South Boston Today June 2 2022

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Inflation Is Not A Political Buzzword; It Is A Real Problem

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n an interview with Wolf Blitzer of CNN on Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen admitted she was wrong about the state and path of inflation. “I think I was wrong then about the path that inflation would take,” she told Blitzer.

“There have been unanticipated and large shocks that have boosted energy and food prices, and supply

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June 2, 2022: Vol.10 Issue 22

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June 2, 2022

EDITORIAL

Charging Dealers of Deadly Drugs as Murderers? Why Not?

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everal years ago, some of our neighbors to the North, frustrated with and furious about the opioid epidemic that has been ravaging their beautiful state had come up with an idea to try to combat it.

Members of the New Hampshire State Legislature had proposed a bill that if it were to become law, would have charged with second degree murder, any drug dealer who was found guilty of selling or providing drugs such as heroin

or fentanyl to a person who overdosed and died as a result.

South Boston has, over the years mourned the loss of far too many of our residents, who died because they overdosed on poisons cavalierly pushed by drug dealers preying on the mostly young.

And of course, it’s not just South Boston that has been afflicted with this scourge. It’s communities everywhere. If Massachusetts had such a law as the one proposed by those

Granite State lawmakers, perhaps at least some of these predators would have chosen another line of work and lives may have been saved in our neighborhood, as well as so many other communities where this crisis has reached epidemic proportions.

Most agree that those addicted to deadly drugs need help and help should be available. But those making a living from selling the substances which they know are killing

people and destroying families need to be held accountable for their actions. If facing murder charges will discourage some of them and gets others off our streets by sending them to prison and throwing away the key, it sounds like a plan worth serious consideration and definitive action.

Does this sound harsh?

Maybe it is. But can it be any harsher than the loss suffered by devastated families who have seen their loved ones sink into

a world of addiction and pain or even worse, perish at far too young an age as the monsters, who profit from the misery they cause, continue selling because the profit is worth the light sentences they receive if and when they are arrested?

It’s long past the time where the punishment fits the crime in regard to dealers of deadly drugs. Society owes it to its young people and people of every age to protect them from these predators.

“The first panacea for a mismanaged nation is inflation of the currency; the second is war. Both bring a temporary prosperity; both bring a permanent ruin. But both are the refuge of political and economic opportunists.” - Ernest Hemingway

Where to Use and Not Use Your Barbecue Grill - Rules and Safety Tips for 2022

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veryone knows that we are well into spring and will soon be deep into the summer season when the usual summertime activities will probably be going strong, even after the long bout with the Corona Virus. One of the greatest pleasures in the warm months is of course the fine art of grilling or barbecuing. Each year, South Boston Today receives inquiries by residents about what the rules are within the city limits as far as where grills are legally allowed to be used and where they are prohibited and this is still the case in 2022. In response, we did some checking and with the help of some neighbors and city officials and of course with our friends on

Publisher

the Boston Fire Department, we obtained the info some of you have been curious about.

Now first and foremost we want to be clear, no one here at SBT is trying to tell you where or how to use your grill; that’s not for us to decide, but here are the restrictions you should be aware of. And the reason for concern is that there have been incidents of grills causing fires over the years here in the neighborhood. We live in the city and the houses are close together. An out of control grill fire could cause not only a tragedy to the people using the grills but to surrounding homes as well.

(The following does not apply to the use and storage of Natural Gas grills permitted through ISD and installed by a licensed

John Ciccone

installer in accordance with proper codes and standards but does apply to the standard type charcoal and LP (propane) grills commonly used.)

Charcoal Grills: These are not allowed to be used on top of or within a building or a structure per order of the Boston Fire Dept.

LP (propane) Grills: City of Boston regulations prohibit the use and storage of the propane tanks or containers inside or on balconies above the first floor of any building or structure used for habitation. Also on first floor porches, decks or balconies enclosed by a roof/ ceiling or other confining material and never on fire escapes or fire escape balconies.

At Castle Island and some park areas, there are designated areas where you can use them, but if it’s your goal to stay within the law, it is recommended that you check for signage regarding outdoor cooking. But here is a very important rule to follow: Wherever you decide to grill, if you are using charcoal, please – PLEASE, do not discard the hot coals where people; especially young children could get burned by stepping on or falling on them or dogs might come in contact with the hot embers. Hot coals can cause serious injuries.

Boston Fire Department officials also urge all to keep grills clean for safety reasons.

Well readers, these are the rules put forth by the city that

some of you have been asking about. Do with this information what you wish but please, by all means, this spring and summer when using your grills; do so carefully for your own personal safety, the safety of your family and guests and for your surrounding neighbors as well.

(Note: On July 30th, 2014, the City of Boston updated its regulations for the use of outdoor cooking grills by adding Article XXXIII to the code and these rules are still in place in 2022.

To view, in detail these rules and regulations and for safety tips to consider when barbecuing, you can log onto the Boston Fire Department web page at www. cityofboston/fire and go to the link titled ‘Barbecue Safety Info’.

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Information Center The

Let’s All Make A List Of Laws We’ll Ignore SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone

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s most readers now know, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, as of this writing, has threatened to veto the bill passed by the Democrat legislators at the state house that would give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.

And in turn, the legislators have promised to override that veto and at least currently, this year, they have the votes to do it.

The Democrats know full well that the majority of voters oppose licenses to illegals but will do it anyway. And the reasons they give to try to justify their actions are bogus and ridiculous.

To be blunt, they have bowed to pressure from the ‘Progressive’ activists in their party and most voters know this. But no matter how they try to spin what they’re doing, the bottom line, the indisputable fact is that those illegals have broken, ignored and flaunted American AND Massachusetts laws and by granting them official IDs, to drive cars, these law MAKERS are enabling law BREAKERS. They are selective about which laws they support. So, I put this to these politicians so willing not to enforce the law: In the name of fairness and equal treatment the following are my demands.

