SBOL_02_10_2022

THE PRINT EDITION

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2022

VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74

Councilor Flynn Discusses 2022 Plans

by Rick Winterson City Council President Ed Flynn Interviews at the Library

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s you know, the Boston City Council has elected Ed Flynn, our District 2 City Councilor, to serve as the City Council President during 2022. We were fortunate to obtain an interview with Ed recently. The prime subject of the interview with him were his priorities for this year.

When the New Year arrived, the City Council was sworn in. This was an unusual ceremony because five of the Councilors who were sworn in were newly elected. In addition, Lydia Edwards, who had been the District 1 City Councilor, was elected to the State Senate last

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Missing on Mass Ave

year. Her City Council seat will be filled in an upcoming election early in the spring; that total of six newly occupied seats is nearly half the Council membership.

In the interview, Ed expressed his own confidence that all the new Councilors bring extensive knowledge and experience to their positions on the Council. His first priority will be providing leadership working with new Council members closely on basic City services and needed improvements to the quality of life for all residents of Boston.

Ed also mentioned his current high-priority work on budgeting, which is taking place over the next month or so.

We asked Councilor Flynn to list the breakdown of specific goals he has put together since assuming the job of Council President. He answered as follows: Continued on Page 3

Facebook Page Offers Support for Families

By Ginger DeShaney

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ne mother’s love has sparked an online community that of fers support and comfort to families with

loved ones on Mass & Cass.

Dawn Cobb started the Facebook page “Missing on Mass Ave” at the end of October as a group where family and friends can post about their loved ones who are believed to be missing or haven’t been heard from in the Mass Ave. area of Boston. There are already almost 6,500 members, which shows the great need for a page like this.

Continued on Page 4

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2022

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Support High for West Broadway Project as Safety Issues Addressed

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esidents are supportive of t he proposed development at 87-93 West Broadway, but they did raise some concerns over safety at a BPDA Zoom meeting Tuesday night.

The project would remove the existing gas station at the corner of A Street and West Broadway and replace it with a 65-unit mixeduse building with a parking garage.

The meeting was called because of a Notice of Project Change for a change in ownership to Jonathan and Michael Coffman, under 79-93 West Broadway LLC. Other changes include adding parking spaces on West Broadway with the elimination of an MBTA bus stop in front of the current gas station and an increase in funding for a Hubway Station.

This proposal has been fully vetted by multiple agencies going back as far as 2017, said Marc LaCasse, the developer’s legal counsel.

This is the Coffmans’ first project in South Boston. “We’re very proud of the work that our team has done to this point,” said Michael Coffman. “We think that this project is going to be a vast improvement to the neighborhood.”

The Coffmans hope to bring what they think is a beautiful project to the neighborhood, with retail tenants to be identified in the future, “that will be a blessing to the neighborhood and bring a type of feel to this corner that the city can be proud of,” Michael continued.

Of the 65 condo units, 55 will be two-bedroom and 10 will be 1-bedroom. Eight units, or 13 percent,

will be affordable IDP units. The structure will be 6 stories tall, with balconies in each unit, a landscaped roof deck with common and private areas as well as green space and a pet relief area, solar panels, new trees, and a bike room. The project also includes a parking garage for 70 cars with access on Silver Street, on-street parking, and an Uber/Lyft dropoff zone.

Samuel Harris, who lives on Silver Street, is in favor of this development. “It’s good for all of us.

But the first thing that comes to mind is public safety,” he said, noting the private way is only 24 feet wide and half of the street is usually taken up by parked emergency vehicles, since the C-6 Police Station is right there. “So that’s a little bit concerning to me.”

With two garages already on Silver Street and a 70-car garage for this development being accessed there, too, he’s worried traffic flow will be impacted, especially for the emergency vehicles that need to get out at a moment’s notice. He said cars get backed up on Silver

Street now while drivers wait for the lift system in the garage.

Guy Busa of Howard Stein Hudson said the garage door will be widened and indented a little bit to make the turn-in easier. And the lift system, which consists of four separate machines that can work independently, has plenty of room to stack vehicles in the center, if necessary. Plus, he said the volume of cars going in and out shouldn’t be an issue.

Harris is also worried about pedestrian access. “So I don’t know if there are plans for that in the future and what that means for pedestrian safety.”

Matan Bisk is also excited for the development, noting the gas station is a little bit of an eyesore.

“We want to see a good building that fits with the neighborhood,” he said.

But he is concerned about the safety factors, also noting the emergency vehicles that park on the private way.

Bisk and a couple other residents asked the developers if they’ve received support for the project from police, fire, and EMS officials.

Jonathan Coffman said he’s met with Boston Police and said they were happy with the plan overall. They discussed that prior to any construction, they would have a meeting to review everything.

