Hasbro to Come Here
by Rick Winterson
Over two full decades, South Boston’s Seaport District has matured into a remarkably successful development. It has attracted worldwide businesses, especially in high-tech life sciences. Led by the Seaport’s Vertex and Eli Lilly headquarters, South Boston and nearby communities have now become a major center of the world’s life science enterprises.
And that’s not all. Many other worldwide businesses have relocated to Boston and Vicinity, including some of the world’s most prominent consumer corporations. Among these are LEGO, the Danish corporation’s branch now in Somerville’s Assembly Row, and Dr. Pepper’s coffee division in Burlington.
But there’s even more. Last month, Christopher
Cocks, the CEO of Hasbro, Inc., one of the world’s largest toy and game companies, announced that Hasbro, Inc., will relocate its headquarters from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to the South Boston Seaport. Specifically, Hasbro will occupy seven floors (over 250,000 square feet) in the Foundation Building at 400 Summer Street, which is owned by the Seaport District’s WS Development. That’s near the Convention Center and next to the pedestrian stairs that connect Summer to Congress Street and Seaport Boulevard. CEO Cocks mentioned that Hasbro’s move has been under consideration since last year; it will initially involve approximately 700 fulltime jobs in toys and games, as well as in most of Hasbro’s corporate overhead positions.
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Welcome Archbishop Henning
The students, families, faculty and staff at South Boston Catholic Academy welcomed Archbishop Henning. Archbishop Richard G. Henning succeeded Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley as the Archbishop of Boston. He has served as Archbishop of Boston since 2024.
This special visit started with Archbishop Henning as the celebrant at the 9:00 a.m., School Mass at St. Brigid Church. Father Robert Casey, our Pastor and Father Peter Schirripa, our Parochial
Vicar and Father Michael Steele concelebrated at this Mass. The 4th Graders at SBCA wonderfully led us at this Mass as Greeters, with the Scripture Readers and Bringing Up the Gifts to the Altar. The SBCA Children’s Choir also did a wonderful job of singing at this Mass. During Archbishop Henning’s Homily, he spoke about how happy he was to be visiting us and about our newly canonized saint, St. Carlos Acutis and we
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Continued from Page 1 Hasbro
The major reasons for the move are to help innovate new ideas and products, along with some favorable tax considerations. Because 400 Summer Street is already finished and partly occupied, Hasbro’s move should be completed next year, before the end of 2026. Both Governor Healey and Mayor Wu have enthusiastically welcomed Hasbro to Massachusetts and the City of Boston.
To date, Hasbro, Inc. has been a Rhode Island enterprise. It was founded in 1923, 102 years ago in Providence, by the three Hassenfeld brothers – Henry, Hillel, and Herman. It was named “Hassenfeld Brothers”. Their early products included textile remnants, cases of pencils, and other school supplies. In the 1940s, they began marketing modeling clay and doctor-and-nurse play kits. In the 1950s, they first introduced the well-known “Mr. Potato Head”. Hasbro’s Pawtucket facility opened in
1962 and a few years later, the corporate name was shortened from “Hassenfeld Brothers” to “Hasbro Industries”. The name was then changed to “Hasbro, Inc.” in 1986. Through toy and game innovations and several business acquisitions, Hasbro, Inc. has grown into a worldwide, multi-billion dollar corporation with more than 4,000 employees.
In addition to Mr. Potato Head, some of Hasbro’s better known trade names are “G.I.
Joe”, “Dungeons and Dragons D&D”, “My Little Pony”, “Pokemon”, “Ghostbusters”, and a large number of board game names. In fact, with games named “Clue”, “Risk”, “Scrabble”, and “Trivial Pursuit”, Hasbro could well be the biggest board game producer and marketer in the entire world. And there will always be “Monopoly”, America’s most popular board game, which was introduced 90 years ago. Monopoly holds the Guiness world record for being the most popular board game ever!
