Home Care In Watertown, CT

WATERTOWN — The Watertown Board of Education withdrew its appointment of Lisa Fekete as the school district’s permanent superintendent and reinstated her as acting superintendent because she has not yet obtained her state certification for the role.

The board, after deliberating behind closed doors on Dec. 8, voted to withdraw its previous decision in October to appoint Fekete to the permanent role, and instead allow her to continue to serve in the probationary position until she obtains the superintendent certification, or until June 30.

“This action in no way diminishes the confidence we have in her abilities to lead our district,” Chair Karim Belica said before the board’s unanimous vote, according to minutes from the Dec. 8 meeting. “This is simply a procedural necessity as we have always known.”

According to the board’s motion, Fekete expects to obtain that certification, known as a 093 certificate, as soon as April. She is now enrolled in a certification program at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.

The board’s motion said that once Fekete is certified, the terms and conditions of the three-year superintendent contract she previously signed will be reinstated, and “shall govern and supersede all previous agreements between the parties.”

Fekete said in an email, “There were no substantive changes to the contract or to my employment, other than a procedural change in title,” as a result of the board’s action.

State education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker initially approved Fekete’s appointment as acting superintendent in a letter dated April 15, 2025. That approval is valid through June 30 of this year.

The commissioner said any certification or waiver must be approved before a superintendent starts office, per state law. An acting superintendent who is not certified is able to serve in an acting capacity for one year, Russell-Tucker said at the time.

Months later, in October, the Watertown Board of Education notified the state the board sought to appoint Fekete as its permanent superintendent of schools. A state attorney then contacted the board, saying state officials were “puzzled” by the decision because Fekete doesn’t hold the certification. The attorney recommended the board “rescind” the permanent appointment and allow her to continue to serve as acting superintendent.

Michael McKeon, director of legal and governmental affairs for the state Department of Education, said in an email to the board on Nov. 21 the state’s earlier approval of Fekete’s appointment to the probationary role had come “with the understanding” Fekete would receive her certification in May.

Then the board notified the state in October the appointment was intended to be “permanent,” McKeon noted. However, because Fekete hasn’t “yet obtained her 093,” she is not “appropriately certified to be superintendent,” under state law, McKeon advised. She can only assume the position “if the commissioner ... determines that Ms. Fekete ‘has successfully completed a probationary period as an acting superintendent … and (is someone) who the commissioner deems to be exceptionally qualified for the position of superintendent,’” he said.

“... This is a high standard, and given that Ms. Fekete has served a little less than five months of a 12-month probationary appointment, I believe it could prove difficult for the CSDE to determine that that standard had been met. The CSDE is, of course, in no way questioning Ms. Fekete’s abilities; after all, the commissioner approved her to serve as acting superintendent,“ McKeon added.

Last spring, when Fekete originally was named acting superintendent, the board praised her decades of experience as an educator as well as her 11-year tenure in Watertown, according to previous reports. Fekete was director of special education and pupil services at the time. In July, she succeeded former Watertown Superintendent Alison Villanueva, who left the school district to become superintendent of the Eastchester Union Free School District in New York.

Fekete is the most recent school superintendent in Connecticut found to have been serving in the top job despite not holding an active state superintendent certification. In November, the Middletown Board of Education fired its then-Superintendent Alberto Vázquez Matos for failing to maintain his 093 certification, according to previous reports. Vázquez Matos also faced charges of driving under the influence in Florida at the time. Those charges are still pending, according to judicial records in Hillsborough County, Fla.

Most of Waterbury is without water service and a boil water order has been issued for the entire city after a high-pressure water main failed late Friday night.

Crews have been working to fix a water main break that happened on Thomaston Avenue on Wednesday. While they were working, the 36-inch transmission main failed, according to the mayor's office.

The failure cut water service to residents and businesses in the majority of Waterbury, according to Mayor Paul Pernerewski.

Parts of Watertown, Wolcott, and Prospect are also affected.

They have been able to feed part of the city with a bypass line, but the Pernerewski said people should not drink the water or cook with it.

Restaurants in Waterbury and in the affected areas of the surrounding towns are being told not to serve food until the boil water order has been lifted.

Brad Malay, the city's water superintendent, said crews have not been able to get underground yet, so they have not been able to assess the damage.

Mayor Pernerewski it's possible they won't be able to begin repairs on Sunday, so they have made the decision to cancel school on Monday.

Waterbury Hospital has some reserve water in tanks, but that water is being depleted, according to the mayor. He said a tanker with potable water is also at the hospital.

