Team IHP repeated as team champion, and third-year Doctor of Physical Therapy student Anna Haring won the women’s division, at the 2014 Battle of Bunker Hill Road Race on June 15.

A total of 37 students, staff, and faculty were part of Team IHP, which won the team category for the second consecutive year.

Haring finished the 8K race in 33:39.8. A 2010 graduate of Amherst College, where she swam competitively, Haring placed 22nd overall out of a field of 526 runners.

Fellow DPT classmate Stephanie Berger took third place with a time of 34:06.9. Berger shaved six seconds off her time in the 2013 race, when she placed second in the women’s division.

For the second year, the MGH Institute was one of four major sponsors of the 46th annual race, which ended in front of the school’s Catherine Filene Shouse Building in the Charlestown Navy Yard. All proceeds from the race go to support the Charlestown Boys & Girls Club.

The Mayor of Boston is thanking Charlestown residents for their patience as the city completes an extensive roadwork in Sullivan Square for the first time in 25 years.

Mayor Martin Walsh said the Public Works Department (PWD) have worked for two weeks to pave heavily trafficked roads in the square to improve safety and transportation.

Walsh added that additional roadway stripping and pedestrian ramp improvements will continue throughout the summer.

“Roadway infrastructure improvements can be disruptive while they’re underway, but keep our city and economy moving in the long term,” said Walsh. “We appreciate the public’s patience in allowing the Public Works crews to complete this much needed work in a timely and safe manner.”

More than two lane miles of road in and around Sullivan Square were paved, including Alford Street, Cambridge Street, Main Street, Mishawum Street, Rutherford Avenue, and West Street. PWD put down 36,000 square yards of asphalt pavement amounting to 3,740 tons of material, and 200 utility manholes and castings were raised or improved to meet the level of the new road.

The improvements began with grinding on Tuesday, May 27 and paving was completed on Monday, June 9, one day ahead of schedule. All of the work was done at night and in close coordination with the Boston Police Department, the State Police, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and the Alford Street Bridge project.

Through the rest of the summer the Sullivan Square area will receive new roadway striping, improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and new pedestrian ramps, with total investment in the roadways and sidewalks totaling around $900,000.

As a thank you to the surrounding community, PWD has put up temporary electronic sign boards expressing thanks to all of the travelers who helped to make the project successful, saying “Bos Pub Works Says – Thank You For Your Patience – Boston Works for You!”

The City of Boston and Wynn Everett will have another week to sort out a surrounding community agreement or face arbitration.

On Monday the Massachusetts Gaming Commission granted the city one more week after the deadline to come to a mitigation agreement with Wynn came and went.

Mass Gaming Commission spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said every surrounding community is provided the opportunity to use an additional 14 days in the process of negotiations as they see fit.

“Some may choose to use some of the 14 or all of them,” said Dirscoll. “They can use them during negotiations with an applicant or during arbitration. It is my understanding that Boston does intend to utilize some of the additional days available to them.”

Driscoll confirmed that the City of Boston requested to use six of the 14 days available to them.

Mayor Martin Walsh, who launched a campaign to get Boston named a host community instead of a surrounding community said in a statement released Monday, “The City of Boston has been actively engaged in negotiations with both casino proponents. If and when a deal is reached, we will discuss the terms, but will not characterize the negotiations as they stand now, short of saying that our legal team feels as though an additional week will be helpful as we move forward in these discussions. Mayor Walsh still feels strongly that Boston is a host community to both proposals, and recognizes that his role is to protect the best interests of the people of Boston, “particularly those in East Boston and Charlestown.”

photo courtesy of the Freedom Trail Foundation

While Charlestown celebrated the Bunker Hill Day and all the history that goes along with it, the city of Boston scheduled a much needed upgrade for the Freedom Trail.

Mayor Martin Walsh announced that $50,000 will be spent to replace 2,000 feet of the painted sections of the historic Freedom Trail in Charlestown, Downtown Crossing, and the North End, with a new thermoplastic treatment. The multi-colored strips are being applied with heat and are expected to last up to eight years, improving on the time consuming and inefficient seasonal painting of the non-bricked areas of the historic way.

