Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/26/)
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.
Longtime dining destination, Not Your Average Joe’s, will be closing after more than a quarter century in Watertown Square.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department.
Steve Magoon
Steve Magoon has seen the transformation of large sections of Watertown, and played a major role in the creation of some of the City’s most important planning documents during his time working for the City. Magoon will retire at the end of January after more than 17 years as director of the Department of Community Development and Planning.
Dear Editor,
As a resident of Watertown, I am hopeful that Congresswoman Clark will join Senators Markey and Warren and Congressmen Jim McGovern, Stephen Lynch and Richie Neal in cosponsoring an important resolution to the U.S. Congress that addresses the incredibly dangerous situation in the world right now: the threat of nuclear war.
This is a packed Watertown weekend with winter and holiday events. On Saturday afternoon there will be an art sale at the Mosesian Center for the Arts with a wide variety of arts including ceramics, paintings, ornaments and jewelry. It’s great for shopping locally and supporting our artists. Saturday evening at Gore Place there will be a dramatic reading by Johnny Kinsman of A Christmas Carol including musical accompaniment by Justin Ouellet and Ann Moss, both local musicians. On Sunday there is a hands-on intergenerational Lego building activity at the Jewish Community Day School, it’s a challenge to build the world’s tallest Chanukiah! Later Sunday afternoon at the library, you can go relax after all the holiday activities with a winter concert given by the Vivace Music School Faculty. No need to leave Watertown this weekend to find some holiday cheer!
Raccoon
A resident reported being attacked by a raccoon on Arsenal Street, Watertown Animal Control warns. See more information, below.
Items recently dumped in the parking lot of the Watertown Boys & Girls Cluh.
Recently, the Watertown Boys & Girls Club has been receiving some unwanted drop-offs in the form of furniture, mattresses, and other items being left in or around the club’s dumpster.
The following announcement was provided by Atelier Sociale:
Atelier Sociale, a full-service media production studio specializing in photography, videography, and podcast production, announces its grand opening on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 372 Main St., Watertown.
Watertown Families Together and Brigham House will host Breakfast with Santa, and families with young children are invited. See the announcement from the organizers, below.
Watertowns veterans will remember Pearl Harbor with a ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 6. See more information in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below.
The following announcement was provided by Storefront Art Projects:
Storefront Art Projects presents: Draw a Line, featuring Lesley Cohen, Sand T Kalloch, Christine Kyle from Dec. 6-27, 2025. A reception Saturday, Dec. 6, 1-4 p.m.