Police/Fire

UPDATED: Former Watertown Police Officer Wins Sexual Discrimination Suit, Awarded More than $4 Million

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(Note: the total payout with interest has been updated.)

A Middlesex Superior Court jury ruled in favor of former Watertown Police Det. Kathleen Donohue in the civil suit for sexual discrimination and retaliation while she was a member of the Watertown Police Department. She was awarded more than $4 million in damages, back pay and future earnings. Donohue alleged that she was subject to jokes, remarks, and vulgar displays from members of the Watertown Police, and also testified that she had a relationship with a superior officer who controller her employment and he did not disclose the relationship. She said she reported the incidents to the Town of Watertown’s Personnel Department but the only result she saw was a one-hour course on sexual discrimination in the workplace.

Around Town

Watertown Will Mark Veterans Day With Pair of Events

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Watertown will hold two events on Friday to mark Veterans Day, a ceremony at an exhibit devoted to veterans and the annual Veterans Day Breakfast. A brief ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. at the Mosesian Center, 321 Arsenal St., honoring the Veterans on the wall created as part of the first Everyone Knows a Veteran. People have left messages about their parent, sibling, son, daughter, relative or friend who served in the military. At 11 a.m., the Marine Corps League Shutt Detachment, 215 Mt. Auburn St., will host the annual Veteran’s Day Breakfast.

Sports

Watertown Girls Soccer Tourney Run Ends in Round of 16

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown senior co-captain Shannon Fitzpatrick dribbles the ball against Dedham in the State Tournament Round of 16. DEDHAM — The run of success in the MIAA Div. 3 Girls Soccer Tournament came to an end for Watertown High School Wednesday night when the Raiders falling 2-0 to 10th seeded Dedham. Charlie BreitroseWatertown freshman Elsa Ryan battles for the ball against Dedham in the State Tournament game. The Raiders reached the Round of 16 with a pair of tournament wins.

Entertainment

Tickets on Sale for Mount Auburn Cemetery’s Winter Lights Show

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A screenshot from a video showing the lights show at Mount Auburn Cemetery in 2021. The following announcement was provided by the Mount Auburn Cemetery:

Mount Auburn Cemetery announced today that tickets are now on sale for this year’s SOLSTICE: Reflections on Winter Light event, created by MASARY Studios. The annual event at the active cemetery and historic urban green space takes guests on an outdoor journey through large-scale light and sound artworks and an indoor experience with live music and candle lighting. The event starts on December 10 and will run through December 21, 2022, at Mount Auburn Cemetery. Designed to evoke awe and contemplation, the exhibit invites guests to walk through the light-filled landscape and chapels, explore the winter solstice atmosphere, and reflect on moments of change as the year ends and a new cycle begins.

Government

See How Watertown Voted in the 2022 State Election

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Charlie Breitrose

Democrats fared better in Watertown than in Massachusetts as a whole in the 2022 State Election, and a majority of city voters supported all four of the ballot questions. More than half of Watertown’s registered voters turned out for the Nov. 8 election, with 13,624 (53.3 percent) of the 25,560 registered voters casting ballots, according to the City Clerk’s election results. In the race for governor and lieutenant governor, Democrats Maura Healey and Kim Driscoll received 77.6 percent of the vote in Watertown, with 10,574 votes. Republicans Geoff Diehl and Leah Allen received 2,733 votes. Libertarians Kevin Reed and Peter Everett got 179 votes.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Program Attempting to Stop Catalytic Converter Thefts

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Watertown has seen a rash of catalytic converter thefts over recent months, and the Police Department has teamed with a local auto dealer to try to prevent thefts. The devices are part of a car’s exhaust system and contain valuable metals, so they can be costly to replace. They can also be removed from a vehicle in a matter of minutes, said Rodney Dukes, service director at Toyota of Watertown. One of the most common targets for catalytic converter thieves is the Toyota Prius. Customers can get a plate installed over the catalytic converter to slow thieves, Dukes said.

Sports

Watertown Field Hockey Moves onto Round of 8 After 7-0 Win

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Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown field hockey team celebrates after Molly Driscoll, holding her stick aloft, scored against Ashland in the MIAA Div. 3 Tournament. Ashland kept Watertown off the board for nearly all of the first quarter at Victory Field on Tuesday, but by the time the quarter ended the Raiders had all the lead they would need to win the MIAA Div. 3 Round of 16 field hockey game. The final score was 7-0.

Government

VOTER GUIDE: Information for the State Election Day 2022

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On Tuesday, Massachusetts voters will choose several new statewide officers, including governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, and have four ballot questions to consider. Locally, candidates for the State House and other offices are running unopposed. Polls will be open on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Who’s on the Ballot

Governor & Lieutenant Governor

On the ballot are Republicans are Geoff Diehl and Leah Allen, Democrats Maura Healey and Kim Driscoll, and the Libertarian candidates are Kevin Reed and Peter Everett. Attorney General

The Democratic nominee Andrea Joy Campbell faces Republican James McMahon.