1 THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018 FREE c harlestown PATRIOT-BRIDGE EDWARDS COFFEE HOUR Cookie Jar Roller Hockey tourney set for July 28 By Seth Daniel is being renewed with the Cookie in Charlestown over the decades Jar. – rivaling baseball at times. The When Joe Brennan’s famed “It’s something for the kids in sport has helped kids hone their Kitchen Kup roller hockey tour- the spirit of Charlestown going skills – especially for stick handling nament takes place at Eden Street back as far as the Ann Considine and balance – for the upcoming Park in August, one of the com- at the Charlestown Rink and Joe winter. Chambers said he is glad mon sights to see is young kids and McGonagle at Ryan Field,” he that they can now have something teens leaning on the fence – dream- said. “Even the kids who have official for the kids to practice for. ing of the day they could play. moved out with their parents come “The beauty of street hockey is City Councilor Lydia Edwards has started having coffee hours in Charlestown’s Jamie and back for the day. It’s a day for the that it’s not about speed so much Cyan Charlestown regularly, with her second one taking place at the Grasshopper Shannon Chambers noted that kids who are too young for the as it’s about stick handling and Café on Friday, July 13. Edwards and her staff met with residents to talk scene many times, and four years Kitchen Kup. You see the five- passing,” he said. “If you have a Magenta about concerns and also gather opinions about her legislative priorities. ago, decided to revive the kids year-olds out there skating as hard good goaltender and good stick- Edwards said she will continue the meetings throughout the year. Here, last roller hockey version – which they as anyone. We knew all kids liked work, you can win. Speed isn’t Friday, Edwards (left) is pictured with resident Cheryl Roddy, staffer Judy now call the Cookie Jar. cookies, so we called it the Cookie a factor because the court is so Evers and intern Patrick Kelly. The Cookie Jar this year will Jar.” short.” take place on Saturday, July 28, Chambers said the first few The kids will be divided into Yellow SOFTBALL ACTION starting at 8 a.m. at the Eden Street years were a little slow, but now in two divisions – the Morrissey Rink (The Kitchen) and the Bryan the fourth year, they have kids and Division for the older kids and McGonagle Rink (Ryan Field). teams coming out of the wood- the McGonagle Division for the Black The Chambers said so many kids work. They expect this year’s ver- younger kids. were looking to play, and had no sion to be the best, and Chambers The tournament is open to kids outlet any longer. said he and his wife are very 5-17 and no one is turned away. Many years ago the McGonagle grateful for the many donors who The only cost is $10 for the T-Shirt. family ran a tournament for kids, are stepping up to support the For more information, e-mail and another family ran one before tournament. Shannon Chambers at Shannon. that. However, those efforts faded Street hockey, or roller hockey, [email protected]. away in time, but now that spirit has become the sport of summer Tugboat ‘Luna’ on its way to Pier 3 in the Navy Yard Photo by Emily Harney Kayla Vitale of the Charlestown girls softball U12 league rounds third By Seth Daniel base looking to score a run in the girls game against Winchester Monday, An historic, restored tugboat July 16, at the playing fields. The Charlestown girls took an exciting game, will soon make its home on Pier 18-15. See more photos on Page 4. 3 in the Navy Yard at some point later this summer, ready to tell CLARIFICATION the story of its important place in “Robert McGrath – the namesake of the peace park – was one of the annals of maritime history in those murdered. A Boston Housing Authority police officer of five years, Boston Harbor. he was stabbed fatally with a cake knife by Richard Woods on January 9, The tugboat Luna, a national 1988 when he tried to stop an argument unfolding at the birthday party.” historic landmark, has been pains- The following statement above, which was published in the June 28, takingly restored over the past 17 2018 portion of this newspaper, was written upon the receipt of false years by the Luna Preservation information. Within the June 28 article, readers were presented with the Society since it was rescued from inference that Richard Woods was responsible for the murder of Robert its sunken state in East Boston McGrath in 1988. Such a statement that was presented in that article is around 1996. The tugboat is the now retracted upon further discovery that this specific case