Sbol 01 18 2018

THE PRINT EDITION

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 48

Gate of Heaven School Building to Be Demolished

By Rick Winterson By now, you’ll have heard that a decision has been made concerning the Gate of Heaven School building, on East Fourth Street next to the Church. It is to be completely demolished.

The demolition will begin this coming spring, and will be completed later in this year of 2018. Most of the “footprint” now occupied by the school building and the parking area around it will be turned into a larger, income-generating parking lot with nearly 100 spaces. Certain decorative elements (the finials) from the school building will be preserved by emplacing them alongside the west wall of the Gate of Heaven Church.

With appropriate plantings and landscaping, this will form a sort of “memorial walkway”.

This is the culmination of nine years of studies, discussions, and analyses about the school building. A decade

ago, diminishing enrollment at the Gate of Heaven School made it clear that the School was no longer viable.

The school year there was completed, and ultimately, the remaining staff and student body were combined with the St. Brigid Parish School on East Broadway, which was then renamed the

South Boston Catholic Academy.

However, this left a large, unoccupied building standing vacant in the church parking lot between East Fourth and Fifth Streets, a circumstance aggravated by a $2 million debt remaining after extensive (and necessary) renovations performed on the Gate of Heaven Church in 2005.

A brief history will reveal how difficult it is to make major decisions when dealing with bricks-and-mortar facilities under these circumstances.

Initially, the Archdiocese, who is the legal “owner” of the Gate of Heaven School building, insisted that the school building be sold to pay off the debt mentioned above. Several developers were interested, but their bids ran into strenuous objections from the Gate of Heaven parishioners and neighbors living near the Church. In addition, in order to meet parking requirements, much of the existing parking lot would have to have been included in the sale to any developer.

Another alternative would have been to lease the School building as a school – a charter school perhaps? In fact, just over three years ago, the Archdiocese established a new policy that its surplus properties must be leased, not sold outright. This could have continued on page 3

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Career Profiles: Nursing in Demand

By Richard Campbell

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tudents searching for a professional career that is near recession proof need look no further than the piping hot nursing field. Massachusetts is projected as one of ten states accounting for half the total job growth in this sector in the nation, with the profession is sitting upon an expected job growth at 16% between now and 2024. While anticipated income is probably not the primary reason for students to enter into nursing programs, a college graduate in a BSN program now would be set to earn about $63,000 annually. With many nurses in Massachusetts getting older, the demand will only increase as current staffs

expect a wave of retirements.

Nursing is a highly professionalized career track that is very demanding mentally, physically, and emotionally; but its practitioners site job satisfaction as being very high.

Often overlooked by entering students is the concept of genuinely feeling the call to this profession. If you are the type of person who cares greatly for others, and wants to work in a rewarding profession, nursing may be your call. It is not a profession for the weak willed, as the discipline and ability needed to think on one’s feet as a professional nurse is considerable. A high degree of emotional intelligence is a required, because being on the front line, interacting with patients, doctors, and systems demands a level of empathic attention that is more critical than in other professions.

Testimony from people who work in hospitals repeatedly cite the work environment as being highly structured, professional, and generally positive. Nursing is a profession

with deep community roots.

There are a number of ways to enter the nursing profession through education, and because of demand, many scholarship opportunities. The required education is either an Associates (ADN) or Bachelor’s (BSN) degree, and then taking the National Council Licensure Examination, NCLEX-RN. This is a pretty heavy six-hour exam that covers basic patient care, psychological skills, preventative treatment, and other kinds of health care knowledge. Most nursing programs require courses in nursing skills, human development, anatomy and physiology, nutrition, microbiology, psychology, pharmacology, nursing informatics, and statistics.

Students who are genuine type-A personalities, who want to get into the profession faster, might find the accelerated, or Direct Entry programs, which can take anywhere from 12-18 months. The traditional BSN takes four years to complete, and many employers consider the traditional degree as more valued. You want to make sure

that the college is accredited fully by NEASC, in New England, or the Commission for Educational Nursing in schools across the nation.

Many candidates opt for further specialization or advanced practices that require specialized knowledge through a master’s program in fields such as emergency room nurse, cardiology specialist, for example, with each specialization having their own requirements.

