South Boston Today January 13 2022

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January 13, 2022: Vol.10 Issue 2

SERVING SOUTH BOSTONIANS AROUND THE GLOBE

Police Reform Panel Recommends Review Process Be Extended Two Years

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Special Commission on Qualified Immunity, one of a number of similar groups created in the December 2020 police reform law to examine particular issues, released its recommendations last week. The panel created to study the controversial topic of qualified immunity and make recommendations to lawmakers

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January 13, 2022

EDITORIAL The Debate On Qualified Immunity Is Not A Black And/Or White Issue

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he Commission set up by the Massachusetts Legislature to review the issue of qualified immunity for law enforcement personnel is right to not prematurely make a hard and fast recommendation of the matter without inviting broader discussions. Police reform and the impact of qualified immunity as it related to the criminal elements in our society should not be spun as a political wedge between law-abiding citizens and the police.

There are several argu-

ments made to continue the doctrine of qualified immunity as it currently exists, or in a modified mutually acceptable form. Police officers need qualified immunity to carry out their jobs. In most cases directly related to the potential invoking of the qualified immunity defense, these officers perform a vital task that may require split-second decisions in stressful circumstances.

Taking away qualified immunity could lead to officers being hesitant to act when it is most needed. Removing

qualified immunity could open up public officials and police to unwarranted lawsuits, in which judges and juries could second-guess split-second decisions and lead to significant costs for cities, police officers, and other public officials.

What gets lost in the political atmosphere is that police officers do not have absolute immunity, and they can be held liable when they violate a clearly established constitutional right. They should not be forced to apply an abstract

right under the Constitution to specific circumstances in split-second decisions. Officers cannot be expected to be legal scholars or think through legal arguments when attempting to make an arrest.

What is needed most is a ‘new world reality’ recruit and continuing education (updated training) regimen and protocol that produces good police officers and re-orients veteran police officers to the inherent pressures of the new world realities. Human error is

always a possibility and judgment calls will always be under scrutiny, now more than ever before. We need good people protecting and serving. This debate needs careful deliberation, not political expediency.

“When she entered a room, she brought warmth, happiness and smiles all around.

Rest in Peace Lynn Turner and may God bless.” - The South Boston Community

Mayor of Southie 2022 Candidate Nick Dixon

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ick Dixon has decided to run for Mayor of Southie, 2022. Nick is a South Boston resident and current Managing Partner for Hunter’s Kitchen & Bar on Dorchester St., with previous roles as Culinary Director for the Broadway Restaurant Group, Executive Chef at Capo, Lincoln Tavern and Restaurant, Fat Baby Sushi + Cocktails along with Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar and Lucky’s Lounge.

Nick has been a pillar of the

Publisher

John Ciccone

Southie community since opening the Lincoln in 2012, feeding neighbors and friends alike, advocating for small businesses and supporting the community through his efforts.

As an industry veteran there’s little doubt that Nick will run a high-profile campaign draw attention to the important issues that matter most to the community.

On behalf of the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, I welcome Nick’s candidacy and hope it inspires South Boston residents into

supporting his efforts for Mayor of Southie, volunteering for the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day / Evacuation Day Parade or even launching their own candidacy, which is open to all on a rolling basis. Candidates for Mayor of Southie play an important role in supporting our community-run parade through their contributions and outreach efforts.

For more information about the Mayor of Southie in 2022 campaign, please contact jay@southbostonparade.org.

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Information Center The

The Exodus From Blue States Continues To Spread SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone

I

t was not too long ago when news reports announced that because of the strict, Nazi like restrictions in the state of New York and especially in New York City, people were packing up and moving away. Outrageous and nonstop tax hikes, lock downs, prices of everything soaring through the roof and so much more liberal regulations on everything, that New Yorkers have had enough and leaving that Blue State and heading to Red States – or what are being referred to now as free states. Florida was the destination for many seeking real American freedom, but other East coast and Southern locations were also a big draw. The mass evacuation from New York was so big, that the UHAUL moving company actually ran out of trucks and trailers.

Businesses as well were and still are packing up and leaving as the cost to do business in New York is just way too expensive.

Well, the trend is spreading like wildfire. UHAUL has just announced that their branches in California have also run out of moving vans and the mass exodus from California to Texas is running even stronger than the one from New York to Florida and for the same reasons. Liberal Democrat politicians with their regulations, lock downs, tax hikes and restrictive laws are driving everyone who is able to leave that Communist style state to free Red states like Texas, Utah, Wyoming etc. Even Elon Musk has moved his business from California to Texas and shock of all shocks, Liberal Facebook is on it’s way out as well.

And the trend will continue; spreading to other states. Americans are fortunate. Most are able to uproot and move to ‘greener pastures’, where freedom, as our Founding Fathers created for us, still exists. The prediction is that Massachusetts will soon be among the states to suffer a massive population drop for the same reasons,

Note: talk back to John Ciccone by email at jciccone@southbostontoday.com

followed by Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey and most of the other states run by over reaching, over taxing control hungry Democrat politicians. And then there will be 2 Americas. One America run by Conservatives, where the economy is booming and citizens are free. The other, run by greedy liberals, where the economies are on life support and the people are dominated by control hungry dictators who want to run every aspect of the lives of the people. Anyone care to venture a guess which America will survive and prosper and which will resemble the decline and fall of the Roman Empire?

Over the course of America’s history, the time honored profession of being a school teacher has always been one that has commanded respect. I mean, there are not many jobs that are looked upon as favorably as that of educating our nation’s children. But that profession has taken a big hit in recent years as the once trusted and noble job; in a number of locations seems to be transitioning from education to indoctrination. There are now said to be as many as 500 school districts across the country that have put in place new hiring guidelines for new teachers. Teachers applying for jobs now have to commit to following ‘Woke’ guidelines; among them implementing the racist Critical Race Theory (CRT). Most parents of every background are furiously opposed to CRT as it segregates students by race, income, religion etc.

