Around Town

Former Resident Paints Picture to Honor Those Who Stopped the Marathon Bombers

By |

The actions of Watertown’s first responders when they stopped the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects moved a former Watertown resident so much she had to capture it in art. During the Tuesday, June 24 Town Council meeting, Hillary Temple and her mother Dorothy Noke, 85, presented the council and Police Chief Edward Deveau with a brass plaque and painting done by Noke to be given to the Town of Watertown. Noke grew up on Walnut Street with her sister, and decided to make the painting after the tragic events that led to the capture of alleged Boston Marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. “I was born and raised in Watertown and right near where the incident happened was Underwoods and we used to slide down the hill during the winter into Underwoods parking lot and I didn’t realize how much that whole thing affected me,” said Noke. “It brought back memories of my old childhood which was really nice, but anyways, so I have this piece of art and I’d like to leave it here in Watertown to say thank you for everything, that the police and the firemen and the people and everything affected me and how much I appreciate what was done.”

Her oil painting “Boston Strong” has a plaque on it that reads, “Boston Strong in honor of those who were affected and those who protected (thank you very much) God Bless April 15, 2013.”

However, it also came with a brass plaque that reads: “For the Watertown heroes in memory of my husband Theodore Noke and sister Barbara Nelson who lived and worked in Watertown most of their lives from Dorothy Noke, artist, and the Temple and Noke family.”

According to Noke’s daughter, Hillary Temple, the donation meant a lot to her mother, who now lives in Framingham, because her husband owned Mt.

Around Town

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

By |

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.

Government

Public Works Wins Award for Work When Bombing Suspects Came to Town

By |

Watertown’s Public Works Department may not get the same heralding as the Police and Fire departments for the work during the search for the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, but the workers will get a big accolade this summer. The American Public Works Association announced it will present Watertown with the Exceptional Performance Award in Adversity at the annual conference in Toronto this August. On April 19, 2013, after Watertown Police faced off with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects the Public Works Department closed off many streets in town and provided lights, among other things, to help law enforcement and the search for the second suspect.  

Public Works Director Gerald Mee received the announcement earlier this month, and Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced it at Tuesday’s Town Council Meeting. “I appreciate their efforts and it is well deserved,” Town Council President Mark Sideris said at the meeting.