Around Town

Chanukah Candles Light the Dark Night at Chabad Watertown’s Fourth Annual Celebration

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Rabbi Dovid Zaltzman lights a candle on the ice menorah during the fourth annual Chanukah Celebration at Arsenal Yards. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The flames of the candles on the big outdoor menorah shone through the dark and frigid night during Monday’s Chabad Watertown’s fourth annual Chanukah Celebration at Arsenal Yards. Dozens braved the 20 degree weather to enjoy some hot chocolate and doughnuts, catch gelt dropped from a Watertown Fire truck’s ladder, and watch a man twirl flaming sticks, eat fire, and blow fireballs. The fire dancer shoots a fireball during the Chanukah Celebration at Arsenal Yards. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Held on the second night of Chanukah, Chabad Watertown invited City Manager George Proakis, along with Watertown Police Chief Justin Hanrahan and Captain Dan Unsworth to light the service candle, in the middle of the ice menorah.

Government

Flock Cameras: City Manager Working Out Details of Contract for License Plate Reading Devices

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Watertown’s contract with the Flock Safety company for eight license plate reading cameras was signed in September, but City officials are working on changing the section covering when data will be shared with other law enforcement. Meanwhile, a neighboring community terminated its contract with Flock, and another is determining its own policy for using the cameras. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting City Manager George Proakis provided a further update about the Flock cameras. During the previous Council meeting, on Nov. 25, he said that the data from the cameras, which take photos of plates but do not have a live feed, will be used only as part of an ongoing investigation.

Government

Watertown Police Will Soon Start Using Cameras That Can Capture License Plate Info, ACLU Expresses Some Concerns

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In the next few weeks the Watertown Police Department will have access to new equipment that can capture images of license plates of passing cars. The technology is intended to help with criminal investigations, but some have expressed concerns about how it will be used, including the ACLU of Massachusetts. City Manager George Proakis provided information about the Flock Safety program to the City Council on Nov. 25. The Flock system was approved in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and eight cameras will be installed on major roadways in Watertown.

Business

Local Company Buys 95 Thanksgiving Dinners for Watertown Families

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Akian Plumbing teamed with the Whooley Foundation to provide 95 Thanksgiving meals. The Whooley Foundation, along with a donation by Steven and Alex Akian — owners of Watertown’s Akian Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning — provided over 95 full Thanksgiving meals to families in town this week. The effort began four years ago when the Akians donated 10 dinners, said Lt. Ken Swift, who heads the Whooley Foundation. This year, 23 more families received meals than in 2024. Swift called it a collaboration between the Police, City departments, community organizations, and Akian.

Police/Fire

Six Watertown Body Works Businesses Busted in Inspections by Health Department & Police

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Six body works businesses in Watertown have been closed indefinitely after being found to be in violation of the City’s new body works regulations. The inspections aimed at not only ensuring that the businesses were in compliance with the updated regulations, but also “to safeguard residents, legitimate businesses, and potential victims of human trafficking,” according to an announcement on the Watertown Police Department’s social media. “All six were found to be in violation of regulations set by the Watertown Board of Health, the Building Department, and the Zoning Department, as well as the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Licensure. These establishments will not be permitted to reopen until they meet the required standards established by these agencies,” the Watertown Police announcement said. The inspections were conducted by the Watertown Health Department, in coordination with Watertown Police, Watertown Zoning and Building Departments, and the Occupational Licensing Division of Massachusetts.

Police/Fire

Middlesex District Attorney Meets With Watertown Police in Effort to Cut Down Shoplifting

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Charlie BreitroseMiddlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan met with Watertown Police to focus on the rise in shoplifting in the area. Here she is pictured at an event where spoke at the Watertown Senior Center. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan joined a regular meeting between Watertown Police and security from local stores to find ways to curb the amount of shoplifting in town, and to prevent incidents from becoming more serious. Since 2022, the number of shopliftings in the City has steadily risen, with the vast majority occurring at the Watertown Mall and Arsenal Yards. In 2022, the WPD responded to around 400 shoplifting incidents, and in 2024 the number rose to 774, according to statistics collected by Watertown Police.