When my property tax, auto excise tax and the several trillion other taxes we have in Massachusetts come due, I don’t want to get any warning notices that my payments are late if I refuse to send in that payment. Hey, if the crimes of noncitizens are going to be overlooked, do not citizens deserve the same treatment?

If I choose to drive a hundred miles an hour and not wear my

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

seat belt, fairness should dictate that I not be pulled over and ticketed. If I take the ‘T’ and jump over the turn style at the subway station rather than pay the fee, don’t bother chasing me. If I fail to show up for jury duty, forget about it. I’m not serving because I don’t want to etc. Massachusetts, being the ‘Nanny State’ that it is, has almost as many laws on the books as there are grains of sand on Carson Beach.

But apparently, there are some people who are given special status and permission to ignore the laws. If the rest of us suddenly decide to rise up and disregard the one’s that we don’t like, such as the laws just mentioned, the state would be in turmoil.

The year is 2022. And most people are smart enough to know what’s going on and it’s a sure bet that the majority more than just suspects that the real reason illegals in Massachusetts are being given driver’s licenses. It’s so they eventually will use them to vote. This is part of the effort by some in the Democrat party to try to replace the voters it is so rapidly losing. To those behind the effort, we the people might not be able, at least not yet, to stop this, but you shouldn’t for a minute think you can pull the wool over our eyes. Those days are gone forever.

Moving on: The latest report states that the average is now 155 Americans are dying from Fentenyl overdoses each day and most of it is flowing over the border like a swift running river.

And yet, the Biden Regime still refuses to secure the border which is a clear indication that they just don’t give a rip.

The great men and women of

the United States Border Patrol are overwhelmed and frustrated beyond belief at the inaction and lack of support from Biden/ Brandon and those who are pulling his strings and their union president just released this statement: “There is more to being president than hiding behind a pair of Rayban sunglasses and constantly lecturing Americans about how bad we all are.”

And I’ll leave you this week with one more quote; this one from Former President Ronald Reagan and its still relevant and true today in regard to the

debate about gun control. Reagan, who was himself shot in an attempted assassination said the following while recovering from his wounds: “You won’t get gun control by disarming law abiding citizens. There’s only one way to get real gun control: Disarm the thugs and the criminals, lock them up and if you won’t throw away the key, at least lose it for a long time…it’s a nasty truth, but those who seek to inflict harm are not fazed by gun controllers. I happen to know this from personal experience”.

Ronald Reagan

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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

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.

Complaints of school bullying on the rise in Boston The decision to close the Mission Hill School in Jamaica Plain put a spotlight on concerns about bullying. But GBH News’s Meg Woolhouse writes that the problems at the school were not an isolated concern. Woolhouse reports that bullying complaints are up more than 80 percent across the Boston Public Schools, with 440 complaints lodged so far this year compared to 243 during the last full year of inperson learning in 2018-2019.

Sen. Warren plans bill to crack down on blank-check deals U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren plans to file legislation that would more closely regulate special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs. The Democrat says the blank-check deals they generate to allow companies to go public without an IPO are hurting mom-and-pop investors while providing windfalls for Wall Street insiders, Jessica DiNapoli of Reuters reports. The legislation may have dim prospects but could help spur additional regulations from the SEC. Support builds to end religious vaccine exemptions Vaccine mandates have become a

political lightening rod since governments and businesses resorted to requiring employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to return to traditional work and leisure activities. But they’re actually nothing new. Schools have been requiring students to be vaccinated from various diseases for decades as a condition of enrollment, and the Eagle-Tribune’s Christian Wade reports how some lawmakers are looking to make those requirements even more ironclad by banning religious exemptions for most vaccinations for school-aged children.

Getting behind the statistics on abortion in Mass.

The Legislature is on the cusp of providing new funding to bolster access to abortion and other reproductive health service for patients expected to cross the border into Massachusetts seeking care if the Supreme Court strikes down Roe v.

Wade. Abortions have actually been on the decline in Massachusetts since the 1990s. The Globe’s Stephanie Ebbert and Christina Prignano dig into the numbers to look at who is accessing care.

How FERC’s decision on pricing could slow clean energy transition

On Monday, we shared the news of the Federal Energy Commission’s decision just before the weekend to delay for two years the elimination of a price rule that advocates say could drive up the short-term cost of renewable energy like offshore wind by making it harder to enter the competitive market. The rule was designed to protect fossil fuel plants from an abrupt transition to cheaper clean energy alternatives before the supply from renewables was sufficient to meet demand. But environmental advocates and leaders like U.S. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, and Attorney General Maura Healey had been advocating for a quicker transition. The Globe’s Sabrina Shankman writes more on what the FERC decision means for Massachusetts.

Gas prices still bad, but not getting worse The roads were busy over Memorial Day weekend, but not busy enough to fuel further spikes in gas prices as the Herald’s Rick Sobey reports a decrease in demand helped stabilize gas prices at their astronomical highs. The average price of a gallon in Massachusetts stayed at $4.73, but at least it didn’t increase. Sobey quotes AAA

June 2, 2022

Northeast’s Mark Schieldrop, who believes drivers could start to get some relief in the coming weeks as gas prices typically fall after Memorial Day. Is prison-based substance use treatment the best solution?

The issue of using correction facilities to treat men civilly committed for substance use treatment has been getting a lot of ink lately.

For the second time in two weeks, a major news outlet has devoted resources to examining the issue, This time the Globe’s Felice Freyer looks at how using prison settings for treatment when no crimes have been committed can stigmatize those in need of help. Prisoners’ Legal Services has filed a lawsuit to stop the practice, but both the House and Senate turned back amendments during their annual budget debates that would have put more resources into making treatment beds available outside of the correctional system Distilling the opposition to licenses for undocumented immigrants Gov. Charlie Baker cited his concerns about the potential for voting fraud in his decision to veto legislation that would allow immigrants without legal status in the United States to obtain a Massachusetts driver’s license. But with the Legislature poised to override that veto as soon as next week. GBH’s Morning Edition team turned to its legal analyst Daniel Medwed to sort through just how legitimate Baker’s concerns might be.

