Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/107/)
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.
The City of Watertown’s inauguration ceremony will take place on Jan. 2, 2026 at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. See more information from the City of Watertown, below.
Produce growing in the Watertown Public Schools’ Freight Farm. (Contributed Photo)
The state recently awarded the Watertown Schools a grant to run its farm-to-school program, including its Freight Farm. See details in the announcement from the Watertown Public Schools, below.
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.
Lisa Barthelson’s “Random Remix I: Family Debris” is part of the latest exhibit at the Mosesian Center for the Arts.
The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:
At Mosesian Arts printmakers are combining traditional printmaking techniques with contemporary approaches.
The 2025 Herring Fest is Sunday at the Watertown Dam.
Feeling feisty or even festy? This is the weekend to indulge in festivals, including, of course, Watertown Porchfest on Saturday, a festival of local musicians that covers the whole town. While you probably know that already, you may not know about the festivals that surround Porchfest that add some variety to the weekend festivities. On Friday there is an art exhibit and an open mic comedy evening at Fort Gallery called Spring Harvest. Saturday after taking in some bands, head to the Dolma Fest which includes a competition for the best grape leaf and cabbage dolmas. A post-Porchfest event at our community TV studio includes a Mario Cart Grand Prix competition and a performance of the MIT Video Game Orchestra. So fun! Sunday afternoon, you can let your ears relax while enjoying the soundsof the Charles River at the Herring Festival. Face or arm painting of herrings included.
Watertown Police Officer Mike Hill looks at the screen in the Middlesex Sheriff Office’s Mobile Training Center. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
A trailer parked on a vacant lot in Watertown appeared quiet and tranquil from the outside, but inside Watertown Police officers faced intense situations in which they sometimes had to draw their firearms and even fire real bullets.
The following announcement was provided by Russell Cooperative Preschool:
Mark your calendars and bring the whole family to one of Watertown’s most delightful springtime events! On Saturday, May 17, Russell Cooperative Preschool will host its annual Spring Ramble — a day packed with enchanting entertainment, live music, tasty food, and fun-filled games, all held on the grounds of the historic First Parish of Watertown at 35 Church Street.
The City-wide Food Drive to benefit Watertown’s two food pantries will be held from May 12 – 21, 2025. The following information was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation.
The following announcement was provided by Matt Hanna, host of Creative Chats:
Matt Hanna of Little Local Conversations will lead the featured conversation with painter, printmaker, and collage artist Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. They’ll chat around a question that Julie has been spending time pondering on within the topic of creativity and the creative life.
Watertown’s Porchfest is back and expanded, with more than 180 performances at locations around town, and after hour events. See the announcement from the Porchfest committee below.
Dear Mr. Micieli:
Removing urban street trees to facilitate so-called road improvements for the movement of pollution-belching behemoths challenges science and common sense in our time of crisis climate change. Scientists have documented the public health harm from tailpipe emissions, which is reduced significantly by the proximity of trees.