A blossoming partnership between the Autoport and the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology will provide hands-on experience at the Terminal Street facility for students from the South End-based training school.
“The kids will be trained at the Autoport, educated in the South End and presumably move into their professions after they graduate,” Autoport spokesman Lanny Johnson said.
The program, which has its official launch in January when a Franklin Institute student begins his internship at Portisde Truck Repair, was hatched one year ago when Dr. Elizabeth Reilinger, chairperson of the Boston Public Schools, visited the Autoport and suggested the partnership.
“As the Franklin Institute was looking to expand its educational opportunities and partnerships with businesses, it seemed to me that this was a great opportunity to both prepare young people with the skills needed to compete and succeed in today’s labor market and also to provide potential interns for an industry seeking qualified workers,” Reilinger said. “It was kind of a win-win.”
Kathleen Lynch, the Franklin Institute’s dean of partnerships and institutional advancement, believes that the paid internship program will serve to enhance the educational opportunities that the NEASC-accredited engineering and technology college already provides.
“It gives students real world experience, combining with what they’ve learned in school…as they work on engines, repairs and tune-ups,” Lynch said. “[The Autoport] is a place where work is being done, not just a classroom.”
The proposed partnership also immediately appealed to Dennis Kraez, president and general manager of Autoport-based Diversified Automotive. “[He] was concerned there weren’t enough qualified technicians to do the work and was looking for a pipeline of new employees,” Johnson said.
Johnson said internships would last between six months and one year under the supervision of Autoport employees. During the summer months, the program could be expanded to include opportunities with Boston Harbor Cruises, which has operated a repair facility out of the Autoport for the past 10 years.
“We’ve also been exploring, as we got more involved with the school, having on-site classes at the Autoport,” Johnson said.

The Charlestown Historical Society is now working on the next phase of the its ongoing “Irish Renaissance Project.” According to Ed Callahan, vice president of the organization, the CHS has now paid all expenses involved with the initial production of the highly acclaimed documentary film, “The Green Square Mile…The Story of the Charlestown Irish.”
Accordingly, per the announcement of the documentary film project back in 2006 (see: “City Weekly,” Boston Sunday Globe, Jan. 22, 2006), Callahan reported that the original documentary production team is now working on the next objective in the Historical Society’s “Irish Renaissance Project,” which is the establishment of a proper memorial to the more than 9,000 Irish men, women and particularly children buried in the Catholic burial ground adjacent to Saint Francis de Sales Church.
“The CHS, in conjunction with Rev. Dan Mahoney and the leadership of St. Francis de Sales Parish, has a great interest in memorializing in particular, the many children who died shortly after arriving on these shores fleeing the Irish Famine during between the years of 1845 and 1850. Hence, we will call the memorial ‘The Children of the Famine Memorial’,” said Callahan.
Callahan further indicated, that the proceeds generated from the sale of the both the film and companion book would be applied to the cost of the memorial. Helping to bring this project into fruition are many of the same individuals involved in the making of the film. In addition to Fr. Mahoney and Ed Callahan, the committee includes Arthur Hurley, Jim Walsh, Robie Marcella, Dr. Dan Casey and, of course, Doug MacDonald.
As envisioned by the committee, preliminary plans call for the erection an 8-foot Celtic cross and a secondary stone, with a brief inscription that will be placed in the “Bell Yard,” which is located between the church and rectory. The committee hopes to have its plans finalized by Feb. 1.
“For over 40 years, Fr. Dan Mahoney has done an outstanding job of preserving one of Boston’s most important Irish-American landmarks. The story of what was initially known as the ‘Catholic Burial Ground’ on the apex of Bunker Hill is remarkable in itself. Every effort was made by the nativist element here in Charlestown to prohibit and prevent the burial of Catholics in this community. It is time to place a fitting memorial on the top of the hill”, said Callahan
The goal, which Callahan admits is ambitious, is to publicly unveil and dedicate the memorial on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in conjunction with the 150th Anniversary “Remembrance Mass” at Saint Francis de Sales Church that, in turn, will commemorate the 1859 founding of Saint Francis de Sales Parish.
The committee is asking residents to support this endeavor by continuing to let friends, neighbors and relatives know “Green Square Mile” DVDs and accompanying booklets remain available for public purchase. Locations continuing to help out with sales are The Cooperative Bank at 201 Main St.; Doherty’s Flowers at 219 Main St., right next to Zume’s Coffee House; and Saint Francis de Sales Rectory, 303 Bunker Hill St. (ask to see Joan Rae). Prices remain at $20 for the DVD and $5 for the booklet. Callahan is also inviting local residents to call him directly at 617-242-4252 to arrange a purchase and delivery provided it is to a Charlestown address.
Additionally, orders for the DVD and the accompanying booklet can be placed through the “Green Square Mile” link on the Charlestown Historical Society’s Website at http://www.charlestownhistoricalsociety.org/ (The link connects to a “Buy Now,” “Pay Pal” purchase option). Purchases are also possible via the U.S. Mail by sending a check to The Charlestown Historical Society, c/o P.O. Box 291776, Charlestown, MA 02129. (Please be sure to mark “GSM” on the memo line of the check).

