THE PRINT EDITION
THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018
VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 62
Condon’s “Guys & Dolls”
Governor Baker Proposes Funds for Learning Programs Budget Surplus Could be Used to Speed up Trains By Richard Campbell Perhaps conf irming his popularity among the average voter, Governor Charlie Baker proposed a few line items that fund learning programs in Massachusetts. Line item 70619814 establishes a competitive grant program to support the development and expansion of research-based summer learning progra ms across the state. A lt hou g h t he bud g e t appeared late, in the first month of the fiscal year- for which he was roundly criticized- people in education may have felt it was well worth the wait, but the state house couldn’t come to agreement, leaving education on the table until the next session. With a budget proposed of 150 million for education,
72 million of it for improved school safety, Baker put his chips down for education- a popular mission among voters. With a prooposed 40 million going to hire badly needed additional social workers and mental health counselors, Charlie Ba ker shows some wisdom that many other governors in our nation do not possess. Continuing his conservative spending-policies he vetoed almost 50 million in spending, down from his $320 million dollar vetoes of last year. While the State House may wrangle and override his vetoes, few can argue that the state budgets aren’t in better shape because of Baker’s stewardship. The polling is mixed on how Massachusetts voters feel about the governor’s veto on the Tolling program but clever economics aside, given the condition of many
It has been an awesome Summer at the Condon Juniors’ Camp. The girls and boys, guided by a super staff, have had exciting theme weeks and are creating friendships and memories that will last forever. The community has been very generous to the campers as well. Special thanks to Maureen Manning, Emma Brooks and Allie Brodsky for their kind donation of American Girl dolls, furniture and books. They are played with all day! The South Boston Summer Collaborative Camp directed by Erin Noonan and assisted by Ashley Tagrin, Ishmail Garcia & Keoiny Hickman are gearing up for a magical second half. Stay tuned for more great photos!
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
Can We Elevate Physical Education & Health Instruction? By Richard Campbell
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t was covering the splendid athletic prowess of the Boston Triathlon athletes this past week that made this writer ponder physical education. The nation is experiencing an obesity epidemic that is well recorded by the National Center for Disease Control. In children ages 2-19 the obesity rate has hit an all-time high of 18.5 %, with the spectacular 20.6% for students between the ages of 12-19 years. The current adult obesity rate of around 35% indicates a not particularly rosy future, as the obesity rate of children growing up in the 1970’s was only 4%. These national statistics mean that particularly for adults and high school students, we have big problems. Some blame fast food, lackadaisical parenting, poor early child care, video game addiction, or the erosion of physical education in the public schools- and no doubt all these have added to the problem. The history of physical education in America has always been the butt of jokes and anecdotes. I remember a Phys. Ed instructor who was obese and smoked who died prematurely of
a heart attack. At the time it seemed deeply ironic. But things were much simpler in those days. Supposedly in this new era of political correctness and high technology, things are different. They are different alright. We seem to be evaluating the periphery of physical and health education and lacking the common sense to carry it out. National standards in this area not only lack rigor but look like they are cutting corners just to save money. Some officials seem afraid to attribute obesity to the lack of rigorous exercise, resources and facilities. Rather they suggest a nuanced picture of diet and exercise, buttered with a lot of doublespeak, designed to cover class differences. There is a high correlation between low-income children and obesity, which also shows that with an increase in education and income, obesity levels drop. Some recent progress has been made because of the WIC and family health programs, but the needle is moving very slowly. In my student days, (the dark ages) poor kids weren’t obese at all, but rather so thin that it alarmed school officials. The few obese kids in a classroom, usually were attributable to more complex medical conditions. The new normal of American fitness is a little hard to grasp, as many of us struggle with obesity- but among
children it is alarming. What will these kids do when they get older if they are overweight now? At the opposite end of the normal spectrum we have a small class of super athletes. The extremes are striking. Current physical education standards come up pretty slim in Boston Public Schools as do national requirements. To quote the BPS site: “All students in grades PreK-8 must receive at least 45 minutes of weekly PE with an aim of 80 minutes of weekly PE. All students in grades 9-12 must receive at least one semester of PE each year…” No wonder we have an obesity epidemic. Further the site states: “Schools should aim to offer at least 150 minutes of in-school physical activity weekly in grades Pre-K-8, and students are expected to have daily recess.” Now consider this suggested national benchmark: “Ideally, elementary school students should participate in 150 minutes per week of physical education and middle and high schools’ students should participate in 225 minutes a week of physical education.” Several health agencies recommend 60 minutes of daily physical activity for kids in K-8. We might assume schools would provide half that exercise time, leading to students exercising 30 minutes a daythus the figure of 150 minutes a week. Clearly getting exercise before and after