Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/37/)
The sign welcoming people to Arsenal Park.(Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Watertown’s newest park renovation received a statewide award at the Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association Conference in Springfield this week.
Watertown School officials, with the guidance of the School Committee, have reduced a shortfall of $2.5 million and came up with a budget that would have a $700,000 surplus, according to the presentation made Monday by Superintendent Dede Galdston.
Cunniff Elementary School is one of three elementary schools in Watertown to be rebuilt or renovated. The projects closed out with a combined surplus of $4 million. The new school opened in 2021. (Photo by Watertown Public Schools)
Watertown’s elementary school building projects finished with a surplus of more than $4 million, which will allow the high school construction project to stay on budget, and fund designs for a potential new middle school.
Congresswoman Katherine Clark and Congressman Jim McGovern have lunch with Hosmer School second-graders Maya and Daphne. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
A pair of enthusiastic Hosmer Elementary School ambassadors showed two members of Congress around their school Wednesday, ending with a meal cooked up by the school cafeteria staff that featured produce grown in Watertown High School’s hydroponic farm.
City Councilor John Airasian, and School Committee member Lily Rayman-Read.
Two Watertown elected officials served their final meetings in December, and each was bid farewell by their colleagues. City Councilor At-Large John Airasian departs the Council after two terms (four years), and Lily Rayman-Read finished two-four year terms on the School Commmittee.
A pair of homes will hold open houses over the first weekend of 2026.
Anie Manoushagian and Arie Orchanian.
The Funeral Services for Funeral services for Anie Manaushigian and Arie Orchanian — who were killed in a car crash in Watertown on Dec. 23 — will be held on Jan. 5, 2026. Separate burials are planned. They have been moved to the First Armenian Church, 380 Concord Ave in Belmont.
Lyrical Faith was selected as the Mosesian Center for the Arts’ Ignite Fellow, one of the first group of Artists in Residence.
The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:
The Mosesian Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the selected artists for its 2026 Artist-in-Residence Program, including the inaugural Ignite Fellow and the newly created Emerging Artist at Mosesian Arts award. This cohort of artists will be in residence during the Winter and Spring 2026 sessions, bringing a wide range of creative practices to MCA’s studios and engaging the community through public programs and events.
It is the first weekend of the new year; many of us may be thinking about simply relaxing at home, reading a book, doing a puzzle or catching up on our laundry. But there are some events of note that could get you to put on your coat and step outside. On Friday evening, there is an inauguration party for all our newly elected town representatives. Let’s go celebrate with them! Saturday afternoon, you could go stretch your legs at Mount Auburn Cemetery’s introductory tour. Even if you have walked there before, the tour can be informative. Head to the library on Sunday afternoon to hear a classical guitar performance by Jhon Alvarado. It’s the start of their winter concert series, and it looks great. Finally, the Majestic 7 theater is showing “Marty Supreme” starting Thursday, and it’s getting good reviews. If you want more family friendly films, there are a lot of good ones there now, including “Wicked: For Good,” “Zootopia 2,” “David,” and the “Spongebob” movie. So put your laundry in to wash and then head out on the town. You can dry it later.
Details of the trash, recycling, and yard waste collection for 2026 are available in the Department of Public Works’ calendar. The calendars were mailed to homes and are available online. See details in the announcement sent out by the City of Watertown, below.
The Winter Parking Ban will be in effect starting on January 1, 2026. The City has options for off-street parking in municipal owned lots. See information provided by the City of Watertown, below.
Cris Patvakanian wrote “In the Shadow of Mount Khustup” after visiting Armenia in 2023.
A trip to his homeland of Armenian in 2023 changed Cris Patvakanian’s life, and the experience became the inspiration for his first novel.