SBOL_09_07_2023

A Mass/Cass Update

is what we now call that area.

by Rick Winterson

Actually, Mass/Cass, the supposed haven for drug users in recovery, was first set up by the City of Boston. It has been a problem area for years. Oddly enough, it began in one of the corner parking lots at Boston Medical Center, which is across from the intersection of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue. From that came “Mass and Cass” or “Mass/Cass”, which

Later on, Mass/Cass was moved to the other side of the intersection, down Southampton a block and onto Atkinson Street. And that effectively canceled out the effectiveness of the newly opened Center on the bend in Atkinson, as well as the various clinical drug treatment locations that were once in the general neighborhood. And it’s not that Boston didn’t have a drug problem previously. Both Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have been at the top of the list of individual drug use for many years.

The trigger that first led to our current situation at Mass/Cass was the condemnation of the Long Island Bridge between Moon Island and Long Island itself, nine years ago. Obviously, that meant the treatment facility on Long Island would have to close as well, at least until some other way to get there was found. Simply stated, several hundred patients in recovery were released from Long Island onto the streets of

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Welcome All to our Early Childhood Center!

Many

families

came to our Open House and had a chance to tour the Early Childhood Center and visit their child’s classroom, meet our new Early Childhood Center Director, Mrs. Kara Murphy, as well as, our current and new teachers and aides at the Early Childhood Center. We

all want to say a BIG Welcome to Mrs. Kara Murphy and wish her, all our students, families, teachers and staff a wonderful school year here at the Early Childhood Center and at South Boston Catholic Academy!

Kara Murphy started her teaching career as a prekindergarten teacher at St. Bridget’s during the 20042005 school year. She then got her masters in early childhood

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Mass/Cass

Boston. Many of them continued with their recoveries; many did not. The advantages of being isolated on Long Island quickly became apparent.

Clearly, the best solution to the ongoing drug crisis in Boston is rebuilding the bridge to Long Island. One estimate pegs the cost of rebuilding the bridge at $80 million ($80,000,000). The initial cost of rehabbing the buildings on Long Island, due to their weathering, would be another $30 million ($30,000,000). But this would take around four years to complete before Long Island would be back in business. And Thomas

Koch, the Mayor of Quincy, promises further legal action to prevent this from happening. He claims that traffic to Long Island is a burden for Squantum, and that ferries would be better.

So, given that Mass/Cass has to be shut down for the good of us all, including people in recovery and especially for nearby activities, businesses and residential neighborhoods, what can be quickly done?

The Newmarket Business Improvement District and a residential organization called the South End Forum recently proposed erecting temporary housing for people in recovery on Widett Circle, which is a large unused area about a half-mile from Mass/Cass.

It had been the home of the New Boston Food Market. It is now owned by the MBTA and will eventually be used as a railyard. We saw in Shirley Leung’s recent Globe column about this idea that the cost to house 200 people in recovery is estimated to be $25 million ($25,000,000). Despite Widett Circle’s central location, it is comparatively isolated by major highways and rail tracks. The Widett land amounts to 25 acres or roughly a million square feet. It could perhaps be opened for recovery purposes by next spring – as little as six months from now. This idea might work!

On September 1, we received a copy of a letter written by four members of the Boston City Council, which

was sent to the Boston Public Health Commission. This letter asked the Commission to declare a “State of Emergency” at Mass/Cass, due in particular to significantly increased overdoses and much more criminal violence. Health care providers have left the area because of the onsite danger; nearby activities are also suffering from concerns about their safety. Our copy was sent to us by City Councilor-at-Large Erin Murphy; it was authored and signed by her, Council President Ed Flynn, District 3 Councilor Frank Baker, and Councilor-at-Large Michael Flaherty. We agree there’s “humanitarian crisis” at Mass/Cass. Remedial action is badly needed.

Massport Lends a Hand to Students Returning to School

15th annual Backpack Project benefitted nearly 100 children

Employees at the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) joined together this year to help prepare students in neighboring communities for the upcoming school year. Nearly 100 children at the 21st Century Afterschool Program in Winthrop, Condon Community Center in South Boston, Crossroads Family Center in East Boston, East Boston YMCA and the South Boston Neighborhood House, are starting the school year with new backpacks, new school supplies and new clothes donated by Massport employees through the 15th annual Backpack Project. The Backpack Project is Massport’s annual back-to-school drive aimed at assisting local families in need.

