01_26_2023

Mayor Wu Delivers 2023 State of the City Address

a major address by Mayor Michelle Wu, who delivered her first State of the City speech to an audience of approximately 4,000. Her speech was brief and highly optimistic about the future of the City of Boston. She concluded her 2023 State of the City presentation in just under 30 minutes at 8 p.m.

Perry Skate Night!

by Rick Winterson

It took place yesterday evening, January 25, at the MGM Music Hall in Boston’s Fenway district. At 7 p.m., the opening performances and ceremonies began, culminating in

The Mayor devoted the first part of her speech to expressing her gratitude to City of Boston employees, and she then listed her administration’s major achievements since her swearing in early in 2022. She especially mentioned the roles Superintendent Skipper and Commissioner Cox have in their respective efforts to improve our schools and our police. She spoke of Boston as “strong” and set a goal of growing Boston into a City of 800,000 residents, which it had once been in the past. She justified her optimism despite the recent effects of the pandemic and

Continued on Page 2

More than 200 people enjoyed skating, pizza, snacks, treats, hot cocoa, and raffles at the Perry School Skate Night at the Murphy Rink. Sponsored by the Friends of the Perry, the fun event serves as a fundraiser. Money raised will go toward field trips, special events for the school, and items for teachers, said Ryan Barrett, an officer of the Friends group. More Potos on Page 8.

Mayor Wu holds a press conference after her State of the City speech.

• Register your drone before your fir st flight

• Comply with Remote I D rules

• Keep your drone in sight at all times and fly lower than 4 00 feet

• Flying drones in controlled air space, around and above airpor ts , is prohibited without prior FA A approval

Continued from Page 2 State of the City

the current inflationary climate.

The keynote claim and projection in her address was the creation of affordable housing for residents. Controversial steps toward this “Affordability” include the Mayor’s office taking on complete responsibility for city planning and granting free plots of city-owned ground for affordable development. This would involve drastically changing the role of the BPDA (the Boston Planning & Development Agency). Mayor Wu stated she won’t “just build buildings, she’ll build dwellings”.

After “Affordability”, Mayor Wu spoke emphatically about improving Boston’s schools, upgrading public transport, and “Going green”. As an example of the latter, she mentioned phasing out all fossil fuels by 2030 – coincidentally the 400th anniversary of the City of Boston, the “City on a Hill”. In education, she will plan for more course offerings by UMass Boston. Improving public transport basically means a thorough optimization (with the Commonwealth) of the MBTA.

She managed to speak about many smaller goals during her speech as well. Mayor Wu received a lengthy standing ovation at the end of her optimistic but (very) challenging State of the City address. The opening before Wu’s speech was enjoyable and memorable. It first included some videos of well-known performers who were Bostonians. Donna Summer and her hit “I Feel Love” was excellent – Summer was raised in Mission Hill and went to the Burke High School. The colors were posted by an Honor Guard that comprised members of Boston’s Police, Fire, and EMT Departments. Denyel Fonseca sang the National Anthem; Cindy Marchando, Lisa Melara, Narda Pena, and Luis Shephard narrated the Pledge of Allegiance. Pastor Samuel Acevedo delivered an Invocation taken from Matthew’s Gospel. An original piano composition, an intriguing and melodic ronde, was played by its composer, Shalecca Joseph. After the close of her State of the City address, Mayor Wu held a lengthy press conference on the MGM Music Hall stage.

By Carol Masshardt

Edward “Teddy” Cunniff has been involved with the Murphy Rink for forty-three years, and he is a man at home with both the past, and the opportunities of 2023. On a recent day, there were hundreds of young children and families, some with equal interest in snacks and skates, as Teddy held his position in the wellknown skate rental and sharpening booth-like room at the rink. He has been President and Vice President of Youth Hockey and knows every element of the game and place.

The history is rich and deep, sad and joyful as is so often the case. First, Teddy holds the record for the most goals scored (thirteen) in a school game at South Boston High according to those at the rink sharing a comment or two. “It is probably still a record. I think so. I haven’t kept count, but I hear it is,” he said. That goes back to the 1960’s, when skating was like life itself. Teddy’s “thirteen in thirty minutes” is known and repeated still.

“We started young, and they

It’s All About Community

would flood M. St. Park and then we figured out how to deal with snow and it was a good experience. Then, we would take the bus to the Boston Public Gardens and skate under the bridge, and it was beautiful. Then we would go to the White Tower for something to eat and take the bus back,” he said. “Public skating was the way we all learned, and some got very good at it, but it was about the friends and the fun.”

The” we” in all early accounts seem to to include Teddy’s much loved brother, John, a skating legend, who died of cancer.

