Charlestown Patriot
Transcription
Charlestown Patriot
1 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016 FREE charlestown PAT R I O T- B R I D G E LITTLE LEAGUE MVPs Resident advocacy results in reversal of ‘highway up the hill’ on Allston Street By Seth Daniel Photo by Marianne Salza Co-MVP Award recipients, Noel Gallagher and Hayden Groh, showing off the hardware during the Charlestown Little League Banquet on Monday, Oct. 24, at the Knights of Columbus Hall. The League honored several young people and teams from last summer’s season. See more photos on pages 6 and 7. Sullivan Sq. underpass closed this weekend The Boston Public Works Department announced today that the Sullivan Square Underpass will be closed for routine maintenance this weekend. No traffic will be allowed to use the underpass from 9 PM on Friday, October 28, through 6 PM on Sunday, October 30. The maintenance to be performed is in preparation for the upcoming winter and is intended to improve safety and minimize the incidence of unscheduled traf- fic interruptions. The work to take place includes the replacement of guard rails, the repair of concrete and street lights, and the cleaning of drainage structures that will help to prevent flooding. The Sullivan Square Underpass connects Rutherford Avenue with Alford Street and directly effects traffic in both Charlestown and Everett. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes away from this area as traffic congestion is expected in the general vicinity. CNC COMMUNITY CORNER Candidates sought for seats on CNC The Charlestown Neighborhood Council (CNC) will be conducting its At-Large election to fill seven seats on the CNC. Prospective candidates are asked to collect a minimum of 25 signatures from any Charlestown resident 18 years of age and older to secure a spot on this year’s ballot. Once completed, nomination papers must be mailed to Charlestown Neighborhood Council, PO Box 397, Charlestown, MA 02129 and postmarked no later than October 28, 2016. Nomination papers and instructions can be found on the CNC website or secured from any current CNC member. Packets will also be available at the Charlestown Library on Main St. The At-Large Election will be held on November 19, 2016, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM at the Boston Police Station A-15 on Vine St., Charlestown. (CNC CORNER Pg. 5) Currently, Allston Street traffic flows in the direction from Medford Street to Bunker Hill Street, the only street that goes up the hill. As of November 1, for 90 days, traffic will flow in the direction from Bunker Hill Street to Medford Street. “BTD has taken a number of steps over the past several months to alleviate the traffic related concerns of Allston Street residents,” said BTD Commissioner Gina N. (Allston St. Pg. 3) Spirits of Charlestown tell a unique story; give a voice to the voiceless By Seth Daniel History is a way of life in the present of Charlestown, and there are lots of people who know volumes about the life and times of residents of the Town in periods gone by. But few have actually talked to them. That’s where Charlestown’s MaryLee Trettenero comes into the picture, leading her annual October tours of historical sites in Charlestown through the eyes and experiences of a psychic tours known as the ‘Spirits of Charlestown’ walking tour. Trettenero’s popular tours are informed by her psychic abilities and her abilities as a medium, and she said she uses those abilities to see energy imprints of previous events and also to talk to those spirits from the past. Already, she has given a few tours this month, but she has three tours coming up this weekend, including Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. The walking tour starts in City Square and proceeds to John Harvard Mall, the Training Field, the Bunker Hill Monument and ends at the Warren Tavern. “I go to these historic sites and the tour is based on me going to those sites as a psychic and a medium and talking to the spirits and feeling the energy there, which is like an imprint of history on the place,” she said. “The John Harvard Mall has a lot of energy, and I’ve picked up during the time period of the Battle of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill there was a two-month period of time where there was a fair amount of violence because I picked up that there was a full-fledged field hospital on the Mall. After some research, I found Isaac Foster was the head of the hospital department for the colonies…He lived on the corner of Main Street where there is a dry cleaner now.” Trettenero has conducted the tours four years now, and they get a great response - and sometimes even some voices that speak to her during the tour. “I’m amenable to tuning in to what’s happening during the tour too,” she said. “If they were there initially to give me the information, they will be there now as well. In fact, I’ve had requests to listen for the spirits during the tour and see what they say about the tour. Once they told me, ‘This is why we did this tour for you because we want you to be interested.’" Many of her experiences, however, are valuable because they encompass her interpretation of energy imprints or conversations with spirits who are everyday people. Those people interpret history through a different set of eyes than one might typically experience. It’s those common man or woman accounts that give her clues and set her tour apart as particularly interesting. For instance, she’s spoken with slave girls and women simply sweeping their steps. “When I go around, I have conversations with some of them,” she said. “One was an older woman who was from England. She was just sleeping her steps and telling about her experiences in the war years. I do believe I have had Dr. Joseph Warren before and there was one time I had Abigail Adams in the 3 Cranes Tavern. The spirit will give you clues about who they are. Abigail Adams said she was a woman dressed in finery, so the question was, what was a woman of finery doing in the (Spirits Pg. 4) Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Allston Street is one of the narrowest streets on the back side of the Town. It’s also one of the most used cut-throughs for drivers, and as residents have watched a growing number of cars speed up the big hill to Bunker Hill Street - they began to hit a breaking point, even if the cars were nowhere close to braking. After quite some time of complaining to City Hall and calling for some sort of traffic reconfiguration, residents and the overall neighborhood won much-needed changes to the street that, until now, was simply the "highway up the hill." This week, the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) announced that a 90-day trial program will be implemented on Allston Street effective on Nov. 1 - reversing the direction of the street. 2 T H E C H A R L E S T O W N PAT R I O T- B R I D G E PA G E 2 OCTOBER 27, 2016 editorial HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN Halloween will be observed this Monday, and that means that scores of children and others will be roaming our streets during the early-evening hours as they go about their ritual of trick-or-treating in our neighborhoods. It is up to each one of us to be extra-observant if we are operating a motor vehicle during this time period in order to ensure that a tragic situation does not occur. Safety is the watchword for everyone both behind the wheel of a car on Halloween night and for those who are on the streets as well. Common-sense must prevail when traversing our thoroughfares on foot, especially if we have young children in tow who are over-eager to get to their next stop in the pursuit of candy. In addition, parents of teenagers must be strict in laying down the rules about trickor-treating or late-night revelry, especially given that Halloween falls on a school night. Halloween does not permit parents to abdicate their responsibilities to ensure that their teens understand they must be home at a reasonable hour and that they are not to engage in mischief. We wish all of our readers a safe and happy Halloween. TOWNIE TIDBITS By Sal Giarratani Black NO NEED FOR ANY HERO WORSHIP I