These are not easy degrees, and the higher level specialized fields are generally more stressful, but the monetary rewards are generous. The nursing profession has become increasingly technological, requiring the ability to work within various advanced systems in place in hospitals and doctor’s offices.

As you can see from this brief over view, this is a valued profession with great rewards. If you are interested in a nursing program in Massachusetts, this resource is a valuable one to consider: https://w w w.registerednursing. or g /s t ate /m a s s a c hu s e t t s .

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018 Continued from page 1

Gate of Heaven

meant a much-needed addition to local school choice, as well as providing a steady stream of parish income from the rent paid by a charter school. Again, for a variety of reasons – including the age of the School building – this was not a workable solution.

South Boston Online is admittedly simplifying the story of all the efforts to sell or re-use the Gate of Heaven School building over the last nine years, but we think you’ll get the picture.

At first, demolishing a building that is still structurally sound seems to be a waste. But figures provided during an interview with the Pastor, Fr. Robert Casey, and the Parish Operations Manager Marty Keogh say otherwise. Supporting the Gate of Heaven School building costs $45,000 per year in utilities, maintenance, and insurance premiums. This is an actual, out-of-pocket expense now borne by the Gate of Heaven parishioners.

Furthermore, rentals of parking places freed up by demolition of the School building would add an income stream. A (very rough) guess implies that the Gate of Heaven’s “cash f low” would improve by as much as $200,000 per year after School building demolition is completed, which would provide an avenue for repaying its debt, as well as funding some needed repairs. As an opinion, this writer believes that these economic figures are actually conservative, and will easily be reached in the future.

During our interview, Fr. Casey emphasized that the decision is, first and foremost, aimed at preserving the Gate

of Heaven Church. He also emphasized the collegial nature of the decision. It incorporates the thinking of all those who were affected , while maximizing the benefit to each constituent.

Demolition is an understandable approach for religious reasons, too. Keeping the property within the ownership of the parish is a strong upside. After all, who can foretell the long-term future, and predict the need for retaining this property essentially forever.

And the combined parishes of St. Brigid and Gate of Heaven are back on the growth path, with church usage that includes numerous baptisms, funerals, and weddings (three of them over New Year’s weekend).

Finally, the Gate of Heaven Church is a beautiful, inspiring building.

It needs to be preserved; it deserves formal landmark status. Just take a look at the South Boston skyline the next time you are on Summer Street.

You’ll see what we mean. And even if you aren’t a member of Gate of Heaven Church, you are welcome to visit it. Stop in for a Mass sometime, sit in the glorious nave, and simply view your surroundings. They are striking and remarkable. And you should look forward to the proposed walkway outside Gate of Heaven Church. It will be almost like a natural cloister.

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The striking Gothic interior of the Gate of Heaven Church, looking from the choir to the altar.

The back of Gate of Heaven Church, looking out onto East Fifth Street.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

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ASCA Meeting – Parade Route, Pot Shops (?)

by Rick Winterson There are seven neighborhood civic organizations in South Boston. They generally meet on a monthly basis to review crime statistics, proposed developments, and specific neighborhood controversies.

Since it’s early in 2018, South Boston Online will be reporting on these civic meetings, with an emphasis on key controversies that could be of general interest. In our last issue (January 11, page three), we wrote about the City Point Neighborhood Association and their zoning controversies.

For this issue, we covered the meeting of ASCA - the Andrew Square Civic Association. Two key issues emerged: The location of (now legal) pot shops in and around Andrew Square, and proposed route changes for the 2018 St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day Parade.

Ed Flynn, the newly inaugurated District 2 City Councilor, brought up the pot

shop issue from the meeting’s floor. He stated this issue as a question, “Do you want a pot shop in your neighborhood?”, and then answered his own question, “I certainly don’t want a pot shop near where I live.”

This made the ASCA meeting attendees think about the issue, although no specific answers were articulated. South Boston Online is mentioning this as a question all our readers need to answer.

Like it or not, even though possession is still a federal felony, pot is now legal in Massachusetts, the City of Boston, and our South Boston neighborhood.

The exact, acceptable locations of pot shops anywhere in South Boston still need to be determined.

