Watertown Cable News

01/02/2026

🎥 LIVE TONIGHT ON WCA-TV & FACEBOOK

WCA-TV and Watertown Cable News will be live from the Mosesian Center for the Arts starting at 6:00 PM with full coverage of the City of Watertown’s Inauguration Ceremony, marking the swearing-in of newly elected members of the City Council, School Committee, and Library Board of Trustees.

📺 WCA-TV Public Channel
• Comcast 9
• RCN 3

💻 Live stream at wcatv.org
📱 Live on Facebook via Watertown Cable News and Watertown Cable Access Corp.

Tune in as Watertown officially begins the 2026 municipal term.
City of Watertown, MA - Government

Reminder, you are invited to join us at the City of Watertown's Inauguration Ceremony of our newly elected members of the City Council, School Committee, and Library Board of Trustees, today, Friday, January 2, 2026, from 6:00-8:00PM, at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, located at 321 Arsenal Street. Doors open at 5:30PM. The ceremony begins at 6:00PM. A reception will follow with refreshments, light fare and a cash bar. This ADA accessible event is sponsored by the City of Watertown and graciously hosted by the Mosesian Center for the Arts. All community members are welcome to attend.

[Image description: words “2026 Inauguration Ceremony, Friday, January 2, 2026” the City Seal is in the background]

01/01/2026

📺 A YEAR IN REVIEW — WATERTOWN CABLE NEWS 2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back at some of the most impactful stories that shaped our community this year. From major city decisions and school construction milestones to unforgettable community events, local sports achievements, and the people and organizations making a difference—this special year-end edition of Watertown Cable News brings it all together.

Thank you for watching, sharing, and supporting local journalism throughout the year. We’re proud to tell Watertown’s stories and look forward to bringing you even more in 2026.

▶️ Watch our special Year-End Edition now.

Watch Best Of Watertown Cable News 2025

12/31/2025

Watertown’s overnight winter parking ban begins the evening of Jan. 1, 2026, with enforcement starting at 1 a.m. on Jan. 2, and will remain in effect through March 1, 2026. During this period, no vehicle may remain on any public way for more than one hour between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., seven days a week. Residents without sufficient off-street parking may use designated lots overnight, unless otherwise restricted.

🚗 Available Overnight Parking Locations

🏙️ Municipal Lots
🔹 Behind CVS – 27 Main St. (metered spaces only)
🔹 Behind Watertown Free Public Library – 123 Main St.
🔹 Behind CVS – 655 Mt. Auburn St. (metered spaces only)
🔹 50 Howard St.
🔹 Parker Building – 124 Watertown St. (must vacate by 6 a.m.)
🔹 Police Station – 552 Main St. (visitor spaces only)

🏫 School Lots (vehicles must be removed by 6 a.m.)
🔹 Hosmer Elementary School – 1 Concord Rd.
🔹 Lowell School – 123 Lowell Ave.
🔹 Cunniff Elementary School – 246 Warren St.
🔹 Watertown Middle School – 68 Waverly Ave.
🔹 Watertown High School (temporary site) – 27 Westminster Ave.

🌳 Park Lots
🔹 O’Connell Park – Boylston St. & Mt. Auburn St. (must vacate by 6 a.m.)
🔹 Filippello Park – 191 Grove St. (no parking along driveway)

🏢 Private Lots (not available during snow emergencies)
🔹 101–103 Morse St. – rear spaces only
🔹 250 Arsenal Place parking garage – top level only
🔹 Linx Garage – 490 Arsenal Way (Nichols Ave. entrance)

⏰ Parking in these locations is free between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
⚠️ Vehicles parked in violation may be ticketed or towed.
🚫 Parking on sidewalks is prohibited.

❄️ Snow Emergency Reminder: The City Council has approved an increased fine of $100 for vehicles parked on the street during a declared snow emergency.

♿ Vehicles with valid disabled veteran or handicap plates or placards are exempt from the overnight ban except during declared weather emergencies. Placards must only be used by the individual to whom they are issued.

For full details and snow emergency updates, visit the City’s Winter Parking Ban webpage.

12/30/2025

📅 A Look Back at 2025 in Watertown

From big City Hall decisions and unforgettable high school sports moments, to community festivals, grand openings, and the people who made a difference — 2025 was a year to remember in Watertown.

Watch our Year in Review video for highlights from local news, city meetings, sports, events, and community life across town.

▶️ Full video now available.

