South Boston Today July 29 2021 by SouthBostonTodayOnline

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his week, the Coalition For A Resilient And Inclusive Waterfront – www.bostonwaterfrontcoalition.org – sent a direct mail flyer to the residents of South Boston with a message: “ If you believe in a waterfront that is resilient, inclusive, accessible and economically vibrant, a virtual and in person forum is scheduled July 29th from 4:30pm to 6:00pm hosted by the

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July 29, 2021

EDITORIAL The Speeding Bikers Are Back. It’s Time To End It

ast Sunday saw the return of what is being called the ‘Wannabe Hells Angels’ by local residents and even some police. Between 18 and 20, mostly young, males were racing through the narrow residential streets of South Boston riding a mixture of scooters, 4-Wheelers, ATVs, Quads and Dirt Bikes. Most if not all were unregistered and therefore not insured and not legal to be on the road. When we say they were ‘racing’, we are not exaggerating in the slightest. Reaching speeds

of more than 50 miles per hour, people trying to cross streets at times had to literally run and even jump for safety. One neighbor on East Fifth reported that the group “Blasted off from L Street near Cumberland Farms and reached K Street in a matter of seconds sending pedestrians scattering”. Most people know what the term ‘wheelie’ means. It’s riding with the front wheel(s) of the bike raised up with only the rear wheels(s) on the ground. This makes the vehicles even more out of control at high speeds.

It was just a few weeks ago when a young person was killed near N Street and E. Broadway while riding his scooter with a group of other riders. It was an unfortunate accident that hopefully won’t be repeated. But as long as bikes are allowed to race through city streets , the odds of it happening are high. City officials have issued a ‘no chase’ order to police regarding these speeding groups. That policy may have some merit since a high-speed vehicle chase could be even more disastrous. But as the famous

line in the ‘Blues Brothers’ film stated, ‘No vehicle, no matter how fast, can outrun a Motorola’. In other words, if police would be allowed to set up roadblocks when notified by radio as to which direction the racers are heading, this could be a good and far safer way to corral and arrest them and confiscate their bikes. This will send a message to all the offenders that the game is over. Too often, officials react to a tragic accident after the fact when it’s too late to have saved a life and then lament the fact that had they only taken pre-

cautions earlier, lives may have been saved. If gangs of racing bikers are going to continue to be allowed to terrorize city streets because some officials don’t have the courage to take real steps to stop it, it’s only a matter of time until some senior citizen or a young child is run over and possibly killed. If that should happen, to coin a phrase ‘all hell could break out’ in this neighborhood and the blame will lie not only with the offending speeder(s), but also with officials who simply would not do what was needed to be done to prevent it.

“To sacrifice our personal liberty for security is and will forever be a false choice” - Senator Rand Paul

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July 29, 2021

Information Center The

Scared Americans Are Much Easier To Control SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone

nd here they come again. A growing number of Americans are convinced that all the talk and threats about a new massive surge of the Covid virus and what they are calling the ‘Delta Variant’ might be getting over hyped by people, who just cannot bring themselves to give up all that control they were enjoying so much. Could that be true? Well, at this point, it’s too early to tell. But the truth will come out eventually. However, if it is true, the following statement running wild and viral on social media could explain what a major cause is. It reads as follows: “As they play the ‘Covid cases spike card’ again, remember, Biden has let in nearly a million unvaccinated illegals, many of them infected, and is having them relocated in cities and towns all around our country”. Does it seem a coincidence that most of the new cases SAID to be discovered are coming from those states where the largest number of illegals are being sent? And as the public is being bombarded 24/7 by government, media, celebrities and medical types like Fauci, who are being paid huge amounts of money, demanding that everyone get their shots and put their masks back on, they are still not saying a word about the wide-open southern border. In other words, while American citizens are being threatened with more restrictions, if they choose not to comply, hundreds of thousands of migrants who have illegally crossed the border, get to roam the country whenever and wherever they choose. So yes, Biden, Fauci and Cher are correct when they say that millions of Americans are ignoring their warnings and not taking them seriously. But it’s because those