It also encourages anti- Americanism and anti- law enforcement.

Of course, not all teachers are happy about this. But the movement to indoctrinate America’s students is being pushed by left wing Teacher Union leaders. In other words, if you’re an aspiring school teacher and you want to be hired, you’ll either follow the orders of the Woke Union leaders, or go find another career.

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January 13, 2022

Window Into The State House

Window Into The State House provides our readers a synopsis of important issues of interest, past and current, that are being proposed, debated or acted upon by the Massachusetts Legislature. Many issues that are not related to local city government services are acted upon and have a direct impact on daily life. They are tax policy, transportation infrastructure, judicial appointments, social services and health, as well as higher education.

We will excerpt reports from the gavel-to-gavel coverage of House and Senate sessions by news sources focused on this important aspect of our lives.

These sources include a look ahead at the coming week in state government and summaries and analyses of the past week, re-caps of a range of state government activity, as well as links to other news.

Takeaways from Baker’s COVID oversight hearing performance Lawmakers on Tuesday hounded Gov. Charlie Baker and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders with questions about the administration’s response to the latest COVID-19 case surge and increasing hospitalizations.

The Joint Committee on COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management hearing ran just under an hour and half and was the first time Baker has testified before the committee since early last year. A couple things stood out: - Vaccinating children is more difficult than Baker had originally anticipated, according to Baker. “I think it’s because there’s so much noise out there about vaccines, generally,” he told the committee, reports Boston Globe’s Matt Stout and Sahar Fatima. The governor added, “I’ve been in some really intense conversations with people I know who have kids, and honestly, sometimes I can make the sale and sometimes I can’t.”

- The Baker administration stuck to their guns and again resisted the idea of implementing a statewide indoor mask mandate. MassLive’s Alison Kuznitz reports Sudders ruled out the option, suggesting they have not proven effective in places like New York. Sen. Jo Comerford, one of the co-chairs of the committee, called a statewide indoor mask mandate one “the lowest possible fruit” that Massachusetts could implement to help stop the spread.

- Need further evidence of the disconnect between Baker and legislators on COVID-19. State House News Service’s Katie Lannan reports on another exchange between Baker and Comerford over guidelines for the quality of masks in schools that shows how they don’t always see eye-to-eye.

Also worth noting: Baker got ahead of any questions on testing when he announced the state purchased 26 million rapid COVID-19 tests that will be distributed over the next three months with a focus on getting them to teachers

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and school staff first. Boston Herald’s Erin Tiernan reports Baker urged residents to stop relying too heavily on PCR testing and instead turn to rapid tests.

Court ruling calls into question BPD gang database A ruling in the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals struck a blow to a Boston police gang database.

Bay State Banner’s Yawu Miller reports the ruling found in favor of a Salvadoran immigrant’s petition to review a deportation order that argued the database falsely identified him as a member of the MS-13 gang.

More from Miller: “With two of the seven justices dissenting, the court found that an immigration judge who denied Christian Joshue Diaz Ortiz’s petition relied on the BPD’s controversial database in his judgement.” ... Here’s another piece from the story: “The ruling calls into question the validity of the gang database, said City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo.”

Coming up for air

A team of researchers collecting zooplankton samples in Cape Cod Bay spotted this right whale off the coast of Wellfleet in late December, the first visitor of the season to the frigid waters.

The Center for Coastal Studies on Tuesday released the image of the mammal, a juvenile known to the research team from last season. Right whales are endangered with an estimated population of just 326, and every year a couple hundred arrive in the waters off the Cape and islands to feed in the winter and spring months. The arrival of the whale kicked off the 2021-2022 survey season.

Encouraging sign: Wastewater data may herald end of latest Covid surge Researchers say a sharp drop in the amount of coronavirus being detected in sewage from the Boston area may be a sign the latest surge in cases could be about to ease, Rick Sobey of the Herald reports. Coronavirus levels in the wastewater sampled dropped more than 40 percent in a single week.

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January 13, 2022

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Our Kids Need Sports, I Will Stand Up For Our BPS Kids!

B

oston Public School parents were disappointed when some of them noticed the small blurb, only two sentences long, buried at the bottom of the newsletter this week saying that they have made the decision to continue the current

pause in athletics.

Sports provide our children with way more than just the opportunity to exercise their bodies. There are social, health and psychological benefits that allow our kids to do better in life. As a mother of student athletes (Go BLA Dragons and Eagles!) who benefitted in so many ways from their time on school teams, and as a public school teacher who knows that educating the whole child has to include physical and social wellness to be successful, I will fight for school sports for our BPS kids. I know how participation on a school team, whether it’s volleyball, cheering, football, or soccer, can transform a youngster’s life, increasing motivation and a sense of inclusion, and knitting together a closer school

and neighborhood community.

I believe we should be doing everything possible to get our Boston Public School sports back on track. Boston children who attend METCO, private and parochial schools are still playing sports.

Kids in neighboring towns are still playing sports. Many of our BPS students are still playing sports in their neighborhood athletic organizations. As long as we are following the CDC guidelines, I do not think we should continue the pause that was started during winter break. Boston Public School kids need this outlet for their social and mental health, now more than ever.

This has to stop and I will fight for our students on the City Council. It’s the right thing to do because we all know that sports

are good for everyone. The physical benefits are just the beginning.

