Sbol_12_8_2016

THE PRINT EDITION

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

(Marcel Proust, French novelist,1871-1922)

VOLUME XVIII - ISSUE 49

Santa’s Little Helper

Awakening the Sleeping Giant Surprise attack on Pearl Harbor a cowardly act while using the A-bombs necessary to end WWII

By Kevin Devlin Seventy-five years ago, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese Imperial Navy conducted a surprise, cowardly, ‘dastardly deed’ when they bombed Pearl Harbor, killing more than 2,400 American troops and civilians during the two-hour bombardment of the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, which damaged 20 ships and destroyed 164 planes. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said the Pearl Harbor attack was a day that will live in infamy. And many will subsequently declare that our eventual response to all this madness in August of

1945 was necessary to save lives and finally end the nightmare that was World War II. Our involvement in World War II began that fateful day in Hawaii and ended in Japan. On August 6, 1945, the Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb, code named Little Boy, on the city of Hiroshima. 140,000 people died in the blast or later succumbed from radiation exposure. The city of Nagasaki was bombed (code named Fat Man) three days later on August 9 and killed more than 70,000 people. It wasn’t until the second A-bomb was dropped that the Japanese military and Emperor Hirohito, who survived an eleventh-hour failed coup by military fanatics determined to keep the war going, finally realized that they must surrender. They surrendered on August 14 and signed Continued on Page 2

Collin Helps Light Christmas Tree

Our

South Boston’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony took place in Perkins Square last Sunday afternoon. A special shout-out to South Boston’s John Allison from the Mayor’s office, for organizing such a memorable event. John asked that we mention young Collin Tarbox, shown with Mayor Walsh and Mrs. Santa in the

The Best Gift Is The One That Lasts...

photo. Collin is quite sick, but he loves to get Christmas cards.

Please send greetings to him at: Collin Tarbox Care of James Crosby 11 South Boston Children’s Hospital 300 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02115 Thank you, and Merry Christmas from South Boston Online

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Continued from Page 1

rationing and the military and Emperor would have continued resistance leading to many more deaths than realized by the dropping of the two A-bombs.

Pearl Harbor

the surrender documents on the USS Missouri on September 2.

The United States remains the only nation to have ever used nuclear weapons and has never again resorted to using them even though we have fought in other wars since then. Revisionist historians argue that we shouldn’t have unleashed such a horrific weapon on these two civilian centers. Apologists denounce America’s deed as unnecessary. But it was necessary: because otherwise they weren’t going to capitulate.

When the war in the Pacific turned in favor of the Allies, Japanese resistance only stiffened. Unlike the German soldier, the Japanese soldier would not surrender because it would dishonor his name and family; thereby leaving only suicide as the last resort. Military and civilian blind obedience to Emperor Hirohito and the determination of the military not to surrender was a deadly mix that the Japanese would eventually pay a steep price for when the mushroom clouds appeared in the skies above Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

At the Battle of Tarawa in May of 1943, the Japanese fought to the last man and out of a force of 4,500, only 17 Japanese soldiers drew breath when the battle was over. In Saipan in July of 1944, U.S. forces had to burn Japanese soldiers out of holes, caves and bunkers with flamethrowers. They just wouldn’t give up even though they knew the war was lost. On the north side of the island, a thousand civilians jumped from the cliffs to their deaths after being promised an honorable afterlife by Emperor Hirohito. In 1944, Prime Minister Hideki Tojo called for millions of Japanese to continue fighting-even if it was pure suicide-and that the entire Japanese population should be prepared to die for their Emperor and the homeland.

In the fall of 1944, the Marines landed on the island of Peleliu. The battle which

was supposed to be a quick mop-up over a two-day period lasted for two months. U.S. forces suffered heavy casualties, including 1,794 killed. 10,695 Japanese soldiers were killed and only 202 soldiers were captured. In February 1945, U.S. Marines landed on Iwo Jima.

6,822 Americans were killed or missing while 19,217 were wounded. The Japanese suffered startling casualties; 18,000 were killed and only 216 surrendered.

