SBOL_04_2021

THE PRINT EDITION

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74

Easter Is A Season Of Hope, Prayer And Reflection

By Ray Flynn, Former Mayor of Boston and U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican

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aster Week has always had a special meaning for me and for many others I’m sure, but no matter how you celebrate the day, just about everybody that I know has had a special memory of the days leading up to Easter Sunday, and the holiday itself. I love to listen to people’s experiences of Easter in their lives, however they may celebrate the occasion.

I also had the unique opportunity and honor to participate in several worldwide observances of Easter Week over the years, from being with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican as he washed the feet of the poor, being with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in ravaged

war-torn Yugoslavia, to serving food to the homeless with Mother Teresa in a slum soup kitchen in India, to attending the Easter Rising Mass at St. James Church in Chinatown in Boston with my grandfather’s Irish colleagues and other immigrants to commemorate Ireland’s struggle for freedom amid persecution of Catholics.

But the tradition of Catholics visiting seven Catholic churches on Holy Thursday to pray is one that many of us, I’m sure, think about often. In those days, we not only often walked to churches in South Boston that day, but also to several churches in neighborhoods like Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury and the South End. This is when I probably got to know the neighborhoods of Boston so well, and even some of its families.

One Holy Thursday that stands out for me took place at Continued on Page 2

Happpy Easter

The Sixth Grade class at South Boston Catholic Academy decided to give back this Easter. They wanted to participate in something larger than their class and decided to make 27 Easter baskets for Saint Monica’s Parish. Some of the supplies were donated by the children’s parents. They will deliver them to Saint Monica’s in the hopes that they have an amazing Easter this year.

More Photos on Page 10 & 11

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THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

Continued from Page 1

Easter St. Patrick’s Church on Dudley Street in Roxbury. Approaching Police Station 9 across the street from the church, I noticed a group of people talking, two of them Catholic nuns. They were having a friendly conversation about family and neighborhood. We stopped to listen. I couldn’t identify anybody at the time, but I later learned that one of the group was area State Rep. Benjie Klebanow, originally

from Russia, who lived near the church, as did former Boston Mayor James Michael Curley. Also there, a rabbi from a synagogue up the street, a police officer and a baker from a Jewish bakery on Blue Hill Avenue and a couple of Black residents. It’s there that I learned the fascination of people of diverse backgrounds living and working together. Jewish people, Blacks, Cape Verdean, Polish and Irish.

That day kind of summed up for me what made Boston special

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— the diversity of its residents, not just the city’s great colleges and universities, its big downtown office buildings or its fancy and trendy restaurants. I listened to the conversation go on for awhile but soon it broke up. I walked across the street to St. Pat’s to say a few prayers for my dad in the hospital, my lifelong friend Gerry from the Southie Boys Club with polio and my Uncle Billy fighting in the war in Korea.

I think we visited 20

churches that year and I’m happy to say that many of our prayers were answered.

You can bet that’s where I’ll be this Holy Thursday and I hope you’ll be there too. Believe me, it matters and it can make a big difference in your life too.

A nd remember, “Easter is the Season of Hope.” As I often heard my legendary coach Joe Mullaney advise us in a challenging time in the game, “Go for it, you can do it.”

Vietnam Veterans Day, 2021

by Rick Winterson

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n Thursday and Friday, March 29-30 in 1973, the last American troops were withdrawn from Vietnam. Many prisoners of war held in North Vietnam also arrived back on American soil. One year later, then President Nixon designated March 29, 1974, as the first Vietnam Veterans Day. Many states chose to observe March 30 as a “Welcome Home” Vietnam Veterans Day. Last Tuesday, March 30, was

a breezy, sunny spring day in South Boston. It was also the 46th “Welcome Home” Vietnam Veterans Day. The Vietnam Memorial in Medal of Honor Park at M Street and East Broadway, now freshly turfed, had already been decorated with laurel and fern wreaths.

At 1 p.m., a vivid floral wreath from the City of Boston was laid on the Memorial’s plinth by Rob Santiago, the City’s Veterans’ Services Commissioner.