SEN. COLLINS NAMED PORT PERSON OF THE YEAR

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enator Nick Collins was named Port Person of Boston by the Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Boston and was acknowledged at their annual Maritime Day Celebration on May 25th.

Senator Collins was cited for “his work to ensure that the Port of Boston, which provides 9,000 jobs and $8.2 billion in economic activity, continues to serve more than 2,500 local businesses. In recent

years, the Port has seen nearly $850 million in investments from the Commonwealth to modernize the only full-service container terminal in New England. Following the dredging of the Boston Harbor, construction of a new berth, and the installation of three new cranes, the Port of Boston is now able to accommodate the largest container ships in the world,” said Steven J. Smaracko, President of the Propeller Club of Boston.

The Propeller Club of the United States is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing and promoting the international maritime industry. They are the largest such organization of their kind and have operated since 1927.

“I am honored to receive this honor for the work I have done for the Port of Boston, and I look forward to continuing to ensure that this crucial sector of our economy continues to thrive,” said Senator Collins.

June 2, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

2022 Metropolitan Beaches Water Quality Report Card

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ave the Harbor/Save the Bay released its annual Metropolitan Beaches Water Quality Report Card on the 2021 beach

season on Saturday, May 27 - just in time for Memorial Day weekend.

They have summarized the results in the following table.

MAYOR’S GARDEN CONTEST DEADLINE JULY 13

beauty of the city’s landscape.

Boston’s green thumbs have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13, to submit their gardens for award contention. The contest recognizes gardeners who have landscaped, planted flowers, trees, shrubs, and, in the process, helped beautify Boston’s neighborhoods.

Gardeners or those nominating their favorite gardeners may find printable and online nomination forms at www.boston. gov/mayors-garden-contest.

The preferred method of entry is to submit photos through the online application. Alternatively, contestants may request an application by emailing their name and address to gardencontest@ boston.gov. Paper applications are also available in English and ten additional languages.

Judges will fan out across the city visiting finalists the week of

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ayor Michelle Wu has announced the 26th annual Mayor’s Garden Contest highlighting the hard work of Boston’s urban gardeners. The competition provides the perfect opportunity to recognize the skills of all Boston residents who contribute to the

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In 2021, the overall water quality safety rating for the Boston Harbor’s region’s beaches managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation was 86%, down from the previous year’s score of 93%.

Rainfall has a significant impact on water quality on many beaches and varies substantially from year to year. In 2021 there were far more rain events in the region than in 2020, with 19 storms exceeding a half-inch of rain, 12 of which exceeded one inch of rainfall.

These seasonal variations are why Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is reluctant to draw conclusions from results for individual years, preferring to rely on multi-year averages in evaluating overall water quality on the region’s public beaches.

Despite the wet weather, Pleasure Bay and City Point Beach in South Boston, Nantasket Beach in Hull and Winthrop Beach had perfect scores of 100 % in 2021, while five area beaches scored between 82% - 94%.

“Considering the wet weather, most of the region’s beaches scored quite well, earning A’s and B’s” said Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Executive Director Chris Mancini, who noted that King’s Beach in

Lynn and Swampscott and Tenean Beach in Dorchester continue to lag behind.

According to Save the Harbor’s Director of Strategy & Communications Bruce Berman, “Working together we can provide more accessible, timely and accurate water quality data to beachgoers, improving public access to the beach and better protecting the public’s health.”

To learn more about Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the great work they do to restore, protect and share Boston Harbor, the waterfront, islands and the region’s public beaches with all Bostonians and the region’s residents, visit their website at www.savetheharbor.org and follow @savetheharbor on social media. * Beach safety scores are calculated as the percent of samples that comply with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s single sample limit for bacteria. Weekly water quality testing began in late May of 2021. Additional daily testing at Constitution Beach, King’s Beach, Malibu Beach, Tenean Beach and Wollaston Beach began in early June and ended on Labor Day.

July 25. Once the votes are tallied, first place winners will receive the coveted “Golden Trowel” award from Mayor Wu while second and third place winners will be awarded certificates. The traditional awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in the Boston Public Garden on Monday, August 15.

Gardeners who have won three or more times in the last ten years will be automatically entered into the Hall of Fame.

These distinguished Hall-ofFamers are not eligible to enter as contestants but are invited to return as judges.

First place winners are eligible for a drawing for a JetBlue Grand Prize consisting of roundtrip flights for two to any nonstop destination from Boston. Terms, conditions, and blackout dates apply. In addition, Mahoney’s Garden Centers will provide gar-

dener’s gift bags to the top three winners in each category, as well as gift certificates for the 2022 Hall of Fame winners.

For more information please call (617) 635-4505. Stay up to date with news, events, and design and construction work in Boston parks by signing up for our email list at bit.ly/Get-ParksEmails and following our social channels @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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bottlenecks that have affected our economy badly that I ... at the time, didn’t fully understand.”

Nonetheless, Yellen emphasized that the White House has several strategies ready to go that will reduce an inflation burden she conceded is too high on Americans.

Skeptics say it may be too little, too late to help those of us just trying to get by or trying to break out of the shackles of Covid-related mandates.

Getting out of the house and travelling is high on middle America’s agenda. After more than two years of largely staying home due to the pandemic, most Americans are ready to hit the road. Inflation and record-breaking gasoline prices are weighing on would-be vacationers, even more than Covid concerns, according to a report by Morning Consult. Roughly 60% of Americans said they would take more trips this year compared with last year, although higher prices are now causing travelers to scale back their plans and go shorter distances, the survey, commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), found.

One-third are likely to cancel altogether. Gasoline prices have run up sharply heading into the peak summer driving season, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and show no signs of slowing down.

The national average for unleaded gas hit another new high of $4.62 per gallon Tuesday, according to AAA data. Prices are up more than 50% compared with last year.