So here are some hints when you play Hasbro’s Monopoly –
the orange group of streets (St. James, Tennessee, New York) is the most valuable one to own; the red group (Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois) is next. Both of the two-street groups on either side of “GO” have a low rate of
The Voters, will Determine America’s Future
South Boston Online believes that elections will play a significant role in the U.S.A. over the next three years – from now until November, 2028. We, the voters, will determine America’s future and its modern-day history.
But first, please understand something. Who you vote for is entirely up to you. And how you vote on important ballot issues is for you alone to decide. No exceptions! South Boston Online will only say (as emphatically as we can) that your vote is critically important. Please plan to cast it from now on, in every election that’ll take place in the next few years. Perhaps some history could be persuasive. In 1775, 250 years ago, General George Washington
came to Cambridge. He had been named Commander in Chief of America’s colonial military forces by the Second Continental Congress. His mission was to drive the British Army and Navy from Boston. Winter was coming, and one possible plan involved colonial troops crossing the frozen Charles River in February, 1776 (the river was smaller and winters were much colder back then).
But a better plan was hatched. Henry Knox, the “Bookseller from Boston”, was dispatched to Fort Ticonderoga, which Vermont’s Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys had captured on May 10, 1775. Knox brought back 59 cannons, which were then emplaced on Dorchester Heights, which would become South Boston 29 years
later. The British immediately got the message about our desire for independence and they evacuated Boston on March 17, 1776. Essentially no shots were fired, except for a British cannonade as their ships sailed past the fort on Castle Island, which really was an island in those days.
Give that chapter in our 250-year history some thought, as you are deciding what and whom to vote for – now and in 2026, and as far out as 2028.
And please take note of the critical importance of the United States of America’s Declaration of Independence, which was written, approved by Congress, and proclaimed to the world on July 4, 1776. This Declaration was the very first document of its kind in
return, even though purple’s cost is low and blue’s is quite high.
South Boston Online welcomes Hasbro, Inc. to South Boston’s Seaport District. May their move be rapid, efficient, and worthwhile.
history – a statement of freedom that applied to all Americans. We are now the world’s oldest democracy. During the 250 years since then, the U.S.A. has endured many challenges, including the Civil War and two World Wars. And we won them all. In fact, in World War II, the U.S. literally saved the world from three fascist dictators Think about all that, and then please decide to cast your votes on Tuesday, November 4; in next year’s primary and general elections; and in 2028 as well.
Honoring a Life of Legacy: Billy Baker
Ceremony: October 25th, 10:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. at Saunders Stadium
Billy Baker was a native Bostonian who was born and raised in South Boston. He owned several businesses and is most known in the neighborhood for bringing soccer to the youth of South Boston. In 1984, Billy gathered a group of parents to work with the Parks and Recreation Department to create a youth soccer league for South Boston. He successfully established the South
Boston Youth Soccer League in 1985, whose mission is dedicated to the ongoing development of youth soccer players in an inclusive, safe, affordable and fun environment.
Billy led and served as the South Boston Youth Soccer League President for 35 years until 2020. For over three and a half decades, he worked tirelessly to make the soccer league affordable for every child, soliciting funds from community businesses, merchants, and government officials to purchase jerseys, trophies and year-end gifts. He made sure all children had a pair of shin guards, and that families who could not afford the $35 league registration fee or those who registered late were never turned away.
At its peak, South Boston Youth Soccer registered nearly 1,300 players per season from ages 3-18 years old. Each season began with an Opening Day Parade of Athletes around the track and field at Saunders Stadium, led
by an Honor Guard, where the players would proudly march with teammates and signs representing team mascots. Over the years, these events included many dignitaries, including mayors, senators, other elected officials and professional athletes, but Billy’s focus always remained on the players of the South Boston Youth Soccer League. With little fanfare, and 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 Billy’s unwavering dedication to bringing soccer to the youth of South Boston and their families.