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defiant Americans can plainly see, if it was really about the safety of the public, if these officials were really concerned, they would secure the border. But they haven’t and they won’t. There is another reason many Americans are not trusting what they are being told. A large segment of the population, the segment that is not so easily fooled or manipulated, is now sensing another distraction taking place. It just might be the issue that Democrat party leaders have been fighting against tooth and nail over the last several months – the 2020 election audits. The national Democrats have spent more than 100 million dollars and employed nearly 100 attorneys for the sole purpose of preventing recounts and audits of votes in many counties in states where results were suspect. If there was nothing to hide, you would think that they would want the audits to go forward to prove everything was legal and fair. But they don’t. And as the results of those audits and recounts in states where they are going forward are now coming in, it has been discovered that there was in fact, good reason to investigate. In the states of Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and others, massive numbers of votes were counted several times, or hidden, tampered with, altered or cast by people not eligible to vote. As the number of improperly cast votes continues to rise, there is a virtual news media blackout on what is being exposed. In its place is the continuous barrage of Covid news taking up the air waves and print media. Is this a conspiracy theory? Call it what you will, but after witnessing the antics over the last couple of years, people are

growing increasingly suspicious of pretty much everything. What voting news is getting media coverage are the attacks by the left on the voter integrity laws that so many states are now pushing. The left is spreading misinformation that these laws are meant to suppress minority votes, when just the opposite is what these new laws will do. To quote Republican Senator Tom Cotton: “We need laws that make it easy to vote and harder to cheat. Why does that scare Democrats?” It matters not to Pelosi, Schumer, Biden and

Harris that nearly 80% of Americans are in favor of requiring an ID to vote, which is a major part of what the Voter Integrity laws are pushing. And yes, an overwhelming number of voters of all races are in favor of this. But the Democrat leadership ignores the will of the people and is doing all in its power to defeat it. They will lose this one and lose big. This issue and their hugely unpopular ‘defund the police’ efforts are just two of the reasons they will probably get buried come the 2022 election.

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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.

How much did it cost to run mass vaccination sites? We’ll probably never know precisely how much reacting to and mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic cost the state of Massachusetts. But new numbers from the Department of Public Health provided to MassterList through a public records request shine a small light on the figure. The state paid out $54.1 million to third-party contractors for the operation of mass vacation sites between Jan. 1, 2021 and June 22, 2021. Tax dollars flowed to CIC Health, Curative, and LabCorp Employer Services, Inc. for the operation of sites at Fenway, Gillette, Hynes Convention Center, the Reggie Lewis Center, and Natick Mall. Officials relied on mass vaccination sites in an attempt to easily vaccinate large swaths of residents. But as the COVID-19 cases ebbed and jab rates swelled, the Baker administration shifted its focus to a hyper-local approach, honing in on residents who remained hesitant about receiving a shot.

Gillette Stadium was the first site to open in January and and a site at an old Circuit City in Dartmouth was the last to close on July 13. Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders previously likened the shift in strategy to managing a political campaign: instead of canvassing votes, health officials were vaccine canvassing. But the state’s reliance on large arenas, convention halls, and malls at the outset of the vaccination effort is shown through several documents detailing week by week vaccine totals and cost breakdowns. The state paid CIC Health $21.56 million for just over 283,000 total shots administered at the Gillette Stadium site from Jan. 12 through May 21; $1.97 million for 56,764 shots at the Fenway site from Jan. 25 through March 28; $4.46 million for 93,897 shots at the Reggie Lewis Center from Jan. 22 through May 30; and just over $898,000 for 91,621 shots at the Hynes Convention Center from March 15 through May 30. Officials also paid just over $3 million to LabCorp for 85,981 shots at the

Natick site from Feb. 22 through April 30. One of the most expensive invoice officials paid -- clocking in at $4.43 million -- went to CIC Health for the operation of the Hynes Convention Center site from March 27 to May 2. And the most expensive month, according to the documents, came in March 2020 when the state had to pay for the operations for the Fenway, Gillette, Hynes, Natick, and Reggie Lewis sites. That bill came out to just over $11.6 million. MassLive’s Steph Solis previously reported in March that the state paid $10.4 million to launch large-scale vaccination sites with the help of CIC Health, Curative, and LabCorp. The vendors charged the state millions each week, the report says -- a fact that holds true for most weeks detailed in the new documents obtained by MassterList. Lawmakers and docs talk masks and vax for kids under 12 How do officials plan to persuade parents still on the fence