Kids who participate on school teams are far more likely to have improved grades, report healthier social behavior, and to reach higher academic and professional success after high school. Our own kids have the will, the talent, and the RIGHT to all the wonderful, life-long benefits that school sports offer.

As the only teacher on the City Council, one with real lived experience, who knows firsthand what it means to be a BPS student, athlete, parent, and teacher. That’s me. It’s what I’ve done all my life, and as your At Large City Councilor it is what I will continue to do for each and every family in BPS and Boston.

continued on page 6

6 Police Reform continued from front page

on how the state should handle it has suggested a two-year wait before pursuing any further changes, while also offering up ideas relative to the state’s civil rights law.

The final product contains the two-year qualified immunity review period and amendments to the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act. It was panned by the ACLU of Massachusetts and Lawyers for Civil Rights, with the lawyers’ group blasting the effort as a “colossal failure.”

A minefield in the 2020 efforts to pass police accountability legislation, the legal doctrine of qualified immunity, as defined in the report, “grants some government officials immunity from personal liability in certain civil lawsuits.” Its application in cases involving police misconduct and excessive force allegations was part of the national dialogue around policing and racial justice that spurred Massachusetts lawmakers to act.

After intense debate, where critics said qualified immunity keeps police from being held accountable, if they violate someone’s rights, and supporters held it up as a protection that keeps officers from second-guessing themselves on the job, lawmakers ultimately sent Gov. Charlie Baker a bill that prohibits the application of qualified immunity in claims against officers based on conduct for which they were decertified by the new Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.

The final legislation also created a 15-member panel to investigate the origins of qualified immunity, its present interpretation by the courts, and its legal and policy impacts. Judiciary Committee chairs Rep. Michael Day and Sen. Jamie Eldridge, Democrats from Stoneham and Acton, served as its chairmen.

The commission said in its report that the members were “unable to reach a consensus about whether to end qualified immunity, amend the qualified immunity standard, or leave the

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qualified immunity standard as it exists today.” A copy of the report posted online by Lawyers for Civil Rights shows that none of the recommendations was adopted unanimously.

Ten commissioners – including Day, Eldridge, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr and Reps.

Sarah Peake, William Straus and Steven Xiarhos – endorsed a “two-year continued review of the implementation and administration” of the 2020 police reform law “before recommending further substantive changes to the qualified immunity doctrine,” to give interested parties a chance to understand the impacts of the law and its provision removing qualified immunity for decertified officers.

Testimony from the Massachusetts Association for Professional Law Enforcement, quoted in the report, backed the idea of allowing time “for review and evaluation” of the new Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission. In a statement from its testimony the organization said that the POST … “will also assist in the removal of officers, who are unfit for duty. The courts should not be utilized as the primary agency for administering police discipline. Their primary focus should be the redress of specific injuries or damages.”

ACLU legal director, Matthew Segal, who dissented, stated, “This is a policy decision about who pays when police violate a person’s civil rights: the longer we leave qualified immunity in place, the longer victims will continue to bear the full cost of that violence – medical bills, funeral expenses, and the emotional trauma of experiencing state violence,” he said.

Lawyers for Civil Rights issued a statement that said the organization “condemns in the strongest possible terms the shameful outcome,” saying that the lack of consensus “on the urgent need for reform” after months of meetings “represents a colossal failure” and “is a miscarriage of justice.”

LCR’s Espinoza-Madrigal

served on the panel as a designee of the NAACP New England Area Conference. In addition to several lawmakers and ACLU designee Segal, the commission’s members included Sherborn Select Board member Paul DeRensis, a Massachusetts Municipal Association designee; Massachusetts Bar Association designee Richard Sweeney; and two Gov. Charlie Baker appointees representing police and fire unions – New England Police Benevolent Association President Christopher Ryan and Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts Vice President Matt Reddy.

The commission recommended two ways for lawmakers to amend the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, which the report classified as “preliminary changes” to help the police reform law live up to its intent and “to better inform any future evaluation of the qualified immunity doctrine.”

Ryan said he voted against the Civil Rights Act amendments because he considered them “outside the scope” of the commission. He said he anticipated that potential financial consequences and an “increased workload to our already overworked court system” would “have significant impact to the taxpayers of the commonwealth”. “This issue needs to be studied and vetted accordingly with further input and appropriate notice to the general public,” Ryan said.

The report calls for one amendment that would remove, in claims against law enforcement officers, the requirement that a plaintiff show the defendant interfered with their civil rights specifically by using “threats, intimidation or coercion.” The commission found there may be “egregious” civil rights violations that do not necessarily involve threats, intimidation or coercion, and said that clause “effectively eliminates a plaintiff’s right to seek redress in state court for violations of civil rights by police officers, especially rights guaranteed by state law.”

The report’s other recommendation is for legislators to

January 13, 2022

“require any court considering a claim for qualified immunity to make a determination about whether the alleged conduct in a case violates an individual’s civil rights, even if the court also determines that any violation did not violate rights that were ‘clearly established’ at the time of the incident.”

“The Commission heard clearly that claimants do not file civil rights cases in Massachusetts because the state law has a heightened standard when compared to the federal law, and we recognized that this could hamper the legal evolution of the qualified immunity doctrine,” Chairman Day said in a statement. “By also requiring our courts to define what conduct violates an individual’s civil rights, whether qualified immunity applies or not, we will allow case law to develop in Massachusetts that will inform policy makers in the future about the successes and failures of police reform.”

Eldridge, who also serves as Senate chair of the Legislature’s Criminal Justice Reform Caucus, said the recommendations “will hopefully increase access to justice for civilians and improve the trust between law enforcement and vulnerable populations, while acknowledging that the qualified immunity reforms in the 2020 police reform law are still being implemented.”

