Resolution to Rename Soccer Field in Honor of Billy Baker
Councilor Ed Flynn Files Resolution to Rename Soccer Field in Saunders Stadium in Honor of Billy Baker
Boston City Councilor
Ed Flynn filed a resolution in support of renaming the soccer field within Saunders Stadium to the Billy Baker Soccer Field. Billy Baker, a native Bostonian born and raised in South Boston, was widely known for his dedication to bringing soccer to the youth of South Boston. He worked diligently for years to make his dream a living reality. In 1985, he established the South Boston Youth Soccer League, with the mission of enabling “the ongoing development of youth soccer players in an inclusive, safe, affordable and fun environment.”
For three and a half decades, Billy led the South Boston Youth
Soccer League as President and was committed to the growth and success of the league by collaborating with other suburban community sports leagues, attending countless meetings with Parks and Recreation officials, completing permit applications, preparing for games every Saturday and Sunday morning and recruiting coaches and referees. He was also deeply committed to making the soccer league affordable for every child by soliciting funds from community businesses, merchants, and government officials to purchase jerseys, trophies and year-end gifts. Later, Billy established a sports collaborative with other fellow leagues in order to open and operate a snack bar and restrooms at Saunders Stadium.
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Street Festival Dedicated to Karen Stanley
On Saturday, September 28th, the South Boston Street Festival will be dedicated to Karen Stanley, who passed away last week from cancer. Karen was a founder and the driving force behind this annual event.
This annual neighborhood event, organized by South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation and the South Boston Chamber of Commerce, will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on East Broadway.
The Street Festival will feature local businesses, nonprofits, and artists; musical entertainment; our amazing sponsors; awesome restaurants; princesses and pirates; as well as balloon twisters, caricature artists, facepainters,
local dancers, Bluey & Bingo, and so much more. Featured bands include: The Late Risers, Houston Bernard, Thomas Park, Shanel Sugar & Friends, The Far, and MusicBall singers Lauren Mahoney and Dante Papa. These musicians will get us rocking on the Library and Stop & Shop stages. In addition to the music,
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Continued from Page 1 Billy Baker
Through Billy’s tireless dedication to his duties as league president, South Boston Youth Soccer registered up to 1,300 players per season ranging from ages 3-18. Beginning each season, an Opening Day Parade of Athletes consisting of players, led by an Honor Guard, would proudly march around the track and field at Saunders Stadium with teammates and signs representing their team mascots. Although these events
included many dignitaries including mayors, senators, elected officials and professional athletes throughout the years, Billy’s focus always remained on the players of the South Boston Youth Soccer League.
Well after his own children had grown up, Billy Baker remained the one constant presence of the South Boston Youth Soccer League. Throughout his life, he consistently devoted his time and efforts at a moment’s notice to ensure that children from the neighborhood had the opportunity to participate. The success of the league today is a testament to his unwavering dedication to bringing soccer to the youth of South Boston and their families.
“With little fanfare, Billy Baker selflessly devoted much of his life to ensuring that all children in South Boston had the opportunity to participate in playing soccer. Billy’s steadfast
VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING
bit.ly/4dlhJeO Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864
ID: 160 612 2952
PROJECT PROPONENT: Monarc Development LLC
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The Planning Department is hosting a Virtual Public Meeting for the proposed project located at 736-742 East Broadway in the South Boston neighborhood of Boston. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Small Project Review Application (SPRA) that was filed and its potential impacts. The meeting will include a presentation followed by questions and comments from the public. The proposed project located at 736-742 East Broadway proposes a new four-story building to contain 12 dwelling units, with a groundfloor restaurant and six off-street garage parking spaces.