City Councilor Michael Flaherty and Tom Lyons, local veterans affairs activist, were both on hand. The Vietnam veterans in attendance assembled and saluted the commemoration.

City Councilor-at-Large Michael Flaherty, City of Boston Veterans’ Services Commissioner Rob Santiago, and veterans activist Tom Lyons by the City’s wreath.

South Boston’s Vietnam Memorial, newly turfed and breezeblown last Tuesday, “Welcome Home” Vietnam Veterans Day.

South Boston’s Vietnam veterans salute the emplacing of the City of Boston’s memorial wreath on the Vietnam Memorial in Medal of Honor Park.

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THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

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Medal of Honor Day, 2021

by Rick Winterson

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hursday, March 25, was the 2021 National Medal of Honor Day. At 11:30 a.m. on that day, military veterans, elected officials, and residents of South Boston attended a solemn wreath-laying observance, held in our own Medal of Honor Park at M and East Broadway. Participants gathered in front of the South Boston Vietnam Memorial, the first one in the nation, which commemorates the 25 local military men who gave their lives during the Vietnam War. In attendance were Thomas Hudner, son of the late Medal of Honor Recipient Thomas Hudner, and Paul Monti, father of the late Recipient Jared Monti. Medal of Honor Recipient Ryan Pitts, also from Massachusetts, was unable to attend the ceremony but sent his good wishes.

Medal of Honor Day salutes and recognizes every Recipient of the Medal of Honor – America’s highest military honor that was established in 1861. On March 25, 1863, then Secretary of War Edwin Stanton presented six Army soldiers with the very first Medals of Honor for their bravery during a Civil War raid. In 1990, during George H. W. Bush’s Presidency, Congress designated that March 25 date as National Medal of Honor Day. Tom Lyons is currently heading up the Committee preparing for the Medal of Honor Society’s Convention in September. He called for the Medal of Honor flag (white stars on a sky-blue

Elected officials – Sen. Nick Collins, Councilor Ed Flynn, Rep. David Biele, Congressman Stephen Lynch, and newly sworn Mayor Janey with Tom Lyons (r.), USMC and veterans affairs activist. field) to be raised, and then opened the ceremony’s speaking program. Lyons mentioned that a movie is being made about the actions Thomas Hudner took in an attempted rescue of his wing man, Jesse Brown, whose fighter aircraft had gone down in Korea.

Local Medal of Honor Recipient Capt.

Thomas G. Kelley (USN, Ret.) capably keynoted the speaking program with his usual humility and good words.

Gov. Baker’s remarks concerning Medal of Honor Recipients followed.

He said he was really anticipating the Medal of Honor Society’s Convention in the fall. Kim Janey, Boston’s newly appointed Mayor, expressed her gratitude to all Medal of Honor Recipients for their bravery. She spoke of the military members in her family and her commitment to veterans. Congressman Stephen Lynch commended those in attendance for taking part with such warmth, and thanked Tom Lyons’ Committee for hosting the Medal of

Honor Society Convention, September 7 through 11 – an unprecedented fourth time the Convention will take place here in Boston. Lyons closed by mentioning that September will also be the month of our Vietnam Memorial’s 40th Anniversary. “Join us at its rededication,” he requested.

A cadre of veterans and officials then emplaced two wreaths at the Medal

of Honor obelisk by the side of the Vietnam Memorial, as Kevin Conroy rendered “America the Beautiful” on the pipes. Afterwards, in a nice touch, Mayor Kim Janey took the time to visit a few of South Boston’s many small businesses. It was the first time she had officially visited South Boston as Mayor; her stops included American Provisions and Deja Brew on East Broadway.

Harold's Barber Shop Est. 1970

After 50 years, I will be retiring as of March 31st I have made several great friends and have many memories that I will treasure forever. It has been my utmost pleasure to be part of the Southie Community. It certainly has been quite a journey and I have enjoyed seeing Southie transition over the years. I will miss you all as I start the next chapter in my life.

Capt. Thomas Kelley, USN (Ret.) and Medal of Honor recipient, at the

wreath-laying.

