Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/12/)
The Wayside Multi-Service Center is located on North Beacon Street in Watertown. (Courtesy of Wayside)
The Wayside Multi-Service Center momentarily saw one-third of its budget disappear, with the removal of a federal grant. While the grant was restored within days, Sophia Suarez-Friedman, Program Director for Wayside Multi-Service Center, said it was both a stark reminder and a heartening response.
Watertown District B Councilor Lisa Feltner was elected president of the Mass. Municipal Councillors’ Association.(Photo by Krista Photography | Krista Guenin)
The City Council had a full agenda on Jan. 27, with votes to approve equipment purchases by the Department of Public Works, approval of contracts for multiple City unions, and a Watertown City Councilor was elected head of a statewide board. Also, the date for the Skip the Stuff Ordinance to be considered was announced.
Director Shana Gozansky (center, left) addresses (from left) Aislinn Brophy, Chloe McFarlane, Olivia Fenton, and Kaila Pelton-Flavin in rehearsal for Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s “Little Women.” (Photo courtesy of Actors’ Shakespeare Project)
A modern adaptation of “Little Women” will hit the stage at the Mosesian Center for the Arts from Feb. 5 to March 1. The Actors’ Shakespeare Project production is being directed by Watertown’s Shana Gozansky.
Watertown City and State officials appeared before a joint committee at the State House on Jan. 27, 2026. Pictured, from left, Steve Owens, George Proakis, John Lawn, Earl Smith, and Mark Sideris.
City officials from Watertown joined state representatives on Beacon Hill to request an extension to a bill that allowed Watertown to shift more of the property tax burden from residential properties to commercial properties. The shift would allow a 50/50 split, instead of the current requirements of state law to have 61 percent of the tax levy coming from residential properties.
Watertown High School Wrestling Coach Kevin Russo reached 500 wins with a win over Lincoln-Sudbury.
Watertown’s Kevin Russo added to his long list of accomplishments as a wrestling coach by reaching a milestone in wins on Jan. 4, 2026. See details in the announcement from the Watertown Public Schools.
James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net.
Arsenal YardsThe Bluebikes station outside Arsenal Yards.
With Watertown’s contract with the Bluebikes bicycle share company expiring, City officials hope to sign a more favorable agreement.
The Watertown Police will discuss the technology used by the WPD at the event on Jan. 21. Topics will include the cameras that can take pictures of license plates, body cameras, and more. See more info in the announcement from the Watertown Police, below.
More than a dozen open houses in Watertown this week.
Caspian Persian Cuisine opened Jan. 1, 2026, on Bigelow Avenue. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
A new restaurant has joined the eating scene in East Watertown, with a familiar team behind it. Caspian Persian Cuisine opened at 72 Bigelow Ave. on Jan. 1, 2026 led by the former owners of Molana, the eatery that operated in Watertown Square for more than a quarter century.
The Girls Varsity Basketball Team is young, starting two freshman and a sophomore, and the first off the bench is a freshman. The season is young, as the Raiders have only five games under their belt, yet they are already 3-1 in Middlesex League play and in first place in the Freedom Division, heading into Tuesday night’s game versus Reading. And the year is young, as Tuesday night’s game was the first of nine games in January that will tell a lot about how this team manages growth and development in the competitive Middlesex League. The game was the girls’ first in seven days, but rust was not an issue as the Raiders came out humming to the tune of a 16-2 first quarter on the way to a 43-32 win, getting January off to a great start.
I have a diverse group of entertainments for you this weekend, with an emphasis on international culture, and including with a restaurant recommendation. Have you heard that a wonderful Ethiopian restaurant opened in Watertown Square last year? Start out your Friday exploring that delicious cuisine at Lalibela on Spring Street. On Saturday evening there is a music performance at Restaurant Chulo with Nepali singer Ram Krishna Dakhal. Sunday there is a play at the Mosesian called “The Miraculous Journey of Edward the Rabbit.” Take your young ones and enjoy the play, but there is one unique feature, it’s in Russian! Sunday morning there is a meetup for creatives called The Studio Social for photographers, videographers and content creatures to share ideas, discuss projects and collaborate. They would love to expand their group. Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Mount Auburn Cemetery has an exhibit of work by their current artist in residence, Juls Gabs. Go take in the art in the Bigelow Chapel and then stroll through the winter wonderland of the cemetery at this time of year.