enlisted in the United States Air Force right after graduating from Boston English High School and lately when I go to public events, someone at the podium is always asking veterans in the audience to stand and everyone starts clapping for them like conquering heroes. I don't know any vet who calls himself a hero. I joined up to avoid getting drafted like most of my friends. We didn't do it to be heroes. We did it because if drafted we could end up in the Army or even worse the Marines. I remember being at Boston Army Base ready to be sworn into the Air Force as US Marines recruiters were scanning the place to 'draft" Marines off the floor. I started limping like all my friends. I was thinking about the above because it is almost Veterans Day and it was 50 years ago in November 1966 that I arrived at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas more afraid than courageous. Back when I was 14 years old my next door neighbor lived an 83 year old guy who went up San Juan Hill with Teddy Roosevelt and then re-enlisted for duty in World War I. When I called him a hero, he stopped me. He said the real heroes are always dead heroes. He's the guy that says real heroes weren't the John Wayne kind, they were mostly frightened and did their jobs and hoped to live and talk about it. Like he was with me. I still think that old guy was a hero for loving his country and risking his life for it. He didn't think so. Real heroes don't go around gloating. They just thank God they are still alive to tell their stories when the time is right. Anyone who puts on a military uniform to serve their country is a hero but few have time to call themselves heroes because they survived battle and military life. They know the real heroes are those who gave up their lives so others like themselves could live. They real heroes are never around to thank. I don't need people clapping for me. I want people to live their ordinary lives helping others in need. I haven't the time to be a hero, it gets in the way of my life. c harlesTown PAT R I O T- B R I D G E The Charlestown Patriot-Bridge, Phone: 617.241.8500 © 2008 Independent Newspaper Group. Email: editor@charlestownbridge.com • Web Site: www.charlestownbridge.com Newsstand Price: Free / Subscription price: $75 annually President - Stephen Quigley - editor@charlestownbridge.com Marketing Director - Debra DiGregorio - deb@reverejournal.com OP/ED Why I am Yes on 2 By Marty Walz If all you know about Question 2, the ballot question that would lift the cap on public charter schools, is what you’ve seen on TV – chances are good you’re confused about how to vote. As the author of the current charter school law when I was a state Representative and House Chair of the Education Committee, I’m voting yes and ask you to do the same. Here are the facts. Voting yes on Question 2 would allow more public charter schools to open in the nine cities where new charters can’t open today because of an arbitrary cap imposed by state law. Boston is one of those nine cities. The ballot question has no impact on the 342 cities and towns not near the cap. But, for these nine cities, it would mean that more children would have more access to a world-class public education. A vocal minority of charter school opponents are doing their best to convince voters that charters drain money from public schools. This is nothing more than a scare tactic. What the TV ads don’t say: charter schools are public schools, and, as with all public schools, the taxpayer funds allocated for a child’s education follow the child to whatever public school is educating him or her. Moreover, a recent report by the nonpartisan Boston Municipal Research Bureau confirmed that charter schools are not causing Boston Public Schools’ budget pressures. In fact, the BPS budget increased 25% in the past six years. With an annual budget over $1 billion, BPS spends more per pupil than any of the 100 largest school districts in America. Teachers unions have provided 99% of the funds for the campaign against Question 2. Rather than doing what’s best for kids, they are motivated by self-interested adult-focused policies that protect a status quo that is failing to serve too many children. Public charter schools prove what’s possible academically with low income and minority children. A recent Brookings Institution report underscores this point. It said “charter schools in the urban areas of Massachusetts have large, positive effects on educational outcomes. The effects are particularly large for disadvantaged students, English learners, special education students, and children who enter charters with low test scores.” Public charter schools in Massachusetts are held accountable for students’ academic achievement in ways traditional district schools are not. If a charter school does a poor job educating students, the state shuts it down – as it should. In contrast, the state can’t force local school committees to close chronically underperforming district schools that are robbing kids of a quality education – a particularly acute problem in cities. Too often the schools carry on, generation after generation, providing a poor quality education. No wonder tens of thousands of Massachusetts students are on waiting lists for high-performing public charter schools, including 12,000 in Boston alone. Parents desperately want better schools for their children, yet the existing cap on charter schools is blocking the establishment of more great schools. We hear how Massachusetts has the best schools in the nation. True enough, yet this bragging masks a problem: the large, persistent achievement gaps our state has failed to close for children of color and those from low-income backgrounds. Massachusetts has the third largest achievement gap based on family income in the nation, and it is growing larger. In contrast, public charter schools narrow these stubborn gaps, especially for urban low income and minority children. Created by liberal Democrats in the state legislature in 1993 to give parents better educational choices, charter schools are now a source of controversy within the Democratic Party as two key constituencies are on opposites sides. While teachers unions oppose charters, minority voters overwhelmingly support their expansion. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Deval Patrick, Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, two other House Education Committee Chairs, Patricia Haddad and Alice Peisch, and many other Democrats support children’s access to high quality charter schools. I’ve devoted much of my career to improving district schools. Ideally, Boston Public Schools would rank as every family’s first choice. Until that day, we should honor families and their desires for better options for their children. Question 2 maximizes opportunity for students and advances equity, which fulfills our moral obligation to meet their educational needs. Marty Walz, a Democrat, served as State Representative for the 8th Suffolk District from 2005-2013. 