“The Freedom Trail is a Boston landmark and its visibility is important for visitors,” said Walsh. “As the City enters its peak tourism season, the newly laid pathway will guide our residents and tourists to popular destinations, and also save the City money in future costs associated with the annual painting of the path.”

The thermoplastic strip is red, white, and blue-gray, approximately 10-inches wide, and will be laid through crosswalks and on the concrete sections of the painted trail throughout Charlestown, Downtown Crossing and the North End. The bricked areas of the Freedom Trail will not be impacted by the striping project. The Department of Public Works project is being done at a cost of $50,000.

“Over 4 million people enjoy the Freedom Trail and our great city’s historic sites annually,” said Freedom Trail Foundation Executive Director Suzanne Taylor. “The Department of Public Works’ new brick-resembling treatment will stand the test of time and help residents and visitors navigate the Freedom Trail to experience each of the Trail’s 16 sites year-round.”

The project began at the end of May at Congress Street where it meets City Hall, and will be completed at the end of June (weather permitting). A second expansion of the project will include installing the striping on repaired sidewalk segments.

The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile path that traces through Charlestown, Downtown Boston and the North End leading to 16 nationally significant sites like the USS Constitution at the Navy Yard. The Trail passes by a variety of historic sites, including museums, meeting houses, churches, a ship, historic markers, parks and burying grounds, all telling the story of the American Revolution.

Thousands of people lined the streets of Charlestown to celebrate Bunker Hill Day on Sunday, June 15. Here, Color Guard Eric Morin of the Westbrook Fife and Drum Corps unfurls his flag in preparation for marching through the parade route.

Passing the torch: Pictured is 17th Mayor of Charlestown, Shannon Lundin (left) with the newly appointed 2014 18th Mayor of Charlestown, Kelliegh Harrington.

The Townie Association had a very busy Bunker Hill Day weekend. On Friday, June 13th, Charlestown elected the 2014 Mayor of Charlestown, Kelliegh Harrington and said thank you to 17th Mayor of Charlestown, Shannon Lundin at the annual Night Before Banquet. The race lasted two months as each candidate sold votes in their name. Kelliegh, with 3,790 votes won the race by almost 1,000 votes. Mike Sullivan had 2,897 votes, Teri Muscarella sold 2,645 votes, Dave DelMedico sold 1,250 votes, and Sunshine Smith with 10 votes. Because of the Mayor of Charlestown race, the Townie Association was able to raise over $10,000. Kelliegh will represent Charlestown this year and will travel across the pond to the old country, Ireland.

On Saturday, June 14th, the Townie Association successfully decorated the entire Parade Route as part of the annual Paint the Town: Red, White, & Blue. The week before, volunteers hand delivered letters to homes and businesses along the Parade Route asking owners and residents to decorate their property with patriotic decorations. On the night before the parade, volunteers of all generations of Townies teamed together to “Paint the Town” – a tradition that has gone on for three years. Volunteers managed to hang 1,400 balloons on every street light pole along the Parade Route. It was amazing to see so many young people and older Townies come together and decorate to take pride in where they live. Charlestown was truly festive and patriotic – with the Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge lighting up red, white, & blue to the businesses and homes dressed in patriotic bunting and bows, to the poles adorning patriotic balloons – the spirit of the 17th of June was alive! This year’s Paint the Town campaign was sponsored by Charlestown Against Drugs, Wynn Resorts & Development, Diversified Automotive, New England Development, and Spaulding Rehab Hospital. Special thanks to State Representative, Dan Ryan, for assisting the Townie Association in our Paint the Town campaign endeavors.

On Sunday, June 15th the Townie Association managed to not only to build one float this year, but two! This year, the Townie Association built and decorated the annual “Paint the Town” float, which was festively decorated with patriotic decorations. We threw over 5,000 red, white, and blue Mardi Gras beads to parade spectators. Special thanks to Charlestown Youth Lacrosse and ProMusic Productions/DJ Smokey Cain for joining and collaborating with us this year. Along with our patriotic float, the Townie Association managed to build the popular “Frozen” float. Children enjoyed seeing Princess Ana, Queen Elsa, and Olaf the Snowman ride through the streets of Charlestown. Special thanks to the Mama Bear Effect for co-sponsoring the Frozen float. The Townie Association also sponsored the Mayor of Charlestown’s horse & carriage as well as Spider-Man, Batman, Spongebob and Mickey & Minnie and their 1960’s convertible!

