The election saga that galvanized the District 1 neighborhoods ended on Tuesday evening when the Boston Elections Department announced that Sal LaMattina of East Boston won the Tuesday’s Special Municipal Election for the District 1 City Council seat, according to its preliminary results.

To the very end it was a cliffhanger, with Dan Ryan of Charlestown nearly pulling off a dramatic upset. The final tally was 4,227 votes cast for LaMattina and 4,071 for Ryan, a difference of 156 votes (and a margin of only 1.9 percent). The preliminary results show that East Boston cast 3,104 ballots for LaMattina, while Charlestown residents cast 3,185 voter for Ryan, an unexpected flexing of local political muscle.

Both candidates were gracious after the results were announced.

“I am grateful to all my supporters throughout the district,” said LaMattina moments after his victory was announced at his Orient Heights headquarters. “I promise to work hard at city hall for all my constituents.”

Ryan will return to his position as district representative in Congressman Michael Capuano’s office, where he will continue to represent residents of Charlestown, East Boston, Somerville, Chelsea and the North End.

“I look forward to working with him in making our neighborhoods better,” said Ryan, offering LaMattina his congratulations. “I want to thank him for a good clean campaign.

“I don’t know what my political future holds but I absolutely want to do something with the momentum and cohesion that Charlestown has experienced in the last two months,” he said. “That does not necessarily mean a political venture but definitely something community oriented.”

On June 4, nearly 300 Charlestown residents, friends and family members braved the rain to attend the inaugural Bunker Hill Soap Box Derby at Sheep Fold Park in Stoneham.

A total of 75 boys and girls aged 8 to 15 participated in the race, There were 15 teams consisting of a four-member pit crew, a driver, and an adult “pit captain.” Organizations represented in the race included the Warren Prescott School, Charles Newtown, Mishuwam Park Tenants Association, St. Mary’s/St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Little League, Pop Warner, the Charlestown Boys & Girls Club, Youth Hockey and the Celebration Church.

The day started with opening ceremonies, including Charlestown resident Jamie Maletz singing the national anthem, an invocation by Rev. Gareth Evans of St. John’s Church, a greeting by Peter Looney from event sponsor Charlestown Against Drugs and a special dedication of the race to Jimmy O’Neil, the event’s grand marshal.
After nearly four hours of racing and more than 30 double-elimination heats, the winning team was the Irasians, car #23, driven by Drew Cunningham, age 10, and sponsored by Pann Home Services. In July, the Irasians will compete in the 69th annual All-American Soap Box Derby World Championships in Akron, Ohio.

The second place team was the Bunker Hill Brigade, car #6, driven by Jasper Schilling. Third place went to the Eagles of God, car #3, driven by Amanda Carlos.

“It was an amazing event”, said Dan Kovacevic, the event’s pit chief.

Funding for the event was raised through individual donations, grants and corporate sponsors. Organizations who sponsored race teams include CHAD, Jenny’s Pizza, the Charlestown Mothers Association, Diversified Automotive, The Boston Globe, the Joseph Webb Lodge, A.F & A.M., Honda Cars of Boston, Staples, Architrade Custom Closets, D& R Paving, Pann Home Services, Excel Mortgage, Baptist Convention of New England, Aggregate Industries and Braz Transfers.

Turner Construction, a general contractor working on a development in the Charlestown Navy Yard, donated 1,500 feet of hay bales and all the barrier fencing used to secure and make the track safe.
Charlestown residents Justin Bell and George Morton started planning the event last July after watching the Bunker Hill Day Parade. Bell approached Morton with the idea of holding a soap box derby. Morton, who was aiming to start an anti-drug, crime and violence program for Charlestown youth, immediately jumped on board.

“When this began, I had no idea how impressive it would be to see most of Charlestown and its youth working together, having fun and learning important life skills at the same time.” said Bell.

