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THE PRINT EDITION

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2017

VOLUME XVIIII - ISSUE 42

Seaport Activities Peak

by Rick Winterson Bank of America Opens

Late Tuesday afternoon, November 28, the Bank of America officially opened its new Financial Center at 7 Fan Pier Boulevard, a part of WS Development’s megaproject called One Seaport. It was a momentous occasion, as one of the nation’s largest banks began its South Boston financial operations. Led by Vice President Megan Doucette, the Manager of the new Financial Center, a red ribbon was cut just before sunset.

A gala reception followed.

One part of the reception’s programs included announcements of very generous support for various causes in and around South Boston. The most significant was the presentation of a check for $675,000 (see photo) by Bank of America executives to Josh Kraft, which will benefit Boston’s Boys & Girls Clubs. Along with various other donations, Bank of America’s total support of local

causes and agencies will amount to approximately $1.5 million.

Music provided by a quartet of young musicians from the Blue Hill Music Clubhouse was a particularly charming facet of the Financial Center’s reception. It was an upbeat, memorable celebration.

One Seaport Ribbon is Cut

WS Development has now essentially completed One Seaport, Boston’s largest mixed-use development in some 30 years – a key integral part of the development of Seaport Square and indeed the whole South Boston Waterfront.

One Seaport hosted a ribboncutting ceremony last Wednesday, November 29, at mid-day to mark this event, a significant achievement, The keynote speaker was Mayor Marty Walsh. City Councilor-atLarge Michael Flaherty and local business owner Andrew Alicea (Seaport Barbers, 51 Northern Avenue) also spoke. The event was emceed by WS Development’s Continued on Page 4

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Sweet Harmony sings in Downtown Crossing

Christmas Around Town

By Richard Campbell

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ome of the lesser known and spontaneous events around Boston reveal the city celebrating Christmas, though it hardly feels like December out there, there is plenty to see. Outside of the big store commerciality and well known events, it is a good to get off the well beaten path to see the often over looked traditional events to gain the full Christmas

experience. From the secular to the sublime, and completely laid back: here’s a quick walk through the city.

As this writer has noted elsewhere, this year Downtown Crossing has been turning a corner to become a more pleasing place to wander, though still a long way from becoming an exciting shopping area, the hub is a good place to start looking at events.

We encountered Sweet Harmony from Riverside Theatre Works, a pitch perfect young a Cappella Continued on page 8

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

Collins Testifies for Better Child Protections

This week, State Representative Nick Collins (D- South Boston) submitted testimony to the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Person with Disabilities on behalf of a bill he filed to ensure consistent, accurate, and effective training of mandated reporters. Mandated reporters include physicians, teachers, clergy members, social workers, and other individuals who act as a first line of defense against child abuse and neglect.

H.3042, An Act Relating to Online Mandated Reporter Training and Neglect Panel, establishes a free standardized online training program that is updated annually, requiring mandated reporters to renew their training every year to keep up with best practices and ensure consistent and accurate training. The legislation also creates a child abuse and neglect expert review panel to review cases of children who frequently move in and out of DCF care, determine areas of improvement, and report on any system-wide trends that are affecting families and children.

“There is nothing more important than safeguarding the wellbeing of children in the Commonwealth” said Rep. Collins. “I am immensely proud to advocate on behalf of this bill together with the Children’s League of Massachusetts, to ensure that our most vulnerable children are not abused, neglected, or mistreated. The standards set forth in this legislation will allow those on the front lines, the mandated reporters, to have all the up-todate tools and best practices at their disposal to identify and report suspected abuse and ensure the highest level of protection for children across the State.”

Other officials who spoke on behalf of the fourth term legislator’s bill included Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Maria Mossaides the State’s Child Advocate, and Sophie Hansen, Political Director for the Massachusetts’s Chapter National Social Worker’s Association. The Committee will now deliberate the bills future.

