SBOL_03_17_2021

THE PRINT EDITION

WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021

VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74

Going Green

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day From South Boston Online, greetings on this day to all of you!

W

e hope you’ll accept our sincerest a nd most enthusiastic well wishes, not only just for today – St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day, 2021 – but also for the springtime that’s nearly here and for the entire remainder of 2021.

Here’s a friendly reminder you’ll also see elsewhere in this issue: Be sure to tune in to a TV program tonight, March 17, entitled “Marching On: South Boston Revisited ” (NECN, Channel 6, at 7:30). It’s highly interesting, only 30 minutes long, and prepares you to anticipate next year’s 2022 Parade.

And, remember to tune in to the St. Pat’s Day Breakfast which will be aired on NESN on Sunday, March 21, from

10 a.m. to noon and broadcast on WROL Irish 950 AM and 100.3 FM and streamed live at w w w.wrolradio.com.

People often ask us what it is about South Boston that makes St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day so special, and why the Parade on that Day is so, well, so spectacular (there really isn’t any other word besides “spectacular” that describes our Parade any better)!

There are many, many reasons!

It’s not that our Parade is the oldest one around. The first St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day Parade in South Boston took place in 1901 as part of the dedication of our Monument on Dorchester Heights, which commemorated the Evacuation of the British from Boston. Long before that, Savannah in Georgia held a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1824.

Actually, the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Boston took place Continued on Page 2

Andrea Antonucci

Southie woman recycles Christmas tree, creates St. Patrick’s Day tree

By Ginger DeShaney

A

nd r e a A nt onu c c i has started a new tradition, transforming her Ch rist ma s t ree i nto a St. Patrick ’s Day tree.

She got the idea from a post by

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“Around that time, I was going to take down my tree but I didn’t want to,” Andrea said. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was home all the time and wanted to keep the tree up so she could continue to enjoy it.

“I knew I could use some of my Christmas ornaments,” she said. She repurposed green, gold,

Continued on Page 3

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WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021

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Wherever you go and whatever you do, May the luck of the Irish be there with you.

-I rish blessing Continued from Page 1

Happy Saint Pat’s Day all the way back in 1737. But in 1948, the City of Boston handed the responsibility for the modern St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day Parade back to the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council (the SBAW VC).

It quickly became a “homegrown” Parade after that, assembled and put on by John “Wacko” Hurley and company. Becoming “homegrown” was vital to what our Parade would eventually become.

Furthermore, St. Patrick’s/ Evacuation Day on March 17 completes the train of Holidays all of us in South Boston enjoy each year.

After New Year’s Day (and America’s oldest Annual Polar Plunge at the “L”), South Boston

Project2:Layout 1 3/16/16 12:20 PM Page 1

gets down to business and begins to organize itself for the upcoming March 17 festivities.

This requires fundraising and many highly enjoyable fundraising events, because the Parade, being “homegrown”, is almost completely financed locally in South Boston. The fortnight (don’t you like that word?) before Parade weekend is filled with banquets, breakfasts, and contest of all kinds for our children and families. So, the Parade sits at the climax of an entire wintertime of joyful activities in South Boston.

Look at it this way. Among our many observances, South Boston is fortunate to be able to honor three major saints in a row – Nicholas in December, Valentine in February, and of course, Patrick in March. And make no mistake, celebrations

of religious Holidays are always quite joyful. If Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day aren’t enough to convince you of that, just think of Mardi Gras, a.k.a. Carnivale.

And please, always recall that March 17 in South Boston is the date of that heroic victory we call Evacuation Day – an extremely important event in our War for Independence. When the British left Boston on Sunday, March 17, in 1776, that evacuation was the first clearcut colonial victory, which earned Gen. Washington a specially struck gold medal from the Second Continental Congress. There’s no question that Patriot’s Day and Bunker Hill Day are also key Revolutionary events, but Evacuation Day and Henry Knox’s cannons on the Heights are equally as important, because we won on the very first Evacuation Day. Yes, we won!

And we won due to colonial planning, bravery, and cleverness, beginning with Ethan Allen’s occupation of Fort Ticonderoga

on the previous May 10, 1775.