“The annual Backpack Project is always fun and rewarding for Massport employees to participate in,” said Massport Director of Community Relations & Government Affairs Alaina Coppola. “We are grateful for the generosity of our

employees and proud to partner with these organizations to help make a positive impact on local children.”

“Thanks to the support from organizations like Massport, we are able to ensure all of our children are ready for the new school year,” said Barbara Kelly, Condon Community Center.

This year, over 150 Massport employees participated in the Backpack Project by sponsoring children individually or as a group, providing school supplies and new outfit for children, ages 4-17.

Powering What’s Possible.

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) owns and operates Boston Logan International Airport, public terminals in the Port of

Boston, Hanscom Field, and Worcester Regional Airport. For more information, please visit massport.com.

Ward 7 Committee Meeting

to be held at Ironworkers Hall Friday, 9/8

On Friday, September 8th, at 6:00 p.m. the Ward 7 Democratic Committee will meet to discuss the addition of new members, the election of officcers and consider candidate endorsements for the upcoming election.

Alaina Coppola and Audrey Nagle of Massport delivered backpacks to Condon Community Center as part of the Authority’s annual Backpacks Project.

Alaina Coppola and Audrey Nagle of Massport delivered backpacks to South Boston Neighborhood House as part of the Authority’s annual Backpacks Project.

Council President Flynn to Bring all City of Boston Meetings Back in Person

Council President Flynn Schedules Hearing to Bring all City of Boston Meetings Back In-Person with Hybrid Accessibility for Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 2 p.m.

Boston City Council

President Flynn has scheduled a hearing on Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 2 p.m. to discuss bringing all City of Boston Meetings, abutters meetings, City Council committee hearings and related business back in person, with a hybrid option for accessibility and persons with disabilities. The hearing will also discuss bringing back meetings including the City of Boston Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), Licensing Board, Cannabis Board, and Boston Planning and Development Agency Board (BPDA).

This hearing order was filed in June in part to reevaluate the practice of remote-only City of Boston meetings in an effort to return to a sense of normalcy, with the federal government having

announced the end of national and public health emergencies earlier this year. It comes in response to reports of high office vacancies and a slower economic recovery of the Financial District and Downtown Crossing. In addition, business leaders have also expressed serious concerns about the future of the city’s office space, and asked for assistance from local, state, and federal officials to play a key role in helping to bring more workers and foot traffic back Downtown. While foot traffic in Downtown is rebounding, it is rebounding unevenly in different parts of Downtown. Foot traffic in the two zip codes that make up the Financial District is still at 47.8% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, and office vacancies overall are at 20.4%. Reports indicated that the first quarter of the year saw 3.4 million square feet of negative net absorption in office spaces in Boston, marking the fourth consecutive quarter in which companies are putting space back on the market. Conversations

with commercial real estate executives, restaurants, coffee shops, and other small businesses owners in Downtown have also highlighted serious concerns about the future of Downtown.

Resuming City of Boston Board Meetings in person, with a hybrid option for public accessibility and persons with disabilities, would allow for all members of the various city boards, attorneys representing clients, proponents of a particular project, interested members of the public, and City Hall staff to return on site and provide the potential to support our local economy by visiting restaurants, coffee shops, and other businesses. All City Council committee hearings returning in person could possibly have a similar economic effect as well.

“Downtown Boston plays a key role in driving our economy. It wasn’t all that long ago that we all made it a central focus to support our small businesses when we saw the pandemic disrupt our local restaurants, bars, cafes and shops. Once again, local businesses

If you are registered in Boston’s District 3: Please VOTE(!) This Tuesday, September 12

Please take a careful look at the accompanying photograph. It’s a reminder that some of us in South Boston form a vital part of the City of Boston’s District 3. Right under the billboard’s title, “As the People”, is that important word “VOTE!” It has been placed in the upper left-hand corner so it becomes the first thing you read.