Analysts say gasoline prices usually peak by mid-May, but this year prices at the pump could continue

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

to rise into July and reach about $5 a gallon or more. Now, 90% of Americans consider the price of gas in their decisions about whether to travel in the next three months, the AHLA survey found. The same share also say inflation is a factor in their upcoming plans. “But just as Covid’s negative impact on travel is starting to wane, a new set of challenges is emerging in the form of historic inflation and record high gas prices.”

In a separate interview, also on Tuesday with CNBC’s Becky Quick, Yellen listed efforts aimed at prescription drug costs, the budget deficit and oil production that could bring down prices running near the fastest pace since the early days of the Reagan administration. The remarks came the same day President Joe Biden met with Yellen and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, whose institution has begun fighting inflation with interest rate hikes.

“The president emphasized his intention to do everything he can to lower the costs that Americans face for important items in their budget,” Yellen said in describing the meeting. She noted “prescription drugs, for utility bills, things where the president acting on his own or working with Congress can make a difference, and also his support for deficit reduction.”

In both a statement before the meeting, and an op-ed piece for The Wall Street Journal, President Biden stressed the Fed’s role in bringing down prices. The Journal piece specifically said, “First, the Federal Reserve has a primary responsibility to control inflation.”

Meanwhile, Yellen — who was Powell’s immediate predecessor as head of the central bank — also noted that responsibility.

“The Fed has a dual mandate, and it is maximum employment and price stability. I think that’s the way it’s phrased in the law,” she said in the interview that aired Wednesday on “Squawk Box.” “But we are at full employment. We have a very strong labor market. That’s been achieved, but inflation is way too high, and it’s really a big burden on American households. And so, maintaining full employment while bringing inflation down, that’s the president’s priority and I believe that’s consistent with how the Fed sees its programs.”

For its part, the Fed has approved two rate hikes this year totaling 75 basis points. Officials have indicated that additional 50 basis point increases are likely over the next several meetings, after which the central bank can evaluate the impact that monetary policy tightening is having.

Both Powell and Yellen spent much of 2021 saying inflation was “transitory” and likely to abate once Covid pandemic-specific factors such as supply chain problems and outsized demand for goods over services returned to normal. In the CNBC interview, Yellen conceded that most of the administration’s plans likely would take longer to filter through the economy.

Biden has frequently blamed the Russian attack on Ukraine for record-high gasoline prices, but energy costs were already climbing sharply higher before the war. The administration also has said energy companies are sitting on thousands

June 2, 2022

of oil leases that could allow greater production, though those leases likely would take years to develop.

Critics maintain that the government is hiding the true rate of inflation by how it calculates the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI in April was 8.3% higher than in 2021 and skeptics question that figure.

The Legacy Research Group reported on a Q&A with Jason Bodner, known as the ‘billion-dollar trader’ because of his sizable trades on behalf of the world’s wealthiest investors. With the 401 Ks and other retirement programs of average Americans feeling its effects, he had advice for those who are wondering what to do until we see inflation come down.

He had 3 recommendations.

-Don’t hold too much cash. At the current annual inflation rate of 8.3%, it takes just over eight years for your cash savings to lose half their buying power.

-Don’t hold too many bonds. They’re also a money-losing proposition. Right now, the 10-year Treasury note yields 2.7%. That’s better than stuffing cash under the mattress. But with inflation running at 8.3% a year, that’s still an annual loss of 5.6% (8.3 minus 2.7 = 5.6).

-Buy lower-volatility dividend stocks. There are plenty of dividendthemed exchange-traded funds (ETFs). He likes the iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV). It yields 3.1% – more than you’ll get from owning the 10-year Treasury note. HDV also has more capital appreciation potential. It’s up 8% yearto-date. That plus the dividend yield is enough to fight inflation and then some. It’s way better than watching your cash rot.

June 2, 2022

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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

Hundreds of Back Bay Hospitality Workers and Community Members Protest the Hynes Convention Center Sale

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Selling the Hynes would eliminate thousands of great middle-class jobs across the city earing red shirts and carrying signs, hundreds of hospitality workers and members of UNITE HERE Local 26, as well as workers from other labor unions and Back Bay community members, marched from Copley Square along Boylston Street and gathered outside the Hynes Convention Center. The Hynes is a key engine that drives business in the Back Bay. While the discussion of a sale has been focused on the building itself, the protesters emphasized that removing the Hynes would immediately devastate thousands of workers—not just those who work in the convention center, but also area retail and restaurant workers, and Back Bay hotel workers who rely on Hynes events to fill hotel rooms and keep their well-paying, middle-class jobs secure.

The UNITE HERE Local 26 members comprised workers from the Hynes, the BCEC, and nearby hotels, including the Sheraton Boston, Westin Copley Place, Hilton Back Bay, and Fairmont Copley Plaza.

Some workers held up large banners that said “Destroying Good Jobs Dishonors Boston’s History” and “#SavetheHynes.” At the Hynes, the protesters chanted “Save the Hynes, Save Our Boston,” using bullhorns and bucket drums to amplify their message in between speeches given

by Hynes worker Darryl Singletary, Sheraton Boston worker Toula Savvidis, UNITE HERE Local 26 President Carlos Aramayo, and Boston City Council President Ed Flynn.

During the pandemic, the hospitality industry was hit hard. But today, businesses are bouncing back and conventions are returning. Hospitality employees, many of them women, people of color, and immigrants, are back at work. Contrary to some reports of the Hynes being unused, in May alone the building hosted “the Bio-It world conference and expo, a Massachusetts Apartment Association conference, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery’s annual meeting, a gathering of the New England Anime Society, and more....”

Donnell Beverly, a Lead Barback who has worked at the Hynes for 16 years, says: “My job at the Hynes gave me a solid income, great benefits, and job security. Selling the Hynes will cause massive job losses.

Think of all the people who will be displaced—not just from the Hynes, but from all the hotels, restaurants, and stores in the Back Bay. They all depend on the Hynes to survive.