As stated, the many reasons for the South Boston Parade’s unique character have spiritual and heroic dimensions, including South Boston’s respect for all of our military veterans. But there’s still more. The St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day Parade has become an integral part of our community. It comes off every year due to countless contributions, helping hands, and cooperative volunteer efforts. It’s truly a gigantic social community “happening”, both in the preparation and during the Parade itself. With 150 participating groups from everywhere and well over a half-million spectators (ten times the capacity of Gillette Stadium; 20 times that of Fenway), each year’s Parade is always an event the community of South Boston will never forget.

A nd once again, St. Pa t r i c k ’s / Ev a c u a t i on Day greetings come from us to every single one of you. Enjoy!

IN MEMORIAM -21st ANNIVERSARY

STEVIE SIMPSON 3-3-1949 - 3-18-2000

May luck be our companion May friends stand by our side May history remind us all Of Ireland’s faith and pride May God bless all with happiness May love and faith abide.

MEMORIES I feel a warmth around me, like your presence is so near.

And I close my eyes to visualize your face when you were here.

I endure the times we spent together, and they are locked inside my heart. As long as I have those memories, we will never be apart.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Congressman & Mrs.

Stephen F. Lynch and family

Paid for by Lynch for Congress Committee. Nancy Conroy, Treasurer

If you forget my death then I died in vain.

Even though we cannot speak anymore, my voice is always there, because every night before I sleep, I have you in my prayer.

Love & Peace – Ethel

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

Continued from Page 1 Going Green

and white Christmas ornaments.

She also had Ireland ornaments that she had bought for her mom but got back when her mom died.

Andrea bought Irish ornaments from Southie’s Own and Amazon.

Her ornaments include step dancers, a harp and fiddle, a Celtic cross, sheep, a teapot and teacup, a Trinity, and an Irish cottage.

She added orange tulle and

greenery that looks like clovers.

There’s an angel wings ornament in remembrance of her mom and dad, Margaret and Andrew.

“I love to decorate,” Andrea said.

“I usually go all out for Christmas and Halloween. And now that I’ve done it, I will also decorate for St. Patrick’s Day going forward.”

The tree has been very wel l-rec eived.

“My f riend s think it’s beautiful,” she said.

“It ma kes me happy.”

Andrea’s St. Patrick’s Day decor goes beyond the tree. She has Irish/St. Patrick’s decorations throughout her house, including signs, wall hangings, and a table runner. She decorated a three-tiered tray in the kitchen that holds Irish items and is flanked by a ceramic mug and leprechaun her mom made.

The family used to tease Margaret, Andrea said. Because Andrea’s features were more like her dad’s, “we’d tell her we’re Italian.”

And she’d say, “You’re Irish, too!”

Andrea recently had Ancestry and 23 & Me testing done and found that she’s more Irish than Italian.

The tree is an ode to her mom.

“She would be very happy with my tree.”

WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021

The South Boston Citizen’s Association wishes You a Happy Evacuation Day / Happy St.Patrick’s Day on the 245 Anniversary of Evacuation Day

“Remember there is no 4th of July without Evacuation Day”

Special Thanks to All The First Responders and United States Military President Thomas McGrath

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WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

TV Program Evokes the Parade

by Rick Winterson

D

ave Falvey is the Commander of the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council. He got in touch with us to tell about a very special 30-minute TV program put together by the Council, in partnership with Comcast (NECN and NBC Boston, Channels 6 and 10, respectively).

The program is called “Marching On: South Boston Revisited” and it is remarkably good – don’t miss it!

“Marching On: South Boston Revisited” has already been broadcast three times. It will be shown for the fourth and last time tonight, Wednesday evening, March 17 – viewing it is truly a fitting way to end the 2021 St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day. Tune in to NECN, Channel 6, at 7:30 p.m.

The program opens with a few remarks from Dave himself and from Bryan Bishop, the SBAWVC’s Director of Parade Operations. The themes of their remarks are two in number – the

The Allied War Veterans Council receives the colors at their Annual Parade Banquet. unique character of South Boston, and how special the next Parade in 2022 is going to be. Proof of these two themes is offered by using stories of South Boston’s history extending back to Revolutionary times, along with several statements regarding the Parade’s meaning to families and to veterans and, and indeed to all those who are residents of South Boston. The Parade itself is 120 years old, as is the Dorchester Height Monument – “when the Mayflower was joined with the Shamrock”.