PHOTO 1 CAPTION: Santa Claus at The Cooperative Bank.

PHOTO 2 CAPTION: The tellers’ line at The Cooperative Bank is decorated with storyboard depicting the “12 Days of Christmas.”

The Cooperative Bank is doing its part to make the neighborhood a little brighter this holiday season.
“This year, with all the difficulties going on in the world and the financial crisis, we wanted to spread a little extra cheer,” said Vice President Tom Coots.
At the suggestion of Assistant Manager Eric Cappellano, staff decorated the 201 Main St. branch with giant ornaments wishing Christmas greetings in multiple languages, as well as poster boards at the tellers’ booths depicting the “12 Days of Christmas” – with a twist. For instance, instead of the traditional “partridge in a pear tree,” one storyboard features Keith Partridge of “Partridge Family” fame. A new take on “four calling birds,” meanwhile. depicts birds on the phone.
“We always decorate the bank, but this year we went all out to bring an old-time Christmas back to the community,” Coots said.
Friday, Dec. 12, also saw the return of Santa Claus to the bank for the first time in four years. More than 70 kids from the Warren-Prescott, Harvard-Kent and Charlestown Cooperative Nursery schools had their pictures taken with Santa and were treated to complimentary cocoa and juice. Each child also received a stocking filled with coloring books, animal cracker and other gifts, courtesy of the bank.
“The kids were so appreciative,” Coots said. “A lot of them said it was the first time that they’d seen Santa.”
On Monday, bank staff also made a special delivery to the Golden Age Center on Main Street. Earlier in the month, Coots contacted Beverly Gibbons, director of the Golden Age Center, and asked her to compile a list of gift ideas for those who frequent the facility. A tree in the lobby was decorated with tags for each Golden Age Center regular. Patrons could then pick a tag, purchase the desired item and return it to the bank, where its employees handled the wrapping and distribution of gifts.
“We wanted to give something back to the community at Christmas time,” Coots said. “For children and seniors, this seemed like the best way to reach out.”

Through a partnership between Charlestown Against Drugs, the Charlestown Mothers Association and Harvest on Vine food pantry, approximately 200 local families in need will be enjoying a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.
“As usual the people of Charlestown opened up their hearts and wallets to help those who aren’t as fortunate enjoy a nice family dinner,” said Tom MacDonald of Harvest on Vine.
For $25, someone can buy a family a dinner basket with either a turkey or ham and side dishes. The meals were scheduled for distribution yesterday during a celebration at St. Catherine of Siena Parish Hall, featuring Christmas music and an appearance by Mark Charbonnier as Santa Claus.
“There are people out there who don’t have a good holiday because they don’t have the resources for their family,” said Charbonnier, CHAD secretary and a Boston Police officer. “CHAD has always stepped up and tried to work with organizations like the CMA and Harvest on Vine to assist those in need throughout Charlestown, whether it’s Christmas or some other time of the year.”
CHAD Chairman Peter Looney also emphasized the gift of giving. “The happiness I see in the faces of the families and children through this program makes my Christmas,” he said.
Susan Frigoletto, co-president of the CMA, pointed to this collaboration as yet another example of the community’s charitable spirit.
“We have an amazingly generous community, and it’s…great to see so many people wanting to support people in need,” Frigoletto said. “The holidays bring out the best in everyone and makes people want to share. This is a great way to do so.”
And while the meals will already reached their recipients by the time you need this, CHAD, the CMA and Harvest on Vine are still hoping to recoup the costs of the program: If you would like to sponsor a family Christmas dinner for the cost of $25, donations are still being collected at Olivia Browning, 20 City Square, and Zume’s Coffee House, 223 Main St.