THE PRINT EDITION
THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021
VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74
Neighborhood Pride Volunteers Take Out the Trash on East First Street By Ginger DeShaney
M
ore than 50 volunteers descended upon East 1st Street Saturday to pick up trash and beautify the area. “It’s people coming together with pride for the neighborhood,” said former Mayor Ray Flynn, who along with his wife, Cathy, stopped by Eversource Park at 500 East 1st St. for the event. In a collaboration of the Friends of NoB (North of Broadway), the Friends of the Boston Harborwalk, and Eversource, the area between Summer Street and West 1st was cleaned up during the Harborwalk Park Cleanup, done in conjunction with Earth Day. Ray and Cathy are no strangers to working with neighborhood residents. “I’m so proud of these neighbors,” Ray said. “All these neighbors, they are so committed to
The Flynn Family and Eversource personnel joined volunteeers to take out the trash at Eversource Park on East 1st Street. Eversource also contributed $1,000 towards the clean-up. this community. It’s a symbol of pride.” Cathy added, ”It’s wonderful.” In the 1980s, Mayor Flynn got the Harborwalk as we know it today started, said Mike Manning, chair of the Friends of the Boston Harborwalk. “He was instrumental in the Harborwalk.” Ray’s goal for the Harborwalk was to connect people and neighborhoods. “The Harborwalk connects to many neighborhoods,” he
said. “It’s one city. We’re all one city. “For people who live in cities, this is a place to look at as an example of pride,” Ray continued. Brian Graves, Brendan Albert, Jim Costello, Kate Gutierrez, and Maria Melone, all residents along East 1st St. and members of the Friends of NoB, saw that the neighborhood could really use a cleanup. Kate and Maria got the word out about the project via email
and connecting with the neighbors. “Who would say no to an Earth Day cleanup project?” Brian said. “What a great project to bring people together. “It’s a testament to the neighborhood caring about the community,” Brian added. “We’re contributing to the quality of the neighborhood we live in.” The Friends of the Boston Continued on page 2
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THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021
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Continued from Page 1
Cleanup
Harborwalk provided the tools, including trash pickers, bags, and gloves. The volunteers collected about 40 bags of trash and recyclables, which the City of Boston hauled away. Local elected officials attended the event to support the effort, including City Councilor Ed Flynn, State Representative David Biele, State Senator Nick Collins, and City Councilor At-Large candidate Erin Murphy. Mayor Kim Janey was scheduled to attend but couldn’t make it. In addition, there were three representatives from the Friends of the Boston Harborwalk; five representatives from Eversource, including Erin Engstrom, Director, Government Affairs, and Mark Rooney, Account Executive; and two representatives from the Pine Street Inn. Condon teacher Cynthia Nieves, who lives on East 1st, was one of the volunteers. She found out about the cleanup day from her neighbors. “There was a desperate need for a cleanup,” she said. Cynthia came across a lot of
Volunteers and elected officials gather for a group shot at Eversource Park. cans, bottles, cigarette butts, and masks in her trash pickup stint. “I saw a lot of cigarette butts. We need to find a way to encourage people to see them as trash” and not something to throw on the ground, she said. Cynthia said the neighbors care about their neighborhood and want to take care of it. “We want our neighborhood to look nice,” she said. Cynthia has two kids who play at the park all the time: “That’s another reason why it’s important to clean it up.” Eversource Park currently
dead ends, but it will soon be connected to the Harborwalk. Brian and his crew were on K Street, which was the worst area. They found several hypodermic needles, which were handled with care, and objects such as bookcases, chairs, and steel pipes. There were also nuisance items such as cigarette butts and dog waste. Erin Burke and her dog Lucy were among the helpers. She heard about the cleanup from an email. She said she’d noticed that people just weren’t picking up after themselves:
“I definitely wanted to help.” She found a lot of broken glass, bottle caps, and those ever-present cigarette butts. Erin said projects like this are very important. “If you take pride in where you live, you’ll want to take care of it,” she said, noting it’s also a way for neighbors to get to know each other. “Southie is one of the smallest neighborhoods, in my opinion, but it’s nice to have a community within the community to do good things and take care of the neighborhood.”
Erin Murphy, who is running for Boston City Council, was out picking up trash and meeting people.
