SBOL December 5th Issue

THE PRINT EDITION

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019

VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74

Christmas Stroll and Tree Lighting Tonight

The South Boston Stroll and treet lighting tonight, at 4:00 p.m.

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et ready to start your Christmas shopping locally and celebrate the Holiday Season! Tonight, December 5th take part in the South Boston Christmas Stroll!

This free, fun-filled event starts at 4pm. Business establishments will be open until various times.

Sip, Shop and Dine your way around South Boston. Enjoy one night of incredible savings at more

than 40 local retail establishments, restaurants, salons and more along East and West Broadway.

This year’s Christmas Stroll will include: The Original Dickens Carolers who will be strolling along East and West Broadway starting at 4:00 p.m.

Free Ma g ic show at 4:00 p.m. at Bringing up Baby (663 East Broadway).

A visit from Santa (arriving on an antique Fire Truck) at 5:00 p.m., and the countdown for the tree lighting will begin at 5:30 taking place outside of the South Boston Library.

Feel free to take your own pictures with Santa inside of the South Boston Library (please bring your own camera).

Free Ped i C abs w i l l be ava ilable to tra nspor t attendees along East and West Broadway from 6:0 0 -8:0 0.

Kickoff 4 Kids Champions The 3rd Annual Kickoff 4 Kids Flag Football Tournament took place last Saturday with over 300 women braving the icy winds and temperatures to take part ensuring that all children in our community experience the joy of receiving holiday gifts. All donations are made to South Boston nonprofits in memory of young Colin McGrath. Hats off to organizer Allison Baker and her volunteers as this great Thanksgiving Weekend tradition continues to grow each year. Congratulations to the champions who went undefeated, the “Blitzin’ Vixens”, shown above, Under 30 Division, and the “Rebels Without A Clause”, 30+ Division.

Also a huge “Thank You” to the generosity of the many sponsors who made this event so successful. See you all next year!

Photo by Betty Dillon.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

Meeting on Senior Programs December 7th

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for eligible seniors who can obtain 0% interest loans to replace aging heating systems, or to make repairs on their homes. The Boston Home Center and Boston Department of Neighborhood Development will discuss the application process and provide information on these programs to interested residents.

“Seniors Save and Senior Home Repa ir a re va luable programs offered by the city to help our seniors stay safely and comfortably in their homes,” said the Councilors in a joint statement. “Thank you to the Department of Neighborhood

oston City Councilor Ed Flynn & Councilor At- Large Michael Flaherty, in partnership with Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) and the Boston Home Center, will be holding an informational meeting on senior home repair programs offered by the city. The meeting will be held on December 7th at 11am in the South Boston Library. This event will serve as an opportunity for residents to learn more about programs such as Seniors Save and the Senior Home Repair. These programs are

Development and the Boston Home C e nt e r f or y ou r commitment to our seniors and your partnership. I will continue to work closely with our city departments and residents to

raise awareness about available re s ou rc e s a nd prog r a m s .”

For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and Councilor Fla her t y at 617- 635 - 4 205.

Sen. Collins, Rep Biele Support Distracted Driving Legislation

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e c e n t l y, State Senator Nick Collins and State Representative David Biele joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts State Legislature to pass legislation to ban drivers from using hand-held electronic devices in vehicles unless they are in hands-free mode.

The bill defines hands-

free mode as one that engages in voice communication with and receiving audio without touching, holding or otherwise manually manipulating a mobile electronic de v ic e.

L aw en forc ement officials will issue warnings to drivers for first offenses of the new law until March 31, 2020.

“This piece of legislation will save lives and protect

Gate of Heaven Parish Coffee and Conversation Hour

All are welcome to join us on the 2nd Sunday of each month at the Gate of Heaven Parish Coffee and Conversation Hour, downstairs in the Lower Hall, following the 9AM Mass at Gate of Heaven Church on East 4th Street.

Looking forward to seeing old and new friends this Sunday, December 8, 2019.

everyone who uses our roads and sidewalks,” said Senator Collins.