And that’s when the Japanese started their suicidal kamikaze attacks on U.S. ships. Okinawa was the last island before American forces could invade Japan. The 82-day battle (April 1-June 22, 1945) is where the Japanese stepped up their kamikaze attacks. The U.S. Navy suffered 4,907 fatalities. On Land, 95,000 Japanese soldiers were killed including as many as 150,000 civilian deaths. 12, 513 Americans died in battle while 38, 916 were wounded.

Now it was time to plan for the invasion of the Japanese homeland. Operation Torch was the name given for the invasion of the Southern island of Kyushu scheduled for November 6. Operation Coronet was to take place in the spring of 1946 against the main island of Honshu. The two operations combined were named Operation Downfall and were to be spearheaded by General MacArthur. In defiance, Field Marshall Hisaichi Terauchi issued an order that all 100,000 Allied prisoners of war be executed if America invaded Japan. There were only a few good landing sites and Japanese forces would have been on alert on concentrated in these areas. The

Japanese were determined to literally fight to the last person.

Dropping the A-bombs undoubtedly saved many American lives which would have been lost in a land invasion of the Japanese homeland. Based on the severity of the fighting and death tolls incurred by both sides during the last few battles in the Pacific, various studies were conducted relative to the planned invasion of the Japanese islands producing different results. Some studies estimated that there would be 23,000 casualties in the first month of the proposed invasion named Operation Torch. One study by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in April of 1945 estimated that there would be 1,200,000 casualties with 267,000 fatalities. Another study conducted

by William Shockley, a staff member of Secretary of War Henry Stimson, concluded that there would be 1.7 to 4 million American casualties, including 400,000-800,000 fatalities. General MacArthur and his staff also conducted their own study and predicted that there would be 105,000 casualties after the first four months of the invasion and overall predicted 500,000 casualties during Operation Torch alone.

One stark indicator of what might have occurred was evident when the government ordered the manufacturing of 500,000 Purple Heart medals for possible combat-related wounds to be suffered during the invasion. On the other side of the ledger, one study predicted that five to ten million Japanese may have died if America invaded. They were starving to death due to food

Our military personnel in Europe and the Pacific were tired and had sacrificed so much. The thought of invading Japan wasn’t a welcomed one. Everyone now knew the Japanese fought to the end even when it was futile to do so. In William Manchester’s book, “Goodbye, Darkness: a Memoir of the Pacific War”, he wrote, “You think of the lives which would have been lost in an invasion of Japan’s home islands-a staggering number of America lives but millions more Japanese-and you thank God for the atomic bomb.”

On July 26, 1945, at the Potsdam Conference in occupied Germany, President Harry Truman gave the Japanese an ultimatum, in his Potsdam Declaration, and said, “We call upon the Government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all the Japanese forces…the alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction.” They can’t say they weren’t warned. On August 6, 1945, on a radio broadcast, President Truman said, “The Japanese began the war from the air in Pearl Harbor. They have been repaid many fold.”

When the Japanese were deceitfully holding ongoing diplomatic talks in Washington regarding Indochina and China their planes were sinking our ships and killing our sailors at Pearl Harbor. Subsequently Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto was allegedly quoted (but never verified) as saying “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” Regardless of the provenance of this statement he was probably thinking it since he didn’t feel Japan could win a protracted war against America. Yamamoto was right but his nation was wrong and sadly suffered the horrific consequences of the actions.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

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Deb McCarthy – Photographer, Volunteer

by Rick Winterson In years past, it became something of a custom to take family photographs of the mothers at Julie’s Family Learning Program, of course along with their children, who were all dolled up for this occasion. You’ll be pleased to know that this custom has been revived by the volunteer efforts of professional photographer Deb McCarthy, who recently took high quality family photographs of Julie’s mothers and their youngsters. The photographs, which were on display at Julie’s Annual Banquet, were absolutely outstanding portrait works. Deb has quite a talent.

Family photographs are something most of us take for granted.