Kate Gutierrez of Friends of NoB, talking with a participant, helped spread the word about the event.
Mike Manning of Friends of the Boston Harborwalk thanked the volunteers for their hard work.
Brendan Albert, Mark Rooney (Eversource), Brian Graves, and Kathleen Dalton (Eversource) haul their trash to the pickup point for the city of Boston to take away.
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THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021
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Congratulations Ray
Dig Washington Village by Rick Winterson It has been a while in coming, but the excavation that actually signals the start in the construction of Washington Village has begun. Environmental remediation machinery (painted green, of course) is chugging away and a large tractor/backhoe excavator went to work last weekend, breaking ground and moving earth on the Village’s site. This is more good news for the Andrew Square neighborhood. The historically named Washington Village is a mixed-use project, which will form an arc around the northeastern border of the Andrew Square neighborhood, extending from the intersection of Dorchester Street and Old Colony and curving over to Dorchester Avenue at
Ray Flynn, Jr., celebrated his Graduation from UMass Boston with his family. Pictured: his Dad, Ray, Sr., Mom, Cathy and Brother Ed.
Damrell. The architectural renderings submitted during the approval phase of this project looked both practical and (very) attractive. Couple the Washington Village project with the comprehensive DOT Labs plan to revitalize the buildings in the angle of Alger Street and Dorchester Avenue. When you think about the impacts of each project, it’s obvious that Andrew Square is going to be transformed. Pretty soon, Andrew Square will become “the place to be” in South Boston. Maybe we’ll see you this summer at the Cannonball Café!
BPDA Income-Restricted Home Ownership Opportunity 33-39 Ward Street, South Boston, MA 02127 www.WardStreetLottery.com 2 Income-Restricted Home Ownership Units # of Units # of Bedrooms AMI Price 1 2 Bedroom 80% $221,900 1 2 Bedroom 80% - 100%* $288,700 *This unit is available to those who earn more than 80% but less than 100% of AMI Maximum Income Limits (set by the BPDA + based on household size + AMI) Household size 80% AMI 100% AMI 1 $66,650 $83,300 2 $76,200 $95,200 3 $85,700 $107,100 4 $95,200 $119,000 5 $102,850 $128,550 6 $110,450 $138,050 Maximum Asset Limits 80% AMI 100% AMI $75,000 $100,000 Does not include retirement. Does include Real Estate To learn more about eligibility + the BPDA screening requirements, please visit: http://www.bostonplans.org/housing/faqs#application-lottery-questions
Applications are available during the application period from:
Monday, May 3, 2021 – Wednesday, May 19, 2021 To request an application online, please visit: www.WardStreetLottery.com To have a hard copy of the application sent to your mailing address, please call: 781-992-5309 After careful consideration and an abundance of caution, the City of Boston has decided to cancel the in-person application distribution period. If you cannot complete the application online, please call us at 781-992-5309, to request that we mail you one and to ask us for any guidance you might need to complete the application. Fully completed + signed applications must be submitted online or postmarked no later than Wednesday, May 19, 2021 Mailed to: Maloney Properties, Inc., Attention: Ward Street Lottery 27 Mica Lane, Wellesley MA 02481 ● ● ● ● ●
Selection by lottery. Asset, Use & Resale Restrictions apply. Preference for Boston Residents. Preference for Households With at least One Person Per Bedroom. Preference for First-Time Homebuyers. Minimum 3% down payment required.
For more information, language assistance, or to make a request for reasonable accommodations, please call Maloney Properties, Inc. at 781-992-5309 US Relay 711 | Email: WardStreet@maloneyproperties.com
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THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
The Community of South Boston by Rick Winterson
L
ast Saturday, Mother Nature treated South Boston to its most nearly perfect day so far this year. Temperatures were in the low 70’s – 74 degrees was the official afternoon max. Most important, the sun shone a brilliant golden yellow all day long. It was a day to walk uninterruptedly around the old hometown. But the day was more than that. The warm sun blessed several activities which not only typify South Boston, but also are good reasons why South Boston is much more than just a neighborhood. Those who know South Boston, especially those who live here, fully realize that it’s really a community: The Community of South Boston! Just after 9 a.m. on Saturday, a stroll down Old Colony brought the writer to the Ironworkers’ Local #7 Hall. The large red sign displayed along the curve on their cast iron (what else?) fence was really eye-catching. It began with a large “Thank You !”, and the rest of it went as follows, “Health Care Workers, First Responders, Supermarket Workers, and so many others who are risking their lives daily to serve us!” It was certainly a well-written sentiment about our many brave essential workers.
