Following several months of community backlash, Tangierino Restaurant and Lounge withdrew its applications for two entertainment licenses during a public hearing at City Hall Monday.
Carolyn Conway, attorney for the Main Street establishment, made a brief statement to representatives from the city’s Licensing Board before a crowd of roughly 40 neighborhood residents, five Charlestown Neighborhood Council representatives, City Councilor Sal LaMattina and other city officials. The restaurant and lounge, which recently underwent a more than $2 million, approximately 3,000-square-foot expansion, sought to add live music and a disc jockey to its existing entertainment.
At City Hall, Patricia Malone, chairman of the Licensing Board, said the applicant would likely have to wait at least six months for a hearing if it chose to re-file for the entertainment licenses.
LaMattina spoke in support of Tangierino’s decision to withdraw its applications. “There needs to be a dialogue between the applicant and the community. It hasn’t happened,” he said.
CNC Chairman Tom Cunha asked that the Licensing Board inform the Neighborhood Council if the establishment re-filed for entertainment licenses well in advance of any future hearings, providing ample time to schedule community meetings.
Tangierino has been the subject of three well-attended meetings of the CNC Basic Services Committee since Oct. 1, which have explored the proposed expansion of occupancy and hours of operation, as well as entertainment. Neighbors and abutters in attendance at the meetings, which were mediated by committee chair Bill Galvin, largely opposed these changes to the operation.

PHOTO 1 CAPTION: Pictured, left to right, are Jeff Conlon (president of Kaplan Higher Education), Stephen Carter (executive director of Kaplan Career Institute Charlestown campus), State Sen. Anthony Galluccio and Dave Wallace (director of apprentice training program for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts).

PHOTO 2 CAPTION: Jeff Conlon, president of Kaplan Higher Education, congratulates the #1 student of the Kaplan Career Institute Charlestown campus, Andrew Buchman.

RETS Technical Center, a Charlestown-based campus serving nearly 500 students, celebrated its renaming to Kaplan Career Institute with a ceremony last week. Highlights included remarks from Steve Carter, executive director of Kaplan Career Institute; Jeff Conlon, president of Kaplan Higher Education; and State Sen. Anthony Galluccio.
“With campuses across the country, the Kaplan name brings national recognition to our school with a well known reputation among educators and employers,” said Carter.
By changing its name to Kaplan Career Institute, the Charlestown-based school is formally recognized as being part of the Kaplan family. Kaplan, Inc. is a global provider of education services, and its name reflects a long-standing reputation for excellence.
The Kaplan Career Institute Charlestown campus is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology. The campus currently offers four diploma programs in medical assistant; computer support technician; electrician; and heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration.
State Sen. Galluccio said, “I’m very thankful to have you [Kaplan Career Institute] in the community.”
Kaplan Career Institute is part of Kaplan Higher Education, which serves 80,000 students through more than 70 campus-based schools across the United States and in Europe. It also has online programs through Kaplan Virtual Education, Kaplan University and Concord Law School of Kaplan University. Kaplan Higher Education schools offer a spectrum of academic opportunities, from high school diplomas to graduate and professional degrees, including a Juris Doctor degree. Kaplan Higher Education is part of Kaplan, Inc., a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).
For more information, visit www.getinfo.kaplancareerinstitute.com.