They are professionally shot and processed, usually ending up in attractive frames that hang on walls as household mementoes. They provide instant memories of happy days each time someone passes by them. But many mothers cannot afford these pictures, however much they would like to. And this is where Deb McCarthy comes in at Julie’s Family Learning Program.

As you know, Julie’s educates both mothers and their children – the mothers in useful job/life skills; the children in Montessori pre-school. Over the years, Julie’s has become a South Boston institution. A few weeks ago, on the morning of Wednesday, November 16, Deb McCarthy showed up with her photographic equipment and took family photos of everyone.

Deb is a born-and-brought-up South Boston lady from the P

thypics.com and/or www. debmccarthyphotography.com.

Deb works by preference in natural light whenever possible; she does urbanscapes and is branching out into the artistic aspects of natural scenery.

Volunteer Deb McCarthy in action, taking family photos of the mothers and their children at Julie’s Family Learning Center last month.

Street/Kemble Place neighborhood, where her Mom still lives. Her own family name is Pages; she has a younger brother John. Her education included St. Pater’s, Mount St. Joseph’s and Cardinal Cushing.

She and her husband, Joel McCarthy, have two grown children, Joel and Hannah, as well as two classic English bulldogs, Hercules and Amelia. And needless to say, South Boston (especially its beach frontage) is her favorite place on Earth.

Welch’s Gym to Boston Latin Academy to the South Boston Community Health Center. To check out her professional background, log onto www.mccar-

And the following is typical of both Deb and the staff at Julie’s, where Deb recently volunteered: They all want to give a South Boston Shout-Out to Marisa Marino and her Stilisti Salon on Newbury Street. Marisa donated make-up and provided four volunteers from Stilisti for the Julie’s mothers, before Deb took their family photographs.

Actually, thank you from all of SouthBoston, and MerryChristmas!

Deb came to photography naturally – by taking pictures of her kids using her first camera, which was given to her by her husband. They were good; Deb definitely had a natural knack. She was encouraged by friends to pursue this budding talent of hers. A friend named Pia Francesca mentored her style and ability with client relations, and now, her key work is in portraits.

But that’s not all Deb does. She is into commercial photography, with clients ranging from Peter

www.pathfind ertreeservice.com

Several of Deb McCarthy’s finished photos on display at Julie’s Annual Christmas Banquet.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

Julie’s Family Learning Program Holds 2016 Banquet

by Rick Winterson Julie’s Family Learning Program is a landmark organization in South Boston. To fully explain Julie’s unique program would require a book-length publication, but it can be briefly summarized. Single mothers can be effectively trained in skills that will lead to useful, challenging jobs; their children can benefit from early education like Montessori pre-school. Put these together in the same program and you’ll have the essence of Julie’s Family Learning Program.

Julie’s Family Learning Program was co-founded by Jean Sullivan, SND, and Louise Kearns, SND, many years ago, in what was once called the D Street Project. As they grew and evolved, Srs. Jean and Louise moved into various expanded quarters, ending up in the White Building on Dorchester Street near Perkins Square.

“SND” stands for Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, which was founded by Saint Julie Bil-

liart during the French Revolution over 200 years ago. They are now a worldwide order of more than 3,000, who established themselves in South Boston some 150 years ago. Suffice to say that South Boston would not be what it is today without the services of those good sisters over the decades.

Each year, Julie’s of South Boston holds a festive Annual Banquet.

The 2016 event took place last Thursday, December 1, in the famous Venezia Restaurant located in the Port Norfolk neighborhood, on the estuary of the Neponset River. Multiple courses, including massive Portobello mushrooms, made for a fabulous buffet.

The evening’s program was varied and interesting. It opened with auctioning some choice Pats and Celts tickets. There was good news about grants – a $30,000 matching grant and a $135,000 services grant. A video from the BU AdLab visually displayed the activities and the impact of Julie’s Family Learning

Dan McDevitt introduces honored guests at Julie’s Annual Banquet – the five Downey sisters.

