Take Advantage of BPL's Black History Events

1. Kids these days. And technology. They both have the tendency to amaze and frighten with their powers. Take, for example, the 5^th grader featured in a little story in the latest issue of the Bridge: Sam Lowery of Russell Street. When a group of his neighbors were under siege by a swimming pool-sized puddle, and trying to figure out where the nearest storm drain was located so they could unblock it, Sam suggested using Google Earth to pinpoint the exact location of the drain. The story doesn’t indicate whether Sam also had to lead his neighbors in the use of Google Earth, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. Read the whole story and see a photo of this precocious kid on the Bridge’s web site.

2. February is Black History Month. The Boston Public Library is staging several of events to mark this, and before the month is out, there are a few more you can catch at branch’s around the city. The library has also compiled a Black Is booklist — recent works by and about African Americans. The list and copies of some of the books featured on it is available at the Charlestown library. For more info on upcoming Black History events, check out the BPL’s announcement.

3. Yet another harbinger of spring: the Charlestown Militia held its second drill of the season at Memorial Hall over the weekend. For those not yet familiar with the militia, it is a private nonprofit whose mission is to re-enact Gardner’s Regiment, offer public education on 18^th Century life and the Battle of Bunker Hill. If you want to get involved, drop organizers a line at GardnersRegiment-recruiting@yahoo.com or visit their web site www.charlestownmilitia.org for more details on what they do.

4. Time’s running out if you’re hoping to catch Etcetera’s Spring 2011 trunk show at Boutique 4 A Week. Get in touch with Catherine to make an appointment at 617-686-6964 or boutique4aweek@earthlink.net. And if you don’t know about Catherine about Boutique 4 A Week, then .

5. Wasn’t that just blissful yesterday, when 45 degrees felt like 70 and the snow was disappearing into murky, sooty puddles? Hopefully you enjoyed it. Because it is not happening again today: The sun will be out but the temperature won’t go much higher than 23 degrees. Good news: the warmth will resume on Wednesday.

For more info on what's happening around the neighborhood, check out our events calendar.