On behalf of the Townie Association, special thanks to the 2014 Mayor of Charlestown committee and volunteers: Lisa McGoff Collins, Patty Kelley, Erica Walsh, Shannon Lundin, Smokey Cain, Melissa Doherty, Beth Canizzarro-Vigilante, Dennis Taylor, Elaine Donovan, Cara Shea, Kim Copithorn, Bridget Bohne, Shawna Dole, Patty Gould, Jason MacDonald, Mary Crilley, Bobbie Dole, & Alex Gandolfo.

Special thanks to all of our 2014 “Paint the Town” volunteers: Kevin & Martha Barry, Meaghan Burke, Teri Muscarella, Amanda Brooks, Craig Ryan Powers, Hannah Crilley, Karyn Cunningham, Shaelyn Devlin, Carly Cahill, Rose Sullivan, Susie Burke, Molly Cadger, Lauren Barry, Wendy Kelley, Mary Killorin, Emma Hudson, Kelliegh Harrington, Scott Moses, John Harrington, Noah Shiner, Kaelyn Gilbert, Alyssa Moses, William Kinney, Eireann McMaster, Lili Sgro, Shannon Lundin, Laniegh Lundin, Kerrin Houliahn & Cassady Sullivan.

BIG THANKS to our sponsors: Charlestown Against Drugs, Wynn Resorts, Spaulding Rehab Hospital, Diversified Automotive, & New England Development.

Thank you to our Paint the Town supporters: State Representative, Dan Ryan, and to Mishawum Park Tenants Association & Peabody Properties.

Thank you to MassDot for lighting the Zakim-Bunker Hill Bridge patriotic colors and joining our campaign.

Thank you to all the residents who decorated their property and to all the Charlestown businesses who decorated their property.

Thank you to all of our volunteers for Parade Day that helped us build the floats or joined the ride: Kelly Tucker, Smokey Cain, Mary Crilley, Cara Shea, Kim Copithorn, Sissy Kineavy, Michelle Mortimer, Emma Hamilton, Connor Boyle, Noelle Boyle, Ryan McGonagle, Annie McGonagle, Malachy Donovan, Jared Burhoe, Jason Smith, James Hollien, & Gil Eatherton.

Thank you to Action Towing of Revere and Quealy Towing of Everett for donating the flatbed trucks.

Special thanks to our “Frozen” float co-sponsor, The Mama Bear Effect.

Special thanks to Mark Hickey & Hickey Designs for donating all of the banners.

BIG THANKS to HOME DEPOT for sponsoring our floats and donating all the wooden materials.

Mayor Martin Walsh and Veterans Affairs Commissioner Francisco Urena attend the Battle of Bunker Hill Commemorative Exercises in Charlestown on Tuesday, June 17. Children from the Warren Prescott School are seen here performing a musical medley.

Carl Zellner

Carl Zellner passed away Sunday June 29th at Cape Cod Hospital.

As a local historian Carl was a dedicated and great friend of Charlestown. His obituary will be published next week in The Charlestown Patriot-Bridge.  A memorial service is planned for the future at the Bunker Hill Museum and rather than flowers, donations may made to:  Charlestown Historical Society   Box 291776   Charlestown, MA 02129.

Thank you Sal  LaMattina

Dear Editor:

The members of the Abraham Lincoln Post want to take this opportunity to thank our city of Boston district councilor Sal La Mattina for his generous donation of a new flag on June 14 to celebrate Flag Day at Memorial Hall. Also a special thanks to Judy Evers from Councilor La Matina’s office for her invaluable help coordinating the event, as always Judy is there for the people of Charlestown, your help is greatly appreciated.

