Obituaries

OBIT: Donald Joseph “Don” Quinn, Watertown High Grad, Worked for 30 Years at Shipley Corp., Voice of Hudson Sports

By |

Donald J. Quinn

Donald Joseph “Don” Quinn July 17, 1941 – February 27, 2026

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Donald Joseph “Don” Quinn announces his passing after a short battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born on July 17, 1941, in Watertown, Massachusetts, to the late Richard and Mary Quinn, Don lived a life defined by love, family, dedication, and community spirit. Don was a proud graduate of Watertown High School, Class of 1959, where he served as Student Council President. He was a standout three sport athlete, playing point guard on the basketball team, center field on the baseball team, and running back on the football team. Don went on to attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Schools

LEGAL NOTICE: Watertown Public Schools to Hold Public Hearing on Fiscal Year 2027 Budget

By |

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Public Schools:

Legal Notice

WATERTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 30 COMMON STREET, WATERTOWN, MA 02472 – In accordance with provisions of Chapter 71, Section 38N, the Watertown School Committee will hold a Public Hearing on its proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget, on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Learning Commons, Lowell Elementary School, 123 Lowell Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472, or via Zoom at https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/86275618951

A copy of the FY27 Proposed Budget will be available to the public in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools and on the Watertown Public Schools Website, www.watertown.k12.ma.us, forty-eight hours before the date of the public meeting.

Obituaries

OBIT: Jane O’Connor, 79, Former Watertown Teacher & Principal, Helped Establish School for Girls in Rwanda

By |

Jane O’Connor

Jane Elizabeth (McCarthy) O’Connor, 79, of Watertown, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at the Church of St. Patrick, 212 Main Street, Watertown. Visiting hours will be held in St. Patrick’s Church on Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.

Around Town

Watertown Cartoonist Hosting Drawing Demonstration at Senior Center

By |

(Art by Dave Hudon)

Watertown cartoonist and cable show host Fred Grandinetti will appear at the Watertown Senior Center to demonstrate cartoon drawing. See more info below. Come to the Watertown Senior Center on March 9th from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and learn how to draw classic cartoon characters. Fun and nostalgia. Hosted by Fred M.

Business

Chamber Hosting Panel on Fraud Prevention & What Small Businesses Need to Know

By |

The Charles River Regional Chamber will host a panel on fraud prevention and response. The free webinar will feature a panel of speakers, including Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan. See details from the Chamber below. Fraud is one of the fastest-growing and most costly threats facing small businesses today. From payment and payroll scams to phishing, identity theft and vendor fraud, bad actors are becoming more sophisticated — often targeting businesses with limited time, staff and safeguards.

Government

Watertown Democrats to Elect Delegates to Democratic State Convention on March 14

By |

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Democratic Committee:

On Saturday, March 14 at 1:30 p.m., Democrats will convene at the Watertown Free Public Library, Watertown Savings Bank Room to elect 23 delegates and five alternates to represent Watertown at the 2026 Massachusetts State Democratic Convention. Registration begins at 1:00 p.m. and closes at 1:45 p.m.

Registered and pre-registered Democrats in Watertown, who are 16 years old by the start of thecaucus window (February 19, 2026) and pre-registered by the time of their caucus, may voteand be elected as delegates or alternates during the caucus. Youth (age 16 to 35), individualswith disabilities, people of color, veterans, and members of the LGBTQ+ community notelected as delegates or alternates are encouraged to apply to be add-on delegates at the caucusor by visiting https://www.massdems.org/caucus-and-convention. The 2026 Convention will bein person at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA, on Friday, May 29th, and Saturday, May30th. Those interested in getting involved with the Watertown Democratic Committee shouldcontact watertowndems@gmail.com.

Around Town

Watertown Group Hosting Showing of Palestinian Documentary

By |

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment:

The next film in the Palestine-Gaza Committee Palestinian documentary series is FARHA, a feature film released in 2021, is the harrowing story of a 14 year-old Palestinian girl whose life is brutally upended during the tumultuous events of 1948. Date:  Sunday, March 8, 2026Time:       6 p.m.Location: The Church of the Good Shepherd,  9 Russell Ave., Watertown, MA

Join us for a discussion after the film. *** The Church of the Good Shepherd has handicapped accessible restrooms.

Letters

LETTER: Former Council President Feels Disrespected by Council’s Actions

By |

For A Few Minutes

What happened at the February 24 Council Meeting was a level of disrespect I have ever encountered in my years of public service in Watertown. It was humiliating and hurtful, especially since it was witnessed by my wife, Mary. Over the years, I have addressed many Watertown boards, and they were respectful. In more than 36 years, I do not recall any board, as a whole, walking out on any speaker. I was taken aback by the Councilors’ immediate departure in the midst of my speaking, particularly from a board I once served on.