corporate partnership formed by Redgate Holdings and Hilco Redevelopment Partners, so that the Edison site development could be designed, financed, developed, and administered as technically and efficiently as possible. We understand that Redgate Hilco paid approximately $25 million for the site.
Nearly seven years ago in 2016, the site of the now closed Edison Power Plant in South Boston was purchased from its owner, Exelon, by a joint venture South Boston Online will refer to as “Redgate Hilco”. Redgate Hilco is actually a separate
The Edison – as it’s still called by many local residents –sits on a 15-acre plot of land at the corner of Summer and First Streets, near where Summer becomes South Boston’s L Street. On its northern edge, this plot of land is bordered by the Reserved Channel and a truck way to the east into the Conley Terminal. The Conley Terminal itself has been recently expanded to handle much larger container ships – the various “MAX” ships
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The students at South Boston Catholic Academy celebrated the Feast Day of Epiphany aka Three King’s Day and Little Christmas at St. Brigid Church. Students, families, and teachers attended Mass on this special day. The students in Ms. Olsen’s Third Grade class and in Ms. Sammarco’s Third Grade class did a wonderful
job participating at this Mass as Greeters, Readers, and Bringing the gifts up to the Altar. We want to Thank Father Ross Chamberland, OFM for coming and being the guest Celebrant at this Mass. The SBCA Children’s Choir directed by our Music Teacher, Mr. Claro, did a marvelous job singing at this Mass. The students in Ms. Gannon’s First
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that were developed after the Panama Canal was expanded.
The Edison Power Plant was originally built and began supplying electric power to Boston more than a century ago in 1898. For many years, it was coal-fired, and was then converted to oil and gas. In more recent times, the Edison occasionally provided emergency power to handle surges until it was finally decommissioned in 2006. The site has a long history, which now will continue indefinitely under Redgate Hilco.
In the early part of City of Boston’s approval process, the BPDA (the Boston Planning & Development Agency – once the BRA) okayed Redgate Hilco’s first set of basic plans for the entire development. These plans included nearly two million (2,000,000) square feet for a hotel, much housing, many retail stores, and technical laboratories. At the time of the BPDA approval in 2021, laboratories for the life sciences were critically short in Boston and vicinity. In addition, about a third of the 15-acre site was to be reserved for public green space.
The Redgate Hilco approval process continues. This month, after several meetings between last August and December, 2022, the BCDC (the Boston Civic
Design Commission) approved Phase 1 of Redgate Hilco’s site development plans. This approval not only permits construction to continue, it also opens the door to financing the entire project economically and reliably. Specifically, Phase 1 includes two new life sciences buildings, thus answering the demand for more technical laboratory space in the Boston area. It also allows the redevelopment of three existing Edison Power Plant buildings. Phase 1 will begin later in 2023, after deconstruction is complete.
“Deconstruction” is a term Redgate Hilco uses to describe how they retain and then
modernize existing buildings on a redeveloped site (Hilco has a nationwide reputation for doing this successfully). For example, they are planning to renovate one of the Edison Power Hall structures and use it for an open community market of some kind in South Boston. Deconstruction also stands for very careful tearing down of existing structures – sometimes brick by brick. Do you remember how the Edison smokestack was dismantled? The Edison site’s deconstruction has been going on for a year; Phase 1 will begin when it is completed later in 2023.
South Boston has several other
mega-projects in various stages –either here or quite nearby. The South Boston Seaport development is ongoing, of course. The nearby South Station expansion is well into its own Phase 2 by now. Washington Village is certainly underway as well. Preliminary plans are being made or improved for huge development projects at Harbor Point on the Dorchester side of Kosciusko Circle, and also along Dorchester Avenue between Andrew Square and its intersection with Old Colony Avenue. We continue to be one of the most intensely developed neighborhoods in the nation, and perhaps in the entire world.
and Cape Verde to name but a few.
“I have known racism, and it takes listening and understanding to know that the people who come here are like everyone else; they want to do better, to work, to contribute and be proud. Language doesn’t limit intelligence or motivation,” she said.
Starting at the sister program, El Centro in Jamaica Plain, Veronica came to the Laboure to establish a similar program just four months before COVID changed everything.
