Boston Marathon Bombing

With Marthon Bombing Trial Over, Police Can Talk About Shootout

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Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau said he can finally talk publicly about the shootout with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects, and he gave the Town Council some details. 

Monday night, Deveau talked about the shootout during the Police Department’s budget hearing in front of the Council. When asked by Councilor Aaron Dushku about the lessons learned from the incident in April 2013, Deveau said his officers have changed some of their training in reaction to the incident. As an example, the Watertown Police officers now train more with the rifles in their patrol cruisers. “One example, one of the things – I’d say this was was my responsibility, it was  my fault – we have patrol rifles in vehicle. When we got those I told the officers, ‘we’re putting them in but don’t touch them unless you need them.

Environment

Residents, Town Officials Outraged by Hacking of Trees in Watertown

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Trees along Greenough Boulevard in Watertown got a severe pruning or in some cases were cut down completely, a move that has upset residents and town officials alike. 

Last week, residents noticed that the trees on the street that runs along the Charles River had been cut by crews. The trees stand on land owned by the state and overseen by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Residents began contacting DCR officials, state representatives and Town Councilors to ask for the tree trimming to be halted. While they are state owned, the DCR was supposed to alert the Watertown Conservation Commission and the town Tree Warden, Chris Hayward, to let them know about the plan, said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. “They are supposed to do that.

Development

LETTER: Developer Makes Case for a Hotel on Elm Street in Watertown

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There will be a Special Meeting of the Watertown Planning Board on Thursday, May 21, 2015, in the Town Council Chamber of Town Hall, 149 Main Street, Watertown, to hear a proposal to build a new business class five story hotel on the site formerly occupied by Atlantic Battery. The developer, Cherag Patel, from the Chicago area has owned and developed hotels for the past sixteen years. Mr. Patel said “We are excited about the opportunity to bring another marquis hotel to Watertown. We feel that Watertown’s location is superior to Cambridge and Waltham because Watertown has the unique ability to offer guests both an urban experience like Cambridge, and a suburban experience, like Waltham. Our market research firmly establishes that there is so much demand for hotel rooms from Watertown businesses such as Athena Health, Tufts Health, the Perkins School for the Blind, and the many other thriving businesses in Watertown, that a second hotel in Watertown will flourish.

Obituaries

OBIT: Gerardo Magnarelli, 89, Immigrated from Italy, Worked as Bricklayer

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A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in the Church of Saint Patrick, Watertown on Friday May 22, 2015 at 9 a.m. for Gerardo Magnarelli. Mr. Magnarelli passed away in his home surrounded by family on Sunday afternoon, May 17, 2015 after a period of declining health, he was 89. A son of the late Dominco and Donata (Quintiliani) Magnarelli, born in San Donato, ValC, Italy. He came into a world that had just ended the First World War. He became a man with scruples and morals even with the absence of a guiding father and a loving mother.

Obituaries

OBIT: Ana Fernandes, 89, Attended St. Patrick’s Church in Watertown

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Ana (Soares) Fernandes of Watertown May 16, 2015, age 89, passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family at Marist Hill Nursing Home of Waltham. Daughter of Isidoro & Ana Soares both of Portugal. Beloved wife of the Jorge Fernandes. Dear sister of the Manuel Soares and the late Antonio, Lourceno, Isidoro, Joao, & Maria Soares. Loving Aunt to many nephews, nieces, grand nephews and grand nieces.

Obituaries

OBIT: Phyllis Massa, 94, of Watertown, Co-Owned Massa Boutique

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A Funeral Mass for Phyllis L. Massa will be celebrated in the Church of St. Patrick, Watertown on Thursday may 21, 2015 at 11 a.m.

Miss Massa died in the Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge Sunday evening after a period of declining health. She was 94 years of age. A lifelong resident of Watertown, Phyllis worked for as a manager at Goodall Rubber and co-owed the Massa Boutique in Watertown Square. A member of the St.

Around Town

Watertown’s Memorial Day Observances: the Parade and More!

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Watertown’s veterans groups will hold a variety of events to honor the town’s deceased servicemen and women with events around town this Memorial Day week. Placing of Flags
Wedensday, May 20 at 5 p.m.: Meet at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery
(Rain Date Thursday, May 21)

Flags will be placed at veterans’ graves at all Watertown cemeteries by
Veteran organizations and Volunteers
Veterans School Visitation
Thursday, May 21:

9:30 a.m. – Cunniff School

Friday May 22:

9 a.m. – Watertown High School
9 a.m. – Lowell School
10 a.m. – Middle School
11 a.m. – Hosmer School

Morning Services and Dedications
Sunday, May 24

Veterans Organizations visit these locations and place wreaths, do a reading, play Taps, fire weapons:

8:30 a.m. – Coolidge Square POW/MIA Monument
8:45 a.m. – WWI Memorial Stone – (front of Shutt Detachment)
9:00 a.m. – Charles River Float
9:15 a.m. – World War II Memorial Stone (front of Town Hall)
9:30 a.m. – Saltonstall Park
10:00a.m. – Memorial Service at Saint Patrick’s Church

Memorial Day Week Activities
Monday, May 25

Morning Dedications and Parade:

8:30 a.m. – Cottage Street Cemetery
8:55 a.m. – Common Street Cemetery
9:10 a.m. – Ridgelawn Cemetery
9:30 a.m. – St. Patrick’s Cemetery
10:30a.m – 11:30a.m. – Parade Check-in at TUFTS Parking lot
12:00p.m. – Parade Begins (All Times Are Approximate)

All veteran organizations and parade participants should report to Mark Comeiro, Watertown Veterans Services Officer, between 10:30-11 a.m. at the Tufts Health Care parking lot on Arlington & Grove Streets to form for the parade. The parade will start promptly at noon and proceed down Mt. Auburn Street to Main Street ending at Saltonstall Park with a brief service.