school becomes critical. The class of students who have little problem with obesity is high school athletes. But this is a pretty small group of the total student body. I am willing to bet that all after school programs reduce obesity but haven’t found evidence yet. This writer was flummoxed trying to evaluate the team sports provided in physical education classes on the high school level. For while there are requirements to master various aspects of playing team sports, there is very little delineating actual activity. There are, lists of requirements for push-ups, sit ups, curls, etc. It is true that many BPS students have after school team sports that fill in the gaps. But though the miniature physical education classes where high school students barely sweat serve as a break from sitting in class, they would hardly represent rigorous physical training. Using the current formulas for sustained cardio activity, almost as
soon as students start exercising, their requirement is over. Now consider Health education. The requirements of Health education in grades K-12 of the Boston Public Schools are: “Two semesters of health education in total in grades 6 to 8 taught by a licensed health education teacher.” “One semester course of health education in total in grades 9 to 12 taught by a licensed health education teacher.” The added social aspects of the modern health class programs emphasize sections on bullying, social skills, gender equality, cooperation and leadership skills. Most adults would not recall being taught explicitly in their health classes, that would probably be better rendered in a more comprehensive human psychology class. Human development instruction across the curricular years did not seem to be much in evidence, what with time being squandered on things like etiquette, and learning not to beat up or ridicule other kids. Some of the social goals would be laudable if the core health / physical ed curriculum was really accomplishing more civilized behavior. Far be it from this writer to suggest the incredible uptick in student violence calls for a new approach. Waiting until high school to teach human development to kids is at the center of the problem. Americans are notoriously prudish when it comes to teaching their children the facts of life but have little objection to exposing them to ghoulish movies, the joy of guns, and violent video games. The stupidity of this reveals itself in the stark differences in teen pregnancy and school violence rates in the US when compared to many European nations. What can be done? A more reasonable goal for health classes would be to teach health class each semester from grades 6-12. With such a scenario the students would learn basic health concepts, and study human development with depth. Clearly the problems that modern students face are such that psychological and physical development knowledge needs to be significantly increased. Health and physical instruction should elevate the student’s lives to prepare them for adulthood.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018
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Governor Baker Proposes Ed Funds... continued from page 1 roads and the back log of repairs, it wasn’t a surprise. Baker’s budget finishes the year with a near billion-dollar surplus, which hasn’t happened for a few years at least and allows the state to place those funds in a rainy-day account for emergencies. This seems a prudent idea, but depending upon which interest group you talk with, they would all like to get a piece of those funds for cherished causes. The total proposed budget was 42.23 Billion which gives you an idea of how big our state’s expenses are. Aid to
local towns and municipalities was given $1.099 billion in unrestricted general government aid, increasing that amount from last year by 3.5%. The state increased its funding for fighting the opioid epidemic by 5 million, putting Massachusetts out ahead on that battle, and the State House approved about 90% of Governor Baker’s proposal. The Tax Free Holiday passed and will be coming up shortly. The budget of the MBTA at about 2 billion received criticism because of the 36 million-dollar shortfall for the MBTA. With the new trains for the Orange
The new pedestrian bridge on the Esplanade by Mass Dot is almost done.
One of the state’s biggest recent projects, the Longfellow Bridge. Line expected in 2019, people will finally have something to celebrate- but word is we have to wait until 2023 to see the Red Line trains arrive. As various news sources have emphasized the trains that bring commuters to Boston are inadequately funded, infrequent, as referenced in the Better City report. You don’t need an engineering degree
to see the Red Line won’t be able to wait another five years, or to understand that the commuter rail system is not connected enough to get people out of their cars. As the Mass Avenue bridge project ensues, it may be a good time to lobby for some of that surplus to go to the emergency of our ailing train systems.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
SB Groups Join Youth Beach Bash & Splash On Friday July 27th, more than 450 youth from 8 community groups, including South Boston Neighborhood House, BCYF Condon, and St. Peter Academy attended Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay’s 8th Annual Youth Beach Bash & Splash at the Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Carson Beach. This event was part of Save the Harbor’s free Life’s a Beach Events, which bring free programs to our region’s public beaches all summer long. The event included performances
by pirates and entertainers from the Boston Circus Guild, featuring acrobats, an aerialist, and a hulahooper, with support from Piers Park Sailing, YMCA Boston, and South Boston Neighborhood House. “It was a great day on a great beach in a great beachfront community,” said Bruce Berman, Director of Strategy & Communications for Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay. “Thanks to all our friends and partners in South Boston for making it so much fun for everyone.”
