Obituaries

OBIT: Freda Stephen, 96, Devoted Boston Sports Fan, Music Lover, Proud Democrat

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Freda Stephen

Freda (Bedig) Stephen, 96 of Watertown, passed away at CareOne Lexington on December 27, after a recent illness. Freda grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from Belmont High School. She worked at Farmer’s Insurance in Los Angeles until meeting her husband Dan Stephen. She married and relocated to Watertown and quickly became a proud Watertown resident. She always felt a closeness to her husband’s family and stayed in touch with them long after his death.

Attendance Zones

Watertown Elementary School Attendance Areas to be Examined by New Committee

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Charlie BreitroseThe public gathered outside the new Cunniff Elementary School. Elementary attendance zones will be studied by a new ad hoc committee. The attendance areas for Watertown’ three elementary schools may be redrawn by a new committee created to study the issue. Superintendent Dede Galdston told the School Committee in December about the ad hoc committee to study the attendance zones. “As we complete (construction on) two elementary schools and are starting a third, it is the perfect time to look at attendance zones,” Galdston said.

Arts

Watertown Author Wins Short Story Contest, See Where to Read the Piece

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Watertown author Kathleen Spivack won the Gemini Magazine Short Story Contest. Watertown resident Kathleen Spivak’s short story Moths, was chosen from around 900 entries as the winner of the 12th annual Gemini Magazine Short Story Contest. According to the magazine, Moths is a riveting account of a woman who clashes with her husband over the future of their special needs child. Spivack’s winning story was published online in the December issue of Gemini and she received a $1,000 award. A blind selection process is used in Gemini’s contest in which the judges do not see the authors’ names until the winning pieces are chosen. The award is a group decision where the editor, David Bright, and volunteer readers narrow down the list and then vote on the stories on the shortlist.

Police/Fire

Two Watertown Homes Broken Into This Week, Residents Were Home During One

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Residents should be sure to lock the doors and windows of their homes, Watertown Police said, after a pair of break-ins this week. On Friday, the Watertown Police Department put out messages on social media alerting the public to the incidents. The first one occurred on Lovell Road on Dec. 21, and police said entry was gained through a rear locked door sometime between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m.

In the late hours of Dec. 23, a Common Street home was broken into.

Bluebikes

Watertown Looks to Lease Electric Shuttles for Pleasant Street Connector

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Watertown TMAThe Watertown Connector started running the week of Labor Day. The shuttle goes down Pleasant Street to Watertown Square and then heads to Harvard Square. It is open to the general public. The City of Watertown wants to go green by seeking funds for two electric vehicles for the recently launched shuttle running from the Westside to Harvard Square. The Council recently signed a letter requesting a three-year grant through the Community Connections program run by MassDOT to lease two battery-powered vehicles to replace the one gas-powered shuttle currently being operated.

Around Town

See What’s Open & Closed on Christmas in Watertown

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Most government offices, retail stores and restaurants will be closed on Christmas Day, but a few will remain open for at least part of the day. Get some coffee, a bite to eat, or visit a pharmacy or convenience store. Government

State and Federal offices: Closed

City Hall: Closed

Library: Closed

Senior Center: Closed

Post Office: Closed

Mass. RMV: Closed

Retailers

Most will be closed, but can be open at owner’s discretion. Liquor Stores: Closed

Most CVS stores will be open on Christmas but hours may vary.

Anthony Donato

In 4 Years Anthony Donato Left Mark the Council, Colleagues Remember a Sharp Mind, Kind Demeanor

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Councilor at Large Anthony Donato stepped down after four years. His final meeting was Dec. 14. In a relatively short time on the Council, Anthony Donato left his mark and was remembered by his colleagues as a sharp, detail oriented and, most of all, kind Councilor. After four years — two terms — Donato chose not to run for re-election as Councilor at Large.