The SBAWVC (South Boston Allied War Veterans Council) took over responsibility for the Parade from the City of Boston some 70 years ago. Dave Falvey, the current SBAWVC Commander, and Tim Duross, who has organized, staged, and overseen

the dispatching during Parade Day since the 1990s, then took the floor at the ASCA meeting.

It is a fact that Andrew Square becomes a traffic nightmare at the end of the Parade. Part of this is due to the expansion of South Bay, including a recently opened movie house. Andrew Square is frequently congested, even when traffic is normal. Another problem arises because the Parade itself has become such a huge event – 150+ marching units, the largest Parade in New England and the third largest in the nation. Once the Parade’s leading elements arrive in Andrew Square, there are legitimate concerns about access by emergency vehicles.

Falvey and Duross proposed

stopping and dispersing the Parade at the intersection of Dorchester Street and Old Colony Avenue, instead of in the Square. Because of the number of local viewers from the blocks immediately around the Square, including many elderly residents, ASCA members objected to this.

Suggested alternates included routing the Parade onto Ward Street from Dorchester Street, and using Preble Street as a dispersal area. Falvey and Duross agreed to get an opinion from the City’s Traffic Department, and to resubmit a final proposal to ASCA. What are your ideas about the Parade route this coming March 18, which is a Sunday afternoon?

ASCA (The Andrew Square Civic Association) opens its recent community meeting on January 10.

Parade Organizer Tim Duross and Dave Falvey, Commander of SBAWVC (the South Boston Allied War Veteran Council) explain the proposed 2018 Parade route at the ASCA meeting.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

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Andrew’s What?

by Rick Winterson Last Friday, there was an interesting article in The Wall Street Journal (still America’s best newspaper). And it was on the front page, yet. Entitled “Come to Our Stores – They’re Absolutely Not in a Mall”, this article described a new trend in America, a trend away from calling shopping centers “Malls”.

In a spectacular display of poor English, the article quoted one marketeer as saying, “This Mall needed to de-mall.” Sigh-h-h!

But bad English aside, the term “Mall” is derived from “pall-mall”, an urban game that was played 400 years ago in alleyways with a small wooden ball, something like a musclebound version of croquet. Yes, “Mall” derives from the Queen’s English. But no, it’s not a word describing something modern or attractive or dignified.

Andrew Square – by any other name, a different shape?

The only mall near South Boston is South Bay, a strip mall that is almost always called just “South Bay” anyhow. With only two unfortunate exceptions of the word “village” – one of them almost 150 years old - South Boston is blessedly free of cutesiepoo jargon words that describe our landmarks and important

points. Just a few “Squares” do the job for us. In fact, there isn’t even a Broadway Square at our Broadway Red Line station.

It’s (sometimes) called “Lower Broadway”. More often, that area is referred to “near” or “next to” Broadway Station. Cool!

However, let’s use our

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imaginations for a moment. The word “Mall” is now out. “Square” is tired and old-fashioned.

“Village” means a few one-room houses with thatched roofs on a cobblestone road. But “Crossing” stands for a key intersection, and what could be busier than the six roads making up Andrew Square? We think that John Albion Andrew, Massachusetts governor and ardent abolitionist, might welcome a change, since his “Square” has become a six-road hexagon.

And the word “Circus” once meant “Circle” (as in “rotary”). And “Trivia” (seriously!) originally meant “Three Streets”.

So let’s try this trio of new names on for size: “Andrew’s Crossing”, “Broadway Circus”, and “Perkins Trivia”.

Let us know what you think.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

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South Boston Catholic Academy Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. On Friday morning, January 12, 2018 the students, faculty and staff at South Boston Catholic Academy attended a short prayer service to commemorate Dr. King. Several

of our students, along with Mrs. Hoy, the music teacher, led the students in song and prayer honoring the extraordinary life and contributions of Martin Luthe King, Jr.

We look forward to highlighting our student learning during Catholic Schools Week, where students will present their Utopian Society projects as well as participate in our annual Science Showcase on January 31, 2018. Our Open House will also be held on January 31, from 9-1.

For additional information about South Boston Catholic Academy, please visit their website at www.sbcatholicacademy.org or call 617-268-2326. If you cannot make our Open House, but would like a tour, please join us on “Tour Tuesdays� every Tuesday at 9AM.