My mother started a bookstore, my father, a Civil Engineer, taught us that you find ways to help others, and not just relatives but people you don’t know.”
At Catholic Charities Laboure Center, there are intensive programs that meet during the day, and a slower paced program for people who work at night, observable hard work, joyous graduations and proud students.
reflects on the layers of learning.
“We have some interns from BC who really have never met an immigrant., “she said, explaining the eye-opening experience.
“A community makes a school and that includes everyone.”
Veronica Robson and her team also have dreams, and she starts with one of team member Trevor Farrell.
By Carol MasshardtTeaching, leading, learning, language, culture and community are interwoven and inseparable concepts in the life and work of Veronica Robson, Program Director of Adult Education at the Laboure Center. Originally from Mexico, and then educated in Boston, and back to Mexico to start a small school, onto London she eventually returned to Boston College for a master’s degree. With an example of community inspired by her parents, nurtured through her work at El Centro in Jamaica Plain, Veronica brings an intellectual and emotional connection to her work. About two hundred people eager to learn English at five different levels count on her team of twelve to not only teach, but to understand their challenges and dreams. They come from across the world, Central and South America, Ukraine, Russia, Asia,
“I will say that it took a toll. We worked on zoom, but our students were losing jobs, pay, and housing and needed food, and had health issues, and I truly belief you can’t learn while there are these environmental problems. We worked day and night,” she said. She has both honest optimism and also an ability to look at exhaustion and depletion and to learn through it.
“It was a very difficult and not a short time, for us and our students. Day by day, we survived, and now back in person, we can thrive again,” she said.
Teamwork is more than a coined phase to this impressive and focused leader/administrator/ teacher/coach, and spiritual center of a much-needed program.
“Even during Covid we never stopped having our team meetings. It was what we needed, to be together and think together. We went above and beyond. You see it’s a community. The students help each other regardless of where they came from. They all escaped something that wasn’t good and are trying to move ahead. We all are in it together,” she said. “I always knew I would be doing something that involved teaching and cultures and community.
“My satisfaction is in hearing that someone got a job, or promotion, a raise,” she said. In fact, the program at the Laboure is one of the most successful in outcomes, according to the criteria established by the Department of Education and there is little surprise why.
On a recent day, Boris Coreau, journeyed from East Boston, to meet with staff member, Trevor Farrell and bravely shared his goal.
“I was told about this program by my friend and co-worker and heard it was good and the people helped with English. I would like to be a chef,” he said. With careful attention and seemingly few barriers, he was assigned to begin a “Level Five” course before he left that morning.
As more students with remarkable stores and high hopes await Veronica Robson on a January morning, she
“He has an idea for an on-site workplace that relates to the school and provides the job training and English practice. Isn’t that a good idea!” she said.
But more immediately, it is convincing funding sources how vital a new teacher will be and educating about the kinds of needs her students have to address as they strive. Maybe it was a combination of watching her mother establish a bookstore Mexico or her father, reaching out to neighbors known and unknown and her own education, mentors and experience that she uses every day that formed this leader’s courage to meet often marginalized people at the heart of their desires.
“Everyone wants to be proud, “she said, and has hundreds of examples in front of her at South Boston’s Laboure Center
It has been almost a fortnight since Southie’s Polar Plunge two Sundays ago. The New Year of 2023 is in the second week of its much anticipated start. The media are still making comments about economic trends and trying to analyze what happened financially last year. New Year leftovers that began in 2022 include nearly double-digit inflation – inflation that is definitely still with us. Have you checked recently on the price of a dozen eggs, a loaf of good bread, or a month of heating your home? American
stock markets dropped sharply at year-end, especially the hightech NASDAQ composite that has fallen by a full one-third. The S&P 500 lost nearly 20 %. Even the somewhat slowmoving Dow Jones Industrial Average, the DJIA, dropped 10%. Our national deficit is climbing well beyond $30 trillion ($30,000,000,000,000).