“Many accidents involving phones and other handheld distractions are avoidable, and this bill reinforces our shared commitment to prevent tragedies and reduce risks in our communities.”

“Distracted driving is a serious public safety issue and factors into too many preventable accidents,” said Rep. Biele. “I’m proud to vote with my colleagues to pass this final bill to prohibit handheld cell phone use while driving. Requiring drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel and their eyes on the road, instead of on their cell phones, will make our streets safer, and I’m proud to join my colleagues in the Legislature in passing this legislation.”

Additionally, this legislation improves transparency in public safety by granting expanded access to traffic stop data. It has been 15 years since the last public report on traffic stop data; under this bill the state will be required to publish and analyze the data annually.

Other provisions in the legislation:

Allow for drivers to use mapping or navigation devices if they are affixed to the windshield, dashboard or central console or integrated into the vehicle and only involve a tap or a swipe; Exempt use of electronics in the case of an emergency and for first responders if they are using the devices as part of their duties; Pena li z e d rivers w it h $100 fine for the first offence, $250 fine and safety course for the second offence and $500 fine and surcharge for third and subsequent offences; Expand data collection of identifying characteristics when police issue a uniform citation; Require the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) to publish data online annually as well as hold public hearings to present the findings of the annual report and analysis and field public testimony; and Create a public awareness c a mpa ig n i n form i ng a nd educating drivers on the dangers of using technological devices while driving.

The bill was recently signed into law by Governor Ba ker a nd will go into ef fect in Februa r y 2020.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019

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Hundreds of Thanksgiving Dinners to Go

by Rick Winterson

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he Holiday name “Thanksgiving” goes with the word “Dinner”. That’s all there is to it. And St. Monica and the Fourth Presbyterian Churches recognized that last week just before 2019’s Thanksgiving Day (and Dinner) itself. Both of these churches provided literally hundreds of free bags filled with Thanksgiving food, along with coupons that were redeemable

for frozen turkeys – “a big bird, with all the trimmins”, as they say.

When all these Thanksgiving dinners are added up, including those freely ser ved and/or delivered by the Msgr. Thomas J. McDonnell and Fran Kelley Thanksgiving Dinner event, the total is over 1,500. That’s quite an accomplishment. It deserves a Thanksgiving full of “THANKS” to every one of South Boston’s volunteers and contributors who were involved this year.

And the crowd begins to gather their banquet-filled Thanksgiving bags.

Sr. Monica and Jean Shiflett check in those getting a dinner-to-go at St. Monica Hall.

Celebrate Julie’s Family Learning Program with a Night at the Boston Holiday Pops!

Wednesday, December 18, 2019 Boston Symphony Hall 6:00 p.m.

Reception, Cocktails and Hors D’oeuvres Higginson Hall (Huntington Avenue Entrance) Reception Tickets are $100 Presentation of this year’s Angel Award to Melanie Foley Chief Talent & Enterprise Services Officer Liberty Mutual

8:00 p.m.

Concert Balcony Seats $200 Floor seats $500 All tickets include reception.

For more information please contact

Bob Monahan, RMonahan@JuliesFamily.org, 617-269-6663 ext.11 or Jeanne Feltch, JFeltch@JuliesFamily.org, 617-269-6663 ext.10

Sponsorship or Program Book Advertisement please link to our web site at Juliesfamily.org or contact Jeanne and Bob

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

World AIDS Day Observed: December 1, 2019

by Rick Winterson

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ast Sunday, December 1, was World AIDS Day, a day that was declared as such in 1988. World AIDS Day was the very first global health day, declared to show support for those suffering from AIDS. There have been 35 million worldwide deaths from AIDS; another 35 million people still suffer from it.

“AIDS” is the acronym for Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome, a severe, mostly fatal plague that erupted on the world about 40 years ago, in the 1978-1979 time frame.

AIDS is caused by a living organism (a virus) that is named by using another acronym: HIV, which stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Each year, usually in the Cyclorama at 539 Tremont Street, South Boston’s Medicine Wheel Productions holds a commemorative, 24-hour vigil to recall the AIDS crisis and to remember its millions of victims.

