THE PRINT EDITION
THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020
VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74
A Thought for the Quadricentennial . Or Two? Or More! “Quadricentennial” is a big, six-syllable word – some would say it’s too big. But “Quadricentennial” simply means that something has reached its 400th year. Well, the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in 1620, 400 years ago this year, after a near-disastrous crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in the Mayflower. Here at South Boston Online, we think 2020 is a unique time for action. The term “New Year’s Resolution” is worn out. Those three words have become a stale joke that refers to items we never intend to follow up. We don’t want anyone to think that we’re being negative, but please (!), no more resolutions. We’d like for you to take this editorial as a list of things that must (yes, MUST) be acted upon, and must get done.
First of all, please vote. We’re trying to be polite about this, but we really want to insist that you must vote during 2020 in every election – whether it’s in a primary or a general election. But please vote. This year of 2020 is perhaps the most important election year in recent history. Only your vote can improve our government. Understand that we are not trying to tell you how to vote or whom to vote for. Your vote is 100% up to you. We are simply telling you to vote. It’s an absolute duty and requirement for each and every one of us to vote. It’s especially important in 2020. Does global warming seem a remote problem to you? Well, it isn’t. It’s here. The ocean rise from global warming has happened Continued on Page 2
Christmas Eve at Monica’s Kitchen by Rick Winterson This year of our Lord 2019 A.D. was a year of change. Locally, this applied to the Annual Holiday Dinners that were originally the brain child of Father Tom McDonnell and Frank Kelley 36 years ago in 1983. They modeled their idea on the Gospel of Saint Luke, which Father Tom often referred to as The Hospitality Gospel –
“… So the Master told his servant, ’ Go out unto the highways and byways and bring everyone you meet back to my supper’ …”. These Dinners (which also included a Thanksgiving feast) were first held in St. Augustine Hall; now they take place each year in the Hall at St. Monica/St. Augustine Church. These days, the Hall is called by the charming name of “Monica’s Kitchen”. Continued on Page 4
W
ishing Everyone
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Quadricentennial already. Just ask the folks living in Fort Point, in the Seaport, or around Moakley Field during the last few years. Global warming is a fact: The Earth’s icecaps are melting. When the Antarctic and Greenland icecaps disappear completely, it will cause the ocean to rise as much as thirty-five (35) feet – just about the height of a classic South Boston three-decker. Get involved with this global problem. It will mean using far more electric power, including nuclear energy, in order to replace carbon-based fuels. If we don’t take steps right now to prevent more global warming, how can we ever answer our grandchildren and great-grandchildren, when they ask us why we didn’t stop it from happening? And please be confident that global warming can be stopped – it certainly can!
What is the solution to current catch-words and criticisms like “equalization”, “marginal”, “diversity”, “inclusiveness”, and so on? One answer (and the best answer, in our opinion) is better education. Make no mistake: American universities are the best in the world. The problems with American education are in the nation’s primary and secondary school systems. Not only are these
serious problems, they extend from the federal level, down to statewide levels, and end at the local levels in our counties, cities, and towns. If there’s one thing that all levels of our government MUST improve, it’s education from K to 12. Here again, get involved. Insist upon reading and writing skills; teach STEAM, in depth. And job training. And crafts. Besides giving your children your parental time and love, the
dependable organization, they brought us Juul) to be used as a medicine to aid opioid dependent patients with the painful symptoms of withdrawal has turned into high dose (up to 32 mgs) three times a day (originally only once daily) medication that is freely handed out . This may be a leap, but it appears that the financial windfall associated with this medication has turned the recovery field upside down. In the “old days” when methadone was the only medication that we used one needed to prove intravenous drug use (show the team their track marks) and the treatment time frame was 3-6 months. Are we trading dependence and addiction to one illegal substance to dependence and addiction to a legal medication? One does become physiologically addicted to Buprenorphine and to withdraw from it is harder than heroin as I am told by patients I serve. The use of a medication whether it be buprenorphine or a nicotine patch to reduce withdrawal symptoms and to assist in physical and mental stabilization is useful and valuable early in the process of separating self from substances. The larger question is : how long should this
stabilization period be? For those who have used the nicotine patch how long is long enough? Does your state (private) health insurer pay for your patches/ gum or lozenges? The current state of MAT (medication assisted treatments) for opioid use issues is open ended, there is no expectation that there is an end point per many esteemed medical associations (American Society of Addiction Medicine). Buprenorphine keeps one from having to face the hard work if withdrawal, it may prevent an overdose, but otherwise it does not offer any actual treatment to overcoming addiction. Does this seem to be a replay of the oxycontin sales pitch of the early 2000’s. Has the pharmaceutical industry sold medicine and desperate parents a bill of good on buprenorphine? A patient last week came to me on 2 mgs of buprenorphine. It was encouraged by the jail that he was being discharged from, although this gentleman had been 8 months totally drug free. He was told, “ we don’t want you to relapse so take this medication in case you have cravings…”. Another intervention being hailed as nothing short of brilliant is emergency department providing all comers who report and opioid use
biggest and best thing you can ever do for them is to make sure they are well educated. Very well educated! So in 2020, please VOTE as you choose, PREVENT global warming, and EDUCATE our children - three actions that have now become extremely important for America. And remember that just a single decade from now, in 2030, the City of Boston will reach its 400th Anniversary – its “Quadricentennial”. So let’s get to work during the years between 2020 and 2030. The “Roaring 2020s” could be the most important and productive ten years in all of our long history. VOTE, PREVENT, EDUCATE, and above all, get involved. We owe that much to the oncoming generations. Welcome to the “Roaring 2020s”! Please accept our best wishes for ten consecutive Happy (and productive) New Years.