Thank you for everything Harold

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THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

Barber Stop

Harold Amato Closes L Street Shop, Enters Retirement

Arnold Gatto has been getting his hair cut by Harold Amato for at least 20 years. “I like doing business with people in Southie,” Arnold said. “That’s what keeps Southie Southie.” Arnold called Harold a pretty sharp guy. “It’s great he’s retiring,” Arnold said.

“He’s got his time in. We’re going to miss him.”

By Ginger DeShaney

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fter 50 years at the helm of Harold’s Barber Shop, Harold Amato has hung up his scissors.

This old-school Southie landmark at 87 L Street closed its doors on March 31. In a farewell ad to his customers, Harold wrote, “I have made several great friends and have many memories that I will treasure forever. It has been my utmost pleasure to be part of the Southie community ... I will miss you all as I start the next chapter in my life.”

Harold, 77, of Marlborough, was the only barber in his shop for those 50 years. He never sat around; he was always on the go, which would explain how he could manage several customers at once.

He had tried other jobs as a young man, but none of them stuck. “I kind of liked cutting hair,” he said. “So I went that route.”

After getting his barber’s license, he started working for Mario’s Barber Shop. When Mario left the business, Harold bought it from him.

The chairs, the mirrors, and even the cash register are as old as Harold’s business.

He’s had quite a few customers

who have been with him since the beginning. “One by one they are passing away or moving south,” he said.

Harold estimates he probably had a thousand regular customers, including former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn.

Mike Siaba, Harold’s brotherin-law, is one of the regulars. “I haven’t paid for a haircut in 30 years,” he laughed. “Some of the regular clientele, just like me, have been coming here their whole lives. They come in with their kids. It’s generations of people.”

The regulars have a connection here. “It hasn’t changed a whole lot. It’s an old-school kind of place,” Mike said.

People used to come by to just hang out. They’d maybe have a shot of whiskey, get some candy, shoot the breeze. But that changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harold’s business had been doing really well until COVID hit.

“Last year was disastrous,” he said.

When Harold opened back up after the height of COVID, people had to call to make an appointment. Up until the pandemic, people just walked in.

In retirement, Harold has lots to do. He’s got a boat, sports cars, pets.

“I’m excited,” Denise Siaba said about her brother’s retirement. “It’s been a long time driving in and out of Boston. He needs to enjoy himself.”

But he will miss the shop he’s called home for half a century.

“I met a lot of characters,” Harold said, including “Bulger and the rest of them.” Yes, Whitey had been a customer.

“I didn’t cut his hair too many times.

He was on the run,” Harold joked.

“I’ll miss some of the jokes, some of the talk,” he said, noting guys open up to him while they are in the chair. “I give advice sometimes.”

Denise likened him to a psychologist. Tom Crowley, who has been a customer for 30 years, said this about Harold: “He’s a very special guy.

For years and years he would stay open late once a month on a Thursday night to cut my hair and we would have a slice of pizza together. Sometimes work and family can get stressful. I work in the stock market, which is ultra stressful. Those haircuts were more like therapeutic sessions for me.”

Andrew Siaba gets his hair cut by Harold Amato.

Harold said he’ll also miss the gossip, the guys, the neighborhood.

And the dogs … Harold always had dog treats at the ready.

But he will still be in touch with some of his regulars during retirement.

He will make house calls to some of his older customers to cut their hair. He’s done that regularly if a customer was ill or had difficulty getting to the shop.

That’s just who Harold is: personable, caring, funny, customer-oriented.

But he’s also got a devilish side to him.

“My dad [Vinny] also goes to Harold and he’s very close with him as well,” Tom recounted. “About 20 years ago I wrote ‘free haircuts for life’

in a birthday card for my dad. From that point forward every time I paid for my haircut I’d pay for his. Harold got a real kick out of this and used to tease me about it till one day I confided in him I never thought my dad would live this long, meaning I would have to continue to pay for these haircuts. So Harold, being the troublemaker that he is, went back and told my father what I said about him and the free haircuts and that I didn’t think he’d live this long. My dad didn’t speak to me for a month and Harold loved every minute of it. LOL.” There are likely a thousand stories just like this starring Harold the barber. He leaves an indelible legacy on this neighborhood.