Anne Hayes said she’d like to see police and fire approval as part of the whole project.

Resident Peter Sidewater asked if it would be possible for the emergency vehicles to park on Broadway. David Garten suggested parking in their parking lot. LaCasse said those suggestions can be raised with the police.

Snow removal was another concern for residents. Douglas Stefa nov, t he development’s architect, said snow removal would be part of the management of the building and the condo association.

Jonathan Coffman reassured the residents that this first-class development will have professional property management, on-site staff, a doorman, and people to maintain the building.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM Continued from Page 1

Councilor Flynn 1.- Ed’s initial focus will be to see that all City departments have the necessary resources to do an effective job. Obviously, this relates to assigning specific areas to the newly elected Councilors, as well as to the completion of the budgeting process mentioned above.

2.More specifically, he plans for increased funding to the I.S.D. (the Inspectional Services Department), which will be aimed at inspections and actions on muchneeded pest control in Boston.

3.- His planning includes advocating a new fire and EMT stationhouse on the Waterfront, to help insure safety in that rapidly expanding, critical business and residential area of Boston.

4.- Additional after-school programs (citywide, at all grade levels) will be a part of his program on two fronts – within the schools

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themselves, and independently after school hours – like the PAL Gym and the DCYF in South Boston.

5.He will foster general emphasis on support for Boston’s Seniors, to improve their quality of life.

6.- And he aims to make treatment and counselling available to all users and abusers of any addictive substances.

This very ambitious plan by Councilor Flynn depends upon having adequate support in all City offices and departments, of course. He specifically mentioned the Boston Police Department, and his strong recommendation that the Department aim to recruit and train 200 additional Police Officers every single year. This will help resolve the current short staffing and provide a cushion against future turnover. “The police play a critical role in our City of Boston society,” Ed concluded.

On the personal side, Ed is

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City Council President Ed Flynn a born-and-brought-up Southie man, and a current resident.

He and his wife Kristen have two children – Caroline (19) attends Catholic University in Washington, D.C.; Stephen is doing well at Boston Latin and plays Babe Ruth baseball here.

Ed and Kristen are active in many South Boston non-profit agencies. He’s also a U.S. Navy

veteran – 24 years active and reserve duty – and he served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in the Persian Gulf and the Guantanamo detention facility.

Ed closed our interview by stating that he’s really looking forward to his Presidency this year “because this City Council is the most diverse Council group in Boston’s history.”

Senator Collins, Representative Biele Secure $250,000 for Marian Manor

ecently, State Senator Nick Collins and State Representative David Biele announced $250,000 in state funding for the Marian Manor Nursing Home in South Boston.

In 1929, Rev. Mother M. Angeline Teresa founded the congregation of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm to preserve the independence and personal dignity of the elderly. Then, in 1954, His Eminence R ichard Cardinal Cushing invited Rev. Mother M. Angeline Teresa and the Carmelite Sisters to take over the facilities of what was then Carney Hospital on Dorchester Heights.

The facility was transformed into a nursing home and became known as the Marian Manor.

Since being founded, the Marian Manor has seen several additions, as a building with 100 beds was added to the facility during the 1960s with another 120 beds added to the facility in 1974.

Today, the Marian Manor’s

facilities consist of seven buildings covering almost two-acres of land on Dorchester Heights, providing both short and long-term care.

During the Legislature’s debate and passage of a $4 billion spending bill which included funds from the federal American Rescue Plan, Sen. Collins and Rep. Biele secured $250,000 for the Marian Manor to modernize and replace outdated mechanics and to recover extraordinary and unreimbursed expenditures from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Representative Biele did a great job leading this effort in the House and I was proud to support it in the Senate,” said Senator Collins. “Marion Manor has dutifully served South Boston’s elderly for decades, and we are excited to assist them in continuing their efforts.”

“For decades, the Marian Manor has tended to the needs of our seniors with compassion, dignity, and respect,” said Rep. Biele. “Nothing is ever

guaranteed in a spending bill, and I was proud to work with Senator Collins to secure funding for the Marian Manor to make crucial upgrades at the facility that will benefit residents and the most vulnerable in our community.”

“Marian Manor has a long history of serving the elderly in South Boston. The pandemic presented new unprecedented challenges to every component of the healthcare delivery system and the individuals served by that system,” said Administrator for the Marian Manor, Kahoney Anderson. “The Marian Manor

and the Carmelite Sisters For the Aged and Infirm would like to acknowledge the efforts of State Senator Nick Collins and State Representative David Biele for their efforts advocate and prioritize stimulus funding to Marian Manor to help support the additional financial burden the pandemic has cause to our Home. We thank you for your guidance and support through these past 24 months” The spending bill was signed into law by Governor Baker in December 2021, and relevant state agencies are in the process of releasing funding allocations.

