A BIG THANK YOU FOR HALLOWEEN
Dear Editor:
Charlestown is a remarkable community, where caring people collaborate to make our Halloween a safe, fun, memorable, inclusive and wonderful Halloween. We are grateful to all who helped us celebrate our 33rd Annual Halloween Parade on Wednesday night, Oct. 31:
The National Park Service, Superintendent Michael Creasey, NPS Ranger Julia Mize and the NPS rangers;
The City of Boston Mayor Martin J Walsh; The Boston Parks & Recreation, Boston Special Events, Boston Transportation, Boston Office of Economic Development, Boston Police Department; State Senator Sal DiDomenico; Councilor Lydia Edwards; Councilor Annissa Essaibi George, and Councilor Ayanna Pressley.
Thank you to the residents of The Monument Square area and The Training Field streets, and
all who generously support our special holiday:
Marcia Alden and the Monument Avenue Team
Balloonatics
Boston Latin School Step Squad.
Boston Portfolio Properties, LLC
The Bubble Guy
Patience Bundshuh and
Bunker Hill Associates
Bunker Hill Mall/ NE Development
Smokey (Michael) Cain
Cambridge Savings Bank, Jane Gricci and CSB Team
JoAnn Carragal
Frank Celeste
CharlestownDogs
Charlestown Lions
Charlestown Mothers Assoc.
Christ Church Charlestown
John Conforti and Alex Cook
Karen Colombosian
Julia Congdon and Camden Holland and friends
Constitution Center/ National Development
The Cooperative Bank, Tom Coots, TCB Team
Diversified Automotive
Domenick Doyle, with Pirates Cary Lynch, Deanne Horn, Kristen Laverty, Matt & Kelly Mason,
Brett Samboy, and Kim Molino.
Wizard Jim Duane and Michelle Duane
Dunkin Donuts
Lynne “Glinda” and Wizard of Oz Rick Enos
‘e” inc
Jay Farraher and Lila Barbuto
First Church
Retired NPS Bill Foley, for the 33rd year
Tom Fortier and Duncan Donahue
Friends of The Charlestown Navy Yard
Friends of The Training Field and President Billy Kelly.
Maureen Grace and Pam Esselstyn
Joanne Grigoli and David Harvey
Jeff Harris
James Hauser
Elizabeth and Peter Hayes
- David Hennessey
Ed Katz, Larry Rinaldi, Arthur Colpack, and Biff Stulgis.
The Kennedy Center
Irene & Peter Kershaw
Rosemary Kverek
Legal Oysteria
Michael and Kathy Litel
Logan Condo Association
Sarah and Eric Maloy
Massport
Doug Macdonald and his Inflatable Team
Ellen McLaughlin
MGH IHP “Super Heroes”
Disc Jockey Ryan Murphy
Peabody Properties
Chris Pizzaro
Jane & Eric Philippi
Tom Resor
Paul Revere (Michael Page )
Suzanne Smore
Sorelle
Suzy’s Red Wagon’s
Betty Stump
Teal Pumpkin, Emilie Baker
Thompson Square Associates
Tony Barrie Marching Band
Marjorie Wallens
Whole Foods/ UNREAL Candy
Olga Zagarova,
Amanda Zettel,
US Navy and Color Guard volunteers.
Diane Valle, Halloween Chair
HEALTH CENTERS OPPOSE QUESTION 1
Dear Editor,
As the leader of a community health center already challenged by a statewide nursing shortage, we are joining the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers in opposing Question 1. The proposed mandated nurse staffing levels at hospitals would drain nurses from community-based primary care settings. It is at these community-based settings that critical preventive and chronic care take place. Nurses are the backbone of our community health center workforce. Not only are they fundamental to providing patients with the highest level of care, they hold the front line against the opioid epidemic and other public health crises in our communities.
What’s more, the threat of service cuts and increased wait times at community hospitals because of the mandated staffing ratios will disproportionately affect our patients. In most cases, community hospitals serve as the single entry point for lower-income residents to receive specialty and inpatient care when they need it. Many of our patients struggle with chronic disease, including diabetes, heart disease and depression — conditions that require attention from all levels of our healthcare system.
While health centers support all nurses in their goals to provide high quality care and ensure safe working conditions, we do not believe that Question 1 is the best way to achieve these aims. The unintended consequences are too far-reaching, placing the health of the state’s most vulnerable communities at risk.
Jim Luisi, CEO