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The Lyric Takes Courageous Stab at Road Show

By Richard Campbell

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ou have to hand it to Artistic Director Spiro Veloudos, he’s not afraid of a challenge. The opening night of the musical Road Show, the Stephen Sondheim, John Weidman collaboration with orchestrations

by Jonathan Tunick, had some rough spots. Many of these seemed to be because of the inherent complexity of the piece. Directed and choreographed Ilyse Robbins, this is a monster musical to put on such a small stage. Sondheim’s later musicals are also in a special category, bridging modern music and traditional musical theatre into a unique stylistic realm. So for those who are not familiar with his work, the complexity of the lyrics and orchestration may take a little adjustment. Trust me, this is not a show for children.

The premise of two Mizner brothers trying to make good with their father’s dwindling inheritance takes us upon a phantasm of pretty large proportions that moves rather swiftly from scene to scene.

Haunted by their father’s death bed admonitions, they travel the world to seek fame and fortune. It must be realized that a great deal of fiction is added here to the story of the Mizner brothers. Addison Mizner was a well-known architect who greatly impacted Florida architecture with his Spanish styles -particularly in Palm Beach and Boca Raton. In Boca Raton he is known for an attempt at a grand community design that originally had Vanderbilt’s and du Pont’s eating out of his hands. Of course, like so many other schemes in Boca, it eventually fell on hard times.

This is musical theatre, so we barely get a glimpse of his accomplishments. Much of the first act is devoted to his ne’er-do-well brother Wilson who was actually a playwright, professional gambler, and boxing promoter-among other things. Though penniless when he married into the millionaire fortunes of the widow Mary Adelaide Yerkes, he soon became a

bonafide Manhattan dilettante. In order to give you an idea of the level of con in this man, when he settled in with Yerkes it gave him access to original Rembrandts, and of course he had copies made of them, to sell them as originals. The two opposing personalities are a great contrast, though at times Weidman’s book runs aground with obvious platitudes.

From the Alaskan Gold Rush to Hawaii, India, South America, Palm Beach, and to Boca Raton, and seemingly every other location in between; there is an element of fun chaos to this show. We are teased with an ever changing cast of stock characters, singing their hearts out. In the lead casting the very skillful actor Neil Casey playing Addison Mizner seems miscast age wise. We can admire his pluck, but he looks a little long in the tooth to be a brother to his much younger con job sibling Willie, played by Tony Castellanos with considerable exuberance. Cringe-worthy and definitely not believably staged, would be his later affair with the youthful Hollis Bessemer. What starts out as a kind of vaudeville review is rebranded as a life quest to make money and achieve fame, (one of my least favorite plot devices), narrated with comical asides, dark humor, and soulful songs. This piece relentlessly pushes the envelope.

Stand out character work by Patrick Varner as Hollis Bessemer,

and his resilient ensemble skills powered the second half of the show. The same can be said for the ever reliable Will McGarrahan, who kept the journey moving fast. The Boca Girls number by Jordon Clark, and Robin Long with ensemble, was a snappy radio scene. Anyone with knowledge of vocal work will immediately hear this show is a pig.

Thank God for Jonathan Tunick, whose orchestrations glue it all together. I think sometimes Stephen

Sondheim is secretly punishing vocalists- not ever wanting to sound simple, always reaching for the complex. The script, having been through at least two major revisions over the years, in its final version won an Obie and Drama Desk award for lyrics in 2009.

Lucky for the mostly great voices and the tight orchestra, as the book still has clichés that only true lovers of musical theatre could excuse.

To compensate for the tight space, set designer Christina Todesco stacked travel trunks and furniture high into the sky that actors could ascend and descend- allowing interesting stage pictures and the clever positioning of the orchestra.

I am sort of amazed that in the 90-minute stretch, with dozens of costume changes, and climbing up and down the suitcase furniture set, that someone didn’t collapse from sheer exhaustion. In general, the staging and choreography was imaginative, but I think- much like the over packed musical score- some of those suitcase set pieces needed to reveal a little more. This is the kind of musical to take college theatre students to see, as it shows fairly admirably how good ensemble work and complex choreography work.

