OBIT: Maria Ann Littleton, 100, Active in the Community, Loved to Travel

Maria Ann Littleton

Maria Ann Littleton, 100 years old, of Belmont and Watertown, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family. Born in Watertown to Italian Immigrants, Carmela and Pasquale DiGiacomo, she was the oldest of six children. 

Maria lived a full and vibrant life. She loved her active roles in the community with the Belmont Street Baptist Church, the League of Women Voters, the Belmont Women’s Club, the Belmont Library, and volunteer work at Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Town Polls. Maria enjoyed attending cultural events and musical programs. She loved to travel, especially to Italy to visit family. Maria loved driving her Alfa Romeo back and forth to Key West and was a club member.

Watertown Group Will Hear from Student Advocating for Nuclear Disarmament

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

Please join us on Saturday, May 17 to hear Maria Udalova from Students for Nuclear Disarmament speak about why she is passionate about nuclear disarmament, why young people understand the necessity for disarmament, and how they take action to achieve a world without nuclear weapons. 

The program will take place at 3:00 PM in the Lower Meeting Hall at the Church of the Good Shepherd at 9 Russell Ave., Watertown. Ms. Udalova is a senior at Brookline High School and leads her school’s Students for Nuclear Disarmament (SND) Chapter. She is also a member of the SND. 

Locally, Ms. Udalova has organized student lobbying efforts at the State House on climate and disarmament legislation, led educational initiatives on nuclear disarmament, and spearheaded disarmament policy efforts in Brookline. She has spoken to students and civil society groups, emphasizing the critical role of student engagement in nuclear disarmament. Students for Nuclear Disarmament is a national, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to raising awareness among Gen-Z about the threat that nuclear weapons pose to humanity.  We unite young people to urge the U.S. government to pursue common-sense nuclear weapons policy. You can learn more at students4disarmament.org. The program on May 17 is sponsored by the Peace and Common Security of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the Environment. The Working Group has collected 450 signatures to put a back from the Brink (https://preventnuclearwar.org/) nuclear disarmament resolution in front of the City Council via a Citizen Petition which will be submitted to the City Clerk at sometime this summer. If passed by the City Council, Watertown would join 21 Massachusetts cities and towns who have passed similar resolutions. The working group has developed education resources, organized a number of public programs on the existential threat of nuclear weapons and the need for nuclear disarmament, and taped a program on WCATV titled “Ending Nuclear Weapons” focused on the contradictions of nuclear deterrence.

Latest Local Podcast Episodes Feature Assistant City Manager & Creative Chat with Arts Organizer

Recent episodes of the Little Local Conversations podcast featured Watertown’s Assistant City Manager for Community Development and Planning, Steve Magoon, as well as, the most recent Creative Chats with artist and arts organizer Kristen Kenny. In Little Local Conversations, host Matt Hanna discovers and connects the people, places, stories, and ideas of Watertown. Podcast guests include community leaders, business owners, non-profit organizers, artists and creatives, and other folks doing interesting and important work in the city. Hanna provided the following information about the episodes:

Steve Magoon

Meet Steve Magoon! He’s the Assistant City Manager for Community Development and Planning for the City of Watertown.

Celebration of Watertown Cultural District to be Hosted by Watertown Business Coalition

Watertown recently received approval for a Cultural District in Watertown Square. The public is invited to a celebration of the new cultural district on May 21. See more information provided by the Watertown Business Coalition. In celebration of Watertown’s recent Cultural District designation there will be an after-hours event on Wednesday, May 21, at Bar ‘Cino, 47 Main St. in Watertown.

Marshall Home Fund Hosting 20th Anniversary Celebration & Grant Award Ceremony

Marshall Home Fund will celebrate 20 years and award grants at a ceremony on May 15. See more information in the MHF announcement. This special occasion will bring together past and present Board members, grant awardees, and community stakeholders who have played a vital role in advancing the Fund’s mission: to support programs that enhance the health, safety, independence, and quality of life for Watertown residents aged 55 and older. Thursday, May 15th, 2025, 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

First Parish of Watertown, 35 Church St, Watertown, MA 02472

For more information email us at: admin@marshallhomefund.org

We thank the Watertown Savings Bank for it’s support of this event.

Watertown’s First Eco Fest to be Held May 10 at the Commander’s Mansion

The City of Watertown will be hosting the first Eco Fest on Saturday. See more information in the City’s announcement below. Come to Eco Fest on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from11am-2pm at the Commander’s Mansion, 44 Talcott Ave, to learn more about how you can reduce your energy use and support clean energy by talking to vendors and sitting in on our speaker sessions! For a complete list of vendors and activities, visit watertownecofest.com

Resilient Watertown Eco Fest Will Have Info on Making Life Greener, Fun for the Whole Family

Nominations Open for Watertown Community Spirit Awards

Contributed PhotoRecipients of the 2018 Community Spirit Awards, presented by the Watertown Youth Coalition. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Youth Coalition:

It’s that time of year again! Below is the link to nominate someone for a community spirit award. The Community Spirit Awards ceremony is an annual event honoring people committed to the health and well-being of Watertown’s youth and families. The event will be held at Filippello Park (191 Grove Street, Watertown, MA, 04272) on Wednesday, June 4th at 6 p.m. 

A little bit on the event for those who don’t know: 

People can be nominated for having done any of the following:

 * Served as a positive influence or mentor to a Watertown Youth Coalition member or to others in the community * Had the courage to address challenging issues that affect youth and the community * Has actively taken steps to improve the Watertown community (in big and small ways)

Please complete your nominations by the end of the day Thursday, May 22nd 

CSA Nomination Form

Fitness Studio Hosting Annual Mother’s Day Bootcamp & Shampoo Drive

Watertown’s Get Lively Health & Fitness has a special event planned for Mother’s Day. See information in the announcement from Get Lively below. Join us for our annual Mother’s Day Bootcamp and Shampoo drive! 

Date: May 10, 2025

Time: 9:00am–10:00am

Location: 25 Clarendon Street, Watertown

In lieu of class fee, please bring a new shampoo and conditioner, which we will assemble into gift bags to support women in need in our Community. Gifts will be distributed at the Watertown Food Pantry.  

Please feel free to bring someone with you. Whether you’re a mother to humans, animals, plants, or you’re simply the mother in your own life, we’d love to have you join us for this all levels class while supporting our local community.