St. Peter Academy joins the Youth Beach Bash & Splash on Carson Beach.
South Boston Neighborhood House joins the Youth Beach Bash & Splash.
At noon everyone took a simultaneous plunge into the cool, clean waters of Boston Harbor. Activities of the day included fishing and crabbing on the shoreline, swimming lessons provided by the YMCA of Greater Boston, and kayaking provided by Piers Park Sailing Center staff. Harbor Historian David Coffin, along with Save the Harbor’s Youth Summer staff, led an inspiring rendition of of the sea chantey “Haul Away Joe”. Youth joined in to sing along as
a reflection on the the collective work to preserve Boston Harbor and keep America’s cleanest beaches pristine. Save the Harbor’s Youth Environmental Education Program staff also brought a touch tank full of marine life to teach kids about the creatures we share the harbor with. Art on the shore and refreshments were also available for everyone at the event. Save the Harbor’s final Youth Beach Bash & Splash of the summer will be held at Carson Beach on August 10th.
The Condon Club joins the Youth Beach Bash & Splash on Carson Beach
The Splash
Boston Circus Guild performer entertains the crowd on Carson Beach.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018
Measles Exposure in Boston City Officials Alert of Potentioal Measles Exposure in Boston The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) today alerted the public of a potential measles exposure at two Boston locations, after receiving notification of a confirmed case of measles. Anyone who visited the following locations during the specified dates and times could become ill between July 26 and August 10, 2018: Tasty Burger at 1301 Boylston Street on July 19, 2018 between 7 p.m. - 11 p.m., and Logan Airport Terminal B on July 20, 2018 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Measles is a highly contagious virus that is spread through the air through coughing and sneezing. The virus may remain in the environment for up to two hours after the infectious person has left the area. Exposure can occur even without direct contact with an infectious person. Early symptoms include a high
fever, runny nose, cough, and red eyes. A skin rash usually occurs three to five days later and begins as flat, red spots on the face. If experiencing these symptoms, people are advised to contact their health care provider by phone immediately for further instructions. If a person has had measles in the past or has received two doses of the vaccine, they are unlikely to become ill even if exposed. If they are uncertain of their immunity status, BPHC recommends monitoring for symptoms and contacting their health care provider. BPHC is working with other health officials on this case and monitoring for potential exposures. BPHC has also reached out to Boston residents to increase awareness about risk of exposure and encourage people who were potentially exposed to call their health care provider by phone for further instructions. For additional information, please contact BPHC at (617) 5345611 or http://www.bphc.org/ whatwedo/infectious-diseases/InfectiousDiseases-A-to-Z/Pages/Measles.aspx.
Compass on the Bay Summer Events Join us as we kick off our Annual Summer Concert Series with a piano and singing performance from Kenny Morrell! Thursday evenings throughout August, we will feature a different performer on our front lawn, along with refreshments and snacks. These concerts are free to attend, and people are encouraged to bring their own chairs.