The show runs at the Lyric Stage until February 17th.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

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South Boston Catholic Academy Faith, Family, Academic Excellence Please join us for our Open House on Wednesday, January 31st from 9:00-1:00 when we our opening our doors to share our mission of faith, family, and academic excellence to prospective students and their families.

South Boston Catholic Academy is an elementary school serving over 350 students, PreK to Grade 6, from South Boston, the Seaport District and surrounding communities.

At the center of South Boston Catholic Academy’s work is a commitment to student learning and high achievement. Our curriculum begins in our Early Childhood Program (PreK and K1), which is a part of the highly regarded Lynch Foundation Early Childhood Project. Teachers create an environment that nurtures the social and emotional well-being of all students.

The Literacy Collaborative, through Lesley University, provides our teachers explicit coaching around literacy in the classroom to ensure that all of our students are given extensive early exposure to reading and writing.

In addition, SBCA also offers a Reading Recovery program for early readers who need effective one to one intervention.

Our rigorous, core academic subjects and technology are supplemented by fine arts, technology, physical education, and a Spanish curriculum in all grades.

Furthermore, partnerships with Emmanuel College, Lesley University, Boston College, The Museum of Science and The Lynch Foundation continue to serve as essential resources to provide the Academy with

Council, Community Service Club, and Choir. Students in need of extra help receive after school tutoring during our homework club.

SBCA’s commitment to preparing its students for future success is highlighted by our Grade 6 students acceptance into prestigious middle schools in the Boston area.

Come check out what makes our school such a special place! additional enhancements to our curriculum.

Beyond the school day, our students engage in further learning and are active members of their community. Our students

are active participants in many clubs, sports, and community service organizations. After school, most students join one of our several clubs or teams, including Basketball, Student

Sincerely, Nancy D. Carr Principal 866 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127

PreK–Grade 6

Open House Wednesday, January 31, 2018 9:00 am–1:00 pm

866 East Broadway | South Boston, MA 02127 | 617.268.2326 | sbcatholicacademy.org

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

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Cheap Fast Eats in the Seaport: Aceituna Grill

By Richard Campbell

The cheap fast lunch options in the Seaport are starting to grow a little. In the case Aceituna Grill, which opened in 2016, the restaurant is in its second iterationhaving had a restaurant in Kendal Square, Cambridge. This Mediterranean grill offers a variety of lunch options believed to be more healthy than regular fast food. It is a little off the beaten path at 57 Wharf Road, off the corner of Seaport Boulevard, but close enough to the ICA to make it a good lunch spot before going to the museum. While I was there was a small mix of young families, and middle aged business people having lunch.

I came specifically for the lamb / beef Shawarma which can be served in a pita or a salad tray option. The salad option costs three bucks more, but offers rice and various vegetables. The place passed the Shawarma test fairly well with pleasing tahini sauce and tabbouleh sides. The beef and lamb are layered on the spit so when they shave your meat you get both automatically. It was mildly flavored, not real spicy, but you can add various sauces. The salad bar that they serve from has some neat things you don’t see in most restaurants-moussaka for example, though some of the add on fees were a little penny foolish. There is something a little odd about being able to see the meats being cut off the giant rotisseries proudly displayed, but it seems to make for an efficient fast food system.

Vegetarians will of course come for the Falafel and full Greek Salads with things like roasted broccoli- which is all the rage now everywhere- pickled red

onions, hot peppers, and several kinds of roasted vegetables. I have to be in the mood for falafel, but others at the table seemed to enjoy it, saying it was moist and pretty flavorful. Both the Baba Ganoush and the Hummus came up to standard, but I wanted the breads to be hotter, I mean steaming-where they were just warm. The fact that they had olive oil and various sauces for you to put on your food, and the staff was willing to give you options on sides was nice, but they are short in the olive category. You can get out of here with a flavorful lunch including a drink at about $12.00- which is super cheap in this neighborhood.

The ever changing South Boston Seaport

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

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New England International Auto Show

By Richard Campbell

Real auto heads liked this show for being a little less gimmicky than some past years, and very focused revealing the engineering and design of the vehicles.

The line of hyper cars including Bugatti, Ferrari, Pagani, Koenigsegg, and Lamborghini, had these serious clients pretty excited.

