THE PRINT EDITION
THURSDAY MAY 13, 2021
VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74
Bringing Back Summer Camp
Manufacturing a Good Time Castle Island Brewing Co. Set to Open Southie Location
By Ginger DeShaney
W
ith his Ca st le Isla nd Bre w i n g C o. set to open a new location this summer in South Boston’s Cole-Hersee building, Adam Romanow has come full circle. “I’ve always wanted to be in Southie,” said Romanow, founder and president of the brewing company. “I’ve been living in Southie for 13 years now. I’ve got some histor y w it h t he nei g hb orho o d .” Adam’s grandfather, Allan Romanow, started Romanow Container in Southie, and his great-gra nd fat her, L eo Mayer, started Cole-Hersee.
“I always had the dream of bringing some manufacturing bac k to Sout h B oston,” Adam said. “With a name like Castle Island, it seemed like it would be a great fit.” Adam named his company after his favorite place in the cit y: “I love it there. T hat’s my happy plac e.” Adam started looking for manufacturing space in Southie back in 2011, but he couldn’t find anything that met his needs. He eventually found space in Norwood that checked all the boxes. The 20,000-square-foot Norwood location opened in 2015 and has garnered many awards and “best of ” titles. Castle Island beer is sold in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. “[ Nor wo o d] k i nd of reminds me of South Boston,” Continued on Page 3
Photos courtesy the Edgerley Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club
By Ginger DeShaney Boys & Girls Club Hoping to Bring Back Some Normalcy with Summer Camp
S
taff members at the Edgerley Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club just want kids to have a typical summer camp experience this year. “We’re excited to get back to a little bit of normalcy,” said director of
operations Tim Bothwell. “The staff is excited to get back to the fun aspect … Just having the positive energy of kids in the building and having fun and interacting with one other.” Added Caroline Moreno, membership director, “I would love for them to be able to have fun and be around each other again. So many of our kids have not seen each other and have not seen our staff for over a Continued on Page 4
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SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
May 10 and South Boston
by Rick Winterson
M
ay 10, big deal”. And this year’s May 10 was a Monday, yet, with “back to work at the office” the new pandemic cry over much of Massachusetts! But go back some 246 years ago, to the year of 1775. The date of May 10 that year was a decisive one for South Boston, and indeed, that specific May 10 was a crucial date for the entire f ledgling New World republic that was seeking its independence – the republic that is now called the United States of America. And by the way (not that it makes a lot of difference), May 10 back in 1775 was a Wednesday. Next, staff that May 10 date with a Revolutionary War hero, who was named Ethan Allen and came from what would eventually become Vermont (Vermont is America’s State No. 14, admitted 15 years after the 13 originals declared their independence). Bring along Ethan Allen’s Green Mountain Boys, a militia who were really North A merica’s first guerrilla troops. Then add Col. Benedict Arnold (yes, that Benedict Arnold) along
with a few of Arnold’s troops from Connecticut. Later on, early in 1776, throw in General George Washington and Henry K nox, a.k.a. the bookseller from Boston, and you’ll have all the elements of a really good South Boston story – a story that began on May 10, 1775. Now, Vermont back in 1775 was considered part of the colony of Connecticut. Vermont was located across Lake Champlain from Fort Ticonderoga (“Fort Ti”), which was a secure British fort in upstate New York. Fort Ti anchored the British line of defense stretching from Canada all the way down to New York City. If Fort Ti could not be captured and neutralized, then the 13 colonies seeking independence would be split apart – four colonies trapped in New England, and nine others on their own, from the midAtlantic area down to the south. Ethan A llen had already heard of the Patriot’s Day Battle of Lexington and Concord (“the shot heard ‘round the world”) three weeks before, on April 19, 1775. In Allen’s own words, “(This) thoroughly electrified my mind.” Soon, secret orders
A block print of Ethan Allen at Fort Ticonderoga.