The Reserved Channel in Action
South Boston’s Reserved Channel has one, central function –receiving and then unloading commercial ocean-going vessels of all kinds. So far this month, the Channel has been very busy with passenger liners and many container ships, which is good. New England is a net importer and an important travel destination. Ocean-going vessels of all kinds are not just useful. They are lowcost, labor-saving, energy-efficient ways of transporting numerous passengers and immense container shipments.
The passenger vessel in front was named “Mein Schiff”, which translates to “My Ship”. How true!
Councilor Flynn Holds Hearing on Boston Housing Authority (BHA)
Elevator Systems and Compliance with Federal Requirements
Today, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn will hold a hearing to discuss the status and frequent breakdowns of Boston Housing Authority elevator systems in recent years, including at the BHA Ruth Barkley apartments in the South End. Additionally, in February, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General report found that BHA “did not consistently maintain its program units and buildings public housing program units in decent, safe, and sanitary condition and in good repair,” and “did not consistently perform
its annual self inspections and correct identified deficiencies in a timely manner.” Interested neighbors who would like to attend the hearing in-person, or to testify virtually via Zoom, are invited to please reach out to cora.montrond@boston.gov. If you would like to also provide written testimony, you can email the committee at ccc.housing@ boston.gov or email ed.flynn@ boston.gov. Neighbors are also invited to watch the livestream of the hearing at the following link: www.boston.gov/city-council-tv.
Last November, Councilor Flynn held a Boston City Council hearing where residents and advocates discussed the impact of
the frequent elevator breakdown issues at the Ruth Barkley BHA Apartments in heartbreaking detail. Over the last two years, residents have complained that two of the elevators at the complex had been out of service for a year while another had been operating on and off. Due to these issues and other long-term outages, residents, including our seniors and persons with disabilities shared the challenges of not being able to go about their daily lives, such as getting groceries, making appointments, picking up medications, staying active, accessing basic services, and even difficulties making it home in time to access their bathroom. Residents described prolonged outages as having had a negative impact on their physical and mental health.
The HUD audit reported that both public housing units and buildings had deficiencies, and that these deficienciescategorized into life-threatening and non-life threatening - were not addressed in a timely manner. The report found that 31 out of 36 housing units that were inspected had deficiencies, and over a third had life threatening deficiencies that needed to be corrected within 24 hours.
Of the 29 buildings that were inspected, over 80% had 105 deficiencies. The types of life threatening deficiencies include missing or inoperable smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, security hazards, blocked egress, electrical hazards, and inoperable fire exits were found in units and buildings. Over half of the deficiencies had existed at the time of the authority’s last inspections. Moreover, the authority’s assistant directors and program maintenance supervisors did not meet their monthly
5% reinspection threshold. In addition, the report shared that BHA provided the last quarterly inspection report for only 7 of the BHA’s 24 buildings with deficiencies, and that it could not locate the last quarterly report for the remaining 17 buildings.
“Our neighbors in public housing are some of the most vulnerable in our City. We cannot allow our seniors, communities of color, immigrant neighbors and low-income residents to have their housing fall into unsafe conditions. We must ensure that all units meet HUD’s and BHA’s own requirements and that our public housing residents live in a safe, decent and sanitary environment with their units and buildings in a state of good repair,” said Councilor Flynn. “Moreover, elevator access is essential for our seniors and persons with disabilities. It is imperative that BHA continues to communicate these plans and protocols in a timely manner to residents, and ensure that residents are able to go about their daily lives in dignity, and not continue to miss critical appointments.”
For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 or Ed.Flynn@ Boston.gov.