Those of us who work in hospitality have suffered a lot through this pandemic. Now that the economy is recovering, now that we are working again, now that conventions are coming back, we should not make any rash decisions. I’ve lived in Boston all my life. It’s where I’ve raised my daughter. Selling the Hynes will drive people like me and my daughter out of the city.”

Toula Savvidis, a Banquets Bartender who has worked at the Sheraton Boston for 22 years, says: “It’s a job that has been good to me, that has provided me with a good income and great healthcare. I’ll get a pension when I retire. During the

Rising Inflation Has Made It More Expensive To Even Eat At Home

with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, increasing by 18.3% after rising 6.6% in February. This is perhaps not surprising for most drivers, as the price of a gallon of gas spiked to $4.33 in March, nearly double what it cost in January 2021, according to data from AAA. The cost of shelter is now up 5%, as a housing shortage has driven up prices in both the home property and rental markets.

Food costs keep rising. While the cost of gas and shelter is concerning, prices for basic food items also continue to climb steadily. The food price index climbed by 1% last month, for a total year-over-year increase of 8.8%. In the previous six months, food prices have increased by a monthly average of about 0.8%.

Notably, food prepared at home now costs 10% more than it did a year ago, making it more difficult for consumers to save money by eating out less.

In comparison, the year-over-year

average cost of takeout and restaurant meals has climbed 6.9%.

This is because the cost for essential food items needed to prepare meals continues to increase due to supply chain issues, disrupted harvests and labor costs.

These items have jumped up in price by the following rates in the last year: • Flour and prepared flour mixes: 14.2% • Butter and margarine: 14% • Meat, poultry and fish: 13.8% • Milk: 13.3% • Eggs: 11.2% • Fresh fruits: 10.1% • Bread: 7.1% • Fresh vegetables: 5.9% Grocers have been more aggressive in increasing prices compared to restaurants, says Matt Dmytryszyn, chief investment officer at financial advisory firm Telemus.

“Restaurants tend to reset menu prices on a periodic basis and we would expect added price hikes in the near future,” he says. “Ultimately, we expect pricing to be more balanced between food at home

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nflation continues to climb as prices for consumer goods rose by 8.5%, according to the Labor Department — the largest year-onyear increase since February 1981.

The consumer price index (CPI), which measures the cost of various goods and services, increased by 1.2% last month, following a 0.8% increase in February. Gas, food and shelter are the main drivers for rising inflation.

As expected, the price of gas surged

pandemic, some of my co-workers struggled to pay their mortgage or their rent; others struggled to put food on the table. I was very happy to return to work last August.

In 2022, we have seen a lot more business return to the hotels. At the Sheraton, which is literally connected to the Hynes, we were starting to feel hopeful about seeing everyone return to work. Selling the Hynes is like a slap in the face, especially at a time when the hotel industry is getting stronger.”

According to Carlos Aramayo, President of UNITE HERE Local 26, the accessibility and size of the Hynes Convention Center make it much more suitable for smaller gatherings. “The Hynes and the BCEC are not interchangeable; they serve different needs. If you remove the Hynes as an option, you are essentially discouraging a convention organizer from choosing Boston as a

continued on page 8

and away from home.”

No one knows for sure when inflation will slow, but one silver lining from an April CPI report is that the index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3% in March, following a 0.5% increase the prior month. That means costs for most items is still rising, but perhaps leveling off.

To combat inflation, the Federal Reserve is expected to continue raising interest rates after introducing a 0.25% increase in March — its first since 2018. By doing so, the central bank increases the cost of borrowing money, which discourages spending, and in turn, tends to decrease inflation.

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The

Wine Guy

Going Forward

S

ince it seems that some genuine warm weather is now here, I’d like to suggest the following to cool off in the shade…

Terre Di Tufi,Toscana, ($29.99) Vernaccia, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc make up this blend, often referred to as “Super Tuscan White”.

It has a clear, star-bright straw yellow color and on the nose, there are attractive and intense notes of oranges with a hint of toast from the oak. It

Hynes continued from page 7

location. I don’t see how that’s helping the city economically. Selling the Hynes would eliminate all kinds of jobs in the Back Bay, and would have the most devastating impact on communities who have been hardest-hit by the pandemic—women workers, and black and brown workers.”

It’s clear the workers need their jobs. But Boston also needs these

hits the palate as full-bodied and robust, yet soft in the mouth. This one has balanced flavors of citrus fruits and minerals, with excellent length and a toasty finish. In Italy, it’s usually served before the meal, but since you might not be in Italy in the next few days, why not get a bottle and have it anytime you want!

Undivided Chardonnay, Languedoc-Rousiollon, Pays d’Oc, 2020, ($15.99). This wine embodies much of the region it comes from- not elegant or delicate, it’s hearty and unpretentious, with a comfortable mouthfeel and notes of pears, apricots and mountain flowers. The minerality gives it a softness and contributes to a long, smooth finish-surprising for its medium body. Favorite dishes with this one would be any kind of white meat, but also game birds and duck. It’s also a preferred wine with Foie Gras and a small portion continued on page 9

workers, who deliver the world-class service that makes the city an international destination. The State House should support Boston residents’ economic recovery from the pandemic.

Now is not the time to sell the Hynes.

Note: Interviews with hospitality union workers from the Hynes and Sheraton Boston, and UNITE HERE Local 26 leadership are available immediately.

June 2, 2022

Democrats Meet In Springfield This Weekend

D

emocrats are preparing to do more than just decided who qualifies for the ballot and gets the party endorsements on Saturday. Delegates to the convention in Worcester have been voting remotely over the past week on six resolutions and two charter changes.

One of the more timely measures would direct Democratic Party Chairman Gus Bickford to send a letter to Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka in support of doing whatever is necessary to preserve free school meals for all students grade K-12.

The federal government for the past two years has funded school meals as part of the national pandemic response, but that funding is due to dry up. The House put $110 million into its proposed state budget to fund universal school meals for another year, but the money was left out of the Senate’s budget that passed last week.

