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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.