From My Seat By: Brianne Fitzgerald RN, NP, MPH
S
erving folks with substance use issues for many years has helped me develop and ear and an eye for nuance. Watching Netflix’s Top Boy has helped me recognize conflicting feelings and to make peace with some behaviors I see and experience from my perch. Folks with addiction disorders are a varied lot and has been noted many times before “no one sets out to become an addict or alcoholic”. Yet we have done this sick and suffering population a great disservice through the current treatment system, which in my humble opinion rivals third world medicine. I am a passionate warrior for recovery to support people doing their work to overcome their addiction. Not everyone who comes to treatment is prepared for the difficult work and our current services system do not make it any easier for people. Since 2003 Buprenorphine has been available in the U.S. Originally approved by the FDA (a less than
issue 3 days’ worth of buprenorphine, no questions asked and a referral to a Buprenorphine Clinic. Many clinics are run as for-profit companies, some with MD foreign providers who, by nature of cultural experiences may not recognize the disorder in all its insanity. As a strong proponent of recovery and a believer in wellness and change I am greatly saddened by the larger system’s apparent rejection of the reality that people can and do get well in the absence of a cure. The youth, especially, have been taken in with medication as the answer and essentially what they are told is that tolerating your feelings is too hard for you and so we will make sure that you are medicated so that difficult feelings can be avoided. An addict who has stopped using is not an addict without a problem, but an addict without a buffer. Early recovery occurs in grave disorder and a void aching to be filled. During this season and well into 2020 remember that the road to recovery is not for the faint of heart. We as family members and communities can be the antidote to some of this soul sickness. Human connection without paternalism and enablement is as important a tool if not more so than medication.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020
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Gray’s Hall Reopens
The 20-Teens Bow Out
T
he original structure called Gray’s Hall, now long since gone, was a place of public assembly where the South Boston Citizens’ Association (the SBCA) used to meet. The Hall was located in Flood Square at 615 East Broadway, adjacent to American Provisions. Check out the memorial
plaque placed there by the SBCA on their 125th Anniversary in 2005. We are pleased to report that Gray’s Hall has now reopened. It has been reborn as a classic wine bar, which also serves selected gourmet offerings. Become a patron. A new chapter in the life of Gray’s Hall is at hand.
Tuesday, December 31, was not only the end of 2019, it was also the close of the decade that stretched from 2010 till the beginning of 2020. This had been a decade that exhausted itself in ongoing, sporadic turbulence. But at its end, it strangely calmed down, as symbolized in the sunset photograph looking down Dorchester Street from Perkins Square. Is there a Happy New Year to come?
Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season from your friends at City of Boston Credit Union!
617-635-4545 Cityofbostoncu.com
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Continued from Page 1
Monica’s Kitchen
T
he 2019 change in this Dinner amounted to moving its date from Christmas Day, the 25th, back to midday on Christmas Eve, the 24th - the day before Christmas itself. This change went well in everyone’s opinion. It is understandably difficult to get willing volunteers on Christmas Day, because so many people have made personal and family plans already. Plenty of volunteers, both for the outside deliveries and the feast inside Monica’s Kitchen, showed up last Tuesday. The turnout of diners was also larger because of the new date. The numbers associated with this most recent Christmas Dinner were extremely impressive. Preparations were made for 250 dinners to be delivered. Tables were set for another 100 inside Monica’s Kitchen Hall. And at times, there seemed to be more volunteers than actual diners. The delivery of the Dinners went smoothly, with the delivery volunteers departing like clockwork, holding multiple bags
Barbara Loftus has winter wear kits for guests, courtesy of the Courthouse. for taking to those at-home folks. The internal preparation of all the Dinners was also flawless, beginning with coffee and pastries for the early arrivals, followed by complete dinners of ham, mashed, and veggies served to diners at their tables, and then topped off with servings of apple pie for dessert. Volunteers were the heroes of the event, as usual. Barbara Loftus showed up with bags of winter clothing assembled by the
The hardworking crew in Monica’s Kitchen.