Arlene Rivera, Family Advocate at Julie’s, receives a Christmas plant from her daughter.

Program. Arlene Rivera, a Julie’s client once upon a time who now serves as their Family Advocate, gave a heart-warming testimonial to her own experiences at Julie’s.

Then, Julie’s Executive Director Bob Monahan conferred the 2016 Julie’s “Angel” Award on State Representative Nick Collins, after City Councilor Bill Linehan keynoted the many significant accomplishments of the Sisters of Notre Dame in South Boston, along with Rep. Nick’s role in supporting their efforts. Bill emphasized that Rep. Nick has earned a welldeserved reputation around here for being a hard-working elected official, who’s entirely focused on supporting the people he represents. Nick, accompanied by his wife Olivia, expressed his profound thanks for his 2016 “Angel”, and for all Julie’s has done for their clients.

The testimonial about Julie’s by Arlene Rivera was truly noteworthy.

Arlene is the mother of two, who was going nowhere some years back, until she enrolled in Julie’s Family

Arlene Rivera (l.), Family Advocate at Julie’s, tells her own story about Julie’s, as Ann d’Auria, Julie’s Adult Education Director, looks on.

Learning Program. She spoke of how she, along with many other women and their children were helped – “Julie’s gave us family support; not everyone has that.” She became emotional at times as she expressed her love for Sr. Louise and all of the other people at Julie’s, but that was fine – it was real. And Arlene’s story has a happy ending. She successfully completed her program, her family had grown up, and she now serves as the Family Advocate at Julie’s Family Learning Center.

Sr. Louise Kearns, SND, emcees the 2016 Julie’s Annual Banquet.

State Rep. Nick Collins receives a Julie’s “Angel” Award for his support of their Family Learning Program from Executive Director Bob Monahan, as City Councilor Bill Linehan looks on.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

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Joe Thailand, an “Improper Bostonian”

1323 – He’s th restaur Boston A full house at Julie’s Annual Banquet in the Venezia Restaurant.

by Rick Winterson

Just one of the festive Christmas tables at Julie’s Annual Banquet.

Joe Thailand is one of South Boston Online’s favorite people. He stopped in here last week to show us his photo and the article about him in the midOctober issue of the Improper Bostonian (their Fall Dining Issue, October 5-18, page 47, lower right corner). We last wrote about Joe when he became an American citizen a few years ago. Many of the patrons at his two House of Siam Thai Restaurants still call him “Joe USA”, even now.

His two House of Siam Restaurants – located at 592 Tremont across from the Cyclorama, and near Mass Ave. at 542 Columbus – have received numerous “BESTS” for their Thai cuisine, which includes satay, curried dishes, pad Thai, and much more. Joe loves South Boston. He delivers vast quantities of take-out Thai food here to his Southie patrons, and frequently runs on Day Boulevard and Castle Island. Joe’s Thai name is “Banjong Yuvayongdee”, which means smiling, pleasant, and friendly – good qualities for a successful restaurateur to have, don’t you think?

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

South Boston Catholic Academy 5Th Grade Presentation 5th Grade Students at South Boston Catholic Academy have spent the last three weeks learning valuable research and presentation skills as they collaborated in groups to prepare a presentation on various Native American Tribes. Students conducted the research themselves using their textbook and various internet resources. They then combined their research notes and used the information to create a multimedia presentation including a Google Slides presentation, a poster with pictures and captions, and a creative artifact representing their topic. After formally presenting their project for their classmates, the 5th grade was able to celebrate their efforts at a museumstyle presentation with parents and other faculty members present.

Students were able to see history come alive when given a real audience to teach about an assigned topic and they were able to showcase their individual talents through creative poster design, creation of an artifact, or PowerPoint. They were also able to connect history with current events, such as learning about the Dakota Access Pipeline Project and its effect on the Native American Tribes of

the Great Plains. It was such a joy to see the 5th grade students work so hard and embrace the South Boston Catholic Academy mission statement of becoming globally conscious citizens with 21st century skills!