“John was in the Olympics and coached. In a game with the Canadians, shortly before his death, we lost by a goal, but all the players came over to shake his hand. They knew he was dying.” Pictures of the handsome young skater still adorn the Murphy rink, and no one is as proud as his brother.

Teddy went on to be a sheet metal worker, retiring in 2007, and becoming a “reverse snowbird” to accommodate his never-ending love of the rink and all who skate.

“I love everybody, and I know

everyone who comes here,” he said. “The Learn to Skate” and “Learn to Play” programs are back. It looks good for the future,” he said. It is no surprise that someone who knows the sport as he does would have opinions and observations.

“It’s about fun first. Then they learn balance,” he said. “And the parents have to learn that it starts with a sharp edge, but they think dull blades are safer, but they are not,” he warned.

The process in his mind, is both precise but simple. “They learn fun, balance and confidence in sixteen weeks, and everyone is happy.”

“We have great coaches, he said, and everyone from high school skaters to those who skated professionally, come to help and support public skating for girls and boys and everyone who comes. The volunteers are great and with a hundred kids, you need them. My nephew, David, who coached professionally is one of them,” he said, as skating tradition continues.

Teddy Cunniff honors his own past, his brother’s legacy and is thrilled to think about great skaters starting as they always have, at the Murphy Rink,. He also lives realistically and knows most will not become professional newsworthy athletes.

“No, that’s not it. This is about family commitment, being committed to helping kids learn something , and camaraderie with your community. That’s the real benefit,” he said. Of note, on a recent Saturday, there was hardly a child to be seen with a phone or tablet, as they prepared to take a loop, possibly fall, and get up again.

From renting and sharpening endless pairs of skates, to hearing complaints to seeing confidence develop he is there to see a fastmoving Boston Latin team practice and preschoolers getting their first skates laced. Teddy Cunniff is the backbone, historian and manager of all skating matters in a place that only looks ordinary. As a coach of the Boston Latin Hockey team, Olivia, said, “Teddy is the best. He has been here since I started skating, and no one knows the sport like he does.”

The future? “Oh, I may stop at eighty,” he said as he imagines the next few years flying past. When asked why he would leave at a given age, his quick wit and mind respond to the nuance of the question. “Yeah, that’s true,” he said, likely remembering that leaving something you love that loves you back isn’t necessarily tied to a calendar.

Edward “ Teddy” Cunniff with Olympic poster signed my brother, John

Skates with back photo of SB hockey greats. From left: Brian Noonan, John Cunniff, Chris Nyland, Teddy Cunniff and Billy O’Dwyer

Have a Juicy Day

Bamboo Beach Brings Tropical Vibe to the Neighborhood

Avisit to Tenerife in 2019 sparked a dream that Nicole Jankowski and Anxhelo Taho have now brought to life in South Boston.

“We had the best time and we were only there for three days, but it was so much fun,” Nicole said. On the last day, they found a juice cafe right on the water. “It was just beautiful,” Anxhelo added. “The atmosphere was great.”

Nicole, who was 19 years old at the time, knew right then: “We need to take this home because I don’t know of any place like that.”

Bamboo Beach Juice Bar opens Thursday, Jan. 26, at 687 E. Second St. in South Boston. The shop features juices, smoothies, acai bowls, wellness shots, and three types of toast (peanut butter, avocado, and pear). Everything is fresh, naturally healthy, and delicious.

The world-traveling couple, who met in college, bring the feelings they felt in Tenerife to their shop.

“There’s just people walking by going to the beach. The whole environment is carefree,” Anxhelo, 24, recalled. “It’s a beach town so everybody’s just there to enjoy themselves. The sun’s out and you had the beach next to the waves hitting and it was just like a vibe.”

Nicole, 23, added, “For me, it was a feeling. We just had the best three days ... the people in Europe, in general, they work to live. And it really shows. And that’s what we wanted to bring back here because sometimes people live to

work. So we wanted to do the opposite.

“We want people to come in here and just forget about their problems for a little bit.”

After that trip, they started drawing up logos, Nicole started putting together a menu … “all these crazy things that kids do,” Nicole said. “Then we came to realize that we’re still in school. We have no money. So we decided to put it on the backburner.”

In 2021, Nicole graduated from UMass-Boston with a degree in psychology and Anxhelo graduated from Suffolk University with a business economics degree.

But they didn’t see futures in those career fields, said Nicole, though Anxhelo’s business background has been vital in this endeavor. They didn’t want to be in cubicles working 9-5 every day.