Christmas dinner, by Monica’s Kitchen, is festive.
people at the Courthouse. Gorgeous red poinsettias were sent in by Winston’s Florists. The placemats at each table were decorated by students in South Boston’s schools. Needless to say, all of the volunteers were non-stop cheerful and very, very merry also, as befits the Season. And if there are any doubts about South Boston and its volunteers, consider these numbers – as many as 1,500 dinners were served around
here at Thanksgiving. The most recent Peace Breakfast in Monica’s Kitchen drew 500 people. We understand that the Neighborhood House provided some 450 Dinners on its own as well. Over this joyful Season, thousands of people have dined well, because of the efforts of many, many volunteers. A hearty 2020 New Year’s Thank You to everyone who took part in the 2019 Christmas Season!
Honored guests of Monica’s Kitchen are enjoying dinner.
Rick and Cookie are loyal, courteous deliverers.
Not only are the dinner servers devoted, they’re also well organized.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020
Boxing Day at the Morris’s Byy Rick Winterson
O
nce again Rob and Jill Morris opened their East Broadway home again this year on December 26 to observe Boxing Day, which was (once upon a time) a day off for the staffs of England’s manor estates. Elegantly prepared hors
d’oeuvres and drinks were combined with beautifully decorated rooms to establish a real Holiday air about the Morris’s Boxing Day observances. Most of all, it was the face-toface conversations – no “social media” need apply – that made it a memorable December 26th evening. Happy New Year!
Rob Morris (standing, 3rd l.) hosts a Boxing Day Open House.
Hostess Jill Morris (r.) with guests at the Morris’s striking tree.
Happy holidays!
Warm wishes for the season, from our house to yours. DAVID M. GIBBONS
@MassConvention
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
/MassConvention massconvention.com
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2019 Lunch for Excel High Knights Football Team by Rick Winterson
T
he Cronin Group, LLC, has it s he adqu a r ter s on Liberty Wharf at 250 Northern Avenue. It employs 2,000 people; it has several hundred million dollars worth of ongoing projects in various phases of development at this time. The Cronin Group’s projects have included restaurants and residential developments, many of them in South Boston. Jon Cronin is the Founder and Principal of the Cronin Group. Ably assisted by the Group’s Communit y A ffairs Manager Michael Kineavy, Jon and his wife Nicole are very active in local charities and nonprofit agencies. In recent years, Jon has sponsored lunches for Excel High School’s football team, the Knights, after their season was completed. The lunch occurred again this year,
The Knights team, Excel High officials, and Jon Cronin with Mayor Marty Walsh. ta k ing place last Monday, December 30, at Tony C.’s. Tony C.’s, itself a Cronin Group property, is on the street level at 250 Northern Avenue, with superb views of Boston Harbor through its back windows. The Excel football team was accompanied by Excel Knights Head Coach Germaine Sat t ie wh ite a nd A s sist a nt
Jon Cronin and Michael Kineavy greet Excel football Head Coach Germaine Sattiewhite.
A table at the Excel Knights lunch – Jahdur, Avontai, Marquisse, and Marc.
Coaches Kirk Womack and Ed Heilbron, a volunteer. Mayor Martin J. Walsh was the Guest of Honor. He greeted the members of the Knights team, and then spoke to them emphatically but warmly, “As athletes at Excel, you represent the City of Boston. Don’t quit. Keep it up!” Various awards and remembrances were given out at the end of the lunch.
Twelve members of the K nights footba ll team will graduate during this year of 2020, so rebuilding next fall will be needed. In the meantime, good luck and a studious New Year to all the Knights in 2020. We hope to see you and your coaches at Tony C.’s again at the end of December, 2020.
Mayor Walsh (c.) is an honored guest at the Knights football team.