A Time for Mark

These are scenes from last Saturday’s Friendship Party in the Boston Teachers Union Hall for Mark Conde, who has neurosarcoidosis, and for his

devoted wife, Amy Fitz Conde.

Several hundred of their friends showed up.

Unfortunately, Mark faces a long, arduous rehab process, which includes a novel, year-long regimen at Journey Forward, a progressive clinic.

Mark is a South Boston lad with immense courage, who had been a chef at the Convention Center until his aff liction hit him last year. He was always ready to help others; now he and Amy need help. Perhaps the most touching photos are the ones that show Mark greeting his many, many friends during the Friendship Party.

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Official Tree Lit Sunday The Mayor, Fast Freddy, the ”Songful Artists”, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus (of course) lit the official Christmas tree in Medal of Honor Park last Sunday at 1, accompanied by goodies, juggling, balloon art, pony riding, and a joyful crowd.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2017 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

Continued from Page 1

Seaport Senior Vice President Yanni Tsipis, who oversees One Seaport. The Mayor spoke emphatically about how important the One Seaport project is to the Waterfront and to the entire City of Boston. SVP Tsipis said that this completes just 25% of the total development and pledged support to two of South Boston’s key causes: the Gavin Foundation and Fallen Heroes (veterans and their families).

One Seaport contains more than 800 varied residences, and is already occupied by many enterprises, along with 17 commercial tenants.

These included Seaport Barbers, Mr. Sid, L.L. Bean, Luke’s Lobsters, Bank of America, Caffe Nero, and Tuscan Kitchen, with many more to come Light Up Seapoint Yes, there is another “Common” that’s now a part of

Michael, Aron, Kevin, and Jim are all smiles, as they present a very generous Bank of America check to Josh Kraft (2nd from l.) for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. the City of Boston’s scene. It’s called “Seaport Common”, and it’s located in South Boston’s Seaport at 85 Northern Avenue. The Fallen Heroes obelisk towers on its north border; it’s directly across Northern Avenue from the green that extends

to the waters of Boston Harbor. Last Friday evening, December 1, the Seaport Common was the site of the second annual “Light Up Seaport”.

Music, free refreshments, a jubilant crowd of thousands (yes, thousands), and a true festival

of lights, lights, lights all kept everyone’s spirits high. The center of attention was a 54 foot tall Norway spruce whose lower branches were strong enough for kids to climb.

There was an audible “Ah- h!” when the switch was thrown at 8 p.m. The combination of large white globes, silver ornaments, and chains of smaller lights was striking.

Be sure to go to Seaport Common and see the tree during Advent. The Common is a convenient walk from South Station, the Silver Line, or District Hall. You can also visit the new “Seaport Winter Market”, hosted

by WS Development. As just one example of what you’ll find there: Buy some evergreens in the Market and they’ll be delivered to your door by bicycle-andtrailer-cart. The entire area, now called “One Seaport” is a treat to see, so take the time to simply walk around when you’re there.

One Seaport Ribbon-Cutting

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2017

Light Up Seaport

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2017 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

South Boston Bulletin: Small Business Saturday, 2017

by Rick Winterson There is a certain insanity to “Cyber Monday”, the Monday of November’s final week. Yes, we live in a cyber-influenced age, but blending this into the Winter Holiday Season is a bit extreme in our opinion. Even more insane is so-called “Black Friday”, which was originally confined to the Friday after Thanksgiving. Over the last few years, Black Friday has been stretched from well before midnight on Thanksgiving Thursday into the following weekend. In this year of 2017, Black Friday was stretched far enough backwards to include November 20 – the Monday before Thanksgiving.

So we should now call it “Black Week”, maybe?

Insanity, indeed!