The Dorchester Heights Monument commemorates Evacuation Day. arrived from Connecticut for him to raise his Green Mountain Boys and capture Fort Ti. He readily accepted the mission, even though these orders were ac c ompa n ied by B ened ic t Arnold, a full Colonel at that time. With some difficulty, Allen commandeered private boats to get his Boys over the Lake on the night of May 9, 1775. Of his 250 men, he was able to land 83 in front of Fort Ti. As the sun rose on Wednesday morning, May 10, 1775, they advanced upon Fort Ti and demanded its surrender by giving “three huzzahs”. A misfired pistol led to two minor cuts from a sentry’s bayonet and from Allen’s sword; these were the only combat wounds that occurred. Allen ordered Captain de la Place, the commander of Fort Ti, to surrender, which he immediately did. The Captain ventured from his quarters “with his breeches in his hand”, according to Allen’s later written report. So what about May 10 and South Boston? Well, there were 59 British cannons in Fort Ti that were now under the command of Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys as of
May 10, 1775. These were the very same cannons brought here to South Boston’s Dorchester Heights from Fort Ti by Henry K nox, the book seller from Boston. These cannons severely threatened occupied Boston, forcing the British to evacuate our fair City on March 17, 1776. This was General George Washington’s first victory in the Revolutionary War, for which he got a gold medal from the Second Continental Congress. In the years since then, March 17 has been celebrated as Evacuation Day. The 19011902 Monument on Dorchester Heights commemorates that first key colonial victory. And March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day as well. Just think of the joyous Parade we enjoy, and the fortnight of celebrations before our Parade steps off at 1 p.m. South Boston’s Allied War Veterans Council promises the best St. Patrick ’s/Evacuation Day Parade ever next year. And this entire, 246-yearold story began on May 10, 1775, when Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys captured Fort Ti and its cannons. It almost seems like yesterday!
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
Continued from Page 1
Brewery
he said. “It’s a small, tight-knit community with a lot of people who have lived there their whole lives. It felt a lot like the Southie I came to know and love.” But he always kept his eyes open for a South Boston location. In 2019, he got a call from real estate developer National De velopment, w it h whom he worked on a popup beer garden in the past. National Development bought the ColeHersee building and asked Adam if he’d be interested in opening a brewery there. “I didn’t have to think twice,” Adam said. “It all kind of fit perfectly.” Adam was looking to open the facility in late summer 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to that. In December 2020, construction started again, and Adam is on track to open the brewery at the beginning of July. The South Boston location is 9,000 square feet, with an additional 2,000 square feet outside, where the old parking lot is being turned into a plaza with patio space and outdoor dining. Two large garage doors open up onto the patio area. Castle Island Brewing Co. is permitted for year-round outdoor dining. The brewery has partnered with Lombardo’s of Randolph to provide food, a partnership t h at st a r ted du r i ng t he pandemic at the Nor wood location when the state allowed breweries to reopen if they served food prepared on site. The menu will focus on pizza, more specifically South Shore Style Bar Pizza, which boasts a crackery crust. “There’s an unwritten rule that South Shore Bar Pizza doesn’t make it above the gas tank,” Adam said. “It’s delicious but it’s not pretentious and that perfectly describes what the Castle Island brand is all about,” he said, noting his goal for his breweries is to be inclusive and approachable. Head chef Eric Caron even developed a recipe that uses one
of the Castle Island beers in the crust. “It doesn’t taste like beer but you can smell some of the hops as you’re biting into it,” Adam said. “It’s totally unique. We’re very excited about that.” Pizza is the main food focus, but there will be rotating smaller plates as well as salads. “We don’t see ourselves as a restaurant where you come for a meal, but we want people to be able to get a couple of snacks,” Adam said. Castle Island Brewing Co. will be a great space for the neighborhood, Adam said, noting he’s heard only enthusiasm and support from the community. “We’re not a bar,” he added. “Southie’s got plenty of bars. It’s more of a gathering place.” The Norwood brewery gets lots of young families and Adam expects the same in Southie: “You wouldn’t bring your kids to a bar; that’s kind of socially unacceptable. Bringing them to a brewery is totally commonplace. “It’s not a place where people are coming for a bunch of drinks ... We want it to be for all ages.” In addition to food and a large lineup of beers, the South Boston location will eventually of fer some prog ra m m i ng , from bread ba k ing classes to yoga classes. The plaza will have a bocce court. Adam is applying for permits so the facility can offer TVs and live entertainment. The space will have a small stage for musical groups. There will also be a retail shop where people can buy beer to go, baseball caps, and T-shirts. Customers will be able to see, up close and personal, the brewing in process, without glass or wall barriers. “We want people seeing all the sights, hearing the sounds, and smelling what we’re brewing,” Adam said. “That really creates a much more complete experience. It connects customers with our products.” Onc e all re s t r ic t ion s are lifted and the staff get their feet underneath them, they will offer an event space that holds up to 120 people.