Project Bread Vice President Jennifer Lemmerman said the organization, which has been a leading advocate for extending the program at the state level, is now focused on conference negotiations in the Legislature. It’s unclear if the Senate excluded the money for policy reasons, or simply as a matter of negotiating leverage. Senator Spilka is scheduled to address the convention Saturday morning.

Sponsors of the resolution say

one-quarter of all food insecure students don’t qualify for free or reduced lunches, and inflation is only exacerbating the strain on families.

“We can end the stigma students face, we can end the need for reluctant parents to share information about their income that is uncomfortable, even if it means not getting help they should have,” resolution backers wrote in a statement to their fellow delegates.

Voting on all resolutions and charter changes ended yesterday at 5 p.m., and the results will be tabulated and shared with delegates this week. While meaningful, party platforms have not always carried much weight with the Legislature, where leaders have their own political considerations to balance.

Other matters being voted on: -- Two charter changes to ensure diversity among convention delegates and members of the state committee.

-- A 21st Century Bill of Rights -- A resolution supporting access to high quality, debt-free higher education -- Support for critical race theory and laws supporting the LGBTQ community -- A call for the Congressional delegation to protect DREAMers and other immigrant groups whose protections may soon lapse.

-- Support for protecting trans youth fleeing oppression in other states

UNITE HERE Local 26 represents workers in the hospitality industries of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Our members work in Boston and Providence’s best hotels, restaurants, and university dining halls in addition to the Boston Convention Centers, Fenway Park, and Logan International Airport.

We clean hotel rooms, greet guests, and prepare and serve food for

hundreds of thousands of travelers to Boston and the northeast.

UNITE HERE is the hospitality workers’ union in the U.S. and Canada, representing over 300,000 workers in hotels, gaming, restaurants and food service, airports, and more. Ninety-eight percent of its members were laid off at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and sixty percent remain out of work today.

June 2, 2022

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Wine Guy continued from page 8

of this wine is often mixed in to soften it.

2017 Hardy’s Siegersdorf Riesling, Clare Valley, South Australia, ($13.99) You can’t even get a café sangria for $13 these days, so this one is an absolute steal. A simple and refreshing effort from the premier Australian Riesling region – the Clare Valley. Expect some distinctive notes of lime, a smidge of grapefruit and minerality. Be sure and try it with all the usual white meat BBQ items, but it really shines with Thai food, so you might want to try it with that first. Hardy’s is one of the country’s largest growers and producers and started this varietal’s production about thirty years ago and it purposefully didn’t rush production- and it shows.

From Spain’s Rias Baixas region comes what is viewed by many as the top value in this Spanish white wine.The 2020 Ethereo Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain, ($15.99), is expressive, crisp and refreshing.

Spanish winemakers, because of their country’s extreme heat in the summer and early fall,make their whites to be very crisp, with pronounced minerality; this makes them chill faster and stay cold longer. This is the preferred white for summer Tapas and those late-night diners that the Spanish love, but you don’t have to wait till 10:00 pm to have some- get those shellfish and seafood items you love ready to go with this one!

Stay Cool, My Friends!

CITATION ON PETITION FOR ORDER OF COMPLETE SETTLEMENT Docket No. SU19P0665EA Commonwealth Of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Estate of: Joseph David Joyce Date of Death: 02/12/2019 Suffolk Probate and Family Court 24 New Chardon Street Boston, MA 02114 (617) 788-8300 A Petition for Order of Complete Settlement has been filed by: Michele C. Pizarro of South Boston MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree of Complete Settlement including the allowance of a final account and other such other relief as may be requested in the Petition.

IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before: 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 06/16/2022.

This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an affidavit of objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you.

WITNESS, Hon. Brian J. Dunn, First Justice of this Court.

Date: May 10, 2022 Felix D. Arroyo, Register of Probate June 2, 2022

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CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION Docket No. SU22P0969EA Commonwealth Of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Estate of: Kenneth S. Byrne Also known as: Kenneth Sylvester Byrne Date of Death: 12/30/2020 Suffolk Probate and Family Court 24 New Chardon Street Boston, MA 02114 (617) 788-8300 To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Probate of Will with Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by: Joseph P. Byrne of South Boston MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that: Joseph P. Byrne of South Boston MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve With Personal Surety on the bond in unsupervised administration IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before: 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 06/30/2022.

This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an affidavit of objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you.

UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distribution of assets and expenses of administration.

WITNESS, Hon. Brian J. Dunn, First Justice of this Court.

Date: May 25, 2022 Felix D. Arroyo, Register of Probate June 2, 2022

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June 2, 2022

Memorial Day In South Boston As We Remember Those Who Made The Ultimate Sacrifice

T

he Thomas J. Fitzgerald Post, No.561 under Commander Tom McCarthy made this community proud last Saturday as we remembered those who gave their lives for our country and freedom. The Memorial Day Parade kicked off from the Post with a Boston Police escort, followed by our

own JROTC – South Boston High School, our distinguished veterans, elected officials and families as they marched to Medal of Honor Park for the Laying of the Wreath Ceremony at the Vietnam Memorial. It really is emotional when you see our Veterans line the rail and salute. It makes you proud to be an American and a

South Bostonian.

This year was very well attended.

Ottavio, Yolanda and friends came from Compass On The Bay. Both are Veterans of the US Army and the US Coast Guard. Everyone enjoyed a tasteful brunch back at the Post and it was discovered there was a birthday to celebrate. Tommy Lyons

started the birthday song as everyone, including Mayor Wu, joined in to wish Commissioner Rob Santiago of Veteran Affairs, City of Boston, a joyful day.

It was a day of remembrances, reflection, respect and pride. Thank you to the Fitzgerald Post and God Bless the United States.

June 2, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

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Is That A Cowboy, A Horse And A Dog Riding Through The Streets Of South Boston?

W

hy yes, it is! The C-6 Boston Police Community Service Officers met the founder of Horses Over America, Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Scott, US Army-Retired, at the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Officer Ayesha Lawton stayed in

touch and formed the relationship that brought Gerry, Hercules and his dog Molly to South Boston from Saco, Maine.