Call 617-268-5450 for more information. Kenny Morrell Entertains August 2, 2018, 6:00 pm Forever Fit with Nick at Compass on the Bay August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30th at 10:30 am Yoga with Karen at Compass on the Bay August 7, 2018, 1:00 pm Steve Lanzilotta Performs at Compass on the Bay August 8, 2018, 10:30 am Jeffrey Folmer Entertains at Compass on the Bay August 9, 2018, 6:00 pm David Hull Performs at Compass on the Bay August 14, 2018, 2:00 pm Richie Bern Performs at Compass on the Bay August 19, 2018, 2:30 pm Anne Marie and Ice Perform at Compass on the Bay August 23, 2018, 6:00 pm Johnny Rampino Entertains at Compass on the Bay August 28, 2018, 1:30 pm Patrick Hoye Performs at Compass on the Bay
August 29, 2018, 10:30 am
ff Join us AND
David Hull Performs at Compass on the Bay August 30, 2018, 6:00 pm
LUNCH R! A TOU
MEMORY SUPPORT ASSISTED LIVING 1380 Columbia Road, Boston, MA 617.268.5450 I CompassOnTheBay.com LEADING SENIOR LIVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
Artists for Humanity on Castle Island Young members of Artists for Humanity (A and Second Streets) went to Castle Island for their Interactive Art Series entitled “The People’s Harbor”. As shown, the subject of their community work of art was Castle Island itself. Linda Doran’s Youth Ambassadors (in gray T-shirts) from the Community Health Center joined in as well. And be sure to attend the final event in this Series: On Thursday, August 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. at A Street Park (near the corner of Second). Join in the works of art, and get a good look at the Artists for Humanity’s nearly completed expansion, which opens in October. Partners in this Series include Children’s Museum, National Parks Service, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, and the Youth Ambassadors (mentioned above).
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SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018
Boston Fire Fighters Local 718 Endorses David Biele
Jay Lowdie Memorial Swim
“Boston Fire fighters Local 718 is proud to endorse David Biele to be the next State Representative for South Boston and Dorchester. David has a proven record of supporting fire fighters and their families. He’s written legislation to increase funding for training programs and has been a strong supporter of our men and women in uniform. David’s experience is what our communities need, and we are proud to support his campaign.” -Rich Paris President, Fire Fighters Local 718
Swimmers gathered for a group picture at noontime last Saturday at L Street prior to taking part in the annual Jay Lowdie Memorial Swim held every year on the last Saturday in July. Mr. Lowdie was an avid swimmer and outdoor enthusiast who passed away in 1994.
(Photo by Patrick O’Connor)
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SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
Roberto Mighty: Artist-in-Residence at Mount Auburn Cemetery
Roberto Mighty, Artist-inResidence at Mount Auburn Cemetery, presents “earth.sky”.
by Rick Winterson Roberto Mighty is an unusual person. He is America’s first “Artist in Residence” at a National Historic Landmark Cemetery. This is the world-renowned Mount Auburn Cemetery located on the Cambridge/Watertown border. Roberto is also a Fort Point resident. He is a versatile artistic polymath, and a fine art photographer. He has filmed
a multi-media project he calls ‘earth.sky”, which is about Mount Auburn Cemetery and is far more than a documentary. His creation uses nature cinematography, biographical research, personal interviews, ambient sound, landscapes, and music to evoke emotions, memories, and connections. A word about Mount Auburn: Mount Auburn Cemetery itself is an American “first”. It was solemnly dedicated in 1831. Prior to this time, most people were placed in “burial grounds” after their deaths, leading to urban crowding and a certain amount of fear about contagion. These burial grounds are still historically significant, bur were not pleasant places to visit. Mount Auburn Cemetery’s listing in the Historic Landmark Register describes it as “the first landscaped rural or ‘garden’ cemetery in the United States”. And Roberto Mighty is its first Artist-in-Residence.