The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in the Seaport hosted the 2018 New England International Auto Show with the theme Driving the Future featuring a polished consumer centered vehicle line up with a few extra frills.

In the standard issue cars Toyota seemed to own the floor in demonstrations and displays revealing it’s Olympic branded RAV4 and the usual line of loaded Camry’s.

ed the Rogues, Altimas, and Maximas customized by Lucas Films.

There were some clever advertising campaigns, for example the virtual reality Nissan Star Wars box in which both kids and adults could interact with the famous robot characters from the latest installment of that venerable franchise. The Star Wars series of cars includ-

People wishing to see a string of luxury vehicles from Lexus, to Infiniti’s, Audi’s, Porsche’s, Aston Martin’s and Rolls’ Royce’s will not be disappointed.

Though as a middle aged male, the interest in sports cars has not waned, I noticed a lot of cars designed out from a sedan model have been increasingly

The coolest kid friendly display: the Star Wars Virtual Reality Cube.

pumped up. Old time American favorites like the Ford Mustang, carved out a space with new monsters like the Chrysler touring cars, traditional jeeps, and not so traditional, Lincoln Navigator. Laden with high tech appointments and powerful engines, the European lines shined with the true glitter and glam.

Noticeably missing from the show was Tesla, the premier electric car in the world. In the past one might have contributed this oversight to the fact that Tesla was struggling, but given their record sales, it is a little troubling. That along with the low number of hybrid cars shows that American auto makers are still not serious about getting off fossil fuels in the future.

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FPTC Tenth Celebrated

by Rick Winterson Boston is a city of small theaters and theater groups. Sometimes, these are lumped together under the inelegant phrase, “black box theaters”, which really isn’t a good description.

In fact, it’s bad. “Intimate”, “flexible” theaters with a certain “presence” is better. Much better. This leads to

a natural and accurate assumption that much of what these theaterswith-a-presence come up with ranges from classic to experimental.

“Let’s do it!” is their mantra.

Unfortunately, the average life of these theaters and theater groups is just two years, at least in the Boston area. A lack of both rehearsal and performing space is one reason. With small audiences and low ticket sales, funding is another. But, that’s not always true.

The Fort Point Theatre Channel (the “FPTC”) is one of the more unusual and remarkable exceptions.

Last Thursday evening, January 11, the FPTC celebrated its Tenth Anniversary with a gala party and an exhibition of their many, many

creative works. The entire lobby at 15 Channel Center, including the intimate space called “Art under the Stairs”, became a ballroom, a museum, and a performing stage. It had “everything”, as they say. Two bands, including Nick Thorkelson and Peter Tork, once of the Monkees, played classic rock. Singers and actors did their bits. A quintet made up of “Jacques Pardo and Friends” played everything from jazz to dance. In this case, “everything” included a rap on Henry David Thoreau. Could this lead to a new mode of transcendentalist behavior called “Walden Pond Hip-Hop”?

Perhaps the main reason for the decade-long success of the FPTC is its ability to collaborate while

creating. A few numbers might explain: 22 varied artists form the FPTC core group; another 15 form an additional group of adjuncts and associates. Needless to say, between them all, these folks have worked together from 2007 to 2017 on more than a hundred productions of varying complexity. A succession is assured as one of the Artistic Directors named Christine Noah takes over the duties of co-Founder Marc Miller. There were many to thank for such a great Tenth Anniversary Party, including the purveyors of the food and drink, who numbered – you guessed it – ten (one for each year of FPTC’s life span so far).

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

SB Catholic Academy Science Showcase Submitted by Jamie Brown On Wednesday, January 31st from 9-11, students at South Boston Catholic Academy will be hosting their second annual science showcase.

Students from grades preschool through grade 6 will be presenting projects to share their work in the sciences through innovative projects that demonstrate their learning.

Our younger students are eager to share their recent work in STEM projects and Coding. These projects include working with melting snow and ice and building bridges and towers. Three of our teachers have been working with the Museum of Science and “Engineering is Elementary” program and will showcase their projects.

Students in grade 5 will present their annual “Invention Convention” projects.

In this project, students will create an invention using simple machines to fix and everyday problem or task.

Sixth graders have been

working to analyze the physics behind several Winter Olympic Sports. At the Science Showcase they will demonstrate the science behind several favorite Olympic Games.

