THURSDAY JULY 2, 2026
SOUTH BOSTON ONLINE
VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74
Independence Day 250, July 4, 2026
by Rick Winterson
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n just 48 hours from now, we’ll be right in the middle of our nation’s 250th Birthday. You can begin by celebrating this evening. At 8:45 p.m., plan to view the fireworks in Boston Harbor, which will be easily visible from South Boston’s section of the Harborwalk. And this would be entirely fitting, because in 2026, it has been fifty (50) full years since America’s last m ajor I ndep endenc e Day celebration in 1976. Please spend a few minutes this coming weekend thinking that fact over – especially during this coming Saturday, on July 4 itself. Fifty years ago, Gerald Ford was the President of the USA. He served from 1974 until early in 1977, after Richard Nixon resigned from his own second Presidential term. In other words, back then America and our Constitution both came through a major politica l crisis, which the United States of America had ju st suc c e ssf u l ly ha nd led. And please consider how much has occurred since then. For example, we weathered the 9-11 tragedy in 2001 that involved pirated f lights from Boston’s Logan Airport, in part because of the heroic Americans aboard United Airlines Flight
93. After hearing of the other three 9-11 hijackings, they bravely attacked the hijackers in Flight 93 and prevented further destruction from occurring. In 2008-09, America experienced what’s now called “The Great Recession”, and we got through
that quite successfully. Our economy worked its way out of an unexpected crisis. More recently, U.S. know-how led to a successful vaccine for C OV I D -19, a worldw ide plague. Remarkably, American technolog y de veloped t his
vaccine in less than six months. These happenings strongly indicate just how much we have to be thankful for and should celebrate on July 4, 2026. A fter many challenges over the last 50 years, America still Continued on Page 2
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Continued From Page 1
4th of July lives well! Think about that. Remember that 250 years ago in 1776, America was the first (and only) true democracy the world had ever seen. At that time, Britian, even though it had many elected officials, was a monarchy and was at least partially ruled by its House of Lords. The Franch Revolution in the 1790s failed completely – an Emperor (Napoleon) and several Kings were its eventual results. Germany as we know it today didn’t even exist until 1870. Neither did Italy. And the
world’s quest for true democracies isn’t over. Both Russia and China rejected freedom and turned tota lly communistic during the Twentieth Century.
Pe r h a p s the most i mpor t a nt word s i n t he Declaration of Independence are a good reminder to us all: “We hold these truths to
be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certa in una lienable R ights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Please remember that at that time, South Boston renamed its most important structure “Fort Independence”. If we have to offer you any advice, it would be to ask you to vote this year, both in the General Election on Tuesday, November 3, and especially in the upcoming Primaries. Yes, 2026 is what’s called an “offyear”. But this Saturday, think of July 4 as a kind of “New Year’s Day”. Then please make a New Year’s Resolution to vote in every election this year. South Boston Online is not trying to tell you how to vote. To repeat, we are simply requesting that on July 4, you resolve to vote in every 2026 election. It’s very important! Other than that, we hope that you will not only enjoy the Fourth of July – our 250th Independence Day – but also that you’ll celebrate it. There’ll be a lot going on. We’ve mentioned fireworks tonight. There’ll be an unforgettable Boston Pops Concert on the Esplanade to look forward to on Saturday evening, the 4th, followed by fantastic fireworks. Make Sail Boston on July 11 a part of your celebration plans. Its 2026 event is called “SAIL 250”; it begins with a 40+ ship parade into Boston Harbor. We al have a lot to look forward to. Yes, the Fourth of July date in America certainly has a serious, historic background. But Americans know how to celebrate – really celebrate. So c elebrate du ring t h is weekend. And enjoy a Happy, Happy, Happy Independence Day on the Fourth of July
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Maria Blasi Recieves Commonwealth Heroine Award
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he Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW ) recognized South Boston resident Maria Blasi as a Commonwealth Heroine as part of its 23rd Annual Class of Commonwealth Heroines. Each yea r, t he MCSW partners with state legislators to identif y women who make outstanding contributions in their communities, recognizing their inva luable ef forts and extraordinary acts of service with the Commonwea lth Heroine Award. The Award is presented to women across Massachusetts who have demonst rated a signif icant, positive inf luence in their communities, while acknowledging and honoring these outstanding individuals who utilize their time, abilities, a nd pa ssion to streng t hen a nd i mprove t he qu a l it y of life for their neighbors.
