Obituaries

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

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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

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(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.

Around Town

New Signage for Paintings in City Hall Provides a Historical Perspective

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The historic paintings in Watertown City Hall now have signs with information about the town’s history. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The entry lobby in City Hall is beginning to look like a room at the Museum of Fine Arts, with the addition of signs to accompany the recently restored historical paintings of Watertown. The foyer of City Hall has long been home to a pair of paintings depicting Watertown, one showing the town in the 1630s when it was founded, and one in the 1930s, around the time when City Hall was built. The signs have been installed in front of the paintings that hang on either side of the entryway off of Main Street. The Historical Society received money from the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to pay for the creation and manufacturing of the signs. The contents went through several iterations before reaching the final version, said Watertown Community Preservation Coordinator Lanae Handy.

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Watertown Group Hosting Showing of Palestinian Documentary

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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.

Around Town

Crews Will Install Drainage, Bases for New Traffic Lights on Mt. Auburn Street This Week

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Construction on Mt. Auburn Street this week includes installation of drainage, drilling test pits and installing the bases for new traffic lights. See details provided by the City of Watertown, below. The Mount Auburn Street Complete Street Project is a MassDOT funded and managed initiative to fully reconstruct State Route 16, creating a safer, more accessible street for all users, whether traveling by car, bicycle, transit, or on foot. Below, you’ll find this week’s project update, including upcoming construction activities, anticipated traffic impacts, a look at the project’s final design in the area of work, and access to view more info on the projects history and details (click here).

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Watertown Community Foundation’s Education and Youth Development Grant Cycle Opens March 2

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

Starting March 2, the Watertown Community Foundation will launch the inaugural grant cycle for its Education and Youth Development Grant Program. It will fund programs that contribute to the overall well-being of Watertown’s youth — academically, socially, emotionally and physically. The Foundation seeks to fund initiatives and create access to opportunities that foster skill-building, creativity, leadership, confidence and resilience, while creating pathways for all young people to thrive. Eligible non-profits and public entities that serve Watertown’s youth are invited to apply from March 2 – March 23, 2026. For more information, visit here.

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Watertown Teachers Running Marathon, Holding Fundraising Event

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Cunniff third grade teacher Erin Hallisey and Maureen Murphy, a special education teacher at the Lowell, are running the 2026 Boston Marathon. Erin is raising money for the Boston Public Library, while Murphy is raising money for the Newton Firefighters Children’s Fund and they will be hosting a fundraising event in March. 

“John Brewers has graciously offered to host a fundraiser event for us. Twenty percent of any dine-in/take out orders made between 3 p.m.-7 p.m. on March 12 with proceeds be donated to both organizations!” Murphy said. Hallisey and Murphy provided the following information about the organizations:

The Boston Public Library Fund provides financial support to keep the BPL “free to all.”

Around Town

Registration Opens Soon for Library’s Talk and Book Signing with Author Angie Cruz

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Library:

The Watertown Free Public Library’s One Book, One Watertown selection for 2026 is How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz. The award-winning author — also known for her novel Dominicana — will visit the Library for an author talk and book signing on March 24. Registration for Cruz’s talk opens Monday, March 2 at 9 a.m. Mark your calendar and plan to register early through watertownlib.org/onebook or by calling the Library at 617-972-6436. ASL and CART services will be provided at the author talk event. Following the conversation, there will be time for book signing, and books will be available for purchase from All She Wrote Books.