Our Exceptional Learners program will be showing how the recent “Bomb Cyclone” that hit on January 4th formed through a model created on the 3D printer. Students researched how the blizzard was formed and worked to recreate a model.

Our Extended Day students will be showcasing their work with Mindstorm Lego Robotics and the coding they learned through Hatch Coding.

Come stop by and see what our students have been working on!

This event will run concurrently with our Open House, to be held from 9-1. For more information on our January 31st Open House or Science Showcase, please contact Jamie Brown, Assistant Principal at j.brown@sbcatholicacademy. org or call 617-268-2326.

SB Pop Warner Announces New President Cheer Coordinator and Board Members South Boston Pop Warner (SBPW) is thrilled to announce that Eric Manning will be the new President and Kaitlyn Irving will be the new Cheer Coordinator for SBPW. Eric and Kaitlyn bring years of coaching experience and a dedication to SBPW. SBPW would like to thank outgoing board members: Dan Ferrara, Kelli O’Brien and John Clifford for their many years of service. Dan, Kelli and John are grateful for the cooperation and dedication from coaches, parents and players for over the years in making the program well respect. They wish Eric and Kaitlyn and the new board great success and are excited for them to lead the program into the future.

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The Parade Is ON! For 70 years, the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council (SBAWVC) has funded, arranged, and conducted South Boston’s Annual St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day Parade.

This year’s Parade will step off at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, March 18 – only two months from now, as you are reading this.

At a meeting of the SBAWVC on Tuesday, it was noted that our Parade is the largest in New England, and one of the top events in the entire nation. Some 150+ units of all kinds will be taking part. Upwards of 500,000 spectators are expected.

But were you aware that our Parade is funded locally?

South Boston’s businesses and generous individuals make this truly “a hometown Parade”. Please join us for a kickoff Parade Party next Thursday at the L Street Tavern – January 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. And please consider a crowdsourced contribution – using Facebook, go to @SBAWVC and actuate the “DONATE” button.

This is your Parade – please support it.

Thanks.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING ON SITE CLEAN-UP ACTIVITIES On-Terminal Areas 900 East First Street, South Boston MassDEP RTN 3-00257 Former Owner: Coastal Oil of New England (CONE) Current Owner: Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) Wednesday January 24, 2018

As part of the Public Involvement Process for the site at 900 East First Street, Massport will host a public information meeting about the remediation and assessment activities for this site. The site is tracked by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) under Release Tracking Number (RTN) 3-00257. The purpose of this meeting is to provide information on the continued cleanup of the site pursuant to the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP).

The meeting will be held in the Senior Lunch Room of the Curley Community Center located at 1663 Columbia Road, South Boston, on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 7:00 PM. Please use the M Street entrance.

Copies of the assessment and remediation documents are available for review at the South Boston Public Library and MassDEP, Northeast Regional Office, 205B Lowell Street, Wilmington, MA 01876 or on-line at http://public.dep.state.ma.us/wsc_viewer/.

Interested parties may also submit written questions or concerns to James Stolecki at Massport’s Environmental Management Unit Office, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, MA 02128 or by e-mail at jstolecki@massport.com.

Public Meeting

Public Meeting

Fan Pier

OLD COLONY PHASE THREE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18

MONDAY, JANUARY 22

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

50 ROWES WHARF

Norman B. Leventhal Room Boston, MA 02110

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

125 MERCER STREET Tierney Learning Center South Boston, MA 02127

PROJECT PROPONENT: Fan Pier Development, LLC

PROJECT PROPONENT: Beacon Communities Services and BHA LLC

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The BPDA will be hosting a Public Meeting to discuss the Notice of Project Change and Second Amendment to the Development Plan for the Fan Pier Development, Planned Development Area No. 54 submitted by Fan Pier Development, LLC to the Boston Planning & Development Agency on December 18th, 2017.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Notice of Project Change is for Phase Three of the redevelopment of the Old Colony Housing Development located between Dorchester Road and Mercer Streets in South Boston. The Proponent proposes to demolish the eight existing residential buildings comprised of 250 units and replace them with approximately 301 residential units in four sustainably-designed four-story buildings with direct-entry apartments on the first level. Phases One and Two, which include 285 units and a community learning center, were reviewed pursuant to Article 80 and are fully constructed and re-occupied by Old Colony residents. The Master Plan contemplated future phases in order to complete the redevelopment of the Old Colony community.