In the Primary Municipal Election next Tuesday, the 12th, there are seven District 3 candidates campaigning to replace Councilor Frank Baker. Alphabetically, they are John FitzGerald, Jennifer Johnson, Barry Lawton, Matt Patton, Joel Richards, Ann M. Walsh, and Rosalind Wornum. Your vote District 3 vote next Tuesday is really very important this year. Perhaps this will also serve as a reminder for everyone to vote in the Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 7, for the final slate of City Councilors – both in your District and At-Large. Boston’s City Council is going to have some very important issues to resolve in 2024.

are asking the government to do all that we can to support them, and I think it’s critical that the city continue to examine any and all ways to bring foot traffic back Downtown,” said Council President Flynn. “I want to thank Mayor Wu and her team for their continued efforts on this important issue. I am hoping for a productive conversation as we work to continue to bring foot traffic, business, and vibrancy back onto our streets.”

For more information, please contact Council President Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov.

Women in the Trades: Latisha McQueen

and sometimes you get on a job that you know is going right, and you can feel proud to be part of it. Of all the trades, carpentry was the best because I love beautiful buildings.”

By Carol Masshardt

Carpenter Latisha McQueen, 50, has built a life around her trade, including having a hand in the new Old Colony Development. Both practical and thoughtful, she is as at home in beautiful buildings, including the Boston Public Library, as in construction sites.

“It hasn’t always been easy, but I do love what I do, and it gave me a way to support my son,” she said. “Carpentry in particular means understanding numbers, and math,

Life, beyond work, has had its share of challenges for Latisha, who grew up in Dorchester and graduated from Lexington High School, where she ran on a championship track team. Headed for college she deferred a year. “That was probably a mistake, and it is when things changed, and I had to figure out how to manage,” she said.

Figuring out how to succeed became her goal. Living in transitional situations with her son when in her twenties, she seized the opportunity to join an apprenticeship program, and that became a major part of her life course.

“There weren’t many women in the trades, and it just wasn’t seen as a thing to do, but that is changing a lot. You have to bring a sense of commitment, as in anything to be successful, but it can be difficult if

you’re judged for being a woman, particular a black woman. But, for example, the Dewey Square building had as good a team as you could ask for, was a quality building, and had high expectations. I like that,” she said.

It is easy to imagine Latisha McQueen as a track star. Both determined and a team player, she is acutely aware of her surroundings and oriented toward reaching goals.

“It is always said that the trades provide a good income and retirement, and it is true enough, even though there are periods of being laid off and not the security that some have. But is a brotherhood and sisterhood and that means a lot. When I needed to be home for my son after school, the hours worked. Now, I’m in another part of life and want to support other women coming into the work,” she said.

It could be easy for Latisha McQueen to feel that she was alone with responsibilities, and a complex and demanding work environment not immune from bias. Instead, she is the first to realize that she has had support along the way, particularly from a sisterhood of women who saw her as the dignified, talented woman she is.

“Liz Carpenter was a trailblazer in the trades, and then my people at Metco in Lexington, Betsy Cargill, my houseparent showed up for me and cheered me on. It meant a lot. And my track coach, Lisa George, and counselor, Edna Jones, and then

Karen Blandino, another carpenter, helped with Isiah (son) so I could work. Before all was my Aunt Mary, who taught me that you can go after what you want and get it. She was awesome and my mother also worked hard to keep a roof over our heads,” she said with a list that continues.

Latisha McQueen feels that she is entering a peaceful time of her life. She sees the imperfections in society as well as buildings but looks to the positive and beauty. Her son, a graduate of Newton North, is now well on his way in the Air Force, and her attention, though never far from him, is now on younger woman and men in the trades, and how they can flourish in an equitable environment.

“I found my nucleus with a sisterhood and brotherhood, and if you come in serious about what you want to do and are willing to work hard, it can be a good life,” she said. “Yes, I would recommend it to younger women if they are prepared.”

Latisha is only one proud member of Carpenters Union Local 327, and that is only one of the trades that has members working to build the kind of beautiful places she talks about and visits.

Latisha McQueen has many gifts, and a hammer and nails is only one. She is able to live beyond adversity, appreciate mentors, and realizes the role model she can become. She also loves the City of Boston and has helped shape it in her own persistent and creative style.

Carpenter, Latisha McQueen at one of her favorite Boston buildings , the courtyard of the Boston Public Library .

