Around Town

Winners from the Finish Strong Race and Youth Dance Performance

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On Saturday, Watertown marked the anniversary of April 19, 2013 with a road race and a family celebration at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center. The top male runner was John Lequin of Salem, who finished the 5K race in a time of 17:54.7. The top female finisher was Jill Wilder of Waltham, who had a time of 18:54.3. After the race, people headed to the Armenian Cultural Center where they enjoyed, pizza, sandwiches and drinks while students from the Maria’s School of Dance performed.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Thousands Turn Out for Road Race on Anniversary of the Capture of the Bombing Suspect

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Thousands came out Saturday morning to celebrate the Watertown Strong Spirit during a 5K road race organized by the Watertown Police Department on the first anniversary of the stopping and capture of the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects. The Finish Strong Road Race and Walk was sponsored by the Watertown Police Supervisor’s Association and attracted people from around the Boston area, but had a particular Watertown Strong feeling. Gov. Deval Patrick spoke before the race and many other local dignitaries, including Dave Henberry, the man who alerted police to the second suspect being in his boat, also came out for the event.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Recalling the Watertown Shootout, Lockdown and Capture of the Bombing Suspect

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I awoke to the sound of “ping, ping, ping” on the early hours of April 19, 2013. Not the sound of gunfire, but the ringing of the email alert on my iPhone. After days of tragedy following the bombing I was emotionally pooped. That day I watched the inspiring words of President Obama during the Church Service for the bombing victims, and after days of knowing nothing about who had done this awful deed the FBI had released photos of the two men. There seemed to be some hope that they might catch the bombers, but no one seemed to know where they were.

Business

See Which Watertown Business Will Be Closing

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The Staples in Watertown Square will be closing, an official from the company has confirmed. The store, located at 11 Mt. Auburn St., will close next month, according to Staple’s Kaitlyn Reardon. “I can confirm the Watertown location is closing in May,” Reardon said. The company is looking at the retail location and the shift toward online sales, Reardon said in an email.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Watertown Group Joins Organization Opposing Militarization of Police

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A group from Watertown has joined a coalition of organizations opposing what they call militarization of law enforcement in the Boston area. Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment has become part of STop Oppressive Militarized Police – STOMP. The group seeks to stop the “Police militarization” and “increased federal funding to state and local law enforcement for surveillance and repression” according to the STOMP Facebook page (click here to see the page). The group points to the lockdown in Watertown during the hunt for the Boston Marathon Bombing suspect is as one of the examples of militarization. STOMP will hold a community speak out and teach-in on May 4 in Boston.

Government

New Strategies to Fund Watertown Schools Sought

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Instead of relying on the state and town for money to run the schools, Watertown officials are searching for new ways to pay for equipment and even for staff. The Fiscal 2015 school request is $6 million higher than last year, but the town will not likely be able to cover the whole request, Town Manager Michael Driscoll said Tuesday. Instead, school officials will have to prioritize what they want in the request. Meanwhile, the Town Council’s Education and School System subcommittee brainstormed ways to come up with more money for the town’s schools. They examined ideas provided by the Watertown Strong Schools advocacy group in a report (read the report here, with funding ideas on Page 57).

Boston Marathon Bombing

Family Celebration Planned on Saturday in Watertown

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Watertown’s spirit will be celebrated at a family event on Saturday afternoon. On the anniversary of the celebration following the capture of the second Boston Marathon Bombing suspect – April 19 – a celebration will be held in Watertown at the Armenian Cultural Center, 47 Nichols Avenue, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Activities include face painting and balloon animals courtesy of Colores Kids of Natick. A “Watertown Spirit” youth dance performance organized by students from Miss Maria’s School of Dance and Watertown Strong Schools. Food and music will also be provided.

Around Town

Public Radio Talks to Watertown Residents about Events of April 19, 2013

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Watertown Residents shared their experiences during the lockdown and manhunt for the second Boston Marathon Bombing suspect on the Public Radio International program “The Takeaway.” The program sat down with Watertown residents Jeffrey Ryan and Jillian Levine and Somerville’s Heidi Tworek. They talked about there memories of the events of April 19, 2013, and the importance of getting to know your neighbors that has emerged in the year since the Marathon Bombing and the lockdown. You can hear The Takeaway’s piece by clicking here.