2026 Evacuation Day/St. Patrick’s Day Chief Marshal Colonel Tim Murphy, United States Army
The Allied War Veterans of South Boston (SBAWVC) is honored to announce that it has nominated COL Tim Murphy as the Chief Marshal of the 2026 Evacuation Day/ St. Patrick’s Day Parade. COL Tim Murphy was born and raised in South Boston, MA, and currently resides there with his wife, Leah, and their three children, Thomas (10), Molly (9), and Maddie (7). He attended Gate of Heaven Elementary School from K2-8th grade, then attended Catholic Memorial High School and graduated in 1997, He completed a post-graduate year at the Berkshire School in 1998. After his post-graduate year COL Murphy attended the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, NY where he played hockey for the Army Black Knights serving as Team Captain during his senior year. COL
Murphy graduated the USMA in 2002 with a commission as a Field Artillery Officer. COL Murphy served six years in the active component of the Army stationed at Fort Hood, TX, with the 1st Cavalry Division. He completed two tours (27 months) deployed to Iraq (Baghdad, Balad) as a rifle platoon leader and BN Battle Captain/A/S3. He transitioned to the Massachusetts Army National Guard in 2008 and has served as the
1-101 FA Rear-D CDR, 1-101 FA Training Officer, 51st TC S4, APMS at Boston University, 1-101 FA XO/ AO, J3 for the COVID response, Recruiting and Retention CDR, and Deputy G1 as an AGR (activeguard reserve) officer. He is currently serving as the Massachusetts Army National Guard Chief of Staff.
In his free time, COL Murphy
serves on numerous local boards in Southie, coaches various sports teams, including a high school hockey team (Catholic Memorial High School), and volunteers with many organizations.
The SBAWVC will host the Chief Marshal Banquet on Friday March 6, 2026. More details to follow in the near future.
South Boston Irish American Society Annual Meeting
The South Boston Irish American Society came together to discuss membership and future events including their upcoming trips. For more information check out their facebook page.
PickleBOS to Open Its First Location in South Boston in November
Boston’s Premier Indoor Pickleball Club Brings State-of-the-Art Courts, Community Connections, and Premium Hospitality to the Neighborhood
PickleBOS, Boston’s newest and largest home for pickleball, is proud to announce the opening of its first location in South Boston at 379r Dorchester Avenue in November, with an additional facility opening in Charlestown at 440 Rutherford Ave in early 2026. Founded by Boston residents and pickleball enthusiasts, PickleBOS is more than just a pickleball facility; it’s a community hub built on connection, hospitality, and the joy of the game.
With 21 professional-grade indoor courts between the two locations, a welcoming lounge and bar, and curated programming for all ages and skill levels, PickleBOS delivers a premium pickleball experience in a fun, communitydriven environment. The club offers a wide range of ways to play, including open play sessions, private court bookings, clinics and lessons, youth and senior programs, leagues, and tournaments.
PickleBOS is setting a new standard for indoor pickleball, as one of the only clubs in New England to offer PodPlay video technology, bringing instant replays, highlight capture, and digital scoreboards directly to all courts. This innovative system enhances every match experience, giving players the ability to relive their best shots during and after play.
PickleBOS also proudly features LSI’s professional LED uplighting, the official lighting of USA Pickleball, providing crisp, bright visibility and a true championship atmosphere that ensures a top-tier experience from the very first match.
“At PickleBOS, our mission is simple: pickleball for life,” said Alex Karsos, Co-Founder and President of PickleBOS. “We want to create a place where every player, from kids and adults just learning the sport to retirees rediscovering their love for competition, feels welcome, supported, and part of a community. Boston is our home, and we’re excited to deliver not just great courts, but unforgettable experiences.”
PickleBOS goes beyond the courts with a hospitality-first approach. The club bar will offer a selection of local and premium beers from Trillium and Fox Farm Brewery, along with additional wines and seltzers. Food will also be available through catering partnerships with some of South Boston’s best local restaurants. From corporate gatherings to private celebrations, PickleBOS will also serve as a unique events destination for groups of 10 to 200+.
Ahead of the official grand opening, players can visit the PickleBOS South Boston Pop-Up, located at 379r Dorchester Avenue. Both the South Boston Pop-Up and soon-to-be-permanent facilities are conveniently located near MBTA stops, major highways, and offer generous parking spaces directly outside the entrance, ensuring easy access for all players and guests.