John Horrigan and Prof. Bob Alison tell the history of Dorchester

From our family to yours,

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! -Ed, Kristen, Stephen & Caroline Flynn

Heights and Henry Knox’s “Noble Train” of artillery, all leading to the Evacuation of the British from Boston – the very first victory in our War for Independence. Attention is paid to the many South Boston veterans who joined the military and returned, along with those who (sadly) didn’t make it back. Tribute is paid to all veterans by Councilor Ed Flynn and long-time veterans’ activist Tom Lyons (next year, 2022, is the 20th Anniversary of South Boston’s Vietnam Memorial, the nation’s first). The family nature of the Parade is emphasized.

And the Irish influences in and around South Boston are cleverly highlighted by landmarking various businesses here, including Sullivan’s on Castle Island and Grand Ten Irish Whiskey (or “Whisky”) manufacture on Dorchester Avenue. The striking float and marchers from Local 17 of the Sheet Metal Workers are prominently featured. The renowned Boston Police Column of Pipes & Drums closes the half hour in formation on Dorchester Heights with rhythmic drum beats and the stirring skirling of their pipes.

March is SouthieSZN (hint SZN = Season) The South Boston Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce SouthieSZN. A month long promotion to support local businesses. Shop, Dine, Pamper and enter weekly drawings to win a “Pot O’ Gold” containing gift cards, swag and product valued at $100. from local businesses. A Grand Prize drawing will be held on April 5th valued at $500. It’s easy to enter! Shop at 4 participating businesses, take a selfie at one of them, and fill out the form at bit.ly/southieszn-enter. Visit southbostonchamber. org for the list of participating businesses and get ready to win!

Winners will be drawn each Monday!

You can enter multiple times, but you’ll need to make purchases at businesses different from your previous entries – to increase your chances at winning while supporting South Boston’s business community.

Follow us on social media for details of upcoming events, specials, and promotions.

Instagram: @SouthBosChamber Facebook: @SouthBostonChamberofCommerce Twitter: @SouthBosChamber #SouthieSZN Paid for and authorized by the Friends of Ed Flynn Committee.

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Happy Saint Patrick’s Day

WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021

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Deja Brew says THANK YOU for 24 years of neighborhood support! Once the Cranberry Cafe and now DEJA BREW We remain a family-owned Community Business

State Representative David Biele

THANK YOU

Erin Murphy for Boston City Council At-large

The Seapoint Bar and Grill would like to

Thank all of our customers for your continued support and for helping us become South Boston’s Saint Patrick’s Day Headquarters for over 40 Years!

We will be serving all day indoors, socially distancing, corned beef and cabbage, corned beef sandwich’s

ERINFORBOSTON.COM

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, And nothing but happiness come through your door.

and pizza with fries. We are also offering take out and delivery call us at 617-268-1476 to order

Let's Bring Boston Back. Together.

Back to Work * Back to School* Back Together Join us at erinforboston.com

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WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021

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Concert Showcases Talent of Boys & Girls Club Members Sweet Music

By Ginger DeShaney Do you ever wonder what it’s like falling under?

Do you ever dream to succeed but you don’t? It don’t matter. ’cause the weight of the world is on your shoulders but nothing can bring you down.

Is it wrong, is it right, but it don’t matter; what matters is right now.

T

hese are the opening lyrics of the original song “What Matters,” written by preteens Tiara H, Ella M, and Salamata B, members of the Edgerley Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club’s music program.

What matters, what matters is that we’ve got each other …

When the world feels heavy and you feel lost, make sure one thing is clear: Don’t you worry about tomorrow; today you’re here.

Tiara performed the song to kick off the virtual South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Road Race Concert, which premiered Saturday night.

“I’m impressed with how these preteens draw off their own feelings of being stuck inside,” Club Music Director Jessica Nathania said about “What Matters.”

The main message: “What matters is that we are all here right now and it’s going to be OK,” Jessica said.

Tiara’s beautiful voice transcends her age and the lyrics are deep and resonating.

The annual St. Patrick’s Day Road Race, a fundraiser for the South Boston Club’s youth development and teen programs, is virtual this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year’s race and concert were canceled, but “this year we got

the chance to do [the concert], even though it’s a little different,” Jessica said.