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Continued from Page 1

Missing on Mass Ave

Founder, Dawn Cobb This group is really special, said page administrator Brianna Kelley: “And it’s even more special how it was formed. It just took one mother’s pain and suffering and devotion to not only try to help her own son, but to help other people. It shows so much about her character that she was going through something and she decided to make a page to try and help other people, other family members and their parents. That shows so much of who Dawn is as a woman.”

Dawn, whose son Brandon is on Mass & Cass, said the page’s community, which includes family members, those on Mass & Cass, and people from all walks of life, really came together and made the page what it is now. “I was just a small piece to it,” she said. “I laid the foundation and it grew from their help. I honestly wouldn’t know what to do without the page now.”

Brandon, who has been dealing with substance-abuse issues for the last 10 years, made his way to Mass Ave. from Fall River more than a year ago.

“He was kind of keeping in touch here and there,” Dawn said. “It got to a point where a month had gone by and, as a parent’s worst nightmare, I was devastated. I needed to know if he was OK and where he was.”

She found the Mass Ave. Project on Facebook in the summer and posted his photo on that page, and within 16 hours he called her. “Somebody had recognized him and he called me the next day.” Brandon, 26, is currently at St. Francis House and keeps in touch with his mom regularly.

In October, Dawn thought: “You know what? This is something I need

to do for me and all the other parents.

I didn’t realize how big of a thing it actually was until this group started.”

She posted on the Mass Ave. Project page to see what people thought if she were to make a page for the people who are missing on Mass Ave. or who aren’t making contact with their families. The response was wonderful, she said. To help spread the word, she posted about and tagged her page on other pages. “It really just blew up from me doing that,” she said.

Almost every day Dawn and Brianna are approving at least 30-plus requests to join the page, which is private.

“I think it goes to show the beauty of a community like that where you can just share openly about pain and struggle and know that you’re not alone and are loved and heard,” Brianna said. “It goes to show how devastating the situation is down there, how important it is for the situation to be heard and shown and seen. And the page just keeps growing and I think it just proves the strength that having a community like the one that Dawn has set up; it’s just so important.”

People will post photos of their loved ones, asking if anyone has seen them, or asking people to pass along messages to call home.

“All eyes are out there,” Dawn said, noting there are bus drivers, nurses, outreach workers, other addicts, and all walks of life letting people on the page know they’ve seen their loved ones.

“We’re all like a huge community now,” said Dawn, who lives in Rhode Island and is a school bus driver after working with the Alzheimer’s population for 20 years. “We’re all there to help one another and be supportive.”

Dawn, 47, and Brianna, 30, are grateful this group has become a family. “You can come and post your missing loved ones, your success in recovery, your need for help, your feelings and emotions of what you’re dealing with,” Dawn said. “We all come together and support. No matter the race, culture, lifestyle, rich or poor … there is no judgment.”

Brianna’s son’s father, TJ, has been on Mass Ave. for about a

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year. At the end of October, he had stopped making contact with family.

So Brianna, who lives on Cape Cod, posted a photo of him on another Mass Ave. page. Dawn shared the post on the Missing on Mass Ave page and Brianna found her son’s dad in about 24 hours. Unfortunately, he is not in touch regularly.

When Dawn asked Brianna to become an admin for the page, she readily agreed. “It’s become something that I’m passionate about,” Brianna said. Dawn’s siblings, Stephen Gardella and Danielle Ray, are also admins.

Dawn and Brianna do a lot more than approve requests to join the group. They keep in close contact with the family members who post.

“We do a really good job at making sure they feel comfortable and heard and loved,” Brianna said, noting they will help connect families to outreach workers, and they update posts on the page. “We’ve become a really tight-knit community on that page.”

Dawn and Brianna have high praise for the outreach workers at Mass & Cass, many of whom are members of the page. “Our outreach workers that help work down there are second to none,” Brianna said, noting they work tirelessly.

“They’re incredible. They just do such beautiful work down there.”

Dawn and Brianna are also grateful for the Engagement Center, which helps with food, clothes, toiletry items, snacks, cellphone charging stations, resources, and more, and Project Turnabout, which provides help with housing, sober homes, detox, phones, and bus fares.

The page brings a lot of peace when families are able to reunite or a mom gets to hear her kid’s voice for the first time in weeks or months or years, Brianna said. “There’s a lot of good that happens. And that’s why I’m a part of it, because on days that are not happy for me, that are not good for me emotionally, a parent will text me and say, ‘so and so just called,’ and it’ll just kind of bring me back to why I’m advocating and doing what I’m doing with Dawn.”