Mayor Walsh (with Jon Cronin) is now an honorary member of the Excel Knights.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020
Wishing you peace and joy this holiday season!
massport.com
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
South Boston Catholic Academy News December Highlights South Boston Catholic Academy had a busy week as they prepared for Christmas vacation to begin. On Saturday, December 14 we had Pizza with Santa in the School Gym. A Special Thank you to Melissa Roderiques, Katie Christopher and Brendan Gilroy and to all who helped make this fun family event a success. A Family Mass was held at Gate of Heaven Church on Sunday, December 15 at 9AM at which all were welcome. On Tuesday, December 17, our wonderful Preschool students in KO and K1 held their Christmas Concert “Here We Come A-Caroling� under the direction of our Music Teacher, Ms. Eleanor Tynan. The Student Council held a fundraiser, with the help of our Guidance Counselor, Ms. Meghan Logue, for the Mass Coalition
to End Homelessness on Wednesday, December 18 with their Christmas Party. All the students, faculty and staff at South Boston Catholic Academy, wore red for bed to raise awareness for the homeless in Boston. On Friday, December 19, we all gathered in the Gym to see the 6th Graders reenact the Story of the First Christmas and they also read the story of the Night Before Christmas. A Christmas Blessing was given by our Pastor, Father Robert Casey who was joined by our Parochial Vicar, Father Karlo Hocurscak and our Principal, Mrs. Helenann Civian and everyone joined in a Christmas sing-along. We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and we wish everyone a Happy New Year! See you in 2020!
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
Public Meeting
Public Meeting
776 Summer Street
G N D TI LE EE EL M C N CA Monday, January 6 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Tynan School 650 East 4th Street South Boston, MA 02127
776 Summer Street Monday, January 13 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Tynan School 650 East 4th Street South Boston, MA 02127
Project Proponent: HRP 776 Summer Street LLC
Project Proponent: HRP 776 Summer Street LLC
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.
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:
phone: email:
Tim Czerwienski Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.5303 tim.czerwienski@boston.gov
BostonPlans.org
@BostonPlans
Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary
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mail to:
phone: email:
Tim Czerwienski Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.5303 tim.czerwienski@boston.gov
BostonPlans.org
@BostonPlans
Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020
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The Celtics Live by Rick Winterson
Just to be clear, Boston is still “Professional Sports City, U.S.A.”. Despite the loss of a bye weekend after being defeated by the Dolphins, the Patriots are still in the playoffs. They play the 9-7 Titans, coached by ex-Patriot Mike Vrabel, this coming Saturday at home in Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium. Would anyone care to bet on how Saturday’s playoff game turns out? The Sox are still wrestling with whom to trade. The sports columnists in Boston are writing their typical Fantasy Land predictions about potential swaps, but that’s just good, clean, winter fun to them. Actually, the Sox already own certain significant strengths. At the end, their roster moves will (or should) all boil down to their pitching rotation. The Bruins (bless them!) are first in the Atlantic Division, and have earned 57 points to date. This puts them within a point or two of having the best record this season (so far). They are skating with the best: Washington (59 points) and St. Louis (58). The three next best teams have 50 or 51 points each, as of Monday.
And then there are the Celtics – 22-8 at 30 games, just over onethird of the way through their regular season. Their win-loss percent is .733. Only three other NBA teams have W-L records in the .700s. The top dog Milwaukee Bucks at 29-5 are carrying an astronomical .853 W-L percentage Recently, Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum (together) have accounted for almost half of the Celtics’ points per game. Well, Brown is 23 years old and Tatum is only 21. They’ll be the scoring anchor for the Celts for 2020, and for (many more) years to come. Adding to this threat is the fact that so far, Kemba Walker has actually been the Celts’ highest scorer, at 22.5 ppg. There are other aspects to this Celtics team as well. Marcus Smart is the defensive leader of the Celtics, and he’s back. In addition to his defense, Smart at 11.5 ppg
can score when needed. Between Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter, the center position and rebounding function are fairly well covered (this writer likes Kanter, who has also done some scoring). Robert Williams, even though he’s a power forward, could add to that competence in the paint when he returns. The injury-prone Gordon Hayward is an excellent teammate and team player when he’s OK, and he’s their fourth leading
scorer at 16.2 ppg. We need him to stay healthy. Enough said. Two final comments: First, the Celts seem to like playing together. That’s critically important, especially during away games. Second, if all the Celts become (and stay) healthy, the team will have both starting depth and bench strength – maybe enough bench strength to field a real second team. Does anyone recall the days of the Celtics’ “Green Team” (the original Green Team in the mid-80s, not the 2019-2020 chorus line)? It was led by Bill Walton, that year’s “Best Sixth Man” coming off the bench, and it resulted in a championship. So keep an eye on the Celts in this New Year. You’ll see some interesting sports maneuvers.
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SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020 THE PRINT EDITION