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Adam Romanow The Sout h Boston location is creating 40 jobs, r a ng i ng f rom hospit a l it y, manufacturing, and more, said Adam, who has two partners: head brewer Matt DeLuca and Bill O’Connor, vice president, operations. There will be fulltime and part-time openings. National Development is keeping the exterior shell of the building intact in order to preser ve the manufacturing history of South Boston, “which I think is where some of that Southie grit comes from,” Adam said. “By keeping that alive, I think it’s a nice way to marry the past with the future.” Inside the Castle Island Brewing Co. space, the original steam lines and electrical conduits have been left untouched, “so you can see what this place
was. We tried to preserve as many of those elements as we could” while keeping it new and modern, Adam said. In bet ween t he event space and the front room, or Tap Room, is a small hallway called the Switch Room. ColeHersee manufactured electrical switches and this room pays homage to its history. There will be old photographs showing the manufacturing, switches will be displayed in glass cases, and more. “It will almost be like a miniature museum,” Adam said. “It’s a really nice tip of the cap to the history of the building.” Follow Castle Island Brewing Co.: Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/castleislandbeer Website: https://castleislandbeer.com/ Instagram: @castleislandbeer
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Continued from Page 1
Summer Camp
year now. It’s always good to make new friends and create new bonds with people they haven’t seen or they wouldn’t get a chance to see in school or in the community.” Tim, who has also taken on the role of summer camp director this year as longtime director Anne Gordon is retiring, added: “Part of the summer program is to meet new friends from different parts of the city. It’s always good to make new friends.” Right now, summer camp is limited to 150 kids, which includes 30 spots dedicated to Junior Staff and teens in the Young Leaders Program. The Club already has enrolled 120 kids, 28 of whom are brand new to the Club. Families can still register their children for summer camp, but they will be put on a waiting list as the Club awaits word from the state and the Department of Public Health on camp guidelines. Depending on what the state says, the number of campers could grow and kids would come off the waitlist. “It’s just a waiting game,” Caroline said. “We need to see what the state does and what DPH allows.” Families can register until June 1. Summer camp runs from July 6 to Aug. 20 for ages 6 to 13 and costs $375 for the entire summer. Last summer, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer program was much smaller, with not even 75 kids in the building, said Tim. The Club’s summer camp normally accommodates 300 kids a day. “We’ll base it off how we ran it last year,” Tim said, noting they employed the cohort model. “We had a dry run last summer.” Each cohort will be its own mini
Boys & Girls Club, Tim said. The Club tries to group each cohort by interest. For example, campers who are interested in art will be together in one homebase, campers interested in computers will be together in another homebase, etc. Total square footage of the room, calculated with 3 feet of social distancing, determines the number of kids per homebase, said Caroline. She figures most cohorts will range from 12-15 kids per room. While the cohorts will spend a lot of time in their homebases, they will rotate to different areas of the Club, such as the gym, pool, music room, games room, etc. The cohorts will also utilize the outdoor space around the Club, including the lawn and the outdoor basketball court. “The cohorts don’t mix,” Tim said, noting if there are any COVID-19 outbreaks, the Club can shut down the cohort and not the entire building. “They’ll stay with their cohort all summer long.” Health screenings are done each day and there are staggered drop-
offs and pickups to accommodate social distancing, said Caroline. Campers are served socially distanced breakfast and lunch. The cohorts will have some virtual field trips with Club partners, including the Museum of Fine Arts, which will host virtual art activities. Each homebase is equipped with TVs and computers for Zoom calls/ virtual field trips, art supplies, video games: all the things they’ll need to keep them occupied, said Caroline. Each cohort will have a minimum of two adults as well as two to three Junior Staff and Young Leaders, who are all teenagers. Junior Staff come from organizations such as SuccessLink and other city programs, which pay them. The Club runs the Young Leaders program for 13- and 14-year-olds and they are paid stipends. While camp will look different again this year because of COVID-19, there’s another big change. “[Anne has] been the summer camp director here since I was a child,” said Tim, who was a South Boston Club Kid himself and
attended summer camp. “This will be the first summer I walk through the building in 37 years that Anne won’t be here. It’s going to be a huge loss for us. We’ll miss Anne a lot, but she’s definitely taught a lot of us the ropes.” Tim said the staff is excited to get back into camp planning and implementation. The Club is closed to the kids for two weeks after school ends and before camp starts, Caroline said, so the rooms can be transformed into “camp” spaces and plans and activities are finalized. “It’s always great when you see kids who don’t know each other become best friends by the end of the summer,” Caroline said. “It’s great to see kids creating those bonds and friendships with our staff and with other kids in the Club.” Caroline looks forward to “just getting back to something a little bit more normal and getting the kids to be active. And definitely being able to see them do all the fun things they’ve been missing out on this past year.”