T h i s ye a r’s C l a s s of Heroine s, comprised of 147 women f rom a cro s s Massachusetts, made histor y as the the largest class awarded to d ate by t he MC S W. Individually and collectively, these women are leaders in industr y, business, nonprof it, advocacy, and more, and their work truly makes a difference in their respective communities throughout the Commonwealth. This yea r, Ma ria Bla si w a s nom i n ate d by St ate Representative David Biele for her dedication and service to the South Boston community, its youth organizations, and its families. By day, Maria supports the students, fa milies, a nd faculty of St. Peter Academy— helping children during their formative years while building a supportive and dedicated community within the school and beyond its walls. Outside of school, Ma ria operate s a sm a l l bu si ne s s — Bl a si ’s Kitchen & Bar in Dorchester— while generously supporting c o u nt l e s s progra ms a nd charities across her hometown of South Boston and beyond. “Ever y act of k indness, no matter how small, has the power to change a community,” said Maria Blasi. “I’m honored to receive t his awa rd a nd dedicate it to everyone working to make South Boston better.”
“M a r i a a l w ay s s how s up South Boston,” said Rep. Biele. “She is a steady, genuine presence and supporter of our neighborhood ’s charities and traditions. Maria gives without seeking any recognition in return and her quiet contributions over the years have improved our neighborhood for the better. She gives generously of her time and talents and I was proud to
nominate Maria to receive the Commonwealth Heroine Award in gratitude and in recognition of her steadfast dedication to South Boston and her outstanding support of our neighbors.” For more information on the MCSW and this year’s class of awardees, please visit: ht tps://ma ssc s w. o r g / p r o g r a m s / commonwealth-heroines/
“Happy 4th of July and God bless America”
David Biele State Representative
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THURSDAY JULY 2, 2026
A Tribute to Bill Spain
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Lack of Community Engagement & Public Safety Considerations for 3 a.m. Last Call Dear Mayor Wu and Chairwoman Joyce,
There’s no doubt that Fort Independence on Castle Island is the most long-standing historic monument in South Boston. It is serviced, maintained, and opened to public visitors from everywhere, by the Castle Island Association (the CIA). And after its regular meeting in the Fort last Saturday morning, June 20, the CIA threw a truly memorable celebration that paid tribute to William P. “Bill” Spain.
Story and phots on SBOL facebook page!
Happy Independence Day. We pay Tribute to those who fought for our freedom and future
I’m writing concerning the lack of community engagement and public process on Boston’s adoption of the Massachusetts law extending the last call to 3 a.m. and allowing “outdoor drinking zones” until July 31, 2026. These actions were taken at both the state and local level with a top-down approach that left no opportunity for feedback from the local, taxpaying residents impacted. Although not required at this time, moving forward, I’m asking city officials to provide an opportunity for residents to be heard and respected at a community meeting before decisions are made at the Licensing Board. While Boston has welcomed thousands of visitors across the globe for the World Cup that are supporting many of our establishments, hotels and small businesses, residents in Downtown Boston, Chinatown, the Theater District, Back Bay and Bay Village continue to raise serious concerns on public safety and quality of life issues regarding last call until 3 a.m., as well as the new outdoor drinking zones. Moreover, the Boston Police Department has longstanding issues of understaffing, overstretched resources, forced overtime and looming retirements. Boston Police officers have worked 16 hour days for years. They privately expressed to me that they are overwhelmed with the recent rise in violent crime. Just last night around 11 p.m., there was a triple shooting outside of The Tam in the Theater District, steps away from the Emerson College campus, the Boston Common, and several hotels. In the last couple of weeks alone, there have been shootings in Mattapan, last night’s shootings in both the Theater District and South Boston, and a children’s lemonade stand was robbed at gunpoint. We have to acknowledge that while we need to focus significantly on the retention and recruitment of hundreds of police officers every year, and at the same time we want to host international events, there are unintended consequences and ripple effects for public safety with these decisions. Our neighbors and first responders both deserve a say in public safety and what takes place in their communities. Sincerely,
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn & Family
Ed Flynn Boston City Councilor, U.S. Navy (retired)
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Happy Independence Day! To mark the United States’ 250th anniversary, the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center in the South Boston Waterfront and the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Back Bay will be lit in red, white, and blue from July 2-5. John Barros IN TER IM EXECUTIVE DIR ECTOR
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Independence Day Events Commemorating America’s 250th Anniversary Mayor Michelle Wu announced the City’s 250th Independence Day Celebrations, taking place on Saturday, July 4, as part of Boston’s ongoing commemoration of the nation’s founding and the city’s pivotal role in the American Revolution. “Boston is proud to have led the nation 250 years ago in fighting for independence from tyranny, and the people of Boston today continue to embody this revolutionary spirit,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We are proud to host this year’s special 250th Fourth of July celebrations for Bostonians and families across the country to honor our history and chart the course for our brightest future.”
