Former Watertown Resident to Visit Ground Zero in Memory of His Fiancee, Who Died on 9/11

After losing his fiancée, Amy Toyen, an Avon native, on Sept. 1, 2001, Gonski has done a myriad of creative projects and more are to come.

After Avon, Conn., native Amy Toyen was killed as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Jeff Gonski, her fiancée at the time, often found cutouts of newspaper articles left on his Watertown doorstep. “I never knew who they were from,” Gonski said. He also received cards from people he had not heard from in years. “People wanted to connect,” Gonski said “They were coming out of the woodwork.” He saved the articles and the cards. His email server crashed, losing all of the emails Amy wrote to him, but Gonski held onto cards she made him and letters she wrote to him over the years. "She was an amazing person," Gonski said. "She was an incredibly caring individual. She was a person who cares about …

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Patch Remembers 9/11 in 911 Snapshots

Patch sites nationwide took photos that represent how the nation has changed since 9/11.

The events of Sept. 11 took place in the northeast part of the U.S. But the impact of that day resonates throughout the country. Through 911 photos, Patch remembers Sept. 11, and commemorates how it has left its mark on cities and towns across the nation. Here is our photo gallery.

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The Mommy Express

Take Nothing For Granted

As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, thinking back on that time reminds me not to take anything for granted, and breathe in every moment.

Recently I feel surrounded by the news of too many tragedies, people losing children or spouses unexpectedly to accidents or diseases that came without warning. It may be that these events are always happening, but my awareness is heightened around this time of year, as I am reminded of the enormity of the loss suffered on 9/11. A friend conveyed a story of how she had not checked her Facebook page in a while, and when she did, saw in close proximity two messages from an old friend. One message expounded joy and celebration, and just a few posts down a message explained how tragedy had struck her family. My friend commented on how seeing the two messages so close together reminded her how quickly things can change. Like everyone, I …

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A Watertown-Based Group is Sending a Piece of Home to Troops Serving Overseas

Operation American Soldier started in the basement of a Wendy and John Rocca's Watertown home and now ships hundreds of care packages, boxed up at the Charle Shutt Detachment.

Every couple weeks, the basement of the Marine Corps League’s Charles Shutt Detachment on Mt. Auburn Street fills with people filling cardboard boxes with snacks, books and toiletries to send to the men and women serving their country as members of the U.S. military. Know as Operation American Soldier, the effort, which is the brainchild of Watertown couple John and Wendy Rocca, has provided more than 53,000 lbs. of care packages to the troops. On a recent evening, Watertown’s Ellen Kiley prepared dozens of boxes to be filled, while volunteers scoured the shelves for items they think the soldier, Marine, sailor or airman who gets the box will enjoy. The bounty is topped off by a greeting card, handwritten by the person who filled the box …

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