Around Town

MLK Friend: Watertown Embraces King’s Principles Like No Other Community

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Watertown has embraced the non-violence teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. like no other community, according to a Civil Rights activist and good friend of King. 

On Thursday afternoon a celebration for the dedication of the mural created on the back wall of the Watertown Boys & Girls Club was attended by Dr. Bernard Lafayette. The mural, called “The Time is Always Right,” features bright paints and sections of mosaics which demonstrate the six principles of Kingian Nonviolence (and the words on the mural):

Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people (Have Courage)
The Beloved Community is the framework for the future (Be Kind)
Attack forces of evil, not people doing evil (Don’t Hate, Solve)
Accept suffering without retaliation for the sake of the cause to achieve a goal (Stay the Course)
Avoid internal violence of the spirit as well as external physical violence (Love Yourself)
The Universe is on the side of justice (Trust)

Lafayette knows King’s teachings well. He has dedicated his life to spreading the nonviolence movement by teaching others how to use the principles and become Kingian instructors themselves. Two years ago he came to Watertown to teach 24 students, 17 school staff and three police officers. Since then, that group has reached more than 2,500 people in different events, according to Ruth Henry, a Watertown Middle School teacher who helped bring the Kingian principles to town.

Ai3

Architects Cut Millions Out of Cost Estimate for Renovating Watertown’s Elementary Schools

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The School Building Committee had some sticker shock when members saw the original cost estimate for renovating and rebuilding Watertown’s three elementary schools, but architects delved deeper into the project found ways to cut more than $40 million off the cost. On Wednesday night, Scott Dunlap, principal of Ai3 Architects, said designers found an estimated $42.7 million in savings by looking at a variety of areas. The total cost estimate, including contingency funds, design costs and other costs, would be $134.9 million. The cost estimates also include $2,800 per student for furniture, equipment and technology, with half that amount for technology, Dunlap said. A big savings — $11.9 million — would be cut by staggering the construction and using the old part of Hosmer Elemntary School as swing space during construction at Lowell and Cunniff elementary schools. This would shorten the construction schedule and would mean other schools would not need to put up modular classrooms.

This part of the savings became a topic of discussion among School Building Committee members.

Real Estate

Million Dollar Victorian is One of Dozens of Watertown Open Houses

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Check out all the open houses around town this weekend. 

$439,900 – 120 Edenfield Ave., 7 room, 3 bed, 1 bath bungalow, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-2

$559,000 – 5 Circuit Lane Unit 5, 6 room, 2 bed, 1.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$579,000 – 29 Union St. Unit 29, 6 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 11-12:30 Sunday 11-12:30

$599,999 – 70 Chapman St., 6 room, 3 bed, 2 bath bungalow, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 2-3:30

$889,000 – 129-131 Nichols Ave., 2 unit, 15 total room, 7 total bedroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 2-4

$1,195,000 – 35 Otis St., 8 room, 4 bed, 2 bath victorian, Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3 Sunday 1:30-3

$595,000 – 25 Bancroft St., 6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 1-2:30 Sunday 1-2:30

$799,900 – 71 Bradford Road Unit 71, 8 room, 4 bed, 3 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 2-4 Sunday 2-4

$829,900 – 69 Bradford Road Unit 69, 9 room, 4 bed, 3 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 2-4 Sunday 2-4

$779,000 – 48 Bacon St. Unit 48, 7 room, 3 bed, 2 full 2 half bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 2-3:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$599,000 – 18 Capitol St. Unit 18, 6 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 2-3:30

$649,000 – 1000 Belmont St., 6 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath cape, Open Houses: Saturday 1:15-2:45 Sunday 1:15-2:45

Sponsored by:

$585,000 – 282 Mount Auburn St. Unit 282, 7 room, 2 bed, 2 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1:30 Sunday 11:30-1:30

$689,000 – 92 Brookline St., 10 room, 4 bed, 2 bath ranch, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 1-2:30

$579,900 – 34 Edward Road, 7 room, 3 bed, 2 bath cape, Open Houses: Saturday 2-3:30 Sunday 2-3:30

$849,000 – 61-63 Channing Road, 2 unit, 13 total room, 4 total bedrooms, Open House: Saturday 1-3