Yet despite all this negative economic news, it seems that 2023 will be a “level” year. There is some good news, such as the record-low unemployment figures in the U.S., now hovering around 3.5% or even a bit lower. That is essentially full
employment. South Boston is finding it difficult to fill job openings (or for you to find a repairman for your household emergencies). The pandemic is under much better control now, compared to the local Boston scene when COVID first began. Inflation, although still here, has decreased to some extent, too. And perhaps best of all, 2023 will be one of these rare years with few or no important political elections. So take a deep breath and check how well 2022’s political winners have served us when we get to December and draw close to the Election Year of 2024. Check especially
on elected officeholders’ deficit spending – a key economic burden that our grandchildren (and their children) will have to pay off. Politically speaking, the economy counts! And deficits cause inflation.
Another positive trend for South Boston’s economy in 2023 will be the continued rapid growth in biotechnology developments and the lifesciences construction projects we have written about. As just one example, we hear that Vertex, the life-sciences anchor in the Seaport, plans to erect seven (7) acres of new lab space. And were you aware that life-sciences in both South Boston and Kendall Square, Cambridge, are growing many times faster than in the San Jose/San Francisco area on the West Coast?
Our local economy will be affected by distant international happenings also. You’ve heard about the how much the U.S. supply of chips depends upon Taiwan, over 10,000 miles from here. Our commendable support of Ukraine is primarily aimed at saving that new, democratic nation from Russia, of course. But this has also had an economic effect – before the Russian invasion, Ukraine was a key supplier of grain to the world and a major source of natural gas. The invasion has been a major cause of global shortages, leading us to even more inflationary prices for bread and home heating.
South Boston’s economy helps make it a great place to live, especially for families. So we’ll close by wishing you the economic best during this year. But please make no mistake. Whatever you decide to do about your own situation, you should be sure your financial decisions are carefully based upon in-depth, professional advice. South Boston Online is writing about local economic factors as if they are only news items for your information (which they certainly are).
South Boston Citizens’ Association President Tom McGrath announced today that because of the tremendous success of the poster and essay contest, the Association along with City of Boston Credit Union ,Comcast and Mass Bay Credit Union a will once again sponsor the 2023 Annual Contests and. all other events associated with the Month-long celebration.
Because of the successful amount of poster entries and interest, we will be expanding the winners categories for the poster contest for grades 3,4 and 5.These grades will compete against students in their own grades.
Once again, after last year’s outstanding effort put forth by past President Bernie O’Donnell, Mary Collins and their committee, they have once again expressed an interest of taking on the challenge of chairing The Essay and Poster Contests. “Bernie always taught me that these contests are a great way to educate and strengthen the interest of the children of
the community, I was more than pleased when Bernie offered to once again head up this Event for the children of South Boston. This year we will open up the High School competition to all students residing in Suffolk County or attends a school in Suffolk County”, Remarked McGrath.
Bernie further expressed “One of the missions of the SBCA is to reach out to the young children of this historically rich community, joining the SBCA in promoting, organizing, and judging the Evacuation Day Poster and Essay Competitions is a most fitting way to improve on that mission.”
The current plan with respect to our annual Evacuation Day activities is to continue to host all the events as we have done in years past. We will continue to work with Governor Healey, Elected Officials from the City of Boston, the City of Boston Health Commission, and the National Park Service for the planning of our activities, as we do every year, and will follow any requirements and guidance on
all aspects of our hosted events.
We look forward to working with the community again this year, which commemorates the 247th anniversary of Evacuation Day in Boston.
Celebrating Evacuation Day events in the community is a huge undertaking, but thanks to Volunteers and Community Business partners in past years, such as Comcast, Mass Bay Credit Union and City of Boston Credit Union, we at the SBCA are confident we will be able to complete the task and make it possible for the entire community to safely enjoy this year’s commemorative events.
All entries should bear, in an attached envelope, the contestant’s name, school and a means of contacting the entrant, and should be submitted no later than Friday, March 10th, 2023 At 5 PM. All entries may be mailed to South Boston Citizens’ Association, P.O. Box 74, South Boston, MA 02127, or can be picked up at schools by a representative of the Citizens’ Association. Entries can also be dropped off at ful170 M Street.
The poster competition is open to all students in grades 3, 4, and 5 who are either South Boston student residents or any student that attends a school in South Boston.
In any Medium at least 8 1/2 “x11”, but preferably larger.
