Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/382/)
A vision of what a new Watertown Middle School could look like created by Ai3 Architects and presented to the School Committee in June 2025.
Architects have started creating detailed designs for a new Watertown Middle School to determine how much a new school would cost, and that information will be used by the City to see whether Watertown’s budget can handle a project expected to cost significantly more than $100 million.
Dr. Bernard Lafayette and Watertown Kingian Nonviolence Trainer Holly Cachimuel, who is a former Watertown teacher.(Photo by Chuck Dickinson)
The death of legendary civil rights icon Dr. Bernard Lafayette on March 5 resonates deeply throughout the city of Watertown. “Doc” first came here for several days in 2016, at the behest of former Watertown Middle School teacher Ruth Henry. Henry had trained in Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Resolution under Dr. Lafayette. Lafayette had promised Martin Luther King, Jr. before his 1968 assassination that he would spread King’s nonviolence teaching and practice around the world.
City Manager George Proakis spoke at the Watertown Business Coalition’s City Update on March 5, 2026. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Watertown became a magnet for life science companies in the last several years, and City Manager George Proakis said the building boom in that industry may be slowed, but other industries may be attracted to the same things: proximity to Boston and the universities in the area, easy access, and a nice place to be.
Marcia Wilson holds a Eurasian Eagle Owl during the Eyes on Owls event at Mount Auburn Cemetery. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Mount Auburn Cemetery recently welcomed a couple who have devoted their lives to observing and caring for owls. They have traveled around New England in search of the raptors, from Crane Beach in Ipswich to Rye, New Hampshire, to Nantucket, and have ventured as far as Alaska, Serbia and Nunavut in the north of Canada to catch a glimpse of owls.
The candidates running for City Council President appeared in two candidate forums this week. Don’t worry if you missed them, you can watch the replays. Also, Monday night, the five School Committee candidates will appear in a live forum.
The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice & the Environment:
The Peace and Common Security Working Group of Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice and the Environment is sponsoring a program on Sunday Oct. 15 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, Watertown Savings Bank Room, at 123 Main St.
The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:
POSITION VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHER, POLICE DEPARTMENT
A condo and a townhouse are holding open houses over the weekend.
Watertown City Manager George Proakis gave his second Preliminary Budget Overview on Tuesday.
City officials got some unexpected good news from taxes generated by new development in the current fiscal year, but City Manager George Proakis said he remains cautious about the good financial times continuing.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:
On October 11, the Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) will open the 2023 application processes for two grant programs: Healthy Watertown and School Programs.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 7th. Watertown will have a municipal election with two contested races: City Council President (2 candidates for 1 slot) and School Committee (5 candidates for 3 slots). The other races are uncontested.
The effort to transform Watertown Square into a more thriving area where people walk, bike and spend time will start on Oct. 17 with a kick-off event. In late November, there will be a three day design charrette and leading up to that event a series of Kitchen Table Conversations will be held where neighbors and friends can talk about what qualities they would like to see the new Watertown Square.