$885,000 – 44 Upland Road, 7 room, 4 bed, 2 bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$629,900 – 17-19 Avon Road Unit 1, 8 room, 3 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 1:30-3:30

$649,900 – 17-19 Avon Road Unit 2, 9 room, 4 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 1:30-3:30

$1,249,900 – 17-19 Avon Road, 2 unit, 17 total room, 7 total bedroom 2 family, Open House: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 1:30-3:30

$689,000 – 85 Lexington St., 5 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath colonial, Open House: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$999,000 – 13 Oliver St., 13 room, 6 bed, 2.5 bath victorian, Open House: Saturday 12-1:30

$699,000 – 41 Quincy St., 8 room, 3 bed, 1 full 2 half bath colonial, Open House: Saturday 1-2:30

$765,000 – 125 Coolidge Ave.

Police/Fire

Two Men Indicted for Shooting in Watertown by Middlesex Grand Jury

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A grand jury indicted two men for shooting a third man in an Arsenal Street home in February. Also, a man was indicted on drug trafficking charges in an unrelated incident. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office announced the grand jury indictments on Thursday. Carlos Castillo and Randell Glenn were arrested for the shooting that allegedly occurred when they tried to take marijuana and money from a drug dealer, who fought back. Castillo, 19, of Boston, was charged with armed assault in a dwelling, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery by discharging a firearm, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm without a license, and possession of a loaded firearm. The Assistant District Attorney is Clarence Brown.

Government

Watertown’s Veterans’ Agent Seeks to Create Memorial to Town’s Vietnam Veterans

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The Town of Watertown has memorials to veterans of several wars, including World War I, World War II and Korea, but not for Vietnam. Watertown Veterans’ Agent Mark Comeiro wants to change that. 

Watertown has around 600 Vietnam veterans, Comeiro said, but nothing to honor them. “The Vietnam Memorial would be for all Vietnam veterans of Watertown — killed in action, combat, Vietnam era,” Comeiro said. “It wouldn’t have names on it. It would be stone representing our Vietnam veterans of Watertown.

Sports

WHS Sports: Raiders Spring into State Tournament in Multiple Sports

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Watertown High School’s athletic successes continued into the spring season, with four teams earning spots in the state tournament. 

Softball

The Raiders’ softball squad will host a home game in the MIAA Div. 3 North Tournament. Coming in with a record of 12-8, Watertown earned the 12th seed and will host Winthrop at Hosmer Field in a preliminary round game on Friday at 4 p.m.

The team enters the tourney on a hot streak. After tough first half of the year, the Raiders won 9 of their last 11. The winner of Friday’s game will take on No.

Arsenal on the Charles

Athenahealth CEO, Co-Founder Steps Down, Sale of Company May be Near

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Jonathan Bush, CEO, president and co-founder of Athenahealth, has stepped down, and the Watertown-based company may be sold, company officials announced Wednesday. 

Reports surfaced last week of complaints against Bush acting inappropriate with female employees at an industry, and in late May it was reported that he had physically assaulted his now ex-wife more than a decade ago. Bush is a nephew of former President George H.W. Bush. At the same time, the health care technology company has been the target of activist hedge fund Elliot Management Corp., which made an offer to purchase the company for $160 a share. The fund contends that Athena had been mismanaged. On Wednesday, Athenahealth officials released a statement announcing Bush’s departure.

Around Town

Boston University Selects Watertown Native as its Next Head Hockey Coach

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Watertown native Albie O’Connell will take the reigns of the Boston University ice hockey team. 

O’Connell has strong ties with BU, working behind the bench at BU for the past four years, the last three as associate head coach. He also played for the Terriers from 1995-96 to 1998-99, and served as captain during his senior year. “Simply put, this is the opportunity of a lifetime,” O’Connell said in the announcement on GoTerriers.com. “I’d like to thank (BU Athletic Director) Drew Marrochello, President Robert A. Brown and senior vice president Todd Klipp for entrusting me with a program that means the world to me. “BU has given me so much and I want each player that puts on our jersey to feel the same way I do. Returning here four years ago was an amazing feeling, and I look forward to continuing the momentum that this program has enjoyed recently and carrying on the incredible BU hockey legacy.”