Saint Mary's hospital doesn't have water and the city is working to get a tanker there as well. The hospital is diverting patients to other hospitals, the mayor said.

A spokesperson for the hospital released a statement on Saturday.

"Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure patient safety, Saint Mary’s Hospital has activated its emergency management plan in response to the current water main break in Waterbury. Potable water and portable sinks have been deployed, and an alternate water supply is being arranged to support essential operations as maintaining safe patient care remains our priority. At the present time we do have water pressure allowing us to run critical infrastructure including our boilers for temperature control."

The city has brought in four truckloads of bottled water for residents. The bottled water is being distributed at Municipal Stadium at 1200 Watertown Avenue.

An additional 10 truckloads of bottled water are on the way from Pennsylvania, according to the mayor's office. When they arrive, they will be split for distribution between Municipal Stadium and Crosby High School.

Watertown resident Jacob Blewitt said he and his wife order a majority of their household items and Christmas gifts online. This year, he wanted to give back.

WATERTOWN, Connecticut — Watertown resident Jacob Blewitt, who orders most of his household items and Christmas gifts online, decided to give back to delivery drivers this year.

A few years ago, Blewitt watched a video online of someone leaving treats out for delivery drivers. He decided to do the same this year, and his Watertown home is now gaining a reputation for its kindness among drivers.

Delivery drivers who stop at his home are greeted with a note that says, "Take a snack and beverage." Ring camera video shows drivers pause before they take a closer look at the holiday surprise he left out for them.

"Hershey's, Snickers, I love you," a delivery driver is heard saying on the footage.

Another driver, seen searching through the candy and drinks on the video, commented that "this is the best house on the block."

Blewitt, a father of four kids and a husband, wanted to repay the favor to those who deliver to his home early in the morning, sometimes without breaks.

"I decided with the holidays, and how busy it is, and how little these guys get to take breaks, to put out snacks and some drinks so that they can have some refreshment while they're doing all their hard work,” Blewitt said.

He says the delivery drivers' reactions are his favorite part.

Blewitt noted that the candy goes the fastest.

Kaye Paddyfote is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on X and Instagram.

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Wow, it's not too often that multiple business closures happen at the same time, but from everything that I can gather the Greater Waterbury area just lost multiple Carvel ice cream stores in the past week.

The Carvel on Watertown Avenue next to Frankie's in Waterbury, and the Naugatuck Carvel locations inside G's Burgers are listed as 'Permanently Closed" on Google, while the Watertown Carvel is still listed as being open. I tried calling each, but there was no answer at all three. I'll keep trying and update this if I get more info. The only Carvel locations in the greater Waterbury area still listed on carvel.com are in Bristol, and the S. Main Street location in Torrington. (Update - 11-24-25 - I received word from Sawyer Carlson - the Director of PR for GoToFoods, confirming the expiration of their franchise agreement of the independently owned and operated Carvel shoppes at 700 Watertown Ave in Waterbury, 1300 Main Street in Watertown, and 778 New Haven Road in Naugatuck.

As to what happened? There are a few rumors floating around on social media, but what I can guess is that the Carvel franchise fee went way up? There are plenty of commenters on Waterbury and Watertown social media pages supporting the owner of G's, and the comments mention that although Carvel is gone from both Naugatuck and Watertown - G's Burgers is alive and well, and will be there even if the Carvel store they're known for re-brands itself as a new, independent ice cream shop. Waterbury's Watertown Avenue location? There are no such rumors out there.

I can't imagine that the Watertown Avenue location will stay vacant for long, there has been an ice cream shop next to Frankie's through all of our lifetimes. As of today, November 18, 2025, there are still 18 Carvel locations in Connecticut, but Litchfield County is now without your childhood favorite.

Sometimes the most beautiful colors in the world happen right over your head. I love the colors that sunsets produce, and this is the time of year in Connecticut where they get really good. Here are the five most incredible sunsets I've ever captured on film

The Grotto Restaurant was a simple Italian food institution on Waterbury's Watertown Avenue for most of my life until it permanently closed 2 years ago in the Summer of 2023. I had a package of frozen ravioli from the Grotto in my freezer for the past two years, it's finally time to say goodbye to the last piece of pasta I've held on to for so long. Join me.

You may not know about the wonderful dairy products that are tucked away in the woods near the Litchfield/Goshen border, but you should. Before this past weekend I've never heard of Thorncrest Farm & Milk House Chocolates in Goshen, Connecticut, and now I will never forget it. Take a peek at what I found on Town Hill Road