Fortunately, between the two volcanoes of insanity known as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there was an oasis of sanity called “Small Business Saturday”, which was sponsored by the local Chamber and fell on November 25 this year. And which featured mild, sunny weather all day long. And which exceeded all eight previous Small Business Saturdays. Phrases such as “Indian summer” and “an early spring” were heard in the air. A walk along East and West Broadway simply window shopping at the many, many small

enterprises in South Boston on Small Business Saturday was a real pleasure.

This is the way to Christmas shop.

In an interview with Karen Stanley and Donna Brown after their successful South Boston Chamber B2B Night, they informed Online that the South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation (the SBNDC) is now a Formal Sponsor of the Chamber.

They mentioned some of the local businesses that are very supportive of South Boston’s Chamber activities, including East Boston Savings Bank, Dedham Savings Bank, Mass Bay Credit Union, City of Boston Credit Union, Cranberry Café, and Stapleton’s Florist, who provided the large Christmas tree in front of the Branch Library.

There are actually hundreds of small businesses open in South Boston open last Saturday. There

isn’t space to show all of them, so South Boston Online pictured a few of these along Broadway. We plan to devote another article to “offBroadway” businesses on side streets and down Dorchester Street to Andrew Square. In this article, we’ll to confine ourselves to mentioning only a few of the newest small businesses: Welcome to South Boston!

Columbus Cleaners moved into its branch quarters at 139 Emerson St., just off Broadway at Flood Square, late last summer. Billy Kamperides is the proprietor; he offers laundry, dry cleaning, and tailoring. Jessie Orbovich’s new store at 395 West Broadway held its opening gala on

Tuesday evening, November 7. Her store is called “!GoGarbaj!”, and it’s a bricks-and-mortar offshoot of Jessie’s pop-up shops in places like the SoWa Open Market. Finally, an unusual shop is on the verge of opening at 365 West Broadway. It’s to be named “Micro Plant Studio”. As its name implies, it will showcase small and medium-sized plants, flowers, flower arrangements, terrariums, unique plant-related photography, and many other items (including planting workshops).

Sounds fascinating.

Please let us know if you come across any new, small businesses in South Boston. And during this Season, make it a point to walk along Broadway, looking at our bustling local small business scene. It is the most attractive (and relaxing) way on the face of this Earth to do your Christmas shopping. Give it a try tonight, or over the coming weekend. But be sure to shop locally.

Thank you from South Boston’s small businesses, which includes South Boston Online.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2017

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Christmas Around Town continued from page 1

group cycling through Christmas Carols and traditional songs in front of Macy’s. They will keep up their singing on weekends through December 23rd. Santa Claus will apparently join them outside Macy’s on Summer Street on weekends for limited hours (he’s very busy these days) from noon to 2 pm and 3pm, to 4pm- until December 23rd.

Apparently, unlike the enchanted Village of Jordan Marsh, there is no room inside Macy’s Boston for Santa’s village. Tsk, tsk… Making Santa and kids freeze outside: We know what list they are going on.

We’ve become so used to the glittery Paramount, the renovated Opera House, the theater offerings of Emerson and Suffolk, that few people can recall when the tail end of Washington Street and the theater district was a disaster.

Besides the Boston Ballet’s annual Nutcracker at the Opera House, we see Emerson Cutler Majestic offers Jose Mateo’s Nutcracker running until December 10th. The National Center of Afro-American Artists presents Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity at the Paramount until December 17th. Brian O’Donovan’s 15th annual A Christmas Celtic Sojourn also appears at the Cutler, from December 14th-22nd. This area of town is chocked with new restaurants and boutique shops are starting to pop up as well.

On Friday December 8th Fort Point Arts Group is advertising their “Holiday Stroll” which includes gallery works, live music

and various restaurant deals. This past Saturday up Bromfield Street we came upon a posse of Santa’s on either side of the street greeting each other- just try to explain that to the kids! I was told they aren’t Santa’s, but his representatives.

We used to call them elves.