This vigil and the installation within the

The flag-filled south wall of the Cyclorama curves right.

Cyclorama is the creation of Michael Dowling, who lives on M Street and is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Medicine Wheel Studios at 110 K Street.

This year’s installation had as its theme the Ancient Greek element of water – the most powerful element.

Pails, the simplest artifact for fetching, carrying, and storing useful quantities of water, were decorated by the visitors

Michael Dowling, Artistic Director of Medicine Wheel.

The front of the Cyclorama holds its water pails

to the Cyclorama, and stacked in eyecatching towers. The centerpiece within the Cyclorama was a strikingly hung and lit display of bottled water. Posters, pennants, prints and papers, quilts and standing columns, all of which memorialized AIDS victims, adorned the circular walls of the Cyclorama.

This was a titanic art installation – the Cyclorama is 150 feet across and 400

feet in circumference, covering an area under roof of well over 5,000 square feet.

And while still a (very) serious problem, HIV can be successfully treated before it progresses to AIDS if it is caught in time. Effective anti-retroviral medicines (ARVs) have been discovered by modern medical technology during the four decades that have since followed the first AIDS outbreak.

The circle of decorated water pails – individual AIDS Day creations.

The water-theme-based centerpiece in the Cyclorama.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019

The Great American Song Book, 2019

by Rick Winterson

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ast Saturday afternoon, the SBA A (South Boston Arts Association), and South Boston’s Branch Librar y hosted and presented the 2019 edition of the Great American Song Book in the Branch’s Public Room. This is the second SBA A performance in the Branch Library of America’s most beloved songs by the equally beloved composers of these songs.

The cast that anchored the Song Book consisted of lead singers Lorie Walsh and Dan McCole and pianists Peter Golemme and Rev. Burns Stanfield. Peter a nd Burns rendered some highly creditable vocals as well.

The American composers’ careers began early in the 20th Century and stretched for many decades thereafter.

Their popularit y under went competition from jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, rock, fol k, disco, a nd ultimately rap/ hip hop. But their Song Book still sounded fresh and great.

Da n McCole welcomed the Library crowd. Lorie Walsh showed she was always a showwoman and still had her soprano voice with “I Feel a Song Coming on” and “You’ll Never Know”.

Dan followed with a threepart Christmas medley ending with “White Christmas”. Lorie returned with a truly stirring

rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (!!!). The first part of The Great American Song Book closed with Peter Golemme’s “Lulu’s Back in Town” – Peter’s piano, his singing, and all.

Dan opened the second set with the tragicomic anthem “That’s Life”.

Rev. Burns Stanfield then played and sang a folk Christmas interlude – “Rise up Shepherds and Follow” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain”.

He accompanied himself on the piano and even got the audience to take part in the singing as his impromptu chorus. Lorie and Dan alternated singing their own numbers, and then joined forces as a duet to render “I’ll See You in My Dreams”. Dan closed The Great American Song Book of 2019 with an upbeat “What a Wonderful World”.

R a f f le s (d on a t e d by Broadway, Playwright, Lincoln, C A PO), refreshments (from Stop & Shop, Star Market), and glowing conversation followed this year’s Great American Song Book. Rev. Burns Stanfield invited everyone to the Fourth Pr e s by t e r i a n C hu rc h on Saturday, December 21, for a Christmas Concert.

Special thanks for a fine event go to the South Boston Branch Library and its staff – Jane Bickford, Laurel Moreau, K athleen Clif ford, Kris Luca, Shane Jeffrey, Kylan McCarthy, and Judith Hartnett.

All four performers – Dan, Lorie, Burns, Peter.

Lorie Walsh solos.

Burns Stanfield and Peter Golemme at the Branch Library’s piano

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

A Thanksgiving Feast – 398 Years Later

by Rick Winterson This article necessarily begins with a bit of arithmetic: the Pilgrims arrived here in 1620 - 399 years ago – and celebrated their first Thanksgiving in 1621.

Some 398 years later, the 2019 Thanksgiving Dinner at St. Monica Church last Thursday echoed that first Thanksgiving.