January 13, 2022

Massport Delivers Winter Coats for Children in East Boston and South Boston Winter coats and accessories donated by employees

T

he Massachusetts Port Authority’s (Massport) annual Winter Coat Drive benefitted dozens of children in East Boston and South Boston. This year, one hundred employees donated their time and money to purchase winter coats and accessories and delivered them to Crossroads Family Center in East Boston, the Perkins Elementary School, South Boston en Accion, and the Tierney Learning Center in South Boston.

“Thanks to the support and gen-

erosity of the employees here at Massport, we were able to make this season a little brighter for our vulnerable neighbors,” said Massport Director of Community Relations & Government Affairs Alaina Coppola. “The coats, gloves and other accessories we provided will not only keep these children warm but also provide relief to their families during this winter season.”

Massport delivered coats for 60 children at Crossroads Family Center, the Perkins Elementary School, South Boston en Accion and the Tierney Learning Center.

The children range in age from two to 17 years old.

“We are grateful for our partnership with Massport and being able to work with them once again on this year’s Winter Coat Drive,” said Charles Smith, Program Director at Crossroads Family Center. “During these difficult times, donations allow families to dedicate their resources to other important needs.”

“This year there was a real need for coats in our community, especially due to the economic struggles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Representative

LOUIJEUNE TESTIFIES TO END RENT CONTROL BAN Boston City Councilor At-Large Ruthzee Louijeune Testifies Before Housing Committee in Support of Bill Ending Rent Control Ban

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uesday, Boston City Councilor At-Large Ruthzee Louijeune, testified before the State House Housing Committee in support of a bill presented by Representatives Mike Connolly and Nika C. Elugardo that would allow

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municipalities access to resources that would help defend the rights of tenants and address the affordable housing crisis. Louijeune is currently in the second week of her tenure in Boston City Council.

In her testimony, Louijeune pointed to a case in which renters are being forced from their homes in Mattapan. “Through sweat equity and endless advocacy, Mattapan residents and allied elected officials persuaded the MBTA to add a commuter rail line stop nearby,” Loui-

David Biele. “I was honored to work with Massport on distributing coats to the most vulnerable in our community to spread warmth during the winter months, and I’m thankful to Massport for their support of our neighbors.”

The Massachusetts Port Author-

ity (Massport) owns and operates Boston Logan International Airport, public terminals in the Port of Boston, Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional Airport.

For more information, please visit www.massport.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: Massport

East Boston: Pictured L-R: Alaina Coppola, Director, Community Relations & Government Affairs, Massport; Charles Smith, Program Director, Crossroads Family Center; Audrey Nagle, Manager, Charitable Giving Programs, Massport

South Boston: Pictured L-R: Thomas Butler & Audrey Nagle, Massport; Beatrice “Betsy” Falcon, Family Engagement Coordinator, Perkins Elementary School; Karen Zirkle, Legislative Aide, Representative Biele’s Office

jeune said. “Now, Fairlawn Apartments have been rebranded “SOMA Apartments at the T” by outside owners who have been pushing drastic rent increases.”

Community organizations like City Life Vida/Urbana have been at the forefront of efforts to combat the displacement of residents in instances like the Fairlawn Apartments.

“Our members fighting bravely are always heartened by the support from public officials such as newly elected Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune,” City Life organizer, Steve Meachem said in a comment. “Her testimony at the hearing connected to our ongoing struggle at Fairlawn Apartments, where she supported our rally last month.”

Louijeune spoke of her experience representing families facing eviction in Boston housing court and pointed to the need to protect poor and working-class families in cycles of poverty and displacement. She closed her testimony by sharing that

her father is a landlord, renting out her childhood home below-market to low-income families. She called for the need to give cities the ability to decide what rent stabilization measures look like to best meet the needs of the community.

Louijeune brings seven years’ experience working on political and advocacy campaigns, fighting for working people and Black and Latinx communities on issues of housing, education access, and voting rights. Recently, Louijeune started her own legal and advocacy business, The Opening PLLC. Previously, Louijeune served as Senior Counsel for U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign.

Prior to that, she was a lawyer at Perkins Coie LLP. The daughter of Haitian immigrants, fluent in Haitian Creole, French, and conversant in Spanish, Louijeune is the first Haitian-American to hold elected office in Boston city government.

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January 13, 2022

The

Wine Guy

A Lift To Your January

W

ell, it seems as though this January has started out by “measuring up” to all others – cold, bleak, too dark, too soon every day. However, I say it’s better to have a nice glass of wine than to curse the darkness; maybe even more than one. Consider the following to take the edge off any day this month.

Brancaia TRE Red Blend,2016, Tuscany, Italy ($19.99) is a smooth medium bodied and wellbalanced TRE blend that delivers incredible character and depth.

Fresh picked fruit, notes of wild red berry and black cherry give

this one its subtle earthy characteristics. Fine tannins and a lively refreshing finish bring wonderful structure and a long warm mouth feel. TRE gets its name from both Brancaia’s three estate vineyards in Tuscany and for bringing together three of the regions most celebrated Varietals – Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

This one is a great choice for everything from crackers and smoked Gouda cheese to a Sunday roast; actually, you might want to have more than one on hand!

Edna Valley Central Coast Pinot Noir, California, 2019, ($14.99).

Our Edna Valley Central Coast Pinot Noir is deliciously rich on the pallet while delivering a light body that is true to the varietal. Layers

of black berry compote and black cherry meld with a touch of tart cranberry for a vibrant acidity. The silky mouthfeel leads to a lasting finish. Serve this versatile food friendly wine with herb encrusted salmon, roast lamb or wild mushroom polenta.

Frei Brothers Sonoma Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, 2018, ($17.99).