The word “cemetery” is French in origin, and is taken from a phrase that means “a place of final rest”, or more simply, “a sleeping place”. The underlying purpose of the Mount Auburn Cemetery concept was to foster “acceptance” that a loved one or a prominent person had passed on. By creating what was actually a beautiful park, the original designers wanted to establish a place where family, friends, and prominent people who had died could be lovingly recalled. Fond remembrance of loved ones was the central theme of Mount Auburn Cemetery. Wednesday evening, July 25, Roberto presented a viewing of “earth.sky”. His viewing was held in Downtown Crossing’s Old South Meeting House (a.k.a. the Old South Church) at 310 Washington Street on the Freedom Trail. He has by now completed 29 short films about
various people buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery - some still remembered, many not. For this viewing, Roberto selected a dozen of these 29 films, ranging from artists to scientists to family members to much-loved friends. Part of the reason these films are so striking is that he had thoroughly researched each of his subjects and had carefully interviewed people who knew and remembered them. All of Roberto’s efforts were nothing short of immense. And all of them were beautifully realized. Would you like to learn more about this project? Look up “earth.sky” for yourself at: www. earthdotsky.com to get a look at all 29 of Roberto Mighty’s Mount Auburn Cemetery films, along with a gallery of some other of his fine art photographs. After you see them, Roberto would appreciate receiving your own comments about what he has created.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018
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2018 Marks 250 Years of Anniversaries
A century marker (1918) recalls the original Boston Army Base, now the “Innovation and Design Building” (the IDB). South Boston is a historic place, as is the entire City of Boston. There are so many Anniversaries of notable events occurring this year that South Boston Online only has enough space to outline a few of those that happened 100, 150, 200, and even 250 years ago. Please let us know if we forgot to include any other important Anniversaries of local interest. by Rick Winterson Take a quick look at the photographs that accompany this article. Each of these photos could have generated a newspaper article of its own. And they picture local happenings with key Anniversaries that occur during this year of 2018. An even one hundred (100) years ago (in 1918) the Boston Army Base first opened its doors. Even after its renewal as the “Innovation and Design Building” (the IDB), it is a South Boston landmark. Just one fact will convince you of that. Did you know that at the time it was opened a full century ago, the Boston Army Base was the largest office building in the U.S.? The South Boston Yacht Club at 150 years of age goes back to 1868. Well, 1868 was also the year of America’s very first Memorial Day. It was called “Decoration Day” back then, because it involved planting spring flowers on Civil War veterans’ graves. This custom might have begun in Waterloo, New York (a major stop on the Underground Railway); it was
declared a national holiday in 1868 by General of the Army John A. Logan. Go back 200 years. No doubt you have heard that the St. Augustine Chapel and Cemetery is preparing for its 200th Anniversary in midSeptember, over the weekend of September 14, 15, and 16. The Chapel honors the memory of the Catholic priest, Father Matignon, who died in 1818; ground was broken for his Chapel late in 1818. On Saturday, August 11, from 10 until 2 p.m., residents of South Boston will gather at the Cemetery to clean the gravestones there. Please volunteer; please bring your own scrub brush. There are charming anecdotes connected with 1818 in South Boston. Boston’s most famous colonial patriot, Paul Revere, died in 1818. He had courted his first wife, Sary, with occasional picnics, when he rowed her across the Harbor to South Boston, then called Dorchester Neck or Mattapanock. Later on, during the Revolution, Revere commanded Fort William – now Fort Independence – on Castle Island. Now let’s go forward by 100 years to 1918. That was the year when the Spanish influenza epidemic began, still the most dangerous pandemic the world has seen in recent centuries. On the lighter side, 1918 was the last year in the 20th Century that the Red Sox won a World Series Championship. The next year, Harry Frasee traded pitcher Babe Ruth to the Yankees, who converted him into an outfielder, whereupon Ruth became the greatest hitter of all time – “The Curse of the Babe” is a century old. Most important, November 11 in 1918 was the first Armistice Day – the final day of World War I. It was called “The War to End All Wars!” because it was the first modern war in which there were more civilian casualties than military
Originally the Boston Army Base, the century-old Innovation and Design Building (IDB) is one-third of a mile long.
In preparation for the St. Augustine Chapel Cemetery’s 200th Anniversary, the gravestones will be cleaned by the Archdiocese on Saturday, August 11. deaths. Eventually, Armistice Day became Veterans Day. South Boston lost 103 of its men while they were in combat in World War I with the Yankee Division. We are known for the high regard we have for our military veterans. South Boston Online urges all of the veterans’ posts in South Boston to observe the 2018 Veterans Day in special ways, perhaps in joint ceremonies, especially honoring Mickey Perkins and other local Medal of Honor recipients. This would cap the chain of events spearheaded by Mary Ryan, when she organized the Centennial event in April, 2017, that commemorated America’s entry into World War I.
The South Boston Yacht Club is 150 years old this year.