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
THURSDAY MAY 13, 2021
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SPOKE/Medicine Wheel, where “ … the Road Goes Ever on.” by Rick Winterson
H
ere’s an event that will come to you – all the way to you. It’s SPOKE Gallery/Medicine Wheel’s virtual entertainment called “Turning the Wheel”, which will take place entirely on and within your own computer screen. This entertainment happens on Wednesday evening, June 16, from 6 ‘til 7 p.m. (or so). It’ll start with a 30-minute pre-event, beginning at 5:30. You can see (and hear) “Turning the Wheel” via Facebook LIVE, ZOOM, or YouTube. Note that complete instructions for tuning in will follow over the next few weeks. Please watch for these instructions and join us on June 16 – the Turning the Wheel entertainment will cost you nothing – it’s totally, blessedly free. There’ll be many attractions. The “Sunset Kings” will play for you during the 5:30 pre-event mentioned above. Videos will curate various works of art on the move; visits from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will be featured. “Turning the Wheel’s” main event is being produced as you are reading this by Event Planner and Light Designer Michael Wonson, a veteran of local theater. The actual event “Turning the Wheel” will be produced in South Boston, within SPOKE/Medicine Wheel’s facility on Summer Street. Gary Bailey has agreed to present a Welcoming Keynote. Bailey is a noted scholar, who has been named among the 50 most influential black individuals in New England. After his Keynote, a brief Memoriam will follow for Jack Casey, a Medicine Wheel Board member who unexpectedly passed; Karen Mooney, an art therapist active in the Victory Program; and Martha Oldham, an art teacher and Medicine Wheel donor, whose works will be exhibited for sale in the SPOKE Gallery. The high point of the “Turning the Wheel” virtual event will be three awards: Cuong Hoang is the Director of Programs at Mott Philanthropic, a consultancy that works with both
individuals and foundations to increase the impact of their giving. He helps his clients maximize the good effects of their grants. He is a long-time advisor and patron of SPOKE/Medicine Wheel. He’s a graduate of Harvard, who has worked in the Mayor’s office and was the Manager of Performing Arts at the Boston Center for the Arts. L’Merchie Frazier is a Bostonbased visual and performing artist, an educator, and a consultant. Among her many other talents, she’s known for her varied hand-crafted jewelry and especially for her striking quilt series
“Quilted Chronicles”. She has worked with Medicine Wheel for years, and has exhibited in the SPOKE Gallery. Now, she serves as the Director of Education at the Museum of African American History of Boston/Nantucket. Angel Danillo Esturban was named the Valdez Scholar for 2020, a scholarship awarded to young people associated with SPOKE/ Medicine Wheel, and who share their untold stories. He credits Medicine Wheel with giving him the creative space he needs. He says, “I now realize there is so much more to life
than just living it … how to be free, how to be the person I always hid.” And if you’d like to visit a SPOKE/ Medicine Wheel project, just walk up to Thomas Park on the Heights, in back of South Boston High School. You’ll find No Man’s Land, a unique space that is SPOKE/Medicine Wheel’s stunning creation, where “the road goes ever on.” “Turning the Wheel” is a fundraiser. Please consider joining the Eastern Bank Foundation and Amazon as a sponsor of SPOKE/ Medicine Wheel, by making a donation of your own. Thanks.
Sisters Garden of Prayer and Peace Dedicated in thanksgiving to all the religious sisters who have served the South Boston community
Please Join Us for the Dedication and Blessing of the Garden Saturday, May 22 10:00 a.m. St. Monica’s Church 331 Old Colony Ave. On Saturday, May 22 at 10 a.m. we will expand Monica's Kitchen by dedicating an outdoor garden of prayer and peace. It will be a place of serenity and beauty for all. Sisters Garden of Prayer and Peace will be dedicated in thanksgiving for all of the religious sisters who, for generations, have served as true Good Samaritans in South Boston. Their example of humility, hospitality, and devotion are an inspiration and model for our ministry of hope and healing.