Mohmmed Forkan of Cafe Mamtaz is one of Harold Amato’s last customers on his last day at the barber shop.

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THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

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A Truly Balanced Breakfast This event was something you’d call “A Real Breakfast”! The event was the Peace Breakfast which took place at St. Monica Church on Saturday, the 27th – the last Lenten Saturday in the 2021 Easter Season. Organized by the Good Samaritan Ministry (“Go and do likewise!”) and produced by Monica’s Kitchen, Saturday’s Peace Breakfast not only provided a take-out meal, but also gave out Easter gifts for the kids, as well as offering to say a prayer for you at St. Monica’s Good Samaritan Ministry Prayer Corner. By now you certainly realize that the event was a complete breakfast. Really complete!

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THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

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Cakes with a Kick Riley’s Drunk Kitchen Bakes with Spirits and Love

By Ginger DeShaney You can have your cake … and drink it, too. Wait, what?

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hanks to R iley Mahan’s creativity and f lavor-making skills, you can buy cakes, cupcakes, and macarons made with spirits ... and love. Welcome to Riley’s Drunk Kitchen.

Her cake flavors include:

Rose Riesling Prosecco Espresso martini (Bailey’s, coffee, and espresso) Coconut rum Mudslide (Bailey’s and Kahlua) Margarita Bourbon and caramel Chocolate and Guinness

Frosting choices include: Limoncello Bailey’s Aperol Rum chata Kahlua

You can also get booze-less cake

(chocolate, vanilla, funfetti, lemon, and Oreo), cupcakes, and macarons.

All of her cookies are booze-less.

Riley’s Drunk Kitchen was born out of quarantine and boredom.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Riley has been working from home full time as a program manager for DanaFarber Cancer Institute’s pediatric clinic. When she wasn’t working, “The boredom set in. I needed a hobby,” she said.

She saw so many posts about people baking bread. “What can I do that’s different,” she thought. She bought her first Kitchen Aid and tried to bake a cake. “I can do that,” she said, noting her grandmother was quite the baker.

Riley, 28, had never baked before.

“I don’t even like sweets,” she said.

Riley’s first foray into baking for others was for a fundraiser. Her boyfriend, Tom Garland, is bar manager at Fat Baby. At the time, everyone was trying to come up with fun and creative ways to raise money. Fat Baby was doing takeout through the window. Riley had the idea of making cupcakes to raise money for the restaurant staff through the window.

She baked cupcakes based on the flavors of Fat Baby cocktails. “From there, I was like, well, I can just put booze right into it. So I started making cupcakes that had booze baked right into them ... in the cake, in the frosting.”

Over four weekends -- where she sold out three of the four weekends -- she helped raise $1,100 for the staff at Fat Baby.

“It was a cool way for me to contribute,” she said.

She started an Instagram account called @RileysDrunkKitchen and posted photos of her creations. “I started my Instagram out of fun; I wasn’t trying to start a business out of it. But people started DM’ing me: ‘Hey, can you make me a cake?’ ” Riley’s Drunk Kitchen “became a thing” in June 2020. “It’s been a crazy little start to this business,” she said.

Riley finds basic recipes and then subs out ingredients and adds the booze.

She has a real knack for knowing what will work. “I ran into some luck with it,” she said.

Her most popular flavors are espresso martini, a chocolate cake with a full cup of Bailey’s topped with a Bailey’s

Riley Mahans buttercream frosting, and prosecco, which is a white, fluffy cake. “The prosecco makes the cake really airy and light,” she said.

While she has a menu of flavors, she’ll also do custom orders. “Any time someone texts me, ‘Have you ever done a cake with this?’ I’ll say, ‘No, let’s do it.’ I’m always trying new things.”

Riley had a Valentine’s Day Special where people preordered a Valentine’s Day box that included cupcakes, macarons, and cookies. She made 45 boxes or so. “That was really cool,” she said. “That was a huge weekend for me.”

She’s also working on a collaboration with a local florist.