Councilor Ed Flynn with Boston Public Health Commission and volunteers – (from l.) Ephraim, Rachel, Cam, John, Councilor Ed, his wife Kristen, and Danika (Cam and Danika are Site Administrators). And inside the Local 7 gate, something even more crucial was going on. A very simple sign by the registration table outside said nothing more complicated than “VACCINATION SITE”. Volunteers, members of Local 7, and folks from Boston’s Public Health Commission had gathered inside the Union Hall to continue Boston’s efforts to vaccinate everyone. Several vaccination stations were set up; preparations had been made to vaccinate upwards of a thousand people that day (yes, 1,000 is the accurate figure). Local 7’s vaccination site made a great day seem even better. Then, a 20-minute walk brought us to West Broadway near B Street, in front of Boston Police Station C-6. In addition to the pleasant sunshine and a pop-up vaccination day, last Saturday was also a day set aside to clean
Kay Walsh (center) with Anna and Langdon White staff the drug drop-off table in front of BPD Station C-6 last Saturday.
out your medicine cabinet and turn in your unused prescription drugs at BPD Station C-6. Kay Walsh was on hand at her table by the Station’s entrance. She had volunteered to personally receive any turned-in drugs; Kay was being assisted when we got there by Anna and Langdon White. Also, please remember there’s a 24-7-365 drug disposal facility inside the Station lobby. These added volunteer ef for ts turned our day’s w a l k a b out i nto a joy. Next we stopped by the Eversource Park across I and First Streets, at the southwestern tip of the Reserved Channel (this was once the badly polluted point where South Boston swimmers used to claim they were “going for an oily”). The efforts of volunteer crews, many from Eversource which in addition to employees participating,
Eversource contributed $1,000 towards the clean-up. Also helping in the clean up efforts “North of Broadway” (NoB) which includes the all-important Harborwalk connector between t he Eversource substation and Summer Street. We just wonder: Will NoB become another one of South Boston’s neighborhood civic organizations? Our enjoyment of the day increased even more, when we saw coverage of yet another effort by volunteers to clean up Moakley Park and Saunders Stadium on Saturday afternoon. A beautiful Saturday had been filled with even more beautiful volunteer efforts all around South Boston. Yes, Saturday provided plenty of proof that South Boston is a true Community: The Community of South Boston. If you need further evidence of “Community”, just look ahead a few months, or even into next year. Early this September, the nation’s Medal of Honor recipients will be gathering in South Boston for the fourth time because of our high regard for veterans. Next year, the South Boston A llied War Veterans Council (the SBAW VC) has promised to put together the most memorable St. Patrick ’s/ Evacuation Day Parade ever held in all of its 100+ year history. So anticipate; cheer yourself up.
Inside Local 7’s hall, where the vaccinating took place on Saturday.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021
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Compass on the Bay Unveils New Resident Art Gallery
Compass on the Bay resident and featured artist Dhia Al Hakim at the reception
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esidents of Compass on the Bay celebrated this week as they officially unveiled the newest addition to their community: an art gallery full of paintings and drawings they created over the past year. For residents and staff of the
Memory Support Assisted Living community, the installation serves as a tool to help destigmatize memory loss and highlight the many joys people living with memory loss continue to experience including creating and appreciating art. Each piece in the gallery was created over the course of the past year and was framed and hung alongside the artist’s name, the title of the work, and the medium used to create the artwork. To celebrate the unveiling of the gallery, the community held a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by an artists’ reception with wine and charcuterie. Since it’s unveiling, residents and associates have enjoyed stopping by the gallery to view the art and talk about how it makes them feel. Studies have shown that creating art is actually a powerful tool for those experiencing memory loss, which can help with managing emotions, fostering self-esteem, and advancing positive change.