Long may it wave, God bless America

Danny O’Neil

On the casino

Dear Mr. Mayor:

Residents of Charlestown were informed on Thursday, June 19th Patriot/Bridge publication that your administration is negotiating a Surrounding Communities Agreement with Wynn Massachusetts.  Many of us had suspected as much based on presentations to the community by Robert DeSalvio.

We recognize and thank you for your host community effort. We are, however, frustrated by the fact that your administration has not come to the community to share and ask for feedback on design modifications to our streets in order to accommodate the Wynn Resort Casino traffic impact.  We cannot accept a process that cuts the wider Charlestown community out of such critical discussions affecting our safety, access and quality of life.

Since the middle 90’s, residents here have worked hard to improve our regional roadways, culminating in Mayor Menino’s approval of a extraordinary Redesign in March last year. That Redesign had huge community support, although as Congressman Capuano pointed out nothing is ever 100%.

Now, your administration is reconsidering that Redesign without any opportunity for community review and feedback.  We urge you to come to Charlestown and present the design options being negotiated.  Charlestown is looking for a fair chance to participate in planning for its future.

Sincerely,

Evelyn Addante

Nicholas Kraman

William Lamb

Jennifer Rossi

Annette Tecce

Ivey St John

“Who’s on first?”

-Lou Costello

Sometimes it is hard enough to know what time it is or how to shop when you forget the shopping. list on the kitchen table. Right? However, over the past year or two something has bugged me. Doesn’t anyone know when Charlestown was founded? I thought I knew until I started seeing things across the town that confused me.

I was a history major at Boston State College and always loved history and historical facts such as dates. If somebody told you Paul Revere took his ride into history back in 1777, you would be all over them. We know it was 1775 an unchangeable date forever part of history

I first noticed something several years ago in Hayers Square with that new marble fountain which states that Charlestown was founded in 1629. Then, that city sign on Austin Street welcoming everyone to Charlestown also states that Charlerstown was founded in 1629. What gives here? I was always taught that Charlestown was founded in 1628 ,not 1629.

I can still remember clear as a bell that we celebrated the 350th Anniversary of the Founding of Charlestown in 1978. There was a week long celebration in September of 1978 that ended up with a great 350th Anniversary Dinner Dance at the Knights of Columbus Hall on West School Street. I was there and enjoyed both the celebration and the anniversary of the town.

Apparently, members of the Charlestown Preservation Society also apperars to believes the date to be 1629. In a guide for homeowners, residents and tourists, entitled “Charlestrown History & Architecture,” on page 5 is written “(Charlerstown) was settled by Puritan immigrants in 1629.”

This conflict over the founding date of the town goes back years though. Back during the Bicenntennial, 1976, the Boston 200 Neighborhood History Series threw out the date July 4,1629 as the date of Charlestown’s birth.

Members of the Charlestown Historical Society of which I am a life member stand by the year 1628 and will continue to do so until hell freezes over. I agree with historian Carl Zeliner who long ago stated that Charlestown began in 1628 when the Massachusetts Bay Company received a patent for the settlement of the Massachusetts coast from three miles north of the Merrimack River to three milers south of the Charles River.

Finally, if you need more proof, take a look at the City of Charlestown seal in 1847, it states that Charlestown was founded in 1628. Who you going to believe, a sign put up a few years ago by Mayor Tommy Menino or the `1847 City of Chalestown Seal?

Many may be saying why does Sal care so much. I care because I hate seeing historical facts getting changed. Doesn’t anyone do research anymore or do we just believe something out of thin air?

Back at the turn of the last century (i.e., 1900), newspapers exhorted their readers to observe a “safe and sane” Fourth of July. That’s because in communities big and small all across America, the founding of our nation had become a popular excuse for roving groups of young men to engage in mayhem of all sorts, causing indiscriminate and serious damage to private and pubic property starting at 12:01 AM of the Fourth.

The widespread rowdiness caused so much destruction that a “safe and sane Fourth” became a rallying cry among both public officials and the public at large. Within a short time, the public safety campaign and public awareness soon all but eliminated the problem.

Although the practices of more than 100 years ago are long since gone, there are far too many Americans who still see our mid-summer holiday as a time to blow off some steam as if anything goes.