Memberships are now available starting at $75/month or $825 annually, with exclusive perks including 20% off court reservations, clinics, leagues, and tournaments, plus 40% off open play, priority booking, and access to member-only events. The first 75 members will also receive a $75 credit to use on the courts.
PickleBOS is dedicated
to building strong ties within the local community, engaging with neighbors, and partnering with nearby businesses to help grow the sport and create lasting connections. For more information about PickleBOS, including membership details, please visit www.picklebos.com or follow along on Instagram @picklebosclubs and on Facebook @picklebos.
Continued from Page 1 SBCA News
said a prayer Thanking God for giving us St. Carlos and what a wonderful role model he is, especially for the young. St. Carlos’ love for Jesus shined through him like a light for all to see. We too can have our love for Jesus be a shining light for all to see. Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you!”
Thank you to the 4th Grade Teachers Mrs. Patricia Coleman and Ms. Samantha Guildford and the Religious Education Teacher and Liturgical Coordinator, Mrs. Maureen Bailey, for preparing the 4th Graders for this Mass. Thank you to the Music Teacher, Mr. Carlo Bunyi and our Parish Music Director, Mr. Ryan Lynch, for doing a
great job of leading the children’s choir and providing the superb music at this Mass. At the end of this Mass, our Principal, Dr. Helenann Civian, presented Archbishop Henning with a special birthday gift from all of us at SBCA and we all joined the choir in singing “Happy Birthday” to him. Then the choir sang “The Irish Blessing” in his honor. After this Mass Archbishop Henning had a chance to speak with the students, families, teachers and all that were at this Mass. Then Archbishop Henning toured the Early Childhood Education Center and South Boston Catholic Academy and visited with the students and teachers in their classrooms. Thank you to Archbishop Henning for visiting us and to all that made this a truly special day for all of us at SBCA!
Elected officials and leaders to discuss efforts underway and path forward
The Downtown Boston Public Safety Summit will take place on Thursday, October 30th, 6:30pm, at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theater (219 Tremont Street in Downtown — doors open at 5:30pm). The Summit is being hosted by the Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association and will provide an opportunity for the One Downtown Task Force to report out on progress, to highlight key public safety initiatives underway, and to discuss and debate the work that remains to ensure that residents, workers, students, and visitors are safe and feel safe.
The Summit is a follow-up to the February 27th Downtown Boston public safety convening, which
Public Safety Summit October 30th
included city and state officials, law enforcement agencies, social services organizations, institutional partners, business and trade associations, and civic organizations. The One Downtown Task Force, a strategic initiative aimed at improving public safety, reducing crime and homelessness, and enhancing the overall experience and quality of life for all who live, work, visit, and do business in Downtown Boston and surrounding neighborhoods, was launched following the February 27th meeting. The
Task Force
Mayor Michelle Wu; Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden; State Representative Aaron Michlewitz; Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn;
Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association Co-Founder Rishi Shukla.
The Task Force was created as a follow-up to the Downtown Boston Public Safety Summit, which included participation from 92 stakeholders representing 45 organizations and agencies.
A cross-sector coalition of city and state officials, law enforcement, shelters and churches, institutional partners, business and trade associations, and civic organizations has officially launched the One Downtown Task Force, a strategic initiative aimed at improving public safety, reducing crime and homelessness, and enhancing the overall experience and quality of life for all who live, work, visit, and do business in Downtown Boston and surrounding neighborhoods.
The 10-member Task Force is charged with driving measurable outcomes by coordinating efforts and aligning resources across several agencies and organizations. Focus areas include congregate drug use, criminal activity (including retail theft), and homelessness. Embedded within the Task Force is the Joint Strategic Action Team (JSAT), a crossfunctional group composed of public officials, city and state agencies, law enforcement, shelter and outreach leaders, and civic organizations. Leveraging the group’s collective expertise, perspective, and resources, JSAT will work closely with Task Force leadership to deliver coordinated, area-wide solutions. Additionally, specialized Working Groups will focus on four high-priority areas and develop actionable recommendations in coordination with the Task Force and JSAT.