The hardy Pilgrim band who boarded the Mayf lower had been cut in half to 46 by disease and exposure. The Thanksgiving Dinner at St. Monica a week ago, although it’s an event filled with joy, still brought poignant memories of its founders, Frank Kelley and Msgr. Thomas McDonnell (“Father Tom”), into everyone’s mind when Fr. Peter DeFazio spoke the Blessing.

And a joyful occasion the Dinner was. The tables were set in St. Monica Hall for 100+ guests in the f lesh. Nearly 400 additional meals were sent out via South Boston’s dedicated volunteer servers and delivery people. At various points during the Dinner, the volunteers outnumbered the guests. Every volunteer had a smiling face; all

were glad to be there helping out.

And you don’t have to be told about the kitchen volunteers, who spent days and days (literally!) preparing hot, carefully cooked turkey dinners, with all the trimmins’.

The Convention Center kicked in with 50 precooked turkeys. Tables were pre-set with placemats decorated by hand. People from across South Boston went all out, in order to make sure that everyone enjoyed the uniquely American Holid ay of T ha n k sg iv ing.

The Thanksgiving Dinner at St. Monica Church is always a joyful occasion – a feast that fits very well within our Holy, Happy, Holiday Season at year-end. It is a uniquely enjoyable American Holiday, which commemorates a key journey to and a settlement in the New World. Basically, the Pilgrims made their journey to find freedom of religion. The Mayf lower Pact drafted by these same Pilgrims foreshadowed our Constitution and its foundation of i nd i v idu a l f r e e d om s .

Thanksgiving was (and still is) a meaningful Holiday, as well as a totally joyful one.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019

Shop Sip Dine Thursday,December 5th

SouthBoston ChristmasStroll One night of incredible savings at nearly 40 local retailers,restaurants,salons,and more!

• East Broadway Tree Lighting Festivities begin at 4 pm at the Library with live entertainment, FREE hot chocolate & holiday treats • Magic Show at 4:00 pm at Bringing Up Baby, 663 East Broadway • Santa arrives at 5 pm for the Tree Lighting Countdown at 5:30 pm • Photo op with Santa inside of the Library • Xfinity photo booth on W. Broadway • Dickens Carolers will be strolling along E. and W. Broadway from 4-8 pm • FREE Pedi Cabs will whisk attendees to and from E. and W. Broadway from 6-8 pm

details at: sbndc.org/christmas-stroll

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

South Boston Catholic Academy News November Highlights In this season of giving Thanks, our South Boston Catholic Academy Students spent time thinking of what they are grateful for and learning about gratitude. Our Student Council members were busy collecting the Halloween candy that the students at South Boston Catholic Academy brought in to be shipped overseas to our troops.

Thank you to all our students, families and friends for their generosity and, Ms. Meghan Logue, our Guidance Counselor and to Dr. Leland’s dental office for organizing this great drive!

We want to thank all the families who attended our recent Open House. Please feel free to contact: Mrs. Jamie Brown, our Vice Principal, with any questions at j.brown@ s b c a t h o l i c a c a d e m y. o r g .

Our Student Council also helped with the recent food drive we had. Thank you, to all our students, families and friends of South Boston Catholic Academy that donated much needed food to the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry at Gate of Heaven.

Last Tuesday afternoon

the students, faculty and staff gathered in the school Gym for a Thanksgiving Prayer Service hosted by our sixth graders who did a great job with the Prayers and Petitions. Father Casey, our Pastor and Father Karlo Hocurscak, our Parochial Vicar, came and said special prayers of Thanksgiving to God for his goodness and his many blessings.” Thank you to Mrs. Denise Moriarty and the students in the sixth grade, Ms. Eleanor Tyna n a nd our wonderf ul children’s choir for helping

lead all of us in a Thanksgiving song. Our Thanksgiving Prayer Service ended with this final prayer… “As we at South Boston Catholic Academy count our blessings and give thanks this T ha n k sgiv ing Holid ay for our Catholic Faith, we pray for children of all faiths this holiday, that they will be filled with grace, thanks and peace.