The performances were recorded ahead of time, but the performers didn’t see the concert until Saturday’s premiere.

“The kids are excited,” Jessica said. “The parents are excited to see the performance.”

Edgerley Family South Boston Club Executive Director Harry Duvall opened the concert: “Our race concert marks the turning of the page, the opening of a new chapter, the start of what’s next.”

After Tiara’s performance, The Edgerley Family South Boston Club Players -- Nolan (guitar), Will (bass), Robbie, Zeron, Anthony, and Erica (drums), and Niaomi, Kay’ary, Erica, Sean, Salamata, and Anthony (vocals) -- performed the Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” and did an amazing job!

Headliner Brian Scully of Dalton & the Sheriffs performed a number of songs. And ending the concert was 10-year-old Julia M, who played a mesmerizing rendition of “God Bless America” on her acoustic guitar.

“It’s amazing what kids are capable of doing when they have the resources and support to do it,” Brian said during his set.

And those resources are found in the Club’s music program, open to members ages 9 and up.

“I’m constantly amazed by what a kid can accomplish just because an adult is there and there’s support and

resources behind them,” Brian said.

“That’s what this place does, that’s what makes this place so special.”

When the Southie Club was renovated in 2014-15, a soundproof music clubhouse featuring a recording booth and practice rooms was included in the plans.

In normal times, the music clubhouse is a bustling place. It’s used for band practices and group and individual lessons. Members can learn how to produce, practice beats, make recordings, and record podcasts. But this year, things are different because of the pandemic.

Instead of group practices and lessons, only members in the same cohort can practice together, said Jessica. For band practice, for instance, if kids are in the same cohort, they can practice together, but they can’t practice with band members outside the cohort. For the Club Players portion of the concert, the individual cohorts were recorded separately.

During the height of the pandemic, the Club offered virtual jam sessions and karaoke, Zoom instrument lessons (thanks to a partnership with “Music and Youth,” club members were able to take home instruments), songwriting sessions, and freestyle Fridays.

Zoom lessons ended in the fall, when members returned to the club in person.

Jessica currently leads a cohort during the day so she doesn’t get to see all the kids in the music program. Her music assistant, Brendan Cornish, runs the after-school program in the music room.

“I miss being able to see everyone and hang out together,” she said about her music kids. “It made me so proud seeing them do the concert.”

Jessica is from Indonesia and moved here to pursue music. She has a songwriting degree from Berklee College of Music. She sings at weddings, performs her original songs in local venues, and records in studios.

“I get to share my experience performing in the real world and with professional bands,” she said. “I’m humbled to be able to share that with [the members].

“I’m very honored to share my part in it,” Jessica said about the music program.

“It’s a rewarding experience for me, too.

I always learn something from the kids.”

The music program is very beneficials to the members. “I see kids who want to pursue music as a career,” Jessica said. Some members reach out to her to help them prepare for school auditions (for example, to get into the Boston Arts Academy).

The music program allows members to “get away from their daily routine,” she said. “They can leave their homework and school projects at the door and when they come into the music room, they have fun, lash out their energy on the drums … “it’s a wonderful space for them to be who they are and use music as the tool to express themselves.”

To view the concert,

visit https://vimeo. com/522886244/05f9555609

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021

In Southie, DST Rules

THANK YOU!!

I want to thank my amazing customers for all of their support and generosity since opening the doors at Olga’s Kafe. I’m touched by how many friends have stopped in, and if you haven’t, I can’t wait to see you.

Here’s a promise from South Boston Online: This is the last you’ll hear from us about Daylight Saving Time (also abbreviated as DST) this year, at least until DST returns to EST on Sunday morning, next November 7, at 2 a.m. We just wanted to let you know that DST is firmly in charge of South Boston’s timepieces, including the famous clock on West Broadway, depicted at exactly 12:31:00 DST last Sunday, March 14 – the opening day of this year’s Daylight Saving Time.

