1 THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 FREE c harlestown PATRIOT-BRIDGE CHARLESTOWN HIGH BASKETBALL VS EAST BOSTON Police hunt for missing girl focused quickly on Bunker Hill development By Seth Daniel rescue Ambrose from what was certainly a perilous situation. At 5:23 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. The timeline for the quick 20, Boston Police took a walk-in recovery – which was tantamount report for a missing person, Olivia to finding a needle in a haystack Ambrose, from her sister. as she could have been anywhere Less than 48 hours later, police in the region – came down to alert were at the door of her alleged police work on the ground, and kidnapper, drilling through an ille- innovative technology in cyber- gal lock put on his door and pre- space. Through the use of both, Cyan paring to bust into Victor Pena’s Bunker Hill development unit to (AMBROSE Pg. 6) Magenta Smart technology invaluable for law enforcement, but shouldn’t Yellow replace conversations about safety Black By Seth Daniel Bunker Hill was a watershed clue that helped police hone in on No one has ever been fond of the location of the victim, Olivia having their movements tracked Ambrose. by Big Brother – the eye in the sky Already, young people in the – but after the alleged kidnapping Turn It Around program have incident that unfolded in down- been talking about how they might town Boston and in Charlestown’s install the app on their phones Bunker Hill development, many for safety, and law enforcement are re-thinking their position on experts say it is a new wave in such phone tracking apps. personal safety for young children, Photo by Emily Harney That’s because the Find My young adults and the elderly. Jason Michel of the Charlestown High basketball team goes up for two points in the lane during the Townies’ rivalry Friends app used by the victim’s (SMART TECHNOLOGY Pg. 5) game Friday night, Jan. 25, against the East Boston Jets. Charlestown took the win in a back and forth battle, 62-57. sister initially to pinpoint her in National Park Service expresses gratitude WARREN PRESCOTT SKATING for support from Harvest on the Vine By Lauren Bennett who had been dealing with the reopened by the time the distribu- effects of the government shut- tion was set to happen, there was “Whatever you need, just grab down. no shortage of gratitude from the it.” These words are uttered regu- MacDonald said that he picked National Park Service workers. larly by Harvest on Vine Director up 5,500 pounds of food with the “Let me just say how gracious Tom MacDonald to Charlestown help of a truck and driver from Harvest on the Vine and the com- residents as they line up to receive Boston Beer Works just for this munity of Charlestown has been,” food from the pantry. The sen- special distribution. Harvest on Michael Creasey, Superintendent timent was no different on Jan. Vine usually goes through 7,000- at the National Parks of Boston, 28, when Harvest on Vine held a 8,000 pounds of food for their special food distribution for the regular bimonthly distributions. (HARVEST ON VINE Pg. 5) National Park Service employees Though the government had CNC COMMUNITY CORNER The monthly meeting of the Charlestown Neighborhood Council will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 7 Photo by Marianne Salza p.m. in the Knights of Columbus Hall, 545 Medford St. Representatives from the Boston Police Department Niamh Magnus, K-2, and Maise Callahan, first grade, get their skates ready and Emergency Medical Services will speak to us about their locations in Charlestown. The public is encour- to go on the ice at the annual Warren Prescott School skating party last Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Steriti Rink in the North End. The entire school was aged to attend. invited for an afternoon of hot chocolate, Munchkins and skating. 2 PAGE 2 THE CHARLESTOWN PATRIOT-BRIDGE JANUARY 31, 2019 editorial THANK YOU, BOB DELEO It's hard to believe that it has been 10 years since Winthrop/Revere State Rep. Bob DeLeo was elected the Speaker of the House by his col- leagues. (Yes, time flies.) We wish to make note of the 10th anniversary of Speaker DeLeo's ascension to that post because it was marked by two significant events that occurred in January, 2009. First, Bob was chosen by his colleagues after a succession of House Speakers had been forced to resign because of various scandals, the last having been Sal DiMasi, who was indicted on corruption charges by federal prosecutors for which DiMasi eventually was convicted and sen- tenced to time in federal prison. The second was that Bob assumed the Speakership amidst the greatest economic downturn to face not only Massachusetts, but the entire coun- try (and the world) since the Great Depression. Needless to say, January