Around Town

Share Your Memories of the Shootout & Capture of the Boston Marathon Bombers

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The aftermath at Laurel Street at Dexter Avenue after the Watertown Police faced the Boston Marathon Bombers. It’s hard to believe that in April it will be an entire decade since the day the Watertown Police faced the Boston Marathon Bombers in the East End, the shelter-in-place during the hunt for the remaining suspect, and the ultimate capture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in a boat in the yard of a house on Franklin Street. Watertown News is collecting the stories and photos of people who saw it firsthand, those who lived in town at the time, and even people who didn’t reside here, but remember that day. My Memories

In 2013, I was working for the Patch, and remember awakening not to the sound of gunshots, but to the dings of my cellphones as reporters and editors shot texts back and forth. Imagine my surprise when I realized the Bombers had been tracked down to my town!

Sports

State Tourney: Watertown Boys Hockey Highly Seeded; Girls & Boys Hoops Get Home Games

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Charlie BreitroseThe Raiders had strong support from its fans at the TD Garden in the 2022 State Final. This year the Raiders are the fifth seed. Watertown High School’s boys hockey team will seek a second straight trip to the Garden as the fifth seed in the MIAA Div. 3 State Tournament. The girls and boys basketball teams will host a home game in the State Tourney.

Around Town

Group Seeks to Create Cultural District in Town, Likely in Watertown Square

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Watertown Square could become part of the City’s proposed cultural district. The center of Watertown may become a cultural district, which would allow the area’s arts and culture groups, restaurants and businesses to be promoted as a destination for people in and around the city, and even for tourists. Receiving approval to be a cultural district is a multi-step application process, concluding with approval by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, said Liz Helfer, the City’s Public Arts & Culture Planner. The application must include a partnership of representatives from arts and culture institutions, artists, and someone from the City. Helfer is part of the group putting together the proposal for the Cultural District.

Police/Fire

Man Faces Charges After Stabbing Dog That Attacked His Dog

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A Watertown man faces criminal charges after he allegedly stabbed a dog that was attacking his dog and would not release it. On Feb. 13, just before 6:30 p.m., police received a report of a fight between two dogs at Filippello Park. When they arrived the two owners, one who had a dog about 20-25 pounds in size, and the other had two dogs that were 40-50 pounds each. The men had been walking along a path in the park when the altercation happened, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor.

Around Town

Watertown Resident Running First Marathon for Boston Children’s Hospital

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Watertown’s Stephanie Barker will be running her first Boston Marathon in 2023, and is raising money for Boston Children’s Hospital. Watertown’s Stephanie Barker will be running her first Boston Marathon in 2023, and will be raising money for a cause that helped her when she was young. Barker Raised more than $10,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital. If not for their services, she may not be running the marathon, at all. “I was born with hip displacement — they weren’t in the sockets when I was born,” Barker said.

Around Town

Former Town Manager Michael Driscoll Remembered for His Love of His Family, and His Community

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Charlie BreitroseThe program from the Memorial Mass for former Town Manager Michael Driscoll. Make your way around Watertown and it will be difficult not to go past something that former Town Manager Michael Driscoll had a hand in building or creating. In his 29 years at the helm of the municipal government, he played a part in the construction of net zero schools, building police and fire stations, expanding the library, and creating new parks. Judging from the people who knew him best, however, the things that he treasured most were the friendships and relationships he built during that time. On Friday, family, friends, colleagues, and many Watertown residents gathered at St.

Around Town

City Wants Input on Draft Comprehensive, Open Space & Recreation Plans

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The draft of Watertown’s most important planning document has been released, and City officials want input from the public about what’s included in the plan that will help shape Watertown’s future for years. The Comprehensive Plan was first approved in 2015, and has led to much of the recent development around town. Over 75 percent of the goals of the first masterplan have been met, and the City Council asked for it toe be updated. Topics covered in the Comprehensive Plan update include land use; economic development; transportation, circulation, and parking; and open space and recreation. A particular focus will be Watertown Square, and other commercial districts in the City. People can view the draft of the Comprehensive Plan, as well as the draft of the Open Space and Recreation Plan online (see links below).