We’re all for having a good time with friends and family members, but too much of a good thing always is a bad idea. Drinking and driving remains the number one preventable public health threat throughout the nation. Drinking and boating is not far behind. Overly indulging in alcohol while behind the wheel of a vehicle of any sort always is a recipe for disaster and our police will be out in force over the holiday weekend to ensure that drunk drivers are removed from the road. We also would remind our readers that friends don’t let friends drive drunk — no one wants to say to themselves the next day, “If only I’d done the right thing and taken away his/her keys.”

The use of fireworks is prohibited in Massachusetts. Moreover, adults who drink and set off fireworks, or who allow children to play with fireworks, are risking the loss of  an eye or worse by engaging in behavior that at heart is childish, bothersome to neighbors, and dangerous. There are plenty of fireworks displays in this area for everyone to enjoy without the need to engage in one’s own pyrotechnics.

We wish all of our readers a happy — and safe and sane — Fourth of July.

Mark your calendar and bring your friends and family to a fun and free BCYF Neighborhood Block Party!  Every Thursday night in July and August from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., the BCYF Neighborhood Block Party will offer a variety of activities which, depending on the location, will include an inflatable obstacle course, a DJ, ice cream, an interactive arts activity, an animal petting zoo, resource information tables staffed by our partners and other city agencies, arts & crafts activities, swimming, a cookout and more.

This summer’s schedule is as follows:

July 17 BCYF Clougherty Pool, Bunker Hill Street, Charlestown

All Block Parties – with the exception of the BCYF Clougherty Pool location – are rain or shine.  Any updates to the schedule will be posted on the BCYF Facebook page (Facebook.com/BCYFBoston) and on Twitter at @BCYFCenters.

Over the past few months Charlestown youth had their say on how the city’s budget could help programs near and dear to them or what they would like to see improved in the neighborhood.

Last week, Mayor Martin Walsh announced the winning projects of the ‘Youth Lead the Change’, participatory budget initiative with Charlestown projects making the final cut.

Youth in Charlestown asked Walsh and the city for Chromebooks for Charlestown High School. The students of Charlestown High will receive approximately 30 Chromebook laptops. This will enhance student performance by providing them with the latest technology, allowing them to easily acquire information for academic assignments.

Youth here also asked for a Skate Park Feasibility Study. A feasibility study will now be conducted to explore the most sustainable methods of design and ongoing care for implementation of a skateboard park.

Young people from across the City were instructed, by the Mayor’s Youth Council and other supportive partners, how to create guidelines from the voting process, and develop a ballot, which included 14 projects.

Voting polls were stationed at local train stations, youth centers, and school buildings slated for a citywide vote, and youth determined how to spend $1 million of Boston’s capital budget. Over 1,500 eligible votes came in from Boston residents between the ages of 12 and 25.

“I was extremely impressed by the projects that made it onto the ballot,” said Walsh. “The winning projects will make positive and meaningful change in the lives of Boston residents throughout the City. The City budget is not taken lightly, and these young people were dedicated and passionate, becoming a driving force in the way our community process is run. This is only the beginning, and I look forward to seeing all of the great things our young Boston leaders have lined up for the future.”

Voters were able to select up to four projects on the ballot. Projects were divided into the following categories of Streets and Safety, Parks/Environment/Health, Community and Culture and Education

“This process engaged youth throughout the City to develop proposals that will offer great benefits to communities across Boston,” said Chief of Health and Human Services, Felix Arroyo. “The voices of our youth were heard, and I am really excited to see more change agents get involved with Youth Lead the Change.”

Youth Lead the Change will launch its second year in September with a call for steering committee members.

“Youth Lead the Change is a community process making way for a new form of democracy that young people can take part in, celebrate, and see real change as the result,” said Shari Davis, executive director of Youth Engagement and Employment.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) voted unanimously – 4-0 – to move ahead with the issuing of gaming licenses despite a November ballot question that could wipe out casino gaming altogether.

Commissioner Jim McHugh led the charge saying it only makes sense to stay the course.

“Proceeding now makes good sense and is good public policy,” he said.

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and several Boston elected officials had called on the MGC last week to delay the awarding of a casino license in the Greater Boston region until after the November ballot question is settled.