Please join us for this celebration!
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SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
WAREHOUSE Experience B/SPOKE’s South Boston Popup Inspires, Energizes
Headshot is Emily Katz, B/ SPOKE Director of Studios
By Ginger DeShaney
E
clectic a r t work and funky lighting provide the perfect high-energ y backdrop for working out at WAREHOUSE at 64 C Street in South Boston. A talented, diverse, and passionate group of artists was given free rein on the walls of B/ SPOKE Studio’s 22,000-squarefoot WAREHOUSE, which offers spin classes, weight training, yoga, personal training, and so much more. “WAREHOUSE embodies our aesthetic, energy, vibe, and culture,” said Emily Katz, B/SPOKE Director of Studios. “We had an opportunity to create and design a new space that feels really authentic to who we are and who we want to be as we continue forward. “Creativity, imagination, and inclusivity are literally painted into our DNA,” Emily continued. “Our walls are oozing with color, passion, and heart.” WAREHOUSE has been open in Southie since November as a popup experience, and will stay
open through at least the summer, said Emily. “We hope to stay in the space even longer if the opportunity is there, and look to have further updates for our community soon.” B/SPOKE has studios in Boston’s Financial District, Wellesley, and Mashpee Commons in Cape Cod, and has been exploring South Boston as another potential location for some time. National Development, the owner of the Cole-Hersee building, allowed B/SPOKE to open WAREHOUSE as a popup experience to see how the activation would go and how the community would respond. “We’ve had an awesome response,” Emily said, noting they’re welcoming new clients every day and already have a strong base of regulars. “We’ve got a WAREHOUSE following,” Emily said. “We’re very grateful. We’re really motivated to create a fitness and wellness hub for Boston, and to continue cultivating a strong community.” When COVID-19 hit, B/SPOKE pivoted to live-streaming classes and launched an on-demand portal. B/ SPOKE rented out its entire fleet of bikes for people to use at home and launched its virtual platforms in tandem -ensuring that the B/SPOKE experience was available any time, anywhere. WAREHOUSE was literally designed for COVID protocol. It has 25-foot-high ceilings, fresh air supply in the rooms, and a facility large enough to hold 37 bikes spaced 14 feet apart. The separate entrances and exits create no two-way traffic. WAREHOUSE staff do temperature checks on clients, everyone wears
masks, and the staff also wear gloves. “It’s safe and spacious,” Emily said, noting there’s a very large (and free) parking lot across the street and easy T access on the Red Line. In addition to its classes, WAREHOUSE holds some special events. It also has fitness partners who come in and host their own classes. “We want to create a platform where other people can have space to do what they love,” Emily said. “It’s a nice way to use our space for something bigger.” Mark Partin and Ryan Olsen founded B/SPOKE Studios on the idea that fitness can be a catalyst for change and with the motto “CREATED TO IMPROVE LIFE.” For Emily, it’s that and so much more. When she first moved here from the Midwest, she was looking for a place to work out, enjoy music, and meet people and found B/SPOKE. “I fell in love with the brand, the music, and the energy. “It’s always been my happy place. You can just be. The energy is wildly contagious. It is a magnetic force of forward progress.” She has been with the company for almost five years, starting as an ambassador, then working at the front desk and as a studio manager, and now she oversees the teams and operations at all the locations. “I really love the B/SPOKE experience through every lens,” she said. “Our team is full of incredible talent and amazing individuals. People who are involved with the studio are doing it for more than a workout and more than a job. It is a lifestyle, it is a network, it is a friendship, it is a community. There’s a lot of love and heart within these walls.”