Latisha McQueen

Artists for Humanity: Their 2023 “Big Summa’ Show”

by Rick Winterson

Artist for Humanity held their “Big Summa’ Show”. All of the exhibited works of art were for sale at reasonable prices. If you are seeking original works of art to adorn your living room walls, or an eye-catching creation to place on that empty coffee table of yours, you might consider getting in touch with Artists for Humanity. Artist for Humanity is one

of South Boston’s many nonprofit organizations. It’s also one of the oldest, and was originally founded in 1991 by Susan Rodgerson, an artist in her own right. The goal of teaching artistic skills to Boston’s students, although simple to state, was difficult to pursue. For many years, Artists for Humanity existed by making studios out of the vacant storage and industrial spaces in and around Fort Point. But Susan was a skilled fundraiser; she was also dedicated to making Artists for Humanity a

permanent part of the South Boston scene. In 2004, their EpiCenter opened at A and Second Streets and it has since been expanded. Susan was succeeded as Executive Director by Anna Yu two years ago. Under Anna’s guidance, the number of Boston student members in Artists for Humanity has grown to more than 300. And for your information, the high school graduation rate of Artists for Humanity’s members is 100%.

A shoulder-to-shoulder audience of several hundred art lovers from

South Boston and from all over Greater Boston showed up at Artists for Humanity’s “Big Summa’ Show”. The artistic media used by the members ranged widely – bas-relief ceramics, still lifes, figure studies, landscapes, cityscapes, impressionistic works, pointillistic paintings, abstract expressionistic works, greeting cards, creative photographs, works fashioned from wood, and even humorous cartoons that could have been used to illustrate graphic novels.

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Welcome Mrs. Murphy

education while raising her three children. After working as a special education preschool teacher for the Melrose Public Schools for 12 years, she is excited for the next chapter with SBCA. New families are welcome to email our admissions team at: admissions@sbcatholicacademy. org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy and our Early Childhood Center.

Virtual Public Meeting

617 Dorchester Ave f/k/a 20 Boston St

September 12, 2023

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Project Proponent:

Mark L it tle

Project Description:

Zoom Link: bit.ly/617DotAve

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 161 861 2374

The information at this meeting is crucial to you as a City of Boston resident, and stakeholder. Interpreting services are available to communicate the content of these documents at no additional cost to you. If you require translation services, please contact the following: Tyler.C.Ross@boston.gov. The meeting is scheduled for 9/12/2023. Please request interpreting services no later than 5 days before the meeting date.

Meeting of the general public to review the proposed 617 Dorchester Ave project in South Boston. Please note that this is a Public Meeting. The meeting will begin with a 30-minute presentation of the project by the development team, followed by 45-minutes of public Q&A.

This meeting will focus on 617 Dorchester Ave, South Boston by the BPDA.

mail to: Tyler Ross

Bos ton Planning & Development Agency

On e City Hall Square, 9th Floor

Bo ston, MA 02201

phone: 617.918.4214

email: tyler.c.ross@boston.gov

website: bit.ly/617DorchesterAve

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION

you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before: 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 10/12/2023 This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an affidavit of objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you.

UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC)

A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distribution of assets and expenses of administration.

WITNESS, Hon. Brian J. Dunn, First Justice of this Court.

Date: September 01, 2023

Edward R Martin, Esq. Taylor, Ganson and Perrin, LLP 160 Federal St 20th Floor Boston, MA 02110 MPC 560 (3/15/23)

ttPUBLISH ONLY THE CITATION ABOVE

232 A Street

Project Proponent:

Tischman Speyer

Project Description:

The proposed project will construct a single-building 455,050 gsf lab/office/R&D development located at 232 A Street on G8 parcel of 100 Acres Planned Development Area plus waterfront park on adjacent G7 parcel along Fort Point Channel.

mail to: Nick Carter

B oston Planning & Development Agency

O ne City Hall Square, 9th Floor B oston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.5303 email: nick.carter@boston.gov

Youth Development Fund Grant Opportunity Open for Applications

Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston’s Human Services Cabinet announced applications are now open for the 2024 Youth Development Fund (YDF), a grant program to support non-profit organizations that provide high quality, engaging programming for youth and young adults ages 14-24. The goal of this grant is to increase the variety of free youth programming in the City and provide a positive outlet for youth during out-of-school time. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on September 22, 2023. Additionally, to complement this work more immediately, the City of Boston will host weekend events throughout September starting this weekend for teens and young people with the goal of creating fun, safe, and exciting spaces for them to go. The City is connecting with parents of young people to ensure they know resources are available to engage their teens.