3 T H E C H A R L E S T O W N PAT R I O T- B R I D G E OCTOBER 27, 2016 PA G E 3 CSAC to change name to The Charlestown Coalition By Seth Daniel With more than enough abbreviated organizations in the Town and the state, the former CSAC is moving to something much simpler. The Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition (CSAC) has been in existence as an umbrella organization under the auspices of Mass General Hospital community benefits for years, but this month - during Recovery Month - they are rolling out their new name and logo. Staring now, they will the The Charlestown Coalition. “We are really changing our name for two reasons,” said Sarah Coughlin of the Coalition. “First, substance abuse isn’t used any longer in the addiction services community and we didn’t Allston St. want that in our name. Second, we want to broaden our mission for working in the community. We started our work on addiction issues and now we want to focus on the overall health of the community, whether that’s addiction, trauma, violence and health living. We want to focus on making Charlestown the healthiest community it can be.” The name change was something that came from the community. Earlier this year, CSAC put out the call for submissions to help them find a new name. They had hundreds of submissions, but settled on a submission from John Killoran. His idea was to simplify things and use a name that didn’t require abbreviations. “He said there are so many organizations out there that have complicated names and abbreviated letters that we should make it simpler and easier,” said Coughlin. “We agreed.” The structure of the organization will not change, she said, but simply the name and logo. The new logo was designed by Bonnie Evans, who said it was a collaborative process. “All the members of the team from the Charlestown Coalition had great ideas and a real vision for the way they want their foundation represented,” she said. “We wanted to show growth and community and the best representation of that was a tree, but we couldn’t leave out a little bit of the familiar place as home…The team members are true visionaries and inspirations. It was an honor to work with them." (continued from pg. 1) have worked diligently to come up with a solution. “We all have a lot invested in our street and we all are very happy with this solution…We have been working with the City on this a number of years and are happy our voices were finally heard. We are happy that we have the support of City Hall and that we have the support of the greater neighborhood too." Prior action taken by BTD to improve conditions on Allston Street include: •New crosswalk installed on Allston Street at Bunker Hill Street •Stop signs installed on Allston Street at Bunker Hill Street •20 mph signs installed on Allston Street The Charlestown American Legion J.W. Conway Post 26 Scholarship Committee is accepting applications. Criteria For Scholarship Consideration: * Charlestown Resident * Open to all Accredited College Undergraduate students only * Must be the child or grandchild of a Veteran * More than one eligible child in a family may apply * Please provide us with a 500 word essay explaining your goals for the future and what Veteran’s Day means to you. * All applications including the essay must be typed. Include name address, phone # and email(applicant and parents), as well as the college you are, or will be attending. Completed applications must be received by the Charlestown American Legion Post 26 no later than November 7, 2016. Applications should be sent to: J.W Conway Bunker Hill Post 26 P.O. Box 290376 Charlestown, MA 02129 Scholarship will be selected on November 11, 2016 at the Charlestown American Legion Post 26. •Slow signs posted on Allston Street •No Trucks or Buses Over 2 1/2 Tons signs posted on Allston Street •No right Turn 7 AM - 9 AM and 4 PM - 6 PM sign posted on Medford Street at Allston Street. A public meeting was held on Tuesday, Sept. 13, where local residents discussed the issues with Charlestown ONS Coordinator Chris Breen and BTD Manager of Constituent Relations and Social Media Carla Tankle. The 90-Day Trial Program is a result of that forum. “A lot of the concerns we’ve had and that were expressed at the forum were about speeding,” said McCabe. “Allston Street is a hill and drivers tend to hit the gas when they turn onto the street. By the time they get to the plateau, they’re going 30 mph on a street that is too narrow for that kind of speed. We have a narrow street, more than other streets, which is why we only have parking on one side. The street has really become a throughway of people just trying to get from point A to point B…This is really not about convenience. It’s about the safety of our street." Drivers are advised that BTD Operations Division staff will be changing a number of traffic and parking regulation signs on Allston Street, Bunker Hill Street and Medford Street to coincide with the upcoming change. Community members are asked to direct questions or comments to Chris.Breen@boston.gov and Carla.Tankle@boston.gov. Boston water and sewer Commission In Your neIghBorhood Charlestown Golden Age Center • 382 Main Street Tuesdays, 11 am –1 pm • NOVEMBER 29 & DECEMBER 27 C ome meet with Boston Water and Sewer staff in your neighborhood and learn how to properly dispose of FOG (Fats, Oils, and Grease). Bring this ad and get a free grease can lid to get you started. (Boston residents only.) You can also pay your water bill with a check or money order, talk about billing or service problems, and more. Can It. Cool It. trash It. Pour grease into a covered disposable container and put it into the trash. For InFormatIon www.bwsc.org 617-989-7599 980 Harrison Avenue • Boston, MA 02119 Facebook “f ” Logo CMYK / .ai @boston_water Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Black Fiandaca. “We are pleased to have had this opportunity to collaborate with the community on this upcoming action, and we look forward to implementing the trial program and watching for results.” Residents who have tirelessly advocated for change due to concerns about traffic volumes and speeding cars were also quite happy. “There are a lot of residents who have lived here a long time and there are also a lot of people like me who are newer to the street and have made our homes here with the intention of raising our kids here,” said Marney McCabe of Allston Street, one of about five or six neighbors who The Charlestown Coalition, formerly CSAC, officially unveiled its new name and new logo during Recovery Month activities. The structure of the organization will stay the same, but they will not longer be known as CSAC. John Killoran, pictured here, was the winner of the naming contest, opting for something simple. 4 T H E C H A R L E S T O W N PAT R I O T- B R I D G E PA G E 4 OCTOBER 27, 2016 Spirits (continued from pg. 1) Tavern because they didn’t like women of finery in taverns. It turns out Abigail and her husband were patients of Dr. Warren, so maybe that is why they were there. It’s kind of hard to know why they go where they go.” For the slave girls, Trettenero said it was a part of history she was clued into that many may not think of during the Revolution in Charlestown. “I sat in the park by the 3 Cranes stones and immediately heard the voices of slave girls,” she said. “They told what things were like during the war and how they were treated. It turns out that one of the owners, Robert Long, and another owner did have slave girls. It’s on record. Long comes across as treating them well, but the other man did not treat them well at all…The thing about some- thing like that is it gives a voice to the voiceless in history. It doesn’t change history, but it adds to our understanding." Trettenero said she comes from a long line of psychics, including her mother and grandmother. Growing up in the Midwest, her mother talked about it often and even used telepathic energy to get the kids home before the days of cell phones. Her father did not like it at all, she said, so they had to pretend not to be interested when he was around. After trying to walk a “normal path” in the hotel industry for some time, Trettenero eventually turned to her skills full-time and has written books as well, including ‘We’re Still Here: the Secret World of Bunker Hill’s Historical Spirits’ - which is what the tour is based upon. Anyone who would like to be a part of one of the tours this weekend can get tickets online at EventBrite (Spirits of Charlestown Haunted Historical Ghost Tour Tickets 28271304232), or by calling her at (617) 785-0306. TAKING CARE OF PAUL REVERE PARK Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Black Aha! Seeds are like kids— they use energy to grow... Members of the Charlestown Dogs group busied themselves recently with filling holes and re-seeding grass at the Paul Revere Park, a popular place for dogs and dog owners to congregate. CharlestownDogs has also done similar work at the Bunker Hill Monument to correct the holes that dogs dig. The effort is part of an overall effort by the growing group of dog owners to promote responsible dog ownership as the canine population explodes in the Town. N OVEM B ER 9 TH A benefit for the new children’s environmental museum coming soon to the Charlestown Navy Yard. Nov.9 6 pm -1O pm 114 16 th StREEt, SUItE 1O3O