Workers, inmates pick up 26 tons of trash

July 6, 2009

After hundreds of thousands of spectators enjoyed the July Fourth celebration along the Charles River, a massive cleanup was in order. Employees of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, with the aid of 140 inmates from the state Department of Correction, collected more than 26 tons of trash. More than 100 recycling bins were placed around the Charles River Esplanade, and DCR crews collected an additional 3 tons of cardboard and plastic bottles from the festivities. Workers started to clean up shortly after 11 p.m., as the crowds dispersed, and finished about 6 a.m.

The annual summer cleanup of Boston Harbor begins today. The Marine Debris Cleanup program is designed to make Boston Harbor and its tributaries safer for swimmers and boaters and to improve the harbor for navigation. Through September, a boat will pick up debris in the harbor and parts of the Charles River and Chelsea Creek at least four days a week. It will be the 10th summer the cleanup has been done. During the past nine summers, more than 220 tons of debris have been removed. (AP)

Northeastern University will launch a new graduate course designed to help students develop greener ways to produce and use energy. The school says the master of science program in energy systems will teach students how to integrate traditional energy systems with modern technologies and to finance capital projects. Students are also expected to study the political aspects of implementing renewable-energy technology systems. The two-year course begins this fall at Northeastern’s College of Engineering. (AP)

A pretrial hearing is scheduled tomorrow for two men accused of killing a cocaine dealer, dismembering his body, and cooking the remains. Lawyers for Daniel Bradley, 47, of Westwood and Paul Moccia, 48, of Dedham are due back in Wrentham District Court for a hearing in the death of Angel Antonio Ramirez. Bradley and Moccia are being held without bail and have pleaded not guilty to murder charges. Prosecutors say Moccia met Ramirez near the concrete company in Walpole that Bradley co-owns and shot him in the back with a .357-caliber pistol to avoid paying a debt for drug deals. Authorities say the two men tried to dispose of the evidence. Defense lawyers pointed out that prosecutors have not produced a body. (AP)

A fleet of Tall Ships from around the world sails into Boston this week. The five-day visit is expected to draw thousands of visitors to the city’s waterfront. Organizers say 12 of the sailing vessels will be open for public tours Thursday to Sunday at Charlestown Navy Yard, the Boston Fish Pier, and the Seaport World Trade Center. Other ships plan to dock privately. (AP)

A man and woman in their mid-30s were shot Saturday night on Horan Way near the Bromley-Heath housing development in Jamaica Plain, according to Officer Joe Zanoli, a spokesman for Boston police. The man was shot several times, Zanoli said, and the woman was shot once. Both were taken to Brigham and Women’s Hospital for treatment, but none of the injuries was considered life-threatening, Zanoli said. No arrests have been made in the shootings, which happened about 11:30 p.m. Police did not identify either victim.

The first mate of the US cargo ship that was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia in April was honored yesterday with a parade. The tribute to Captain Shane Murphy of Seekonk came at the end of this year’s Boston Navy Week at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The 34-year-old graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy took command of the Maersk Alabama after four armed pirates hijacked the vessel and held the ship’s captain hostage. With Murphy at the helm, the crew resisted the pirate takeover, took back the ship, and sailed home. (AP)