Newton Residents 'Relieved' Following Bombing Suspect Capture

Residents in the suburbs just west of Boston likely breathed a collective sigh of relief last night when the news of the second Boston Marathon bombing suspect's capture was confirmed. 

Suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was discovered hiding in a boat in the backyard of a Watertown resident's home, and was apprehended by police following a nearly 24-hour manhunt, peppered by gunshots and SWAT teams swarming the suburban town.

"A lot of people just seem relieved," said Newton Ward 1 Alderman at Large Allan (Jay) Ciccone, Jr. "When the ban was lifted, I went out and there was a sense of pride."

Ciccone, who lives off Watertown Street, said he saw police cars heading toward Watertown all day Friday. The police presence and coordination by so many law enforcement officials was good to see, he said.

"The manpower was incredible — communication was a big factor," Ciccone said. "I talked to a couple of friends after, and they said how very proud they were to see how the law enforcement agencies worked together. That was key to this."

While the action was largely happening in Watertown Friday, neighboring Newton residents were also on alert, and advised to stay at home while police searched for Tsarnaev. Businesses in Newton were also closed on Friday.

"I literally cannot believe how the whole thing went down," said Newton native Amanda King, who now lives in Somerville. "To have it play out in Watertown..."

King's parents live in Newtonville, about a mile from Watertown Center. King said her parents were "cautious, but not being overly scared." 

"It's interesting they found him (Tsarnaev) in a boat in a backyard," King said. "My dad kept eyeing the shed in our backyard to make sure nobody went in to hide." 

Strangely, King says the tragedy may have woven members of local cities and towns toegher.

"In a weird way, because it happened in a residential community, and we were all forced to be home wathcing it on TV together, I think that brought the whole community together," she said. 

Today, life returns to as normal as it can be in Newton, albeit with a few postponements. The Russian Festival has been postponed to next weekend, while a Hemlock Gorge spring cleanup event has also been postponed.

Do you know of other cancellations or postponements? Let us know in the comments.