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CBS Seeks to Shoot Marathon Bombing Film at Scene of Watertown Shootout

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A film production company wants to come to Watertown to recreate the Watertown Shootout when police encountered the Boston Marathon Bombers at the intersection of Dexter Avenue and Laurel Street. 

In early, February, CBS Films contacted some residents in the area of the Watertown Shootout to discuss the production of the film, named “Patriots Day.” The movie will star Boston-native Mark Wahlberg and will be directed by Peter Berg, who also directed “Lone Survivor.” According to the flyer sent to residents on Laurel Street, the movie “tells the story of the days following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and the extraordinary men and women involved in bringing the perpetrators to justice.” On Feb. 12, representatives from CBS met with immediate neighbors to the area of the shootout, and the area where they seek to film.

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Watertown Police: Part of Main Street Will be Closed Thursday Evening

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The Watertown Police Department sent out an advisory that a portion of Main Street will be closed Thursday Evening. On Thursday, Feb. 18, from 7-11 p.m., Main Street will be closed at Waverley Avenue due to construction, Watertown Police announced. During the closure, westbound traffic will be detoured up Waverley Avenue to Bemis Street. Eastbound traffic will be detoured down Howard Street to Pleasant Street.

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Children at Watertown Boys & Girls Club Get a Lesson in Drumming

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Children grabbed drums of all sizes, bells and other rhythmic noise makers and on command began making a wonderful racket ringing through the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. 

The World Drumming Music Circle was presented by Pavoh Inc., a local organization that brings music to young people. It was provided free to the members of the WBGC. The session was lead by Jeremy Cohen, who along with working with Pavoh runs This World Music. “We have a few different types of drums, and most are from a country called Ghana, in Africa,” Cohen said. After demonstrating the drums, the bells and noise makers made from gourds, Cohen let the 30+ students choose their instrument.

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Project Literacy Seeks Volunteers to Help People Learn English

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Project Literacy at the Watertown Free Public Library is seeking volunteers for its well-established (30 + years) and successful one-on-one learner-tutor match program.  The only requirements to volunteer are:

A desire to help welcome and integrate English language learners and to assist with their English skills, attend the training sessions, and complete a Volunteer Application (available online at the Watertown Library site under Project Literacy or we will send one). No experience in teaching or tutoring is needed to work with our learners. We provide tutors with training over the course of 5 evening sessions. The next training series will begin on Wednesday, March 2 from 6-9 p.m. at the Watertown Library.

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Free Healthy Eating Workshops Offered by Mount Auburn Hospital

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Mount Auburn Hospital will offer a free, six-week workshop focused on how older residents can live better by healthy eating beginning later this month. As people age and their bodies change, it can sometimes become more difficult to do the things that you want to do each day. Mount Auburn Hospital recognizes these difficulties and has developed its Healthy Eating for Successful Living class to help elderly patients learn more about how nutrition and lifestyle changes can promote better health. This winter, the hospital is pleased to present a six-week workshop focused on improving health through food. The workshops will be every Wednesday for 6 weeks from 9-11:30 a.m. starting on February 24, 2016 at Mount Auburn Hospital, 330 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge.

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Watertown Man Claims Pokemon City Championship, Seeks Bid to Nationals

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After a full day of head-to-head Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) battles, Azul Garcia-Griego, 21, of Watertown took first place in the Masters Division at the 2015/2016 Pokémon City Championships in West Bridgewater. Along with the coveted title and City Championship trophy, Azul earned valuable Championship Points that count toward a potential invitation to compete at the 2016 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco next summer. In addition, players that achieve a top Championship Points ranking after the 2016 Spring Regional Championships in May will earn Travel Awards to compete at the 2016 Pokémon U.S. National Championships. “The Pokémon City Championships are some of the most unique and inspiring set of tournaments that take place each year. Bringing together both new and more experienced players over a game they enjoy, the City Championships provide a stage for Pokémon players of all ages and skill levels to participate in premier events and hone their skills,” said J.C. Smith, senior director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International.

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World Marathon Challenge Winner Becca Pizzi Coming to Race at Donohue’s

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The woman who recently ran seven marathons on seven continents in seven days will be in Watertown for a 5K race this weekend. Donohue’s sent out the following announcement:

We are honored to welcome the first american woman’s World Marathon Challenge winner Becca Pizzi to our “Run Your Heart Out” 5K. She is joining us for a meet and greet and will autograph your race bib. She will be showing off her bling and her wonderful spirit. Please join us for the 5K after party at Donohue’s Bar and Grill.

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Wayside Center Providing Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

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Find out how to tell the difference between normal teen problems and something that could turn into a serious mental health problem through the Youth Mental First Aid training provided by the Wayside Multi-Service Center in Watertown. Wayside, a program of the Wayside Youth and Family Support Network, will provide training to parents, relatives, teachers, and others who work or spend time with teens. The funding for the trainings comes from SAMHSA (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The training lasts eight hours, during which participants will learn the risk factors and symptoms of mental health problems in adolescents and teens, said Stephanie Sunderland-Ramsey, Prevention Program coordinator for the Wayside Multi-Service Center who leads some of the trainings. Some mental health challenges which adolescents commonly face include anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, AD/HD, disruptive behavior disorders and substance use disorder.