Event schedule - Saturday, July 4 7:30 a.m. – Parade staging begins at Dartmouth Street and Copley Square 9:00 a.m. – Independence Day Parade steps off from Copley Square 10:00 a.m. – Halt of Honors Ceremony at Old Granary Burying Ground 10:15 a.m. – Reading of the Declaration of Independence from the Old State House Balcony 11:00 a.m. – Independence Day Oration at Faneuil Hall - special guests to be announced
Parade and other celebrations The Independence Day Parade will feature historic organizations, military units, veterans groups, civic organizations, musicians, and community participants as it proceeds from Copley Square through downtown Boston. At 9:00 a.m., the parade will step off promptly from Copley Square. At 10:00 a.m., the parade will pause at the Old Granary Burying Ground for the traditional Halt of Honors ceremony. During the ceremony, Colonel Lee Fife will read biographies of notable patriots and wreaths will be placed at the graves of Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Robert Treat Paine, Peter Faneuil, and Crispus Attucks. At 10:15 a.m., the public is invited to gather outside the Old State House for the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence from the historic balcony. The ceremony will feature a trumpet call, a performance of “God Bless America” by Boston Police Officer Stephen McNulty, remarks from Mayor Wu, and the traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence by the Captain Commanding of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. The reading will conclude with patriotic music performed by the Zarba Military Band. At 11:00 a.m. the annual Independence Day Oration will take place in Faneuil Hall. The program will include musical performances by the Zarba Military Band, remarks from Mayor Michelle Wu, a featured Independence Day Oration, and additional observances honoring the nation’s founding and Boston’s historic contributions to American independence.
Parade route The parade will begin at Copley Square and proceed down Boylston Street, turn left onto Tremont Street, and end at Court Street. A detailed map of the parade route is available at this link.
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THURSDAY JULY 2, 2026
Join us for a fun, free, family-friendly event to celebrate Sail Boston 2026!
MASSPORT COMMUNITY VIEWING EVENT SATURDAY, JULY 11th 9:00am – 3:00pm Massport Marine Terminal Fid Kennedy Avenue, Boston Shuttle Service will be provided free of charge to and from the following locations: SHUTTLE 1: Stop 1 South Boston Catholic Academy 866 E Broadway
Stop 2 South Boston Neighborhood House 136 H Street
SHUTTLE 2: Stop 1 The Laboure Center 275 West Broadway
Stop 2 A Street at Congress Street
Shuttles will run approximately every 30 minutes between 8am–10am Return shuttles leave the MMT beginning at 1pm. Please note that there will be no parking available at the shuttle stop locations. To learn more about Sail Boston 2026, including a list of prohibited items, please scan the QR code.
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Fort Point Channel’s “Floating Wetland” Is Formally Launched by Rick Winterson
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here’s a new presence in the Fort Point C h a n ne l, ne a r the Summer Street Bridge. But before we get into this, please take a look at the growing green “Floating Wetland” in the first photograph. It was launched by the Charles River Conservancy; it’s located in the Charles River Basin on the Cambridge side, to the east of Longfellow Bridge. It can be spotted from the outbound Red Line subway train just beyond Charles Street Station. A Floating Wetland is an anchored enclosure placed upon an actual waterway and filled with live, growing plants. These form a permanent green ecosystem on the waterway’s surface. The concept was invented and developed by Biomatrix Water – a Scottish company. A second Floating Wetland, 1,200 square feet in area, has now been formally launched on South
Boston’s Fort Point Channel near the Eli Lilly building at 15 Necco Street. This took place last Thursday. It involved City of Boston officials, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, Alexandria Real Estate, and Biomatrix Water personnel. The occasion was both successful and festive. It gives us something to look forward to in the future as the plants take root, grow, and mature. The Floating Wetland on the Charles River is in fresh water; Fort Point Channel’s Floating Wetland is in salt water. It’ll be interesting to see how ours develops over the summer The Channel’s Floating Wetland launch event was sponsored by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and its Executive Director Chris Mancini. It was attended by District 3 City Councilor Ed Flynn, who spoke of yet another step in the ongoing development of the South Boston Waterfront. Director Alice Brown spoke environmentally; Allen Huang, the President of New England’s Ohana Dragon Boat Team, gave encouraging remarks.