Welcome Mr. Chance Hebert

BA, Chance went on to study for a Master’s in Patristic Theology at the University of Oxford, England which he finished just this summer. He is currently living in Pawtucket, RI and spiritually preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony this October. He is a lifelong Catholic with a passion for apologetics and theological study, and he can’t wait to share in the faith life at St. Brigid and Gate of Heaven Parishes. Welcome to Mr. Hebert! He will be present in the school and Parish Office during July and August as he prepares for the start of school and religious education in early September! To reach Mr. Hebert, please email SBGHParishesRelEd@gmail.com or call the Parish Office (617-268-2122) and dial ext. 17

New Coordinator of Religious Education and Director of Catholic Identity for South Boston Catholic Academy

e welcome to our St. Brigid and Gate of Heaven Parishes and School Mr. Chance Hebert. Mr. Hebert will be coordinating our Religious Education Programs in our Parishes and also will be the Director of Catholic Identity at South Boston Catholic Academy. He will coordinate religious classes for grade K-6; the Confirmation Program and also our RCIA Program. In addition, Mr. Hebert will assist the Religious Education Program at our school - teaching, supporting the school in areas of Catholic Identity, assisting with

the monthly school Masses, training altar servers, and coordinating daily prayer activities. Chance was born and baptized in Altus, Oklahoma but only lived there for four years, as his father served in the Air-Force and their family moved around quite a bit. After OK he lived in New Jersey, California--where he received First Communion--Illinois, Germany--where he was confirmed-Virginia, and New Hampshire. In 2020 he graduated from Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts in Warner NH, where he studied theology and the Great Books. After finishing his

July 29, 2021

about getting their kids vaccinated to seek out a shot? Bolstering education and communication efforts, relying on pediatricians, providers, and schools to offer facts about getting jabbed, reports MassLive’s Benjamin Kail. The comments and suggestions came during a lengthy state legislative hearing Monday held at Boston’s Museum of Science. There’s more than 800,000 children in the state that are about to become eligible for a vaccine once the feds approve a shot for those younger than 12, reports State House News Service’s Katie Lannan and Colin A. Young. And the conversations at the hearing come just about a month before the school year is set to kickoff. More from Kail: “The preparations come as officials look to protect children and vulnerable teachers, administrators and the public just as the state and country grapple with slowed vaccinations and outbreaks of the highly contagious delta variant, including a Provincetown cluster that’s impacted hundreds.” And what about masking up this fall? The SHNS pair report that Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday said he doesn’t have any plans to change current masking policies and told reporters Monday that he was awaiting more information from a call with other state leaders and federal public health agencies.

July 29, 2021

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

News from the Catholic Heart Work Camp

By Christine McConville

n late June, while Bostonians were ending an epic heat wave, eight hard-working and civicminded South Boston teens were breaking a sweat at a Delaware zoo for abused and abandoned animals. “It is inspiring to see some of America’s youth donating time out of their summer break to help businesses, non-profits, individuals and animals who could use an extra hand from time to time,” said Matthew Shaffner, a founder of Three Palms Zoo and Education Center in Townsend, DE. “Your help with keeping the animals hydrated and in clean enclosures during one of the hottest weeks of the year was tremendous; and the paint jobs look wonderful!” The teenagers — most of whom

are about to enter 9th grade — attend Boston Latin, Boston College High School and the Dexter Southfield School. Their trip was part of the Catholic Heart Work Camp, a Florida-based charity that organizes faith-based mission trips in the US and Puerto Rico. For four days, under the blazing sun, these city kids cleaned out animal stalls, stacked fresh hay in the goat, sheep and pig bins, and entertained a boisterous Sicilian donkey named Dominick, one of the many zoo animals with a sad past. “These animals really come alive when the kids show up,” said Shaffner, who started the zoo because many area animals had been domesticated and needed care. The zoo’s two alligators, for example, were illegally kept

pets of a local criminal. When the criminal went to jail, the authorities asked the zoo to care for the alligators. Other zoo animals include LeRoy, a one-eye goose, a coyote raised in captivity, and pythons, emus and foxes. Each afternoon, after work was finished, the teens returned to the Holy Name Parish in Dover, Delaware, which served as a home base for all 200-plus campers, who traveled from Catholic parishes in 5 different states. The other groups helped clean up Delaware state parks, assisted at Habitat for Humanity for sites, and did weeding and other household chores for area’s elderly residents, who expressed extreme gratitude for the crews. “They have so much kindness and

5 enthusiasm,” said one Delaware woman in her 80s and recently widowed. Her front porch and shutters were painted by the campers. “It would take me a month to accomplish what they did in a day.” South Boston residents Erin Lee was the motivation behind the trip. Lee, a member of the St. Brigid/Gate of Heaven Parishes, spent months planning and organizing the trip. She helped the teen raise funds to pay for their travel. “I’m so happy to see young people who are so willing to help others,” said Lee, who is committed to strengthening the parish’s youth group. “Yes, we did do a lot of work — but we also have a lot of fun, while growing in our faith. I’m already looking forward to next year.” South Boston resident Christine McConville attended as a chaperone said, “We had a lot of fun doing a lot of good”.

