CHARLESTOWN BEAT Robbery – Carjacking 08/15/2016 – A victim on Rutherford Avenue reported as he exited the bank and returned to his car, a white male swung open the driver’s door, motioned as if he had a weapon and took the victim’s car. A description was broadcast, and officers observed the motor vehicle on...
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Townie Tidbits
YEE! HAA! GOING BACK TO TEXAS Once a year for the last nine years, I have been taking what I refer to as my vacation to America. I love Massachusetts but my politics bleeds red not blue. Even though I visit the epicenter of Texas liberalism, compared to Boston, Austin may be weird as...
Harnessing the Creativity of Boston’s Artists to Build A Better City
By Mayor Martin J. Walsh I was excited to join the Mayor’s Mural Crew last week, as they celebrated their 25th anniversary of beautifying our City. I picked up a paintbrush, and colored in a mural of ballet dancers on the wall of the performing arts center on Blue Hill Avenue. As I painted...
BRA Calls for Public Hearing on Graphic Arts Building
By Seth Daniel The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is expected to approve a public hearing today, Aug. 11, at its Board meeting that would being the Planned Development Area (PDA) process for the Graphic Arts project on Sullivan Square. In public materials, the BRA recommended that the Board allow for the advertisement of the...
State Approves Six-Year Urban Renewal Plan for BRA,City
By Seth Daniel The state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has approved the six-year extension of 14 urban renewal districts in the City of Boston – per request of the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) – and the state agency has an eye to the future of those areas. While the public debate...
Liquor Licenses to be Released Sept 1,But Charlestown Loses Out On Most
By Seth Daniel On Sept. 1, the last 25 liquor licenses from the 2014 neighborhood-friendly license initiative spearheaded by Councilor Ayanna Pressley will be released, but Charlestown restaurants will lose out on getting a shot on at least 20 of those licenses – having to compete with downtown, Back Bay, Fenway and other high-profile...
Council President,Mayor See Through Different Lenses On Pot Question
By Seth Daniel Council President Michelle Wu has admittedly never tried marijuana. And, while at Harvard University, she recalls her and her roommates being very disturbed by some of the other students who filled the hallways with marijuana smoke from time to time. That said, she has come out in favor of the ballot...
Police Briefs 08-11-2016
CHARLESTOWN BEAT’ Larceny 08/02/16 – A victim reported while visiting the Bunker Hill Monument, she placed her gold Fossil pocketbook down next to her, and a short time later, she observed the bag was gone. Larceny 08/04/16 – A victim on Prospect Street reported that unknown person(s) stole the four Michelin tires from his...
Townie Tidbits
By Sal Giarratani MICHAEL’S MISSION TURNS INTO MISSION POSSIBLE Everyday four people die in Massachusetts from heroin overdoses. On July 2, 2015, Michael Cain was one of those four a day. Young Michael had just celebrated his 24th birthday on June 18. Michael was one of 1,526 people who lost their lives to heroin...
The Olympic Spirit Still Exists
For almost all of us, the Olympics have provided memories that have lasted a lifetime. We can all measure how old we were, or where we were, when we recall Olympic moments both from our youth and through adulthood. For example, who among us (of a certain age) does not remember, as if it...
Sports 08-11-2016
Townies make comeback to defeat Somerville, 6-4 By Kevin Kelly Charlestown (9-6) rode the arms of starting pitcher Jared Burhoe (3-2, 3.50 ERA) and Jason Smith (5-1, 1.90 ERA, 2 saves) to keep the potent Somerville Reds (11-3) offense in check and advance to the Summer League Babe Ruth championship game against top-seeded Watertown...
Cookie Jar Tourney
Nathan Mainey tries to steal the ball from Camden Greatorex during the Second Annual Cookie Jar Roller Hockey Tournament at Eden Street last Saturday, July 30. The annual tournament is the youngster’s version of the larger Kitchen Kup, which takes place this coming weekend at Eden Street. The Cookie Jar is put on by...
