Around Town

Mount Auburn Cemetery to Mark 80th Anniversary of Hiroshima Bombing with Evening of Reflection and Art

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The following announcement was provided by the Mount Auburn Cemetery:

On Friday, August 15, Mount Auburn Cemetery will host Branches of Hope: Reflecting on the Past, Healing for the Future, a reflective, cross-cultural evening marking the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing and the end of World War II. Through art, remembrance, and quiet contemplation, the event invites the public to reflect on the costs of conflict and the enduring human pursuit of peace. The program will include a keynote by Cannon Hersey, filmmaker and cultural organizer, and grandson of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Hersey, whose landmark 1946 book Hiroshima brought the voices of atomic bomb survivors to a global audience. Hersey is also currently producing a feature film inspired by his grandfather’s work, titled What Divides Us, set to begin production in 2025. “Eighty years after my grandfather, John Hersey, gave voice to the survivors of Hiroshima, their stories still feel deeply urgent,” said Cannon Hersey.

Around Town

Sidewalk Work Continues Along Mt. Auburn St. During Week of Aug. 11

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Over the week of Aug. 11 to 15, 2025, the Mt. Auburn Street Project includes sidewalk excavation, as well as drainage installation in the Eastside of town. See details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Sidewalk Excavation Continues

Excavation of the westbound sidewalk on Mount Auburn Street between Belmont Street and Keenan Street will continue Monday, August 11, 2025 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Learn about travel and parking impacts below.

Transportation

New Schedule for the Watertown Connector Shuttle Between Pleasant St. & Harvard Sq.

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A Watertown Connector shuttle. (Courtesy of the Watertown TMA)

Watertown’s shuttle along Pleasant Street announced a new schedule. See more details in the information from the Watertown TMA below. The Watertown Connector (WATConnector) is a convenient, eco-friendly electric shuttle providing weekday service along Pleasant Street, with stops at Watertown Yards and Harvard Square during peak morning and evening commute hours. This eco-friendly service is free for employees and residents of participating corporate and residential partners (see list below), and available to the public for just $1 per ride each way, $10 minimum purchase to the public.

Weather

Weather Forecast: Warm Sunny Weather for the Next Week, Possible Storm at End

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The second week of August brings a near-perfect start, with sunshine, low humidity, and comfortable nights through Saturday. But by Sunday, the heat makes a strong return. A stretch of hot and increasingly humid days settles in through midweek, with widespread 90s and sticky conditions. Most of the week remains dry, but a few pop-up storms are possible later next week as the pattern turns more unsettled. Friday, August 8 – Sunny and warm

A beautiful summer day.

Around Town

Residents Walk Around Walker Pond, Meeting on Aug. 14 Will Gather Input on Future of Site

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Walker Pond can be seen through the trees from the path around the pond. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

On the morning of Aug. 7 a group walked around a small forested area around one of Watertown’s few wetland areas — Walker Pond. The City purchased the property on the border with Waltham in 2023 to develop the area into a public recreation facility. On Aug.

Around Town

Watertown Launches Third Annual Call for Submissions for Community Sculpture Walk

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2022-24 Community Sculpture Walk artists (left to right): James Payne, Linda Hoffman, Peter Dellert, and Joe Chirchirillo. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee:

The Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee (PACC) is excited to announce the 2026-28 season of the Community Sculpture Walk. The Community Sculpture Walk exhibits outdoor sculptures to enhance the use of open space in Watertown, encourage public interaction with contemporary art, and create an annual exhibition opportunity for artists at all career stages working in a variety of mediums.

The Community Sculpture Walk follows the Community Path from the Thaxter Street parking lot behind the Watertown Free Public Library to Howard Street. There are eight sites along the path for sculptures and additional sites may be added as the path is extended. Each year, up to four sculptures will be selected to be on loan for two years, so that each year four new sculptures will be on view.

Business

Addgene Supports Wayside Multi with Back-to-School Backpack Donation

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Sophia Suárez-Friedman, Program Director at Wayside Multi-Service Center, with backpacks donated by Addgene. (Courtesy Photo)

The following piece was provided by the Wayside Multi Service Center:

As the new school year approaches, preparation can make all the difference — and thanks to Addgene, youth supported by Wayside Youth & Family Support Network’s Multi-Service Center (Wayside Multi) in Watertown will be starting the year well-equipped and ready to succeed. Addgene, partnering with TeamBonding, generously donated backpacks filled with school supplies to the Wayside Multi, which serves local youth and families. These backpacks were distributed to children and teens who will benefit from having the tools they need to start the school year with confidence. Some backpacks were distributed to students through Project Literacy, a program offering free English classes through the Watertown Free Public Library, where they were met with enthusiasm.

Around Town

See Where Watertown Walks Series Will Go in August

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The City of Watertown’s Live Well Watertown hosts walks in town each Thursday, each with a theme or focus. See where the August walks will be in the announcement from Live Well Watertown. WEEKLY WATERTOWN WALKS

Thursdays 10:00 AM – 11:00 AMMeetup location: Please note location in each description below

August Walk Schedule

August 7 ~ City Walk ~ Walker PondMeetup:  Gore Estate / Parking Lot 5Join us to explore the existing paths at Walker Pond and connections to Gore Place. Learn more about the upcoming community meetings to help design the future Walker Pond Park.  More information can be found on the city project page here – Walker Pond. This walk includes some uneven terrain / surfaces.  Supportive walking/hiking shoes would be best for this walk. August 14 ~ Wellness Walk / Walk with a DocJoin us to hear a short presentation on the importance of vaccines at different life stages followed by a walk along the Charles River pathway.