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Compass on the Bay resident Barbara Nichols during the unveiling of the gallery
Compass on the Bay resident Barbara Connors enjoying the new art gallery
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THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021
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West Newton Comes to South Boston
Two watercolors by Catherine Owens – “Doors & Windows” (l.) and “Glint”. Be sure to read the inked calligraphy adorning “Doors & Windows”.
by Rick Winterson
T
he Fort Point Arts Community (FPAC) at 300 Summer Street is deservedly known for the many successful exhibits they have held in their basement gallery. As a rule, these have been both striking and enjoyable. FPAC’s most recent exhibit, “(un)confined: The Artists of Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio” has just opened; the nicely named “(un)confined” exhibit is no exception to that rule. Fortyone (41) varied works of art by 17 artists are on display, curated by Liz Shepherd and Rebekah Lord Gardiner, the co-founders of Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio, which is located in West Newton. Shepherd and Gardiner are not only curating, but exhibiting as well – two screentypes by Shepherd called “Dancing with Chairs” and “Marge”; an installation/sculpture by Gardiner called “Balance Due”. Upon entering the exhibit, your eye will be caught by the tall, blue “(un)confined” centerpiece, a deep blue cyanotype on found fabric by Danielle Pratt that she entitled “Natural Histories”. The other artists included in this exhibit are Sandra Cardillo, Alison Darrow, Elissa Freud, Catherine Garnett, Kitty Gormley, Gail Hansen, Sharon Hayes, Suzanne Moseley, Catherine Owens, Molly Paul, Andrew Plaut, Rachel Silber, Dorothea Van Camp, and Debbie Kurlansky Winer. The contrasts and creativity among this many artists are remarkable.
Reviewing an exhibit like “(un) confined” in its totality isn’t possible in what is basically a newspaper article – in other words, a short piece with a few photos. But the word “(un)confined” is an excellent title for this exhibit. It is varied, colorful, and creative; it uses many different printmaking techniques. The exhibiting artists are all skilled craftspeople in addition to their creative talents. Some details made a particular impression on this writer’s perception – the calligraphy that forms the background in Catherine Owens “Doors & Windows” (be sure to read it!); the strength lying within Rebekah Lord Gardiner’s “Balance Due”. And it must be admitted that “Renie’s Beech” by Andrew Plaut brought back childhood memories of climbing up a huge copper beech in this writer’s back yard. Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio has its own fascinating background. Situated in West Newton, it occupies a 6,000 square foot facility. It is equipped for etching, monoprint/ monotype, mixed media, woodblock printing, some kinds of lithography, and silkscreen printing on paper and fabric. The Studio is truly a creative center and a community of artistic colleagues. And it has become a virtual refuge and source of support for its members during the COVID-19 pandemic, via ZOOM, by telephone, and now, by exhibiting. Their current exhibit at FPAC celebrates the artists’ shared experiences along with a better future to come. You can contact co-founders Liz Shepherd or Rebekah Lord Gardiner at 617-842-4010 or info@shepherdmaudsleighstudio.com. The “(un)confined” exhibit is open and free to the public during three weekend days each week until June 3 – at FPAC, 300 Summer Street, Fridays (noon to 6 p.m.), Saturdays (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Sundays (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.). And here’s a suggestion: After spending a weekend hour or two at “(un) confined” in Fort Point, amble over to the Seaport District, visit Trader Joe’s on Thomson Place for groceries, and then stop in for a delicious early supper at GreCo or Wagamama – chicken katsu curry, pork-and-apple bao, and steamed dumplings are recommended.
Rebecca Lord Gardiner, a co-founder of Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio, by her installation: “Balance Due” – hemp, wire, paper thread, waxed linen thread, and metal cleat.
Liz Shepherd, a co-founder of Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio, by her screenprints (from original cyanotypes): “Dancing with Chairs” (l.) and “Marge”.
Three striking hybrid viscosity monoprints by Fort Point’s Dorothea Van Camp.
“Renie’s Beech”, an evocative monoprint of a superbly climbable copper beech tree by Andrew Plaut.
The centerpiece of the “(un) confined” exhibit: “Natural Histories”, a cyanotype on found fabric by Danielle Pratt.