We mentioned “250 years” twice, in both our headline and intro line. In 1768, 250 years ago, British Colonel William Dalrymple sailed to Boston and docked here in October. He came here under orders to occupy Boston, in part because of our objection to paying English taxes required by the Stamp Act and the Townshend Act. That began a sequence of events that included the Boston Massacre (1770), the Boston Tea Party (1773), the Battle of Lexington and Concord (1775), Evacuation Day (1776), and our Declaration of Independence (1776) – all in just seven years and ten months. And we won our freedom. The United States of America was born! One hundred year later in 1868, as mentioned above, we first honored the dead of the Civil War, the conflict that freed the slaves. Another one hundred years later (and 50 years ago), on Christmas Eve in 1968, American astronauts became the first human beings to orbit the Moon. How’s that for progress? Let’s not forget during 2018.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Fridays Hits the Freedom Trail
T he H i g h l a nd St re e t Foundation’s Free Fun Fridays 2018 program will hit Boston’s iconic Freedom Tra il ® on Friday, August 10 by offering
free admission to 13 Freedom Trail Foundation-led tours. Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Fridays offers no-cost admission to many
of Massachusetts most treasured cultural venues, like the Freedom Trail, to increase access and enrichment opportunities for children and families during the summer months. Now in its tenth year, this 10-week program will open doors to cultural institutions through August 31 at 10 venues each Friday. This year, a record-breaking 100 venues are participating in the program, and, since its inception in 2009, Free Fun Fridays has drawn more than 1.2 million visitors to a range of institutions celebrating arts, culture, a nd histor y. All tour tickets, including North End Tours tickets, will be distributed on a first-come firstserved basis from a temporary ticket giveaway station located near the Brewer Fountain on Tremont Street on Boston Common starting at 10:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. Tour tickets for the 3:30 p.m., 4:00
p.m. and 4:30 p.m. tours will be distributed in front of the Boston Common Visitor Information Center (139 Tremont Street). Additional Free Fun Fridays opportunities to enjoy along the Freedom Trail will take place on August 17 at the Old State House and on August 31 at the USS Constitution Museum. In order to help ensure a fa nta stic Freedom Tra il experience, the Foundation will limit the number of tickets to 60 per tour. Due to expected crowds, groups of 10 or more must call the Freedom Trail Foundation regarding availabilit y. For more information regarding the Freedom Trail Foundation’s Free Fun Friday on August 10, please call (617) 357-8300. To learn more about the Free Fun Fridays and the Highland Street Foundation, visit w w w.highlandstreet.org
Tours will step off from Boston Common at: 10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. North End Tours will be offered at: 1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. departing at the ArtsBoston Booth at Faneuil Hall.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018
REVIEW: “Gangland Boston”, by Emily Sweeney
“Gangland Boston”, by Emily Sweeney (205 pages)
by Rick Winterson It is early August – high summer or “the Dog Days”, as they used to be known. The weather, although frequently hot, mugg y, and rainy (and occasionally all three at once) is basically fine. Just move slowly, wear light clothing, and catch up on your summer reading. One way to do this is to get yourself a copy of “Gangland Boston”, subtitled (in red) “A tour through the deadly streets of organized crime.” The author of this book is Emily Sweeney, a Dorchester born-and-broughtupper, who is a journa list, writes for the Boston Globe, and has performed in f ilms based upon Boston’s organized cri me sc ene. “Ga ng la nd Boston” was published this year, 2018, by Lyons Press and is 205 pages long. It contains 36 chapters, most of them devoted to the of ten brief “careers” of many well-known members of Boston ga ngs between 1903 and the 1990s – almost all of the Twentieth C ent u r y, in ot her word s. One reason this as a good summertime read is the brevity
of each of the 36 chapters. All but one of them is less than ten pages long; several can be read in one sitting; Ms. Sweeney ties the various gangs and their members together from chapter to chapter. Her individual write-ups can be compared to newspaper articles (with some excellent and gripping photos) or essays on crime in Sunday supplements. Much of what she has written in “Gangland Boston” will be news to you. This is not to say “Gangland Boston” is shallow. The book is highly factual. It takes the reader through the 1919 police strike, Prohibition (and its repeal), and the roots of Boston’s current opioid crisis. Ms. Sweeney has incorporated several useful, added features into her book – two maps, an epilogue, a glossar y of gang lingo, and severa l pages of “end notes”. These are quite in format ive, e specia l ly for someone new to Boston, who wa nts to dig more deeply into Boston’s crime histor y. A lt hou g h it m ay b e considered politically incorrect, “Gangland Boston” is specific about the ethnicities of the ga ngs in Boston – mostly Italian and Irish, of course, with healthy garnishes of Jewish and Chinese gang members. Corrupt politicians and cit y off icials aren’t spared. Approximately a quarter of “Gangland Boston” relates to or actually took place in South Boston. You are left to decide for yourself where the name of the Gustins gang came from, and, yes, there is a chapter at the end of “Gangland Boston” ent it led “W hite y’s World ”. “Ga ngla nd B oston” has some heroes as well – most of them Boston police officers. There are still four weeks left until Labor Day. Pick up a copy of “Gangland Boston” and enjoy yourself.