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

July 29, 2021

In Honor of National Mutt Day on July 31: The Top 5 Reasons Why Mutts Rule!

merica has a long history of affection for mutts. Two of cinema’s most famous dogs – Spike from “Old Yeller” and Higgins from “Benji” - were mutts adopted from shelters. Heroic mutts such as Balto, the sled dog who brought lifesaving diphtheria medication to remote corners of Alaska, are immortalized in bronze statue form. Even the currently fashionable “doodles” selling for thousands of dollars are a mix of two dogs (which is really just a mutt). Ask veterinarian Erin Katribe, Best Friends Animal Society’s medical director, and she’ll tell you about two very special mutts that hold a place in her heart. “As an adult, the first dog I had was a rescue mutt that I encountered at the local non-profit clinic where I was volunteering before vet school. Akasha and I were immediately connected, and we spent the next 16 years together. She was my ‘heart’ dog,” Katribe said. More recently, Franklin, a Hurricane Harvey and distemper survivor, who is an indiscernible combination of breeds continues to teach Katribe. “In the beginning, it was about canine distemper, and now it’s about love and life, as only a dog can teach us humans,” she added. Those who have adopted pets all have stories like this. That’s why Best Friends Animal Society is celebrating National Mutt Day this July 31 by sharing why mutts often

make for the very best of friends: 1.No two mutts are alike. That can make your dog the talk of your block, the latest social media star or simply a great companion. “Every time I walk through a shelter, large or small, I see a stunning array of dogs of all shapes and sizes,” Katribe said. “Each one is beautifully unique.” 2.Mixed breed dogs (aka mutts) tend to have a lower risk of hereditary diseases than purebred dogs. “Even when breeders make

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efforts to remove dogs with heritable medical problems from their breeding pools, some conditions will get by undetected in earlier generations,” Katribe said. “Hereditary problems are very common at puppy mills or with irresponsible breeders, as breeding stock is not selected for based on any health criteria.” 3.The temperament of a mutt can be just as solid as a purebred. “While some breeds do have behavioral tendencies related to their breeding (for example, herding behavior in dogs bred for that purpose), there are no guarantees that a purebred dog will follow that tendency,” Katribe explained. “The reality is that every dog is an individual.” 4.Most mutts are not born in cruel puppy mills or other unfortunate circumstances, Katribe noted. “For dogs that are bred and born in puppy mill situations or by irresponsible breeders, both the parents and puppies are often kept in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. While the puppies get sold, the parents can live in these horrible conditions for many, many years.”

5.If you really like purebreds, you can find a mutt that’s pretty close. “One strategy to get the best of both worlds – choose a mutt that is primarily of your chosen breed,” Katribe said. “You’ll get the hardiness of a mutt with the look and, potentially, behavioral tendencies of your chosen breed.” To find a shelter or rescue near you, visit www.bestfriends.org. About Best Friends Animal Society Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to about 347,000. Best Friends runs lifesaving programs all across the country, as well as the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Working collaboratively with a network of more than 3,300 animal welfare and shelter partners, and community members nationwide, Best Friends is working to Save Them All®. For more information, visit bestfriends.org.