Olga Olga’s Kafe, 206 W. Broadway, South Boston

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WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021

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Harpoon Virtual Shamrock Splash, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

Winners came from Revere, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester and Quincy. They raised funds for Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Virtual Shamrock Splash had to “go virtual” this year, but that didn’t stop nearly 150 registered Splashers and nearly 750 participants and 28 teams from raising more than $50,000 to support free beach programs from Nahant to Nantasket when the beaches open up later this year, as part their Better Beaches Program Partnership with DCR Pa r t icipa nt s competed for free f lights from JetBlue and great swag from Harpoon Brewery. This year’s winners were: Jane Kepros from East Boston raised $3000 and won the prize for Biggest Fundraiser.

You can see her splash at ht t ps ://w w w.yout ube .com / watch?v=wt1vKuJoIbw.

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s staff and sponsors from JetBlue and Harpoon splashed symbolically this year to celebrate the success of this year’s Harpoon Shamrock Splash which raised more than $50,000 to support free beach programs this year. for his series of eight splashes. continue to wear masks, practice social Mark Bisson of East Boston’s Team HarborKeepers won the prize for best costume for his great Lobster Costume.

You can see his splash at ht t ps ://w w w.yout ube .com / watch?v=L7QkDzUAjL0.

Jeremy Reger of South Boston and team MassKiting won the prize for Most Unique Splash

Congratulations to the 2021 Evacuation Day Poster and Essay Winners Middle School Essay Winners

First Place: Ian Rosher SB Catholic Academy Second Place: Arianna Shepherd SB Catholic Academy Third Place: Sean Finalen SB Catholic Academy Third Place: Jaelynn McClure SB Catholic Academy

Poster Winners

You can watch them all at https:// w w w.y ou t u be .c o m /c ha n n e l / UCPUaKD9Nwey1hMNDbaQ yAxw

Kennedy Elsey and Kennedy’s Crew splashed in Quincy and won the prize for largest team.

Emma Leavett f rom t he Dorchester Art Project and Carol Haney from Revere won this year’s raff le.

Some teams and participants splashed to raise funds for their favorite beach, which will be supplemented by additional funds from Save the Harbor’s Better Beaches program.

This year’s totals by beach were: South Boston $6,094

Quincy Wollaston $5,225 East Boston Constitution $4,845 Lynn & Nahant $4,710 Revere Beach $3,395 Winthrop $3,310 Hull Nantasket Beach $2,735 Dorchester $2,490 “We are optimistic that if people

distancing, and sign up for their free vaccinations as they become available, the region’s residents from Nahant to Nantasket will be able to return to our beaches again this summer,when free beach events and youth programs will be more important than ever before,” said Mancini. “Thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s Splash such a success we hope to see you on the beach soon.”

Since Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay began the Splash during their 25th Anniversary celebration in 2011, thousands of splashers have raised more than $1 million dollars to support free beach events and programs in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

To learn more about Save the Harbor/Save the Bay visit their website at www.savetheharbor.org

First Place: Andrew Missett SB Catholic Academy Second Place: Will Reidy SB Catholic Academy Third Place: Brendan Banks SB Catholic Academy Third Place: Henry DiNatale SB Catholic Academy Third Place: Emma Halpin SB Catholic Academy Third Place: Mary Cunningham St. Peter’s Academy Third Place: Mairead Kelly St. Peter’s Academy Rather than gather on a beach, this year participants splashed solo in their bathtub or backyard, or splashed alone or in small groups on their favorite beach.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021

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Heading out to celebrate #StPatricksDay this week? #COVID19 restrictions will be enforced in Boston: restaurants can’t have live entertainment or lines no alcohol will be served without food only 6 people are allowed at a table, and there is a 90-minute time limit.

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WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021

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South Boston Catholic Academy News Reading can be fun!

From our 1C Teacher, Ms. Gannon…As part of Reading Across A merica Week and celebrating Dr. Seuss’s 117 Birthday on Tuesday, March 2, we read many Dr. Seuss books as a class. The students also brought in their favorite books from home and were able to partner read and share their favorite parts of the book with each other! Lastly, we colored in pictures of Dr. Seuss and completed a word search all about Dr. Seuss. It was a great day!

Dr. Seuss and Read Across It was nice to see that 1C, along with the students in Ms. America month, K2 has been McCarthy’s 1A and Ms. Byrne’s collecting videos from friends and family who live across the 1B class, as well as, students country. Family and friends in the other grades all had a chance to take part in this Read have been reading their favorite Across America Week project. books, and students have been From our K2C Teacher, coloring in the corresponding state. The goal is to have a Ms. Bourdon…In honor of representative from all 50 states!