ChARLEStOWN NAVY YARD At Kingsley, students follow their curiosity, ask questions, try new things, and grasp new concepts. COME TO AN OPEN HOUSE–AND HAVE YOUR OWN “AHA!” MOMENT. OPEN HOUSE KINDERGARTEN AND ELEMENTARY AT KINGSLEY December 1, 8:45-10:15am 617-226-4927 | www.kingsley.org www.einc-action.org 5 T H E C H A R L E S T O W N PAT R I O T- B R I D G E OCTOBER 27, 2016 PA G E 5 Wynn Boston Harbor to begin sign ups for special loyalty cards By Seth Daniel Local residents will have first crack at getting special status from the Wynn Boston Harbor in the company’s loyalty card program, with sign ups for the ‘Red Card’ program beginning next week and continuing with local events. Wynn announced this week that they would hold the first informal sign up at the 8/10 Restaurant in Everett on Nov. 3 from 6-9 p.m. There will be other events in the coming months, including a sign up event expected in Charlestown, but the inaugural event will take place on Nov. 3. A special perk will be that anyone who signs up at any of the early sessions for the Red Card will enjoy special status as an “Inaugural Member,” according to Greg John of Wynn Boston Harbor. Right now, those signed up for Red Card would get e-mails about special offers, discounts on trips to Las Vegas, sweepstakes events in Las Vegas and construction updates on the Everett facility. Once the opening of the casino Safety tips for Halloween trailing materials or tails long enough to cause falls. · If a child is wearing a mask instead of make-up, make sure the eye holes are large enough to see through clearly. · Children should carry a flashlight or glow sticks; costumes should be bright-colored or have reflective tape to highlight them. · Children under 12 should always be with an adult. It’s best to take little ones out early. If older children are going out without you, go over the ground rules first and set a curfew. · Remind youngsters to cross at crosswalks or corners as more children are hit by cars on Halloween than any other single day. For more information on Halloween Safety, contact your local fire department or look at the Department of Fire Services website at www.mass.gov/dfs, click on Halloween Safety, or call the Public Fire Safety Education Hotline at 1-877-9-NO-FIRE. CNC Corner (continued from pg. 1) The monthly meeting of Charlestown Neighborhood Council will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 545 Medford Street. All are welcome. The agenda is as follows: Chair Correspondence Presentations by the MWRA on water rates and our City liaison Open Floor for Charlestown Residents Committee Reports Public Safety - Report on October meeting with BPD Basic Services Development - Report on One Charlestown public meetings Transportation - Report on Boston Transportation Dept public meeting on Sullivan Square & Rutherford Ave. Elections - Seven At-Large CNC positions to be held on Nov. 19 Spaulding-CNC Community Fund - Second year plans ing for permanent cards, he said. He added that Red Card members in Las Vegas or those who sign up after the opening will not be able to qualify as ‘Inaugural Members.’ Red Card team members Rita Eliseo and Rebecca Burley will be on hand to sign people up on Nov. 3. One only needs a driver’s license to prove their age. It will be scanned in and one has to provide an e-mail address and then the benefits will start coming. The event will have food and drinks for those who attend. Already, Wynn Boston Harbor placed a Red Card display at the TD Garden last week for the new Bruins and Celtics seasons so that fans will be able to know about the new loyalty program sign ups. For the first time ever, registered Boston voters can vote at any early voting location from Monday, October 24 – Friday, November 4 in the City, including City Hall. Pick a time and place that is best for you. Voter registration deadline is October 19. MON. OCT. 24, 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. East Boston, Orient Heights Yacht Club Chinatown, Metropolitan Condominiums South End, Harriet Tubman House Boston City Hall (9 a.m. – 8 p.m.) SAT. OCT. 29, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. TUES. OCT. 25, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Boston City Hall South Boston, Condon School WED. OCT. 26, 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. Dorchester, Lower Mills Library East Boston, Heritage Apartments Dorchester, Dorchester House Dorchester, Codman Square Library Hyde Park, Municipal Building Boston City Hall (9 a.m. – 8 p.m.) Dorchester, Grove Hall Community Center Mattapan, Mildred Ave Community Center THUR. OCT. 27, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Boston City Hall West Roxbury, West Roxbury Library FRI. OCT. 28, 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. Jamaica Plain, Curtis Hall Kenmore/Fenway, Boston Arts Academy Allston/Brighton, Honan Library Boston City Hall (9 a.m. – 8 p.m.) Roxbury, Bruce Bolling Municipal Building MON. OCT. 31, 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. Allston/Brighton, Jackson Mann School Charlestown, Harvard/Kent School Bay Village, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology Roxbury, MLK Tower Boston City Hall (9 a.m. – 8 p.m.) TUES. NOV. 1, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Boston City Hall WED. NOV. 2, 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. Dorchester, Strand Theatre Mattapan, Morning Star Church Roslindale, Roslindale Community Center Boston City Hall (9 a.m. – 8 p.m.) THUR. NOV. 3, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Boston City Hall Back Bay, Copley Square Library Voters may also apply for an early voting ballot by mail; the deadline for applications is 12:00 p.m. on November 4. If early voting ballots are not returned during the early voting period, they must be returned to City Hall, Room 241, by 8 p.m. on November 8. If you miss the early voting period, you can still vote on Tuesday, November 8 at your assigned voting location. FRI. NOV. 4, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Jamaica Plain, Back of the Hill Apartments Mission Hill, Tobin Municipal Building Allston/Brighton, Veronica B. Smith Senior Center Boston City Hall (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) Learn more at boston.gov/early-voting • #VoteEarlyBoston Call 311 • election@boston.gov Cyan Magenta Yellow Black State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey offers fire safety tips for celebrating Halloween including using battery-operated tea lights in pumpkins instead of candles. More children are injured by cars than fire on Halloween, so it’s important for children to learn and practice pedestrian safety and for drivers to use extra caution. Drive more slowly and watch for children who may forget to cross at corners and use crosswalks. Reminder: Be Careful with Halloween Costumes, Decorations and Trick-orTreating · Use a small flashlight or battery-operated tea light in pumpkins instead of a candle. · Make sure your home is welllit inside and out and that there is a clear path to your door. · Keep decorations like cornstalks away from heat sources and lit candles. · Be sure all parts of costumes are labeled flame retardant. · Costumes should not have gets closer, Inaugural members will likely be invited to special events and a special opening party. There will also be extra perks such as additional points for the Red Card and other such special items. John said there would be temporary cards issued without names and bearing the ‘Inaugural Member’ status. Those cards can be turned in after the 2019 open- 6 T H E C H A R L E S T O W N PAT R I O T- B R I D G E PA G E 6 OCTOBER 27, 2016 CHARLESTOWN LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL BANQUET Photos and story by Marianne Salza The Charlestown Little League Baseball held an awards banquet on Oct. 24 at the Knights of Columbus Hall to congratulate the teams on an excellent season. Coaches, who were proud of their teams' growing confidence, celebrated the young players for the hard work, time, and effort they put in throughout the year. Athletes, who are always thrilled to play the game, were recognized for their outstanding sportsmanship, reliability, and encouragement toward their fellow players. The Pirates rookie baseball team with Coach Gray MacLetchie. Black The Eagle Elevator Cardinals AAA baseball team with Coach Mike Lynch. The Red Sox AAA baseball team with Coaches Max Gomez, Gray MacLetchie, and Cathy Reese. The Jenny’s Pizza major league baseball team with Coach Nelson. The Babe Ruth senior league baseball team with Coach Kevin Kelly. The Century 21 Reds AAA baseball team with Coach Nelson. Dave Cahill, Field Marshall, with The John Curtis Sportsmanship Award recipient, Tommy Williamson. Coach John Chisholm with his son, Teddy Chisholm, winner of the 2016 John McGill Unsung Hero Award. The 11 and 12-year-old All Star Team with Coaches Jason Gallagher and Leo Boucher. The Teamsters major league baseball team with Coach John Chisholm. 