Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/page/913/?fbclid=IwAR1wR7XDX4kAWceRgAR58782208Wrbk5xzMTVQ3WdQXYwcOSvVAKESaHMk0)
The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:
The Watertown Public Health Department, in collaboration with the Watertown Police Department, Zoning & Code Enforcement Team, Inspectional Services Division, and with assistance from the FBI Boston’s Child Exploitation — Human Trafficking Task Force, conducted inspections of bodywork establishments in Watertown on July 22, 2026, resulting in closure of multiple businesses due to violations of the City’s rules and regulations.
Members of the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet tribes traveled to take part in the celebration fo the 250th anniversary of the Treaty of Watertown (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Hundreds packed a theater in Watertown on Saturday to celebrate an event that took place 250 years before. The town was the site of the signing of the United States’ first treaty with a foreign nation — the Treaty of Watertown. Descendants of the signers of the document from the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet tribes emphasized that the agreement that was forged as a wartime alliance also created friendships and provided rights and protections for the signers that are still important in 2026.
A pole struck by a vehicle lies on top of power lines on Main Street. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
A vehicle struck a utility pole on Main Street, snapping it in half and cutting off power for several hundred customers on Monday around noon.
Watertown City and State officials appeared before a joint committee at the State House on Jan. 27, 2026, to discuss the City’s Home Rule Petition. Pictured, from left, Steve Owens, George Proakis, John Lawn, Earl Smith, and Mark Sideris.
The City of Watertown’s effort to prevent a tax hike for residential property owners, which could be as high as 18%, cleared a major hurdle when it was approved the the House of Representatives on Beacon Hill.
The following information was provided by Arsenal Yards:
Stop by Monday, July 20th – Wednesday, July 23rd from 11AM – 1PM to receive a special surprise from AY and support our local community!
Home buyers have dozens of open houses to visit in Watertown this week.
An adult-use marijuana dispensary planned for the Westside of Watertown entered into a Host Community with the Town after the Town Council approved the agreement on Tuesday night.
A Watertown scout will be collecting winter clothing as his Eagle Scout project, and the items will be delivered to people in Peru.
Democratic activist and Democratic State Committee member Steve Owens is running for the State Representative seat that Jon Hecht will be leaving.
The following announcement was provided by the Steve Owens for State Representative campaign:
Massachusetts Peace Action, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization workingto develop the sustained political power to foster a more just and peaceful U.S foreign policy has endorsed Steve Owens in the race to fill the 29th Middlesex district’s House seat.
Watertown residents will likely see a significant jump in their water and sewer bills. The Town Council saw a presentation asking for a 7 percent increase in the water rate and a 9.5 percent increase in sewer rates at Tuesday’s Council Meeting.
Massachusetts State House.
State Sen Will Brownberger provided the following piece:
Early in the morning on July 14, the Senate passed S.2800 — the Reform, Shift and Build Act. We look forward to working with our colleagues in the House of Representatives to finalize soon a joint package to lay before the Governor.
The following information was provided by the West Suburban YMCA:
The West Suburban YMCA has partnered with the Metrowest YMCA to participate in Summer Eats, Massachusetts’ Summer Food Service Program. The federally funded nutrition program provides free, healthy meals to all children ages 18 and under when school is not in session. The program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with support from the Child Nutrition Outreach Program at Project Bread.