Defense Rests in Marathon Bombing Case, Closing Statements Coming

Defense attorneys for accused Boston Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev rested their case Tuesday, and now all that remains in closing statements before the jury deliberates. The defense called only four witnesses over two days, according to a report by NBC News. With a guilty verdict almost assured, his attorneys argued that Dzhokhar, 19 at the time of the bombings, was manipulated by his older brother Tamerlan (then 26) to do the bombings and attack police, according to the NBC report. Using this strategy, the defense seeks to avoid the death penalty being brought against their client. Tamerlan was killed during the shootout when he was hit by bullets and run over by an SUV driven by Dzhokhar.

Trouble Reading Regular Print, Find Out How to Use Perkin’s Library

The Perkins Library has a collection for people with difficulty reading regular print and you can find out more at an information session on April 8. The Perkins Library is a free public library and its collection is available to for anyone who has difficulty reading regular print. Kim Charlson, Director and Debby King, Library Outreach Coordinator, will provide an overview of all the services available on Wednesday, April 8 at 7 p.m. at The Apartments at Coolidge School, 319 Arlington St., Watertown during a presentation called “Reading Never Sounded So Good.”

Sign Up for Baseball League for Children with Special Needs

{NOTE: This story has been updated, see the change of location.}

An information and sign up session for the the Watertown Challenger Division, a division of Little League baseball especially designed for boys and girls ages 8 -18 with special needs, will be held on April 8. Join us in our third year of providing this wonderful opportunity for everyone to be part of a team and community! The ‘Challenger Division’ program is dedicated to providing children of varying experiences and abilities to have fun learning to play baseball while also providing a chance to be part of a team in their community! Along with their baseball skills, all children will work on social pragmatics, team collaboration and much more! Training and support will be provided to children at their level of need.

Shoplifter Facing Many Other Charges After Spitting on Police

A woman caught shoplifting at Target got herself into more trouble when she would not go quietly with police officers. The suspect, identified as Ryaneesha Rice, 24, of Jamaica Plain, was spotted put an air purifier under her cart and asked to receive credit for it. For that and some other items she received a total of $383.23 on a gift card, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. She was caught and taken to the security office. When police arrived she was not cooperating. Rice began swearing at officers and when they tried to hand cuff her she yelled obscenities at the officers.

Watertown Schools Preparing for Growing Enrollment

Watertown’s schools will grow by more than 180 students over the next 10 years, according to projections by school officials, and the district will have to figure ways to fit these students into the schools. 

First priority is figuring out next year, the 2015-16 school year, when the school are expected to have four fewer students than the enrollment for the 2014-15 school year – 2,579 for PreK-12. The challenge next year will be the larger than normal grades at Cunniff and Hosmer schools, school officials said at Monday’s School Committee Budget and Finance Subcommittee meeting. Cunniff’s two fourth grade classes are projected at 25 and 26 in 2015-16, and Hosmer’s third grade is projected to have three classes of 26 and one of 25. Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald said the district plans to add a teacher to each of the schools, but not to create a new class. “Both principals will use the teachers for smaller instructional groups,” Fitzgerald said.

LETTER: Resident Reminds Dog Owners to Keep Parks Clean

The first day of spring has arrived and the mounds and mounds of winter are finally shrinking. Evidence of grass emerges in spotty areas around the apartments at the Coolidge School. Sullivan Park is still crusted with white but soon the field will be ready to take on the all American game of baseball. Spring training had already begun and opening day is around the corner. Here in Watertown we wait for the season to begin.

LETTER: Heathy Technology Series Educating Parents & Kids

{This is the first in a series of three articles about the Watertown Lecture Series focusing on children and technology.}

In today’s hyperconnected world, the way adolescents “learn, play, and interact has changed more in the past 15 years than in the previous 570 years. In 2010 U.S. adolescents spent an average of 8.5 hours per day interacting with digital devices, up from 6.5 hours in just 2006. Thirty percent of the time they are simultaneously using more than one device, bringing daily total media exposure time to 11.5 hours.”

This past Wednesday, we launched the Healthy Technology Speaker Series thanks to a generous grant from The Watertown Community Foundation. The series is a collaborative effort between local parents, Watertown Public Schools, the Watertown Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC), the Watertown Boys and Girls Club, Wayside Youth and Family Services, the Watertown Youth Coalition, Live Well Watertown, the Watertown Education Foundation and Families for Depression Awareness. The first event featured Laura Indigo, who led us through mindfulness activities for adults and children, and Jon Mattleman, who framed the problem of the hidden and emotional consequences of the internet and digital space. Mindfulness activities help us—whether we are 5 or 95—reconnect to our feelings, thoughts, and bodies.

Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban Ending Soon!

The long winter is almost over for Watertown residents – the Winter Parking ban will be lifted on Wednesday, April 1. Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau announced the enforcement of the ban of on-street parking overnight in town will end. He added, however, that keeping streets clear will help repairs and emergency access even after the ban ends. “The Department of Public Works, Police Department and Fire Department would like to remind motorists that keeping the streets clear allows for road repairs, street cleaning and easy access for public safety vehicles,” Deveau said. “To that end, all departments encourage residents to make full use of off street parking when it is available.”