Government

City Council Looking at Middle School Options; High School Project on Time, Receiving Solar Reimbursement

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A new middle school could still be a possibility in the near future, as the City Council discusses the options on Nov. 25, 2026. Above is a vision of what a new Watertown Middle School could look like created by Ai3 Architects. Tuesday night, the future of the Watertown Middle School may be decided by the City Council. Councilors have discussed how to approach the rehabilitation of the school at 68 Waverley Ave.

Development

ZBA Has Suggestions or Residential Project on Water Street, Gets Update on 104 Main St. Project

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An illustration of the proposed residential project at 108 Water St. (Courtesy of Eaglebrook Capital). The Zoning Board of Appeals gave plenty of input on the proposed 52-unit residential project proposed for Water Street, but continued the hearing until December so that designers could make some adjustments to the plans. The board also granted a requested change for the project at 104 Main St., and got an update on the building going up across from the Watertown Library. 108 Water St.

Government

Council Votes to Shorten Winter Parking Ban (This Year) & Increase Parking Fines During Snow Emergencies

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Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban will last just two months in 2026, from Jan. 1 to March 1, after the City Council approved a temporary change in the overnight parking regulations. In addition, they approved a sharp increase in fines for cars left on the road during a snow emergency. Tuesday night, City Manager George Proakis presented the changes, which were meant to be a stop-gap until the City can do a more wholesale change to the parking ban. In January, residents filled the Council Chamber for a hearing about eliminating the parking ban completely.

Government

City’s Longtime Leader of Community Development and Planning Retiring in January

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Steve Magoon

After more than 17 years leading Watertown’s economic development and planning efforts, Steve Magoon will be retiring from the City of Watertown at the end of January. First hired in 2008 as the Director of Community Development and Planning, Magoon was elevated by the late City Manager Mike Driscoll to Assistant City Manager for Community Development and Planning in the mid-2010s. He continues to serve in that role for City Manager George Proakis, who thanked him for his service at the Nov. 12 City Council Meeting. “In the coming weeks, I know we’ll have a chance to celebrate Steve and his accomplishments in Watertown,” Proakis said at the Council meeting.

Government

Winter Parking Ban Could be Shortened by City Council

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Charlie BreitroseSnow started early Tuesday and will get much heavier during the day. The overnight parking ban may be reduced by more than a month if the City Council approves a proposal for a temporary modification to the Winter Parking Ban on Tuesday night. The proposal will be discussed on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. in City Hall and on Zoom. City Council President Mark Sideris gave a preview of the changes during the Nov.

Government

Council Approves Tax Rate for FY2026, See How Much of an Increase to Expect

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Charlie BreitroseA lot of money was raised and spent on the 2015 Watertown Election. Watertown homeowners will see their property taxes rise nearly 7 percent after the City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Tax Classification on Wednesday night. The average residential tax bill is $11,328, which is up $734 or 6.9 percent, according to the presentation by Earl Smith, the chair of the Watertown Board of Assessors. The Council also adopted the residential exemption at 35 percent, which provides a savings of $3,965. The average tax bill with the residential exemption is $7,363, which is up $476 or 6.9 percent.

Around Town

John Airasian’s Family Remember His Love for His Family, His Business & His Community

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John Airasian

This week, Watertown said goodbye to a man who devoted his life to three things: family, business, and the community. Thousands lined up in the cold weather for his wake on Tuesday, and on Wednesday hundreds sat in the pews at St. Patrick’s Church for the funeral of John S. Airasian. While he served on many community organizations through the years — the Watertown-Belmont Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Watertown, the Arsenal Reuse Committee, and the Traffic Commission — many they will remember Airasian for his friendly demeanor, desire to help others, and his love of his hometown. His three sons — Pete, Bob, and John — remembered their father during Wednesday’s funeral service.

Sports

JIM’S VIEW: Watertown Field Hockey Runs Into A Dominant Opponent in the State Div. 3 Semifinal

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Watertown field hockey players Kaylee Master, Ava Lamacchia, and Lola Venezia defend against Uxbridge in the MIAA Div. 3 Tournament Semifinal. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

WEST BRIDGEWATER — Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure … than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.  ~  Theodore Roosevelt

The Watertown field hockey team lines up before the 2025 State Semifinal against Uxbridge. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Unless the players and coaches of Watertown Field Hockey had lived under a rock the past three months, except for when practicing and playing field hockey, they certainly knew the challenge they faced Wednesday night.