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 Spirit, 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 617268-2326 for more information.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

Did you know that the Port of Boston is the city’s 6th largest employer?

As Boston’s 6th largest employer, the historic Port of Boston is one of our city’s most treasured assets from the shoes we wear, to the food we eat, to the heating oil for our homes and the salt on our roads this winter.

The Port of Boston is part of the rich fabric of the community – and a critical economic asset for Boston and Massachusetts.

Entity

Employees

Mass. General ............................................... 14,752 Brigham & Women’s .................................... 11,229 Boston University ........................................... 9,783 Children’s Hospital ......................................... 7,903 State Street ...................................................... 7,800 Port of Boston.............................................. 7,091 Beth Israel ...................................................... 6,695 Fidelity ........................................................... 5,500 Harvard Graduate School ................................ 5,132 Northeastern .................................................. 4,484 Every year, the Port of Boston contributes $4.6 billion to the region’s economy, generating more than $300 million in federal, state and local tax revenue, and some 50,000 total jobs.

For the past two years, Massport’s Conley Container Terminal has processed a record number of containers.

This year, the Journal of Commerce ranked Conley Terminal #1 in North America for improved efficiency.

Source: Boston Redevelopment Authority, Largest Employers in the City of Boston, November 2013. Martin Associates, Economic Impact of the Port of Boston, 2014.

brought to you by

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

Laboure House Tour a Big Success

USPS District Manager John ‘Mike’ Powers prepares to unveil USPS’s new holiday stamp collection.

Our special guests pose before the trolley departs with tour-goers. From left to right - Sr. Maryadele Robinson; Mayor Marty Walsh; Jake Bombard, Catholic Charities Labouré Center Director of Community Services; Debbie Rambo, Catholic Charities President; Bob Kelly, Spaceworks CEO and Labouré Center Advisory Board Chair; William Evans, Police Commissioner; John “Mike” Powers, USPS District Manager.

USPS District Manager John ‘Mike’ Powers, Catholic Charities President Debbie Rambo, Labouré Center Director of Community Services Jake Bombard, and Mayor Marty Walsh unveil USPS’s new holiday stamp collection.

South Boston Post Office 4th Annual Hat and Glove Drive To sponsor the Neighborhood House One of the first stops on the tour featured a 1900s Edwardian style brick row home. The vintage Christmas décor perfectly accentuated the home’s period pieces, classic architectural elements, and Victorian fixtures.

Now through December 20th 2016 Please consider donating new hats and gloves to help keep our neighbors a little warmer this year.

Last year was a huge success.

Let’s see if we can make this year even better.

Drop off locations South Boston Post Office 444 East Third Street (A box will be located in the lobby) Or contact Jill McDonough 617-269-0556

This contemporary home featured Nantucket-inspired holiday décor, complementing the homeowner’s passion for all things nautical. The home featured nautical maps and charts, model ships, and an abundance of ocean-themed ornaments.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

Glenn Preston Benefit at Florian It was a full house last Friday night in Florian Hall, the headquarters of the Boston Firefighters Local 718 at 55 Hallett Street in Dorchester.

The occasion was a benefit fundraiser for Boston Firefighter Glenn “GSP” Preston, who is courageously battling occupational cancer and has already endured five rigorous, weeklong sessions of chemotherapy.

You may know Glenn yourself. He works out of the South Boston stationhouse on D Street (Engine 39, Ladder 18). He’s a family man – he and his lovely wife Eva have four children aged one to 9.

And Glenn is the type of guy who his friends say “will do anything for anyone whenever

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Self-Defense for South Boston’s Women

he can”. If you would like to make a donation yourself, make it out to the Glenn GSP Preston Family Fund and send it to the Boston Firefighters Credit Union (60 Hallett Street, Dorchester, MA 02124).

Thank you.

Perhaps you have heard about Boston’s women being forcibly accosted at many places around our City. You don’t have to be told how totally unacceptable that is, but you could reasonably ask, “What is being done about this?”

South Boston’s Station C-6 of the Boston Police Department (the BPD) has one good answer – teach and train women in self-defense.