Crossing over towards the Seaport District, at Atlantic Wharf we ran into a small kid friendly holiday party Saturday with gingerbread house making and song singing at Waterfront Square on Atlantic Wharf. The featured members of the group, Little Groove Dylan George, and Sean Oliver who came prepared with puppet props, singing and getting kids into group activities.

They have play dates coming up at the Tierney Learning Center in the New Year. If you wanted more gingerbread houses, nearby up and coming will be the Boston Society of Architects very own gingerbread house competition, opening December 12, and on December 17th is family design day-so bring the kids. At the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts in the Seaport a fascinating toy box architecture show entitled Fantasy Architectures

by Jay Rodgers that shows Escher like wooden boxes finely crafted, along with a jewelry show. The BSAC provides fine craft holiday shopping for the artistically minded, both online and in the gallery.

In Back Bay the buskers were out, namely a hurdy gurdy player on the top of Newbury street, with his dog in swaddling clothes. The stores on Newbury Street were loaded to the gills and shoppers were enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. Lavish street windows might tempt the well to do, but we found satisfaction in the many church craft festivals, most notably Old South’s small, but unique craft fair in Copley Square.

The Boston Public Library features so many child and toddler events from story times to Lego clubs and more, you might think the whole of Boston is baby city.

Free high energy Christmas music by the New England Conservatory Holiday Ensemble is coming to the BPL Rabb Hall on December 14th.

NEC is also presenting: A Very

Bostonian Lessons and Carols at the Church of the Covenant December 8th, which features their choir, brass ensemble, and chamber singers.

“Seeing the Star” presented by the Oriana Consort at First Lutheran Church opens on December 9th., which offers an eclectic mix of traditional baroque music and contemporary works.

Beacon Hill’s Church of the Advent offers: A Rose Has Sprung: Music for Christmas with a sing along on December 8th, by Boston Cecilia. The Copley Singers present their Christmas Concert at Saint Cecilia Church, December 12th.

First Church of Boston presents

the Back Bay Ringers, a hand bell ensemble, which has a true New England Christmas feel to it. Old North Church, which usually has splendid decorations, has its Christmas concert December 10th, featuring their church choir and the Longy School of Music Women’s Choir- and don’t forget the near-by Captain Jackson’s Chocolate shop and their Colonial Print Shop that are open on the weekends during December. With all of these events, you want to hop on tickets asap, as they fill up quickly. Meerrrrryyyy Christmas!

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2017

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Luke’s Lobsters Opens in Seaport

By Richard Campbell Serving a fresh lobster roll is deceptively simple, and you know this is true because so many times when restaurants try it, they yuck it up with fillers and nonsense. With three generations of lobsterman behind him and dozens of restaurants, Luke Holden’s product is the real thing. Readers may already be familiar with this signature restaurant, from the downtown and Back bay locations, so the new location opened in the Seaport this past Wednesday, doesn’t offer a lot of surprises.

Tantalizingly fresh, big pieces of lobster stuffed in a smallish bun and not real cheap, but consistent pricing at $18.00 bucks- Luke’s is very consistently good. The absolutely to die for lobster mac and cheese puts you into a head spin of buttery goodness for $15.00, and the large clam chowder $9.00 is just fine. In other words, this isn’t your everyday lunch if you are a working stiff, but a pricy treat from a restaurant that finitely controls where it’s product is caught, processed and prepared. While you might find a much more of a sophisticated menu, and similar quality for lesser price on floor one of Legal Seafood’s Harborside; here you dispense with the waiter and tips, allowing a speed business lunch to impress the uninitiated.

For the staff of Luke’s Lobsters, coming back near the Boston fish pier was like old home week- despite the “fancy” digs. Though from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, they’ve been involved in the Boston seafood market for generations. The neat thing about this opening was meeting the family, and talking with the Lobster Ladies. Who knew that the company was so large? I remember seeing them in Maine and DC, but goodness gracious, with 26 locations this is a lobster empire. All things considered, Luke himself keeps a pretty low profile for someone who shares an empire with his business partner, Ben Conniff. Given that they opened the first restaurant in New York in 2009, they obviously have that entrepreneur thing down pat.