had gone to last working example of a wood- trial and Mr. Woods was acquitted of first-degree murder charges after a en-hulled, diesel-electric tug on the trial in court, meaning he was found ‘Not Guilty’ of those charges. East Coast, and now that it’s been Such information can be found within all trial documents regarding restored, the City of Boston and the case. the Society have agreed on a home The restored tugboat Luna in 2016 when the public was allowed to see the The Patriot Bridge regrets the error. restoration progress. (LUNA Pg. 8) 2 PAGE 2 THE CHARLESTOWN PATRIOT-BRIDGE JULY 19, 2018 JULY 19, 2018 editorial Townie Tidbits By Sal Giarratani often spoke of him dying so young in his 20s. “YO AMO LA PAZ” It was a good thing to see Over this summer, communi- young people in the community ty activists in East Boston have been holding peace marches for a get together to construct this peace safe summer in the neighborhood. park, a small space dedicated to One sign carrier held up a sign in the idea that peace is important as Spanish that read YO AMO LA well as healing. Hopefully, it will PAZ, translated I LOVE PEACE. make folks remember that we all We all love peace no matter where we live. We all strive for it. What can play a role in bringing peace is peace? Is it merely the absence to the world we live in daily. It is a of violence or is it much more than positive sign that we can overcome that? I think it is an atmosphere of those things that hold us back respect where we all want to be from peace within ourselves and treated the same. There is so much animosity in the country today with each other. much of it fed by folks bitterly opposed to one another. We need DON’T KNOW ABOUT GUEST OP-ED to do our best not to get infected YOU BUT... by this malady, which appears I still don›t like the idea that spreading like a cancerous growth. Curing Alzheimer's in America The recent establishment of a part of old St. Catherine's is now Peace Park in Charlestown down the site of a Dollar Tree Store. I at the bottom of Mt. Vernon Street know the church closed about 10 in the shadow of the Tobin Bridge. years ago, and probably anything LETTER TO THE EDITOR Black There was an official dedication is better than watching this edifice and march through the commu- rot in front of our eyes and I nity’s streets. Many marched and THANK YOU created because the rents are too increasingly, second jobs. It is know it is close to the projects and high. When Sweden had a hous- others watched with interest. This Dear Editor up to the owners to do the right does seem to fill a need to many ing problem in the '60s, the gov- park was dedicated to the mem- I would like to thank the Ryan thing. ernment set a 10-year goal of ory of Bobby McGrath. He was but I so wished it was something “Duce” Morrisey Scholarship a BHA police officer who was creating a million apartments and Andrew Criscione more than an outlet for cheap Committee for awarding me one fatally stabbed on January 9, 1988 goods from China. of the high school scholarships did it. The current housing goals when he tried to break up a fight OFFENDED BY THE this year. It means so much to of the metro Boston area, with a at a birthday party. The weapon me to be a part of remember- similar population to Sweden at ADVERTISEMENT used a cake knife. The history of NEW FLOWER SHOP ON ing Duce. It will help with the the time, are ridiculously low and homicide in Charlestown is much Dear Editor, MAIN STREET cost of my senior year at Malden too long. Between 1975 and 1994, a moral outrage. There is consen- As a longtime reader of the Larry and Joe have gone to Catholic. Thank you again. reportedly 49 folks were killed in sus among economists: Building Vermont and Bunker Hill Florists Jake Reilly Charlestown Patriot Bridge, most the community’s one square mile more housing lowers the rent. recently I have been greatly dis- but only 26 culprits were ever has now become a part of To deny this is as unacceptable ON AMAZON turbed by seeing the ad for “The arrested. Charlestown›s rich history. The as denying climate change, and COMING Cannabis Queen.” (In the canna- As I said over a month go, in new place just opened and is called to bring about climate change by my mother›s Harrington family Dear Editor JuneBug and several of the old forcing people to commute long bis kingdom Lauren rules!) about 90 years ago her brother I write in response to Navy gang have continued their employ- Although I am well aware of John Callahan was found dead Yard resident Tyler Coady’s distances from affordable housing the new legal status of marijua- in a doorway on Main Street.