Eagle Feathers #330 – Bunker Hill

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

If you drive out of Boston over the Leonard P. Zakim (Bunker Hill) Bridge, the first exit brings you to Sullivan Square at the Charlestown/Somerville line.  This area used to be known as Charlestown Neck.  The site was an isthmus, or small thread of land, that connected Charlestown with what is today Somerville.  These two towns, until 1842, were one.  The Neck was normally a quiet spot, but not at this time.  It was late in the day of June 17, 1775 and the infant Colonial American Army was in the midst of losing its first battle to the British.  They lost control of the battleground they fought on.  Amazingly, later when the story was told and the statistics revealed, the results were staggeringly in the favor of the Americans.  They had just repulsed the cream of the British army during two assaults on their Bunker/Breeds Hill defensive works and only gave way on the third attack because of their lack of ammunition.  This impressed General George Washington, who was in Virginia on his way to Massachusetts.  At that time, he was leery of leading the Colonials, thinking that Lexington and Concord were only skirmishes.  Then, upon hearing of the appalling losses the New England militia inflicted on the British (1,054 British losses vs.  441 American losses), he proudly determined that he would lead these men.

Another year passes, and we pause at this time to congratulate and honor the hard-working students who achieved their goal of successfully completing their courses of study at their respective high schools and colleges.

It takes a lot of dedication and commitment to follow through to completion in this world, which is filled with so many challenges and distractions. It is no small feat to take one’s education to completion, and these moments represent important milestones along the path to success in life.

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A H a n d p i c k e d P o e m

Review by Off the Shelf Correspondent Michael Todd Steffen

From his new book of poems, Pink Dust, in a section with the title Geezer, Ron Padgett writes,

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Mollie O’Leary is a poet from Massachusetts. She holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Washington. Mollie’s chapbook The Forgetting Curve was selected for publication in 2023 through Poetry Online’s chapbook contest and is currently in its fifth printing. Her poetry has appeared in Chestnut Review, wildness, McNeese Review, and elsewhere. Find more of her work at mollieoleary.com.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

There’s been lots of differing opinions and lots of misinformation swirling about the Union Square Neighborhood Council’s Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with Somernova. The first thing to clarify is that a no vote for the CBA does not mean a no vote to a  development. A no vote of the CBA means Somernova can still build by right and the community gets NOTHING.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

By Rand Wilson

Over the last two years the Union Square Neighborhood Council (USNC) and RafiProperties have worked to negotiate a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) for the neighborhood as part of Somernova’s campus expansion.

Thanks to the Neighborhood Council and the CBA negotiation process, our community has had substantial input into this large project.  Prior to the formation of the neighborhood council, real estate developers got their approvals and building permits from the city and then did pretty much did whatever they wanted.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

Dear Editor,

I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for the Somernova campus expansion. For over forty years, I have worked in Somerville supporting children, youth, and families in many different capacities.

This second round of funding allows nonprofits and municipalities to apply for matching grants from the statewide pool of opioid abatement funds

The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $1.5 million in matching grants to 30 municipalities and community-based organizations in areas disproportionately impacted by the overdose crisis.