Charlestown Y To Hold 'Pahty in the Yahd' Tomorrow

The fundraiser will include appetizers, a cash bar and a silent auction.

Charlestown Woman Taking Final Steps of 30-Day Bunker Hill Monument Climb

Elena Barbera has been climbing the local monument every day since April 23 to raise money for the amputee victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.

With just two days left of her 30-day Bunker Hill Monument climbing challenge, Charlestown resident Elena Barbera hasn’t yet decided how she will celebrate reaching her goal. But she thinks it will probably involve a big ice cream sundae. Barbera began her month-long journey on April 23, promising to climb the monument’s 294 steps every day through May 22 to raise money to help the 14 people who lost a limb in the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15. “I wanted to do something, take some sort of action for the victims, particularly for the amputees, because I could only afford to give a small amount to any one of them or to the One Fund but I wanted to raise more money than I could give,” Barbera said. “So had the idea to climb the …

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Where to Celebrate Memorial Day 2013 in Boston

Several events are planned around the city this week.

Boston is hosting several Memorial Day observances throughout Memorial Day weekend. Events start on Thursday, May 23 with a service on Boston Common. The Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to the families of military service personnel from Massachusetts who have died while in service to the United States, will host a service at 10:30 a.m. at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The event will include the reading of the names of Bay State soldiers killed as a result of current military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan among a flag garden with thousands of miniature American flags honoring the sacrifices of all fallen Massachusetts service men and women. On Sunday, May 26, a Memorial Day ceremony will be held at Mount …

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5 Things

5 Things: Rabies Clinic, Dyslexia Documentary

Deadlines, events and other items you should know about on May 21 in Charlestown.

1. Possible rain: Today will be cloudy with a chance of showers after 1 p.m. and into the evening, according to the National Weather Service. High: 64, Low: 57. 2. Yoga storytime: Drop by the Charlestown Branch Library (179 Main St.) today at 11 a.m. for stories, songs and some simple yoga poses. Children of all ages are welcome. 3. Dog license and rabies vaccine clinic: A dog licensing and low-cost rabies vaccine clinic will be held today from 4-7 p.m. at the Boston Centers for Youth and Family Charlestown Community Center (255 Medford St.). Cost for the vaccine is $5 per dog or cat, or $2 for senior pet owners. The dog licensing fee is $6 for pets that are spayed or neutered and $17 for all others. All pets should be properly restrained…

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This Inspiring Story Brought to You by Grape-Nuts

Cleanup Organizer Sees a Future of Smaller Footprints

Former high school teacher Pat Conaway sees real hope in the young people who help him clean the area's trails, waterways and roadways.

Pat Conaway admits he is "kind of a nut" about the environment, so when he retired from teaching in 2008, it didn't take long for him to find a number of productive ways to spend his time.  "I wanted to get people fired up about the environment, to try to encourage citizens to get involved locally," said Conaway, founder of Big Hearts, Little Feet.  A nearly constant presence on area roadways, trails and waterways, Conaway can be found leading groups of volunteers, including many students, to pick up trash, improve trails and remove invasive species. From beer cans to soda and coffee cups, trash tossed by the roadside washes into local rivers and, if left alone, eventually finds its way to the ocean, where scientists have found plastic …

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Connolly Opens Campaign Office in Charlestown

The at-large Boston city councillor is the first mayoral candidate to open a headquarters in the neighborhood.

Nearly 50 volunteers gathered Saturday, May 18 at 295 Main St. to open Boston mayoral candidate John Connolly's new campaign office in Charlestown. Connolly, who currently serves as at-large Boston city councillor, is the first mayoral candidate to open an office in Charlestown, according to a press release from his campaign. After the office opening, volunteers headed out into Charlestown to talk with residents about the campaign. Connolly will host a Charlestown campaign kickoff and neighborhood party on Thursday, May 30 at the Knights of Columbus. For details about that and other campaign events, visit www.connollyforboston.com. 

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Suffolk County Sobriety Checkpoint Planned Thursday

Massachusetts State Police will be on the lookout for people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Massachusetts State Police will be operating a sobriety checkpoint this week at an undisclosed location in Suffolk County. The checkpoint will operate sometime between Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24. “The purpose is to further educate the motoring public and strengthen the public’s awareness to the need of detecting and removing those motorists who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs from our roadways,” Colonel Timothy P. Alben, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, said in a press release. Alben noted that, “The selection of vehicles will not be arbitrary, safety will be assured, and any inconveniences to motorists will be minimized with advance notice to reduce fear and anxiety.” For more information, …

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PHOTOS: Charlestown ROTC Cadets Visit African American Veterans Memorial

The students spent time with reenactors from the 54th Regiment and Buffalo Soldiers.

Charlestown High School ROTC cadets got a history lesson at the African American Veterans Memorial last weekend, spending time with members of the 54th Regiment (as seen in the movie "Glory") and with reenactors from the Buffalo Soldiers.

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