She said people are able to work through all of life’s challenges at the studio, whether it’s stress, home, work, relationships, and more. “And this bike that goes nowhere, goes everywhere. It’s a form of therapy for many of our clients. You can forget about the outside world ... even just for a moment in time.” “IN MUSIC WE TRUST” is another one of B/SPOKE’s taglines, said Emily. “Music is the great connector of all people as well as our classes. Without music -- and a beat -- we are unable to do what we love to do, which is teach classes, move, sweat, and inspire together.” Speaking of music, clients use Silent Disco headphones at WAREHOUSE. “It’s a way for us to create a strong audio experience,” Emily said. The music and the instructor’s voice are channeled through the headphones and clients can adjust the volume to their comfort level. “Everyone is in their own sphere of music -- so cool!” Emily encourages everyone to check out WAREHOUSE. The cardio, yoga, and strength classes complement each other so nicely, she said. “There’s a little bit of something for everybody,” she said, noting it’s a safe, accessible, open space where everyone can feel comfortable. “We hope that we can become a bigger part of South Boston,” Emily said. “We hope to continue growing this community, and investing in our new Southie home. We’ve had a good start and we would love to build on that.” To follow WAREHOUSE: Instagram: @bspokestudios Website: https://www. bspokestudios.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/bspokestudios
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
Carbon Neutral by 2030 Recently, Eversource (a major supplier of electric power to South Boston subscribers) mailed a statement to its local customers stating that Eversource aims to go “carbon neutral” by 2030 – just under ten years from now. Basically, this simply means that Eversource is promising to release no more net carbon dioxide or methane into our atmosphere. Eliminating these gases will eliminate the global warming they cause, and help reduce the sea level rise and flooding South Boston has experienced over the last few years (and which is getting worse). This will mean two key things to us – a significant increase in electric power supplies from nuclear energy and the need for each of us to conserve the electric power we consume. Of course, this will also be a major challenge for Eversource. We wish them well.
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THURSDAY MAY 13, 2021
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A Small “Thank You” Amazon announced that is donating $1 million to the arts and to various cultural organizations located in and around the City of Boston. Specifically, these funds from Amazon are meant to help the local arts scene here recover from the losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. South Boston is home to four recipients of Amazon’s generosity – the Boston Children’s Museum, the Fort Point Arts Community (FPAC), Artists for Humanity, and Medicine Wheel Productions. South Boston Online has written about each of these cultural organizations several times. We join with many others in South Boston by giving Amazon our own small “Thank You”.
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*APR = Annual Percentage Rate. APR is based on member’s current credit rating. All loans are subject to credit approval. Monthly cost of $14.70 per $1,000 borrowed for 1.88% APR is based upon a credit score of 725+ and maximum term of 72 months. Maximum loan amount is $100,000. New vehicles have 5,000 miles or less. Not available to refinance existing City of Boston Credit Union vehicle loans. Available to refinance existing vehicle loans from other lenders. Other guidelines may apply. APRs are accurate as of the date of printing and subject to change or be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Must be eligible for City of Boston Credit Union membership to apply.
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SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
South Boston Catholic Academy K2C News From Ms. Bourdon, the K2C Teacher...The students in K2C were surprised in early April with a class pet. They received 5 baby caterpillars. They were so excited and observed the caterpillars as they grew bigger and bigger, eventually entering their chrysalides, and then were amazed when they emerged as butterflies. After feeding and nurturing the butterflies for a few days, K2C released the butterflies, on May 6, 2021, into nature. They will miss the butterflies, but were happy to see the butterflies soar and explore the world!
South Boston Sr Babe Ruth Baseball Tryouts Tryouts will take place on Tuesday May 18th and Thursday May 20th at 5:30pm at King Field at Joe Moakley Park. All players aged 16-18 are eligible to play and those who have turned 19 on January 1st of this year or after are also eligible to play. We are hoping the regular season will be able to begin the first week of June. Any player interested in signing up can reach out to Billy Connor at wconnor16@gmail.com.