Students at the Clarence R. Edwards Middle School will have more books and more activities if a proposal before the state legislature is passed this summer. A letter from Thomas W. Payzant, superintendent of the Boston Public Schools, was recently sent to parents stating that the Edwards is poised to receive state and private funding to extend its school day and provide more opportunities for its students.

“We’ve planning all year for it although it’s still not definite,” said Michael Sabin, principal of the Edwards School, adding that proposed school day will still start with breakfast at 7 a.m. and classes at 7:20 a.m. The major change is dismissal time Mondays through Thursdays, which will move from 1:30 p.m. to either 4:30 or 4:45 p.m.

The extended day would give students more time to learn both academics and other skills.

“All students will get four hours of added mathematics a week,” said Sabin. “The other eight hours would be an assortment of electives that would offer students academic and enrichment opportunities. This would include art classes, specialized programming like theater, band, dance, robotics and community service.”

“It’s not optional for kids, but we are creating an opt-out situation for families,” said Sabin, adding that it may be unmanageable for some families to participate due to schedule conflicts. Students who are unable to take advantage of the program can choose a different middle school.

“The notification to parents has been slow because official funding is not certain yet but there’s a lot of excitement in the parental body about this opportunity,” said Sabin. “What parent wouldn’t be excited about free high quality academic and enrichment activities for 12 extra hours a week?”

The extended day concept is a key initiative of Massachusetts 2020, a non-profit founded in 2000 by Chris Gabrieli, a civic and business entrepreneur, and Jennifer Davis, executive director of the Mayor of Boston's 2:00-to-6:00 After-School Initiative. The organization has focused on expanding after-school and summer learning opportunities in the Commonwealth.

“It’s a groundbreaking initiative, the first in the nation,” said Jennifer Davis, co-founder and president of Massachusetts 2020. “Massachusetts is the first to look at restructuring school days to provide additional learning and enrichment for kids. There’s going to be a lot of places, even beyond Massachusetts that are looking to the Edwards as a model middle school.”

Even with strong support and high hopes, the extended day is not guaranteed.

“We are at the whim of the legislature, and they need to settle [the budget],” said Heidi Perlman, communications director for the state’s Department of Education. She added that the House, Senate and Governor Mitt Romney’s office will negotiate the actual budget by the end of June. “The implementation plans are not public yet — they’re looked upon as grant applications until the decision is made,” she said.

The initial seed of the program was planted in October 2005, when the BPS announced that it was one of several school districts in Massachusetts that was awarded state grant funds to begin planning strategies to extend the learning day.

Boston was awarded a total of $40,000 to begin planning to expand the learning time in seven middle schools including the Edwards.

Each school used the state grant to explore various approaches to extending the school day, with the principals collaborating with district officials, union representatives, parents and partners to write a proposal.

BPS sent the Department of Education the proposals in January 2006. Pending approval, anticipated in June 2006, the extended day will start with the opening of school in September 2006, contingent upon the availability of additional state funds.

For more information on the Boston Public Schools visit www.bostonpublicschools.org.

At a public hearing last week, over 150 MBTA patrons — many wearing stickers declaring “I want better public transportation now” — voiced their dissatisfaction over a proposed fare increase for buses, subways and commuter rails that they say would hit lower- and fixed-income riders the hardest.

“When you raise fares, you put an additional tax on those of us who don’t have that much money,” said Grace Ross, state gubernatorial candidate for the environmentally conscious Green-Rainbow Party. “People who are unemployed can’t possibly afford the T increase.”

The proposed hike, which would go into effect in 2007, would boost subway fares from $1.25 to $1.70 and bus fares from 90 cents to $1.25. Commuter rail fares would also rise. Additional surcharges would also apply to riders who don’t use either the newly-introduced OnePass or CharlieCard automatic fare passes, and free admission would be eliminated for outbound passengers at some ground-level Green Line stations. One concession that the MBTA hopes to offer is reduced fares for commuters who transfer from rail to bus service.