Before and After 48 Hours of Rain
After a really nice start to the Holiday weekend, the clouds began to gather. It looked like that cloud in the first photo was actually seeking out the moisture in the air. More than two inches of rain then fell, ending in a grayish mist afterward. We needed the rain, of course. That amount still did not make up for all that hadn’t fallen so far this year. But now that the ground is wet, we might get to see some color in our autumn leaves, instead of just wrinkled brown.
6:00 PM7:30 PM NOV
617.918.4214 tyler.c.ross@boston.gov Mail to: Phone: Email: Register: bosplans.org/391DSTPUB Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 160 975 8267
This is a Public Meeting for the proposed 391 D St project, located in the South Boston neighborhood of Boston. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the overall potential impacts. The meeting will include a presentation followed by questions and comments from the public. Tyler Ross
ZONING BOARD OF APPEAL / LICENSING HEARINGS
To participate in ZBA hearings, below are instructions on joining a public meeting. Please note that the ZBA board will call on members of the public to testify for each proposal; you can share your thoughts in that forum.
604 E Third ST South Boston 02127
Appeal Type Zoning
Hearing Date 10/23/2025
Project Description: Change occupancy from one family to 2 no work as built
62 L ST South Boston 02127
Appeal Type Zoning
Hearing Date 10/28/2025
Project Description: Replace existing exterior stairs construct new roof deck
395 W Fourth ST South Boston 02127
Appeal Type Zoning
Hearing Date 10/28/2025
Project Description: Confirm occupancy as 1 family Change to 2 home New kitchens bathrooms new HVAC electric service story deck with metal spiral stairway unit two second egress Extension living space into basement finished habitable area one
208 H ST South Boston 02127
Appeal Type Zoning
Hearing Date 10/28/2025
Project Description: Interior renovation rear addition, no change in occupancy use or egress
917 E Broadway South Boston 02127
Appeal Type Zoning
Hearing Date 11/6/2025
Project Description: Change occupancy from office to single family residential. Finish basement with living room gym bathroom. Addition on top garage extending 2nd floor connect addition
1812 Columbia RD South Boston 02127
Appeal Type Zoning
Hearing Date 11/18/2025
Project Description: Proposed new 3 family residence with 5 parking spaces as per plans. Demolish existing house on lot
ABUTTER’S MEETINGS
923 E Fourth St
Proposal: Top floor renovation and expansion, no change in occupancy, use or egress
Time: Mon, Oct 20, 2025 6:00pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81086290378 Meeting ID: 810 8629 0378
401 W Broadway
Proposal: Fromage to add cordials
Time: Mon, Oct 20, 2025 7:00pm Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81905218800 Meeting ID: 819 0521 8800
634 Dorchester Ave
Proposal: Change occupancy from a 3-family dwelling to a 4-family dwelling by converting a full walkout basement into an additional dwelling unit. No other work being performed to the existing three units.
Time: Wed, Oct 22 6:00pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89511887068 Meeting ID: 895 1188 7068
748 E Broadway
Proposal: Building is under construction under ERT1304322 . Change of Occupancy Only with no additional work from 9 Units and Retail to 9 Units and 2 Shell spaces 1 Fitness & 1 Bank
Time: Thurs, Oct 23, 2025 7:00pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88971983065 Meeting ID: 889 7198 3065
744 E Fourth St
Proposal: Raze existing 4 Unit Dwelling and replace with new 4 Story, 6-Unit Building with 8 Garage parking spaces
Time: Mon, Oct 27, 2025 7:00pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86880004486 Meeting ID: 868 8000 4486
176
L St
Proposal: Homeowner seeks to erect a 4th story addition to increase living space with no change to occupancy
Time: Wed, Oct 29⋅6:00pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82698010314 Meeting ID: 826 9801 0314