The Essay competition is open to all students in grades 6-8, who are either South Boston student residents or any student that attends a school in South Boston.
The high School Essay competition is open to all students in grades 9-12 who are either City of Boston student residents attending any High School.
Topic for grades 9-12 Describe the events of the Boston Tea party and Boston Massacre and their importance to the American Revolution?
Essays should be at least 750 words, prizes are as follows: first prize $200, second prize $100, third prize $50.
Topic for Grades 6 to 8 What the role of Abigail Adams in the American Revolution?
Essays should be at least 500 words, prizes are as follows: first prize $150, second prize $100, third prize $50.
Prizes are as follows:
first prize $100, second prize $75, third prize $50.
The Executive Board of the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council (SBAWVC) is excited to announce that they have requested and received the support of Mayor Wu and the City of Boston for the historical parade route, continuing a 122-year-old tradition. The goal of this year’s parade is to provide a community driven, safe, and family friendly event.
The Mission of this Council is to inform the residents and attendees we intend to emphasize the importance of safety, respect, and honor to the South Boston residents. This community has stepped up for generations in support of the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, and as Veterans, of the community we want to support this effort.
The parade will commence from Andrew Square at 1:00 pm on Sunday, March 19th, 2023, continue past two of our treasured monuments, the Dorchester Heights, and the Vietnam Memorial at Medal of Honor Park. At the park there will be a tribute to our hometown heroes and will provide one of the family friendly zones with kid friendly activities. Also being recognized are two Veteran organizations along the route, the Michael J Perkins, American Legion and the Martin F. McDonough, American Legion. Ending the parade at Broadway Station.
The South Boston Allied War Veterans Council will be launching a new campaign this year. Supporting the community of South Boston. Again, returning to our mission of supporting the community of South Boston. We plan to include an ample number of sanitation zones, food trucks and family friendly zones. These vital areas will not only support the neighborhood and provide attendees and out of town guest with an improved parade experience for the day.
“We are extremely happy to welcome the Parade back to South Boston again this year,” said Senator Nick Collins, Representative David Biele, City Council President Ed Flynn, and the South Boston Elected Officials, “The return of the Parade last year was a major success and served as an important reminder of how important St. Patrick’s Day is to the neighborhood, and the city as a whole. We are furthermore very excited to see the Parade return to its traditional route as we also remember to honor the significant history of Evacuation Day.”
CommanderSusanMcDonoughSenior Vice CommanderRandyGreeleyJunior Vice Commander Brian Ahern Trustee SeanConnolly
Trustee Bob Lewis TrusteeMichaelMcDonough
Chief of Operations Brian Yanovitch Director Parade Operations Jim Tooley Adjutant Ellen Fritch
south under the Evelyn Moakley Bridge, toward Martin’s Park and the Children’s Museum. The Assemblage is directly across the Harbor Walk from the renowned, iconic Barking Crab seafood restaurant. We understand that the Envoy Hotel generously contributed the Assemblage space to FPAC.
To say that FPAC is an active arts organization isn’t really a concise and meaningful description of all that they do – those words simply lack enough strength, so perhaps a few examples will do better.
by Rick WintersonThe South Boston Seaport is synonymous with the word “development”. And “development” brings with it newness, another viewpoint, and an improved way to involve the public with a new development. The Assemblage, located in the Seaport District, is just that kind of space. In fact, its full title is “Assemblage: Fort Point Arts Community Space”. FPAC is the customary abbreviation for the Fort Point Arts Community
The Assemblage is located in the street level floor to the rear of the Envoy Hotel. It sits at the corner of Boston’s Harbor Walk, where the Walk zigs down to the Fort Point Channel and zags
Right now, FPAC is seeking brand new proposals for two floating works of art on Fort Point Channel. These displays initially began right after the Channel flooded Fort Point and the Seaport. You have seen a partly submerged house, measuring stakes that predicted Channel flood levels, and the floating block pyramid that still adorns the Channel. There’ll be two more artworks to come this spring and summer.