This crisp bright and refreshing Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc has flavorful notes of tropical passion fruit and guava, layered with lemon, key lime and citrus characteristics, hallmarks of the cool climate Russian River Valley.

Subtle hints of vanilla and creamed custard tarts become evident on the long clean finish. This wine is a great complement to all kinds of

seafood in general, but shellfish in particular; try it with some scallops broiled and butter and sage.

La Marca ‘Luminore’ Prosecco Superiore, NV, ($22.99). This delicious Prosecco sparkles with a pale golden straw hue and lively bubbles bursting in the glass.

Delicate aromas of white flowers in stone fruits complement the soft creamy texture, while subtle hints of a fresh citrus pair and nectarine round out the exquisite pallet.

Clean crisp acidity balance is a touch of sweetness and offers a light refreshing style.

January will feel better when you indulge these options. Here’s to a wonder-filled 2022.

Talk To The Wine Guy at jdris8888@gmail.com

No Tobacco ‘22: Lung Association Tips to Begin Your Journey to a Tobacco-Free 2022

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long with hitting the gym more often and starting a diet, quitting smoking tops many New Year’s resolution lists. Quitting tobacco isn’t easy, but 50 million ex-smokers in the United States are proof that it’s achievable. Tobacco use remains the nation’s leading cause of pre-

ventable death and disease and is a serious public health threat. Nationally, nearly 40 million Americans smoke. In Massachusetts the adult smoking rate is 12% and high school tobacco use rate is 37%. To encourage people to quit smoking, vaping and using all tobacco products in 2022, the American Lung Association is promoting “No Tobacco ’22. To help people quit, the organization is sharing tips and resources through social media and Lung.org.

“More than 70% of smokers want to quit smoking and 40% will make an attempt this year, but only between 4 and 7% can quit without support. Smokers and tobacco users who want to quit should make a plan to be successful such as setting quit date, understanding smoking triggers, talking to a doctor about quit smoking medications and finding support through family, friends and cessation programs,” said Jennifer Folkenroth, National Senior Director, Tobacco Programs, the

American Lung Association.

The American Lung Association offers five tips to help Americans who are ready to commit to No Tobacco ’22: 1.It’s never too late to quit. While it’s best to quit as early as possible, quitting tobacco use at any age will enhance the length and quality of your life. You’ll also save money and avoid the hassle of going outside in the cold to smoke or vape.

You can even inspire those around continued on page 9

January 13, 2022

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Virtual Public Meeting

804 E.7th Street Wednesday, January 26

Zoom Link: bit.ly/3HwUXjO

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Article 80 Meeting Schedule

Dorchester Bay City The BPDA will be hosting a series of Virtual Public Meetings in connection with the submission of the Draft Project Impact Report for the proposed Dorchester Bay City project. These upcoming topic-specific Public Meetings follow an initial Kick-Off Public Meeting, which was held on December 15th.

Meeting ID: 161 077 0052 Project Description: The proposed project consists of the conversion of the existing 3-story building previously used as a nursing home into a residential building with twenty-one residential units and twentyone garage parking spaces.

mail to: Stephen Harvey Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.4418 email: stephen.j.harvey@boston.gov

Close of Comment Period: 2/1/2022

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

January 10,2022 | 6:00 PM Virtual Public Meeting | Transportation, Infrastructure, Sustainability and Resiliency Register Here: bit.ly/3ysaUEy January 20th, 2022 | 6:00 PM Virtual Public Meeting | Housing & Economic Development Register Here: bit.ly/30szFDY

January 31, 2022 | 6:00 PM Virtual Public Meeting | Inclusive Public Realm Improvements and Placemaking Register Here: bit.ly/3s9UXC2 February 17, 2022 | 6:00 PM Virtual Public Meeting |Urban Design & Open Space Register Here: bit.ly/3J3mbjI

All vital project documents, including an Executive Summary of the Draft Project Impact Report, are available for review in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese on the Dorchester Bay City project webpage on the BPDA’s website. Interpretation will be provided for all Public Meetings in Spanish, Vietnamese, Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

To submit a comment on this Proposed Project in a language other than English please email bpdawebcontent@boston.gov.

If you have any questions about the BPDA review of the Dorchester Bay City project, please contact: Aisling Kerr at (617) 918 - 4212 or by email at aisling.kerr@boston.gov BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

No Tobacco continued from page 8

you to quit.

2.Learn from past experiences. Most people who smoke, chew or vape have tried to quit before and sometimes people get discouraged thinking about previous attempts. Instead, treat those experiences as steps on the road to future success. Think about what helped you during those tries and what you’ll do differently in your next quit attempt.

3.You don’t have to quit alone. Enrolling in a proveneffective cessation counseling program such as the Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking Program can increase your chances of successfully quitting and staying quit by 50%. In addition to enrolling in a program, enlisting friends and family to support you along your quit journey will help ease the process.

4.Talk to a doctor about quit

smoking medications. Talking to a doctor about including cessation medication into your tobacco treatment plan can double your chances of quitting successfully. There are seven FDA-approved medications that are proven to help you quit.

Just make sure to follow the directions and use them for the full duration they are prescribed.

5.Quit. Don’t Switch. E-cigarettes are tobacco products, and the Food and Drug Administration has not found any e-cigarette to be safe and effective in helping smokers quit. Switching to e-cigarettes does not mean quitting. Quitting means ending your addiction to nicotine.

Make sure your tobacco treatment plan includes the two components proven to work- behavioral counseling plus FDA-approved cessation medication.