Some of the page members that had previously been down on Mass Ave. are now clean and sober and

working on their lives in recovery, and they share their stories. “And that’s been really incredible,” said Brianna, who is in recovery for a little over four years, is a stay-at-home mom, and is going to school full time to study criminal justice. “It’s incredible for the family members to be able to see that, to know that it is possible to get out of there alive.

“To see success stories like that is really special and really beautiful.

That’s another really cool thing about our page; not only do we post about missing people but we also have inspirational stories that it’s possible, that recovery is possible.”

The page has created friendships among members who otherwise wouldn’t have met each other, Brianna said. Outreach workers make connections, moms connect with each other, parents connect with each other, and they communicate on their own time and space about things. “I think that’s really special, too. Sometimes people don’t always like to be public about things and post so much in that aspect, and so if they can connect with somebody personally, that’s really special, too.”

Added Brianna, this page “not only helped save my peace of mind, but I think it brings a lot of peace of mind to other family members that are going through the same thing as myself and Dawn. We’re not alone in the fight of loving an addict, let alone loving one that’s homeless in this scary situation.”

Search for “Missing on Mass Ave” on Facebook and request to join. “The more eyes, the better,” Dawn said.

Brianna Kelley, administrator.

page

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Tent Cleanup Caused Worry for Group

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Massachusetts Detox Bed List If you or a loved one is struggling, please reach out. Help is available.

NOTE: The Information here is based on information on the MABHACCESS website. This list is to be used as a guide only. Please contact the facility directly to verify bed availability.

Andrew House Boston/Jamaica Plain - Gender: Male 617-318-5602 Andrew House Stoughton - Gender: Male 781-232-5500 Behavioral Health Network Greenfield - Gender: Female only 413-733-1423 Carlson Recovery Unit/Springfield - Gender: Men only 413-246-9675 Dawn Cobb with her son, Brandon, and her grandchild.

By Ginger DeShanty

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hen the tents came down as part of Mayor Michelle Wu’s Mass & Cass cleanup efforts, people on the Missing on Mass Ave Facebook page were scared.

“We know what needs to be done there,” page founder Dawn Cobb said. “People can’t continue to live that way. But the frightening thing was we have such a community down there that it’s like, ‘OK, now what’s going to happen? How are we going to have eyes on them? Where will they go?’ ” Brianna Kelley, an admin on the page, was a little nervous, too.

“When you displace them, it made me nervous to not know where my significant other had gone. I know from helping run the page that that was a big concern for a lot of parents and family members. Everyone was scrambling to find out what the names of the hotels were that [Mayor Wu] was putting them into.”

So far a lot of people have been placed in homes and shelters.

“We’ve heard great things from people down there … that things a re going OK,” Dawn sa id.

“The one thing I think that worried me was because Mass & Cass has been that way for such a long time, they’ve really set up outreach down there,” Brianna said.

“So when you kind of displaced them into different hotels, they no longer have access to those read ily ava ilable [resources].”

But people are still gathering t here, pa r t ly bec ause of t he resources that have been set up there, but a lso because that’s what’s sa fe to t hem, t hat’s what t hey’ve k nown, Bria nna sa id.

A nd, u n f o r t u n a t e l y, t hat’s where t he d r ug s a re.

Brianna said that the people at Mass & Cass create their own tightknit communities to look after each other and if somebody goes down, somebody else is right there to help.

Bria nna sa id t he clea nup efforts came from a good place and it’s a good first step. “But I think more needs to be done. I think people are down there for many reasons, but I think a lot of people struggle with mental health issues on top of substance-abuse issues.

“A nd s o f i nd i n g t he m housing and things like that is incredible, and I think the work ha s been incredible,” Bria nna sa id, but she noted that the u nderly i ng i s sue s a re muc h greater than just finding shelter.

Brianna said she’s not exactly sure what the cit y’s next step should be, but she does know that there needs to be more readily available detox beds because the waiting lists are way too long.

Community Healthlink - CHL – Worcester - Gender: All 508-860-1200 Dimock Community Health Roxbury - Gender: All 617-442-8800 x1320 Gavin Foundation (formerly Phoenix House) - Gender: All 617-845-5785 Gosnold-Falmouth - Gender: All 508-540-6550 High Point Treatment Center/Plymouth - Gender: All 774-213-8435 Berkshire Medical Center / Pittsfield 413-445-9463 Meadowbrook Brockton Campus/Men’s Addiction Treatment Center (also Section 35 facility) 774-213-8435 MiraVista/ Holyoke - Gender: All 413-264-0825 Northeast Behavioral Health – Danvers - Gender: All 978-739-7675 Spectrum-Weymouth - Gender: Male 339-499-4092 Spectrum-Westborough - Gender: All 508-898-1570 x 8168 SSTAR/Fall River - Gender: All 508-235-7002 Northeast Behavioral Tewksbury Gender: All 978-259-7021, option 1 Washburn House/Worcester Gender: All 508-834-8599 option 1

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Community Comes Together to Make Diaper Depot Dream a Reality

By Ginger DeShaney

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her yl Itri had a d re a m to cre ate a Diaper Depot a nd t he c om mu n it y c a me together to make it a reality.