Quotes from some famous authors…“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.” and “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 and “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” – Margaret Fuller…

Happy reading everyone! New applicants are welcomed to email Mrs. Jamie Brown at j. br o w n @ s b c a t h ol i c a c a d e m y. org to learn more about South Boston Cat holic Ac ademy.

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WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021

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Morrissey/Kosciusko/Moakley Park –A Joint Study Is Needed

by Rick Winterson

A

Press Release from the BPDA (Boston Planning & Development Agency) arrived at South Boston Online recently. It announced the “Kosciusko Circle/ Morrissey Boulevard Planning Study”; the two reasons for this study were to improve mobility and climate resiliency. Translated, these reasons mean that Kosciusko Circle is the source of some very difficult (and frequent) traffic bottlenecks, and that Morrissey Boulevard is subject to flooding during wind-driven high tides. In South Boston, we are all aware of that, because when it’s dry, we use Morrissey Boulevard frequently. And Kosciusko Circle leads into key South Boston roads – Day Boulevard and Old Colony Avenue/Columbia Road – as well as connecting with Dorchester’s Morrissey Boulevard,

Kosciusko Circle on a Saturday afternoon. both north- and southbound to and from South Boston.

The city and state agencies involved in this joint study form a veritable alphabet soup of participants. In addition to the City of Boston and the BPDA, these include MassDOT (Massachusetts Department of Transportation), the EEA (Executive Office of Energy

Connecting with Morrissey Boulevard.

Just one section of low-lying Moakley Park/Saunders

and Environmental Affairs), and the DCR (Department of Conservation and Recreation). The reason for so many is that improvements will be aimed at cyclists, pedestrians, public transport, commercial traffic, and privately-owned motor vehicles.

Now, according to the words in the announcement of this study, the participants understand that Morrissey Boulevard and its associated infrastructure have become a very real (and very congested) “traffic corridor”. It’s more than just a roadway on its own. The study area is expected to extend to Neponset Circle to the

south, and on the north as far as Preble Street and Circle. From side to side, the study area will go from the shore of Dorchester Bay, to the west over to Dorchester Avenue.

The study itself will incorporate roadway design work done by the DCR over the past several years.

This study is big!

And sorely needed!

We can only add that the plans now being put forth for Moakley Park and the proposed major upgrades of the Old Harbor/Mary Ellen McCormack housing must be included in this overall study. Obviously, both will have a major effect on traffic into and out of this overall area during most hours of the day and evening. Furthermore, and what is perhaps even more important, there’s an increasing encroachment of bay waters around Moakley Park, as global warming and sea level rise continues.

Several areas of the Park simply can’t drain on many occasions.

The entire southeastern area of South Boston, as well as the adjacent parts of Dorchester, have to be involved in this admittedly huge overall study, in order for it to be effective.

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SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021

Virtual Public Meeting

Virtual Public Meeting

80 West Broadway

Amend Accessory Parking Zoning Wednesday, March 31 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Wednesday, March 31 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Zoom Link: bit.ly/38KfToE Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 160 419 0721

Project Proponent: 80 West Broadway, LLC

Zoom Link: bit.ly/3kUXdqQ Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 161 611 0558

Project Proponent: Boston Planning and Development Agency Project Description: This is a public meeting to present proposed zoning changes that would make Accessory Parking a Conditional Use in neighborhood business subdistricts.

Currently it is an Allowed Use in basements and first floors where there is an Allowed Use on the upper floors, such as residential. This condition creates a blank street wall with no active first floor use and runs counter to planning goals for neighborhood subdistricts. By making Accessory Parking Conditional, requiring a Conditional use permit, it provides and opportunity for community input and design review.

See 3/31/21 on the BPDA Calendar for more info.

mail to: Bryan Glascock Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.722.4300 email: bryan.glascock@boston.gov

Project Description: 80 West Broadway, LLC proposes to redevelop an approximately 21,770 square foot real property located at 80-110 West Broadway in South Boston (the “Project Site”). The Project Site currently contains a fourstory, mixed-use building occupied at its ground level by Amrheins Restaurant, a one-story addition at 84-88A West Broadway, and a surface parking lot for 44 vehicles.