The point was argued for Boston on Wednesday – in a meeting at the Bunker Hill Community College’s Charlestown Campus – by former Charlestown and Chelsea State Rep. Gene O’Flaherty.

O’Flaherty is now the corporation counsel for Boston and was charged with arguing the point for Mayor Walsh in calling for the delay.

Also giving testimony was Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria and attorneys from  casino applicants Wynn Resorts and Mohegan Sun.

Following the unanimous vote, the MGC also voted unanimously to have Boston begin its Surrounding Community Agreement (SCA) arbitration process on July 3.

Every other SCA in the arbitration process, including Somerville and Chelsea, has been decided.

The fifth commissioner, Steve Crosby, was not part of the discussion as he recused himself from the Greater Boston region casino process earlier this year. On the heels of Charlestown’s elected officials calling on the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to hold off granting gaming licenses until after the statewide ballot question is held in November, Mayor Martin Walsh joined the growing chorus last Thursday afternoon.

“I will file a stay with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, requesting that they hold off on granting a gaming license for Region A until after the November election,” said Walsh. “We are facing an unprecedented situation in Massachusetts right now, particularly given the Supreme Judicial Court’s decision earlier this week.”

Walsh said from day one he has consistently advocated to have the voices of the people heard and that Boston residents deserve the right to vote on this matter, and the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) has granted them that right.

“If the MGC chooses to go forward with granting a license, and the voters choose to repeal the gaming law in November, all of the parties involved risk losing significant time and millions of dollars for nothing,” said Walsh. “This has been a difficult process for everyone involved. I appreciate the work of the MGC. Whether I agreed with their decisions or not, I recognize the challenges they have faced and I appreciate their efforts.”

Last Tuesday, after the SJC ruled in favor of allowing a statewide ballot question to repeal the state’s gaming law, City Councilor Sal LaMattina sent a letter to the MGC Wednesday urging them to delay granting licenses.

“The Supreme Judicial Court’s decision to allow the repeal expanded gaming question on the ballot this November could potentially have a huge impact on my entire district, which includes Charlestown, East Boston and  the North End,” said LaMattina. “We’ve repeatedly asked for the chance to have referendums on both proposals and were refused those opportunities. This statewide referendum that was just approved will give all of us the chance to vote one last time and we’d like it to be as fair and transparent as possible. Therefore, I ask that the Gaming Commission please refrain from holding any other meetings or hearings until after the election.”

LaMattina said his constituents will now have to deal with another long casino campaign season and it’s not fair to have to deal with the decision making process as well, especially if it ends up being futile if the repeal question passes.

“It may or may not mean anything to you, but this is an issue that has haunted me for 6 years,” he said. “As much as I would like it to subside, it hasn’t. Ultimately, if expanded gaming is to come to Massachusetts, we all feel that it should hinge on the decision of the voters of the Commonwealth. Let the vote play out and then proceed with the awarding of licenses-that is, if the repeal referendum fails.”

John Ribeiro, chairman of Repeal the Casino Deal said, “Now that it’s clear the people will have a chance to vote yes to repeal casinos, smart leaders like Mayor Walsh see the wisdom in slowing the Gaming Commission’s rush to the slots table. The economy is growing, cranes are up in every skyline in Massachusetts, and jobs are coming back. The people of Massachusetts know we can do better and the people should be heard before any decisions are made.” Meanwhile, Wynn announced that it has filed its Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The filing follows Wynn’s filing of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) and nearly completes a 15-month study required by the Commonwealth to analyze and detail the environmental and transportation impact and remediation associated with a proposed $1.6 billion 5-star Wynn Resort in neighboring Everett.

Members of Gardner’s Regiment, Charlestown Militia strike a pose outside of Charlestown Yoga. Pictured (l-r) Tom Coots, Ed Roche (black coat) and Joe Brown (green coat)

Carl Zellner

Retired Boston City Planner; helped design Big Dig and Boston roads and parks;avid Boston historian

Carl A. Zellner, a former longtime resident of Boston and Charlestown, passed away June 29 at Cape Cod Hospital, Hyannis with his family at his side. He was 78 years old.
Carl was born October 4, 1935 to Gladys and August Zellner in Oklahoma City, OK. There he graduated Classen High School and his further education included: Principia College, BA degree, University of Washington, MA degree and his doctoral work at Harvard. Carl’s career as a city planner spanned many decades and impacted the layout of many cities, towns, and highways. He also spent a few years in the US Coast Guard, active duty in Alaska before joining the USCG Reserves where he rose to the rank of Captain, O6 before retiring.