7 T H E C H A R L E S T O W N PAT R I O T- B R I D G E OCTOBER 27, 2016 PA G E 7 CHARLESTOWN LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL BANQUET The Boys and Girls Club major league baseball team with Coach Jason Gallagher. The Phillies rookie baseball team with Coaches Max Gomez and John Sutich. Cyan Magenta Yellow Black The Red Sox AAA baseball team with Coaches Max Gomez, Gray MacLetchie, and Cathy Reese. The Veterans Memorial Hall Cubs rookie baseball team with Coach Tim Rath. The Chad A’s AAA baseball team with Coaches John Collier and Mike Doe The Eagle Elevator Cardinals AAA baseball team with Coach Mike Lynch. The 2016 Little League Champions, the McCarthy Brother’s team, with Coaches Andy Groh, Leo Boucher, and Tim Donovan. 8 T H E C H A R L E S T O W N PAT R I O T- B R I D G E PA G E 8 OCTOBER 27, 2016 Neighborhood Round Up The 31st annual Monument Square Halloween Parade Thank you to the Charlestown community for making Halloween 2016 a safe, fun and memorable holiday for trick or treaters, including young and old, from all of our neighborhoods. We live in a special, historic one mile community. Charlestown Open House hosted by Mayor Martin J. Walsh Cyan Magenta Yellow Black On Wednesday, November 16th from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Harvard Kent Gym (First Floor), the Mayor will essentially be moving City Hall to Charlestown for two hours. The meeting will have a development and transportation focus, in which residents can go up to City Officials face to face and ask questions about specific upcoming projects and proposals directly, as well as leave comments and walk away with information sheets detailing timelines and more. In addition, other various departments will also be in attendance so that constituents can see all the services available now and in the future. This meeting will allow the people of Charlestown to see different agencies working together and give them a broader outlook at the future of Charlestown as a whole, from projects both in development and those that are ongoing. The Mayor will be there, there will be refreshments and more. Come out, see the near future of Charlestown, gain information from City Departments, ask questions, leave comments, walk away a more involved and informed resident. Legion Scholarship accepting applications On Monday October 31 the club closes at 6:00pm. The Charlestown American Legion J.W. Conway Post 26 Scholarship Committee is accepting applications. Criteria For Scholarship Consideration: Applicant must be a Charlestown Resident and child or grandchild of a veteran. Open to all Accredited College Undergraduate students only.More than one eligible child in a family may apply. Apply by submitting a 500 word essay explaining your goals for the future and what Veteran‚Äôs Day means to you. All applications including the essay must be typed. Include name address, phone # and email(applicant and parents), as well as the college you are, or will be attending. Completed applications must be received by the Charlestown American Legion Post 26 no later than November 7, 2016. Applications should be sent to: J.W Conway Bunker Hill Post 26, P.O. Box 290376, Charlestown, MA 02129. Scholarship will be selected on November 11, 2016 at the Charlestown American Legion Post 26. Game Day FundraiserBenefit for the Kennedy Center Charlestown Boys & Girls Club News Please support the club by eating at the local Ninety Nine Restaurant throughout October. On Thursday October 27 we host our Annual Haunted Hallway starting at 6:00pm for members in Grades 1 ‚Äì 7. Also we host our Halloween Bash for 3rd-7th Graders from 6:00-7:30pm that evening. On Friday October 28 we host our Halloween Bash for 1st & 2nd Graders from 6:00-7:30pm. CHARLESTOWN GYM HOCKEY WEEKLY STANDINGS W Bryan's Pals 5 Duce 2 2 MPTA 2 Zume’s 2 10/22/16 L T 0 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 Players of the week 10/22/16 A-1 / Zume's - Justin Lynch, Michael Wilshere Bryan's Pals - Michael Ahearn, Ryan O'Shea Duce 2 - Nathan Mainey, Maya Castro MPTA - Liam Donahue, Scarlett Jones Players of the week 10/15/16 A-1/Zume's - Johnathan Cannizzaro, Rachael MacCormack Bryan's Pals - Jaiden Smith, L J Surette Duce 2 - Eddie Hudson, Dylan Cobb MPTA - Brooke Tucker, Luke Nolan Sunday, October 30 from 12:30 to 4:30p.m. at The Warren Tavern, watch the Pats take on the Bills for a good cause. Tickets are $25 and include free apps and cash bar and a lot of fun. For tickets visit kennedycenter.org/tavern, call Crystal Galvin 617-241-8866 x1352 or email info@kennedycenter.org Scholarship Opportunity for Veterans, their Children and Grandchildren Memorial Hall Abraham Lincoln Post will be offering three $1,000 scholarships. Veterans, their children or their grandchildren who attend a tuition school are eligible. The sponsor must present a copy of form dd214. All eligible students’ names will be collected on or before November 3rd. The three recipients will be drawn at random at the Annual Veterans Dinner. Sponsors must be present to win. If you have any questions regarding the scholarships, contact Bill Boyle at 617645-3279. Pancake Breakfast planned on Nov. 13 Annual Pancake Breakfast for the Charlestown Lions Club Sunday, November 13 from 9-12 noon. Admission is $5.00 and children under 5 years old are free. It will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall 545 Medford Street Come join family, friends, and neighbors to honor our veterans, and those who serve their community for pancakes, sausage, pastries, coffee and juice. There will be great raffles and wonderful prizes! Yum! Pancakes! Halloween Harvest Festival Oct. 29 Head down to the corner of Bunker Hill and Main Streets for a fun time for the kids. The Annual Gardens for Charlestown Halloween Festival will be held on Saturday, October 29th from 10a.m. to 1p.m. The $10 admission includes a goody bag, face painting, craft table and carnival games. There will be pony rides for $5 from 10:30a.m. 12:30a.m. and the Bake Sale table will be selling cider donuts, coffee and hot cocoa. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Head down to the corner of Bunker Hill and Main Streets for a fun time for the kids. Fundraiser for "e"Inc Join the fun at “e”Inc.’s Shakin’ for Science fundraiser on November 9th. The event runs from 6-9PM at the “e”Inc. Environment & Science Discovery Action Museum at 114 16th Street, Suite 1030 in the Navy Yard. There will be food and drinks, an auction and dancing with music by Karson from Mix 104.1’s The Karson and Kennedy Show. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. RSVP online by heading over to: Shakinforscience.eventbrite.com. The New England Arts Group presents “A Beautiful World” An exhibit of vibrant original fine arts paintings, collages, photography, art jewelry and prints of artwork - Featuring award winning artists’ interpretations of famous “lost art”. The show will include the art of Ryssette Berrios, Lelio Nicholas, and Paul Ferragamo, Charlotte Liu, John Corvino, Felix Berrios, Sam Liu and Dina Hanley. Opening reception and silent auction on Friday November 4th, gallery hours 6 to 9 PM. Refreshments and music. Saturday and Sunday hours 1 to 5 PM. Admission is free. Wheelchair accessible. Annual Veterans Dinner on November 3 The Annual Veterans dinner will be held on November 3 at the Knights of Columbus in Charlestown. Doors open at 6:30 for cocktails and dinner will follow at 7:30 and all Veterans and their guests are invited. If you plan on attending the dinner, please call Wally Southern at 617 312 0816 so we can get an accurate headcount. This year, thanks to Jack Alves and the Boston Foundation, we will be offering three $1,000 scholarships. Veterans, their children or their grandchildren who attend a tuition school are eligible to enter. If you have any questions regarding the scholarships, contact Bill Boyle at 617-645-3279. Our annual 50/50 fundraiser will kickoff next week. We only sell 200 tickets so the winner gets $5000.00 to help make Christmas shopping so much easier! The drawing will be held at 9:30pm on November 16th at The Warren Tavern on Main St in Charlestown. All the funds raised help support our various activities such as the Veterans Dinner, our Outreach Program, Support for iPods for Wounded Veterans and much more. Please contact Rich Brennan at 617895-7869 Haunted Historical Tours continue Discover the Spirits of Charlestown with a guided walk through the Town’s haunted past with Mary Lee Trettenero, author of We’re Still Here: The Secret World of Bunker Hill’s Historical Spirits. Evening tours on October 28 and 29. For tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ spirits-of-charlestown-haunted-historical-ghost-tour-tickets-28271304232 Mammography Van coming to Charlestown! The MGH Charlestown HealthCare Center is pleased to announce that Dana-Farber’s Mammography Van will be coming to Charlestown to provide mammograms for women ages 40 and over on November 1, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Van will be parked at the Bunker Hill Mall. Please register by calling 617-724-9642. When their breast cancer is found early, many women go on to live long and healthy lives. Grief Recovery After Substance Passing support group (GRASP) The GRASP group meets from 6-7pm on the third Tuesday of the month at MGH HealthCare Center, 73 High Street - Peggy Carolan-Bolognese Conference Room (2nd floor). The next meeting will be on November 15. For more information, contact program facilitator Shannon Lundin 617-320-9058 or smlundin@ partners.org Free senior coffee hour Whole Foods has a free Senior Coffee Hour on the first Friday of each month from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Stop by for complimentary coffee and pastries. Abraham Lincoln Post No. 11 Veterans outreach The veterans outreach program offers assistance and information to all veterans. Call 617-747-7494 or 617-877-2820 If you have an event that you would like to have published in the Neighborhood Round-Up please email to editor@charlestownbridge.com 9 T H E C H A R L E S T O W N PAT R I O T- B R I D G E OCTOBER 27, 2016 PA G E 9 St. John’s Episcopal Church to celebrate its 175th Anniversary St. John’s warmly invites all in the community of Charlestown to a Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication on Sunday, November 6 at 4pm, at St. John’s Church, 27 Devens Street. The parish, founded in 1840, consecrated the new church on November 10, 1841, and it is now the oldest church structure in Charlestown. The Rt. Rev. Bishop Alan M. Gates, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, will preside and preach, and lead the parish in a service of rededication. A reception will follow in the Parish House. And, on Saturday, November 12th, the annual Harvest Fair will be held in the Parish House from 10 am to 2 pm, with a Turkey Dinner served from noon to 2 pm. For more information see: www. stjohns02129.org, or contact the church office: 617-242-1272. St. John’s Episcopal Church, located at 27 Devens Street, is a welcoming Christian community serving persons in Charlestown and surrounding communities. Sunday worship services are at 8 am and 10 am, with nursery care and children’s programming provided at the 10 am service, and Coffee Hour following. The Rev. Thomas Mousin serves as the Rector of the parish. DONATES TO HARVARD KENT OPEN HOUSE October 6, 9:00–11:00 a.m. October 17, 6:00–7:30 p.m. November 9 November 9, 9:00–11:00 a.m. 9:00-11:00 OPEN HOUSE Toddler – Grade 6 MGH Institute of Health Professions donated more than $500 worth of supplies to the Harvard-Kent Elementary School on October 19. The MGH Institute’s Staff Council Community Service Committee organized the drive at the Navy Yard health sciences graduate school. Donated items included crayons, markers, No. 2 pencils, notebooks, arts and craft supplies, construction paper, glue sticks, colored pencils, and two cases of copy paper – essential supplies that help teaches educate their pupils. “We are thrilled that the staff at the MGH Institute was able to make such a generous donation of supplies to our students and staff,” said HarvardKent School Principal Jason Gallagher. “It will make a huge difference in our classrooms.” “The MGH Institute is committed to being a good neighbor in Charlestown,” noted the Institute’s Elizabeth Pipes, who coordinated the drive along with Steve Ciesielski, Val Grande, Amanda Tarbet, and Kathy Zuluaga. “Our health care students regularly have clinical placements at the Harvard-Kent, and others help out during our annual Community IMPACT Day of service each September, so it is gratifying to participate in the IHP’s efforts to make a difference in the lives of these pupils.” Admission includes: goody bag, free carnival games, craft table & face painting Pony rides $5 from 10:30 - 12:30 Bake Sale - Cider donuts, coffee & hot cocoa • • • • Specialized program offerings • Pathway to lose weight and develop healthy habits • Building communities through group motivation Customization based on your fitness level For more information on group training visit the Welcome Center or OPEN TO THE COMMUNITYprograms, • SEPTEMBER 24 - 27 Gardens for Charlestown at the corner of Bunker Hill & Main Sts ymcaboston.org/grouptraining. Costumes encouraged but NOT required Burbank YMCA 617.523.7577 • parkstreetschool.org WHAT IS GROUP TRAINING? Saturday, October 29th For (tickets for sale on site until 12:30PM) • YMCA GROUP TRAINING PROGRAMS Halloween Harvest Festival kids! One Park Street and 67 Brimmer Street MOTIVATION SUPPORT SUCCESS Gardens for Charlestown presents 10a.m. - 1p.m. $10 per child • Guidance from program start to end Offered in small groups of 3, 4, or 5 and large groups of 6 or more YMCA OF GREATER BOSTON CHARLESTOWN YMCA 150 Third Avenue Charlestown, MA 02129 ymcaboston.org/charlestown Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Joyful, engaged learning ... right around the corner. 10 T H E C H A R L E S T O W N PAT R I O T- B R I D G E PA G E 1 0 • Revere • Everett • Winthrop • Lynn • East Boston • Chelsea • Charlestown Independent Newspaper Group Lynn rEvErE EvErEtt ChELsEa Winthrop CharLEstoWn East Boston • 125 HOUSE FOR RENT Call: 781-485-0588 Fax: 781-485-1403 7 Communities • 137 OFFICE/ COMM’L RENTALS Classified More Than 100,000 Readers Each Week REaL EstatE Sales • Rentals Land • Commercial RECRuItmENt Professional • Medical General • Services • Auto Sales • Yard Sales • Miscellaneous • 272 GEN'L HELP WANTED Black CNAs Per Diem Certified Nursing Assistants REVERE: Off Broadway. Openings! We are Professional office currently hiring for space. On public Day/Evening/Night transportation. Call for shifts. Applicants details. 