Mail to:
Zoe Schutte Planning Department
Phone: Email:
One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4311 zoe.schutte@boston.gov
dedication and commitment to the people of South Boston allowed generations of his neighbors to be able to experience the joy of competing in youth sports, to be part of a team, and feel more connected to their neighbors and community. In short, Billy’s vision also helped our youth develop and learn how to become good citizens and neighbors,” said Councilor
Flynn. “When the people of South Boston think of youth soccer, they think of Billy Baker’s service to our community. There is no one more deserving of having the soccer field within Saunders Stadium at Moakley Park named in their honor.” For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov.
Dot Ave. Bridge Reopens
Website: bit.ly/3AIRvnU
Close of Public Comment Period: 10/4/2024
Teresa
The Dorchester Avenue bridge that spans the Southeast Expressway and the nearby MBTA/Commuter Rails has finally reopened. The reopening took place early Monday morning at 4 a.m. It looks as if not very many had gotten the message yet. This bridge is a key connection between Dorchester and South Boston. The repairs took an extremely long time and cost more than $30 MM. The southern half of the bridge – the segment over the Expressway itself – is still the original span.
P&G Gillette Holds Community Workshop and Site Tour
by Rick Winterson
P&G Gillette stands for Procter & Gamble, the owner of South Boston’s Gillette Company. From 5 to 7 p.m. last Thursday evening, September 19, P&G Gillette held a Community Workshop. This event publicly introduced the plans to develop their 31-acre corporate campus. A complete, hour-long Site Tour of existing acreage was a key part of the Workshop. Over 200 interested people, most of them from South Boston, took part.
P&G Gillette’s corporate campus is quite large. At 31 acres, it amounts to more than a million square feet, which is essentially where most P&G Gillette operations in the U.S. are located. The site extends down Second Street, about 1,000 feet from A Street to Dorchester Avenue. To the north from there, the P&G Gillette campus extends roughly a quarter mile, and it ends just short of Bickford Street. The entire property lies between the Fort Point Channel to the west and A Street to the east.
With all that’s there, P&G Gillette’s site in South Boston is very well-named as “World Shaving Headquarters”.
The full title of last Thursday’s event was the “Gillette Site Tour & Community Workshop #1”. More than six months ago, P&G Gillette announced a corporate decision to analyze and decide upon the longterm future of their South Boston site. Since then, they’ve met with several community groups and neighborhood organizations and a Letter of Intent
has just been filed with Boston’s Planning Department. An internal, seven-member Project Team has been appointed; an external Project Team has been formed to advise on design, transportation, and legal issues. In addition, the internal Project Team mentioned that current employment figures will be preserved in the future.
Workshop #1 began the formal Community Engagement process last week. Two more of these Community Workshops will soon follow – a virtual Workshop #2 on October 1 (6 to 8:00p.m.) and an in-person Workshop #3 in the CRISPR Building at 105 West First Street on October 24 (6 to 8 p.m.). You are encouraged to take part in both. And last week’s Workshop #1 opened right on time. P&G Gillette had thoughtfully provided an enticing buffet supper in their auditorium. Then they opened the meeting by stating their overall project goal, which we’ll quote verbatim: “P&G Gillette is planning to reshape a significant waterfront location, transforming our industrial campus into a vibrant mixeduse community connecting South Boston to the waterfront and beyond.”
More specifically, the presentation portion of Workshop #1 listed several potential uses of a planned mixed-use community. Among these were housing options, climate resilience, a waterfront park, commercial developments, improved transit in the area, and a totally new, equitable, and welcoming South Boston neighborhood. And Workshop #1 also listed a dozen other planned projects in and around the Seaport District and the Fort Point area. It’s on its way to becoming a really well-designed community.