It ri, d i rec tor of e a rly education & care programs at Sout h Boston Neig hborhood House, envisioned a place where families could access what they need for their babies without barriers and without judgment.

The Ollie Diaper Depot’s grand opening will be held Saturday, Feb. 12 at noon at 1187 Columbia Road, the Ollie’s preschool.

“We’re so excited about the Diaper Depot,” said Kathy Lafferty, executive director of SBNH. “Everyone really worked together and came together to make it happen.”

The Depot will be open the second Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the fourth Wednesday of each month from 3-6 p.m. Once registered, families visit the Depot once a month to get a month’s supply of diapers.

The cost of an average monthly supply of diapers is approximately

$80, which is a hardship for many families, Lafferty said, noting one in three families in the United States struggles to provide clean diapers.

“We just want to make it a little bit easier for families,” Lafferty said. “We want it to be a space where there’s no judgment.

You need diapers, you register, and you come and get them, that’s it.”

Close to 300 families have a lready registered for t he Depot, L a f fer t y sa id.

The Ollie regularly gives out diapers, “but during the pandemic we saw the need and requests signif icantly increase,” Lafferty said, noting they’d been distributing them out of the main building and the preschool.

They had diapers “up to our eyeballs” because they didn’t have storage. So most of the diapers ended up in Itri’s office. “Cheryl has had this idea because her office would be full of diapers,” said Lafferty.

“She used to joke and say when she retires, she’ll open a diaper depot.

We just kind of fast-forwarded to the dream. She is not retiring!”

They decided that if they were going to do it right, they

needed a dedicated space. “So that’s where we came up with the idea of a shipping container,” Lafferty said. But because of the pandemic, it was diff icult to f ind one.

At an event for another agency, Lafferty and Itri happened to be talking to Jon Cronin and Michael Kineavy of the Cronin Group about the Depot and their need for a shipping container.

“They loved it. Literally within five days, we had a brand-new shipping container delivered to the preschool site,” Lafferty said, crediting the duo as well as Jim O’Donovan. “They’re just amazing people that make things happen.”

It was the same thing with Jerome Smith at Amazon. “We reached out to our friends at

Amazon and they were willing to help us fill it,” Lafferty said.

“Every time we talked to someone, all of the elected officials, the Parks Department, because we had to get permission to put the shipping container on their property … every single person we talked to was like, ‘This is a great idea. How can we help?’ ” The Ollie received a couple of other small grants and private donations to help get the Depot running. They will be reaching out to a national diaper registry to hopefully become a member so they can buy diapers in bulk at a reduced price.

Because the South Boston community is super generous, the Depot will be open once a month – probably a Saturday or Sunday – to receive donations. “So there’ll be an opportunity for families or groups or companies or businesses or whoever wants to donate,” said Lafferty.

The Depot will accept donations of brand-new, unopened diapers from sizes newborn to 6, as well as wipes.

The Depot will distribute just diapers and wipes. However, when the Ollie connects with families, they may find out they need a crib, or a high chair, or a car seat. “In natural conversation with families, we find other things out,” Lafferty said. “As we get to know families and as they get to know us, we’ll be able to help them out with other things.”

There are other agencies that give out diapers. “I don’t know of another standalone Diaper Depot like this,” Lafferty said. “I think this is a little bit unique.”

To register for the Diaper Depot, visit https://bit.ly/3Ku8dbo or call 617-268-1619, Ext. 207

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Dorchester Girls Hockey Star Stephanie O’Sullivan Awarded Jersey Retirement

Stephanie O’Sullivan’s jersey was retired on Tuesday night at the William Devine rink during an Archbishop Williams and Latin Academy/Fontbonne non-league game. O’Sullivan was the first female to play for the Dorchester league and paved the way for girls’ hockey. She was elected to the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame, the Providence College Hall of Fame, was a four-time ECAC champion. She played on the boys’ team at Matignon, where she has also been in the School Hall of Fame since 2000.

O’Sullivan is currently an officer with the Boston Police Department.

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2022

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The Valentine “Season”

Have a heart?

by Rick Winterson Did it ever occur to you that South Boston enjoys two Holiday Seasons?