The Proposed Project consists of retaining the four-story building, which will continue to include ground-floor bar/restaurant space for Amrheins, with six residential units above, and to construct on the remainder of the Project Site an eight-story, approximately 123,400 square feet of gross floor area, mixed-use building with ground-floor retail space and research and development/office space above. The Proposed Project will also include approximately 25 below-grade parking spaces. mail to:

Close of Comment Period: 4.9.2021

phone: email: BostonPlans.org

Stephen Harvey Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4418 stephen.j.harvey@boston.gov BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Virtual Public Meeting

Massport is currently accepting applications for the following Scholarships: • Thomas J. Butler Memorial Scholarship Awarded to a high school senior who resides and is involved in community service in South Boston, with a minimum 3.0 GPA. • Deborah Hadden Gray Memorial Scholarship Awarded to a high school senior who resides and is involved in community service or employment in the city of Boston, Chelsea, Revere or Winthrop, with a minimum 3.0 GPA. • Lowell L. Richards III Memorial Scholarship Awarded to a high school senior who resides and is involved in community service in the city of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, or Winthrop, with a minimum 3.0 GPA. • Diversity STEM Scholarship Awarded to high school seniors of color who reside or attend school in the city of Boston, Chelsea, Winthrop, Revere, Worcester, Bedford, Concord, Lexington, or Lincoln, and are involved in community service with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Scholarship applications must be received by Massport no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 30, 2021. For more information on these scholarships, including application checklist and criteria please visit www.massport.com

Amend Article 32 Groundwater Zoning Monday, March 29 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Zoom Link: bit.ly/3rsZaNZ Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 161 812 6907

Project Proponent: Boston Planning and Development Agency Project Description: This public meeting is to present proposed amendments to Article 32 Groundwater Conservation Overlay District of the zoning code and receive comments in order to extend protection to groundwater levels in areas of the city with older buildings on wooden piles built on filled land. This includes parts of East Boston, downtown waterfront, Roxbury/South End, South Boston and Audubon Circle. mail to: Bryan Glascock Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.722.4300 email: bryan.glascock@boston.gov

Close of Comment Period: 4/9/2021

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

ABCC St. Patrick’s Day Enforcement to Combine Impaired Driving Crackdown and COVID Safety Standards

This St. Patrick’s Day will require additional efforts by the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) enforcement team. In addition to its annual impaired driving program, agency Investigators will be ensuring that restaurants and bars throughout the Commonwealth comply with COVID Safety Standards.

“With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, we are asking restaurants and their customers to continue to remain diligent,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, who oversees the ABCC, “We have had high levels of compliance, which has helped limit exposure and maintain progress, while keeping communities safe. Tomorrow should be no different.”

To date, Investigators have found the majority of restaurants to be in compliance with the Governor’s Orders and Safety Standards.

Facility layouts are maintaining proper distancing and restaurant staff and patrons have been wearing proper facial coverings. However, 64 bars have had their liquor licenses indefinitely suspended, when the commission found that they had flagrantly violated the Safety Standards while several more have pending hearings.

Treasurer Goldberg announced today that the impaired driving enforcement efforts will focus on bars previously identified as those most frequently known to sell alcohol to a convicted drunk driver.

In addition to police stops of impaired drivers, Sale to Intoxicated Persons (SIP) enforcement by the ABCC is considered an effective tool by Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) officials nationwide. These officials agree that consistent enforcement of laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to intoxicated persons is vital to impaired driving prevention, as well as an overall reduction in criminal activity.

“These efforts support safer roads throughout Massachusetts,” added Treasurer Goldberg. “This kind of enforcement is a deterrent for bar owners, keeping them from over-serving while helping save lives.”

Alcohol is involved in 40% of traffic crash fatalities resulting in 17,013 fatalities and injuring an estimated 275,000 people annually. Data indicates that well over 50% of impaired driving arrests originate at bars.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021

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2021 Outdoor Dining Opens The decorated passageway at the west side of The Playwright, which leads back to their outdoor patio area, is now open for dining and drinking guests. This is among the first outdoor dining facilities to open along Broadway. South Boston Online wishes The Playwright (very) well. It has been a long and difficult twelve-month period for them during the COVID-19/ Coronavirus pandemic.

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

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

THE PRINT EDITION

THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021