Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/23/)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Watertown will host the third annual Family Formal for on Saturday, May 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Artist Joe Chirchirillo installed a new painted metal sculpture on the Community Sculpture Walk. (City of Watertown)
New pieces have been installed on the Watertown Community Sculpture Walk. On Saturday, a walk is planned where artists will discuss their sculptures. See more information from the City of Watertown.