978-590-8810 must have a valid ----------------------------Massachusetts CNA HOUSEHOLD SERVICES HOUSEHOLD certificate. Please call Amalia at SERVICES 857-243-6204 or email ADorfman@rcab.com to KJ Painting and set up an interview. TOWNHOUSE FOR Cleaning. Commercial/ 10/29 TOWNHOUSE RENT - <<<MAKE A residential cleaning -----------------------HEADING THAT and painting, FORBOX RENT DRIVERS NEEDED CAR SAYS THIS PLEASE stripping and buffing, LEGAL NOTICE $12/hr & $.54/ STORAGE/ pressure washing. ZONING Display ad - HEARING mile.M-F 9:30 AM – WINTHROP GARAGE 617-593-6057. The Zoning Commission 12:30 PM Size: 2 (2.13) col x TOWNHOUSE - Large KJPaintingandcleaning of the City of Boston WANTED Delivery drivers Meals 2 Bedroom plus office @hotmail.com. hereby gives notice, in on Wheels CAR STORAGE NEEDED townhouse, Close to accordance with Chapter 10/26 Need reliable car for 1998 corvette transportation, On 665 of the Acts of 1956, Apply: www.mves.org convertible, electricity as amended, that a street parking. No Newspaper Group • 272 The Independent Or call Mystic Valley needed for trickle public hearing will be Pets. Available now. PapersElder Included: Pub Date GEN'L HELP Services charger. held on November 9, Constantino, Broker 781-324-7705 x598 Call Sue 781-858-0332 WANTED 2016, at 11:00 AM, The Revere Journal Wed/10/26 617-567-1811 10/27 ----------------------------in Room 900, Boston 11/2 East Boston Sun Wed/10/26 HELP WANTED City Hall, in connection DRIVERS - Class AEverett &B Independent • 123 CAR STORAGE/GARAGEWed/10/26 with Map Amendment Drivers: Local Driving Chelsea Record WANTED Wed/10/26 APT FOR Application No. 689 APARTMENTS FOR RENT near Weymouth. Lynn Journal and a petition for Wed/10/26 RENT Hazmat & Tanker the approval of the Winthrop Sun-Transcript Thurs/10/27 REVERE -Northgate Endorsements. Development Plan for Charlestown Patriot Bridge Thurs/10/27 Area Available Dec. Planned Development Experience driving 1. Lg 2BR, Fully Area No. 108, 32 manual transmissions. applianced Kit w/DW, Cambridge Street Very little overnight WD Hookup, 2 car and 572 Rutherford Total 375.00 travel! 1-855-677-5016 for 1998 Corvette driveway, No pets. Avenue, Charlestown 10/26 convertible (“Development Plan”), $1350 no util. First filed by the Boston electricity needed for mo., sec. and refs req’d Redevelopment 781-289-6196 For Advertising Rates, trickle charger. Authority d/b/a 11/16 Call 781-485-0588 Boston Planning and Call Sue 781-858-0332 Development Agency. Said map amendment The Independent Newspaper Group fights against housing discrimination. If you believe you have been would amend “Map 2E, Charlestown discriminated against in your effort to buy a home or to rent an apartment, we urge you to call the Neighborhood Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston at 617-399-0491. District ,” by adding REVERE - Nov.1-ASAP, 2-3 BR House, lg. yard, kitch. w/DW&disp.,1 1/2BA, bsmt., pkg., no pets, no smoking. $2000 no utilities. 1st, last, dip and REFs req’s. call/text 617-3715795 11/2 CAR STORAGE NEEDED OCTOBER 27, 2016 C H A R L E S T O W N B E A T POLICE/COMMUNITY MEETING: Meet the police & discuss public safety issues on the last Wednesday of every month at the police station, 20 Vine Street, at 6:00 p.m., 2nd floor, community room. POLICE RELATED INFO: Contact the District A-1 Community Service Office at 617-343-4627. REPORT DRUG DEALING: Contact the District A-1 Confidential Drug Line at 617-343-4879. CHARLESTOWN POLICE STATION: Contact at 617-343-4888. RESERVE THE COMMUNITY ROOM: Contact Christine Vraibel at christine.vraibel@pd.boston.gov. Larceny-Bike 10/18/16 – A victim said he parked his bike in front of 55 Constitution Road, but when he came back, it was gone. A witness said he saw a tall black male wearing a blue coat take the bike. Warrant Arrest 10/19/16 - Officers on Bunker Hill Street placed an individual under arrest for an outstanding Brockton Court warrant charging destruction of property. • 250 AUTOS FOR SALE For Advertising 2012 Nissan Altima Rates, Call 781- Excellent condition, low 485-0588 31,000 miles $11,000 Must see. 857-277-2187 the designation “D,” indicating a Planned Development Area 2.5 (“PDA”) overlay district to approximately 70,569 square feet (approximately 1.62 acres) of land generally bounded by Cambridge Street to the north, Due Rutherford Avenue and Mon 10/24 property addressed as Mon 10/24 24 Cambridge Street to the east, a paved Mon 10/24 right-of-way known Mon 10/24 as D Street to the Mon 10/24 south, and existing Mon buildings10/24 fronting on Spice Street to the Mon 10/24 west. Said Development Plan would allow for the construction of a new four-story building containing approximately 103,000 square feet of Gross Floor Area, including approximately 125 dwelling units and parking for approximately 97 vehicles; the renovation of the Graphic Arts Finishers Building to include approximately 38,000 square feet of Gross Floor Area, including approximately 46 dwelling units, approximately 2,500 square feet of groundfloor commercial space and parking for approximately 16 vehicles. A copy of the petition, a map of the area involved and the Development Plan may be viewed at the office of the Zoning Commission, Room 916, Boston City Hall, between 9 AM and 5 PM any day except Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. For the Commission, Kathleen R. Pedersen Executive Secretary 10/27 Charlestown LEGAL NOTICE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Vandalism 10/21/16 – A victim on Medford Street reported when she returned home, she saw that someone had drawn crude pictures on her front door. The victim further stated there have been prior acts of vandalism to her home. Larceny from a Building 10/21/16 – A victim on Main Street reported someone stole his wallet from his office. No further information was available at that time. LOST KEYS Key ring lost 10/22 weekend in gaslight district. YMCA membership and Honda key on ring 617-337-5494 Suffolk Division 24 New Chardon St. Boston, MA 02114 (617)788-8300 INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE Docket No. SU16P2128EA Estate of: Ruth Marie Trometer Date of Death: August 4, 2016 To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner Stephen B. Nichols of Somerville, MA a Will has been admitted to informal probate. Stephen B. Nichols of Somerville, MA has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond. The estate is being administered under informal procedure by the Personal Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code without supervision by the Court. Inventory and accounts are not required to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Interested parties are entitled to petition the Court to institute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under informal procedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, if any, can be obtained from the Petitioner. 10/27 Charlestown 11 T H E C H A R L E S T O W N PAT R I O T- B R I D G E OCTOBER 27, 2016 CLERGY VIEWPOINT Two things one never talks about By Rev. James Ronan - Pastor, St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena Did you ever wonder where that “rule” came from? You know the one that says one should never talk about religion and politics. Usually the statement is prefaced by something like, “They Say…” Who is the “THEY? I think it is a really bad piece of advice and find that in most instances I do not follow it. For one thing, being a priest, people often want to talk with me about religion. And this year, the buzz about presidential candidates for the election is certainly causing lots of talk among all kinds of folks and I believe that is a good thing. Maybe the idea is that both of these issues can be very personal and folks ought not to discuss their personal feelings, values, ideas and experiences about God, prayer, faith and religious practices and history; same about politics. But I wonder, why? Are we ry when we are in dialogue with one another. Pope Francis teaches we all need to foster a “culture of encounter” wherein dialogue is the norm. Remember the gospel story of two friends walking down the After the meeting, Barnat said they are having their landscape architects and transportation engineers take a quick look at the area to see what they can come up with. She said they do really want to see something creative happen under the Bridge. “We are having our landscape architects and transportation engineers analyze the area, and we’re looking forward to working with the City and MassDOT to see if there are opportunities to activate space under the Tobin Bridge for the benefit of the Charlestown neighborhood,” she said. Meanwhile, the new CharlestownDogs group has chimed in as well, having been calling for an official dog park to be put under the Tobin since the group formed last year. "CharlestownDogs is an active stakeholder in the consideration of any open space in Charlestown,” said Chris Lovell of CharlestownDogs. "In support of all residents of