On the Site Tour, guided by P&G Gillette’s Devanshi Purohit and John Long, Workshop #1 participants walked around the entire perimeter of P&G Gillette – to the Fort Point Channel across from the head office, up to Binford Street, along A to Second Street, and then down Second back to P&G Gillette’s main entrance. Many planned changes were mentioned, but basically, the lengthy manufacturing facility that stretches along A Street will be relocated to P&G’s site in Andover, along with its accompanying structures, such as warehousing and truck docks. Undoubtedly, there’ll be other changes
that come up – more labs, perhaps a pilot plant, or maybe a new product facility in the buildings along Second Street. P&G Gillette’s research and marketing efforts will be strengthened and centralized. However, P&G Gillette has also pledged to devote much of their 31-acre site to establishing “a vibrant mixeduse community”. First and foremost, this would mean housing, of course – perhaps for a few thousand people or more. Next, plans have to be made for open spaces, along with the many necessary steps to protect this area from global warming and sea level rises of three feet or more, long before this century ends. Then, small businesses should be encouraged to locate on the site. And finally, there are what we’ll call “amenities”. As an example of possible amenities, those who attended P&G Gillette’s Workshop #1 insisted that a few acres out of 31 be devoted to some sort of “cultural center” – for example, a museum, performance auditorium, or landscaped walkways to Boston’s existing Harborwalk. Workshops #1, 2, and 3 are just the beginning. The next steps will include creating a master plan, obtaining approval from Boston and Massachusetts on several levels, and finally breaking ground to begin construction. It’ll be three to five years before the project is completed. Gillette was established here more than a century ago. Reshaping P&G Gillette’s location in South Boston’s Fort Point will be the largest single investment they’ve ever made on that site and in the City of Boston.
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Street Festival
there will be performances by Woods School of Irish Dance, Miss Linda’s School of Dance, and Ultimate Self Defense & Performance Center. And at 11:15 a.m., Mona Connolly Casper will receive the Thomas J. Butler Award!
Below is a list of the participating businesses:
4103 Designs
BackYahd Boston
Barre Groove
Bento Real Estate
Bohdii Boutique
Boston Babes Social Club
Boston Physical Therapy
Bringing up Baby Cambria Hotel
Camden Hydes
City of Boston Credit Union
Deirfiur Home
Designs By Lillie
Elliott Physical Therapy
Evolve Power Yoga Southie
Habit Boston
In Good Company
Luxe Home Interiors
M&T Oil
Michaela’s Market
MyStryde
On the Move Physical Therapy
Peter Welch Gym
Pure Glow
Radiate Wellness
Red Dog Resort
Seaport Brand
Seaport Medspa
Stapleton Floral
The Point Clothing Lounge
Ultimate Self Defense & Performance Center
Vivian Zottola Human-Canine Relation Therapist
You Vs You Training
The following local artists will be featured:
Crump Gallery
Deb Putnam Art
Lorna Allen
Wildlife & Watercolors (Moss
Lynch Photography)
Local Nonprofit Organizations
Boston Youth Lacrosse
Castle Island Association
Catholic Charities Labouré
Celebrity Series of Boston
Colin’s Joy Project
Friends of NoB
Julie’s Family Learning
Friends of the South Boston Branch Library
SB Neighborhood House
South Boston Soccer League
SB Special Kids & Young Adults
St. Peter Academy
Thomas J. Fitzgerald VFW
Post 561
Tynan Community Center
And then there’s the food!
Grab-and-go options from some of Southie’s favorite spots:
Capo Restaurant
Lincoln Tavern
Hunter’s Kitchen & Bar
Publico
Sal’s of Southie
Layla‘s American Tavern
Deja Brew
Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar
Larry J’s BBQ
Fat Baby
Restaurants within the festival site will be offering full menus and drinks:
Cafe Porto Bello
The Broadway
The Playwright
Roza Lyons
by Rick Winterson
Approximately two weeks ago, on September 11 at 5 p.m., the Friends of North of Broadway (NoB) held an outdoor street meeting to discuss the plans and building permits for what is now a Shaughnessy Co. yard. This property extends west from E Street almost to D Street, between First and Second Streets. In area, it is 64,000 square feet (about an acre and a half).
The NoB group gathered at corner of E Street and Second. Around 50 people attended, because of the size of, nature of, and strong neighborhood objections to this development. Several of the attendees were City officials.
