Business

Charles River Chamber Panel Looked at How Watertown Became a Life Science Hub

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A panel of speakers discussed the life science industry in Watertown at an event hosted by the Charles River Regional Chamber. From left, City Manager George Proakis, Boylston Properties President Mark Deschenes, CEO of Labshares Phillip Borden, and C4 Chief People Officer Kelly Schick. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Eleven years ago, 25 life science companies had facilities in Watertown. Today, more than four times that many companies are located in the City, making it one of Massachusetts’ life science hubs. On March 10, the Charles River Regional Chamber’s life science panel, “Watertown’s Life Science Future,” looked at how the City became one of the hottest centers for biotechs, and what’s next.

Schools

WHS Medical Assistant Students Practiced What They Learned in Class in the Real World

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A Watertown High School student conducts medical tests during a community health clinic run by the school’s Medical Assisting Program. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

City employees had the opportunity to get free checkups from some aspiring medical professionals during a clinic run by the Watertown High School Medical Assisting Program. The students learned to take vitals, take a blood test, and other procedures as part of the program that was added a few years ago, said teacher Melissa Burke. “So these are our students who have committed to doing full three years on top of their regular high school curriculum, doing medical assisting training,” Burke said, adding that after they have completing the course the students can take the exam for national medical assisting certification. Workers for the Watertown Public Schools, as well as the Police and Fire, Public departments received invitations to get a free checkup.

Entertainment

Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s 2026-27 Season Features 2 Shows in Watertown

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Actors’ Shakespeare Project will produce four shows in the 2026-27 season. Two shows — one of the Bard’s classics plus a vampire comedy at Halloween time — will go on stage at the Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown. See what the company has in store next season in the announcement from ASP, below. Flipping the script on the classics. In a recent team brainstorm on how to best describe what Actors’ Shakespeare Project does best, this phrase distilled it perfectly.

Police/Fire

Police Log: 2 Arrests for Trying to Cash Fraudulent Checks, Man Busted for Exposing Himself

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. March 1: Officers were dispatched to the Municipal Parking lot off Spring Street and encountered a woman. They checked her information and discovered she was wanted on a fugitive from justice warrant out of New Hampshire for possession of a controlled substance. While police were doing an inventory of the contents of her vehicle they found some pills and illegal drugs. Officer Colton Bailey arrested Jill Clarke, 41, of Waltham, on the warrant as well as charges of possession of a Class C drug and possession of a Class E drug.

Around Town

Watertown Unveils Visitors Guide Ahead of Busy Summer of 2026

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The cover of the Watertown Visitors Guide, produced by the City of Watertown. Watertown’s history, activities, dining and more have been highlighted in the new Watertown Visitors Guide. The City of Watertown produced the four-page booklet in anticipation of a busy summer in Greater Boston. On Tuesday night, City Manager George Proakis provided the City Council with some details about the Visitors Guide, which was produced by the Watertown Economic Development. “Watertown has a Visitors Guide, which is a nice color glossy explanation of everything from our City events to dining options to knowing their way around Watertown,” Proakis said.

Government

Council Approves FY27 Capital Items With Funds for Street Repair, Park Projects and the New Middle School

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The City Council approved 36 items from the Capital Improvement Program for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, including road repairs, some money for the Middle School project, park projects, and requests from the Fire and Police departments. The Council’s Committee on Budget and Fiscal Oversight met twice in February to review the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). On March 10, the City Council voted unanimously to approve the 36 recommendations, as well as asking the City Manager to keep the capital spending under 8% of the total Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget. The projects include $7.5 million in loans to fund road and sidewalk replacements. The list includes Cottage Street and other roadways in the summer of 2027, Forest and Springfield streets in the summers of 2026-28, and Riverside Street the summer of 2027.

Letters

LETTER: Watertown Grieves Civil Rights Leader Bernard Lafayette Who Helped Spread Dr. King’s Teachings to Town

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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. Later that same year, Watertown hosted Dr. Lafayette for a two-week long Trainers’ Institute, organized by then Superintendent Dr. Jean Fitzgerald.

Government

Detailed Designs of Middle School Being Created to See if City Can Afford a New School

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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. On Feb. 18, the School Building Committee voted to approve the contract to hire a designer to come up with plans on which a detailed budget can be based upon. When the designs are completed and priced out the City will determine if it is feasible for the City to afford the project, Superintendent Dede Galdston told the School Committee on March 2.