THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 FREE charlestown PATRIOT-BRIDGE DISCO FOR DAVID FUNDRAISER Defining a New Direction for the Charlestown Navy Yard Staff Report ment.” On Thursday, Sept. 26, at 6 The Navy Yard will likely go p.m., the National Parks of Boston through a major transformation in will host a public meeting at the the next few years in regard to vis- USS Constitution Museum located itor experience, land use, develop- at the Charlestown Navy Yard to ment and rehabilitation – and the discuss the future of the Yard. discussion of those changes will The National Park Service, begin this month in a wide-rang- USS Constitution Museum and ing meeting with the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Navy will present cur- the National Park Service and the rent planning efforts underway Constitution Museum to discuss for the Charlestown Navy Yard the Yard’s future. unit of Boston National Historical “I think this is an opportunity Park. The vision set forth in these for the Parks, Museum and Navy plans provides an exciting new to meet people and talk about this strategy for enhancing the visitor place we’ve spent the last couple experience and providing for the of years working with a planner long-term stewardship of the Navy and designer regarding how we Yard resources. can enhance the Navy Yard and The National Park and its part- make it a world-class place for ners have strategically invested in visitors and the community,” said several major planning efforts for Michael Creasey, superintendent the Charlestown Navy Yard set- of the National Parks of Boston. “It’s about continuing the engage- (NAVY YARD Pg. 2) Photo by Derek Kouyoumjian Lynne Woods, Joan Markham, Maryhelen Whelan (David Whelan’s wife), Mark Dowd, Alyce Sheehan, David Arbuckle, and Rose Berttuci gather for a photo before hitting the dance floor for the fourth annual Disco for Seeing a Friend: Charlestown church David. The annual fundraiser brought more than 300 people to the Knights of Columbus Hall on Friday, Sept. launches unique photo project 13. The fundraiser, named for the late David Whelan, has raised more than $37,000 in the last four years for memorial scholarships. See Page 14 for more photos. By Seth Daniel are coming from,” he said. “I have a friend on Eden Street who It’s often said that Charlestown told me his whole world is Main Second Chat with a Planner gets down to goals, mission is a small one-square-mile, but it’s Street, Russell Street and Bunker also often surprising how little Hill Street. It’s one square mile, By Seth Daniel the beautiful afternoon to change After a great deal of going the location to the piazza at the around the room, resident Dan residents know about areas and but there were a lot of places Despite a crazy start to the sec- Bunker Hill Mall rather than in Jaffe rousted the troops to get people of that square mile that in the neighborhood he had no ond Chat with a Planner meeting the community room at the library. some consensus. they don’t live in. frame of reference for…A lot of on Tuesday afternoon, the bulk That infuriated an already infu- Through a show of hands, Those on Medford Street often our involvement is based on what of the effort got down to the riated group of about 100 resi- virtually everyone in the room don’t make it over to Washington sport our kids play, where we business of crafting the planning dents that turned out at 4 p.m. to agreed that the boundaries should Street. drink coffee and what street you’re study that the Boston Planning talk about the planning process. be the entirety of the Town – as City Square neighbors aren’t on. That becomes your group and and Development Agency (BPDA) It was a rocky start, but credit defined by the City’s Charlestown likely to walk down to Bunker Hill there’s not a ton of overlap with intends to commence in January. is due to the BPDA for turning it neighborhood map. That was an Development or NewTown. others. If you have to walk over It’s probably never a good around, and the community for important first step because the And the story goes on and on. two big hills to the other side of idea to suddenly change the loca- taking charge of the situation to BPDA had said initially it would Now, Pastor JD Mangrum of the Town, you don’t do it. I don’t tion of a very controversial, and get down to the business of defin- “plan the edges and protect the Christ Church Charlestown – do it. Our hope is the photographs heavily attended, public meeting ing what the January planning core.” Instead, the Town has asked who is also a member of the will allow people see places here – particularly one that is to dis- process will entail. that the entire neighborhood be Charlestown Neighborhood they haven’t been and it brings cuss the Master Plan process in “We are here to listen tonight to part of one large plan. Council – is looking to break people together whose paths aren’t Charlestown, an issue that has the you,” said Jason Ruggiero, of the With that out of the way, it was through those barriers with a crossing.” community ginned up from City BPDA. “There is not yet a scope, time to talk preferences. unique photo exhibit this month The exhibit doesn’t depend Square to The Neck. a boundary or a framework. It’s A major concern was the lack of called ‘Through Our Eyes.’ upon the trained eye of a Life But, on a whim, BPDA offi- your framework, your boundary “Part of this is about learning cials decided to take advantage of and I’m here to listen.” (CHAT Pg. 15) where people – one another – (FRIEND Pg. 15) CNC COMMUNITY CORNER Guide to Schools The monthly meeting of the Charlestown Neighborhood Council will be held on Tuesday October 1 in the Knights of Columbus Hall, 545 Medford Street at 7 pm. The public is encouraged to attend. Special Section on pages 5-12 2 PAGE 2 THE CHARLESTOWN PATRIOT BRIDGE SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 editorial ENJOY THE FALL SEASON Despite the exceptionally wonderful and warm early-fall weather we have been enjoying recently, the calendar does not lie -- and the fall sea- son squarely is upon us. For many New Englanders, autumn is our favorite time of year. Even the warmest of days are tempered by cool nights, bringing a crispness to the air that is devoid of the stickiness of summer’s languid humidity. All of us (especially those of us who are getting on in years) breathe more easily when the dew point is not in the oppressive range. Unlike summer, when the heat and humidity confine us to our air-con- ditioned homes, cars, and offices, fall beckons us to get outside and be active, whether we’re hard-core athletes or those who just like to take a nice walk. Fall also is foliage season, arguably the most-glorious time of year in our region, when splashes of color are everywhere, bringing us nature’s palate that is a feast for the eyes. The French philosopher Albert Camus put it this way, “Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf is a flower.” An autumn hike in the mountains of New Hampshire, Vermont, and the Berkshires truly is a Zen-like experience. However, as with everything in life, fall is fleeting. By this weekend, the leaves already will be turning color in far northern New England and the profusion of reds, oranges, and yellows will drift southward over the ensuing few weeks. We recall being in Portland, Maine (when our chil- dren were younger and they were at a Columbus Day weekend soccer tournament) and the leaves turned color seemingly overnight during our stay. So enjoy the fall while it is here and take advantage of the all-too-brief window of opportunity to create memories that will last a lifetime for ourselves and our families. LETTERS to the Editor NAVY YARD (from pg. 1) A WELL-ATTENDED policy for our planet. We are all ful, positive action has arrived. being challenged to commit to All of us understand that, since ting the groundwork for master the private sector and bringing in SUCCESS changes in the ways we power our most humans have had precious redevelopment of the navy yard. organizations and businesses that Dear Editor, lives. Such changes will need to be little creature comforts over our The “Visitor Experience Plan,” would enhance the experience of Wednesday’s concert featur- swift, actionable, measurable and millennia on earth, there is a com- a community engaged and col- the Park for visitors and residents. ing the Henry Acker Trio was must all focus on a single commit- munal sigh of relief that we now laborative effort, is shaping the “We want to talk about the a well-attended success. Families ment – to stop and then reverse can have heat and hot water at direction for determining invest- buildings we would like to keep enjoyed picnics and we saw quite climate change. the touch of a button or turn of ment priorities that make visitor and opportunities for the private a few new faces on the front lines For years, while the science a tap. How seductive this all is. experience a priority and allow sector to retain others for other watching the talented 15-year-old regarding global warming, and its But it is not sustainable! Without for non-contributing resources to uses,” he said.