Watertown Police Arrest 16-Year Old for School Threat Made on Social Media

Watertown Police arrested a 16-year-old Watertown boy for allegedly making threats toward a school on Friday, May 31 after the teen sent a Snapchat message that was received by students at Watertown High School and Watertown Middle School. Watertown Police received word of the threat from Watertown Public School officials Friday morning, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. The message was sent via the Snapchat social media app, and contained a list of emojis, O’Connor said. “From what police could tell, the Snapchat message went to over 100 students at Watertown Middle School and Watertown High School,” O’Connor said. “It contained emojis of a picture of a school, a bomb, an explosion, a gun and an emoji of someone running.”

Watertown Resident will be Honored by Carroll Center for the Blind

Waterown’s Kate Katulak, who works at Perkins School for the Blind, will be honored by The Carroll Center for the Blind. The following information was provided by Carroll Center for the Blind:

The Carroll Center for the Blind, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, will honor four outstanding individuals who are blind or visually impaired during the 35th annual Carroll Society Awards on June 6, 2019. The Carroll Society Awards recognize blind and visually impaired employees who have made significant contributions to their companies or nonprofit organizations by their outstanding ability and job performance.  Individuals are chosen because, despite vision loss, they are exemplary employees and contribute to the overall culture of both their business and community. The following individuals will be inducted into the Carroll Society:

Daniela Depina, of Boston, Independent Living Advocate, Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL);Kate Katulak, of Watertown, Assistant Director of College Success, Perkins School for the Blind; andPauline Dowell, of Charlestown, Administrative Assistant, Human Resources, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Carroll Center will also recognize Carla Burke of Harwich Port as the “Blind Employee of the Year” for her work as an assistive technology coordinator at the Brooks Free Library in Harwich. “These individuals have made an immense impact on their organizations, despite vision loss, and we are proud to recognize their achievements,” said Gregory J. Donnelly, president and CEO of the Carroll Center for the Blind.

14th Annual Perkins Gala Raises More than $1 Million

The Perkins Chorus joined Grammy award-winning group, the Blind Boys of Alabama, for a few songs. The 14th annual Perkins Possibilities Gala was held earlier this month, and raised more than $1 million for the Watertown-based school for the blind. Perkins serves not just the blind and visually impaired in the Boston area, but worldwide, said Perkins President and CEO Dave Power. “I’m always moved by the outpouring of support our friends and partners show to Perkins on this particular night. Simply put, we would not be able to positively impact so many children and young adults who are blind without it,” Power said.