Police/Fire

Watertown Police Log: Shoplifters Busted and More

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

April 7, 10:02 p.m.: Police received information that a man wanted on a warrant was at a home on Sycamore Street. A 25-year-old Watertown man was arrested on a warrant out of Woburn District Court. April 8, 6:30 p.m.: A man was spotted at Stop & Shop on Watertown Street placing a large amount of groceries into a reusable bag and then tried to leave the store. The total value was $238.48.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Couple Uses Plates to Protest Watertown Manhunt

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Artists Mike Mandel and Chantal Zakari experienced the Watertown Manhunt first hand and they did not like what they saw, and they expressed their feelings by creating commemorative plates. While most such porcelain items show a scene of beauty or something happy, the center of the plates created by the married couple features pictures of SWAT teams, armored vehicles and police searching houses. The pair was featured on WBGH’s “Greater Boston” television program. See photos of the plates by visiting WGBH’s website (click here). Read more in a story by WGBH by clicking here.

Sports

See Results for Watertown Runners in the Boston Marathon

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Watertown was well represented in the 118th Boston Marathon, with 76 runners plus others from the Watertown Police and Fire Departments running, and it was a day for the women. The top runner from Watertown was Kath Hardcastle, who had a net time of 2:45:42. She was the 36th fastest woman in the entire race and 32nd in the women 18-39 category. Second was Nicole Casey with 2:58:23, and third (and top male) was Daniel Gulas at 2:59:21. Women took six of the top 10 places for Watertown runners and 12 of the top 20.

Around Town

Boston Marathon Entries from Watertown Soar in 2014

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The number of Boston Marathon entrants from Watertown has spiked a year after the bombing at the finish line and events that culminated in the shootout with and stopping of the bombing suspects in town. In 2012, 38 Watertown residents ran the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Copley Square in Boston (Ed. Note: I could not find the 2013 numbers but they were similar). This year 76 town residents are running, according to the Boston Athletic Association. In addition, a dozen Watertown Police officers (including 5 from the list of town residents) and one Watertown Firefighter are running the race.

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.