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THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021
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Resolution Filed Recognizing April as the Month of the Military Child Councilors Ed Flynn and Lydia Edwards filed a resolution this week to recognize April as the Month of the Military Child. Designated in 1986 by former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, April honors the sacrif ices that military families make as their family members serve our country, and highlights the experiences and challenges faced by children of those who are serving in the military at home or overseas. There are an estimated 1.2 million military children in the U.S., and they face unique challenges as a result of their parent’s militar y service. On average, military fa milies move ever y t wo to three years, so military children have to frequently
change schools and adapt to new environments, resulting in transition challenges and disruptions in their education. In Massachusetts, the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) addresses key issues encountered by military families, and provides resources in easing transitions for militar y children and ensuring that they are afforded the same opportunities for educ at iona l suc c e s s. On April 15th of ever y year, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) organizes a “Purple Up! For Military Kids” day to encourage communities to wear purple as a visible way to show support and appreciation to military children for their strength and sacrifices.
“Militar y families and militar y children are the indispensable part of our armed services community, and they provide the emotional support that anchors our militar y personnel as they serve our nation,” said Councilor. “I’m grateful for the support and sacrifice of my wife Kristen as well as my children Caroline and Stephen as I was serving overseas. Our military families and children deserve to be recognized for their important role in supporting our troops. I look for ward to passing this resolution so that we can
honor our military children.” “I want to thank Councilor Fly nn for h is c ont inued leadership on veteran’s issues,” said Councilor Edwards. “As the daughter of an Air Force veteran, I know firsthand about the experiences that come with being a child in a military family. I’m looking for ward to adopting this resolution so that we as a City Council can recognize the resilience and strength of military children.” For more information, ple a s e c ont a c t C ou nci lor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov.
BPDA Income-Restricted Rental Opportunity 400 Dorchester Street, South Boston, MA 02127 www.400DorchesterAffordables.com 6 Income-Restricted Rental Units Maximum Income # of Units # of Bedrooms Rent Limit (by AMI)* 1 Studio $1,094 70% 4 1-Bedroom* $1,318 70% 1 1-Bedroom $1,824 100% *Includes one unit built out for persons with mobility impairments, visual impairments and/or who are deaf/hard of hearing
Statement by Ray Flynn on the passing of Fire Commissioner Leo Stapleton
Minimum Income Limits (set by owner + based on # of bedrooms + AMI) Maximum Income Limits (set by the BPDA + based on household size + AMI) Minimum Household # of Bedrooms Yearly 70% AMI 100% AMI size Income*** 1 $58,350 $83,300 Studio $32,820 2 $66,650 $95,200 3 $75,000 $107,100 1 Bedroom (70%) $39,540 4 $83,300 $119,000 5 $90,000 $128,550 1 Bedroom (100%) $54,720 6 $96,650 $138,050 *** Minimum incomes do not apply to households receiving housing assistance such as Section 8, VASH, or MRVP. Applications are available during the application period: Monday, April 26, 2021 – Wednesday, May 12, 2021 To request + complete the application online, please visit: www.400DorchesterAffordables.com To have a hard copy of the application sent to your mailing address, please call: 781-992-5313
Boston lost one of its most respected public officials in the passing of Boston Fire Commissioner Leo Stapleton. Commissioner Stapleton helped build the Boston Fire Department into the finest and most professional fire departments in the country. He replaced and modernized all the equipment and reopened the closed firehouses due to property tax cutting mandate Proposition 2 1/2. When he was appointed fire commissioner, he rehired all the laid off firefighters and appointed hundreds of young dedicated men and women to the BFD to protect the residents of Boston. The response time by firefighters to fires and emergencies became the fastest in Boston history and helped save countless lives and property. I had the honor of appointing Leo Stapleton Boston Fire Commissioner who served our city with professionalism and character.
After careful consideration and an abundance of caution, the City of Boston has decided to cancel the in-person application distribution period. If you cannot complete the application online, please call us at 781-992-5313, to request that we mail you one and to ask us for any guidance you might need to complete the application. Fully completed + signed applications must be submitted online or postmarked no later than Wednesday, May 12, 2021 Mailed to: Maloney Properties, Inc. Attention: 400 Dorchester Lottery 27 Mica Lane, Wellesley MA 02481 ● ● ● ●
Selection by lottery. Asset, Use & Occupancy Restrictions apply. Preference for disabled households for ADA Units. Preference for Boston Residents. Preference for Households with at least one person per bedroom.
