Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/346/)
Photo by Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall
The City Council will be weighing in on a 39-page document that sets the rules for how Watertown’s appointed committees and municipal departments operate. Some changes proposed include changing the length of terms for some committees, who appoints members of certain committees, and how to remove members of committees.
As the Nov. 4 Watertown Municipal Election approaches, Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access TV will host a series of candidate forums for the local races, including the City Council and School Committee.
Watertown author Robin Bernstein’s book was honored in the 25th Annual Massachusetts Book Awards. (Contributed Photo)
Watertown author and cultural historian Robin Bernstein’s book “Freeman’s Challenge: The Murder That Shook America’s Original Prison for Profit,” was honored during the Massachusetts Book Awards.
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.
Bar ‘Cino has opened in Watertown Square. (Photo courtesy of Bar ‘Cino)
The following piece was provided by the Newport Restaurant Group:
Newport Restaurant Group, the Rhode-Island based and 100 percent employee-owned hospitality group that operates a collection of restaurants and properties across New England, today opens Bar ‘Cino in Watertown.
The following story is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by Historical Society of Watertown board member Mary Spiers. Mary served as our Recording and Corresponding Secretary for many years. Mary retired from the Board in January 2023 but is still a volunteer. She wrote this article for our April 2019 newsletter, “The Town Crier.”
It Happened in April
I thought it might be helpful to provide a background note in the opening paragraph to life in the U.S. in the 1890s. Even though Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876, and our country had its first telephone exchange in Connecticut in 1877, the telephone was not fully in use until considerably later. According to “A Natural History of the Wooden Utility Pole”, by the California Public Utilities Commission, July 2017, it was not until “early 20th century did wooden poles begin to carry telephone and electric wires as well as telegraph lines.”
James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net.
Watertown Housing Authority Executive Director Michael Lara.
Michael Lara, the executive director of the Watertown Housing Authority, has been voted as the president of a statewide affordable housing organization. In this role, he will advocate for preserving, protecting, and expanding public and affordable housing in Massachusetts.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Cultural Council:
Are you interested in enriching the lives of Watertown residents? Do you have an interest in the arts, humanities or sciences?
A mix of different types of properties are holding open houses over the weekend.
Watertown City Hall
The City Council did not pass two citizen petitions seeking to change Watertown’s zoning rules, but Councilors said they heard the frustration expressed by the supporters and signers and said they support many of the ideas contained in the petitions.
The following announcement was provided by the organizers of the Faire on the Square:
We are planning another fantastic event for 2023, and if you haven’t already done so, we invite you to get involved again this year.
Event details –
Saturday, September 23, 202311 a.m. to 4 p.m.Saltonstall Park, Main Street, Watertown