As for what prompted the proposed fare increases, MBTA officials cited rising fuel and security costs as well as the state legislature’s “Forward Funding” mandate of 2000. This ordinance transformed the MBTA into an independent, self-sustaining agency with $5.2 billion in outstanding debt for past operating costs, the MBTA said. Other factors involved are a sluggish retail market, which has resulted in decreased income for the MBTA from sales tax receipts, and ongoing upgrades to T facilities and vehicles.

The public hearing, the first of six scheduled meetings, took place in a conference room at the Copley Square branch of the Boston Public Library. Many who turned out for the hearing were initially denied admittance because police and library staff maintained that the room couldn’t accommodate all of them, which drew criticism attendees who said this served to silence the MBTA’s detractors.

A common argument against raising fares was increased revenue from individual commuters would likely be offset by an overall loss in ridership. Another gubernatorial hopeful in attendance, Deval Patrick, maintained this was the case following fare increases in 2000 and 2004.

Others suggested alternatives for alleviating the agency’s budget crisis, including the allocation of state funding.

“You have never with your financial woes and debt woes approached the legislature and asked for help,” Senator Jarrett Barrios said. “There are many in the legislature who would welcome you saying that. Come to the legislature and say it’s not working.”

Another attendee offered a more unorthodox solution to the MBTA’s fiscal problems.

A young man named Tucker, who described himself as a “trainaholic,” suggested that to supplement its income, the MBTA could issue scratch tickets that would offer prizes such as free monthly T passes.

Meanwhile, one regular commuter said she’d happily comply with the fare hikes if it would ensure cleaner buses and more reliable service.

“I am more than willing to pay a fee increase if the service is good,” said Jennifer Steward of Melrose, “but what I’ve noticed over the last several years is that the service id declining.”

Despite a steady dose of rain and wind, the dedication ceremony for Teddy Ebersol’s Red Sox Fields at Lederman Park went off without a hitch Saturday morning underneath tents on the Esplanade.

Teddy Ebersol, the son of Dick Ebersol and Susan St. James, died in a plane crash in 2004. Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics, was severely injured in the crash but has since recovered.

The Esplanade Association and Hill House long had the vision of renovating the Lederman Field. Chairman of the Boston Red Sox Tom Werner, a good friend to the Ebersol family, approached Governor Mitt Romney with the idea to renovate a baseball field in honor of Teddy, and the project was put on the fast track.

“Tom came up with the wonderful vision to dedicate a field to Teddy,” said Dick Ebersol. “The idea swept me away at the time, and now that the vision is realized, I still am today.”

Teddy Ebersol’s Red Sox Fields at Lederman Park was made possible by a partnership among the Esplanade Association, Hill House and the Red Sox Foundation.



The project broke ground a year ago, and the ribbon was finally cut on Saturday morning, just hours after a Little League game was played on the field.

Jerry Remy, the color analyst for the Red Sox on NESN, was the master of ceremonies for the dedication. He introduced a number of speakers, including Senator Edward Kennedy, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner, Esplanade association representative Patrice Todisco and Dick Ebersol.



Also speaking at the dedication were Secretary of Environmental Affairs Stephen Pritchard and Little Leaguers Nicole and Rossella Cerulli.

The cost for initial renovations was more than $2 million. The fields will cost approximately $200,000 annually to preserve. The state and a group of three local non-profits, the Esplanade Association, Hill House, and the Red Sox Foundation, will be responsible for maintaining the fields. Since most, if not all, of that money will come from donations, Dick Ebersol promised to help fund the yearly maintenance.

“I wanted to activate interest in raising money to care for these fields,” said Ebersol. “The pledge to match up to $500,000 is to help preserve the fields in these neighborhoods.”

The park contains an irrigation and drainage systems to minimize seasonal impact the fields. New England Patriot’s owner Robert Kraft donated special flooring so the field would remain undamaged during the ceremonies.

Hill House and North End Little League teams, as well as adult softball leagues, will benefit from the renovated park. The fields include three new baseball fields with mock Green Monster scoreboards, a T-ball field for younger children and several youth soccer fields. One of the benches contains a bronzed glove of Teddy Ebersol’s favorite mitt.