Joseph Hanley led a contingent of people who represented the Proponent of this project, which is described as “mixed-use”. But it is more accurately described as a six (yes, 6!) stories tall residential building with some 250 living units. Community uses, retail uses, and open spaces
A Project Update
are planned of course, along with garage parking for 125 vehicles – just one-half an auto space per unit. But basically, the project is a large, new group of residences that extends 60 feet into the air, and completely fills the E-to-D area between First and Second Streets, as described above.
At the outdoor meeting on the 11th, we thought this project was still in the approval process. However, we were then surprised to hear that, after a formal presentation on the 12th, the BPDA Board approved this project immediately on Friday, the 13th (perhaps that date exerted an evil influence). We understand that a number of zoning
exemptions still aren’t approved yet.
South Boston Online published another article in our last issue that discussed a proposed building on D Street, just past its intersection with Old Colony. This was to be a 70-unit residential building of nine stories, towering 90 feet above the street below. And the plan did not include any parking spaces at all! Certainly, more housing is needed in and around the City of Boston, but architects and developers must provide reasonably acceptable designs that fit neighborhoods. Which brings up the Summer Street redesign and the South Boston Transportation Action Plan (SBTAP). These two projects are intended to
resolve transportation problems, not housing issues, but even so, they do not appear to be practical. SBTAP contains no provisions for our businesses – many of them small businesses – to frequently load, unload, ship, receive, and deliver incoming materials and finished goods, especially along East and West Broadway. And we know this next comment will be controversial, but many existing bike lanes are hardly used and should be closed. Riding bikes is great exercise, and it burns no carbon-based fuel, but bike rides amount to less than 4% of total travel in Boston. Out of every 25 trips along our roads, less than one (1) is by bicycle. During Boston’s wintry weather and in our rainstorms, that drops almost to zero, of course.
A Boston Coincidence?
by Rick Winterson
In a recent “The Economist”, that popular and well-read British magazine, a section devoted to United States news (on page 20, SEP 14 issue) began with an article entitled “Wicked Safe. The murder decline”. The subtitle of this article read “How Boston became the safest big city in America”. Were you aware of how low Boston’s number of murders is, per 100,000 residents? So far this year, it’s about 20 - measurably better than any other major U.S. city.
In what we believe is nothing more than a coincidence, the very next day the Boston Sunday Globe, on the front page of their “Ideas” section (page K1, SEP 15 issue), published an article about Boston’s “Darkest Years”. It wrote about why so many of our City’s young men once committed violent crimes – especially during the 1990s, just before the 20th Century came to a close.
South Boston Online has decided to compare the two articles. Even though we were certain they appeared on consecutive dates only by coincidence, both of these articles came to remarkably similar conclusions.
The Economist’s article described the role of the Rev. Eugene Rivers, who started
those “Baker House” meetings in the late 1990s, which aimed at building trust in the Boston police. The article included several comments from Michael Cox, Boston’s current Police Commissioner. He spoke about Boston’s policing system that works “preventively”. In the quoted words of Harvard Professor Robert Sampson, even in the roughest parts of Boston “You do not find the same level of cynicism about the law that you find (elsewhere)”.
Dick Lehr, once on the Globe’s Spotlight team and now a B.U. Journalism Professor, wrote the Sunday Globe’s article. This article is actually a review of “It Started with the Hats”, Paul Joyce’s book about Boston’s gangs. Joyce was a Boston police officer and a member of the Citywide Anti-Crime Unit, who helped in setting up “Operation Ceasefire”. Joyce determined, after years of experience, that a young man’s decision to leave gangs behind also required a decent job, religion, education, parenthood, or a mentor –challenging items, but they all lead to non-violent living. Bring these articles up and review them yourself whenever you have a few spare minutes. They reinforce each other; they say essentially come to the same conclusions about non-violent crime prevention.
