Around Town

Public Radio Talks to Watertown Residents about Events of April 19, 2013

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Watertown Residents shared their experiences during the lockdown and manhunt for the second Boston Marathon Bombing suspect on the Public Radio International program “The Takeaway.” The program sat down with Watertown residents Jeffrey Ryan and Jillian Levine and Somerville’s Heidi Tworek. They talked about there memories of the events of April 19, 2013, and the importance of getting to know your neighbors that has emerged in the year since the Marathon Bombing and the lockdown. You can hear The Takeaway’s piece by clicking here.

Around Town

Franklin St. Residents Reflect on the Capture of the Bombing Suspect

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A year ago, it seemed like every law enforcement officer was focused on Franklin Street with the second Boston Marathon Bombing suspect cornered in the now infamous boat. A year later, residents reflected on that evening. NBC News interviewed a couple from Watertown who had recently moved to Franklin Street and suddenly found themselves huddled in a neighbors house after police evacuated them. Lori and Brendon Toye’s fence still has 21 bullet holes in it, and Lori said the sound of helicopters still rattles her. Read the entire NBC News story by clicking here.

Around Town

Arabic Classes in Watertown Schools Returning for a Second Year

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Watertown middle and high school students have a rare opportunity to learn the Arabic language, and they will be able to for at least another year. The grant that brought a teacher from Egypt to Watertown has been renewed for a second year, said Watertown Middle School Principal Kimo Carter. The grant program is sponsored by the U.S. State Department and targets languages believed to be important for the future, including Arabic and Mandarin Chinese. “We got another grant from the Teachers of Critical Language Program,” Carter said. “Another teacher from Egypt will teach Arabic at the middle school and high school next year. The reason why we got it is because of the success of the program.”

Around Town

Man Growing Beard to Raise Money for Martin Richard Foundation

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Joshua Vernon is growing a beard to be Watertown Strong and to raise money for a charity created in memory of one of the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing. For the second year, Vernon will grow out his facial hair for the Boston Bruin’s Beard-A-Thon. This year, all the proceeds benefit the Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation an the Boston Bruins Foundation. Last year, Vernon raised $4,000 during the Beard-A-Thon and he has set a goal of $2,000 this year. You can see Vernon’s profile and pledge by going here: https://www.beardathon.com/bruins/WatertownStrong/profile.aspx

Around Town

Watertown Baseball Team Dedicating Season to Fallen Firefighter

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Players of the Watertown High School baseball team wear special hats this season with the words “LT ED WALSH BFD” embroidered on them to honor a former Raider player. Lt. Edward Walsh, the Boston firefighter killed fighting a blaze in the Back Bay graduated from Watertown High School and he played for the Raiders on the baseball diamond. Watertown baseball Coach Aram Manoukian is good friends with Ed’s younger brother Mike. After Walsh’s death, the team wanted to do something to honor him. “The players decided pretty much immediately that they wanted to dedicate the season to him, for being the hero that he clearly was,” Manoukian said.

Around Town

Councilors Talk About Lowering Capital Budget to Help Fund Schools

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With a large budget request by the Watertown Public Schools, some Town Councilors asked if some of the increase for the schools could be found by cutting capital spending. Councilor Tony Palomba brought up the subject during Tuesday’s Council meeting when the Fiscal 2015 capital budget came up. He suggested cutting down the amount of money borrowed by the town for building projects and capital purchases – such as vehicles. “I have been told there is no relationship between the operational and capital budgets. That may be true, but I know when I borrow money I have to pay it back to the bank, and with interest,” Palomba said.

Around Town

Perkins School Appoints New President

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Perkins School for the Blind has a new president and chief executive officer. The school’s Board of Trustees chose Dave Power of Newton to be the school’s new leader. He comes to the school from Power Strategy Inc., a company he founded and where he served as president, according to the announcement from Frederic M. Clifford, chairman of the Board of Trustees. “This is a period of growth for Perkins, and Dave’s business acumen, strategic leadership abilities, and experience with the blindness community are precisely what the organization needs as we continue to diversify and extend our reach here and around the globe,” Clifford wrote in the letter announcing Power’s appointment. Power’s experience in the world of technology will help Perkins.

Around Town

Watertown Youth Leaders Head to State House to ‘Kick’ Teen Smoking

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Members of the Watertown Youth Coalition visited the Massachusetts State House recently in an effort to stop teen smoking. The peer leaders joined more than 250 other young adults from across the commonwealth for national Kick Butts Day. During the event the peer leaders learned about new challenges in curbing smoking from Department of Public Health Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett. “Tobacco companies have been using cheap prices, glitzy packaging, and widespread availability to market their new, flavored products to young people,” Bartlett said. “Now they’re using those same strategies to market e-hookahs and other types of flavored e-cigarettes at young people.