July 29, 2021

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

Summertime at St. Peter Academy

hen followed that beautiful season…Summer…Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light and the landscape lay new, as if created in all the freshness of childhood – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow The learning and adventures continue all year long at St. Peter Academy. Summertime is no exception with the Year Round Toddler & PreK Programs and Urban Explorers Summer Camp in full swing. The playground has been transformed into a Summertime oasis with sprin-

klers and pools for water fun. The Toddler Program has been keeping busy with their routines. They are currently on Unit Six, learning about Things that Grow. It’s a perfect curriculum for being outdoors with the sunshine and rain, observing flowers, butterflies and birds. The Year Long PreK program have had weekly themed activities, Camping, Fairytales, Sports just to name a few. They have been on many offsite adventures visiting the local beaches and parks. The big kids in the Urban Explorer

Program are having a wonderful summer too! Filling up the days with trips into the Frog Pond, Rose Kennedy Greenway, Lawn on D, Beaches and Parks. Indoor activities include working on Summer Work Packets (SPA students), Tie-Dying T-Shirts, Summer Crafting, Yoga, Exercise, Puzzles and Reading. There are a few spots available in the summer program, please email spa@stpeteracademy.com for details. The first day of school Tuesday September 7th will be here soon, but in the mean time we will continue to

7 enjoy our Summer Days. St. Peter Academy in an independent, community-based private school and serves students from ages 15 months through grade 6. SPA is currently accepting applications for the limited spaces available in the year-round toddler (beginning at age 15 months) and year round PreK programs 2.9 years of age and school year programming for students in Pre-K, Kindergarten and grades 1-6. Appointments for individual virtual tours can be made by contacting Maria Blasi, at 617-268-0750 or by emailing m.blasi@StPeterAcademy.com.

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

The

Wine Guy

Summer BBQ Reds

t seems as though we really haven’t talked about reds that are good for the BBQ in quite awhile. Oh yeah, that’s because we’ve had about 250 inches of rain in June and July and the Memorial Day plants have covered the patio and the grill. However, if you ever do get out there again, try one or all of the following and for Godsakes, don’t forget to put on your wetsuit! They say that the best Zins are

Waterfront continued from front page

New England Aquarium. Their key focus is resilience. In the context of the environment, the fact of the matter is that the climate is changing, and human activity is a significant and, many argue, the primary factor in the acceleration of climate change over the past century. It’s an argument that has enormous merit. Regardless of how successful humans are at limiting the root causes of our warming planet, society is facing significant impacts—from more frequent and severe weather, ocean warming and acidification, extended periods of drought and extreme temperatures, and other harmful effects of climate change. The ability to prepare for, recover from, and adapt to these impacts is called “climate resilience.” It stands to reason that this phenomenon cannot be ignored, political discourse notwithstanding. It is more than a buzzword. As the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions states on its website, ‘resilience’ is an increasingly common word in the climate change lingo. Extreme weather events have

July 29, 2021

grown in Sonoma County and the 2018 Seghesio Zinfandel, Sonoma, California, ($19.99), lends a lot of weight to that, being a Wine Spectator 90-point wine. As this column has said in the past, it’s hard to find 90-point wines, real 90-point wines, for $20.00 or less. Wine.com calls this one, “Juicy and generous in blackberry and vanilla, it is a broadly appealing style, utilizing both American and French oak. Generous, with fresh fruit, accented by cherry jam, dried sage and white pepper flavors, lingering on a sleek finish.” The medium body and lingering finish bring out the best in grilled meats, Italian sausages and grilled Ribs. Brachetto is a red Italian wine grape variety grown predominantly in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy and it’s a frizatta red, or naturally sparkling. You should have it chilled and if it’s too sweet for your taste, cut it with Club Soda. One of the most popular Brachetto wines is Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto, 2019, Piedmont,

Italy, ($20.99). The Mariani family has been importing wines into the U.S. since 1919 and this wine’s volume has grown dramatically over the last 20 years or so. You’ll notice this wine’s aromatic quality, with hints of raspberries, strawberries and rose petals. Fresh raspberries, with crisp acidity, enticing the palate with an initial softness, graduating to a clean and dry finish. Perfect for any occasion, it pairs well with seafood, cheeses, spicy fare and chocolate. A Summer favorite in France is Gamay Beaujolais. A very old grape variety, Gamay takes its name from a hamlet near SaintAubin on the Côte de Beaune. Saint Aubin also makes some of the best value White Burgundies in the region. It is nowadays the varietal of choice for the great red wines of the Mâconnais. It’s best served chilled, and it goes with everything grilled, from burgers to BBQ, as well as Summer salads. Over the last 6 years or so, Austrian wines have become more and