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Census Shows Decreases in Overall Homelessness, Veteran Homelessness, and Unsheltered Homelessness
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he Office of Housing today released the results of Boston’s 2026 Point-in-Time Homelessness Count, showing continued progress in reducing homelessness citywide. The annual census found a 19 percent decrease in overall homelessness since 2021, including a 31 percent reduction in unsheltered homelessness and a 28 percent decline in veteran homelessness. The findings reflect Boston’s continued investments in permanent supportive housing, homelessness prevention, and pathways to stable housing for residents across the city. The census found that 3,674 people were experiencing homelessness on the night of the count, down from 5,506 in 2025. Boston also maintained one of the lowest rates of unsheltered homelessness among major U.S. cities, with only 3 percent of people experiencing homelessness living unsheltered. There were no unsheltered families identif ied during the count, continuing a milestone Boston has maintained since federal reporting began in 2007. “ B o s t o n’s annual homelessness census is a critical part of our work to understand t he need s of u n sheltered residents, connect individuals to services, and shape investments across housing, prevention, and supportive services,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “W hile cit ie s acros s t he c ou nt r y are facing tough cha llenges
related to housing instability and homelessness, Boston is continuing to move in the right direction by creating housing, st reng t hen i ng pa r t nersh ips, a nd helping more people transition from homelessness i nt o p e r m a ne nt hom e s .” The annual Point-in-Time Count is conducted nationwide a s requ ired by t he U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In Boston, volu nteers c a nva ssed e ver y neighborhood, transit stations, pa rk s, a nd ot her locations across the city while ser vice providers and shelter operators collected data from emergency shelters, transitional housing progra ms, sa fe havens, and domestic violence programs. The findings help guide the City’s homelessness prevention and housing strategies and inform federa l f unding a llocations. “The Point-in-Time Count helps us understand where needs remain, while also showing the progress that is possible through coordinated housing strategies and strong partnerships,” said Sheila A. Dillon, Chief of Housing. “Since 2021, Boston h a s si g n i f ic a nt ly re duc e d unsheltered homelessness and vetera n homelessness while expanding supportive housing opportunities across the city. We remain focused on ensuring every resident has access to stable housing and the services needed to remain housed long-term.” T he 2026 censu s a lso showed a 20 percent decrease i n ve t e r a n home le s s ne s s , continuing a long-term trend t hat ha s reduc ed vetera n homelessness in Boston by more than 55 percent since 2011. The number of unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness de cre a s e d by 2 p erc ent . Boston also saw substantial increases in the number of
people exiting homelessness into permanent housing. These outcomes were supported by i nve st ment s i n per m a nent suppor tive housing a nd affordable housing developments across the city and throughout the state. Since Mayor Wu took office, Boston has created 6 68 perma nent suppor t ive housing units to help residents transitioning out of homelessness access stable housing paired with supportive services. These investments, alongside expanded shelter-to-housing initiatives and coordinated outreach efforts, have contributed to continued d e c l i ne s i n home le s s ne s s even a s ma ny communities nationwide continue to face housing affordability challenges. Under Mayor Michel le Wu’s leadership, Boston has made historic progress toward creating and preserving homes that residents can afford. Since the start of her first term, the City has produced or begun construction on more tha n 18,000 new homes, including thousands of income-restricted
units, and has launched new policies to ma ke it ea sier, faster, and less expensive to build housing across ever y neig hborhood . Mayor Wu ha s d irected record le vels of i nve st ment to pre vent displacement, expand affordable homeownership, and support r e nt e r s a nd home ow ne r s who face housing instability. Through innovative progra ms like the Housing Accelerator Fund, Welcome Home Boston, and the Housing with Public Assets initiative, the City is finding new ways to create housing on public land, convert vacant buildings i nto home s, a nd suppor t residents in building wealth a nd stabilit y. The Mayor’s focus on climate and health has also made Boston a national leader in green and energ yef f icient housing. Together, these efforts are helping to make Boston a city where every resident can have a safe, stable, a nd a f fordable home, a nd where communities can grow stronger for generations to come.
