, below. The “Battle of the Bowls” contest is being organized by the City of Watertown’s Events Team.

Watertown Group Hosting Discussion “Voices from Palestine & the Region”

The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment:

Join Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment for an evening discussion led by three foremost experts from Eastern Massachusetts on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 from 5-7 p.m. at the First Parish of Watertown, 35 Church St., Watertown, MA. Amal Bishara — A Palestinian American & Professor of Anthropology at Tufts University & author of Crossing a Line: Laws, Violence, & Roadblocks to Palestinian Expression. Valentine M. Maghadam — A Professor of Sociology and former Director of International Affairs  Program at Northeastern University and a former Section Chief at UNESCO. Katherine Hanna — A Palestinian American who is currently working to support educational projects in Occupied Palestine.

Watertown Walks Schedule for the Month of September

The following information was provided by Live Well Watertown:

Each month will feature city happenings, health and wellness, arts & culture, and community/business assets (some walks are in collaboration with the Watertown Public Arts & Culture Committee and Watertown Business Coalition). SCHEDULE RETURNS TO 1:00PM – 2:00PM

Thursdays 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.Please note the meetup location in each description below

September Walk Schedule

September 4 – No WalkSeptember 11 ~ Wellness Walk Meetup:  Saltonstall Park’s red brick plaza, next to City Hall, 149 Main StreetJoin Stephanie Venizelos, Community Wellness Manager and Kristina Courage, Certified Fitness Trainer for movement and conversation about health enhancing lifestyle practices. September 18 ~ Public Arts & Culture Walk / WCA-TVMeetup:  Victory Field, 40 Orchard Street, side as well as on-street parkingWalk with a member of the Public Arts & Culture Committee member and visit WCATV’s new studio space to learn about the public access media center that is dedicated to empowering the residents of Watertown to tell their own stories. FRIDAY/SEPTEMBER 26 ~ Walk N Talk / in collaboration with Watertown Business CoalitionMeetup: TBATour the ALEXANDRIA / Arsenal on the Charles Campus 

Weekly programs will take place every Thursday, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) and include movement, conversation, and opportunities to connect, interact, and explore the greater community. The walking portion of these programs will be approximately 30 – 40 minutes, and we encourage attendees to walk at a comfortable pace. 

Fundraising Effort for Baby Madeline, After Losing Her Parents in Recent Tragedy

Baby Madeline and her late-mother Karine Asatryan. A GoFundMe campaign has started to raise money for baby Madeline, and in memory of her mother Karine Asatryan who died in the apparent murder-suicide on Boyd Street on Aug. 31. Madeline’s aunt is seeking to get legal custody. The campaign, called “Support Baby Madeline in Loving Memory of Karine,” seeks to raise $50,000.

Watertown’s Risk for West Nile Virus Has Been Raised to High 

The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

West Nile Virus (WNV) is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection. 

By taking a few, common sense precautions, people can help to protect themselves and their loved ones:

Avoid Mosquito Bites

Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children.

TRASH STRIKE: Union Votes to Remain on Strike, Watertown Curbside Collection Continues But Other Services Not Open

Trash and recycling bins on Main Street. (Photo by Dean Martino)

The strike by union members working for Republic Services will continue after Teamsters Local 25 voted to reject the latest proposal on Wednesday. The strike began more than two months ago on July 1. Union members, representing 400 workers, voted down the offer by more than 84 percent, according to an announcement from Teamsters Local 25. “This group is one of the strongest groups I’ve ever worked with in my more than three decades as a Teamster,” said Teamsters Local 25 President Tom Mari.

Seniors Invited to Watertown Rotary’s Senior Citizen Cookout

Watertown seniors are invited to the annual FREE Senior Citizen Cookout hosted by the Rotary Club of Watertown. See the information provided by the Rotary Club, below. This year’s Senior Cookout will take place on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Sons of Italy Hall, 520 Pleasant St., Watertown. Enjoy hamburger, hot dogs, pizza and more.

First Creative Chats of the Season Features Members of a Chamber Music Ensemble

The following announcement was provided by Creative Chats:

Join Little Local Conversations and Mosesian Center for the Arts Kick Off New Season of Creative Chats! You’re invited to Creative Chats! The event is a way to gather creative people face-to-face to mingle, hear a featured conversation on the topic of creativity and the creative life, and then engage in the conversation themselves in small groups. September Event Features Guests Jennifer Morsches and Tim Merton of the Sarasa Chamber Music Ensemble

Matt Hanna of Little Local Conversations will lead a talk with the co-Artistic Directors of the Sarasa Chamber Music Ensemble. They’ll chat about the process of combining local history and classical music along with the question of how to engage different types of audiences, especially with regards to their programming with incarcerated teens.