“Boston’s nonprofits work tirelessly to serve Boston’s youth, and they deserve the support they need to carry out their missions,” Mayor Michelle Wu said. “I’m thrilled to announce that we have opened applications for the 2024 Youth Development Fund and look forward to partnering with organizations

that help all of our young people connect, learn and explore in the City.”

“This grant program is a great opportunity for the city to partner with our youth-serving organizations to ensure that young people in Boston have fun, engaging programming available to them year-round,” said José F. Massó, Chief of Human Services. “We have seen excellent results from the YDF in past years and this year we are looking to add a capacitybuilding component for emerging nonprofit organizations that would benefit from this added support.”

The City of Boston is looking to support organizations through three grants with the goal of helping to support both larger organizations and build capacity for smaller organizations:

Emerging Leader Grants

The Emerging Leader Grant will support organizations that have an annual operating budget of $75,000 or less and all awards will come with technical assistance and capacity building to help smaller organizations develop the skills needed to grow the program. These grantees will also be partnered with a mentor organization that can provide coaching in non-profit leadership.

NOTICE OF FORMAL PROBATE

Uplift Grants

The Uplift Grants will be given to medium-size youth serving organizations - those with budgets between $76,000 and $200,000. Grants in this category will be a maximum of $20,000. Uplift grant recipients will be invited to join the Emerging Leader grantees in professional development training opportunities.

Sustaining Grants

Sustaining Grants will be given to larger youth serving nonprofits with a proven track record of success in delivering high quality youth development programs. Grantees in this category will receive up to $30,000 and will be asked to participate as mentors for the Emerging Leader track recipients. This year, the Youth Development Fund grants focus on five categories of programming that are consistent with Mayor Wu’s Connect, Learn,

Explorecommitment to providing opportunities for youth to explore and discover their passions. Organizations that present programming in the following areas will be prioritized:

Sports, including swimming and biking Gardening, urban farming, and culinary arts Arts, including both visual and performing arts Entrepreneurship and financial literacy

In FY23, the YDF supported 57 grantees, including programming in every neighborhood that spanned sports, arts, academic support, after school programming, and entrepreneurship. Collectively, the 2023 YDF grantees served approximately 7,500 youth across Boston.

Discover Castle Island Stories

Join Friends of the Boston Harborwalk on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon to celebrate eight new signs at Castle Island and acknowledge all who made them possible.

The signs at Castle Island and around Pleasure Bay were created by members of the Friends of the Boston Harborwalk, working in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Grant funding from Boston’s Community Preservation Act paid for manufacture and installation. The new signs provide context for the history and ecology of this unique stretch of South Boston’s waterfront.

Meet near the entrance to Fort Independence for a short speaking program, then Play “Hunting for Answers,” a treasure hunt with prizes; enjoy refreshments; and have fun.

Please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ discover-castle-island-stories-tickets-704914978677.

South Boston Catholic Academy’s Early Childhood program has had an awesome summer between enjoying exotic animals, ice cream truck visits on hot days and spending lots of time having fun out on our Colin Joy Playground. We also had the chance to see some community helpers up close. Local firefighters came to show the kids their fire truck and they were even given the chance to climb inside and see what it’s like

End of Summer Fun

to be a real firefighter! During our last week of summer camp the kids learned all about science and even got to see a silly science show and make their own slime!” We also had SBCA Summer Camp Programs for the 1st Grade and up and a 2 Week Adventure Camp. At Summer Camp, we also had the SBCA Yoga Club. During the school year this club is also a 6 week after school program open to grades K2 through 5 and led by SBCA parent, Erin Holland. Erin is mom

to two SBCA students, Connor (K2) and Charlie (K0), and holds her 200 HR Yoga Teacher Certification. The main goals of the yoga program are to help students learn the foundations of yoga and mindfulness, build strength and flexibility, and make connections to their mind and bodies...all while having fun! Each class is designed with a different central theme. Some themes this spring have included “Welcome Spring”, “Pirate Adventure”, and “Let’s Go Camping”. Each session

includes a combination of breath work, movement exercises, yoga poses, and time at the end to rest and reflect, with props and music included throughout class to help further engage the kids. SBCA also started a Preschool Yoga program this spring which offers a weekly yoga session to all of K0 and K1 during their school day. The yoga program at SBCA is a safe and welcoming space for all students, regardless of prior experience, physical or learning abilities.