more available in the U.S. market. Anita and Hans Nittnaus, a married winemaking team, say it’s all about the terroir and their Nittnaus Zweigelt, Blauer, 2017, ($17.99) makes a strong case for that. It’s a mediumbodied red with cherries and spice on the nose and it can be slightly chilled or served at room temperature. I think you’re going to see more from this brand and region over the next few years; enjoy this on with a wide array of grilled foods, especially sausages, Hanger Steak with Bernaise sauce or Steak and Cheese subs with diced Bella mushrooms. Talk To The Wine Guy at jdris8888@gmail.com

shown that resilience is an essential component of any comprehensive climate action program, because climate change is both a global and local issue. Last week’s SBT front-page article addressed the issue of rising seas. For many South Bostonians, the effects of the change in weather patterns will not be realized for a generation or two, but the obligation of the leaders of our region is to preserve what we have and then plan to proactively enhance the planet for the benefit of future generations. The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions organization further maintains that the causes and the broad impacts affect everyone on the planet, but resilience efforts must be executed here in our neighborhood, and on an individual level. It will take a combined and coordinated effort, like none ever seen before, to address this issue. The good news is that addressing these risks can not only protect people and property, but also generate economic activity that will create domestic jobs and drive prosperity, including the bustling commerce of the Port including

tthe Longshoremen and Cruise Ship employees, who earn their livelihood here. The local Coalition further states that “ Future waterfront development and infrastructure must prioritize resilience. The harbor and rivers shape public health, safety and economic well-being in surrounding neighborhoods, but bear the brunt of climate change. The steps taken by Boston‘s leaders over the next decade will be critical to the cities livability. Boston’s future leaders must make inclusivity, accessibility, and equity central to their planning and development strategy, so that Bostonians of every race, economic status, and ability can enjoy equal access to the waterfront’s beauty and natural environment. Boston’s waterfront and port are an economic engine with enormous potential for the city. Supporting the working waterfront can create widespread economic prosperity for workers and communities throughout the city. We must take a bold approach to development that maximizes the impact of the waterfront as a public good, creates more inclusive opportunities for recreation,

support its role as an economic driver and creates more sustainable open spaces that can improve quality of life for future Bostonians. The Coalition has a powerful membership roster that includes: South Boston Neighborhood House, Save the Harbor Save The Bay, A Better City, Black and Economic Council of Massachusetts, Boston Children’s Museum, Boston Shipping Association, Charles River Conservancy, Esplanade Foundation, Conservation Law Foundation, Fort Point Neighborhood Association, Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands, Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Jeffries Point Neighborhood Alliance, Neponset River Watershed, North End Waterfront Residents Association, Trustees of Reservations, World Oceans School, YMCA of Greater Boston, among others. Those residents who care have an opportunity to have a voice in the future viability of the Boston Harbor and its waterfront in all of its glory and benefits, be they commercial, recreational or ecological. Go to www.bostonwaterfrontcoalition.org for details about the forum.

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

July 29, 2021

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Condo 883 East Broadway UNIT 1 Condo 315 West Third St UNIT 3 Condo 222 West Fifth St UNIT 1

Project Proponent: Core Investments Project Description: Impact Advisory Group (IAG) and public meeting for the proposed On the Dot project at 475-511 Dorchester Ave. in South Boston. The proposed project consists of the redevelopment of 9.1 acres of land along Dorchester Avenue into a multi-building, mixed-use development with a variety of uses including lab/research, residential, office, and other commercial uses, new public open space, new roadways, and public realm improvements. The meeting will begin with a 30-minute presentation of the project by the development team, followed by a 45-minute discussion of the IAG, followed by 45-minutes of public Q&A. La información de esta reunión es crucial para usted como residente y parte interesada de la ciudad de Boston. Se encuentra disponible el servicio gratuito de interpretación de la información brindada en estas reuniones.Si necesita servicios de traducción, contáctese con: (Nupoor.Monani@boston.gov) (617.918.4425) mail to:

Condo 360 West Second St UNIT 201

$780,000

6/11/2021

951

$750,000

6/15/2021

1,080

$749,000

6/21/2021

986

$745,000

6/2/2021

1,114

$739,000

6/9/2021

1,000

$739,000

6/11/2021

852

$725,000

5/6/2021

872

$720,000

6/10/2021

894

$712,500

6/10/2021

805

Condo 40 Middle St UNIT 3A

phone: email:

Nupoor Monani Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4425 nupoor.monani@boston.gov