The area on the Esplanade where Teddy Ebersol’s Red Sox Fields are located is Lederman Park, named after Dr. Melvin Lederman. Lederman was a surgeon and a Commander in the U.S. Navy where he earned four Purple Hearts and was killed during a medical evacuation in Vietnam in 1969.

Other members of the Red Sox brain trust that attended the dedication in team owner John Henry, team President and CEO Larry Lucchino, and Executive Vice President and General Manager Theo Epstein. There were a number of current Red Sox players on hand including Curt Schilling, Mike Timlin and Lenny DiNardo. Red Sox legends Luis Tiant and Jim Rice were also in the audience as well as former Major League manager and current Fox Sports color commentator Lou Piniella.

With designs near completion for the police station and the Charlestown Recovery House, two much-anticipated facilities are coming to Hayes Square.

“We are working with the community on a design, which will be handed over to the Charlestown Neighborhood Council Development Committee,” said Pat Brophy, assistant director for the City of Boston Public Facilities Department, who is overseeing the development of the police station. “We’re hoping the project has the support of the community, and it’s something that the town will be very proud of.”

A two-story, 19,000 square-foot building with an estimated cost of $9.8 million is planned for the police station, Brophy said. HKT Architects, Inc. of Somerville was selected as the architect for the project. Brophy said he expects initial plans for the new police station will be completed within a few weeks and construction could begin by late fall or early winter. The project is expected to take between 12 to 18 months to complete and could be up and running by spring 2008, depending on when the contractor starts. “It’s a high priority for the mayor to get a shovel in the ground,” Brophy said.

Brophy said he has met with the Charlestown Police Task Force, which includes Charlestown Against Drugs chairman Peter Looney, two residents of the Bunker Hill Development and a Recovery House representative, on several occasions to ensure that the new station fulfills community expectations.

Captain Bernie O’Rourke of Boston Police Area A-1 said he anticipates a strong police presence at the new station; officers currently working out of the temporary Charlestown substation will be based out of the new station, which will also serve as the site where A-1 officers gas up their squad cars. “We’re going to house some other units there, too,” O’Rourke said, adding that the particular units had not yet been determined.

The Charlestown Recovery House will share the same lot as the future police station.

“We have met with [representatives from] the Recovery House a number of times on how the two can coexist peacefully,” said Brophy. He added that the two parties were in the process of negotiating lot lines, which will be submitted to the Boston Redevelopment Authority for approval.

Meanwhile, Recovery House co-founder Jim Travers said the facility would be a 10,000 square-foot, two-story, brick building with an estimated cost of $2.5 million. Woodbrier Associates of West Roxbury was selected as the architect for the project. The Recovery House will house 25 beds for recovering substance abusers. The project should take between 12 to 18 months to complete. “We would like to break ground by the first of the year,” Travers said.

CNC chairman Tom Cunha said its development committee would likely review the design for the police station in the fall.

After nearly a year of languishing on a back burner, the proposal to develop Pier 5 in the Navy Yard is again the focus of attention.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority hastily rescheduled a public meeting, moving it from Thursday, June 15 to Tuesday, June 20, to be held at the Building 114 in the Navy Yard at 7 p.m. The Charlestown Neighborhood Council will not participate in this meeting.

The meeting will discuss the progress and revisions to The Residences at Pier 5, which calls for a five-story, 170,000 square-foot building with 85 condominium units that will run the length of the pier. The last update was presented to the community roughly a year ago.

The meeting has been scheduled in light of a changes that were recently announced for the Pier 5 development, which is currently undergoing Article 80 Large Project Review, according to a letter and project update document sent to to parties interested in the project’s progress in early May by Geoff Lewis of the BRA.

The project update document states that the development team will offer to contribute $1,000,000 to the BRA’s Affordable Housing Fund in lieu of including affordable housing units within the complex. According to the document, this would comply with the City of Boston’s Inclusionary Development Policy.