Having met his father, Jeff, I know where that easy going Maine lack of attitude comes from.

But talking with Lobster Lady Krista Tripp, the owner of the lobster boat F/V Shearwater, put the industry in perspective. As a fourth generation “fisherman” she started

Staff at Luke’s Lobster’s in the Seaport warm up for the season. lobster trapping when she was 13 in Spruce Head and hasn’t stopped since. Fifteen hour days pulling 400 plus traps doesn’t seem to have made a dent! We talked about the water getting warmer in New England, and Canada has market dominance, and though there are restrictions on our side, she seemed like most of the Maine “lobstermen” resourceful and confident of the future.

The same could be said for Merritt Carey, who plays real down home but her CV reveals she has done everything from law school to sailing in the America’s cup, and is the Director of operations for Acadian Seaplanes, along with substantial responsibilities in the Tenants Harbor Fisherman’s COOP, the first fisherman’s co-op to be vertically integrated with a restaurant group and processing company- in which Luke had a definite hand. I have every reason to believe that the Lobsterwomen that make up the rest of the “calendar girls” would be as much fun to meet.

If you buy one of their calendars the proceeds go to the Maine Lobsterman Community Alliance, a non-profit that supports a sustainable lifestyle through education, research, and charity. The serving staff on hand were congenial and efficient, as they provided taste tests on opening day. The restaurant is small, but cozy, and trimmed out with Vermont aged barn wood. They are badly in need of some more modest priced lunch specials specifically designed for flinty New Englanders, if they want to draw crowds in the increasingly competitive lunch scene of the Seaport District. There is a smart simplicity in presentation that bespeaks the origins of the company.

Ben Conniff, Luke, and his dad Jeff, came dressed in fancy plaid shirts.

Lobster Ladies, Merrit Carey and Krista Tripp.

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Aerial view of the down home dinning area.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2017 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

40+ Stores in 2017 Christmas Stroll

by Rick Winterson The 2017 Christmas Stroll has evolved into two distinct parts, united under one great idea.

A

t first, when the November 30 Thursday evening extravaganza began at 4 p.m. (with sunset imminent), much attention was focused in front of the Branch Library. There were refreshments, entertainment, and the expectation of Santa Claus visiting and the lighting of the beautiful Christmas tree, which was donated and decorated

by Stapleton’s Florists. After these festivities, the Strolling began along East and West Broadway from shop to beautifully decorated shop. Many of the 40+ participating shops served refreshments; all offered excellent and unique products and services, frequently at attractively reduced prices.

So the central idea of the 2017 South Boston Christmas Stroll easily follows: “Shop Local, in South Boston”. Please. It makes sense, and it is just about the most relaxed way to get your Christmas done in a stress-free way – that’s important.

And here’s an idea for you to consider: Make it a point this year not only to buy gifts in South

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ianni Tsaousidis, owner of Stapleton’s Florists who donated the Stroll’s Christmas Tree, is busy in his shop during the November 30 Christmas Stroll.

Christmas Strollers gather in “ARTS around the Corner” Gallery at 317 E (just off West Broadway).

Boston, but also to think about gift certificates for South Boston services to be enjoyed in the 2018 New Year – gift certificates for pet care, personal care, tailoring, brunches, lunches, and dinners, along with a few lottery tickets for stocking stuffers.

Our annual favorite performer, Elizabeth Young-Collins dressed as Mrs. Santa Claus, sang by the tree in front of the Branch Library until Santa came. He arrived as night fell under a hazy moon, and the Christmas tree was lit. There were young children everywhere, who patiently lined up to tell their wishes to Santa.

O Come Emmanuel!

Santa high-fives young participants of the Chamber’s 2017 Christmas Stroll.