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Congratulations to SBCA’s 6th Grade Graduation Class of 2026 Congratulations to our 6th Grade Students. Your hard work and perseverance has paid off! The prestigious schools our students have been invited to attend for the 2026-2027 School Year include: Archbishop Williams High School, Belmont Hill
School, Boston College High School, Catholic Memorial, Fontbonne Academy, Notre Dame Academy, Malden Catholic School, Quincy Catholic Academy, Roxbury Latin School, St. John’s Preparatory School, St. Sebastian’s School, Ursuline Academy, St.
Columbkille, Xaverian Brothers High School. Awaiting the Boston Public Exam School Acceptances. God’s Blessings and Best Wishes from all of us at South Boston Catholic Academy to all our wonderful 6th Graders and their families as they start a new chapter
in their lives! A “BIG THANK YOU” to their teacher, Mrs. Faith Smith, for all her help, guidance and support with this year’s 6th graders and to all our students, families, teachers, support staff, aides and friends for making it another amazing year here at SBCA!
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THURSDAY JULY 2, 2026
NOTICE AND ORDER: PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN OF A MINOR
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ZONING HEARING The Zoning Commission of the City of Boston hereby gives notice, in accordance with Chapter 665 of the Acts of 1956, as amended, that a virtual public hearing will be held on July 15, 2026, at 9:05 A.M., in connection with a petition to approve the First Amendment to the Master Plan for Planned Development Area No. 128 (“First Amendment”), and a petition to approve the Development Plan for Phase 2 within Planned Development Area No. 128, L Street Station Redevelopment, 776 Summer Street, South Boston (“Development Plan”). The proposed First Amendment modifies the permitted uses of certain Project Components, revises the maximum Gross Floor Area and maximum Building Height of certain Project Components, clarifies the affordable housing commitments, clarifies timing of delivery of certain benefits, and makes certain other changes as set forth therein.
The City of Boston’s Planning Department invites residents to participate in planning that will help shape the future of the City. You can sign up to receive Planning Department emails and learn about opportunities to get involved here: bosplans.org/GetInvolved
The Development Plan for Phase 2 calls for the construction of four (4) new buildings, rehabilitation of an existing turbine building, and development of related parking, infrastructure and structures containing a maximum of 1,025,500 square feet of Gross Floor Area (not including Gross Floor Area allocated to at or above grade parking, which shall not exceed 50,000 square feet) (as more fully described in this Development Plan, the “Phase 2 Project”). The Phase 2 Project is a portion of the project described in the PDA Master Plan, which will contain up to 1,830,000 square feet of Gross Floor Area, of which no more than 1,780,000 square feet may be used for uses other than parking (the “Master Project”). The Phase 2 Project will be located on approximately 6.8 acres (the “Phase 2 Project Site”) within the approximately 15.2-acre parcel of land known as and numbered 776 Summer Street in South Boston (as further described in the PDA Master Plan, the “PDA Master Plan Area”). The Development Plan sets forth certain information on the Phase 2 Project, including the proposed phasing, location and appearance of structures, open spaces and public realm improvements, proposed uses of the area, densities, proposed access and circulation, parking and loading facilities, access to public transportation and proposed dimensions of structures. This meeting will only be held virtually and not in person. You can participate in this meeting by going to https://bosplans.org/ BZC-Jul152026. Copies of the proposed First Amendment and Development Plan may be obtained from the Zoning Commission electronically, and you may also submit written comments or questions to zoningcommission@boston.gov. Interpreting services are available to communicate information at this hearing. If you require interpreting services, please contact the following: zoningcommission@boston.gov or 617-918-4308. The meeting is scheduled for July 15, 2026. Please request interpreting services no later than July 10, 2026. For the Commission Jeffrey M. Hampton Executive Secretary
BostonPlans.org
@BostonPlans
Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary
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THURSDAY JULY 2, 2026
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY FROM ALL OF US AT ROONEY REAL ESTATE
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