On behalf of Mrs. Helenann Civian, our School Principal and South Boston Catholic Academy, we hope and pray everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Boston Catholic Academy (www.SBCatholicAcademy.org) is currently accepting applications for all classes PreSchool-Grade 6. We have Before School and After School Programs available and high acceptance rate to Parochial, Private, and Boston Exam Schools. Please contact: Mrs. Jamie Brown, our Vice Principal, with any questions or for a tour of the school at j.brow n@sbcat holicacademy. or g or phone 617-2 6 8 2326 for more information.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

Public Meeting

Public Meeting

776 Summer Street Wednesday, December 18 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

BCYF Curley Community Center 1663 Columbia Road South Boston MA 02127

Project Proponent: HRP 776 Summer Street LLC

Wednesday, December 18 6:00 PM

Project Description: HRP 776 Summer Street LLC has filed a Master Planned Development Area application. HRP 776 Summer Street LLC proposes to redevelop an approximately 15.2-acre site located at 776 Summer Street in the South Boston neighborhood. The proposal entails approximately 1.78 million square feet of occupiable space, including: approximately 636 residential units, approximately 960,000 square feet of office/research and development uses, approximately 80,000 square feet of retail uses, 240 hotel rooms, and up 1,214 parking spaces. The proposal will also preserve several historic buildings on the site and provide 5.5 acres of new outdoor public spaces, including approximately 2.5 acres of open space on the waterfront. mail to: Tim Czerwienski Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.5303 email: tim.czerwienski@boston.gov

Rescheduled: 15 Necco Street

Close of Comment Period: 1/3/2020

BostonPlans.org

300 A Street 1st Floor Boston, MA 02210

Project Description: Rescheduled BPDA-hosted Article 80 Public Meeting for the proposed Notice of Project Change for 15 Necco Street. The originally scheduled Public Meeting on Monday, December 2nd was cancelled due to inclement weather. mail to: Aisling Kerr Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.4212 email: aisling.kerr@boston.gov BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

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Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Public Meeting

South Boston Innovation Campus Thursday, December 19 6:30 PM

22 Drydock Avenue 3rd Floor Conference Room Boston, MA 02210

Project Description: BPDA-hosted Article 80 Public Meeting for the proposed redevelopment of the approximately 4.36-acre site located at the intersection of Northern Avenue and the Massport Haul Road on Parcels T and T1 of the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park. The Proposed Project calls for the demolition of the existing warehouse on-site and construction of a ten (10)-story, approximately 381,000 square foot building including laboratory, research and development, office, and supporting uses.

Parking for 325 vehicles is also proposed in surface lots and a belowgrade garage.

mail to: Aisling Kerr Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.4212 email: aisling.kerr@boston.gov

Close of Comment Period: 12/27/2019

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019

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Christmas Season Begins Garage Parking Space Available Location: Columbia Road $425./month Contact 617-877-1791

A Question about Parking?

You might have been distracted by the Monday-Tuesday snowstorm, which wasn’t very much of a storm, but it was our first of this winter.

South Boston Online’s question refers to the large amount of parking that became available over the Thanksgiving weekend. Where did all that parking come from? Well, much of that free-and-easy parking situation last weekend was because South Boston has really changed.

Perhaps as many as three out of four current residents have lived here in South Boston for less than five years. Their permanent homes – the places all of them grew up in – are somewhere else. This means that many, or perhaps even most residents of South Boston, left town over Thanksgiving weekend to go back to their own hometowns and visit their families and lifelong friends. It used to be that all the people who grew up here came back in huge numbers, occupying the few parking slots that were available back then in those days. Now, as the Year 2020 approaches, the reverse takes place. Times certainly change, don’t they?

Even in South Boston!

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here are many sights that signa l the beginning of South

Boston’s Christmas Season. South Boston Online selected just two of them to announce that the first day of Advent was last Sunday.

Forgive us for combining the Secular with the Spiritual, but the colorful Holiday card and box stand (with tree) at the Post Office on Third and the beautifully adorned altar at St. Monica/St. Augustine Church seemed to be two fitting views that – each in its own way – tell us Christmas is night.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 THE PRINT EDITION

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