A Peaceful Evening of Prayer, Reflection and Music

Tuesday, December 12 7:00 pm St. Peter Church 75 Flaherty Way Refreshments and Fellowship to Follow

Singer Elizabeth Young-Collins (a.k.a. Mrs. Santa) is all for the 2017 Christmas Stroll slogan – “Shop Local”.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2017

Santa was busy handing out treats to the good kids!

Taryn, Michael, and young Isla visit Santa Claus in the beautifully decorated South Boston Branch Library during this year’s Christmas Stroll.

Limited Time Special

Tom Butler, Elizabeth Young-Collins, Councilor-elect Ed Flynn, and Michael Vatalafo begin the 2017 South Boston

The tall, symmetrical tree (donated by Stapleton’s Florists) lights up the Chamber’s Christmas Stroll at the Library.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2017 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

South Boston Catholic Academy News

Our student run e-magazine is known as the South Boston Catholic Chronicle (SBCA Chronicle). The e-magazine is composed of creative submissions from our group of Exceptional Learners. The SBCA Chronicle will include a help column, study tips, healthy debates, book reviews, and an overall guide to some of the events and activities happening at the school. Students meet on Friday mornings to work on individual content pieces with the support of Mr. Nick Rodriques. Keep an eye out for our first issue of the SBCA Chronicle in mid-December on our school website: http:// www.sbcatholicacademy.org.

On Saturday, December 2,

2017 students, families and friends at South Boston Catholic Academy participated in the Annual Jingle Bell Run 5K. Thank you to all who participated, supported and helped to make this year’s Jingle Bell Run a fun and successful event.

South Boston Catholic Academy is an academically rigorous, supportive Catholic Elementary School Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEAS&C).

Inspired by the traditions of our Catholic Faith, Family, and Academic Excellence, we are committed to meet the spiritual, academic, physical, and social needs of individual students within a learning environment that is

both stimulating and supportive.

South Boston Catholic Academy (www.SBCatholicAcademy.org) is currently accepting applications for all classes PreK-Grade 6. We have Before School and After School Programs available and have small class size; high acceptance rate to Parochial, Private and Boston Exam Schools. Please contact; Mrs. Barbara Keohane with any questions or for a tour of the School at b.keohane@sbcatholicacademy. org or phone 617-268-2326 for more information. We also, offer tours weekly on Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30AM, to schedule a school tour, please email Mrs. Jamie Brown, Vice Principal, at j.brown@sbcatholicacademy.org.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2017

Seaport News: Society of Arts & Crafts Holiday Show: Jay Rogers Fantasy Architecture

By Richard Campbell Running only until January 6th, the time to see Jay Rogers exhibit of sculptural boxes at the Society of Arts and Crafts in the Seaport is running out! This show provides a showing of extraordinarily high craftsmanship and imagination of a master carpenter combined with vision of a sculptor.

In the author’s statement he says: “My miniature architecture is meant to draw the viewer into a world where a sense of scale is lost. In each piece I seek to intensify a specific aspect or emotional quality of architecture. I’m interested in exploring the dualities of light versus dark, of exterior versus interior, of hidden versus exposed, and of openness versus containment.” He does all that and more.

In “City of Perpetual Reflection” Mr. Rogers creates a cherry and maple city square with a mirrored ground that transports the viewer into interior possibilities- you can’t help but to imagine yourself as a tiny figure walking through its columns and porticos. The marvel among many of the pieces is not just how precise and beautiful the wood working is, but also a kind of beckoning into unreal worlds through the real. The most striking examples of this Escher

Series, which replicate drawings of the famous illusionist artist MC Escher. But each one of the 12 models offer its own set of design questions and answers. The sculptor said: “I also want my places to be beautiful” and that he did accomplish.