The American Lung Association offers resources to help adults and teens to quit all tobacco products:

• Lung Helpline: Not sure where to start? Call the Lung Association’s free Lung Helpline and Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-LUNGUSA, which is staffed with licensed registered nurses, respiratory therapists and certified tobacco treatment specialists. They can answer all your questions and connect you with the resources that are right for your quit journey.

• Freedom From Smoking® helps individuals create their own unique quit plan, as well as tips and techniques to stay successful in the long run. Freedom From Smoking can be accessed online, at a group clinic and through a self-guided workbook. Those looking to quit smoking are encouraged to use the method that works best for their learning style, schedule and unique quit tobacco use plan.

• Not-On-Tobacco® (N-O-T) is a teen smoking/chewing/vaping cessation program for teens who want

to quit. The 10-session program provides the tools, information, and support for teens to end their addiction to tobacco.

• Vape-Free Schools Initiative: The Vape-Free Schools Initiative provides school administrators and educators with training to offer an alternative-to-suspension program for students found vaping, smoking or chewing on school property, and a voluntary vaping/ tobacco cessation program for youth wanting to quit for good.

Learn more at Lung.org/vape-freeschools.

For more information about quitting smoking and vaping for No Tobacco ’22, visit the American Lung Association website at Lung.org or call the free Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-5864872). To speak with a local lung health expert, contact Jennifer Solomon at 516.680.8927 or Jennifer.Solomon@Lung.org.

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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

National Blood Crisis May Put Patients At Risk Donors have the chance to help save lives, win trip to Super Bowl LVI

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he American Red Cross is facing a national blood crisis – its worst blood shortage in more than a decade. Dangerously low blood supply levels are posing a concerning risk to patient care and forcing doctors to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more products become available.

Blood and platelet donations are critically needed to help prevent further delays in vital medical treatments, and donors of all blood types – especially type O − are urged to make an appointment now to give in the weeks ahead.

In recent weeks, the Red Cross had less than a one-day supply of critical blood types and has had to limit blood product distributions to hospitals. At times, as much as onequarter of hospital blood needs are not being met.

Pandemic challenges: The Red Cross continues to confront relentless challenges due to COVID-19, including about a 10% overall decline in the number of people donating blood as well as ongoing blood drive cancellations and staffing limitations. Additionally, the pandemic has contributed to a 62% drop in blood drives at schools and colleges.

“Winter weather across the country and the recent surge of COVID-19 cases are compounding the already-dire situation facing the blood supply,” said Dr. Baia Lasky, medical director for the Red Cross.

“Please, if you are eligible, make an appointment to give blood or platelets in the days and weeks ahead to ensure no patient is forced to wait for critical care.”

Over the next month, about 55% of donation appointments remain unfilled in the Massachusetts Red Cross Region. Make an appointment to give blood or platelets as soon as possible by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood. org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

The Red Cross and the NFL are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets and help tackle the national blood shortage. Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a Cross, those who come to donate will also be automatically entered to win a home theater package and a $500 e-gift card. Terms apply; visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl for more information.

Who donations help: Kala Breder knows all too well

how dire not having blood available can be. In July 2020, hours after the birth of her son by emergency Cesarean section, Breder developed a complication and began bleeding uncontrollably. As doctors fought to save her life, they exhausted the entire blood supply at the hospital as well as all available blood within a 45-mile radius. Ultimately, she was flown to another hospital because there wasn’t enough blood locally.

Breder credits the 58 different blood products she received with helping save her life. “Without one of those, I probably wouldn’t be here,” she said. “I needed every last unit.”

Volunteers needed: In addition to blood donors, the Red Cross also needs the help of volunteers to support critical blood collections across the country. Blood drive volunteers play an important role by greeting, registering, answering questions and providing information to blood donors throughout the donation process. Blood transportation specialists – another volunteer opportunity − provide a critical link between blood donors and blood recipients by delivering blood to hospitals in communities across the country. To volunteer to support Red Cross blood collections, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.

January 13, 2022

Blood drive safety: Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.

Save time during donation: Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer.

To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood. org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App. To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that are required at check-in.

Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Health insights for donors: At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease who require trait-negative blood. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.

Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.

January 13, 2022

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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

ACE Mentor Program of Greater Boston Receives $35,000 Grant from National Gypsum® National Gypsum® expands charitable giving with $1 million in donations to support community service and education efforts

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n Tuesday, November 30, 2021 – “Giving Tuesday” – National Gypsum® made a donation of $35,000 to ACE Mentor Program of Greater Boston, on the recommendation of its Portsmouth, NH plant, as part of the company’s $1 million of philanthropy donated that day.

National Gypsum’s Portsmouth Plant Manager James Bennett presented the check to ACE Mentor Program of Greater Boston’s President Tom Aldrich of DPR Corporation and ACE Board member Ray Houle of New England Finish Systems. The donation will help ACE Mentor Program of Greater Boston to expand the program to serve more high school students who otherwise would not have to opportunity to enter these careers.

“This donation will enable ACE Mentor Program of Greater Boston to provide opportunities for more students to enter careers in architecture, construction management and engineering,” said ACE President Thomas Aldrich. “With this gift, National Gypsum has created a pathway for hundreds of disadvantaged students to have a chance to design and build not just buildings, but also bright futures for themselves and their families.”

National Gypsum® donated a total of $1 million to support communities throughout the United States and Canada where National Gypsum Company and its family of affiliated companies, including Gold Bond Building Products, LLC, Gold Bond Canada, Ltd., PermaBASE Building Products, LLC, ProForm Finishing Products, LLC and Unifix Inc., have operations.

The donations were awarded to nonprofit groups selected by associates at each facility location, with a focus on organizations working in the areas of community services, early childhood education and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning.