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Flynn Holds South Boston Office Hours Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn will take his Neighborhood Office Hours program to two locations in South Boston this Saturday, August 4th. Councilor Flynn will be at Caffe Nero, 416 West Broadway from 8:30am-9:30am and the South Boston Public Library, 646 East Broadway, from 4pm-5pm. Residents are encouraged to bring constituent and neighborhood issues directly to Councilor Flynn and his staff. “As the District City Councilor, it is important for me to continue this program and bring City Hall services to each of our neighborhoods. Oftentimes, people are unable to take the time from work or too busy to travel into the city to deal with a particular issue. This is an opportunity for us to come to the neighborhood over the weekend and hear from our residents directly about their concerns regarding pedestrian safety, our parks, development, and our libraries,” said Flynn. “My belief is that every part of District 2 deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, as well as having the same access to basic city services as everyone else. I will continue to bring City Hall services to each of our neighborhoods.” For more information contact: 617-635-3203 or Ed.Flynn@Boston.Gov.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
Volley Ball Tournament Heats Up on Carson Beach
By Richard Campbell
U
ndaunted by the heat, and perhaps creating some heat themselves, Social Boston Sports drew a large group of players for their coed Beach Volleyball Tournament on Carson Beach this past Saturday, July 28th. Teams were formed in 6 versus 6, 4 versus 4 coed groupings and started around 2:00 pm in the bright sun, with some players looking like seasoned pros and others just showing for the fun of it. The tournament winners in the 6V6 category were Ric Flairs Woo’s! and the 4V4 winners were the Green Monkeys. Perhaps you’ve seen this group playing volleyball at Carson over the summer and wondered who they are? Social Sports has grown over the years from its humble beginnings in Baltimore of 16 members to its national company size of 125,000 members in 8 cities featuring amateur sports of all kinds: including volleyball, softball, soccer, yoga, kickball, flag football, and various forms of fitness. They have a dedicated mission to provide sports for kids in their host cities and are well on their way to becoming a national phenomenon. With funky names like Sweet Boys, Scrappy, We Dig Ball, Kill It, and Green Monkeys, I’m not saying there’s a lot of advertising genius in the identities, but there was a
high participation rate and vigor from teams all around Boston. As competition heated up players contorted themselves in every position to conquer the ball and outplay their opponents. Diving into the sand, jumping high in defense over the net, setting up shots, and delivering knock out spikes, proved the teams were pretty physically fit. As the sweat started building and players flexed their muscles bearing their shirts under the hot sun, the team’s main sponsor, Red Bull, provided drinks, along others including Purity & REBBL drinks, Kind protein bars. Matt Kennedy from the American Cancer Society was on hand promoting breast cancer awareness and handing out pink bling, as the live DJ and Red Bull player’s tent added a little shade and sound to the event. The Social Sports organization as a 501c non-profit has made its mission to provide sports for kids ages 6-12 to play variety of sports for free. They’ve branded their movement Volo City, a name that comes from their original bocce ball team that kick started their organization, and their Volo City Foundation (http://www. volocityfoundation.org/) provides free athletic skills training for kids as well as other services. Volo City Kids started in 2015 and continues to build activities for kids, starting in Baltimore and branching out to NYC, Washington DC, Boston, Denver, and San Francisco. With 3,500 kids registered for free athletics, and 700 volunteers running events, this is an organization on the move. Social Boston Sports (http://socialbostonsports. com/) has a presence in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Everett, and some towns beyond. Registration is still open for more volleyball teams if you have a group interested in joining. Their next event the first Greenway Sweat Crawl, is August 12th, 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, and looks to take over the Greenway with physical fitness obsessed participants sweating it out.
Freeform Style
Team Sweet Boys
Pretty Good Challenge
Towering Face Off.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018
Team Beer
Touching Sky
Tipped Over
Team We Dig Ball
Team Grid Established
Team Kill It
A Firm Action.