City of Watertown, MA - Government Watertown Public Schools The Historical Society of Watertown MA Watertown Police Department Watertown Fire Department Watertown Public Works Mosesian Center for the Arts Watertown Arts Market Watertown Business Coalition The Historical Society of Watertown MA Watertown Boys & Girls Club Watertown Community Foundation Armenian Museum of America Watertown Free Public Library Watertown Veterans' Services Watertown Council on Aging/Senior Center Watertown Farmers Market Watertown News

2025 was a year of major moments in Watertown — from historic high school sports achievements and pivotal city decisions, to community celebrations, grand op...

12/29/2025

The Watertown Community Foundation has distributed $43,000 in donations to support local food pantries as part of Watertown’s Community Food Drive, launched in response to cuts to federal food assistance and rising community need.

The funds, collected since the drive began Oct. 31, were distributed to the Watertown Food Pantry and the Watertown Catholic Collaborative Food Pantry to help purchase and distribute food. In addition to monetary donations, residents of Watertown, Belmont and nearby communities have contributed shelf-stable goods at drop-off locations across the city.

Since Nov. 10, an estimated one to two tons of food per week has been distributed among local food pantries, the Watertown Community Fridge and, as needed, the city’s social service providers.

“We have been humbled by the compassionate, generous response of the Watertown community,” said Tia Tilson, executive director of the Watertown Community Foundation, noting that donations allow pantries to directly purchase food to meet demand.

The City of Watertown, working with the foundation, has coordinated weekly food pickups from 10 donation sites, led by the Human Services Department with support from other city departments and community volunteers.

The Community Food Drive began amid changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which more than 1,600 Watertown families rely on each month. Food donations will be accepted at city locations through the end of December, with monetary donations available through the foundation’s website.

City of Watertown, MA - Government

12/23/2025

The City of Watertown will hold an inauguration ceremony Friday, Jan. 2, to swear in newly elected members of the City Council, School Committee and Library Board of Trustees.

The ceremony is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with the formal program beginning at 6 p.m.

Following the ceremony, a public reception will be held featuring refreshments, light fare and a cash bar.

The event is ADA accessible and is sponsored by the City of Watertown, with the Mosesian Center for the Arts serving as host. City officials said the ceremony is open to all community members and encourages public attendance as newly elected leaders begin their terms in office.

The inauguration marks the official transition of leadership for Watertown’s legislative, educational and library governing bodies.

City of Watertown, MA - Government

12/22/2025

The Charles River Watershed Association will host a free premiere screening of a new short documentary examining the impact of defunct dams on the Charles River, with a particular focus on the Watertown Dam, on Jan. 8 at the Watertown Free Public Library.

The documentary, Reconnecting Rivers, was produced by the watershed association in partnership with Turnaround Films. The film explores how aging and unused dams affect river health, fish migration and ecosystems along the Charles, and highlights ongoing efforts to address those challenges.

Following the screening, a panel discussion will bring together local and state officials and environmental experts to discuss the future of river restoration on the Charles. Panelists include Watertown City Councilor at-Large John Gannon; Beth Lambert, director of the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration; Brad Chase, diadromous fish project leader at the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries; and Hartman Deetz, an Indigenous consultant for the Charles River Watershed Association.

The event will take place Thursday, Jan. 8, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Watertown Savings Bank Room on the first floor of the Watertown Free Public Library. The screening and discussion are free and open to the public.

12/22/2025

The German International School Boston is officially part of the Watertown community.

GISB celebrated the opening of its new lower school campus this fall, marking a major milestone for the bilingual, international school. Founded in 2001, the nonprofit school serves students from preschool through grade 12 and is one of only five German government-accredited schools in the United States.

School leaders highlighted the importance of bilingual education, cultural exchange and global opportunity, while also thanking Watertown for welcoming the school into the community. The celebration also included the presentation of the German American Friendship Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to German-American relations.

WATERTOWN – The German International School Boston marked a major milestone this fall with the opening of its new campus in Watertown, expanding space for its lower school and strengthening its long-term presence in the community. Founded in 2001 by German expatriates seeking a bilingual education...

12/22/2025

Watertown Public Schools has been awarded more than $82,000 in state grant funding to expand its farm-to-school program and support new high-tech agriculture learning opportunities at Watertown High School.