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ur first Holiday Season, of course, is formed by the triad of Thanksgiving/Christmas/ New Year’s Day. This is always such an enjoyable time of year that some people extend that Season backwards to Halloween, or even as far back as Columbus/ Indigenous Peoples Day. The second Holiday Season in South Boston is less formal, but

extends over approximately two months. It begins with Valentine’s Day, and then extends to South Boston’s unique fortnight of observances and celebrations (!) for both Evacuation Day and St. Patrick’s Day. The second Season culminates at Eastertide and Patriot’s Day in April. A few folks like to think that South Boston’s second Holiday Season actually starts with Groundhog Day on February 2. And in fact, many people living in America’s southern states used to celebrate Groundhog Day and Valentine’s Day together, because very soon after that, those folks were 100% busy planting late winter crops (like spring peas).

The specific day for celebrating the two holidays both at once varied, but it was always in February.

No matter. How about you and your love celebrating Valentine’s Day differently this year? A Boston Seaport artistic experience called “Heart Warming” begins tomorrow, on Friday, February 11. It comprises ginormous hearts – four to ten feet tall – in a range of colors that commemorate the NECCO factory’s “Sweetheart Candies” made 120 years ago in 1902 on NECCO Street in Fort Point. Slogans like

Harbor Way – Boston Seaport’s site for “Heart Warming”.

“Proud of U” will be printed on these huge hearts, just as they were on the heart-shaped candies more than a century back. The location of this installation (there’s no other name for it!) is within Boston Seaport’s newest green space – “The Rocks at Harbor Way” – just one block off Seaport Boulevard on Harbor Way. The installation will be on view until Sunday, April 3 – well after the beginning of spring.

And while you are at “Heart Warming”, take the opportunity to send one of the post cards you’ll find there to a senior, who’ll love your attempt at “Heart Warming” him or her. It’s a really unusual opportunity to remember loved ones, even those you haven’t met yet!

While the “Heart Warming” activity is clearly as modern as it gets, the roots of Valentine’s Day go back surprisingly far. Valentine was a Catholic Bishop in what would eventually become Italy. While he was imprisoned by Claudius the Goth, he would send letters to his flock that he signed “From your Valentine”. Legend has it that Claudius caught Valentine officiating at Christian weddings for Roman soldiers and had him beheaded 753 years ago, in 269 A.D. Some 250 years later, Valentine was canonized and pronounced to be the patron saint of romantic love and marriage.

That tradition continues even now.

And in a way, February’s romantic tradition goes back even further. It was the month the Ancient Romans dedicated to Juno, the wife of Jupiter, king of the Roman gods. Lupercalia was a Roman holiday that occurred over the midmonth Ides of February. During Lupercalia, young Roman bachelors would write their names on pieces of leather and place them in an urn in the Roman marketplace. Young women would then pick out these names blindfolded – like valentines (before they were even invented) – in order to meet eligible men under the watchful eye of the goddess Juno.

This coming Monday, the 14th, is Valentine’s Day. Why not take a long three-day weekend and start off the Valentine Season by visiting “Heart Warming” with your sweetheart? There’ll be a lot of other enjoyable activities going on in Boston Seaport as well. And be sure to have yourself a Happy Valentine’s Holiday “Season” – Valentine’s Day itself, President’s Day, Evacuation Day, St. Patrick’s Day, the arrival of Spring (March 20), Ramadan, Passover, Easter – all the way to Patriot’s Day and the Boston Marathon in April.

It’s a South Boston tradition.

There’s a lot more to come during the Valentine “Season”!

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

M

ayor M ic he l le Wu today a nnounced the Boston Winter Express, a new effort to safely bring Bostonians together outdoors during the winter months, foster com mu nit y, suppor t our Main Street districts, and combat social isolation during the pa ndemic. The Boston Winter Express will include pop-up spaces in neighborhoods across Boston with free outdoor a rtistic performa nces, book giveaways, c ompl i m e nt a r y hot drinks, a nd mor e .

The f irst event will be a celebration of Lunar New Year on February 13th from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in pa r tnership wit h t he Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy and Chinatown Main Street at the Chinatown Gate in Auntie K ay & Uncle Fra nk Chin Park on The Greenway. It will feature complimentar y food and drinks, free COV ID-19 test kits provided by the Boston Public Health Commission, free books courtesy of the Boston Public Library, and the City of Boston’s City Hall To Go truck.

The Boston Winter Express will be ma k ing additiona l weekend stops in Nubian Square on Saturday, Februar y 26th and in Fields Corner at Town Field on Saturday, March 5th.

“I’m excited to announce the Boston Winter Express,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This is an opportunity for us to bring some cold weather joy to our neighborhoods. We are excited to bring communities across our city together safely outside in the wintertime. I invite Boston residents to come join us at these events for family friendly fun, hot chocolate, and more!”

