Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/25/)
A Watertown trash bin. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
The strike by union employees working at Republic Services has ended as the two sides announced an agreement on Friday.
Watertown Middle School (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)
While the possibility of totally renovating or rebuilding Watertown Middle School appeared to be over, some members of the School Building Committee brought up strategies that they said could still allow the project to happen.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department.
Robin Wasley of Watertown won a Massachusetts Bok Award for her YA novel “Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear.”
Watertown’s Robin Wasley received a Massachusetts Book Award in the middle grade/young adult category for her novel “Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear.” A ceremony will be at the State House in October. See details about the winners in the announcement from the Massachusetts Center for the Book, below.
Watertown will be one of five communities on the I-90 Corridor studied by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to see which areas of town are the best fit for new homes and jobs, and which are best preserved. A feedback session will be held on July 31 in City Hall. See more in the information provided by MAPC.
Grace Chapel Watertown
Grace Chapel announced it will be hosting a two-day leadership summit in Watertown. See details in the announcement below:
Erika Jerram, the City of Watertown’s Director of Community Design, speaks to a group at a Watertown Business Coalition event. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
After a flurry of activity during the planning stages for Watertown Square, there has been a lull in the process. City officials said the action will begin again in the near future but the shovels won’t be hitting the ground for up to two years.
New Watertown Police Officer Francis Yannizzi is sworn in by City Clerk Noelle Gilligan. (Photo by WPD)
The Watertown Police Department welcomed its newest officer on July 11, 2025. See the announcement posted on the WPD social media below.
The Watertown Police Department proudly swore in Officer Francis Yannizzi as the newest member of our team.
WHS engineering and robotics teacher Jason Welch
The following announcement was provided by Associated General Contractors of Mass.:
Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC MA) will present its fifth annual Building Advancement Externship (BAE) program from Monday, August 4 – Friday, August 8. The program exposes educators to a wide array of STEM-based careers in the construction sector and prompts greater awareness of professional work opportunities for young people. Jason Welch, engineering and robotics teacher at Watertown High School, is one of 15 educators to be selected for the program.
The new play structure at Arsenal Park features a slide that begins 20 feet above the ground. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
On a hot afternoon, the new playground at Arsenal Park bubbled with activity. Children lined up on the stairway up to the two-story high slide, and then cooled off in the new splash pad. These are just some of the features of the renovated park that was officially re-opened on July 15.
A map of Coolidge Square showing possible installation locations.
The City of Watertown today announced “Open for Business,” a new public art initiative inviting artists and artist teams to submit proposals for temporary outdoor art installations in Coolidge Square. This project aims to maintain the vibrancy of the neighborhood and support local businesses during the ongoing reconstruction of Mount Auburn Street.
The Charles River Food Co-op will host an open house on Wednesday, July 23 at 8 p.m. The group has more than 950 members, and the remote open house is a chance to meet others interested in local, organic food.