Defying Gravity
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018
Off Street Parking Available Off Street Parking Available Columbia Road Area $400. / month Call 1-617-877-1791 Or email at Tracyvineyard@gmail.com
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Paul J. Gannon PC General Practice of Law
Criminal Defense Personal Injury Motor Vehicle Accidents Establishment of Corporations, LLCs Wills & Estate Planning Real Estate Litigation Probate No Charge for Initial Consultation
82 West Broadway South Boston, MA (617)269-1993 pgannon@paulgannonlaw.com
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM
SMILF Is Back (Soon) Well, SMILF is back, with its trademark capital “S” that stands either for “Single” or for “Southie”, depending upon how chauvinistic you feel at any given time. The studio trucks from “Above the Line” Production Rentals were lined up along Farragut Road last Tuesday, the 24th, after shoots (we heard) on Castle Island and M Street (MOH) Park – where the weather was perfect.
NOTICE OF TIER RECLASSIFICATION AND EXTENSION Former CONE Terminal 900 East First Street, South Boston, MA MassDEP RTN 3-00257 Pursuant to the Massachusetts Contingency Plan [MCP; 310 CMR 40.0530 and 40.560(7)], a Tier Reclassification and Extension has been submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for this site. MassDEP issued a Tier 1B Permit for this site effective September 8, 1994. Because of regulatory changes in 2014, a Tier 1 classification no longer applies. The submittal proposes to reclassify the site as Tier II. The Tier Reclassification and Extension, as well as the disposal site file, can be viewed at MassDEP website using Release Tracking Number (RTN) 3-00257 at http://public.dep.state.ma.us/SearchableSites2/Search. aspx or at the MassDEP Northeast Regional Office, 205B Lowell Street, Wilmington, MA 01887. Additional public involvement opportunities are available under 310 CMR 40.1403(9) and 310 CMR 40.1404. To obtain more information on this disposal site, please contact Mr. James Stolecki at Massport’s Environmental Management Unit Office, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, MA 02128 or by e-mail at jstolecki@massport.com.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018
Youth Gardeners at Work
Gardener extraordinaire Coleman Flaherty returned from Florida Institute of Technology for his ninth summer at SBNDC, joined by a group of local high school students in the MLK Summer Scholars program. Stop by the garden at the fire station on D Street, or just take a look at the many flower beds on Broadway to get a sense of the great work these youth gardeners are doing! Green features like gardens not only beautify South Boston, but also mitigate flash floods and improve air quality for everyone. We are thankful for our youth gardeners who are making South Boston bloom!
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National Night Out The 35th Annual National Night Out Boston is a citywide celebration that will feature 12 individual neighborhood celebrations across the City of Boston! This year’s observance of National Night Out, a celebration of our Neighborhood Watch groups and the vital police-community partnerships, will occur in South Boston on Tuesday, August 7th at 6:45 until 7:15 p.m. at Moakley Park (Columbia Road). A motorcade of officials led by Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Commissioner William G. Gross will be visiting designated sites for community crime watch celebrations —one in each Police District. At these sites, awards will be presented to the Top Crime Watch Group in each Police District and the Crimefighter of the Year (an individual for their year-round efforts in assisting the Boston Police Department). Residents of Boston and members of the Boston Police Department will enjoy free admission, food, games, and entertainment. Attendees are invited to visit sponsor tables including The Boston Police Foundation, Suffolk County Sheriff ’s Department, Boston Centers for Youth & Families, and a host of others including local non-profits. Every Boston resident is urged to switch on their outside lights for the evening to demonstrate our united community effort against crime.
SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018 THE PRINT EDITION
K & Marine Rd Two-Family with 4 off-street Parking Spaces
47 Marine Road Asking Price: $1,779,000
K & Marine Rd Two-Family with 4 off-street parking spaces? Need I say more?...Here's the deal: The current owners are approved (Permit in hand) to renovate and expand their twofamily to include two bi-level units that are approximately 2,000 Square feet each. Yes, that's 4,000 SF total. The upper unit will have great water views. This building is about 50 yards to K Street beach. The parking is accessed from Deady Lane which is at the end of K Street near Columbia Road. So, if you are up for a renovation project, this is the location to do it! It is estimated that the finished product is worth close to $3 Mil... Call or Email for Plans.