Ferry Service Scheduled to Begin on Pier 4 This Week
By Seth Daniel Many would have said that walking from Pier 4 to Pier 3 to pick up the Ferry Shuttle shouldn’t be such a big deal. Residents of the Navy Yard heard that argument for years from planners, community members and City officials. Those residents always pointed out that such journeys when it’s...
New Web Site Lets People Talk About BPS Master Plan
The Boston Public Schools (BPS) in partnership with Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s City Hall to Go, announced “BuildBPS Kitchen Table Talks,” which are “pop-up” spaces for Boston residents to engage with one another, as well as BPS staff, about the district’s 10-year educational and facilities master plan. One of those meetings will be held...
BCYF Issues New Regs for ‘Drop-In’ Sites
By John Lynds While most Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) summer camps are already regulated by City of Boston’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD) and the Department of Public Health (DPH), Charlestown’s ‘drop-in’ program will have to follow rigorous new standards in the wake of Kyzr Willis’ accidental drowning last week at the...
Somerville Did Not Ask for Reconsideration, May Look at Judicial Review
By Seth Daniel The City of Somerville confirmed Tuesday afternoon that it would not pursue reconsideration of the Chapter 91 license granted to Wynn Boston Harbor last week by the state Department of Environmental Protection. That said, a mayoral spokesperson indicated they might seek judicial review of the decision in Superior Court. “The City...
Wynn Boston Harbor Construction Slated to Start for Real this Week
By Seth Daniel Some 16 cranes sit waiting this week on the Wynn Boston Harbor site. Hundreds of workers, likewise, are waiting in the wings. Wynn Boston Harbor folks were counting the minutes Tuesday afternoon and into Wednesday, Aug. 3, waiting simply to get one piece of paper that they said would unleash construction...
Local Players to Take Part in Dunkin’ Donuts Skills Competition
The Boston Cannons announced the finalist in the Dunkin’ Donuts Skills Competition which will be decided before the team’s final home game on August 6 at Harvard Stadium. The Cannons and Dunkin’ Donuts hosted Skills Competitions in communities throughout the region to determine the finalists. In the competition, kids age-14 and under compete in...
Police Briefs 08-04-2016
CHARLESTOWN BEAT Aggravated Assault 07/26/16 – Officers responded to Samuel Morse Way for a report of a man with a knife. The victim told police that he confronted a suspect, whom he believes broke into his car. The victim said the suspect then brandished a knife and lunged at him before fleeing the area....
Letter to the Editor
Tethering should be banned Dear Editor: The German shepherd in Middleborough who chewed off part of his paw after reportedly being tethered for at least a day and becoming entangled is a reminder of the cruelty and danger of tethering and why it should be banned altogether. Entanglement and neglect are just two of...
Townie Tidbits
SAYING GOOD BYE TO PEGGY FLAHERTY Recently, Peggy Flaherty passed away at the age of 81 years young. She always seemed to be so active, one hardly could tell her age. She was always smiling, in great spirits and enjoyed her life as the wife of a politician and the mother of another. Every...
Enjoy the Last Days of Summer
When we glanced at the calendar this week, it seemed hard to believe that August already is here — and that are just four weeks to go until Labor Day weekend. Summer always is fleeting. It goes by way too fast, even if it has been a perfect summer season, as 2016 thus far...
Kitchen Kup Tournament Finds Success Due to Great Talent, Safe Environment
There’s no doubt that hockey rules the scene in Charlestown for young and old, but in the summer, one would think that ice rinks, hockey skates and sticks are put up in storage for the warmer months. Think again. It’s Charlestown. One of the most highly anticipated hockey events in the Town and beyond...
Night Sailing
A sailboat heads toward the Zakim/Bunker Hill Bridge at sunset during the Courageous Sailing Make-A-Mark Fundraiser on the pier last Wednesday, July 20. The gala on the pier celebrated 20 years of the program and raised money for the Courageous Kids scholarship program to help fund sailing opportunities for Charlestown kids.