CAPTION: George Morton of the Bunker Hill Derby Association enjoys a moment with Jim O’Neil, who helped launch an earlier soap-box derby in Charlestown.

While the Bunker Hill Derby Association has only been in existence since 2005, it is the continuation of a tradition of soap-box derby racing in Charlestown that dates back approximately 35 years.
In the early ‘70s, the Charlestown Militia Co., a local outfit that staged reenactments from the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Bunker Hill Day Parade and other events, introduced a soap-box derby as part of its children’s programming in the week leading up to the parade. The early derbies, which started at Bunker Hill and Sackville streets and ran down Green Street, were held for several consecutive years until 1975. The tradition was abandoned for 30 years until Charlestown residents George Morton and Justin Bell launched the new derby association in an effort to help curb youth violence and drug use in the community.
Charlestown resident Jim O’Neil, who founded the Militia Co. in 1967, is pleased to see the return of derby racing to the community.
“I think it’s a good idea. There’s no question about it,” O’Neil said. “It keeps kids out of trouble and gives them something to do.”
Morton, meanwhile, is pleased to keep the tradition that O’Neil started alive, although he admits that he was unaware of Bunker Hill Derby Association’s predecessor when he helped establish the program.
“We discovered a part of Charlestown’s heritage without even knowing,” said Morton, who also serves as race director of the Derby Association. “All of a sudden, we found out that since [the original derbies] took place during Bunker Hill Week, we had a purpose and a mission. We already did, but this gave it a deeper meaning.”
For the second year in a row, O’Neil will serve as the derby’s Grand Marshall and wave the starting flag for the day’s races. And while O’Neil feels privileged to take part in the new tradition, he wishes the derby took place within Charlestown limits.
“It was really nice seeing all the kids, cars and people,” O’Neil said of last year’s event. “My only problem is I wish it were still on Bunker Hill Street.”
Another departure from the earlier derbies that O’Neil noticed was the vehicles used in the race. Unlike today’s cars that are built from professional kits, O’Neil said that most of the earlier vehicles consisted of roller-skate wheels and milk cartons fastened to a flat bed. O’Neil recalls that occasionally a race team would show up with an authentic soap-box car and easily blow past the competition.
In another nod to the past, a newly-reformed Charlestown Militia Co. will serve as the race’s color guard. While the original Militia Co. disbanded in the late ‘80s, Tom Coots, vice president of the Cooperative Bank, has established a new Militia Co. earlier this year, which will also take part in a reenactment at this year’s Battle of Bunker Hill Day Parade.
“What’s kind of neat is the [new] derby opened up a chapter on the Militia Co.,” Morton said. “History is coming back to Charlestown. The good old days are back.”
The Bunker Hill Derby takes place on Sunday, June 3, at Sheepfold Park in Stoneham, located off Route 28 North on the Fells Way. Opening ceremonies begin at 11:30 a.m. Free bus service will run continuously from the Mishawum Park Community Center, 75 West Dunstable St., and the Charlestown Community Center on Medford Street beginning in the morning.
For more information, call George Morton at 857-205-0813.

Sara Jones, a 7-year-old, fourth-generation Charlestown resident, enjoys a slush before heading up to the Bunker Hill Monument on Memorial Day.

CAPTION: Georgia Granger-Klein arrived as Little Miss Holland, complete with a windmill powered doll carriage at last year’s Doll Carriage Parade.

A longstanding tradition of the Bunker Hill Day celebration gets a new name this year in honor of one of its past organizers when Edna’s Kelly’s Annual Bunker Hill Day Doll Carriage Parade takes place the morning prior to the parade.
The event, previously known as the Bunker Hill Day Doll Carriage Parade, has been renamed after Kelly, a community activist and Charlestown native who died in January. As always, the free event is open to young boys and girls and typically includes between 50 and 55 participating children. Maureen Collier, Katie Gill, Susan McGaffigan, Linda Stillman and Karen Collier are organizing this year’s event and hope to honor the customs that Kelly initiated in past years.
“[Kelly] would be heartbroken if nobody picked it up and continued it,” Maureen Collier said, adding that Kelly’s husband, Ed, would also be disappointed to see the tradition abandoned.
This year’s organizers will keep with Kelly’s decision not to award prizes to the best carriages. Instead, each child who participates will receive a prize, as well as complementary ice cream and a T-shirt.
“[Kelly] wanted everyone to participate and to treat everyone equally,” Gill said. “It’s not fair to the children because some aren’t as well of as others.”
But those who turn out for the event can expect to see some spectacular carriages, as has been the case in the past. “People spend weeks making the carriages, and they’re more like mini-floats,” Maureen Collier said.
Maureen Collier, who also took part in the event as a child, said it is also a reunion of sorts, since it draws many former residents and past participants back to town.
“It gives people a chance for people to come together – mothers and children – before the parade,” she said.
Unlike many of the other Pride Week events that are geared towards adults and teens, the Doll Carriage Parade targets an age group that is often too young to take part in the parade.
“The most important thing is we’re able to offer something for free and that children really seem to enjoy,” Maureen Collier said.
“And we want to do it to keep Edna’s spirit alive,” Gill added.
Edna’s Kelly’s Annual Bunker Hill Day Doll Carriage Parade takes place rain or shine at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 75 West School St., on Saturday, June 9, at 10 a.m. Registrations forms can be found in this edition of the Patriot-Bridge. For more information, call Maureen Collier at 617-241-5318.