Senator Collins Votes for Supplemental Budget
The Massachusetts Legislature passed a supplemental budget that ratifies 38 collective bargaining agreements and directs funding to the health and human services workforce, childcare assistance programs, community services, and initiatives vital to the wellbeing of Massachusetts residents.
It includes $61 million for a critical health and human services and workforce reserve to cover projected deficiencies in Fiscal Year 2024 related to the continued need for direct care staffing to respond to health needs in nursing homes, group care settings, state hospitals, and veterans’ homes, as well as other patient health and safety supports.
Additional investments include:
$29.7 million in early education and care subsidies to ensure providers can maintain access for all income-eligible families in need of childcare.
$20 million to replace lost federal funds for services to victims of crime.
$5.6 million for tax abatements for veterans, widows, blind persons and the elderly.
$5.1 million to support increased demand for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which provides fresh healthy food options and supports local growers.
$2.8 million for the Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
$2.1 million to be used for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition services to fully support the current caseload of recipients.
The legislation includes changes and clarifications to policy, including:
Permitting the Operational Services Division (OSD) to procure both electric vehicles and charging equipment on one contract, an efficiency that will help the state reach its climate goals.
Increasing the amount that the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) can contract with utility vendors for energy conservation projects from $300,000 to $500,000, enhancing the division’s ability to support the state in reaching its climate goals.
Adding tribal governments as eligible entities to receive funding through the broadband municipal grant program.
Providing flexibility on the use of ARPA funds for local boards of health. Allowing the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to enter new long-term leases of up to 30 years for the operations of ice rinks.
The bill now moves to the Governor’s desk for her signature
Fall-o-Ween Children’s Festival returns to Boston Common
Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department will host the fourth annual Fall-o-Ween Children’s Festival on the Boston Common Parade Ground at the corner of Beacon and Charles Streets on Friday, October 18, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Adults and children are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes and participate in a wide range of free, fun, and spooky familyfriendly activities. Show off your skills at the Ultimate Gaming Truck or test your courage in our Haunted Zombie Maze. Try the Jumpin’ Pumpkin and Scarecrow Slide, test your skills at Pumpkin Bowling, and enjoy nighttime fun in our Glow in the Dark Park with LED swings and LED seesaw.
A “monster mash” of activities will include music, arts and crafts, treats, rides on the trackless train, field games facilitated by Knucklebones, and sensory play with Play Boston. LEGO® Discovery Center Boston will be in attendance with fun Halloween LEGO builds as well as LEGO Halloween build activities with a Master Model Builder. Visit the New England Dairy displays to enjoy both the Mobile Dairy bar and the Mobile Dairy Experience. Enjoy live entertainment at the Parks Department Stage with music from Matt Heaton, dancing with Family Zumba, and a spooky storytime with Boston Public Library librarians.
Gate of Heaven Coffee and Conversation
All are welcome to come to the monthly Coffee and Conversation on Sunday, September 29, 2024 after the 9:00 a.m. MassIn the Downstairs Hall at Gate of Heaven Church
SBCA Grade 6 News
The 6th Grade students at South Boston Catholic Academy led us in the Welcome Back School Mass. They did a fantastic job as Greeters, with the Readings and bringing up the Gifts to the Altar. Our SBCA Children’s Choir sounded wonderful, as always. They were led by our talented Music Teacher, Mr. Carlo Bunyi and accompanied by our Parish Music Director and Organist, Kathy Clancy. Our Pastor, Father Robert Casey and Parochial Vicar, Father Peter Schirripa were the celebrants at this Mass. Father Casey, said “It’s going to be a great year here at SBCA” and gave a Special Blessing at this
Mass for all the students, parents, families, faculty and staff at SBCA. Prayer for A New School Year... God of wisdom and might, we praise you for the wonder or our being, for mind, body and spirit. Be with our children as they begin a new school year. Bless them and their teachers and staff. Give them strength and grace as their bodies grow; wisdom and knowledge to their minds as they search for understanding; and peace and zeal to their hearts. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. New families are welcome to email our admissions team at admissions@sbcatholicadacademy. org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy.