After graduating, Nicole, who has

been in the restaurant industry for eight years, went back to the restaurant she worked at during school and Anxhelo worked various jobs to save money.

For a while, it was business as usual for the health- and wellnessoriented duo. “One day I got out of the gym with Anxhelo and I was like, ‘I feel like we have no direction. We have no passion right now,’ “ Nicole said. So they decided to take the initiative and look at spaces in South Boston.

Nicole, who grew up in Carver, MA, and Anxhelo, who was born in Albania, now live in Quincy. But Nicole has always wanted to live in South Boston, so they thought the neighborhood would be the perfect location for their business. Their target demographic is anyone who lives a healthy lifestyle, enjoys fitness, and is passionate about fueling their

bodies with the best ingredients. They secured the East Second Street site in January 2022, but initially had some doubts. But with MyStryde across the street, M Street park up the street, and the Seaport District very close, they knew the location had great potential. “Everything just kind of fell into place,” Nicole said.

Bamboo Beach Juice Bar has a beachy, jungly atmosphere, like Tenerife. Floor to ceiling windows let in lots of light, and tables and a counter look out those windows. Surfboards decorate the place. Six clocks set to various beach time zones, such as Bali, Malibu, the Gold Coast, hang on the wall. Merchandise is displayed near the door. Anxhelo did a lot of the finishing and design work himself. They want people to come into the shop, hear the tropical music playing, and just relax and take a break from reality. “Step in and feel like you’re somewhere else, even for a little while,” Nicole said.

“We’re very proud of it,” she said. “We want everyone to have a juicy day!”

Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Website: https:// bamboobeachjuicebar.com/ Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/ bamboobeachjuicebar

Instagram: @ bamboobeachjuicebar

Anxhelo Taho and Nicole Jankowski

N3V3R, a Unique South Boston Enterprise

by Rick Winterson

N3V3R is located in Fort Point’s Midway Studios. It is an enterprise that combines business interests with various original arts to form creative, powerful, and unmistakable signatures for N3V3R’s clients. Events and original music are the tools N3V3R uses, which began by performing this service for museum artists, studio artists, and art galleries; it has now expanded into developing and producing media for “identity Industries” such as fashion. Very soon, the N3V3R enterprise expanded this effort into multiple media, which morph into ongoing and constantly improved ways to view a product and/or a service. Along with this, incorporating stories, emotions, and experiences into the products of work takes place. This artistic service then becomes a constant, ongoing effort that in a way is “circular”.

John Korbas is the Founder, Creative Director, and Chief Executive Officer (the CEO) of N3V3R. John is a graduate of Suffolk University; he studied Political Science with a minor in Philosophy. He combines this intellectual background with his many musical talents and his painting, which qualified him to move to Midway

Artist Studios in the first place. During our interview, John spoke of how he makes music for N3V3R’s clients. “I want to harness the artist within us all”, he said. There’s even a love story here – John and N3V3R’s partner Meaghan are married.

Meaghan Korbas is a graduate of Suffolk University in History, with a minor in Philosophy. She is a partner and the Chief Operations Officer (the COO) of N3V3R, while holding a full-time job in one of Boston’s legal groups. In addition to her COO responsibilities, she has become a talented photographer – her photography was originally a college pursuit, and it now helps in the media designs for some fashion clients. And this has led as well to videos, drawings, and paintings, also created by Meaghan.

One of N3V3R’s offshoots is a trio – an avant-garde jazz trio with John on bass guitar, a N3V3R partner named “Bellig” on guitar, and Thomas Golding (his performing name is “Hama”). Thomas is a drummer, percussionist, and an expert on the Akai MPC. He also consults musically for N3V3R projects. John himself has an extensive musical background that goes back 30 years, and includes performing on guitar, bass keyboards, synthesizers, and vocals. He has also been named to the

Musical National Honor Society. N3V3R is more than just an enterprise in a Fort Point live/work studio – it’s also a center of creativity. During this interview, we talked about LEGO’s move to Boston in 2025 and how they might possibly put N3V3R’s creativity to work. As could local service businesses perhaps –such as cleaning, child care, and in-home education. Who knows?

But back to business. As mentioned, N3V3R’s products, services, and creations are unique. It’s worth the time to have a conversation with them. And it’s a discussion you’ll certainly enjoy. Contact John and Meaghan Korbas at (774)571-7954 (or at TheArtist@ N3V3R.Online), Midway Artist Studios, 15 Channel Center Street, Unit 401, South Boston, MA 02210

N3V3R’s John and Meaghan Korbas work from their studio/ home.

Thomas Golding, drummer and Akai MPC wizard, consults with N3V3R.