For more information, language assistance, or to make a request for reasonable accommodations, please call Maloney Properties, Inc. at 781-992-5313| US Relay 711 | Email: 400Dorchester@maloneyproperties.com
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THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
SBCA April Highlights Thank you to, Ms. Hoisl and her Grade 6 students for guiding us in a special prayer service on Holy Thursday, April 1, 2021! Grade 6 did a wonderful job creating the 14 posters representing the Stations of the Cross and guiding us in praying as we reflected on Jesus’ crucifixion. The Stations of the Cross are commonly found in churches as a series of 14 small icons or images. The Scriptural significance of the Stations of the Cross is to detail the path Jesus walked on his way to the eventual redemption of humanity. Father Robert Casey, the Pastor, and Father
Christopher Boyle, the Parochial Vicar, came and said a special prayer and along with Dr. Helenann Civian, the Principal, wished everyone a Blessed and Happy Easter at this school prayer service. Thank you to Ms. Gibbs and Mrs. Dawson and their students in Grades 4A & B for doing such a terrific job at the Easter Week School Mass and to Ms. Tynan, the Music Teacher, for providing the beautiful music at this Mass! Grades 2, 3 and 4 attended the Easter Week School Mass at St. Brigid on Thursday, April 8, 2021 with Grades 4A
& B leading in the celebration. All the other classes joined in the celebration by accessing the live link of the Mass on the St. Brigid Parish Website while in their individual classrooms. Father Christopher Boyle, was the celebrant at this Mass. Thank you to Ms. Szmurlo, the Art Teacher, for the colorful Easter Art projects she did with the students. This year for their Easter celebration, K1 read the book “Chicks Run Wild” Students then traced circles to create their own crazy baby chicks. In 5th grade, we worked on patterns
and color to create Easter eggs! Thank you to Ms. Brogan, the Physical Education Teacher, for organizing a fun Easter Egg Hunt for the students of South Boston Catholic Academy! Students had a chance to go on an Easter Egg Hunt at M Street Park and had a fun time finding and collecting Easter eggs and then they celebrated their hard work with some Easter candy! New families are welcome to email Mrs. Jamie Brown atj. 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 Catholic Academy.
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THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021
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SOUTH BOSTON 2021 BABE RUTH LEAGUE TRYOUT SCHEDULE (13-16 Years Old) Friday May 7th 5:30 p.m. Saturday May 8th 11:00 a.m. All tryouts will be held on the Babe Ruth League Fields at Moakley Park, which are located by the club house directly across from St. Monica’s Church. Our League is open to all South Boston Residents and surrounding area’s if they do not have a Babe Ruth League Program. If you have any questions, please call Kevin Lally at 617 943-5238. Or email him at lallycompound@aol.com
Everyone Makes a Team Southie Babe Ruth is free Southie Babe Ruth is Free and there is no registration fee or any fundraising activity required to play
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THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
The Blossom Tunnel Spring has been officially here for five weeks, although at times it didn’t seem that it really had arrived. However, even though the Groundhog was correct with his February 2 prediction about six more weeks of winter, spring has finally shown its true face. Lately, many spectacular displays of flowers have been gracing our streets and walkways. One example is the flowering crabapple trees along West Broadway between A and B Streets, which have formed a “tunnel of blossoms” over the sidewalk after spring weather finally made it here. There are many meanings to the command, “Take a Walk” – among these are just going for a pleasant afternoon excursion, or simply enjoying the trees in bloom, as you walk to and from Broadway Station. South Boston Online really believes you should make it a point to walk through the “tunnel of blossoms” while it lasts, with its many thousands of five-petalled white flowers. It’s that time of year.