Their self-defense program has been going on for a year; the photo shows the 12th self-defense class ready to take their third class. Fif-

teen women are being guided by five members of the BPD and the Police Athletic League (P.A.L.).

Two points are important: First, classes fill up quickly; enrollments are now being taken for the month of February. Second, the classes are conducted by professionals in complete confidentiality, i.e., behind closed doors at the Tynan School Gym. Phone BPD Community Services at Station C-6 – 617-343-4747.

Holiday Sing-Along at the Library December 14th

Join in the spirit of the season at David Polansky’s Holiday Singalong, a concert for adults and seniors that will have our entire audience singing. Renowned pianist David performs his award-winning songs for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa as well as holiday standards like “Winter Wonderland,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Let It Snow,” “I Have a Little Dreidel,” and more. Come and join in the fun! The concert starts at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14 at the South Boston Branch Library, 646 East Broadway. We hope to see you there!

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

25th Anniversary, World AIDS Day

The AIDS epidemic, caused by human immune-deficiency virus (HIV) infection, is among the worst medical crises to afflict the world in recent history. And although technical breakthroughs have led to treatments that successfully mitigate this disease, AIDS is still present among us. World AIDS Day is a memorial day on December 1, which was officially set aside everywhere in 1988. The symbol of the looped red ribbon was created in 1991.

Ever since 1991, World AIDS Day has been observed locally, led by South Boston’s Michael Dowling, a

noted installation artist himself and Artistic Director of Medicine Wheel Productions. And if you do your calendar arithmetic, you’ll realize that 2016 is the 25th Anniversary of the local 1991 AIDS Day observance.

The 2016 AIDS Day 25th Anniversary observance was nothing short of spectacular. This year, it was once again mentored by Michael Dowling, and then installed in the Cyclorama over on Lower Tremont Street.

Dowling first asked many members of Boston’s artists’ community to create three-foot by three-foot, oneof-a-kind painted panels that depicted

their feelings about the AIDS epidemic. Many had lost friends or lovers or colleagues to this epidemic.

The color theme of these panels was red and black. Some 261 panels, ranging from realistic scenes to strikingly abstract designs, came in.

Many more were offered. As mentioned, the result was spectacular - a 300-foot circle of paintings, fully nine feet high. A spiral of flat rock, surrounded by 36 memorial pillars, filled the center of the 100-foot diameter Cyclorama floor. Words like “striking” and “gripping” came to mind as one entered the Cyclo-

rama and became surrounded by so much creativity. And South Boston Online’s photographs can only hint at the impact of the entire installation.

Erecting the AIDS Day installation in the Cyclorama began well before midnight of December 1. The entire observance lasted all 24 hours until the next midnight. The hours were kept with the performing arts – dance, music, recitations – interspersed with meditation circles and readings. Meals and refreshments were served. Many brought camping gear and remained for the entire 24-hour period.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

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BCYF Tynan Happenings Last week some of the tynan community center council and their children met at the bcyf Tynan for an instructional wreath making course which was open to the public. Our president of the council Mary maiullari and council member Mary McCarthy Collins led the efforts in teaching how to make Christmas wreaths. It was an enjoyable evening with many laughable moments but when all was said and done it was remarkable how all the wreaths were decorated and looked very professionally made!

During the Christmas tree lighting on East Broadway some of our teen membership along with our council president was out selling the wreaths to our neighbors and friends who were very generous and kind to buy all our wreaths. The proceeds will go directly into the council programs @the bcyf tynan.

(Because of the overwhelming outpour of people wanting to buy a Christmas wreath the council has made some more and are available @ the bcyf tynan on a first come first serve basis.)

Joe Mauillari,Mary Maiullari,Matt Fumarola,Jaelyn kenneally and Jake Donovan

Spread The Word

4Th Annual Gingerbread House Contest! There are 3 cash prizes 200, 100 and $50 for individual and family entries. There’s a trophy, bragging rights and a sense of great pride for nonprofits and businesses. Register now for the Gingerbread House Contest at the library on Dec 12th, 6-7:45. You bring a gingerbread house and take it home at the end.