Condo

Close of Comment Period: 8/20/2021

BostonPlans.org

587 East Eighth St UNIT 2

Virtual Public Meeting

Condo 83 Old Harbor St UNIT 2 Condo 745 East Seventh St UNIT 1 Condo 242 West Fifth St UNIT 3 Condo 213 West Fifth St UNIT 1 Condo 20 Ward St UNIT 1 Condo

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Condo 150 Dorchester Ave UNIT 206

Scan QR Code to Register

Virtual Public Meeting

34 B Street 34 B Street Tuesday, August 10

Zoom Link: bit.ly/3rdyxgG

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Tuesday, August 10

Meeting ID: bit.ly/3rdyxgG 160 828 6786 Zoom Link:

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Project Description:

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 160 828 6786 The proposed project consists of the construction of an approximately 41,861 square foot, six-story building with 54 Project Description: residential rental units. The proposed project consists of the construction of an approximately 41,861 square foot, six-story building with 54 residential rental units.

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mail to: Makena Parker Close of Boston Planning & Development Agency Comment One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Period: mail to: Makena Parker Boston, MA 02201 Close of 8/16/2021 Boston Planning & Development Agency phone: 339.832.7766 Comment One City Hall Square, 9th Floor email: makena.c.parker@boston.gov Period: Boston, MA 02201 8/16/2021 phone: 339.832.7766 @BostonPlans BostonPlans.org email: makena.c.parker@boston.gov Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

July 29, 2021

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay Rejects Environment MA Report Findings Environment Massachusetts once again released a misleading report which claims that “pathogens pose risk” to human health at more than 1/2 of Massachusetts beaches, making them “potentially unsafe for swimming”.

ere is a statement from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Executive Director Chris Mancini in response. “Though it makes a good headline, it is hyperbolic to suggest that swimming on 264 out of 457 beaches in Massachusetts poses a threat to human health because they may have failed one water quality test in 2020 after a summer rain. It is misleading to release a report which includes beaches like M Street Beach in South Boston, which has failed just one test in five years alongside beaches like King’s Beach in Lynn and Swampscott or Tenean Beach in Dorchester that were unsafe for swimming more than one out of every five

days in 2020. By issuing an overly simplistic “Pass Fail” report card, Environment America fails to make important distinctions that should drive critical investments in clean water where we need it the most. It also obscures the fact that this is an environmental justice issue, as our most diverse communities of color and need often have the poorest water quality on their beaches. In his very first order in the Boston Harbor Case, Judge A. David Mazzone said “The law secures to the people the right to clean water”. He frequently called for a harbor that is safe for fishing and boating and beaches that are safe for swimming “damn near every day”. Since 1986, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay has helped lead the effort that transformed Boston Harbor from a national disgrace into a regional asset, and helped make the South Boston Beaches the cleanest urban beaches in the nation. Though we still have more work to do on some area beaches, we are close to achieving Judge Mazzone’s goal. Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay has always believed in the

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power of clean water to strengthen communities, bring diverse people together and improve our quality of life. We look forward to working with our allies in the Baker/Polito Administration, the Legislature, the Metropolitan Beaches Commission, the region’s waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities, and well-intentioned groups like Environment Massachusetts to finish the job.”

A copy of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s 2021 Metropolitan Beaches Water Quality Report Card which Save the Harbor/Save the Bay released on July 4 is available. For more information on when and where it is safe to swim on Boston Harbor region’s metropolitan beaches, visit http:// blog.savetheharbor.org/2021/07/2021water-quality-report-card.html

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

July 29, 2021

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This week,

Danny reacted to the latest news surrounding the NFL’s COVID-19 vaccine policy:

he other day, I saw a prominent and well-liked Boston sports media member retweet a twominute video of a man speaking really fast into a camera from what looked to be his kitchen, breaking down why the COVID-19 vaccine was “safe.” In the video, the man made some good points that the science supports. But he also made some false claims about the history and process of vaccine trials, and why they typically take so long. He used those false claims to explain why the “emergency use” of the COVID-19 vaccine made sense, as if to say, “the only reason vaccines trials take so long is because of money and politics.” Sure, money and politics play a role in everything, and medicine is no exception. But what this man completely ignored was the most important reason as to why vaccine trials typically take several years: Time. To completely rule out the time it takes for medical health experts to know for sure that the benefits of a vaccine outweigh the risks for people of all ages, genders, and races, is just absurd. All you need to do is go to the CDC website and look at their “Vaccine Testing and Approval Process” to know that the clinical studies are lengthy for a reason more