Hercules is a big, black Friesian from the Netherlands and stands 18 hands. He is a wonderful even-tempered animal who loves

meeting the humans and spreading cheer. Working with over 850 police departments, Hercules, Molly and Gerry enjoy being out in the community and folks are pleasantly surprised when they see them.

The event was coordinated to bring a smile, happiness and a

June 2, 2022

little awe to the South Boston community in lieu of the tragic events of the past week. A little mental health therapy for all, for a little while and Hercules definitely delivered.

A huge shout out to C-6 for bringing the trio to see us. Community policing at its best. A very big thank you to Gerry Scott, Hercules and Molly for visiting.

Giddyup! https://www.horsesoveramerica.org

June 2, 2022

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St. Peter Academy Spirit Week 2022

S

t. Peter Academy celebrates Spirit Week! Monday, we enjoyed dressing as our favorite Superhero. Tourist Tuesday, we explored the South Boston Community. Wednesday, we dressed for favorite Sports Day.

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Thoughtful Thursday, the students wrote about why they love St. Peter Academy. Friday, we dressed in the color Orange and raised donations for Liam’s Lucky Charms/ MS Foundation. Liam is the uncle of Caitlin and Hannah Kennedy

in Kindergarten I. The day ended with a surprise visit from Hercules the Horse! Thank you, Boston Police Station C-6, for making that happen, the students loved it! What a fantastic week we had! Thank you to all who celebrated with us!

Looking forward to the actionpacked month of June!

St. Peter Academy is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. St. Peter Academy is an independent, community-based private school and serves students from ages 15 months through

June 2, 2022

grade 6. SPA is currently accepting applications for the limited spaces available in the year-round toddler program (beginning at age 15 months) and for students in Pre-K (School Year and Full Year Programs), Kindergarten and grades 1-6. Financial Aid Available. Two Scholarships will be offered this year for applicants for Grades 1 through 6. Appointments for individual virtual tours can be made by contacting Maria Blasi, at 617-268-0750 or by emailing spa@ StPeterAcademy.com.

June 2, 2022

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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South Boston Catholic Academy News

Students are getting to enjoy visiting the library again!

“The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library.” — Albert Einstein.

T

he students in Grades 1B and 1C at South Boston Catholic Academy loved their visit to the South Boston Branch Library and to be able to take out books!

They couldn’t wait to show us the great books they got.

The students in Grade 2B were all smiles for their first field trip to the South Boston Branch Library!

We are so lucky to be able to talk with the librarians and learn all

about the different types of books, genres, and how to care for them!

Best day ever!

The students in Grade 4 also had a chance to visit the South Boston Branch Library. The students in this class are avid readers and they and their families are very happy that the library is open again!

Quoting the Children’s Librarian, Dani Crickman, “It’s been a delight to welcome SBCA classes

back to the South Boston Branch Library! During their April and May visits, Grades 1B, 1C, 2B and 4 were able to pick up library cards, get familiar with the children’s area, and choose books to check out. It was wonderful to have the library full of kids who are enthusiastic about reading.

Outside of class visits, I encourage families to visit anytime during current library hours: Monday – Wednesday 10am - 6pm, Thursday 12pm – 8pm, Friday 9am – 5pm, and Saturday 9am – 2pm. The library is offering in-person children’s programs, including Storytime for ages 2-5 on Tuesday and Friday mornings at 10:30 and a new Lego club for ages 5-11 that meets the last Thursday of the month at 6pm. The library will also host six

June 2, 2022

sessions of music and movement with Little Groove on Wednesdays at 10:30. You can register for all library programs at bpl.org/events.

Please feel free to contact me at dcrickman@bpl.org or 617-2680180. I look forward to seeing you! – Librarian Dani Crickman, South Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library.” A Big Thank You to Children’s Librarian, Dani Crickman, Branch Librarian, Jane Bickford and Programs and Community Outreach Librarian, Kathleen Clifford and to everyone at the South Boston Branch Library for welcoming us back to the library.

New families are welcome to email Mr. Jamie Brown at j.brown@ sbcatholicacademy.org for more information about South Boston Catholic Academy.

June 2, 2022

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This week, Danny reacted to the Boston Red Sox’ earlyseason struggles:

I

t’s tough watching the Boston Red Sox right now.

The Sox entered the month of June as the fourth-place team in the AL East with a 23-27 record. As of June 1, Boston was 11.5 games behind the first-place New York Yankees, who have a 34-15 record.

It’s early, I know, but if the playoffs began after the month of May, the Red Sox would be on the outside looking in, as they’re also four games back in the Wild Card hunt.

It’s not pretty, to say the least.

Though, at one point in the month of May, it did look as if the Red Sox were ready to turn things around for good, as they won six straight from May 18-24.

Since then, they’ve yet to win two in a row.

The bad times continued to end the month of May, as the Sox lost to the team with the worst record in Major League Baseball, the Cincinnati Reds, at Fenway Park.

And it wasn’t just the loss that hurt. It was the way they lost to the lowly Reds at home.

Boston trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the ninth. Kike Hernandez led the inning off with a single

to center. Rafael Devers followed that up with a double off the Monster, putting runners at second and third with no outs.

Then, just as it seemed like a lock that the Red Sox would at least tie the game, things went downhill fast. J.D. Martinez struck out looking, and Xander Bogaerts flied out to shallow center. Suddenly, it was secondand-third with two outs.

Alex Verdugo drove in a run on an infield single to the right side, cutting Cincinnati’s lead to 2-1.

It was then up to Trevor Story, who had nine home runs and 32 RBI in the month of May alone.

But he fell behind in the count early and then struck out swinging to end the game.

So, what now?

You know it’s bad when you go to the Red Sox’ website on the morning of June 1, and in the “Headlines” section at the top of the page, the No. 2 story reads: A high school prom that may never be topped.” I’m not kidding. That’s one of the top stories on the official Boston Red Sox website.