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Virtual Public Meeting
PLAN: South Boston / Dot Ave Transportation Study #3 Tuesday, May 11 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Zoom Link: bit.ly/3dPI88i Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 161 639 2768
Event Description Please join the BPDA and BTD for an overview of the draft PLAN: South Boston Dorchester Avenue Transportation Plan - a collaboration with the community, other City departments, and state agencies. The 2016 PLAN: South Boston Dorchester Avenue recognized that as the study area changes in land use and density, the transportation network needs to change in order to make it safe and efficient for all modes of transportation—walking, biking, transit, and vehicles. A presentation of the draft Transportation Plan and its recommendations will be followed by Q&A and comments. The draft Transportation Plan will also be available for review and comment prior to and after the meeting at bit.ly/plandotave We invite you to join the BPDA and the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) for this project’s third virtual meeting on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 from 6:00–8:00 PM. Please reach out if you require any interpretation or translation services. Contact: Naoise McDonnell Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4458 | naoise.mcdonnell@boston.gov bostonplans.org
@bostonplans
Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
by Rick Winterson
I
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THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021
The Good News: Technology We Have Now
n doing some research for S out h B o s ton Online during this final week of April, we came across a newspaper headline that read “FEMA Bumps Flood Insurance Rates for First Time in 50 Years”. Fifty years is a long time back, of course – all the way back to 1971, when Richard Nixon was President and we were still enmeshed in Vietnam. Certainly, news of higher insurance rates is not very exciting. But that headline reminded us (again) of globa l warming, which is the obvious source of the polar icecap melting, increased f looding, and major cause of those higher insurance rates. We think global warming is serious, but there’s also a lot of good news. This good news is about the advanced technolog y we humans have d iscovered rec ent ly, much of it right here in America. First of all, electric cars are here; they’re for sale. And we don’t have to depend only upon Tesla for their ongoing de velopment. Most big
automakers are devoting major worldwide resources to electric vehicles of all kinds. You’re aware that gas-driven car engines release immense amounts carbon dioxide - a global warming gas. Well, we now have a technical solution to t hat problem. Next, we have discovered technolog y, a long with the necessary engineering know-how, that produces electricity with solar panels and wind-driven power generators. These two are often lumped together under the category of “renewables”, meaning that they replenish themselves on their own and emit no global warming pollution at all. And there’s further good news: It not only appears that “renewables” could generate as much as one-third of our total energ y needs, but also that they’ll be “cost-competitive” with current sources of electricity. Third, t h e r e ’s the atmospheric penalty we pay to raise farm and ranch animals for their meat and dairy products. Most of us feel that meat and dairy foods are essential to a balanced diet, but like all other animals, farm and ranch animals
emit carbon dioxide and other global warming gases. We know enough to change their diets somewhat, and at least for dairy animals, we can ventilate their quarters in a technically better way. And we know of other, less polluting sources of meat and protein (Chickens? Fish? Certain vegetables?). So we already have some technology that will help us resolve this problem. Fourth and finally, there’s nuclear energy. Unfortunately, t h is energ y sou rc e seem s “mysterious” to many of us, and some of us associate it with nuclear weapons. That simply isn’t true. Properly engineered, this source can supply energy that is entirely non-polluting. In Europe, France’s energy is more than half nuclear; here in the U.S., just over 20% of our energy is nuclear. The technology for inherently safe “Small Modular Reactors” (SMR s) is a lmost fully developed. A nd with
new technologies like robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), we can build nuclear power plants that are reliably safe, i ne x pen sive, a nd remotely controlled. They’ll be highly b ene f ic i a l p ower s ou rc e s. W hy is Sout h Boston Online concerned about global wa rming a nd f uture power sources? That’s easily answered – the borders of South Boston are more than 80% salt water shorelines. In the last 125 years or so, sea levels have already risen about eight inches (8”) due to global warming and icecap melting. A ny more t ha n t hat wou ld incre a se South Boston’s current ocean f looding problems unacceptably. But the (very) good news is that we have almost all the technolog y we need to solve these problems. We hope you had a Happy Earth Day last week. Let’s make 2022 “Earth Year” in South Boston.
Virtual Public Meeting
555 East Broadway Wednesday, May 12
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6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 161 684 9649
Project Description: A new four-story mixed-use building of approximately 22,244 square feet containing fourteen (14) rental apartment units, including two (2) IDP Units, and approximately 3,717 square feet of ground-floor restaurant space, with fourteen (14) garage parking spaces.
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 BostonPlans.org
@BostonPlans
Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THE PRINT EDITION
THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2021
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