Boylston-Area Business Owners Eager to Reopen

For the first time since the April 15 bombings, city officials and inspectors are taking businesses owners through the Boylston Street blast zone.

The area surrounding the site of the Boston Marathon bombings is not quite back to normal, but it’s starting to get close. City officials and inspectors have been leading business owners through their businesses within the still-closed-off section of Boylston Street Tuesday. The FBI handed the crime scene off to the city of Boston Monday, but Boylston Street between Hereford and Berekley streets is still closed to the public. Keith Shirley, owner of Meridian Realty Group at 46 Gloucester St. between Newbury and Boylston streets, said the lack of access to his business for the past eight days has made things difficult.  “We’ve had logistical issues,” he said from behind the blocked off gate on Gloucester Street. “We haven’t been able to …

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What Charlestown Business Were You Sad to See Close in 2012?

In a difficult economy, businesses come and go all the time. Tell us which ones you were sad to see go in the comments section below.

It was another year of welcomes and farewells for Charlestown businesses. The announcement that Whole Foods had bought the Charlestown Johnnie's was shocking enough, but then came news that the supermarket would close for a year while renovations were made. That launched a petition drive to get Whole Foods to offer shuttles to other markets. Sensing an opportunity, several other supermarket chains also offered shuttle service to their stores. Another recent surprise came when Tavern on the Water closed, leaving many regulars searching for a new spot to call home. TELL US: What Charlestown businesses were you sad to see close in 2012? Share with us in the comments section below. 

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Veterinarian Aims to Open Clinic in Mishawum Park

The Mishawum Park clinic would be the second veterinary facility to open in Charlestown in 2012.

It may soon be twice as easy to own a pet in Charlestown, as a second veterinarian this year is on track to open a medical practice for pets in a Mishawum Park commercial bay. Dr. Olga Iglikova presented her plan recently to the Charlestown Neighborhood Council. The facility, she said, would handle routine maladies at affordable prices. The facility would not board animals overnight and would not perform complex surgeries—though it would provide simple ones. Iglikova, who said she would run the practice herself, said she would keep its medicine stores to a minimum. “We don’t use drugs that will attract people from the streets,” Iglikova said. “[We would have] nothing that you could inject and have any kind of fun out of it.” Iglikova said …

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TONIGHT: Summer Soiree at Paolo's

Event combines olive oil, appetizers and art.

Join Paolo's for a sampling of numerous varietals of extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars provided by Boston Olive Oil Company. Indulge in Paolo’s complimentary appetizers made with these flavorful ingredients! Meet local Boston artist, Rajiv Ramaiah, who has been featured in the Boston Metro, Somerville News, and BostonInno.com. Consider his masterpieces the next time you are in need of a clever and unique gift. Check out his work at www.mapuccino.com!                  Details: Paolo’s, 251 Main Street, Charlestown 5pm – 7pm

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Your Take: Petco Announces Aug. Opening Date

Our readers argue for and against Petco coming to town.

It should come as no surprise that our story Friday about Petco announcing the opening date for its Bunker Hill Mall store generated a fair amount of conversation. Most locals took a sharp tongue toward Petco's small-format Unleashed store, instead backing locally-owned pet boutique Durty Harry's. Here are a few choice comments: "I think Durty Harry's rocks and would not go anywhere else for my dogs! Petco has the right to open here, just as Domino's has the right. It does not mean you have to use their services. Michelle and crew have embraced this community and I intend to embrace them back... Shop locally!" —Jim Mansfield  "Hopefully like ever other corporate store that has tried in the "deficit mall" will fail also, all that mall is, a…

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Life Focus Center's State Funding Threatened

A spokesperson for the Life Focus Center says the group is on track to meet state requirements and keep its funding.

Life Focus Center, the Charlestown nonprofit recently accused of improperly spending taxpayer money, has been threatened with the loss of state funding, but a spokesperson for the group said it is on track to meet the auditor’s requests. The Boston Herald reported this week that “the nonprofit has until Monday to come up with a plan to fix problems,” or risk losing contracts with the Department of Developmental Services, which awarded the center $1.7 million in funding last year. Justine Griffin, a public relations professional with Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications, said that the nonprofit should be on track to maintain those contracts. Since meeting with the state auditor last fall, Griffin said, leaders at Life Focus Center “have …

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Donna O'Brien

3:04 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Thank you, Mr. Fine. My FB post was a shout out to Fr. Mahoney. I do believe there are two threads going on regarding this matter. I am hoping to organize some folks to insure the LFC consumers and the program stay in Charlestown. Are you in ;)?   more ›

Help Determine the 'Best Of' Charlestown

A weekly feature lets our readers choose the best of everything in town.

Starting on Monday, we'll have a new feature on Charlestown Patch called "Best Of," which asks our readers to tell us who makes the best frozen treats, sandwiches or where the best date night location is in town. Patch's "Best Of" series focuses on a different area of business each week, as we're looking to help Townies get the best service, deals and meals in Stoneham only. On Monday mornings, a new topic will be posted to vote on. Vote in our polls, leave comments why you enjoy a particular establishment or business, while also posting a review of a local business. We'll compile votes, comments and relevant directory listing reviews throughout the week, until Friday at 9 a.m. Because our poll is not scientific, it is not the sole …

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Charlestown-Based One to One Cuts 45 Staff

The firm laid of 30 workers this week, 15 more in recent weeks.

Charlestown Firm Extends Produce Business In Town

Boston Organics adds Charlestown deliveries.

The following press release was submitted by Boston Organics. It was edited only for format. With increasingly busy schedules and the abundance of unhealthy foods available in offices, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle in the workplace. Boston Organics, an organic produce delivery company based in Charlestown, is on a mission to help local Charlestown businesses improve the health and happiness of their employees by delivering boxes of fresh, organic fruits to offices on a regular basis.  With a mission to provide easy access to healthy food, Boston Organics has been delivering organic produce to households across the Boston area since 2002. The company recently began providing fresh fruit for offices as the demand for …

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Charlestown Professor Helping Shot Rep. Recover

Dr. Marjorie Nicholas "wouldn’t be surprised to see [Gabrielle Giffords] again in the political arena at some point in the future.”

The following was submitted by the MGH Institute of Health Professions. It has not been edited. MGH Institute of Health Professions Associate Professor Marjorie Nicholas, PhD, CCC-SLP, is assisting U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Arizona, recover from the 2011 shooting. Dr. Nicholas, a speech-language pathologist who has taught at the MGH Institute since 2001, first worked with Rep. Giffords for two weeks last October. Along with colleague Nancy Helm-Estabrooks, the two women assisted Rep. Giffords regain language skills the congresswoman lost in the aftermath of the January 8, 2011 shooting that left six people dead and 13 wounded. “It was a great experience, and I was honored to have the opportunity to help her,” said Dr. Nicholas, an …

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