100Th Anniversary

1 THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019 FREE charlestown PATRIOT-BRIDGE 100th Anniversary Battle of Bunker Hill Parade steps off Sunday in Hayes Sq. at 12:30 p.m. By Seth Daniel 12:30 p.m. “We have the national com- The Battle of Bunker Hill Parade mander of the American Legion this year will be a combination of coming in to march in the Parade celebrating the 100th year anniver- and that’s really big for us,” sary of the American Legion Post said Parade Coordinator Arthur in Charlestown – with dignitaries Hurley, who is working on his from all over the country march- 48th Parade this year. “We have a ing – as well as celebrating the lot of new stuff – giant balloons. Town with some fun new entries We have a lot more characters for the kids. that will be in the Parade too. A The Parade begins to line up contingent of women in the Town Cyan mid-morning on Sunday, June 16, are doing a float called the ‘Spirits and will have a brief ceremony in of Charlestown.’ We’ll see what Magenta Hayes Square with the National that’s all about…It’s always good Anthem, a ribbon cutting and a to remember this is the Battle of volley shot from the Charlestown (PARADE Pg. 3) Militia. The Parade will step off at Yellow Photo by Derek Kouyoumjian Jimbo Tucker and Leo Breen (right), of the Bunker Hill Associates, welcome a fist bump from visitor Nolan PETER LOONEY GOOD SHEPHERD Lynch. Touch A Truck is an unofficial start of Charlestown Pride Week and is sponsored by Charlestown Mothers Black Association. See Pages 14 and 15 for more photos. NIGHT GRADUATION Flower Power New floral program will be highlighted at Bunker Hill Associates breakfast By Seth Daniel one of the only Floral Schools for fession later…There are a couple kids in the entire city. of kids who have told me they The flowers at the center of each The new program has become want to become florists down the and every table this Sunday morn- an instant hit at the Charlestown road. It has opened up the world ing at the Bunker Hill Associates Boys and Girls Club, said Director of design and art too. We’re a very power-packed breakfast won’t Derek Gallagher this week. Under hands-on class. We learn about come from a fancy downtown the tutelage of art teacher Adrienne color, shape and positive/negative floral gallery. Weston, the program has had great space…It’s actually the very first Instead, they’ll come from interest from the kids, with about floral club I have ever heard of.” Photo by Seth Daniel the hands of 10-year-olds from 50 or 60 involved at one time or Gallagher said he had the idea Little Olivia Gautreau was the hit of Photo by Seth Daniel Charlestown – kids in a program another. when Weston – who has taught the party on Tuesday night, June 11, Graduate Nora Gifford was ready at the Boys and Girls Club that is “The floral business, particu- art at the Club for a few years and during the 5th annual Peter Looney to get her diploma on the Good funded by the Associates and likely larly for weddings is huge and it’s moved to Charlestown three years Night at Peter Looney Park. The lit- Shepherd School graduation on growing and is a form of art that ago – brought in flowers for a tle one in her custom antique stroller June 6 in St. Mary’s Church. She I love,” she said. “It’s been fun class. Weston also has her own flo- joined hundreds of kids and adults was encouraged by teacher Jessie for the kids to try it out and come ral design business on the side, and that came to the park for an evening Rives and School Director Jessica Charlestown Pride Week rolls of fun. Mayor Martin Walsh also on with Talent Show June 13, into the lab and learn about floral works a number of wedding jobs Maxwell. The school graduated 11 design. It’s also a skill kids could made an appearance, along with sev- young people into kindergarten this Fun Day on Saturday, June 15. eral other elected officials. See Pages learn now and maybe do as a pro- (FLOWERS Pg. 3) year. See Pages 26 and 27 for more 8 and 9 for more photos. photos. Happy Bunker Hill Day Eve Dougherty [email protected] compass.com ACE TEAM IS A TEAM OF REAL ESTATE AGENTS AFFILIATED WITH COMPASS, A LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER AND ABIDES BY EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY LAWS. 2 PAGE 2 THE CHARLESTOWN PATRIOT-BRIDGE JUNE 13, 2019 editorial ALI STROKER IS AN INSPIRATION FOR ALL OF US At the age of two, Ali Stroker was in a car accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury that paralyzed her from the chest down, leaving her unable to walk and confining her to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. However, at the age of seven, Stroker saw her first Broadway show and it was at that moment that she says she decided to become an actress. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. Ali’s desire to perform led her to the stage and, with the support of her family, peers, and teachers, she discovered her powerful singing voice and appeared in her high school productions. She won a role in the hit TV show Glee and eventually made her way to Broadway, where she earned a prominent role in the revival of Oklahoma!. This past Sunday night at the Tony Awards show, Stroker performed the song of her character (Ado Annie), I Cain’t Say No -- and then she received the Tony for Featured Actress in a Musical. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR If a fictional movie had been made on the premise of Ali Stroker’s life, no doubt it would be described as powerful and moving, but just a CONCERNS ABOUT years tending to the needs of his As our group and other Veterans nice fantasy. parish and the community. groups in Town know, Fr. Dan PARKING AND Fr. Mahoney’s second vocation has always been a strong support- But Ali Stroker’s life is real, and her success sends a powerful message TRAFFIC is to the Boston Fire Department. er of the men and women in our to all of us that we can achieve our dreams, regardless of the adversity Dear Editor, He was appointed Assistant Armed Forces, and all of our local we may face. Her success also has changed the perception of what is Black The Encore Boston Harbor Chaplain in 1964 and by 1991, Veterans. possible in the face of physical limitations. opening plan all sounds very nice, he was the Chief Chaplain of the Lincoln Post Committee So whenever we’re feeling sorry for ourselves, think of Ali Stroker. She but I'm very concerned about the Boston Fire Department. parking and traffic for local resi- has not attained her dream because of luck, but because she believed in Fr. Mahoney was awarded the NO RESPECT dents who need to get around this Fire Department’s Distinguished herself -- and that’s the most powerful belief any of us can have. Dear Editor: area, particularly park and ride Service Award in 1982 for At a recent meeting on a Friday at the MBTA Wellington station heroically entering a burning afternoon held at the Golden Age, which can already get crowd- Jewish Temple and saving the the community was well repre- SPEAKER DELEO PREPARES FOR ed and is now going to be far sacred “Torah” scrolls from the sented; the people of Charlestown worse with the loss of the Station flames. He was also presented were again shown no respect by THE FUTURE Landing parking garage to the with a commendation from the the Reps from the MBTA. It is casino. This is just rude to the Cambridge Fire Department for hard enough to get to the mall people who rely on this service. risking his life in the performance now, but come September there Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo this week unveiled I'm afraid there are going to be of his duties at the fatal heli- will be no must to Assembly, the details of the plan he announced last February that will provide times where it's just impossible to copter crash at the boat house so the elderly, many on canes $1.3 billion to combat the ever-increasing effects of climate change. park at any of the nearby MBTA on Memorial Drive. The Anti- and walkers find themselves at Among the major aspects of the plan will be the awarding of grants to Stations, particularly if the cost Defamation League New England Sullivan Station, not only do they cities and towns across the state to encourage green energy initiatives to park at the casino is over $40, Region presented Fr. Mahoney have to pay another fare, when they will fill these less expensive with its’ Man of the Year award and climate change resiliency efforts, which are particularly needed they get off the train, they have to lots that we need for commut- in 2006 for his exemplary efforts walk a distance to do their shop- for our vulnerable coastal communities. ing first. Add to that the intense and commitment to fighting Anti- The grant program, called GreenWorks, would be funded by $1 bil- ping. For seniors and others it’s amount of traffic coming through Semitism.

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