Week in Review: Reeling from the Tragedy in Newtown

Life gets busy, and Patch certainly understands that. So with that in mind, here are a few stories you might have missed on Charlestown Patch this week:

1. Lovejoy Wharf Project Moving Forward—A stalled project at the North End’s Lovejoy Wharf is getting a second chance with the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s recent approval of updated plans for the project.
2. Charlestown Residents Light Candles for Newtown—A small group gathered Monday night at Olivia Browning in Charlestown to light candles in memory of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, an impromptu vigil set up by emails and texts earlier in the day.
3. Christmas Gift Ideas for Charlestown History Buffs—Looking for that special Christmas gift for a Charlestown resident past, present or future? Here are some ideas.
4. Police Confiscated 500 Illegal Guns from Boston Streets in 2012—The Boston Police Department has removed more than 500 different types of illegal guns— including high-power, high-capacity guns like those used in the Newtown, CT shooting— from the streets of Boston.
5. City Officials Support Renewed Assault Weapons Ban—The Boston City Council's last meeting of 2012 began and ended up with moments of silence and reflection about the Newtown school tragedy. And in between those silent moments, the council looked to address gun violence.
6. Christmas Inflatables Display To Help Newtown—The Charlestown residents who set up holiday-themed inflatables in Preservation Park are now using the colorful figures to raise some money to send to the community of Newtown, CT, showing support following the Dec. 14 tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
7. Business Turns Table Scraps into Garden Gold—This time of year, many people are focused on what to put on their tables—with dinner parties, family meals and other holiday gatherings. But a company that recently moved to Charlestown is helping people to think about what comes off the table, where it goes and what it could be doing for them.
8. Senate GOP To Introduce Sex Offender Legislation—Senate Republicans expect to file comprehensive legislation during the new session aimed at reforming how information about sex offenders is shared between law enforcement and other officials.
9. Dookhan Pleads Not Guilty to All Charges—Annie Dookhan walked into Suffolk Superior Court Wednesday morning where she was arraigned on 15 of the 27 charges against her in the state drug lab crisis. Dookhan pleaded not guilty to four counts of obstruction of justice, eight counts of tampering with evidence and one count of falsely pretending to hold a degree from a college or university. Charges are pending against Dookhan in other counties as well.
10. —Several T stations got new countdown clocks on the same day the MBTA announced its new general manager.

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