SAY BYEBYE TO PIER 5
Dear Editor,
“Say Bye-bye to Pier 5, Other News and Notes,” compelled me to weigh in on the idea of preserving the precious trees that are planted to balance the very close proximity of so many houses/businesses in one tiny little square mile. Without trees and other plant life, Charlestown loses everything it has long aimed to become.
Growing up in Charlestown in the 1950s and 1960s was on so many levels an incomparable experience. One element of that experience though was never pleasant and even depressing. Our family had the privilege of occasional summertime visits to Tyngsboro, where we infrequently played in nature’s abundance. This familial retreat included becoming familiar with many varieties of trees. But then with the inevitable contrasting experience of the return to where we lived, a town seemingly devoid of trees, created a schism in me that wasn’t resolved until I decided to only live where there were trees.
I nearly wept when it was revealed in the article that “a bevy of new trees on A Street were killed due to poisoning by dog urine.” Two paragraphs later, the discussion of purchasing “Big Dog” art stimulated questions in this reader … Is there a plan to attach a urinal to the Big Dog art, which can pinch-hit to deal with urine poison? Could the BPDA redirect the resources being used for dog art toward a plan to deal with the inevitable animal toilet issues?
I love dogs. I love trees. Isn’t there a way for them to safely, peacefully coexist?
Nancy O’Neil-Hannan
PIER 6 BOSTON RESTAURANT, CHARLESTOWN, GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND
Dear Editor:
Recognition! The owner of Pier 6 Boston, a restaurant in Charlestown, went way, waaaaay above and beyond for my family. A terrifying car accident occurred outside his restaurant (a car drove off the Pier). He deployed himself and his staff to help the accident victims, allowed them unlimited space in his restaurant to get situated and deal with authorities, and treated them to dinner. Through all this, he avoided the media and focused solely on the victims’ well-being.
Why didn’t Mike, the owner, want all that free press? Apparently he cares more about people.
My parents are the victims of this car accident. I just spoke with the Pier 6 Boston owner this week. He simply refused to accept my ‘thank you.’ Instead he just wanted to know how my parents were doing. Then he said, “Tell your parents to stop in anytime for ‘food on the house’ since they went through such an ordeal.” When I responded, “Huh? On the contrary, we should be buying you dinner,” he refused and, again, showed genuine concern and well-wishes for my parents.
That is why I’ve written this letter to the editor; Mike, the owner, is a very good person. And while he doesn’t want recognition, I encourage everyone to visit his restaurant and recognize him.
Also deserving, a huuuge thank you to all the additional people who helped my parent’s rescue that night. There were a lot of heroes. Thank you, you all transformed a very scary situation into one with few long-term consequences.
To Mike and everyone else, thank you all very much.
David Goldberg
IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION
Dear Editor:
I am writing for Charlestown residents and the nearly 700 that signed a recent petition. We cannot control development at North Point Cambridge, Assembly Row Somerville, the casino in Everett or the North Station complex. The traffic of these surrounding neighbors already impacts us, boxing us in AND contributing to a high rate of asthma.
Living in Charlestown for 40 years, my family and I have witnessed many changes. It is alarming to me that a tower of 275 feet will be added to our Town’s one-square mile.
It is time to take action. We the people of 02129 are working on traffic issues, density, future building projects which impact quality of life.
Please join us.
Ed Katz