Boston Redevelopment Authority Executive Director John Palmieri appeared before the Charlestown Neighborhood Council for the first time last week to discuss the city planning and development agency’s future plans for the neighborhood and ways to improve communication with the community going forward.
“There are key initiatives unfolding that create a good template for development in the neighborhood,” said Palmieri, who was named to the position in October of 2007.
As for the Pier 5 in the Navy Yard, Palmieri said LDA Acquisitions of New York was still the designated developer and that 85 housing units planned for the site were in accordance with the Municipal Harbor Plan and the Master Plan for the Navy Yard. But he added, “{The developer] only has until March to meet with the requirements to advance with the plan.”
CNC Chairman Tom Cunha expressed the community’s frustration with the change in usage granted by the BRA to Boston-based Kenney Development Company Inc. that would enable it to use a four-story residential building proposed for the site as office space. The CNC had previously approved Kenney’s proposal, despite the fact other developers were interested in the property, Cunha added.
“A far as I’m concerned, any time a project changes substantially we have an obligation to come back to the community,” Palmieri responded, adding that he would report the terms of the Parcel 39A agreement back to the Neighborhood Council.
In regard to BRA development that wasn’t in accordance with the neighborhood’s wishes, CNC representative Dave Whelan said, “The real frustration is that the BRA is looking out for its own benefits with little regard for the community.”
Palmieri countered, “Unless good planning prevails, development shouldn’t occur. Community participation is central to everything we do, but obviously we derive income from projects that have been approved.”
Cunha requested that the BRA spearhead the proposed reconfiguration of Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square in the neighborhood, especially in regard to any potential “land swaps.”
“The purpose behind this initiative is to work with the neighborhood,” Palmieri said, adding that the BRA would be involved in the collaboration between city and state agencies but “wouldn’t do it in a vacuum.”
Cunha also requested more affordable housing be made available in the neighborhood and that the BRA make new mitigation funds available in the community to help the elderly and non-profit groups.
“There is going to be serious development in the next five to 10 years in the community,” Cunha. “If we take the hit…we want mitigation like other neighborhoods.”
Moreover, Cunha requested that the BRA report back to the Neighborhood Council in regard to the allocation of mitigation monies.

CAPTION: Tom MacDonald of Harvest on Vine and RUNmyERRAND co-founder Leah Busque.

Harvest on Vine food pantry will receive a much-needed boost, thanks to the efforts of Charlestown-based online company RUNmyERRAND.
On Dec. 1, RUNmyERRAND launched its Holiday Drive to benefit Harvest On Vine, as well as two shelters: the Dennis McLaughlin House at the Constitution Inn YMCA and CASPAR (Cambridge and Somerville Program for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Rehabilitation). While RUNmyERRAND, which was launched by husband-and-wife team Leah and Kevin Busque and fellow Charlestown resident, Brian Thomas in September, allows people to post errands they need run and puts them in contact with people willing to perform the chores, the new Holiday Drive feature will allow users to donate to the aforementioned charities and solicit its runners to deliver the goods.
While the McLaughlin House needs women’s clothing, toys and house wares and CASPAR is in want of men’s winter jackets, Harvest on Vine, based out of St. Catherine of Siena Parish Hall, is seeking food donations.
“Harvest on the Vine seemed like the perfect third charity to round out our holiday drive,” Leah said. “The two shelters involved have many items to pick and choose from, but I think groceries are going to be the most popular.”
Leah said users could make donations to Harvest on Vine for any dollar amount, while the McLaughlin House and CASPAR are seeking specific items that can be bought through the site. For all donations, the runners would donate their fees to the appropriate charity and RUNmyERRAND would match these gifts.
“I could see this [charity drive] going on beyond the holidays very easily,” Leah said. “The Internet is a way we can open up giving across the community. It’s reaching a whole new generation of people who want to help out.”
Leah added, “This is like Craig’s List meets eBay for donations.”
Tom MacDonald of Harvest on Vine said the RUNmyERRAND initiative couldn’t have come along at a better time, adding that the 282 Thanksgiving baskets the food pantry distributed last month marked a 25-percent increase over last year.
“From our point of view at Harvest on Vine, the demand is increasing and food prices are increasing,” MacDonald said. “You put those things together, and the price to keep the hungry fed is increasing. Initiatives like Leah’s make it that much easier for people to donate.”
MacDonald added, “This is great opportunity because the people of Charlestown are so generous, but they’re also very busy. I hope this program could help us bring in more donations during the year.”
To donate to RUNmyERRAND’s Holiday Drive, visit www.RUNmyERRAND.com.