Riley does all her baking in her small Southie kitchen. There’s not a lot of counter space and the ceiling is slanted (her apartment is in what used to be an attic). “But I make it work,” she said.

While working full time during the day, Riley often bakes late into the night, sometimes as late as 3 a.m. And always by her side is her 6-month-old Dalmatian, Fowler (named after golfer Rickie Fowler).

“He is constantly in the kitchen when I bake,” she said. “He likes to keep me on my toes when I’m baking. He’s by my side 24/7.”

Tom is her official taste tester and helps with the dishes.

Riley counts herself lucky to have been able to work from home for the past year. But how does she handle her regular job and her side hustle?

“I’m basically not sleeping sometimes

or waking up early to do that,” she said. “But it’s worth it. It’s been really fun to do this. I’m more than happy to go a couple hours without sleep.”

For the most part, people DM Riley on Instagram or email her with their orders. She doesn’t have a website but she gets plenty of orders through Instagram. When people place orders, they usually come to her to pick them up.

In her free time, she’ll bake up batches of her sweets and drop them off at Loco or Fat Baby or Lincoln to give people something yummy, a surprise.

“Everyone loves a little treat,” she said.

“This community has done a lot for me,” Riley said about giving back. She used to waitress at Lincoln and has made a lot of great friends here. “I’m thankful to live here.

Whatever way I can help, I want to help.”

To get in touch with Riley: Email: rileysdrunkkitchen@ gmail.com Instagram: @ RileysDrunkKitchen

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THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

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April Fools’ Day (or All Fools Day, if you wish)

by Rick Winterson

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veryone knows about April Fools’ Day, which falls upon April 1 each year and is celebrated worldwide.

Except only for Odessa, a millionperson city in the Ukraine, April Fools’ Day isn’t a holiday off at all.

It’s simply an ordinary workday or weekend day for (mostly) corny jokes and pranks of all kinds – the kind that are frequently more irritating than funny.

Whatever baggage April Fools’ Day possesses, it’s practiced by almost everyone everywhere in the world nowadays.

So where on Earth did it come from originally, and when in human history did it ever, ever begin???

There are many stories about the beginning of April Fool’s Day. They go as far back as Noah and his Ark. You may recall that Noah sent out a raven and three doves to see if any dry land had reappeared,

after 40 days and nights of the intensely rainy weather that had caused the Flood finally cleared up. The first of those three doves, reputed to have been sent off to find land by Noah on April 1, quickly returned. The poor bird had fallen for the very first April Fools’ Day joke: There was no land yet; the Black Sea still stretched from horizon to horizon.

More believably, some say that April Fool’s Day goes back to Ancient Roman times. Now the Romans at that time were well-versed in the use of sundials, including putting marks on the sundials so they could determine the date when daylight and night time lasted equally as long – in other words, the at Vernal Equinox on the First Day of Spring. Nowadays, that usually falls on March 20 (more about that date later on). In Roman days, spring led to pop-up spring parties in the streets of old Rome,

along with much merriment.

The Zodiac Sign of Aries (the ram) in astrology kicks off the astrological year, which starts in spring. Aries goes from March 21 until April 19, and that interval is a kind of “New Year”. That feeling of a new year is reinforced by better weather and by the sowing and planting of farm land once again. Joking, laughable events, and the playing of pranks could certainly be excused after a long hard winter spent mostly indoors.

In Holland, the Dutch insist that April Fools’ Day is their invention, commemorating their victory of Brielle over the Spanish Duke of Toledo, after the Duke foolishly lost his glasses in the battle. Scandinavian countries publish one totally false story in each of their newspapers on April 1 (find it if you can). Some of the April Fools’ Day jokes are actually quite clever. In 1698, various town criers in England announced that

there would be a “washing of the lions” at the Tower of London on April 1. Did you guess that there really wasn’t any such event? And much more recently, about 50 years ago, an April 1 BBC broadcast in England entitled “Swiss Spaghetti Harvest” showed Swiss farmers picking ripe spaghetti (already cooked) from trees they called “spaghetti plants”. BBC received hundreds of requests from home gardeners about where they could buy some of those plants.