Carl, who was a retired city planner for the City of Boston, was in part responsible for design of the Big Dig and many roads and parks in the city. He had been retired and living in Palmyra, VA with his current wife, Virginia Foster for the past 10 years.

As an avid Boston historian, he had been doing research on a variety of subjects, followed by a visit to his daughter in Wellfleet at the time of his passing. 
He was preceded in death by his first wife Beverly (1934 to 1996.) His legacy: son, Charles Zellner and his wife, Susan of Lehighton, PA., Carla Smith and her husband, Jeff of Wellfleet, MA., Danielle Cahill and her husband, Bill of Nashville, TN. His legacy of grandchildren includes: Matthew Zellner, Mark Zellner, Nicole Zellner, Amber Wirth, Beverley Cahill, and Marina Smith; great grandchildren: Gabriel, Aubrey and Hannah Wirth, and Gloria Zellner. Carl is also survived by his cousin Merrilee Zellner of Newport, RI.
A memorial service and celebration of Carl’s life will be held at the Bunker Hill Museum on September 7. Call for details. Donations in his memory can be made to Charlestown Historical Society, PO Box 291776, Charlestown, MA 02129.

Fun fact: Carl, due to his research and love of Charlestown history, was responsible for a historical marker noting the landing site of Paul Revere’s boat being moved to its current and correct location.

What’s so bad about a bank? They seem pretty benign.

Then why do ten Boston neighborhood shopping districts, including those in the North End and Charlestown, make them or any professional office a conditional or forbidden use on the first or basement floors?

Why did the Boston City Council recently vote to make banks and other offices a conditional use on Charles and Cambridge streets, adding Beacon Hill’s commercial streets to the other ten districts?

So banks and offices won’t further deaden the blocks they are on.

Banks and professional offices deaden their environments in two ways. First, they create long blank walls. Take a look along Cambridge Street where TD Bank and People’s United have taken up large spaces with blank windows and no customers. For an even worse situation, take a gander over to Central Square in Cambridge where several banks make the area look abandoned.

Banks and professional offices deaden environments in a more stealthy way too. They are rich renters. They can afford to pay a lot more than a small retailer. No wonder landlords like them.

But they kill the goose that laid the golden egg. As landlords fill their spaces with banks and offices on the ground floors, shoppers gradually leave to do their business elsewhere and the small shops that keep trying to succeed after the banks move in finally disappear.

A good example of the deadening effect of an office was at the Charles Circle end of Charles Street. For years a law office, with its blinds drawn, occupied a long space in the large garage building. A couple of years ago the law offices moved out and JP Licks moved in. Now the block is lively, even in winter, when you’d think ice cream would be less desirable.

Tiny Beacon Hill, about ¼ mile on each side, now has six banks, up from three only about three years ago.

The new banks probably attract a few customers chasing miniscule increases in CD rates. They’ll attract a few students and young working people who live nearby. But the big moneybags on Beacon Hill aren’t going to change their banking habits.

The conditional use applied to offices is not a completely done deal—the BRA and the Zoning Commission still must approve it, but that looks promising. Josh Zakim, the district’s new and young city councilor, kept a close eye on the initiative and probably gained some seasoning in doing so. The only question left on this matter is why did it take Beacon Hill so long to get the protection other neighborhood centers have already had?

Questions on another zoning matter were addressed by the city council too. For some reason, art galleries are not an allowed use in some areas of the city, including the Back Bay. You would think that art galleries are just what you’d want in a commercial district, pulling in customers and adding to the mix of retail. This strange situation was pulled into the limelight when the Pucker Gallery in the Back Bay, which has dozens of art galleries, many on the ground floor, tried to move and was denied permission. That matter has been resolved, but the city council decided it needed to look more widely at what are and are not allowed uses throughout neighborhood centers in Boston. Zakim and City Councilor Ayanna Pressley were behind this effort.