“A s we c elebr ate t he Luna r New Yea r with the T i g e r, Chinatown Main Street is so excited to partner with Mayor Wu and the Rose

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Boston Winter Express Kennedy Greenway in bringing the Boston Winter Express event to Chinatown. We are wishing businesses success, p e ople g o o d he a lt h a nd ever yone with prosperit y in the coming year,” said Debbie Ho, E x e c ut i v e D i r e c t or, C h i n a tow n Main St r e e t .

“We are thrilled to partner with Mayor Wu to create an opportunit y for the Boston community to gather and play safely on The Greenway during the winter. We look forward to bringing the Boston Winter Express to Auntie Kay & Uncle Frank Chin Park to celebrate Lunar New Year and bring joy to a winter day,” said Keelin Caldwell, Director of Programs and Community Engagement of t he Rose Kennedy Greenway C o n s e r v a n c y.

“Fie ld s C or ne r M a i n Street is excited to work with The City, and our community partners to provide a familyc e nt e r e d experience for residents and visitors to be outside, have fun and enjoy delicious treats from some of our neighborhood ’s small businesses,” said Jackey West Devine, Executive Director, Fields Corner Main Street.

“Our outdoor spaces are vita l socia l a nd ecologic a l infrastructure,” said Gretchen Rabinkin, Executive Director of the Boston Society of Landscape Architects. “We are delighted to collaborate with Mayor Wu and communit y partners to create joyful ways that invite residents and small businesses to connect and play throughout B o s t o n’s neighborhoods.

E specia lly in winter, these moment s toget her out of doors improve our mental and physical health. Join us outside!”

In partnership with the Mayor’s Of f ice of A r ts + Culture, the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity

and Inclusion, Mayor’s Office of Tou r i sm, Spor t s, a nd Entertainment, Boston Parks & Recreation Department, Boston Public Libra r y, the Boston Public Hea lt h C ommision, the Boston Winter Express is a new cold weather placemaking progra m that will leverage our outdoor public spaces to build community this winter.

In partnership with the Boston Society of Landscape Architects, the City of Boston w i l l protot y p e a w i nter placemaking kit to create fun and comfortable pop-up spaces in Boston’s neig hborhoods.

Over four weekends starting February 13th, each stop on the Boston Winter Express will include seasonal lighting, warm seating, mu sic a l a nd a r t ist ic per forma nc e s, public art created by loca l a r tists, a nd complimenta r y hot bevera ges provided by ne i g h b or ho o d r e s t a u r a nt s .

A s part of the Boston Winter Express, the City will also bring back the Children’s Winter Festiva l on Boston Common on Thursday, February 17th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00

p.m. Hosted by Mayor Michelle Wu and the Parks & Recreation Department, in partnership with the Highland Street Foundation, the festiva l is a cherished afternoon activity for kids of all ages, featuring music, giveaways, va riou s w inter at t rac t ions, treats, crafts, and much more.

To le a rn about more free, fa mily-friend ly winter events happening in the City of Boston, follow the Mayor’s Of f ice of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment on social media @VisitBostonCit y and visit boston.gov/visiting-boston.

The Boston Winter Express will be made up entirely of outdoor, open-air events. It is encouraged, but not required, to wear masks. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are still at high-risk of spreading COVID-19. If you are not fully vaccinated, you should avoid large social gatherings. If you do plan to attend, avoid congested areas, wear a mask to cover your nose and mouth, and maintain six feet of physical distance as much as possible. To get vaccinated, find a location near you on boston.gov/coronavirus.

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

South Boston Catholic Academy News Celebrating Catholic Schools Week

J

anuary 30, 2022, marked the beginning of our a n nu a l c e lebr at ion of National Catholic Schools Week, The theme — “Catholic Schools: Fa ith.

Excellence.

S e r v i c e .” — During this school-wide celebration, we were able to focus on faith development, academic excellence, and dedication to community service. We are so very proud of each and every one of our wonderful students and very thankful to all our families, teachers, and staff for their dedication, hard work, and support.

Each day of this week had

activities planned around a special theme/acknowledgment such as … Our Community, Our Students, Our Nation, Our Vocations, Our Faculty, Staff and Volunteers, and Our Families.

Thursday was Student Appreciation Day and everyone got to enjoy pizza for lunch. Grades 3-6: had a Classroom Spelling Bee. Thank you to Mr. Chance Hebert, the Coordinator of Catholic Identity, for organizing these themes, to the students, families, teachers, and to all who helped to make this past week a very special, faith inspiring and fun week for all! “Start children off on the way they should go, and

even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 In 1A - Students did a fantastic job writing about why they love attending our Catholic School.