Lou Jones Exhibits at SPOKE Gallery

by Rick Winterson

Once upon a time, Lou Jones was a physicist and an engineer, working for local firms such as Sylvania here in Boston and at NASA for rocketry. This was by virtue of a Physics degree and his graduate studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). You would be entitled to ask about Lou’s highly successful transition, away from what is now called “high tech” into photography of all kinds – personal, commercial, historic, cultural, technical, engineering, and high-rise construction, as well as photography for gallery exhibitions and for collections at major museums.

After more than 50 years of exploring new photographic frontiers, Lou now enjoys

a worldwide reputation in photography’s ever-changing field. His work has been published in Time/Life; he has initiated long-term projects on Central American civil wars, the Olympic Games, death row, and the Tall Ships. Lou has photographed and authored a dozen books, and has taught at Mass College of Art and the Art Institute of Boston. His exhibits have been many and extensive – Griffin Museum of Photography, DeCordova Museum, Boston City Hall, Worcester Art Museum, Roxbury Community College, Cape Cod Museum of Art, and many others.

And now, South Boston is privileged to have Lou Jones exhibiting here at the SPOKE Gallery. His exhibit is called “4 Corners 6 Continents: A Continuum of Photographs by Lou Jones”. He attended his exhibit in person last Thursday, much to the delight of the crowd, who were viewing the exhibit both at the SPOKE Gallery and via ZOOM. Partway through the evening, Lou was interviewed by SPOKE Curator Kathleen Bitetti. In response to her questions, he talked emphatically of how much he has come to love photography of nearly all kinds during his career. He described how much different Africa was from its stereotypes, when he began shooting his panAFRICA Project. And he closed by stating

that color photographs have become the world’s universal language.

Here’s what Lou himself said in an email interview with South Boston Online, the day after he took part in person at his exhibit –

“I have been in the business so long that I have seen all the many changes … that have occurred. The publishers, curators, and editors held sway and once were the ‘gatekeepers’ for advancement in arts. But now social media have given artists such new venues to show their imaginations. Since the world has seen photography quickly become the de facto ‘universal language’, communities can communicate from divergent parts of the world without language or translation. They can see what each other looks like everywhere.”

Lou has carefully selected 13 photographs for his unique exhibit at SPOKE Gallery. “Eclectic” is the perfect word to describe these images

from his highly varied photographic career – images of the Olympics, the Tall Ships, his panAFRICA project, much world travel, and so on. When you see it, note the precision in Lou’s “Swimming XXV Olympiad” and his “Recording Music Video”. Gaze at our favorite photograph – “After Rain” in Old Havana, Cuba – which strikingly depicts a reflection! Be sure to read the well-curated notes that describe Lou Jones. He’s a highly successful Boston craftsman with a studio on Breed Street. And Lou’s South Boston exhibit is nearby. Just walk over to the SPOKE Gallery at 844 Summer Street, where it is the solo show from now until Friday afternoon, February 24th. The Gallery is open 12 noon until 5 p.m. on Wednesdays-ThursdaysFridays. So why don’t you take a quick look during your lunch break? Admission is free to the public; other hours are available by appointment.

Lou Jones by one of his most striking photos, “After Rain”.

Lou Jones (l.) at SPOKE, with Michael Dowling and Kathy Bitetti.

“Swimming – XXV Olympiad”, August 1992 –Barcelona, Spain.

“Recording Music Video”, July 2020 – Hyde Park, Boston.

Council President Flynn Welcomes the VA’s Implementation of Free Emergency Mental Health Care for Veterans

City Council President Ed Flynn applauds the VA’s latest policy implementation to provide free emergency mental health care for veterans experiencing “acute suicidal crisis”.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced on January 17 that all veterans who

are suffering from “acute suicidal crisis” will be eligible to receive free emergency mental health care at a VA facility or regular clinic whether enrolled in the VA healthcare system or not. This policy change aims to prevent suicides among veterans, which according to the latest VA’s figures, sees 17 veterans commit suicide per day. In addition, this new change will significantly improve emergency access to mental health care services for 18 million veterans, half of whom are not currently enrolled in the VA healthcare system, or live long distances from a VA facility.

“This is a huge improvement in terms of access to emergency mental health care. It is important to bring down suicide rates among our veterans and help destigmatize mental health in the veteran community. I have seen many of our veterans

struggle with PTSD and mental health traumas without necessarily knowing where to seek help. I applaud President Biden, the U.S. Congress, especially Congressman Mark Takano’s leadership in taking meaningful steps to address mental health services for veterans.”