The project update document also notes a number of physical changes.

Design changes include a redesign of the building’s exterior, better pedestrian access to the pier, the construction of an entirely new pier, and the removal of marina slips in the area between Pier 4 and Pier 5.

Program changes include the increasing the size of the Special Public Destination Facility from 1,500 to 2,000 square-feet.

Regulatory changes have been made so that the project has new flood elevations conforms to a recent FEMA decision.

In January 2005, the project’s developer, LDA Acquisitions, LLC, filed a Draft Project Impact Report. This report came in response to the BRA Scoping Determination to address several potential ramifications of the project, including environmental, traffic, urban design and historic resources, as well as infrastructure and design issues. This document is available for public viewing at the BRA’s secretary’s office located on the ninth floor of City Hall.

The BRA met with city agencies in February 2005 to review the DPIR. City agencies are satisfies that the proposed project will have minimal impacts, and the project is subject to ongoing design review by the BRA. The BRA also maintains it will keep city agencies apprised of any proposed changes since the DPIR was issued.

The ultimate voice in a democratic society sounds from the ballot box, as it did earlier this week when Sal LaMattina was elected by the voters of District 1 to the city council seat left vacant by Paul Scapicchio, who has gone into the private practice of law.

LaMattina’s slim margin of victory, 151 votes, and the fact that Charlestown voters came out in larger numbers than East Boston voters for the first time in years, was astounding.

The District 1 seat was decided in East Boston and the North End for LaMattina.

Traditionally in Boston politics for generations, the victor enjoys the spoils.

In the old days, LaMattina would have snubbed his nose at Charlestown’s lack of support and said: “You were with Ryan. Let him help you out now with what you need at Boston city hall.”

LaMattina is a thoroughly modern guy who does not hold grudges nor create them.

LaMattina, by his own admission, will not snub his nose at Charlestown. Instead, he has pledged to make a real time effort to give meaningful representation to Charlestown.

His desire will be to make more friends in Charlestown and to expand his base of support here while providing residents with a strong voice at city hall.

With more than 15 years of experience working successfully for the city, and for Mayor Menino, there can be little doubt that LaMattina knows his way. Having worked for a great bureaucracy, he knows how to circumvent it.

LaMattina knows how to deliver.

Her knows his way around city hall.

This election was everything he has dreamed of since starting out on a public career.

To get to know LaMattina is to get to like him more and more.

As for Ryan, as we have said before, he lives to fight another day.

Hopefully, the next time around will be more fruitful for him, and for those supporting him.

In the meantime - congratulations and good luck to Councillor-elect Sal LaMattina.

Bunker Hill Day festivities

Another Bunker Hill Day has come and gone, just like that, with the snap of a finger.

As Bunker Hill Days go, this was a sweet one with the weather finally straightening itself out.

Thousands lined up to watch the parade.

It was a slightly smaller parade than in years past but a real parade never the less.

The chief marshal Daniel Sheehan and his family and friends in an orange trolley – following Dan as he marched – was one of my favorite floats.

The Pipes and Drums of Bunker Hill, our bagpipers supreme who were marching and playing the Marine Corps hymn while carrying the Bunker Hill Flags on their pipes – that was a real treat.

The Mummers, a unique type of band from Philadelphia, that go by the real name of the Polish American String Band, were a big hit.

Maura Doyle, strutting stylishly in purple high heal shoes, led a gaggle of politicians including the mayor, the rep, the senator, et cetera

Along the parade route there were hundreds of balloons to be seen blowing in the wind, flags everywhere, young and old alike enjoying themselves under the warmth of the sun, finally.

At the breakfast earlier in the morning at the Knights of Columbus, a huge crowd turned out, including all the big time politicians.

The gubernatorial candidates were all there – Tom Reilly, Chris Gabrieli, Deval Patrick and Lt. Governor Kerry Healy.

Healy and Gabrieli shook hands with nearly every one of the 400 people who sat down to breakfast at the 21st annual gathering of its kind on Bunker Hill Day.