Some said, “At SBCA I learn about Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.” And “At SBCA I learn about Jesus and pray to God and learn the Bible.” In 1B - One of the songs we sing in the morning to start our day is- “Thank You God For Giving Us SBCA!” The children in Grade 1B were engaged in a brainstorming session to share ideas of what makes our school, “ A Special Catholic School!” Then, they got a picture that was close to their idea to color. In 1C- We wrote

about why we LOVE SBCA. The students were so excited to share the many reasons they love going to this school, specifically for the teachers, being with their friends every day, and learning in math, reading, writing, and religion.

We are so thankful to be a part of a great school and community!

A little about SBCA… We are inspired by the traditions of our Catholic faith, family spirit, and academic excellence, we are committed to meeting the spiritual, academic, physical, and social needs of individual students within a learning environment that is both stimulating and supportive.

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THURSDAY FEBRURY 10, 2022

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Virtual Public Meeting

Seaport Circle Thursday, February 17

Zoom Link: bit.ly/SeaportCir

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Hearts, Hugs & Hope: A Virtual Alzheimer’s Support Group Offered by Compass on the Bay

February 17th at 6:00 p.m.

Meeting ID: 160 655 5506 Project Proponent: Lincoln Property Company Project Description: The Project will construct a 13-story laboratory/research & development and office building located on Parcel H totaling approximately 587,000 GFA, a twostory job training/non-profit center on an adjacent parcel totaling approximately 16,000 GFA, and an elevated walkway that connects these two buildings and surrounding properties. Additionally, the Project will include commitments to improve the Silver Line Way station as well as other significant public realm improvements.

Dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia isn’t easy, so it is helpful to share your concerns and personal experiences with others who completely understand what you’re going through. You will also learn about proven strategies to help you better care for your family member. This group will be held in conjunction with our sister community, Standish Village. Call 617-268-5450 or email Program Director Dean Tricarico at dtricarico@compassonthebay.com for more information and to register for the virtual meeting.

Ready to Register?

Scan this QR Code with your smart phone

mail to: Tyler Ross Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 857.334.8952 email:

Close of Comment Period: 02.22.2022

tyler.c.ross@boston.gov

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

The Law Office of

Paul J. Gannon PC General Practice of Law

Criminal Defense Personal Injury Motor Vehicle Accidents Establishment of Corporations, LLCs Wills & Estate Planning Real Estate Litigation Probate No Charge for Initial Consultation

82 West Broadway South Boston, MA (617)269-1993 pgannon@paulgannonlaw.com

Virtual Public Meeting

Seaport Circle Wednesday, February 16

Zoom Link: bit.ly/SeaportCirIAG

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 161 645 8971

Project Proponent: Lincoln Property Company Project Description: The Project will construct a 13-story laboratory/research & development and office building located on Parcel H totaling approximately 587,000 GFA, a twostory job training/non-profit center on an adjacent parcel totaling approximately 16,000 GFA, and an elevated walkway that connects these two buildings and surrounding properties. Additionally, the Project will include commitments to improve the Silver Line Way station as well as other significant public realm improvements.

Ready to Register?

Scan this QR Code with your smart phone mail to: Tyler Ross Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 857.334.8952 email: tyler.c.ross@boston.gov

Close of Comment Period: 02.16.022

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

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THURSDAY FEBRURY 10, 2022

Councilor Murphy Enjoyed Celebrating Tet at the Flynn Marine Terminal

Virtual Public Meeting

270 West 2nd St. Wednesday, March 2

Zoom Link: bit.ly/3AJwsOc

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 161 073 5202

Project Description: Multi-Family Residential proposal with 96,000 sf of FAR floor area, 88 multi-family units, 66-garage parking spaces, and associated amenities and open space.

mail to: Stephen Harvey Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.4418 email: stephen.j.harvey@boston.gov

Close of Comment Period: 3/23/2022

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Virtual Public Meeting

51 Melcher Street Wednesday, February 23

Zoom Link: bit.ly/3uBXTIG

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 160 789 8377

Project Proponent: GI Partners Project Description: The BPDA is hosting a PublicMeeting for the proposed project at 51 Melcher Street, a project located in the Fort Point neighborhood of Boston. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the overall project and the potential impacts. The meeting will include a presentation followed by questions and comments from the public.

The Proponent is proposing to redevelop the existing building to be ready to use as lab space, as well as upgrades to the first floor, and public realm. 作为波士顿居民和利益相关者，本会议的信息对您来说是至关重要的。可以提供 翻译服务以传达本会议的内容，您无需承担任何额外费用。如果您需要翻译服务， 请通过以下方式进行联系：(nick.carter@boston.gov) (617-918-5303) 会议定 于2022 年02月23日，请在会议前5天内申请口译服务 mail to: Nick Carter Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.5303 email: nick.carter@boston.gov

Close of Comment Period: 3/15/2022

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2022

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