Entertainment

Artist Selected to Create Mural Celebrating Artist Arshile Gorky

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“100 Years of Arshile Gorky” digital mural rendering by Brandon Gaia Marshall, 2024. Part of the selected mural proposal that will wrap both sides of the Grove Street underpass on the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway in Spring-Summer 2025. The artist who will create a mural celebrating Watertown artists Arshile Gorky has been selected by the Watertown Arts and Culture Committee. See details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. After a public meeting on November 18th, the Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee (PACC) is excited to announce that artist Brandon Marshall will paint his mural design at the Grove Street underpass on the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway.

Police/Fire

FBI Arrests New York Man for Allegedly Selling Drugs in Watertown

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The FBI arrested a man who traveled to Watertown from New York to allegedly sell drugs on Friday. The Boston Globe reported that Cesar Nunez Lopez, of New York City, went to a parking lot in town to meet a person he believed to be a buyer, but was actually a federal informant. Nunez Lopez allegedly sold the man fentanyl on three different occasions, including at the Home Depot parking lot in Watertown. He was arrested on drug trafficking charges. See more details in the Boston Globe report by clicking here.

Government

2025 Watertown Property Taxes Rising, But Bills Still Lower Than 2022

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown’s City Hall. Property taxes will rise nearly 6 percent over last year, but will still be lower than they were in Fiscal Year 2022 (2021-22). On Tuesday, City Council approved a property tax rate with the maximum amount of the burden shifted from residential to commercial, industrial and personal properties, and the maximum residential exemption for owner-occupied homes. During the Property Tax Classification Hearing, the Council heard from people concerned about the rising taxes, as well as the recent five-year property revaluation process. Tax Bills

The Council got to choose the maximum exclusion for residential properties, either 33 percent (the same as last year), 34 percent, or 35 percent.

Schools

School Committee Update: Teacher Honored, Field Hockey Team Recognized, Enrollment Rising

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Watertown’s State Champion Field Hockey Team was honored by the School Committee. (Courtesy of Watertown Field Hockey)

Watertown School Committee Chair Kendra Foley provided a round up of the most recent School Committee meeting. See what happened below. There has been much to celebrate over the last month at our Watertown School Committee meetings. We were thrilled to honor Cunniff music teacher Liz Schorr, who was recently chosen as the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress Educator of the Year.

Business

Medium Rare “Steaks” Its Claim in Beantown at Arsenal Yards

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Steak and frites is on the menu at Medium Rare, which opened at Arsenal Yards. (Courtesy of Medium Rare)

Arsenal Yards welcomes a new restaurant specializing in steak frites. See details in the announcement below. Medium Rare, the original sizzling single-choice Steak Frites prix fixe meal experience from Washington, D.C., is now “steaking” its claim in the greater Boston area. The new location at 107 Bond Sq.

Around Town

Watertown’s Wada Hoppah Shuttle Wins Award for Electric Boat Design

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A drawing of the shuttle boat being designed for Wada Hoppah to take people from Watertown to Boston. (Courtesy of Wada Hoppah)

The boat being designed to be a shuttle from Watertown to Boston along the Charles River won an international award for electric boat design. The Wada Hoppah received the Gussie Award for Electric Commercial Passenger Vessels: In Development. Drew Rollert, the man behind the effort to create a water shuttle, proclaimed the honor on Tuesday. “I’m beyond proud to announce Wada Hoppah was informed today that it has WON the well recognized, international electric boat design award competition called ‘Gussie Awards,'” Rollert said.

Around Town

Take a Polar Plunge with the Watertown Police to Raise Money for Special Olympics

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Members of the Watertown Police Department will be taking a chilly dip in February and they invite others to join them to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics of Massachusetts. Watertown Police Officer Michael Scafidi will be organizing the Polar Plunge, which will take place at Arsenal Yards on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 beginning at 11 a.m.

“There’s plunges going on all across the state and we decided to get onboard and do one here in Watertown. We are going to do it right in Bond Square in Arsenal Yards,” Scafidi said. Special Olympics will bring its mobile pool for the Polar Plunge, which is like a swimming pool on wheels.

Government

Watertown’s New Director of Public Works Seeks to Get DPW Accredited

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Watertown has a new Public Works Director. Find out more about him in the announcement provided by the City of Watertown. Watertown City Manager George Proakis is excited to announce the hiring of Thomas Brady as the new Director of Public Works! Mr. Brady returns to Watertown after 23 years with the Town of Brookline where he served as a key member of the Brookline Department of Public Works (DPW) team in the role of Urban Forestry Manager, Tree Warden and Town Arborist. Tom has overseen forestry operations, coordinated storm responses, provided oversight for utility projects, and represented Brookline on the extensive Muddy River Restoration Project – a 20-year $70 million public works improvement on the Boston/Brookline line that served the combined roles of addressing flood control, water quality improvement, conservation and historic preservation.