The $82,946 grant is part of the Massachusetts FRESH CORP program, which is providing $1.2 million in funding to 34 public school districts and early childhood centers statewide to expand educational food growth and farming initiatives. Watertown received the second-largest award in this year’s grant cycle, behind Salem Public Schools.

Much of the funding will be used to support the district’s new Freight Farm, a converted 40-foot shipping container that allows crops to be grown year-round in a controlled, self-contained environment using vertical farming techniques and a closed-loop system. The Freight Farm will be used to expand course offerings at Watertown High School beginning in January while also increasing local food production for school cafeterias.

The grant will also fund training and supplies for the Freight Farm, a high-tech farming teacher, and additional hours for the district’s school gardens coordinator.

Watertown Public Schools received the Freight Farm over the summer and began growing crops in October. Students are expected to begin learning in the farm in January.

In the meantime, the district has donated its first harvests of lettuce to the Watertown Community Fridge, a shared food resource located at the Watertown Free Public Library. Once fully operational, the Freight Farm is expected to produce up to 1,000 heads of lettuce per week.

The district’s broader farm-to-school program currently provides food for cafeterias in all five Watertown school buildings. Students also participate in hands-on learning through garden programs at the city’s three elementary schools, where they grow vegetables, develop maintenance skills, and engage in composting activities.

Watertown Public Schools City of Watertown, MA - Government

12/21/2025

Hundreds gathered at Arsenal Yards on Monday night for Watertown’s annual public Hanukkah celebration, hosted by Chabad Watertown . 🕎

The Festival of Lights event featured a fire show, a chocolate gelt drop, family activities, and the lighting of a seven-foot ice menorah.

This year’s celebration carried added meaning, as speakers reflected on recent antisemitic violence abroad and emphasized Hanukkah’s message of light overcoming darkness. City officials and members of the newly formed Watertown Jewish Action Network were also in attendance, highlighting community unity and resilience.

🎥 Watch our full report from the celebration.

Chabad Watertown

WATERTOWN – Hundreds of people gathered at Arsenal Yards on Monday night to celebrate Hanukkah with a public menorah lighting hosted by Chabad Watertown, an annual event that organizers said carried added significance this year amid global concerns about antisemitism. The Festival of Lights celebr...

12/20/2025

Reservations are now open for the 26th annual Watertown Unity Breakfast, set for Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, as the community gathers to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day and reaffirm its commitment to racial, social and economic justice.

The breakfast will take place from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the Hellenic Cultural Center, 25 Bigelow Ave., in Watertown. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., with a hot breakfast provided by Wicked Bagel, followed by music, roundtable discussions, student essays and the presentation of the annual Unity Award.

Hosted by World in Watertown, the Unity Breakfast is an annual tradition that brings residents together to honor King’s life and civil rights legacy through reflection, dialogue and community connection.

The event is open to all ages. A suggested donation of $10 to $25 is requested for adult attendees. Youth 18 and under, as well as those experiencing financial hardship, are welcome to attend free of charge. Childcare will be available for children ages 2 to 10 and must be registered in advance as an add-on. Children are also welcome to attend the main program.

ASL interpretation and CART services will be provided, sponsored by the Watertown Disability Commission. Those seeking additional accommodations may email [email protected].

🔗 Reserve tickets: watertownunitybreakfast.eventbrite.com
🌐 Learn more & watch past event videos: unitybreakfast.org

12/20/2025

The City of Watertown is introducing a new hiring pathway aimed at expanding and accelerating recruitment for the Watertown Fire Department by allowing qualified candidates to join through an alternative process approved by the state.

City officials announced the launch of the Local Register program, a hiring mechanism authorized by the Massachusetts Human Resources Division that supplements the traditional civil service examination system. The program allows up to 50 percent of new fire department hires to be appointed through the Local Register while still receiving full civil service status under state law.

The initiative follows the City Council’s approval of funding in the fiscal year 2026 budget to staff a second ambulance, a move officials say increased the need to fill firefighter-paramedic positions more efficiently.

Under the new process, the city can more quickly appoint qualified candidates, including licensed paramedics and current firefighter-paramedics, while maintaining civil service protections.

To explain the program and answer questions, the Watertown Fire Department will host a public information session on Tuesday, Dec. 23, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at Watertown City Hall, 149 Main St. Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson and representatives from the city’s Human Resources Department are expected to attend.

Applications for firefighter-paramedic positions are already being accepted through the City of Watertown’s website using an online application process.

City of Watertown, MA - Government Watertown Fire Department