Several residents testified at a Boston City Council hearing on idling vehicles two weeks ago and asked that laws that regulate such activity be enforced more diligently.
The May 16 meeting of the Aviation & Transportation Committee was called by District 1 Councilor Sal LaMattina, the committee chair, who expressed concern about the potentially dangerous emissions of tour buses, limousines, school buses and taxis that sometimes sit idling for long periods of time.
“Other states and cities have a better enforcement record on this issue,” said Councilor LaMattina. “Let’s get the message out there that vehicles cannot idle for more than five minutes. That’s the state law, and those who violate it need to be held accountable.”
Irene Kershaw, a Charlestown resident, testified that she has personally called 9-1-1 after witnessing idling tour buses in her neighborhood, but either the vehicle moves on before the police arrive or the responding officer issues a warning and the bus drives off – only to return later.
“We’ve started calling the bus companies directly and telling them to remove the buses,” Kershaw said. “Everyone in the neighborhood has been vigilant, but that puts the onus on residents.”
East Boston’s Gail Miller feels that the law has been “swept under the carpet” and that a campaign to educate the public is needed.
“We can’t target enough people individually. We need billboards, and we need to get the mayor and governor on board,” Miller told the committee. “Our best strategy is peer pressure. Let everybody know that they can invest in their future in a simple way.”
Councilor LaMattina, noting that May is Asthma Awareness Month, said that it is time for the city to get more serious about enforcing the idling laws.
“This is a public health issue and it’s a quality of life issue,” said the councilor. “With the world becoming more concerned about global warming and with gas prices going through the roof, we can each make a difference by limiting the amount of idling that we do and by making sure that others do the same.”

Last year, Tom Coots of the Charlestown Militia Co. was given a wooden, rope tension drum that was used by the original Charlestown Militia in 1971. The drum is in rough shape, so Coots took it to a few places to see about getting it repaired. He was told that it would cost too much to get it fixed. Two weeks ago, however, Hakop "James" Melkonian, the owner of Avanti Shoe Repair offered to fix the leather slides on the drum for free because he wanted to do his part for Charlestown.
Also, on June 11, the Militia Co. will march to the statue of Dr. Joseph Warren at the Bunker Hill Monument to lay flowers in memory of his birthday. (Dr. Warren died at Bunker Hill). They will then go, in costume, to the Warren Tavern for dinner. This will be an annual event to pay tribute to Dr. Warren, and the Militia Co. will make the Warren Tavern its official tavern.
Melkonian is pictured above with the drum outside of Avanti Shoe Repair on Main Street.

Charlestown Against Drugs’ annual March Against Drugs was launched approximately 15 years ago in an effort to get the community face up to the substance abuse problem that had become so prevalent in the town.
“The reason we started it was to send a message that drugs were a problem in Charlestown,” said CHAD Chairman Peter Looney. “There was so much denial, and this was a way to bring it up. It gives people the opportunity to make a statement [against drugs] without fear of repercussions.”
In fact, Looney said the route was designed to hit “hot spots” for drug dealing throughout the neighborhood.
Participants begin their march at the Barry Park (the Oilies) at Medford and Chelsea streets and pass through Medford, Monument, Green, High, School and Main streets before ending up at the Clarence R. Edwards Middle School playground. At the Edwards playground, several speakers will be on hand, including Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Captain Bernie O’Rourke of Boston Police Area A-1 and several young people who are currently in recovery for substance abuse. Complementary hot dogs and refreshments will also be served at the Edwards playground courtesy of the city.
While Looney said community participation in the march has fluctuated since its inception, he said last year’s event, which drew between 300 and 400 people, was one of the most successful in its history. He credits this in part to support from Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition, which partnered with CHAD for the first time at last year’s event.
Looney is expecting a big turnout this year as well, since he has already received commitments from Charlestown Little League, the Charlestown Lacrosse & Learning Center and the Bunker Hill Derby Association to participate in the event.
Most importantly, Looney said he hopes that the event sends a message to young people that not everyone uses drugs and that the choices they make now in regard to drugs can influence the rest of their lives.
“That decision could mean you hanging on the corner for the rest of your live going on to become president of the United States or to have a successful career in any field you want,” Looney said. “It’s your choice.”
CHAD’s annual March Against Drugs takes place on Monday, June 4. Participants should meet at the Barry Park at 5:30 p.m. For more information CHAD and the March Against Drugs, call Peter Looney at 617-669-3501.

MGH YouthCare's seventh annual "Give Children a Chance" benefit took place on May 17 at the Cyclorama in Boston. More than 300 supporters raised a record $350,000 for the Charlestown-based program that serves children and youth ages 5 to 14 with Asperger's syndrome and autism through its therapeutically-based after school program, social skills program and summer programs. Aerosmith's Tom Hamilton served as auctioneer and jammed with the band. Hamilton and his wife Terry also donated a guitar (signed by all Aerosmith members) that went for a high bid of $10,500.
“Give Children a Chance" Co-chair Stephanie Long poses with Aerosmith's Tom Hamilton and Terry Hamilton with the autographed guitar that Hamilton sold at the evening's auction.