Register here http://sbaagingerbreadhouse.webs.com/

left to right Rita McCarthy,Amanda Nee,Brigid Fitzgerald,Terry Fitzgerald,Lauree Maiullari,Tony Maiullari,Mary maiullari,Mary McCarthy Collins.(missing from photo Teagan Fitzgerald)

City of Boston Credit Union Recognizes Boston Police Officer for Bravery

City of Boston Credit Union celebrated a special day at their West Roxbury branch. The Credit Union paid special honors to Boston Police “Officer Tabb’s quick instincts to halt the suspect from approaching or harming our staff and members is immensely appreciated and we would be remiss to not acknowledge her selfless actions,” stated Credit Union CEO Dan Trombley. Along with a recognition plaque from the Credit Union, several Boston Police Command Staff were on hand to present Officer Tabb with a Commissioner’s Commendation from Boston Police Commissioner Evans.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

Introducing Mykal “Kell” Valentine is

Young man loves the game of basketball

By Kevin Devlin He’s a pleasant young man who is enjoying his new job at the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center which is located on Mercer Street in Southie and he loves playing the game of basketball. His name

Mykal

“Kell”

Valentine.

Mykal, 16, is the son of Tiffany Jackson and Darnell Caldwell.

He also has two cats named Kane and Chokehold as well as a dog named Lucky. He’s is a sophomore at Excel High School which is located at the South Boston Education Complex, the former South Boston High School. Excel is a “mid-size college preparatory high school that fosters high academic achievement and creative expression in a safe and supportive learning environment” guided by the core values of respect, responsibility, citizenship and grit.

Mykal’s favorite subjects in school are math, science, and ELA. He’s young and dreams that someday he’ll be doing something he likes and will be proud to do. And that could be an engineer, a construction worker, or playing professionally in the National Basketball Asso-

ciation. He has an entire list of NBA players, former and active, who he admires. His list includes Rajon Rondo, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Kyle Irving, Chris Paul, Klay Thompson, Mario Chalmers, Avery Bradley, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Ray Allen, Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Dennis Rodman, Larry Bird, and last but not least, Michael Jordan.

As a youngster, Mykal played Pop Warner football in East Boston for the Jets. He was used as a running back and quarterback for several seasons before his family moved to South Boston. He subsequently shelved his cleats and donned a pair of sneakers to concentrate on the game of hoop. He played in the Boston Neighborhood Basketball League (BNBL) for a couple of years at the Condon School in the summertime, and will always remember his first dunk in that gym.

Mykal plans on going out for the high school varsity team this season and is currently busy honing his hoop skills at the Walsh Center gym. He goes there three-to-four times a week practicing his jump shots, dribbling, and his crossovers.

He wants to excel in the sport

and have fun while doing so.

“I like everything about basketball,” he said, enthusiastically.

“I like how all the players react to each other, the game planning, teamwork, the movement of the ball, the leadership players need to stay together, and how everything flows on the court.”

When Mykal isn’t thinking about hoop and improving his game, he’s busy working with the youngsters at the Tierney Center as a junior staff member.

He enjoys his new job, feels it will benefit him in the long run and firmly believes in the Center’s mission of providing “concrete, practical, consistent and sustained supports to ensure that every child in our community is on track to achieve his or her highest potential.”

“I supervise the kids and make sure they are doing the right thing,” he said. “Make sure they’re behaving, learning and having fun after school at the Tierney.

“I really like it,” he added. “I like it a lot. It’s pretty cool working with them. It’s a good experience for me. It should help me later in life when I apply for other jobs. I feel that I’ll develop and mature faster being around the kids and having this responsibility.”

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

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Friends of Karen and Benny Dear Friends and Neighbors:

On behalf of the Fiasconaro Family Thank you for your support!

Words cannot express how humbled and special we feel to be part of such an amazing community.

We wish we could thank each of you personally.