of 2009 was a difficult period for anyone to become Speaker of the House, given the history of the House during the previous decade and the enormity of the challenges that the state was facing. However, from the perspective of looking back over the past 10 years, it is fair to say that Bob DeLeo has been more responsible both for restoring the people's faith in our legislature and for guiding our state GUEST OP-ED Black through an incredibly-difficult fiscal period than any other person in state government. Governors have come and gone, as have State Senate presidents, but The state of our City is strong the one constant has been the steady hand of Bob DeLeo at the helm of By Mayor Martin J. Walsh We are committed to lifting every generation. “Elderly” isn’t the House of Representatives. people up, not locking people the right word to describe the Earlier this month, I gave up. Over the last five years, our thousands of vibrant, active, and Not only has Bob DeLeo been the principal architect of a state budget my State of the City address at police officers have taken more hard-working older residents process that has been both prudent and forward-looking, but he, more Symphony Hall. It’s one of my than 4,100 guns off the street. who call Boston home. That’s than any other person on Beacon Hill, has been able to bring together favorite events because it’s a Through partnerships with the why we’re renaming Boston’s disparate groups and has worked with both the Senate and Republican chance to speak directly to the community, we've put thousands Elderly Commission. It will now people of Boston about the prog- of young people on pathways to be known as the Age Strong administrations to create an atmosphere of collegiality that is unparal- ress we’ve made, the challenges opportunity. As a result, we've Commission. The new name bet- leled in our nation today. that remain, and where we’ll go seen arrests come down by 25 ter reflects our commitment to The achievements in our state over the past decade under the from here. It’s also a time to talk percent, and crime has gone down making Boston more inclusive about how Boston’s leadership is by 25 percent as well. and accessible for people as they Speakership of Bob DeLeo are a testament to the ability of one person needed now more than ever. We are making sure that social age. The Commission will serve to have a profound effect upon the lives of the people he serves -- and Right now is a pivotal time for progress and middle class oppor- our seniors' needs and draw on Massachusetts unquestionably is a better place thanks to Bob DeLeo's our country: too many people, in tunity grow together. That’s why their tremendous strength. tenure as Speaker of the House for the past 10 years. too many communities, are being we’re creating a Mobile Economic We are not just surviving -- we left out. But here in Boston, we Development Center designed to are thriving. Boston is rebuilding remain committed to moving our strategically engage with residents roads and bridges, making our city forward, expanding our prog- on economic development poli- streets work for bikes and buses, ress, and throwing open the doors cy around job training, business opening parks, and investing over of opportunity for all. In our first development, placemaking, and $100 million in libraries all across five years together, we’ve made community economic develop- our city. Smart fiscal management c harlesTown great strides toward building a ment. has unlocked these historic invest- strong future for our city. We are welcoming more voices ments -- while keeping homeown- PATRIOT-BRIDGE We are committed to leaving and expanding our democracy. er taxes the lowest in the state. THE CHARLESTOWN PATRIOT-BRIDGE, no one behind. In Boston we've We’re reactivating the Human We’re investing $28 million in created more affordable homes Rights Commission to provide a Boston Common and $28 million PHONE: 617.241.8500 © 2008 INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER GROUP. than in any other five-year peri- forum for Bostonians to address in Franklin Park. In addition, we EMAIL: [email protected] • Web Site: www.charlestownbridge.com od on record. And in the next discrimination and secure the have more than doubled the build- NEWSSTAND PRICE: FREE / SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $75 AnnUALLY five years we'll create 1,000 new promise of equality. I’ve also ing budget for schools -- with over PRESIDENT - STEPHEN QUIGLEY - [email protected] homeowners by building more appointed a Census Liaison to $300 million already spent on MARKETING DIRECTOR - DEBRA DIGREGORIO - [email protected] affordable homes and providing make sure that every resident of brand new schools, major ren- REPORTER - SETH DANIEL - [email protected] more financial help.