More realistically, April Fool’s Day likely comes from the change to the Gregorian calendar in the 1700s, after centuries of using the Julian calendar. That caused the loss of several days from the old to the new calendar, which would make the first day of spring jump from March 20 (on the old) to March 31 (on the new). After that, the brand new April 1 became a joke. It still is! So have a Happy April 1!

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THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

City Councilor At-Large Flaherty Holds Community Preservation Committee Hearing to Review $24.3 Million in CPA Funding Councilor Flaherty, as Chair of the City Council’s Committee on the Community Preservation Act, led the hearing to review and approve the Mayor’s recommendations

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ast week, Boston City C ou nci lor At-L a rge Michael F. Flaherty, Chair of the Council’s Committee on the Community Preservation Act, held a hearing to review and recommend passage of the appropriation of over $25,500,000 in FY21 Community Preservation Fund revenues. The City of Boston’s Community Preservation Committee recommended these funds be used to support 67 projects across the city. This year, over $13M will be used to support affordable

housing projects; over $5M for historic preservation projects; and over $6M for projects focused on the creation and preservation of recreational use and open space projects.

Following a very productive virtual hearing on Thursday March 25th with testimony from project advocates, neighborhood leaders, and representatives from the City of Boston, Councilor Fla hert y will recommend passage of all 67 projects at the amounts designated.

“Holding these hearings is one of the most rewarding parts of my job,” said Councilor Flaherty. “I get to see the fruits of the labor of so many who worked alongside me to get the Community Preservation Act passed in Boston, and we see how many fantastic organizations are doing top qualit y work to make Boston a better place. I am

honored to be able to help those org a ni z at ions w it h add it iona l funds to support their goa ls.”

The Community Preservation Fu nd wa s created upon t he adopt ion of t he C om mu nit y Preser vation Act, Massachusetts Genera l Laws Chapter 44B in November 2016. Including this fourth round of funding, over $92 million has been allocated to support 198 projects across the City. To date, 24% of funding has been devoted to 85 open space and recreational use projects, 23% of funding has been devoted to 86 historic preservation projects, and 53% of funding has been used for 27 affordable housing projects.

Councilor Flaherty is proud of the success of this program thus far, having taken a leadership

role in the campaign alongside the Yes for A Better Boston Coa lition for its pa ssa ge by popular vote in the City of Boston in 2016 and as the Chairman of the Cit y Council’s Communit y Preservation Committee since its inception. Many projects from earlier rounds of funding are at or nearing completion and have had a transformative effect on t hei r neig hborhood s a l re ady.

Councilor Fla her t y added t hat “T he progra m is rea lly hitting its stride. The word is out there among our city’s nonprof it groups that this funding is available, the Committee has a top-level staff who can help you in your application, and that these funds can really make a dif ference in the communit y.”

Sen. Collins, Rep. Biele Announce State Funding For Marine Park Improvements

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ecently, State Senator Nick Collins, State Representative David Biele and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) announced several grant awards for greenspace improvements to Marine Park in South Boston.

The awards are a part of t he 2021 Pa r t nersh ips Matching Funds Program. The program, administered by DCR, provides vital matching funds for projects that improve or enhance the Commonwealth’s natura l, cu lt u ra l, and recreationa l resources.

“I wa nt to t ha nk our pa r tners in t he Ba ker Administration, at DCR, and in the parks advocacy and nonprof it communit y for their continued commitment to the improvement of our shared greenspaces, playgrounds, and memorials,” said Senator

Nick Collins. “These funds for South Boston will enhance our community spaces in Marine Park for generations to come.”

“These state grants will help improve our community’s use and enjoyment of playgrounds, memoria ls a nd pa rk space in Marine Park,” said Rep. Biele. “Thank you to the Baker Administration and the Department of Conser vation a nd Recre at ion for t he se investments in our community’s green space and to residents for their efforts in submitting proposa l s for c om mu n it ybased projects to work on in partnership with the state.”

The gra nts tota l more than $220,000. A ll projects a re ma na ged by DCR to oversee the implementation of the project with considerable consultation from contributing partners and other stakeholders.