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THURSDAY MAY 13, 2021
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The Mother’s Day Peace Breakfast by Rick Winterson
T
he Peace Breakfasts provided by Monica’s K itchen are events sponsored by the St. Monica Church and the South Boston/Seaport Catholic Collaborative. These breakfasts were given out last Saturday, so that they wouldn’t interfere with Mother’s Day on Sunday, March 9. But in honor of the coming Mother’s Day, as well as all the loving mothers of South Boston, brightly colored gift bags were also offered with the Breakfasts. An enthusiastic crew of volunteers saw to providing this service from 9 to 11 last Saturday morning. The Peace Breakfast traffic at Monica’s Kitchen was brisk, as it always is. These Breakfasts are events that have been connected with the pandemic – they try to make sure that food is available as needed in South Boston. The gift bags assured that everyone who showed up went away with smiles on their faces. This was a nice touch for Mother’s Day, especially since St. Monica herself is the patron saint of mothers. The story of her life and her devotion to her son, St. Augustine, is an inspiration for all mothers. The Mother’s Day we observe in the U.S. began as a religious observance in 1907, inaugurated
Erin, Mary, Andrew, Matthew, and Matt are in charge of the colorful Mother’s Day gifts at the Peace Breakfast from Monica’s Kitchen. by a woman named Ann Jarvis in her church in West Virginia – the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, W. Va., which is now known as the International Mother’s Day Shrine. Jarvis herself was active in many peaceful causes, one of which was caring for wounded Civil War soldiers – both Union and Confederate military men. She wished to make Mother’s Day an official holiday, and after several years of her efforts, President Woodrow Wilson finally proclaimed officially
Breakfast and Gift are offered on Mother’s Day
in 1914 that the second Sunday in May would become a national holiday in honor of all mothers. There have been traditional celebrations of motherhood for much of recorded history. The Romans celebrated Rhea; the Ancient Greeks had a cult of Cybele. Even nowadays, many of us refer to “Mother Earth” when speaking about our home planet. The Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, is filled with reverent stories about mothers and motherhood. One of the most
emphatic scriptures in praise of mothers is Proverbs 31:10-31, which goes back more than 2,500 years. We have room to quote only a few meaningful excerpts: “Strength and beauty clothe her; her laughter lasts all day.” “Wisdom comes from her mouth; her tongue is always merciful.” “Her children rise to their feet and call her blessed.” Are these quotes oldfashioned? They certainly are! (Didn’t we just say they go back before 500 B.C.?). But oldfashioned or not, they are still true.
Ann and Jordi are at the Monica’s Kitchen Peace Corner.
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SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
Councilor Flynn & Volunteers Organized Successful Signature Drive to be on September Ballot
B
oston City Councilor Ed Flynn is now qualified to be on the September ballot for District 2 Boston City Councilor. City Council candidates need to gather a certain number of certified signatures from their respective districts in order to be qualified to be on the September ballot. Councilor Flynn was officially certified by the Boston Election Department on Monday, as he had submitted the required number of signatures from registered voters in District 2. District 2 includes South Boston & SB Waterfront, Fort Point, South End, Chinatown, Bay Village, Downtown, as well as parts of Back Bay and Beacon Hill. “I’m honored to serve as the District 2 Boston City Councilor. I will continue to work closely with my constituents
on important matters such as housing affordability and stability, public and pedestrian safety, standing up for working families, and addressing quality of life issues,” said Councilor
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Flynn. “I want to thank the volunteers for their work, as well as to the voters who put me on the ballot. I’m committed to working with residents, advocates, and
c o m mu n it y org a niz ations in delivering ser vices a nd resources for District 2.” For more information, please contact info@edforboston.com.
Blossoms on Eighth (Photo by Elaine Fallon)
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Dorchester Street Pumpout/ Cleanup Proceeds
THURSDAY MAY 13, 2021
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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
After last Wednesday evening’s massive water main rupture (a
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
12-inch pipe that can transport thousands of gallons per minute at full flow), crews promptly went to work to make repairs, and then begin pumping out, repairing street damages, and cleaning up the many businesses and homes affected. The break occurred
Maximum Asset Limits 80% AMI 100% AMI $75,000 $100,000 Does not include retirement. Does include Real Estate
underneath Dorchester Street, where it intersects with Eighth. The recovery units shown are working on the premises of Bell’s Market, a shopping mainstay for the surrounding neighborhoods.
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
Equal Housing Opportunity
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THURSDAY MAY 13, 2021
Little League in Full Swing Stop by Evans Field or N Street Field during a spring evening and chances are you’ll catch a South Boston Little League game. This week, South Boston Online caught the Chippewas Athletic Club Indians playing the Metro Energy Athletics on Monday in Majors action and the Dunkin Donuts Mets taking on the Boston Home Inspectors White Sox on Tuesday in Minors action. The games were exciting and the kids were having fun. (PHOTOS BY GINGER DeSHANEY)
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SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THE PRINT EDITION
THURSDAY MAY 13, 2021
Are you considering selling your ho1ne or condo? Real Estate is Thriving in South Boston Knovv the True Value of Your Home Today With a Free Market Analysis Q
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