For those of you that were able to join us October 21st, we hope you had a great time and were able to connect with friends and family.

We would like to extend a very special thank you to Bobby and Paula Linehan for pulling this together and making for such a memorable evening.

In addition, we would also like to express our sincere appreciation to the hard working COMMITTEE, the fabulous and talented ENTERTAINMENT, the many SPONSORS and LOCAL VENDORS and BUSINESSES that donated gift certificates and goods for the raffle table, all of our FAMILY, FRIENDS and NEIGHBORS that donated silent auction items - such as vacation homes, creative baskets and handmade items to the beautiful paintings, just to name a few.

We would also like to extend a specail thank you to the SUFFOLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

Thank you, again!

Sincerely the Fiasconaro Family

St. Peter Lithuanian

Christmas Eve Saturday, 12/24 Our Lady of Good Voyage

St. Monica St. Augustine

75 Flaherty Way

65 Northern Ave

331 Old Colony

4:00pm (English) 5:30pm (Lietuvių)

7:00pm (English)

12:30 pm (Español)

Christmas Day Sunday, 12/25 St. Peter Lithuanian

Our Lady of Good Voyage

St. Monica St. Augustine

10:00am (English) 11:30am (English) 9:30am (English) 12:30pm (Español) 11:00 am (Lietuvių)

South Boston-Seaport Catholic Collaborative

(617) 268-8100 @sbs_catholic www.sbscatholic.org

14

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

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

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BUYER

ADDRESS

Town

Zip

PRICE

15

DATE

Marielle Gonzalez 54 Crescent Ave #B Dorchester 02125-1247 $510,000 11/09/16 Sophia Harden 56 Percival St #1 Dorchester 02122-1726 $307,900 11/09/16 Ky Q Phan 7-9 Montello St Dorchester 02122-1616 $390,000 11/09/16 Eric Malloy 60 Bellevue St Dorchester 02125-2455 $560,000 11/10/16 Colleen Mcelwee 20 Morse St Dorchester 02121-3609 $680,000 11/07/16 Gormath LLC 9 Mount Bowdoin Ter Dorchester 02121-3815 $170,000 11/10/16 James Doyle 253 Westville St Dorchester 02122-1643 $325,000 11/07/16 Family Aid Boston Inc 134 Ellington St Dorchester 02121-3706 $400,000 11/10/16 Family Aid Boston Inc 132 Ellington St Dorchester 02121-3706 $375,000 11/10/16 Michael E Skrobacz 350 Savin Hill Ave Dorchester 02125-1056 $872,500 11/10/16 Castlemaine Inc 38 Chelmsford St Dorchester 02122-2104 $500,000 10/31/16 Next Generation RT 124 Tudor St #F South Boston 02127-2641 $450,000 11/09/16 Robert Swoboda 129 I St South Boston 02127-3054 $1,290,000 11/10/16 311 Capital LLC 2 Cottage St South Boston 02127-2802 $479,000 11/08/16 QBRE LLC 192 Tudor St South Boston 02127-2667 $1,200,000 11/07/16 Daniel J Morelli 487 E 3rd St South Boston 02127-1440 $1,221,000 11/07/16 Cedric M Beausse 42-44 Hutchings St #1 Boston 02121-2207 $320,000 11/09/16 Kristen L Kilduff 292 E St #1 South Boston 02127-2604 $385,000 11/10/16 Mark Carpenter 50 Athens St #8 South Boston 02127-1004 $885,000 11/10/16 James S Dambra 381 W Broadway #5 South Boston 02127-2217 $630,000 11/09/16 Noah Drori 34 Sudan St #1 Dorchester 02125-1321 $480,000 11/09/16 Building 119 LLC 141 Dorchester Ave #119 South Boston 02127-1818 $1,150,000 11/10/16 John H Law 152 Old Colony Ave #4 South Boston 02127-2419 $491,000 11/08/16 Mark Dinneen 2 Marine Rd #2 South Boston 02127-4003 $649,000 11/10/16

16

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016

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