Charles River

Jeff Tamagini took in the first day of the Head of the Charles Regatta yesterday. Charles Connell watched the Dartmouth Alumni Eight:

She was a 21-year-old Dorchester resident, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports this morning, adding that because the woman's death is not a homicide, her name is not being released.

Several members of the public contacted State Police General Headquarters and members of the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit yesterday after seeing media reports describing the appearance and clothing of the deceased. Based on those tips, State Police detectives assigned to Conley's office made contact with the woman's family. A positive identification was made late yesterday.

UPDATE: Authorities make ID.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office has released photos of jewelery removed from the body of a woman found in the Charles River yesterday after she jumped off the Harvard Bridge. Officials say she had no identification with her and are hoping somebody recognizes the ring and pendant. If you do, contact Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit at 617-727-8817. She's described as a young black woman, about 5'4" and 110 lbs, with hair shaved on the sides and a longer tuft of hair at the top front.

With no identifying documents to go on, authorities have released some information about the woman whose body was pulled out of the Charles River this morning after witnesses watched her jump off the Harvard Bridge, in the hopes somebody recognizes her. According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office:

The woman is described as a black female of indeterminate – but apparently young – age. She stood about 5'4" tall and weighed just under 110 lbs. Her hair was shaved on the sides, with a longer tuft of hair at the top front. Her fingernails and toenails appeared to be well cared for and she did not appear homeless.

She had a tattoo depicting musical notes on her left upper chest. She was wearing a gold ring on her right middle finger inscribed with "1987 AS Newbury" on the outside and the letters "MJ" on the inside. She was also wearing a necklace with a heart-shaped ornament with diamonds or diamond-like decorations. When pulled from the water, she was wearing a black leather jacket, a black T-shirt, black sweatpants or fleece pants, and black tennis shoes.

UPDATE: Authorities make ID.

Officials shut the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge this morning after a woman jumped into the river from the Boston side shortly before 6:45 a.m. Emergency workers in a boat recovered her body about an hour later near the bridge.

State Police reported state troopers and the State Police marine unit, along with the Boston Fire Department raced to the bridge after witnesses reported seeing the woman jump. Massport also sent a team and boat.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office identified the woman only as "young" - she was not carrying any identification.

The bridge was re-opened after her body was recovered, but delays from the closure apparently radiated outward to the BU Bridge, which became completely gridlocked by 8 a.m. At 8:20, Laurie tweeted:

On the 47 [bus], in the rotary at the BU bridge. Driver letting people off he bus because, well, we're going to be stuck here a while.

Channel 7 reports she was one of 40 to 50 students just hanging out on the BU dock early Sunday.

The state and the Charles River Conservancy hope to have the fabled Charles River Skatepark under a loop ramp to the Zakim Bridge built by December of next year.

Backers, using Big Dig mitigation funds and private donations, have made similar promises in the past, but this time the state Department of Conservation and Recreation is backing that schedule up with a formal request for bids from companies that want to run and maintain the skate park for five years.

Although the initial concept is to open the park for free use, with no staffing, the bid request asks potential operators to look at ways to recoup costs through such possible revenue sources as "user fees, season passes, food and merchandise concessions, promotion events, and advertisement opportunities" and to propose a cost for having staff on hand May 1 through Oct. 15.

The bid request also asks prospective operators to provide a cost estimate for maintaining restrooms that the state has no initial plans to install but for which it is reserving some room, just in case.

Mark Garfinkel was on scene yesterday for the dramatic take-down of a man who dared display his derriere (among other things) as he swam from Cambridge to Boston. Here's hoping there weren't any stinging nettles where the staties made him lie down.

The fireworks barge on the Charles caught fire around 5:30 a.m., with 15 live charges on board, sending thick black smoke into the air - and fire departments in both Boston and Cambridge ordering boaters to stay way the hell away, Nichole Davis at New England Roadways reported.

NECN reports on the early morning attack. Unlike in a series of other attacks, however, there was no evidence of sexual assault.

Historygradguy takes us back to those halcyon days of yore, like last week.

Copyright Historygradguy. Tagged as universalhub on Flickr.

Vikas Anand spent some time along the Charles River recently, capturing the Hyatt in Cambridge and the BU Bridge and the dock near it on the other side of the river.

Copyright Vikas Anand. Tagged as universalhub on Flickr.

Nathanael Hevelone attended SkyArt, part of MIT's 150th anniversary celebrations, on Saturday. Historygradguy was also there.

More SkyArt photos.

Copyright Nathanael Hevelone and Historygradguy, respectively. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Historygradguy watched a pair of rowers on the Charles yesterday.

Copyright Historygradguy. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Historygradguy captured the Weeks Footbridge over the Charles, while Greg MacKay shot the scene where the Central Artery used to be.

Copyright Historygradguy and Greg MacKay respectively. Tagged as universalhub on Flickr.

Vikas Anand captured some stillness on an Esplanade dock.

Copyright Vikas Anand. Tagged as universalhub on Flickr.

MassDOT reports the southbound lanes on the Craigie Drawbridge between Cambridge and Boston will be re-opened to traffic on April 26.

The department says some lane restrictions will be put in place during some off hours between then and August to allow for landscaping work.

Via Phillip McCarthy.

Like, say, this one, from Copley Square to Kendall Square, as described by Colleen Cunningham.

Dive and search teams from the Boston and Cambridge fire departments and State Police raced to the Charles River at the Longfellow Bridge late Friday after a woman pulled out of the water said she had thrown her kids in the water - and troopers spotted children's clothing near where she jumped. But reported that State Police discovered the children safe at home with family - in Florida - about 30 minutes later and the search was called off.

Historygradguy went for a walk last night and photographed the Weeks Bridge in the snow.

Copyright Historygradguy. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Matthew Woitunski captured a commuter-rail train on the bridge over the Charles River to North Station.

Copyright Matthew Woitunski. Tagged as universalhub on Flickr.

The Massachusetts Oyster Project, which is re-introducing the bivalves to Boston Harbor, dredges up their history in the Charles and the Mystic.

Back when it was still warm (you know, Friday), Historygradguy captured a couple of people enjoying dusk on the Beacon Hill side of the Charles River.

Copyright Historygradguy. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Historygradguy has been ambling about downtown and the West End at night. Above, he captured the train bridge into North Station; below, the Zakim.

Copyright Historygradguy. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.