Tuesday, March 19, 2013
A letter to the editor from Brett Rhyne.
- ELECTIONS
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Tuesday, March 19
To the Editor: My name is Brett Rhyne, and I’m running as a write-in candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in the April 30 primary. Why? Because I need a job. That’s only a little facetious. Since I stopped teaching at Salem State College in 2009, I’ve been unemployed or underemployed two-thirds of the time. Put another way, I haven’t been able to provide for my five-year-old boys for half their lives. Thankfully, family, friends, our community and the state have helped greatly, and for that, I’m extremely grateful. As a teacher and a journalist, I’ve always worked to make the world a better place. Now I’d like to be your trusted servant in the U.S. Senate. As I see it, at the heart of our problems is our grow-or-die …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
This letter was submitted by a Charlestown resident.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, January 30
Since Governor Patrick’s transportation plan was recently announced, discussions on funding for transportation projects seem to dominate the news. In response to the current discussions on Beacon Hill, The Massachusetts Public Health Association spoke out in a recent letter featured in the Charlestown Patch on Jan. 24, regarding the direct impact of transportation on public health and the importance of investing in projects that promote public health. Charlestown has an opportunity to address both public health and transportation, in the reconstruction of Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square. The surface option, which is a proposal to reconstruct Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square at grade level, is a cost effective plan to improve …
Sunday, January 13, 2013
This letter was submitted by a group of Charlestown residents.
- GOVERNMENT
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Sunday, January 13
A group of Charlestown residents shared this letter, which they submitted to Seventh District U.S. Congressman Michael Capuano on Jan. 9, 2013: Dear Congressman Capuano: In your letter dated July 18, 2011 you referred to the Rutherford Avenue Project as “...a once in a lifetime opportunity for Charlestown to improve a vast corridor which runs the length of the community.” We agree: it is indeed a once in a lifetime opportunity to enhance the quality of life for the present and future residents of Charlestown. A Charlestown Patch article, dated Nov. 30, 2010, referred to the goal of the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) to transform an automobile-oriented highway-like roadway to a neighborhood-friendly urban boulevard with adequate …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
This letter was submitted by a Charlestown organization.
- OPINION
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Thursday, January 10
With the recent legalization of marijuana in Washington state, pictures were published of young adults gleefully using the drug in public. We believe this sends the wrong message to our young people, especially pre-teens who typically look up to or admire young adults. Parents should consider pointing out that because something is legal does not mean it is acceptable. Marijuana is a proven “gateway drug,” and for those who move on to stronger drugs the battle back is difficult and lifelong. The devastation along the way is something that is all too familiar; every effort should be made to avoid it. Mike Charbonnier, CHAD President Charlestown Against Drugs Inc. Got something to say on this or any other local topic? Email Letters to the …
Thursday, November 29, 2012
This letter was submitted by a group of Charlestown residents.
- OPINION
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Thursday, November 29, 2012
Charlestown has a historic opportunity to redesign Rutherford Avenue. Given this chance, a group of Charlestown residents called the Rutherford Corridor Improvement Coalition (RCIC) started meeting with other residents and asking three key questions: 1) what does Rutherford do well or poorly for Charlestown today; 2) what should it do in the future; and 3) what does that mean for its new design? After dozens of discussions across the neighborhood, the answer is clear: Rutherford Avenue should become a vibrant, surface-level city street that works for everyone, not an intimidating highway that divides. The Boston Transportation Department (BTD) will soon finalize the basic blueprint for a re-designed Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan …
Saturday, November 10, 2012
This letter and photos were submitted by the Townie Association.
- COUNT US IN
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Saturday, November 10, 2012
The Townie Association hosted their first annual Halloween Bash fundraiser at the Somerville City Club on Friday, Oct. 19. Arriving in costumes, guests enjoyed a spooktacular evening. There were scrumptious treats, scary tricks, and magical decorations. Putting a spell on everyone, DJ Dennis Taylor generously provided the music. Costume contest winners were as follows: It was amazing to see so much kindness and from the community—both the residents and business. We are grateful to be part of such a supportive neighborhood. The Halloween Bash was truly a success. Proceeds from the event benefitted the Bunker Hill Day Parade. Special thanks to the many Charlestown businesses that generously donated raffle items, gift baskets, and gift …
Thursday, August 30, 2012
One Charlestown resident's perspective on the clash between Boston Public Schools and the Boston Teachers Union.
- SCHOOLS
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Thursday, August 30, 2012
The following letter is a response to recent stories and blog posts about the current clash between Boston Public Schools and the Boston Teachers Union. From my 30 years of experience in education both sides of this question are right. Let's look at teacher evaluation and the role of unions first. The research tells us that our schools produced better results prior to the formation of unions and that right to work states, where there are no unions, do not perform less well than unionized states. Teacher unions provide an important function in negotiating higher salaries and better benefits, but they also protect the veteran teacher that refuses to evaluate and change his belief system or methods even when research tells us there is a …
Friday, May 25, 2012
Reader Allen Reitz urges people to attend the upcoming public meeting regarding the Domino's Pizza proposed for 277 Main Street.
- BUSINESS
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Friday, May 25, 2012
The following was sent to us by reader Allen Reitz. It has been edited only for format. After reading a proposed application for a Domino's Take-Out Pizza Shop at 277 Main St. (currently a commercial office space) I was completely dumbfounded that Domino's would even consider coming into an already saturated pizza market of Charlestown. While I was surprised that it wasn't a new beauty salon or another funeral home applying for the prime location (insert sarcasm here), adding another pizza shop just a few short blocks away from 4 other locations that make and serve pizza? Really? Not to mention, two other locations on Bunker Hill and Medford Streets and and the multiple locations that serve and/or deliver pizza from the North End. What …
42.377514
-71.067011
277 Main St, Charlestown, MA
/articles/letter-is-domino-s-the-best-we-can-do
/locations/7088581
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Peter Dodds suggests a community garden might be a better use for the plot than the 17-home plan currently slated for it.
- OPINION
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Thursday, March 22, 2012
To the readers of the Charlestown Patch, I live on Park Street next to the undeveloped piece of land that is bordered by Park and Warren streets, known as CANA 3. The site is owned by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. There is now a plan to develop this site with 17 townhouses and this has been under discussion for some time. As the City of Boston is now giving serious consideration to expanding the concept of "urban agricultural sites" in open spaces, it occurred to me that the Charlestown Community might want to support an initiative to have CANA 3 be incorporated into this program. The site could be given to community gardens, with agricultural and floral themes and could also include an open space for all members of the …
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Especially with winter coming, animal waste should be controlled.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
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Sunday, January 15, 2012
Dear Mr. Casey, I found out about the Charlestown Patch recently, and I was delighted to discover this source of local news for the community where I have been living now for almost ten years. There is a topic that I do not know if the Charlestown Patch has already discussed, but that I think would deserve serious attention: It is the issue of the increasing quantity of dog crap (forgive me for using this word, but my patience with the phenomenon ran out long ago) that appears on Charlestown's sidewalks and even in the middle of our streets. Charlestown's sidewalks and streets have been turned into sewers for the dogs of irresponsible owners who do not think it is their obligation to clean up after their pets. The situation is beyond …
Joseph
11:11 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
@billonelm - Ignore VJ. Queen of all trolls. more ›