Comments for Charlestown Patriot-Bridge

Comment on Julie Sullivan: Reflecting on a Charlestown Life by Grace Walsh

Grace Walsh — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:14:00 +0000

Julie, I miss seeing you coming into City Hall. Hope you get to come in when weather permits. I know it’s been too cold to walk over the ‘Bridge’. You’re doing marvelous. I miss going on the “Oldies but Goodies” trips. I miss the laughter, fun and games……My best to you, see you soon, Graceann

Comment on Sundays with Kristin by Forgiano

Forgiano — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:38:00 +0000

What a terrific article. I can just feel the positive energy and excitement for a new adventure.
Can’t wait ti take a class there.

Comment on Restoring a Piece of Charlestown’s History by G.L. Dryfoos

G.L. Dryfoos — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:03:00 +0000

Thanks for including the actual address in all that.

Comment on Sports 03-17-2011 by Stephen Masse

Stephen Masse — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:37:00 +0000

Fantastic memories of the Charlestown Boys Club! I remember the games room with its low oak tables, where we played checkers, chess and other games (some missing pieces). There was a TV set in the back left corner, where many of us would watch serial black and white shows such as Fury. Movies were always a dime, but we often got in free by volunteering to set up the steel folding chairs, or occasionally “frauding” the black hand stamp off some other kid’s hand. Adventure movies and monster movies would have us all hyper and horsing around afterwards.

We used the pool for a penny every Saturday, and swam buck naked. Imagine that going on nowadays! I was at first self-conscious, but with 40 other boys in the same condition I got used to it pretty fast.

I was found to have 14 cavities when I was about 10 or 11 years old. Miss Eason was the visiting dentist. I saw her as a bespectacled battleaxe, but knew that her volunteering showed a big heart. She kept a bottle of red cinnamon Lavoris for mouth rinsing after cleanings, and once I witnessed her give a boy a mouthful and tell him, “Swallow it, it won’t hurt you.” I had my first tooth extraction there, if my memory is correct.

Mrs. DeSimone (“Miss Dee”) was our resident librarian. I liked her enough to actually read some books and report on them to her. I also remember volunteering to stuff envelopes in the library for Mr. Santapaul, whom we called Mr. SantaClaus because he was large and had white hair. Remember coming in the entry door and reporting your member number to Harvey Brooks, who would record it on the member chart? I later discovered he was a parole officer, what a guy!

I so clearly remember Mr. Bernard giving music lessons. My brother and I took guitar lessons with him for a couple of years. He was a magnificent soul with the most gentle manner. He spoke with a Ludwig von Drake voice, and sometimes if he coughed he would put his hand over his chest and ask, “Is that TB?” If we didn’t practice enough and were making mistakes, he would stop pointing at notes with his pencil, look over his glasses at us, and ask, “Did you practice this piece?” We didn’t need to answer, he would just know. “Hold out your hand, get your punishment,” he would say, and then ever so gently brush the back of our hand in a mock slap, just to make his point. The memories of him are enshrined in the character of Mr. Bernard in my children’s novel, The Taste of Snow, which was published in October of 2011.

Thanks for bringing up such colorful memories, and I’d sure love to hear more from other former members!

Comment on Remembering Our Fallen Heroes by Jacky EMERY

Jacky EMERY — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:57:00 +0000

Hello from France. I’m very happy to have reat this article. Sorry for my bad english. I’m proud to be one of french people who take care of the memories of American soldiers who gave they lifes for our freedom. Every year I go, for the memorial Day, in the cemetery of St James and flowered 9 graves of airmen fall in my department. After for the DDay we pass 3 days to assist at the commemoration of the DDay. During this time we flowered 15 graves of soldiers. Too airmen fall in my departement. I’m proud to do that. We never forgotten these men and women died for your freedom.

Comment on Menino’s Pledge on Schools is Positive for Charlestown by PKelley

PKelley — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:59:00 +0000

This is great news! When children attend a local school you get a lot of support from adults when it comes to extra curricular activities. If they are playing in a local game, or participating in a school play, and people can walk down the street to see it - it encourages more school spirit. I especially like the idea of putting transportation money back into the school. I personally have witnessed large school buses with only a handful of students riding them. This is wasteful.

Comment on Jerry Steimel honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by Linda O'Callahan Raymond

Linda O'Callahan Raymond — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:21:00 +0000

I had the pleasure of working with Jerry, while I worked for the Club as the Part-time community fundraiser almost 25 years ago. Jerry was a wonderful man who truly cared about the kids and the community. Belated congrats to him.

Comment on Gloria Conway by Sergeant Tom Lema

Sergeant Tom Lema — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:47:00 +0000

Our Boston Police District A-1 Community Service Office has had a partnership with the newspaper for more than 20 years. We worked with Gloria at the newspaper for many years. Gloria promoted all of our police/community events. She recorded all of our crime statistics and reported on all of the major crime incidents in the town. I can’t say enough about Gloria’s professionalism. She was also a very nice person with a soft touch. She had incredible patience with us. Gloria and her husband Jim operated a top shelf community newspaper that highlighted every event that occured in the town. There were just as many pictures as articles. Both Gloria and Jim took great pride in promoting Charlestown. Thank you Gloria and Jim Conway.
Sergeant Tom Lema

Comment on Local Charlestown Boys Earn Spots on the Greater Boston Junior Bruins Pee Wee Major Team by Kathy Doherty

Kathy Doherty — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:21:00 +0000

Thanks to all the Charlestown Businesses and family, friends and neighbors Nolan and Cam have reached their goal and WILL be heading to Quebec next month for what will be a life cherishing moment for them both. They will represent Charlestown, familiy and friends proudly. GO GET EM BOYS!!!!

Comment on Remembering Our Fallen Heroes by Lesueur Jean-marc

Lesueur Jean-marc — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:49:00 +0000

Good idea to adopte the graves.. Browse our website: http://www.fleursdelamemoire.free.fr... We have been adopting more than10.000US graves in Normandy-

Never forgotten these men.. we died for our freedom…

JM LESUEUR Awon representative in Normandy-