Watertown News | Page 22 | Your Source for Local News

Watertown City Manager, Municipal Leaders Urge Swift Resolution to Trash Strike

By Charlie Breitrose | July 3, 2025

Watertown DPWWatertown trash and recycling pickup has been uncollected since July 1 when workers at Republic Services went on strike.

Watertown City Manager George Proakis joined several mayors, town managers, and town administrators urging company Republic Services to come to a deal to end the strike that has stopped trash and recycling collection since July 1, 2025. The letter also identifies weaknesses in the company’s response to the situation, including slowness of deploying backup resources and lack of communication. See the letter below.

Teamsters Union Releases Statement About Trash Strike

The following announcement was provided by Teamsters Local 25:

Following a strike vote that passed by more than 90 percent on Monday, members of Teamsters Local 25 at Republic Services are about to conclude their first week of the work stoppage without a fair offer from the company.

School Committee Hears Results of Survey of Watertown Students, Parents & Teachers

At the Watertown School Committee’s June 23 meeting, school leaders coalesced to tackle a diverse agenda – from contract renewals to electronic device usage in school – while taking another look into how students, families, and teachers experience life in the Watertown School System.

Q&A with Laura Kurman Who is Retiring from Wayside Multi Service Center After More Than 30 Years

Laura Kurman retired as Executive Director of the Wayside Multi Service Center in June. She worked there for more than three decades. (Courtesy of Wayside Multi Service Center)

For more than three decades, Laura Kurman has been working to help those in need in Watertown. She retired as Executive Director of the Wayside Multi Service Center at the end of June, and looked back on her time.

More Headlines

Trash Strike Continues, See When Pickups Could Resume

Watertown Rotary Members from Past and Present Gather to Celebrate 100th Anniversary

Trash & Recycling Pickup in Watertown Cancelled Tuesday Due to Strike

Sports

Watertown Battled First Place Wakefield on Senior Night

By Jim Vershbow, Contributor | May 16, 2025

Senior night is always special. It doesn’t matter if a team has a winning record or a losing one, is heading to the post-season tournament or not. Senior night is about family and friends. Senior night is about remembering all the good times and the practice and the commitment and the training and the devotion to team. Parents and grandparents and siblings share in the joy and recognition. And when the night is done, it’s hard to believe that one’s high school career is almost at an end.

Weather

Weather Forecast: Warm Temps and Scattered Showers This Week

By Matthew Moll, Contributor | May 16, 2025

Eastern Massachusetts wraps up the week with classic mid-May warmth, but a more unsettled weather pattern gradually takes hold heading into the weekend.

Real Estate

A Very Busy Weekend for Open Houses in Watertown

By Charlie Breitrose | May 16, 2025

More than 35 Watertown homes will be having open houses over the weekend.

Government

Staffing for Second Watertown-Run Ambulance Approved by City Council

By Charlie Breitrose | May 15, 2025

The Watertown Fire Department got approval to run a second ambulance after the City Council approved funding to staff the ambulance on Tuesday.

Around Town

Learn About the Watertown Public Works Department at an Open House

By Guest Writer | May 15, 2025

Watertown’s Department of Public Works will host an open house on Tuesday, May 20 at the DPW Facility on Orchard Street. See more in the announcement from the City of Watertown below.

Government

City Council Will Hear from Department Heads at Three Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Hearings

By Guest Writer | May 15, 2025

Watertown City Hall

The City Council will hold three hearings on the Fiscal Year 2025 Watertown City Budget beginning on Tuesday, May 20. See more information provided by the City below.

Entertainment

Contemporary Printmakers’ Work on Display at Mosesian Center for the Arts

By Guest Writer | May 15, 2025

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.

Entertainment

WEEKEND FUN: Porchfest, Herring Fest, Dolmas, Comedy, Mario Bros.

By Charlo Maurer, Contributor | May 15, 2025

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.