Also on exhibit is a jewelry exhibit that will be on display until February 3 called From Minimal to Bling which features a host of jewelry artisans work, from funky and arcane, to modern and austere. Earrings from Liz Clark, Brooches by Hannah Oatman, Rings

by Nash Quinn, and necklaces by Aric Verrastro. There are many other craft items at the gallery on sale for the holidays and…The Society is in the midst of preparation for its holiday sale of arts and crafts to be held at the Hynes Auditorium December 15-17, which will showcase many of the artist’s works at great prices. For well-heeled patrons of the arts who enjoy holiday parties, December 14, they are having a kick-off fundraiser party, Holidays and Highballs at the Hynes. Your $150.00 ticket gets you a handmade glass tumbler of your choice, hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and the satisfaction of knowing you funded the society arts programs. For more information, go to their website at: https://www.societyofcrafts.org/

Help Julie's help at-risk mothers and children in Greater Boston.

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Venezia Restaurant 20 Ericsson Street, Dorchester, MA Tickets $100 before Nov. 24, $125 after

Tickets and more info at www.juliesfamily.org

There will be raffles, a silent auction, a buffet dinner, and a powerful testimony from an alumna of Julie's.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2017 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

Packed House Remembers Jordon Marsh with Author

By Richard Campbell Monday December 5th , New England author Anthony Sammarco presented a detailed slide show history of the once premier Boston department store Jordon Marsh, to an enthusiastic audience who remembered the good old days.

The store’s elaborate story is told in his new book: Jordon Marsh: New England’s Largest Store. As a part of the series of talks organized by the Friends of the South Boston branch of the Boston Public Library, this talk was much more about the golden days in the nineteenth The author and friends SB president century than about the store’s Mash muffin. modern period, and so it should started out as a merger in 1851 be- for Jordon’s was a store that between two dry goods stores in spanned 166 years and paved the downtown Boston, (one owned path of American retail history. by Eben Dyer Jordon and the Sammarco emphasized other by Benjamin Marsh), how Jordon Marsh, having had revolutionized shopping,

Public Meeting

GE HEADQUARTERS: NPC/PDA AMENDMENT TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

290 CONGRESS STREET BSA Space, Atlantic Wharf Fort Point Room Boston, MA 02210

PROJECT PROPONENT: General Electric PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Three changes are planned for the Proposed General Electric (GE) Headquarters Project: 1. Rehabilitation of the Necco Court Bridge: This four-story bridge will be used as an extension of the office, research and development and related uses planned at the Brick Buildings. 2. Additional Open Space Parcel: An additional open space parcel of approximately 9,387 square feet is being added to the Project Site in order to create more public open space. 3. Rooftop Room: The planned meeting space on the rooftop of 5 Necco Court will be modestly expanded so that it will have the capacity for larger meetings. Altogether, these additions will add 3,865 SF of GFA to the overall project. To review the initial approved project and its supporting documents, please go here: http://www.bostonplans.org/projects/developmentprojects/general-electric-(ge)-headquarters-project

mail to:

phone: email :

SONAL GANDHI

Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4314 Sonal.Gandhi@boston.gov

CLOSE OF COMMENT PERIOD: 1/17/2018

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Joe Kebartas with famous Jordon expanding enormously as it moved to successively larger locations before ending at Washington Street in downtown crossing. With slides of the early buildings, horse drawn delivery wagons, interior shots of the shops within the stores, products and people, as well as early advertising promotions; Sammarco’ s nostalgic journey prompted audience oohs and awes. As he unveiled stories of fine fabrics, art salons, custom clothing, Chanel dresses from Paris, exotic rugs and household items, as well as amenities like afternoon teas; he didn’t miss a beat on the sociological impact of the demise of this once more civilized retail.

