Government Shutdown Could Close Monument, USS Constitution

Today is Friday, April 8. Here are five things you need to know today.

1. So there are talks of a possible government shutdown this weekend. In fact, if Congress doesn’t pass a budget by midnight today, it’s official – and all non-essential government workers will be told to stay home. Locally, that will have some impact. The USS Constitution and Bunker Hill Monument would be closed, since they’re both run by the National Parks Service. This has happened before, briefly in 1995 and 1996. But this time it’s coinciding with the 150^th Anniversary of the Civil War. There happens to be an event planned for Sunday in the Navy Yard to mark this occasion. It’s not clear whether it would be affected by a possible shutdown. Stay tuned? And remember this next Election Day.

2. Speaking of the Civil War event this weekend at the Navy Yard. Here are more details: On Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be reenactments, speakers and presentations on the Civil War, including a focus on Charlestown’s role in the war. The event is being organized by the Boston National Historic Park in cooperation with the J. W. Conway Bunker Hill Post 26, American Legion, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, the Abraham Lincoln Post 11 Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall Association and the Charlestown Historical Society.

3. Recommended reading: There’s a great interview in last week’s Patriot-Bridge with Greg Jackson, the director at the Charlestown Boys & Girls Club. Greg’s a townie who grew up going to the club himself. He’s got some interesting things to say about the neighborhood, how it’s changed and how it sees that change reflected in local teens. You can read it online here.

4. The ! Big news out of City Hall yesterday. Menino has decided that all sugary drinks will be banned on city-owned property. That means vending machines at fire stations will be stripped of their soft drinks – at least the ones that aren’t diet. We’ve got a .

5. The forecast? Lovely! High near 51 and sunny. Enjoy.

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