Police/Fire

Watertown Man Faces Federal Charges of Making False Statements to Gain Citizenship

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The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston sent out the following statement:
A former owner of restaurants in Boston and Chelsea was charged yesterday in federal court in Boston with committing fraud to obtain U.S. citizenship. 
Burhan Ud Din, 49, of Watertown, was charged in a superseding indictment with one count of conspiracy, six counts of willful failure to collect and pay over tax, one count of making false statements under oath in a naturalization matter, and one count of procurement of naturalization contrary to law. Din was initially indicted for tax fraud in August 2017; the superseding indictment adds the naturalization allegations to the charges against him. Din’s co-conspirators, Hazrat Khan, 58, of Middletown, NY, and Khurshed Iqbal, 58, both Pakistani nationals, were separately charged in an April 2017 18-count superseding indictment with conspiracy and willful failure to pay over taxes. In November 2017, Khan pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Iqbal’s whereabouts are unknown.

Around Town

Watertown Group, Islamic Society of Boston Hosting Forum on Myths, Realities of Islam

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{The following information was provided by the World in Watertown}

World in Watertown, a local community organization, is partnering with the Islamic Society of Boston’s Cambridge mosque to host a forum on “Myths and Realities of Islam: Learning and Sharing.” The forum will include learning about Islamic practices from Imam Ismail Fenni, of the Cambridge mosque, as well as sharing and dialogue in small groups with both Muslim and non-Muslim participants. The forum will be held on Thursday, May 10 at the Watertown Public Library, 123 Main Street, Watertown from 6:30 – 8:45 pm in the Watertown Savings Bank Room. The forum will introduce non-Muslim participants to the “Five Pillars of Islam” (faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage), and will feature paintings by local Watertown artist Sheri Kennedy interpreting the Five Pillars from her Peace Corps experience in Niger. The forum will highlight the similarities and differences of Islamic practices in different societies, and will encourage non-Muslim participants to reflect on their own religious and spiritual practices.

Around Town

Tour of Chemical-Free Gardens in Watertown Planned for Early May

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The organizers of a tour of gardens which do not use chemicals will be held on May 6, 2018 , from 1 to 5 p.m., at homes around Watertown. Organizers provided the following information:
We look forward to Watertown’s 20th Life-Friendly Garden Tour! Imagine a Sunday afternoon in May, redbud and dogwood in blossom, tulips and late narcissus in bloom, where bees are buzzing, robins are singing, and you are viewing flourishing plantings and learning from your host or hostess about healthy, earth-friendly gardens. On Sunday May 6 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., a chemical-free, admission-free garden tour will be sponsored by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the Environment. This will be the 20th Life-Friendly Garden Tour since the first one in 2007!

Around Town

Former Combatants Will Discuss Efforts to Bring Peace to Israel, Palestine

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Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment will host an event called Combatants for Peace on Saturday, April 28, 2018, 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Belmont/Watertown United Methodist Church, 421 Common Street, Belmont. The group sent out the following information:
In 2006, Israeli and Palestinian former combatants laid down their weapons and established Combatants for Peace. They forswear violence and advocate together for an end to the Occupation. The egalitarian, bi-national movement was founded on the belief that the cycle of violence can only be broken when Israelis and Palestinians join forces. Combatants for Peace were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, 2017.

Around Town

Charles River Watershed Association Hosting Cleanup, Canoe & Kayak Race

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This weekend will be a big one along the Charles River as advocates for the waterway will host a cleanup Saturday and on Sunday will hold a canoe and kayak race. The Charles River Watershed Association provided the following information:
River Cleanup
On Saturday, April 28 at 9 a.m., Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) will sponsor the Earth Day Charles River Cleanup. Volunteers from over 35 Massachusetts towns will work together at 104 sites along the Charles River to remove litter and beautify the river and its surrounding parklands. The largest one-day river cleanup in the country, this annual event brings together people from corporate, community and youth groups to protect the Charles River, an important natural resource for our whole community. After the Cleanup, volunteers will relax at one of three picnics, including a celebration at DCR’s Fiedler Field on the Esplanade.

Entertainment

Watertown Children’s Theatre’s Latest Show, Assassins, Starts in May

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Watertown Children’s Theatre presents Assassins in the Black Box Theater at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, Watertown, MA. Assassins, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman.  ASSASSINS is based on an idea by Charles Gilbert Jr., Playwrights Horizons, Inc. – New York City produced ASSASSINS Off-Broadway in 1990. Orchestrations by Michael Starobin. A cast of ninth-12th graders including Watertown’s own Daniel Abadjiev, Amelia Allison, Rita Hackett and Julian Schepis explores the lives of the presidential assassins in this one act musical on May 4 at 7 p.m., May 5 at 7 p.m., May 6 at 1 p.m., May 10 at 7 p.m., May 11 at 7 p.m., May 12 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and May 13 at 1 p.m. in the Black Box Theater, Dorothy and Charles Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St, Watertown. For more information, visit WCT’s website at  www.watertownchildrenstheatre.org or call 617-926-ARTS.Tickets are $15 each (plus fees), and are available through the link on our website at www.watertownchildrenstheatre.org or www.mosesianarts.org.

Around Town

Youth Coalition Discusses Study of Alcohol, Drug Use by Young People in Watertown

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On Wednesday evening, April 11, 2018, members of the Watertown Health Department, Town Council, School Committee, Police, and Recreation Departments, Wayside Multi­Service Center staff, Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leaders, local clergy, youth, parents, and other interested community members joined together to hear a presentation and to discuss data from the most
recent Watertown Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). This survey was administered in the Spring of 2017. The YRBS is a health behavior survey usually given every other year to students in grades 7 through 12. The survey seeks to understand not only what risky behaviors the youth may be engaging in (use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, non­-medical use of prescription drugs, etc.), but also to better understand the perception of harm related to these activities. The survey also asks questions concerning stress levels, mental health (including thoughts of suicide), bullying, sexual activity, nutrition, and exercise.

Around Town

Still Time to Register for the Watertown Police Finish Strong 5K Run/Walk

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There’s still time to sign up for the the Watertown Police will host a 5k run and walk happening this weekend. 

Click here to register online. Organizers sent out the following information:

The Watertown Police Finish Strong 5k Run/Walk begins at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 29, 2018 starting and finishing at Tufts Health Plan 705 Mount Auburn Street in Watertown. Mission: The Watertown Police Relief Association, Watertown Supervisors Association and Watertown Patrol officers Association will commemorate the 5th anniversary of the events that led to the capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects by inviting the community to fill the streets of Watertown in a 5K celebratory road race and walk.Proceeds to benefit the WPRA, WPSA and the WPA. Proceeds from this event will benefit the WPSA, local charity & victim funds, One Fund, Watertown Police Foundation and the new foundation to support youth community programming and school safety initiatives

Course: The course is fast and fairly flat 3.1 miles (5k). Prizes to top male/female finishers plus various age categories.