mail to:

phone: email :

AISLING KERR Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4212 Aisling.Kerr@Boston.gov

mail to:

CLOSE OF COMMENT PERIOD: 2/5/2018

phone: email :

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

LANCE CAMPBELL

Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4311 lance.campbell@boston.gov

CLOSE OF COMMENT PERIOD: 2/2/2018

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

15

Mayor Walsh Announces Plan to Modernize City Shelter System Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the City of Boston is seeking to redesign the emergency shelter system to better support people experiencing homelessness in exiting shelter as quickly as possible, and to ensure that people seeking shelter are quickly connected with the right resources. In a request for proposals (RFP), the City outlines its goal of modernizing its emergency shelter system.

Responses to the RFP are due on February 20, 2018.

“We have made significant progress in our efforts to end chronic and veteran homelessness in the City of Boston,” said Mayor Walsh. “There is more work to be done though, and modernizing our shelter system will make sure that if a person becomes homeless, they are assessed and quickly connected with the right services to help them get back on their feet.”

Since the implementation of Boston’s Way Home, the Walsh administration’s plan to end chronic and veteran homelessness, the city has seen significant success, ending chronic veteran homelessness and housing nearly 1,300 formerly homeless people.

Despite this significant progress, however, demand for shelter continues to grow each year.

Boston’s individual shelters now serve seven percent more people annually than they did in June 2015, when the plan was released.

“Pine Street applauds Mayor Walsh’s efforts to connect those who are homeless with the best resources to move them out of homelessness,” said Lyndia Downie, President and Executive Director of Pine Street Inn. “Our goal is to move people out of shelter as quickly as possible; and better yet, to prevent them from entering in the first place. We look forward to exploring best practices as we work with the city to help people rebuild their lives.”

Boston has one of the most intensive emergency responses to homelessness in the country, offering a shelter bed to anyone in need, regardless of sobriety, criminal record, ties to the area, income, or any other barrier that other shelters often impose. For example, more than half of all individuals entering Boston’s shelter system report their last known address in a zip code outside of Boston. To that end, a more efficient use of the city’s emergency shelter system is critical to achieving the goals of Boston’s Way Home.

An 18-month Front Door Triage pilot at the City’s four largest adult shelters revealed that there are still individuals entering shelter who have viable alternatives other than entering shelter. Shelter guests may need a different type of assistance, such as family mediation, inpatient treatment, or nursing home care, to become stable in housing.

Data shows that in other cases, emergency shelter has become an over-utilized safety net for people exiting other systems of care, such as hospitals, jails, and psychiatric facilities. These facilities provide minimal discharge support, or in some cases, make referrals to shelter with the false expectation that it is a fast track to housing.

It is the goal of this RFP to reach a shelter system that is accessed only by those who need it, reducing demand on shelters and connecting clients with other options and assistance where necessary. Boston’s shelters will also be able to operate in a manner that ensures people experiencing homelessness exit to housing as quickly as possible, and with lower rates of return. Should clients return to shelter after becoming housed, they will be connected to the appropriate resources to help them remain housed.

The shelter redesign process will take place after a thorough review of the policies, procedures, operations, staffing, and outcomes in the city’s

shelters. The proposed plan will be based on proven strategies and outcomes, and will be tailored to the context and resources available within Boston.

Shelter management, staff, and clients will be consulted throughout the process.

In his recent inaugural address, Mayor Walsh announced the establishment of the Boston’s Way Home Fund, which will raise $10 million over the course of four years. These funds will be used to create 200 new units of supportive, sustainable, longterm housing for chronically homeless men and women.

The effort to redesign shelter and to create more permanent housing support one another, as often, the best solution for a chronically homeless individual exiting shelter is to become housed in a unit of permanent supportive housing.

This type of housing

combines subsidized rental housing with individualized support services so that people with complex issues can receive the assistance they need to stay housed. The services are designed to build independent living skills and to connect people with services such as community-based health care, support managing mental health conditions, substance use counseling, and employment services.

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SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018 THE PRINT EDITION