Rep. Lynch to Host Service Academies Information Session on October 20th
On Sunday, October 20th, 2024, Congressman Stephen F. Lynch will host an information session at East Middle School in Braintree for all high school students interested in applying to one of the United States Service Academies. All students and their families are welcome to attend. Representatives from each of the following academies will make brief presentations and be available for questions:
United States Military Academy at West Point, NY
United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD
United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO
United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY
United States Coast Guard Academy at New London, CT Massachusetts Maritime Academy at Buzzards Bay, MA
Sunday, October 20th, 2024, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM East Middle School, 305 River St., Braintree, MA 02184 Seamus Buckley, 617-428-2000
For those unable to attend, more information on the Service Academy nomination process is available on our website: https://lynch.house.gov/ service-academy-nominations
Data Shows Boston Public Schools Performance Remains in a Decline Due to the Pandemic
Education (DESE) today released the 2024 accountability results for schools and districts across the state, as well as the SY 2023-2024 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) data. Boston’s data showed that performance remains largely unchanged following the decline in performance due to the pandemic.
In the state’s accountability system, the district was deemed to be making Moderate Progress Toward Targets and was not identified as requiring assistance or intervention. The district exceeded targets for reducing chronic absenteeism in non-high school grades and met the targets for the All students group in high school. The district also demonstrated typical growth (Student Growth Percentile between 40 and 60) in ELA and Math in all grade levels. The district exceeded its targets for chronic absenteeism at the 3-8 level and met its targets for EL proficiency at the high school level.
“We have worked hard to implement strong systems across BPS this past year and while the data show there is still important work ahead of us to improve academic achievement, we are encouraged by the steady progress in reducing chronic absenteeism, in grades 3-8 math achievement, and EL proficiency at the high school level,” said Superintendent Mary Skipper. “The data provides us with a snapshot and our focus moving forward must remain on raising the academic bar for all students across Boston as part of the High Quality Student Experience. We must also continue our urgent work around the important work of implementing the Inclusive Education plan to help bridge persistent academic achievement and opportunity gaps, especially for our Black and Brown students, Multilingual Learners, and students with disabilities.”
Across the district, 52 schools were identified as not requiring assistance or intervention. Three schools were named Schools of Recognition: Curtis Guild Elementary School in East Boston, Dante Alighieri Elementary
Montessori School in East Boston, and Fenway High School in Mission Hill. Schools of recognition are identified by DESE as schools that met or exceeded their targets and also had both high achievement and high growth.
“This distinction is a testament to the hard work happening within our school every day to ensure that our students have the opportunities and support they deserve,” said Dr. Geoffrey Walker, Head of School at Fenway High School. “While we are certainly proud to be recognized, our work to strengthen our early college and career high school model continues.”
The MCAS data show improved math performance across several student
groups. In grades 3-8 the average scaled score increased by 0.9 points to 485.5. The lowest-performing student group for grades 3-8 also saw an increase of 6.8 points to an average scaled score of 406.2, exceeding its state target. Grade 10 math saw a slight decrease of 0.5 scaled score points to 493.8, falling short of the accountability target.
On the other hand, the average scaled score for grades 3-8 in ELA declined by 0.8 points to 485.1. The average scaled score for the lowest performing group in 3-8 increased by 3.3 points. In math, Boston experienced an increase in performance for the second straight year. The average scaled score in 3-8 Math improved by 0.9 points to 485.5, just
1.1 points below thetarget. Across both ELA and Math scores, grades 4 and 7 saw slight improvements in their percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, with grade 4 students matching their 2019 percentage in Math. Science performance in grades 5, 8, and 10 saw slight decreases in scaled score; however, the percent of students meeting or exceeding expectations increased for all student groups in Biology and Physics. In Biology, students saw a 5 percentage point increase and in Physics a 2 percentage point increase. Altogether the results show areas of progress as well as key areas in need of improvement.
