Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/291/)
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department.
Full trash bins during the recently-ended trash strike. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Watertown City Manager George Proakis sent out the following piece on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025.
As we end the first week of fall and reflect upon the summer that saw our regular trash and recycling services disrupted by the labor strike between Republic Services and their unionized workforce, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the community for their continued understanding and the members of City staff for their hard work.
Watertown hired a new Veterans Services Officer, who is a Navy and Army National Guard veteran with experience in frontline medical care, and most recently worked in the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services. See the announcement from the City of Watertown, below.
Several polling places in Watertown will be moving to a new location for the 2025 Watertown Election. City Councilors had concerns about how voters will know where to go to vote.
Three men face charges in a federal bust of a prostitution ring that used an apartment in Watertown and allegedly included politicians, high-tech and pharmaceutical executives, professors, doctors and lawyers.
Louis Fantasia was in West Junior Middle School — the former name of Watertown Middle School — when the principal came on the school P.A. system and announced the school was closed for the rest of the day. “They didn’t say anything about what it was. They just dismissed us and sent us home,” he said. “In those days there were maybe 10 houses between the school and Main Street, so all the old ladies saw us coming out of school, and they knew something was up, and that’s when people turned on their radios and TV.”
The following announcement was provided by World in Watertown:
The City of Watertown is currently seeking applicants to serve on its newly formed Human Rights Commission. The Human Rights Commission will educate the community about human rights, build connections across the City to prevent and address discrimination, and provide support and resources to people who have a human rights complaint. The Human Rights Commission will have nine Commissioners plus liaisons from the Policy Department, the School Department, and the student body. Applications are due on December 8th.
The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Veterans Services Department:
Please let the Watertown Veteran in your life know they’re welcome to attend the Watertown Veterans Day Breakfast at 11 a.m. on November 11th.
David Stokes
Voters of Watertown,
You have spoken, and the results are in! I offer a hearty thanks to each of you who cast a ballot in this election. And many more profound thanks to all the candidates across the ballot, both successful and unsuccessful candidates alike – I know that the run for elected office is trying and can be tumultuous. Although I was unsuccessful in my run for re-election, I am confident that the collective wisdom of the democratic process has provided a robust School Committee going forward.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown voters re-elected two incumbents in contested races on Tuesday, but there will be two new faces in elected positions.
Watertown senior Molly Driscoll celebrates scoring against St. Mary’s in the MIAA Div. 3 Round of 16 game. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
The Watertown field hockey team defeated St. Mary’s 5-0 at Victory Field in the MIAA Div. 3 Tournament Tuesday afternoon to move on to the State quarterfinals.
Merle Kummer
The following announcement was provided by Beth El Tempe Center:
Merle Kummer, President and Founder of CoLAB, was a recipient of the eighth annual Jonathan Jacoby Tikkun Olam Award, granted by the Social Action Committee of Beth El Temple Center in Belmont, MA. “Tikkun olam” is Hebrew for “repairing the world,” and this particular award was created in May 2016 to honor the inspired actions and service of community members.