Who knows what will result from this exploration, but one would hope that the zoning code will better reflect uses that enhance communities, street vitality and appeal.

Each Friday and Saturday from dawn to dusk, Haymarket, Boston’s centuries-old open-air market adjacent to Government Center, the North End, and Faneuil Hall, offers a unique shopping experience.

Sellers of fresh produce have clustered in Haymarket since around 1830, although vendors started congregating here at least 100 years earlier. Haymarket vendors sell huge varieties of fruits and vegetables at great prices from open wooden stands and pushcarts. Specialty grocers selling cheese, fish, Halal meats, pizza, spices and other delicacies from small shops can be found in an adjacent building on Blackstone Street.

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the market as it opens for the day. Learn about its history, how it has changed over time, and hear from the president of the Haymarket Pushcart Association. Visit vendors and sample fruits and vegetables, cheese and even pizza.

The tour is offered on Friday, July 11, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Admission is $35 for non-members and $25 for Historic New England members. Registration is recommended; call 617-994-5920 to reserve or visit www.HistoricNewEngland.org.

After losing his bid to get the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to delay awarding a Boston-area casino license until after the November ballot question aimed at repealing the state’s gaming law last week, Mayor Martin Walsh avoided arbitration and is close to inking a surrounding community agreement with Mohegan Sun in  Revere.

While Walsh’s press secretary Kate Norton could not comment on the details of the agreement at press time, others said rumors were floating around City Hall Tuesday that the agreement is substantial and could be similar to the host community agreement signed by Suffolk Downs and the city last August under former Mayor Thomas Menino.

In that agreement the City was projected to get $52 million in annual payments – payments that include property taxes and impact fees – if the casino reaches its goal of $1 billion in gross gaming revenues.

City Councilor Sal LaMattina said while he had not yet seen the details he heard the agreement is far better than what would have come out of arbitration.

“I’ve gone through arbitration in the City Council and it’s not pretty,” said LaMattina. “It sounds to me this agreement will provide for the negative impacts of a casino in Revere. With that said, the entire state will get a chance to vote in November and we will see then what the people want.”

Repeal the Casino Deal chairman John Ribeiro responded to news reports that Walsh has struck a deal with Mohegan Sun, a deal that would preclude East Boston residents from having a binding vote on the casino project.

“It should come as little surprise that the City of Boston is cutting another deal with the casino industry that is based on dollars and cents, not what is in the clear interests of our capital city, its people and its long-term economic future,” said Ribeiro. “We hoped for more from Mayor Walsh, who knows well the damage addiction has on people, families and communities. The city’s zest for phantom revenue wrapped in cronyism, conflict and corruption in both Revere and Everett, offers daily evidence for why we need to vote yes in November to stop this casino mess. Massachusetts can do better than this.”

Mayor Martin J. Walsh will host the third “Mondays with the Mayor” on Monday, July 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Bunker Hill Community College, 250 Rutherford Ave.,  Charlestown.

The event is part of a series of community town hall meetings designed to engage with residents and maintain accessibility and transparency in the Walsh administration.

Gabrielle Farrell of the Mayor’s press office said that the mayor’s policy team decided to bring back “Mondays with Marty,” which were public forums that were held during Walsh’s successful campaign for mayor. The name of the forums was changed to “Mondays with the Mayor.”

Farrell said that the previous forums were held in Brighton and Roxbury.

“Constituents inquired whether we were going to hold these events citywide and a decision was made to host these forums all across Boston,” said Farrell. “The policy team selects locations that will be able to accommodate a large number of people and provide an ideal stage setting for the mayor but still seem welcoming while giving these events a town-hall atmosphere so people feel they can express their thoughts and concerns.”

Members of Mayor Walsh’s cabinet and the leaders of city departments will also appear at the forum.

Walsh was elected mayor of Boston in November. He succeeded Tom Menino, the longest-serving mayor in the city’s history.

The doors open at 6 p.m. for the event.