On Tuesday evening, January 3, from 7 until 9, the Assemblage hosted the Johnny Horner Trio, with Johnny on the keyboard, Dave Gold on the bass, and Gillian De Lear on drums (NOTE: Dave Mann is usually the trio’s drummer). Dave Gold is a classically trained musician and a native of Boston; Gillian
sets (very) distinct rhythms by using her drumsticks to create a maraca gourd sound. At one point, Johnny even coughed in rhythm. But his magic right hand improvised beautifully in all tempos all evening long, reminiscent in a perfect way of past jazz giants of the piano. The trio’s final set closed with an up-tempo rendition of “Girl from Epanema”. Please remember these three things about the Johnny Horner Trio –first, they play at the Assemblage on the first Tuesday evening of very month (FEB 7, MAR 7, and APR 4 are next. You’re welcome to attend); second, their performances are free (Yes, free! Although donations are requested); and third, if you are a
musician yourself, you can sit in with them (and this works well!).
FPAC was organized about 40 years ago. During that time, FPAC became the first art organization to present Open Studio exhibitions here in Boston. These will continue in 2023 under the leadership of Mary Kay Robinson, who is FPAC’s new Executive Director. The FPAC Assemblage will host a “Meet and Greet” reception for Mary Kay this coming Saturday, January 124, from 3 to 5 p.m. Stop in and share her ideas on arts in the community. See you there.
And be sure to get on FPAc’s mailing list. Their art offerings and activities are too good to pass up.
Chris Byner, Program
Director for the Boston Police Activities League, has been appointed Community Vice-Chair of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission (MBC). The Commission is co-chaired by Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn and Representative Adrian Madaro of East Boston.
The MBC was created in 2006 by the Massachusetts Legislature and is managed by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay to take an in-depth look at the Boston metropolitan region’s public beaches. It is composed of elected officials and community leaders from Boston and the metropolitan region’s waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities.
The MBC appointed a Senate Vice-Chair, House Vice-Chair, and Community Vice-Chair in an effort to expand and diversify the collective leadership of the MBC. The team will lead the Commission’s ambitious policy agenda in the upcoming legislative session to improve
equitable access for communities to our public beaches, regardless of race, ability, gender, sexual orientation or language spoken.
“The incoming ViceChairs bring unique skill sets and perspectives that will certainly strengthen our leadership team,” said Senator Brendan Crighton. “We are thrilled to have them on board and I look forward to working with them to make our beaches cleaner, safer, and more accessible.”
Chris Byner’s outstanding public service and deep ties to communities within Boston make him a valuable asset to the Commission. The MBC is eager to have his extensive knowledge, experience and expertise within the leadership.
“Boston’s metropolitan beaches should be great destinations for all families to spend quality time by the sea regardless of their race, gender, income, language spoken or physical ability,” Byner said. “I am looking forward to amplifying the voice of the community in my role with the
Metropolitan Beaches Commission.”
Senator Lydia Edwards, State Senator for the 1st Suffolk and Middlesex, was appointed as Senate Vice-Chair and Rep.
Joan Meschino, Massachusetts State Representative for 3rd Plymouth, was appointed as House Vice-Chair of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission.
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Grade class and Ms. Leslie’s Second Grade class also did a marvelous job singing “We Three Kings” and “Angels We Have Heard on High” at this Mass. At the end of Mass, several teachers took their students to see the beautiful Nativity Scene that was in the church.
Epiphany is when the Three Kings/Magi came to see Baby Jesus and brought him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The gifts
they brought symbolize Jesus’s identity and mission: Gold for a King, Frankincense – incense for God, and Myrrh used to anoint the dead. Epiphany commemorates the manifestation of God to the world through Jesus Christ. The 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany are known as the “Twelve Days of Christmas” and Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season.
On January 6th the 4th, 5th and 6th Graders celebrated Día de los Reyes Magos (Epiphany) during
Ms. Avery’s Spanish Class with a Rosca de Reyes (King’s Cake)! Inside the cake are hidden little baby Jesus dolls, symbolizing how Jesus, Mary, and Joseph had to hide from King Herod. In some Spanish-speaking countries, the tradition goes that
whoever gets the slice of cake with the baby in it has to host the next party! New families are welcome to email our admissions team at: admissions@sbcatholicacademy. org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy.