“Giving back to the communities where we live and work is a core value of our National Gypsum® family,” said Thomas C. Nelson, chairman, president and CEO of National Gypsum Company. “We are dedicated to building better futures for our associates, our communities and, above all, those in need.”

The donations, which were announced in conjunction with the international Giving Tuesday celebration of giving November 30, were limited to tax-exempt 501©(3) groups, accredited colleges, universities and secondary and elementary

In last year’s cohort, ACE gave a $5,500 scholarship to South Boston resident and Boston Latin Academy graduate (class of 2021) Thomas Donovan.

Pictured - Thomas Donovan, student, Chase Gibson, ACE Mentor, Casey Williams, President Emerita, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger

schools located in the United States and eligible nonprofits in Canada.

The National Gypsum® family of companies, with associates in 19 states and two Canadian provinces, supports communities year-round with structured leadership training programs, volunteerism and associate and corporate giving, as well as through a commitment to environmental stewardship.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to our associates, the communities that are vital to our businesses, and especially to the organizations that do so much to improve the lives of people every day,” Nelson said.

About ACE Mentor Program of America©: ACE Mentor Program of America, Inc. (ACE) is a non-profit organization, which seeks to introduce talented and motivated students to the architecture, construction, and engineering industries. ACE performs this function through local affiliates in over 79 locations throughout the country. Along with its affiliates, ACE is the industry’s fastest growing high-school mentor program in the country, reaching over 8,000 students in 2015-2016 alone. In addition to exposing students to real-world opportunities, the pro-

Thomas Donovan with Mom, Susan Donovan Thomas is now a college freshman at University of New Hampshire studying Mechanical Engineering.

gram financially supports students furthering their education through scholarships and grants. Nationally, ACE and its affiliates have awarded over $14 million in scholarships since the program started in 1994.

For more information, please visit www.acementor.org.

About National Gypsum Company: National Gypsum Company, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is the exclusive service provider of reliable, high-performance products manufactured by its affiliate companies, Gold Bond Building Products LLC, ProForm Finishing Products LLC, and PermaBASE Building Products LLC, and marketed under the Gold Bond®, ProForm® and PermaBASE® brands.

Our affiliates’ strategic network of 26 product manufacturing facilities, five quarries and three paper plants located throughout North America allows us to provide the best in customer service to keep projects moving forward. The National Gypsu® name has been synonymous with high-quality, innovative products and exceptional customer service since 1925. We are Building Products for a Better Future® – one project at a time. Learn more at www.nationalgympsum.com

Gold Bond Check Presentation for $35,000

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South Boston Catholic Academy News

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e hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas vacation and will have

a Healthy and Happy 2022! Ms. Jessica’s and Ms. Jacqulyn’s K0 students were happy to tell us

all about their Christmas vacation and were glad to get back to their regular classroom sched-

January 13, 2022

ule. New families are welcome to email Mrs. Jamie Brown at j.brown@sbcatholicacademy. org to learn more about South Boston Catholic Academy.

January 13, 2022

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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

This week, Danny gave “Pic’s Picks” for Wild Card weekend in the NFL playoffs:

I

went 3-2 against the spread in Week 18. So I finish the regular season with a record of 46-39.

But just because the regular season is over, that doesn’t mean I’m done making picks. We’ve got six playoff games this weekend in the Wild Card round.

There are two games on Saturday, three games on Sunday, and one game on Monday night.

Two teams have a first-round bye: the NFC’s No. 1 seed Green Bay Packers, and the AFC’s No. 1 seed Tennessee Titans.

Right now, the Packers are the favorite to win Super Bowl LVI, at +380. The Kansas City Chiefs have the second-best odds at +500, with the Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tied for the third-best odds at +750.

There’s really not much else to say, so let’s get to this weekend’s games. Here are my picks for the Wild Card round: BUFFALO BILLS (-4) over New England Patriots -I hate to do this, but I have to make these picks with my head, not my heart. I do not think the Patriots will win this game on Saturday night in Buffalo. The

Bills lost to the Pats in their first matchup, but then beat the Pats in their second matchup just a few weeks ago. Buffalo lost in the AFC Championship last year, so there’s a lot of pressure on quarterback Josh Allen to get the No. 3 seed Bills over the hump and into the Super Bowl this year. They have to beat the No. 6 seed Patriots first. I think they will, and I think they’ll also cover. Give me Buffalo by a touchdown.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-8.5) over Philadelphia Eagles -The No. 2 seed Buccaneers should beat the No. 7 seed Eagles, for sure. This game is in Tampa on Sunday at 1 p.m. I think the only question is whether or not the Bucs will cover the 8.5-point spread. If this game was in Philly, I’d probably stay away. But it’s not. So I’m taking Tom Brady to lead his Buccaneers into the Divisional Round with a double-digit win on Wild Card weekend.

DALLAS COWBOYS (-3) over San Francisco 49ers -There was a moment where I was going to go with the No. 6 seed 49ers here, because I

really like the way they closed out the season with a big win over the Rams. But Dallas is primed for a serious playoff run, and with this game being in Dallas, on Sunday at 4:30, I couldn’t bring myself to betting against the No. 3 seed Cowboys. Give me Dallas to win by a touchdown.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-12.5) over Pittsburgh Steelers -I feel like we’ve all been down on the No. 2 seed Chiefs this season, haven’t we? Well, here they are, with a 12-win season, hosting the No. 7 seed Steelers on Sunday night. Pittsburgh won’t win this one, but it is a very high spread for a playoff game. Still, I think these Chiefs are better than we’ve given them credit for all season.

Perhaps the high spread is the credit they deserve. I’m taking Kansa City to win big and cover at home.