If you watched Tuesday night’s loss to the Reds, then

you know that NESN highlighted a high school prom that was taking place in the newly designed right-field function room inside Fenway Park. But the No. 2 story on the team’s website? Ouch.

The fourth story down, in that same “Headlines” section reads: “Injuries & Moves: Sale looking ‘really good.’”

Now, one could make the argument that that’s actually the top story, considering just how bad things are right now for the Red Sox. This team doesn’t just need Sale to return. They need Sale to return to his dominant self, or, I’m not sure this is going to be a very fun summer at Fenway.

Sale, 33, is returning from a stress fracture in his right rib cage that he suffered in the offseason.

He’s yet to pitch this year.

The lefty is scheduled to throw several bullpen sessions this week, and, according to Red Sox manager Alex Cora, Sale looked “really good” in his first bullpen session on Tuesday.

After the bullpen sessions, Sale is expected to face live hitters next week, followed by a few rehab starts in the minors in the

following weeks. The realistic expectation is that Sale could return to pitch for the Red Sox later this month or in early July.

But I mean, based on how things are currently going for both the Red Sox and for Sale, should we expect some kind of major hiccup in Sale’s recovery? Probably.

Since winning a championship with the Red Sox in 2018, the Sale experience in Boston hasn’t gone too well. Since the beginning of the 2019 season, Sale has made just 34 starts. In those 34 starts, Sale is 11-12 with a 4.14 ERA. For a guy who is in the middle of a five-year, $145 million contract, that’s just not going to cut it.

Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game, sure. But Sale and the Red Sox need to find a way to try and minimize those injuries moving forward, especially for the rest of the 2022 season.

Sale’s return will undoubtedly be compared to a “trade-deadline acquisition.” Everyone in Boston is just hoping that, by the time he does return, it won’t be too late.

Follow Danny on Instagram @ DannyPicard.

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June 2, 2022

SPORTS TODAY

CELTICS Tweet ADVANCE TO of the NBA FINALS Week

I

ile under: Good news and bad news.

The bad news first. Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand needed

NBA THURSDAY, JUNE 2 NBA Finals Gm 1: Boston at Golden State 9 P.M. ABC SUNDAY, JUNE 5 NBA Finals Gm 2: Boston at Golden State 8 P.M. ABC

MLB FRIDAY, JUNE 3 Boston at Oakland 9:40 P.M. NESN SATURDAY, JUNE 4 Boston at Oakland 4 P.M. NESN SUNDAY, JUNE 5 Boston at Oakland 4 P.M. NESN

second round, and took care of the Denver Nuggets in five games in the first round.

Meanwhile, the Celtics have had to play in a Game 7 in each of their last two series, beating the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals and beating the defending NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks in the second round.

The Warriors are the favorite in this year’s Finals, at -155, while the Celtics are the underdog at +130. Golden State entered the week as a 3.5-point favorite in Game 1, which is Thursday night in Golden State. Even though it’s a matchup between two teams on opposite sides of the country, it will still be a 2-2-1-1-1 series.

Golden State finished the regular season as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, with 53 wins.

Boston finished as the No. 2 seed in the East, with 51 wins.

The Celtics and the Warriors split their two games in the regular season. Boston lost to Golden State at the TD Garden, 111-107, in mid-December. Curry had a game-high 30 points. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics in scoring in the loss, with 27 points.

Boston got its revenge three months later, beating the Warriors in Golden State, 110-88. Tatum and Jaylen Brown were tied with a team-high 26 points, while Marcus Smart added 20 points and Robert Williams blocked four shots.

Curry only played 14 minutes in the game, scoring just three points, as he left the game in the first half with a foot injury.

Now, it’s the Celtics who seem to be the more banged-up bunch out of the two teams. But out of all the players in the Finals, Tatum is the leading scorer, averaging 27 points per game. Steph Curry

MARCHAND UNDERGOES HIP SURGERY SBT Staff

WHATTOWATCH

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 NBA Finals Gm 3: Golden State at Boston 9 P.M. ABC

SBT Staff

n what was a crazy finish to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Miami over the weekend, the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Heat, 100-96, in that Game 7 and advance to the NBA Finals.

It marks the Celtics’ first appearance in the Finals since 2010, when the C’s lost to the Los Angeles Laker in seven games. It’s Boston’s third NBA Finals appearance in the last 35 years. The Celtics last won the NBA Championship in 2008.

They’ll go up against the Golden State Warriors, who are returning to the Finals after missing out on the playoffs the last two seasons because of injuries to their star players. Prior to that, Golden State had made the NBA Finals five straight times from 2015-2019, winning three championships in that span.

In these playoffs, the Warriors defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals in five games. They beat the Memphis Grizzlies in six games in the

F

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surgery on both of his hips this offseason. The good news? That surgery on both hips was successful, according to the team’s statement over the weekend.

Here’s that statement:

“On May 27, Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand underwent successful hip arthroscopy and labral repair on both hips. The procedure was done by Dr. Bryan Kelly at the

is right behind him, averaging 26 points per game.

In the regular season, Tatum ranked 11th in the NBA in scoring, averaging 27 points per game, while Curry ranked 14th in the NBA, averaging 25.5 points per game.

Outside of the Tatum and Curry comparisons, another intriguing storyline for this year’s Finals comes in the form of Al Horford’s contract. Horford is playing under a four-year, $109 million contract.

Next year is an incentive-based fourth and final year of the deal, which was given to him by the Philadelphia 76ers. Only $14.5 million was guaranteed for next year. Now that he made the NBA Finals, Horford guaranteed himself $19.5 million. If he wins the championship, the entire $26.5 million is guaranteed next year.

Tip-off for Game 1 on Thursday night is at 9 p.m. ET.

Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, NY. Recovery time is approximately six months.”

Given that six-month timetable, he’ll will most likely miss the first two months of the 2022-23 regular season.

Marchand, 34, has three years remaining on his current eight-year, $49 million contract with the Bruins.