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THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

9

Deja Brew Turned 25 in March

Mayor Janey visits Cathe Walsh at Deja Brew.

by Rick Winterson

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round South Boston, twenty-five years is considered to be a long time. The importance of a quarter century is indicated when we call it a “Silver Anniversary”.

Well, Deja Brew, originally named Cranberry Café when it opened in 1996, struck “Silver” on March 11 of this year. Congratulations.

Deja Brew is one of those family-owned small businesses that continue to mean so much to the South Boston scene. It is now co-owned by the mother-daughter duo we know more familiarly as Cathe and Marissa Walsh. They are experienced in food and food service themselves, and come from an extensive family background in those areas of expertise. Cathe’s father (Marissa’s grand-dad) was a

life-long butcher - his corned beef was to die for, and it was gray of course. Her mother worked for years in Kegler’s Café; Cathe herself spent ten years in food service at the Boston Teacher’s Union Hall. Marissa served on Seapoint’s waitstaff for eight years and became a hostess at The Playwright before joining the Cranberry Café as a bus girl in 2003. At times, the whole Walsh family worked in what was then the Cranberry Café. As Cathe puts it, “I was the owner of the Café, but never the boss.” (South Boston Online wasn’t sure whether she was serious when she said that, or just making an April Fools’ joke).

Anyhow, Deja Brew is a true, familyowned, South Boston enterprise.

If you recall, the 1990s were a time of change and of opportunity.

In particular, East Broadway was transforming itself – stores, restaurants, and businesses were closing, changing their names, and then being reopened or becoming new enterprises.

Numerous construction projects began all over Southie; real estate offices opened all along Broadway. From the beginning, Cranberry Café was more popular than Cathe had ever imagined it would be. It was a boom time for sure. And the success continues – Deja Brew is still booming. Thanks to the East Boston Savings Bank branch next door, they’ll open their outdoor

Deja Brew, 704 E. Broadway

Cathe and Marissa Walsh, co-owners of Deja Brew on East Broadway. seating the week of April 5. Stop by for a sit-down lunch, or if your time is short, use the new “grab n’ go” fridge just inside their door.

A word , or two, or three, or more, about the Deja Brew menu.

Why don’t you try a Breakfast Pizza, on naan bread? Or a “Skinny Mini” – egg whites and turkey bacon? Lunches at Deja Brew include “build-your-own”, with your choices of toppings (Salmon?

Arugula?) piled up on an avocado.

Smoothies (very popular!) with kale and collagen are made to order.

Guacamole is made fresh early every morning. A personal favorite is the Autumn Salad – spinach, walnuts (!), cranberries, feta cheese,

sliced apple (Granny Smith) and grilled chicken. And Deja Brew offers an extensive catering menu for your own get-togethers, too.

By the way, Marissa told us that the name “Deja Brew” was suggested by her niece (we said “family-owned”, didn’t we?). Deja Brew is idiomatic French, of course.

Roughly translated, it means “Coffee, fondly recalled.” And look for the global location on the bright white Deja Brew façade at 704 East Broadway: 42* 20’ 10” N and 71* 02’ 10” W. You’ll never be marooned or lost at sea when you go to Deja Brew. Our newly appointed Mayor of Boston, Kim Janey, found her own way there last Saturday.

Deja Brew’s “gather spot” inside – check the “grab n’ go” fridge to the left.

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THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

South Boston Catholic Academy News Happy Easter from Grade 6 Sixth Grade decided to give back this Easter. We wanted to participate in something larger than our class so we decided to make 27 Easter baskets for Saint Monica›s Parish. We had some of the supplies donated by my parents and then the rest supplied by the children›s parents. We will deliver them to Saint Monica›s in hopes that they have an amazing Easter this year. All of us at South Boston Catholic Academy wish everyone a Blessed and Happy Easter!

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

11

Gate of Heaven and St. Brigid Parishes Easter Mass Schedules

Easter Vigil

Saturday, April 3rd 7:00 p.m. at St. Brigid Church There will NOT be a 6:oo p.m.Mass on Easter Sunday Easter Sunrise Mass on Castle Island is not allowed due to Pandemic – Possibly a later Mass can be celebrated in the Easter Season when restrictions are lifted.