Charlestown, we seek to increasingly recognize the importance of reserving open space for all our residential use including dogs and dog owners. The areas under the Tobin are one of several places where dog areas should be a consideration. We welcome the conversation and consideration.” they invite Him into their lives – to stay the night and dine with them in the inn. Choosing to share our beliefs with others, with deep respect, humility and courtesy is a gift we can offer one another. Not only might it bring some light and hope to another, it will likely bring the same to you! The most precious gift you have been given is your faith – share it! S E RV I C E D I R E C TO RY JOHN J. RECCA PAINTING Interior/Exterior Commercial/Residential Fully Insured Quality Work Reasonable Rates Free Estimates reccapainting@hotmail.com 781-241-2454 (continued from pg. 12) of the conversation, but was not on the tour last summer. He said, informally, that he could see some benefits to using the dead space. “I’d love to explore opportunities for using the space under the bridge,” he said. "There are some jurisdictional issues that would have to be worked out among several government entities that control property under there. But, other cities have done some incredible things with bridge space. Manhattan has a restaurant under the interstate near the old Fulton Fish Market. Washington D.C. had tennis and basketball courts under the bridges in my neighborhood when I lived there. There are great possibilities. If the community can come up with a good plan for the space it will make it a lot easier to bring the government agencies that control the land into the conversation.” At the IAG meeting, One Charlestown’s Sarah Barnat brought up the subject. “Would you all like to see that area under the Bridge activated?” she asked. “We would too. I think that’s something we can get started sooner rather than later.” That came after IAG member Bill Kelly noted that One Charlestown should push the state to make it safer and better lit under the bridge. “That’s really underutilized space and we should have something happening there,” said Kelly last week. road and talking about religion. A stranger comes along and enters the conversation; more accurately invites Himself into the conversation. The stranger is the Resurrected Jesus. The story of what took place on the road to Emmaus has been famous for centuries and still speaks to us today. The two disciples, talking about their faith and their confusion, their uncertainties and the times discover that Christ is in their midst. They discover Him when LA POINTE PAINTING Electrical Services Unlimited Renovations – Ceiling fans Washer Dryer lines Outdoor accent lighting Panel upgrade to breakers Interior – Exterior Free Estimates Insured 617-519-3436 781-324-3952 SNOW REMOVAL SERVICES k For H GComepeutheor mcoensourltbaunstinaevsasil. abilerfoer Shoveling, snowblowing, ice & hazard removal, plowing. Complete snow removal & disposal available. Currier Landscaping Company 857-366-1116 Geoff Currier PARTY BUS! Interior & Exterior Painting Historic Restoration Plaster & Drywall Repair Wallpaper Removal Book Now! Let us drive and arrive alive! 617-242-2666 Your Ad here, Call 781-485-0588 617-241-9664 617-515-2933 Michael P. McCarthy Painting, Inc. 14 passenger bus for your special event. Holiday Parties Bachelor/Bachelorette Big Games - Concerts Shopping -Girls’ Night ServiceS include: • PC support & networking of all types with focus on secure Internet access (wired & wireless), • broadband router & firewall technology, • virus detection/prevention, • spam control & data security/recovery. 617-930-6650 www.mpmpainter.com WE BUY GOLD AND COINS $ Highest Price $ Jewelry Box 781-286-Cash (2274) | 345 Broadway, Revere &Kitchen Bath 781-558-2359 FULLY LICENSED & INSURED • Painting, Plastering, Plumbing & Electrical • All Phases of Carpentry Including Doors, Moldings, Windows, Stairs • All Phases of Flooring Including Tile, Marble, Hardwood Sanding, Refinishing, Installing • Siding, Roofing Masonry FREE ESTIMATES Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Bridge ashamed about our positions on such matters? Are we afraid we will offend another if we speak of such things? Certainly a key element in such conversations must be mutual respect; all of us have a right to be respected and a responsibility to be respectful in our conversations about matters that are personal and perhaps very sensitive. But wouldn’t our community be a better and healthier place if democrats, republicans and independents as well as Protestants, non-Christians and Catholics could all sit and talk together? I believe that within our community and beyond we need to foster such tolerance and openness to one another. We have the potential of being more completely the melting pot and the rainbow that describes out national history as well as our ecclesiastical histo- PA G E 1 1 12 PA G E 1 2 T H E C H A R L E S T O W N PAT R I O T- B R I D G E OCTOBER 27, 2016 Under the Bridge Residents seek to re-use land under Tobin By Seth Daniel Photo by Joe Prezioso The space under the Mystic/Tobin Bridge is currently being used for heavy-machinery storage, but may residents and the One Charlestown developer would like to see it used for creative public space like under the Expressway in the South End. This week, the state signaled they have been on a tour of the space and are open to doing something there. The dead spaces under the Mystic/Tobin Bridge have long been reserved for a lot of nothing. Few people ever wanted to be caught there after dark and it was considered an area to drive by and not look too closely at - for fear of what one might see. Nowadays, it is mostly innocuous land covered with gravel from Vine Street to the far end of Chelsea Street where the Little Mystic heads to the sea. Dump trucks, salt piles and state-owned equipment dot the landscape. But nowadays with every square inch of land being eyed for programming and positive uses, many are looking to other communities like Chelsea and the South End - which have worked proactively with the state to use land Cyan Magenta Yellow Black under the Tobin and under the Expressway for parks and public amenities. For the past few years, quiet calls have come out to look at using the space under the Tobin in Charlestown for the same creative and practical purposes. This month, that idea is being shifted into overdrive with the beginning of the public process on the redevelopment of the Bunker Hill Housing Development, a project known as One Charlestown. That project - which creates 13 new city blocks and adds 2,200 market rate housing units to 1,100 existing public housing units - abuts the Tobin and the dead space underneath. At public meetings last week, the developer and members of the Impact Advisory Group (IAG) expressed major interest in activating the space. This week, the Patriot Bridge learned that the state Department of Transportation (DOT) has already begun working with One Charlestown and other state departments to think about programming under the bridge. “The area under the full length of the Tobin Bridge is a combination of Massport, State, and City of Boston-owned property,” said MDOT spokesperson Jacquelyn Goddard. "Representatives from MassDOT’s Office of Real Estate and Asset Development have engaged in preliminary discussions with the City’s designated developer of the One Charlestown project and participated in a site tour of that project in late summer. The developer and City expressed interest in upgrading and maintaining the area, including parking and other improvements. MassDOT representatives told the developer that we would be interested in working with the developer and City to improve the area, with the understanding that any activity may not adversely affect Tobin Bridge operations. The developer agreed to prepare ideas and schematics following further discussions with the City and neighborhood. MassDOT has not yet received any further information but MassDOT looks forward to continued conversations with all stakeholders including members of the public.” State Rep. Dan Ryan said he looks forward to being part (Bridge Pg. 11)