Reilly delivered brief remarks and split right away. Patrick stuck around. He was introduced to those who approached him by Boston City Councilor at Large Steve Murphy. I’d bet Patrick had about four votes inside that crowded room Sunday morning.

Dan Ryan was there in his glory, although he did not work the room, as the expression goes.

Representative Gene O’Flaherty did a great job moving along the festivities.

The breakfast festivities were led by David Whelan. Whelan, a popular member of the Charlestown Neighborhood Council, helped to give out the coveted scholarships, which included one to his nephew, Michael Chaisson, who will be attending the University of Lowell.

“At least this proves nepotism isn’t dead in Charlestown,” said Whelan to the delight of the crowd.

Leo Breen handed the Knights of Columbus Scholarship to Chaisson.

Tony V, the comedian, stole the show with a very humorous repartee.

“I would have come earlier but I was held up by people out exercising,” he said, alluding to the newcomers out for their early morning walks and runs in the neighborhoods, who were nearly oblivious to the Bunker Hill Day festivities going on.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino made brief remarks, also, showing once again how his manner, his belief in himself, his knowledge of the crowd and his graciousness, make him a disarming speaker. And when he is extemporaneous in front of a friendly crowd, the mayor does as well as anyone – although he’d like to up his vote total in Charlestown, which tends to always vote for their own.

In the early afternoon, in the small yard at the back of her Bunker Hill Street condo, Ami Street, 34, and nine of her close friends, enjoyed beverages and food in equal parts after watching the parade.

“As you can see, everyone is having a wonderful time,” she said pointing to her friends grilling burgers and hot dogs and sipping cold beverages.

“I’m new to Charlestown but this was a universal type of day in a neighborhood whose diversity is what I love.”

Thank you, Ami.

See you next year.

Charbonnier gets seat

Mike Charbonnier, the councilor and bon vivant, received a tremendous honor that was announced at the Bunker Hill Day breakfast.

He has been made a trustee of Bunker Hill Community College, replacing Charlestown Council President Tommy Cunha, whose five-year term has expired.

Of all the honors a man can receive, I believe this is one of the sweetest.

Being involved with Bunker Hill and being from Charlestown is a great opportunity.

Bunker Hill Community College is the real thing – and its president, Mary Fifield is also the real thing.

Congrats to Mike Charbonnier.

The Charlestown Mothers Association recently proposed an enclosed dog run for Paul Revere Park, which would allow children and pet owners to harmoniously coexist in the space.

“I understand the need to let a dog run off the leash, and no law is going to stop it,” said Melissa McGaughey, a CMA member and dog owner. “Dogs aren’t going anywhere, so let’s find a solution that works for every body.

McGaughey and Ken Stone, president of the Friends of City Square Park, drafted a petition to build a gated, fenced-in dog run near the retaining wall at the park. They plan to submit the petition to the Department of Conversation and Recreation, which has jurisdiction over the park, once they have obtained enough signatures in support of the project.

The need for a dog run in Charlestown is now greater than ever, said McGaughey, since the Monument is presently not available to dog owners because of ongoing renovations. And dog runs are becoming more commonplace in and around Boston: Somerville and the South End both have dog runs, she said.

While some insist that dog owners sometimes neglect to pick up after their pets and free-roaming dogs can prove to be a nuisance for families hoping to enjoy a picnic at the park, McGaughey believes that dogs actually can make Paul Revere Park a safer place.

“If you have dogs around, crime goes down,” she said.

Stone, meanwhile, thinks having a place in the park designated specifically for dogs would be the best possible solution for everyone.

“I think it’s a win-win situation because a lot of dog owners go down there,” he said. “It’s a great place to congregate and exercise dogs. It’s a great place for everyone to enjoy a large, open space.”

If you are interested in signing the petition in favor of building a dog run at Paul Revere Park, Melissa McGaughey can be reached via email at brsmmlg@comcast.net.