Saint Brigid Church

NEW Easter Sunday Mass Schedule 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Gate of Heaven Church NEW Easter Sunday Mass Schedule 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 Noon

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THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

Some Flamingos Depart by Boat

The 2,000 member pink flamingo flock left South Boston’s Seaport District just two days ago, after countless family photographs were taken in the middle of that sea of pink feathers. Apparently, a small segment of that regimental-sized group left by boat, in a Boston Seaport vessel named “Once Tidal Flats”. Perhaps that’s symbolic of the shorelines where a lot of flamingos gather. Or maybe it’s just another of those April Fools Day jokes.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

Stations of the Cross on Good Friday

An outdoor Stations of the Cross will take place tomorrow on Good Friday. This is an Interfaith observance; everyone is welcome to take part.

The Stations of the Cross will begin at 10:45 on Good Friday morning. Please gather at St. Monica Church at that time (corner of Preble Street at the circle – see photo). The participants in Stations of the Cross will proceed to the Fourth

Virtual Public Meeting

80 West Broadway 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 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:

phone: email:

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

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Presbyterian Church, on to St. Augustine Chapel, and then up to Dorchester Heights Park.

Once again, all are welcome to take part. And please remember to wear your COVID mask. Thanks!

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

13

Councilors Flynn and Bok File Hearing Order Regarding Brookfield Asset Management’s Firing of 52 Workers at the Nine Zero Hotel

C

ouncilors Ed Flynn and Kenzie Bok filed a hearing order at last week’s City Council meeting regarding the recent firing of 52 workers at the Nine Zero Hotel, owned by Brookfield Asset Management. The Boston Retirement Fund has $14 million invested in the Brookfield Asset Management, and this hearing aims to discuss the unraveling situation at the Nine Zero and potential implications Brookfield’s decisions have for the Boston Retirement Fund beneficiaries.

The Nine Zero Hotel is a high end hotel located at 90 Tremont Street in Boston, and on March 22, the hotel informed the Nine Zero workers through their union UNITE HERE Local 26 that it plans on permanently eliminating 52 out of 77 employees.

This termination comes only days after a contract provision running out that guaranteed the right for workers to return with full seniority, which makes this firing even more unconscionable.

Through hospitality jobs, many Black, Brown, and Asian Boston hotel workers have achieved first generational wealth, allowing them to buy a home, raise a family and stay here in the City. In recent months, several hotels have already used the pandemic as an excuse to lay off their workers. With the latest firings from Nine Zero Hotel, it is wholly appropriate to discuss the Boston Retirement Fund’s investments with this hotel’s owner. The Councilors also joined the hotel workers at the picket line in front of the Nine Zero Hotel last week to support their call for the hotel to reverse their decision.

“It is outrageous to use the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to lay off these hard-working hotel employees,” said Councilor Flynn. “It is critical that we support our working families, and not allow companies with huge profits to use the pandemic to lay off workers who rely on their jobs to support their families and put them on a path to the middle class. We will use this hearing to ask Brookfield Asset Management

to explain their decision on firing their employees, and see how this will impact the Boston Retirement Fund.”

“We cannot allow companies to take advantage of this moment to get rid of long-term loyal workers and hire people at worse pay and benefits,” said Councilor Bok. “Hard-working folks in my district, and all over the city, have built a stable life and intergenerational

wealth due to these jobs. There is no recovery from COVID-19 without these workers getting their jobs, seniority, and benefits back. I’m eager for Brookfield Asset Management to come and speak with us, and I’m hopeful they will reverse their decision.”

For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617635-3203 and Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov.

The Law Office of

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

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

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THE PRINT EDITION

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

Happy Easter

from your friends at Rooney Real Estate

700 East Broadway • South Boston • 617-269-1000 • Rooney-Re.com

Call today for a free market Jackie Rooney analysis on your home!

South Boston’s premier real 617-269-1000 estate agent