Sammarco’ s sideline exposes on the Enchanted Village, Jordon Marsh muffins, and the shopping habits of his family during the modern era brought chuckles from the audience, who warmed up to the dapper writer’s humorous observations while remembering their experiences at the once grand store. No doubt the author’s emphasis upon the civility and cordiality of the proprietors of this massive operation may be touched with some f lowery nostalgia that clerks behind the counters might not immediately recognize- however, his emphasis

upon the cultural impact of such downtown Boston shopping emporiums and their relative superiority to malls is on point. While Jordon Marsh had wealthy patrons, it also had a considerable middle class following who expected shopping to be a social experience, where the “help” was valued. The author mentioned the Quarter Century Club, and showed a picture of lady employees who were proudly celebrating their generous awards after having worked for over twenty-five years. People were valued a little bit more than mere profits. The signaling of the end was when the historic store was torn down in 1975, making way for the smaller building we see today in downtown crossing. Even though the company changed with the times by opening a grand store in Shopper’s World in Framingham, one of the first malls in America, the post war consumers were becoming more homogenized-more interested in bargains than quality. It was only a short hop to grotesque mark-ups on cheaply made merchandise, frozen clerk wages, and coupon wars.

Through a succession of mergers from Allied, to Campeau to A&S, and then finally to Federated/ Macy’s the store found itself continually downsized from its once worldly aspirations. For over 120 years in downtown crossing middle class Bostonians had at least two major, full service stores to shop in, and a lively street scene that is only slowing crawling back in the wake of its recent destruction. The uniqueness of the shopping scene that Jordon Marsh represented that served shoppers for over a century is well preserved in this author’s work.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2017

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ZONING HEARING

The Zoning Commission of the City of Boston hereby gives notice, in accordance with Chapter 665 of the Acts of 1956, as amended, that a public hearing will be held on December 20, 2017, at 9:00 AM, in Room 900, Boston City Hall, in connection with a petition for approval of Second Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Development Plan for 49, 51 and 63 Melcher Street within Planned Development Area No. 69, South Boston/The 100 Acres (“the Second Amendment�), filed by the Boston Redevelopment Authority d/b/a Boston Planning & Development Agency.

Said Second Amendment would allow for the change of approximately 2,695 square feet of existing gross floor area in the basement of the existing building at 63 Melcher Street to office and/or cultural and/or community use which space is currently zoned for residential/community uses.

A copy of the petition and the Second Amendment may be viewed at the office of the Zoning Commission, Room 952, Boston City Hall, between 9 AM and 5 PM any day except Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.

For the Commission, Jeffrey M. Hampton Executive Secretary

The Law Office of

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

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Announce the Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Section 4(f) Determination and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the SOUTH STATION EXPANSION (SSX) PROJECT The Final EA and Section 4(f) Determination and the FONSI are available on the project website: www.mass.gov/MassDOT/SouthStationExpansion. FRA and MassDOT collected comments on the Draft EA and Draft Section 4(f) Determination for 30 days ending on May 27, 2017. Written responses to comments are provided in the FONSI. The purpose of the SSX project is to expand South Station terminal capacity to meet current and anticipated future commuter rail and intercity rail service needs. To use federal funding, the SSX project underwent the federal environmental review process required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EA discloses the potential environmental impacts of expanding South Station, and FRA determined that the project would not have a significant adverse impact on the quality of the human and natural environment.

In addition to the project website, the Final EA, Section 4(f) Determination and FONSI are available for viewing at multiple libraries listed on the project website. To request a copy of the documents, please contact Steve Woelfel, Deputy Director, MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning, at Steve.Woelfel@state.ma.us or at (857) 368-8889.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2017 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

Open House Sunday December 10th 12-2pm

780 East Broadway #1B

City Point near Medal of Honor Park, large 1 bedroom, 1 bath condominium with deeded parking. Conveniently located just steps to the Broadway shops and minutes to the Seaport area.

This garden level unit (mostly above grade) has had some recent updates and is perfect for a first time buyer or an investor...Bring your checkbook to the Open House this Sunday.

Asking Price

$479,000

jackie@rooney-re.com • (617) 645-5370 “PROFESSIONAL SERVICE WITH RESULTS”