LOS ANGELES RAMS (-4.5) over Arizona Cardinals -The No. 4 seed Rams and the No. 5 seed Cardinals split their season series, and I have to chalk this one up to home field advantage. The pres-

sure is on Matthew Stafford to take these Rams deep into the playoffs. After all, his predecessor, Jared Goff, took the Rams to the Super Bowl just a few years ago. LA traded Goff to the Lions in exchange for Stafford, because they thought Stafford could not just get them back to the Super Bowl, but to actually win it when they got there. No way they lose to the Cardinals at home.

Give me LA to win by 10.

LOCK OF THE WEEK: CINCINNATI BENGALS (-5.5) over Las Vegas Raiders -This is the first game of Wild Card weekend, on Saturday at 4:30 in Cincinnati. The No. 4 seed Bengals have already beaten the No. 5 seed Raiders this season, back in Week 11. The Raiders just barely got into the playoffs with a dramatic Week 18 win over Chargers. I think they’ll struggle in Cincy though.

These Bengals are good enough to win a home playoff game.

When’s the last time anyone was able to say that? I’m taking Cincinnati to win and cover.

Follow Danny on Twitter and Instagram @DannyPicard.

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SPORTS TODAY

January 13, 2022

NFL SATURDAY, JAN. 15 • Wild Card Playoffs Las Vegas at Cincinnati (-5.5) 4:30 P.M. NBC

PATRIOTS Tweet HEAD TO of the BUFFALO FOR Week WILD CARD SHOWDOWN

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New England at Buffalo (-4) 8:15 P.M. CBS SUNDAY, JAN. 16 • Wild Card Playoffs Philadelphia at Tampa Bay (-8.5) 1 P.M. FOX San Francisco at Dallas (-3) 4:30 P.M. CBS Pittsburgh at Kansas City (-12.5) 8:15 P.M. NBC MONDAY, JAN. 17 • Wild Card Playoffs Arizona at LA Rams (-4.5) 8:15 P.M. ABC/ESPN NBA FRIDAY, JAN. 14 Boston at Philadelphia 7 P.M. NBCSB NHL SATURDAY, JAN. 15 Nashville at Boston 1 P.M. NESN/ESPN+

SBT Staff

fter losing their final game of the regular season, the New England Patriots dropped down to the No. 6 seed in the AFC, and will take on the No. 3 seed Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, this Saturday night in Buffalo.

The Patriots are a 4-point underdog in the game. They split their two games with the Bills in the regular season, beating them in Buffalo in Week 13, and then losing to the Bills at Gillette Stadium in Week 16.

Buffalo won the AFC East for the second straight year, finishing with an 11-6 record. The Bills enter the playoffs having won four straight games, against the Panthers, Patriots, Falcons, and Jets.

New England returns to the playoffs after missing out last year.

The Patriots finished the season with a 10-7 record, and enter the playoffs having lost three of their last four games. Their only win in that stretch came against the 3-14 Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Patriots will be coming off a 33-24 loss to the Dolphins in Miami in Week 18. It was a game in which the Pats never held the lead after falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter.

Kickoff in Buffalo on Saturday night is 8:15 p.m.

WHATTOWATCH

RASK RETURNS TO BRUINS ON ONE-YEAR DEAL

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SBT Staff

he Boston Bruins announced this week that they’ve officially signed goaltender Tuukka Rask to a one-year contract with $1 million. Since it’s a midseason deal, Rask’s contract is pro-rated and will pay him a total of $545,000.

Rask, 34, had hip surgery in the offseason, and has been working with the Bruins for several weeks before he even re-signed with the team.

“He’s just a guy that wants to go

back and play hockey,” said Bruins general manager Don Sweeney when speaking to the media this week. “He committed to the rehab part of it and the process, which is not an easy thing. He could have just faded off.

“He’s had a hell of a career. He leads in wins, he’s got a lot of things on his resume. But he wanted to play, wanted to see how he would feel with having had the surgery and his health being in better accord.”

FORMER RED SOX LESTER RETIRES

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SBT Staff

on Lester has announced his retirement.

The former ace of the Boston Red Sox has called it quits at the age of 38. His legacy will live on forever as a critical piece of his championship teams in both Boston and Chicago.

Lester won three World Series championships in his 16-year MLB career. He won his first two championships with the Red Sox in 2007 and 2013, and then won another in 2016 with the Cubs.

The lefty began his career with Boston in 2006. He spent eight-anda-half years with the Red Sox, before being traded to the Oakland Athletics during the 2014 season. The following season, in 2015, Lester signed with the Cubs, where he spent six seasons.

He signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals last season, and was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals at last year’s trade deadline.

In his 16 seasons, Lester had a 200-117 record, with a 3.66 ERA in 451starts. Lester never won a Cy Young, but he was a five-time All

As a result of Rask’s signing, the Bruins have sent goaltender Jeremy Swayman down to Providence.

This will be Rask’s 14th season with the Bruins. Last season — which was a COVID-shortened season — Rask went 15-5-2 with a 2.28 goals-against average in 24 starts.

In his Bruins career, Rask is the all-time leader in the organization with 306 wins, a .921 save percentage, 104 playoff games, and 57 playoff wins.

Star, and most notably, finished his career with a 2.51 Postseason ERA in 22 Postseason starts.

Lester’s relationship with the Red Sox deteriorated after the two sides could not come anywhere close to agreeing on a contract extension in 2014, which of course, then led to Boston trading Lester to Oakland in the final year of his contract.

On top of the two championships he won with the Red Sox, Lester threw a no-hitter in 2008. He also won his battle with cancer during his rookie season in Boston in 2006, returning in 2007 to go 4-0 in 11 starts, and picking up the win in the 2007 World Series clincher in Colorado.