The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is also available 24/7 for veterans who are experiencing

a mental health crisis. They can dial 988 to speak with a mental health professional. Once connected, they can press “1” for the veteran’s crisis line. There is also a web chat tool available at: http://VeteransCrisisLine.net/chat. For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov.

Perry Skate Night!

Phase One of Former Edison Plant Moves Forward

Located between the marine industrial and residential areas of South Boston, this project is the first of the Master Plan for Planned Development Area No. 128, which was originally approved in January of 2021. The project will build a new transit-oriented, mixed-use development, including the rehabilitation of the Edison Turbine Halls and the construction of two new buildings, each of which are expected to include office, research and development, and retail uses. This project is consistent with the Master Plan and community’s goal to honor the industrial history of this site by preserving and adaptively reusing the early 20th century Turbine Halls. Civic and retail spaces inside the Turbine Halls, and within the fully pedestrianized Turbine Alley, will activate the historic buildings and provide much-needed community gathering space.

Not only will this development create hundreds of jobs in life sciences and construction, the project has also committed to on-site assistance, job fairs, and informational presentations to community groups to assist South Boston residents in learning about work opportunities created by this project, including for future phases. These opportunities include construction employment, permanent employment, small business contracting, and retail leasing. The project will also give first preference to South Boston small businesses and other City-or State-certified disadvantaged small businesses to lease up to 10 percent of the retail space on site. In addition, this project will also fund a $1 million scholarship endowment to provide annual scholarships to South Boston high school and college students.

This project will also significantly improve the public realm and create a vibrant pedestrian environment by expanding the public street

network, biking infrastructure, and improving sidewalks to increase connectivity. Phase One will also deliver 65 percent of the public open space included in the Master Plan. In support of making this a transit oriented development, bike parking will also be included on site, as well as three Bluebike stations, and an improved bus stop at Summer and East First Streets with a new bus shelter. The project will also contribute $188,893 to the Boston Transportation Department in support of the City’s bikeshare program. In addition, the project will also contribute $10,080,000 over several years to the MBTA to improve the reliability, safety and convenience of transit services serving the project area.

Live: $8.5 million in linkage for affordable housing

Work: Approximately 938 construction jobs, approximately 2,360 permanent jobs, 10 percent subsidized retail available tohttps://www.bostonplans.org/ projects/development-projects/776summer-street-phase-1 M/WBE businesses, $1.5 million in linkage for job training, four annual internships, annual job fair

Connect: 5.7 acres in open space, Edison Turbine Hall preserved and used as civic space, new raised cycle track Sustain: 90 percent reduction

in natural gas in new buildings, new seawall and elevated site, meets Coastal Flood Resiliency Overlay design standards

SBCA News Highlights from Grades 4A & 4B

Thank you to our Book Buddies in Ms. Guildford’s and Mrs. Coleman’s 4th Grade classes! The students in Ms. Brook’s K0B class and Ms. Sullivan’s K0D class in the SBCA Early Childhood Program were so happy to see their Book Buddies in grades 4A and 4B from South Boston Catholic Academy who came to visit them in their classroom.  They sat down with their 4th Grade Book Buddies and had fun reading some of the great books from their classroom Library.  They are hoping to spend more time reading with their book buddies throughout the rest of the school year.

Reading is essential and serves as a basic building block for learning.  Reading with children is a powerful tool for early literacy.  The first 5 years of reading to a child matters.  It also creates an important bond and can play an essential role in brain development.  By reading

to children, you provide them with a deep understanding about their world and fill their brains with background knowledge.

Background knowledge is essential for reading comprehension. “You can find magic wherever you look.  Sit back and relax, all you need is a book!” – Dr. Seuss. “There are many little ways to enlarge your world.  Love of books is the best of all.”– Jacqueline Kennedy.

The 4th Graders, as well as all the SBCA students, had a chance to buy some great new books at our Scholastic Book Fair.  The students and teachers were excited to get new books to read at home, in the classroom and with their Book Buddies. Thank you to all the SBCA parents who helped to make this book fair a big success and encourage the joy of reading for all the children!  Also, as you can see from the pictures, the 4th Grade students had a fun day assembling and decorating

their Gingerbread Houses.

In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., famous “I Had a Dream” speech, the 4th Graders wrote about how they can make the world a better place. One of the 4th grader students wrote… “My Dream for myself:  To go to college and be a Vet.” “My Dream for the world: To find a cure for Cancer.”  “My Dream for my community :  I would like to work very hard to stop world hunger.”

Some of Dr. King, Jr’s famous quotes…“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” “Love is the most durable power in the world. This creative force, so beautifully exemplified in the life of our Christ, is the most potent instrument available in mankind’s quest for peace and security