Drink

than just money and politics. In the clinical development of new vaccines, there are three phases before FDA Approval. During Phase I (Exploratory stage), small groups of people receive the trial vaccine. In Phase II (Pre-clinical stage), the clinical study is expanded and the vaccine is given to several hundred volunteers. Then in Phase III (Clinical Development stage), the vaccine is given to thousands of volunteers and tested for safety and efficacy. If you can put the COVID panic aside for a moment and use common sense, the safety and efficacy of a vaccine can’t be determined until medical health experts are able to monitor any and all short-term and long-term side effects. How do they monitor that? Over time. T-I-M-E. Time. So when I see a prominent sports reporter tweet out this video with misinformation about the history of the development of vaccines, it makes me wonder what the goal is here. Is it, “Follow the science,” or is it, “Comply with my narrative.” Because the man in the video got some very important things wrong, and the sports reporter decided to tweet the video out anyways — along with a comment that supported the video and everything that was

said in the video — it leads me to believe that the reporter’s goal was to promote something that he agreed with, not necessarily something that was factually true when it comes to the history of vaccine development. That brings us to the NFL. It’s a league that is unofficially mandating the COVID-19 vaccine. Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL Players Association isn’t forcing the needle into your arm, but if you don’t comply, then they’re going to make your professional life a living hell. And the latest news on that hell is that the NFL is saying a team will be forced to forfeit a game that needs to be postponed because of a COVID “outbreak among unvaccinated players on one team.” Also, if that forfeit occurs, players on BOTH teams in that game that’s forfeited will not receive their game checks. Crazy Town, USA. Especially considering that there are vaccinated people are still testing positive for COVID-19, which really should make every rational human start asking questions. The first question being, “Why hasn’t the FDA approved this vaccine yet?” I already told you the answer: Time. They haven’t had enough time to accurately study the side effects in

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the first three phases of the vaccine’s development to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks, both shortterm and long-term. Again, this isn’t my opinion. These are the facts on the CDC website. So when I see an NFL player like Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins speak out against the NFL’s unofficial vaccine mandate, I’m not going to crucify him like most in the sports media have. I’m not here to tell you what to do or not to do when it comes to any vaccine. It’s your body, your choice. Right now, people are panicking. The unvaccinated are being shun from society. Masks are being mandated again. And based on this alarming trend, it’s only a matter of time until indoor restrictions are temporarily put back in place. What they’re telling us is, “The unvaccinated are killing the vaccinated.” By default, they’re also telling us, “The vaccines don’t yet work.” Key word “yet.” All I’m saying is, the NFL should ease up on its vaccine protocols until the clinical trials reach FDA Approval. Then, only then, would they be following the science. Follow Danny on Twitter and Instagram @DannyPicard.

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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

SPORTS TODAY

July 29, 2021

WHATTOWATCH

HALL RETURNING Tweet TO BRUINS ON of the FOUR-YEAR DEAL Week

SATURDAY, JULY 31 Boston at Tampa Bay 6:10 P.M. NESN SUNDAY, AUG. 1 Boston at Tampa Bay 7 P.M. ESPN OLYMPICS SATURDAY, JULY 31 Men’s Basketball USA vs Czech Republic 8 A.M. Peacock Network

“The Bruins are excited that Taylor wanted to remain a Boston Bruin and we are thrilled to have signed him to a multi-year contract,” said Sweeney in the statement. “He is an impact player that brings speed, scoring, skill and two-way commitment to our lineup. He fit seamlessly into our locker room and will be an integral part of our organization’s goal to compete for the Stanley Cup.”

SALE ON PACE TO RETURN IN AUGUST SBT Staff

hris Sale is getting closer to a return to Boston. The Red Sox ace, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, made his third rehab start last weekend, his second with Double-A Portland. Sale is scheduled to make his next rehab start this weekend with TripleA Worcester. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Sale will make one more rehab start after that, which sets Sale up to make a big-league start at Fenway during the Red Sox’ series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway which begins on Aug. 10. Through his first three rehab starts, Sale has allowed two runs in 10.1 innings, while striking out 20 and walking just one batter. -The MLB trade deadline is this

MLB THURSDAY, JULY 29 Toronto at Boston 7:10 P.M. NESN FRIDAY, JULY 30 Boston at Tampa Bay 7:10 P.M. NESN

SBT Staff

he Boston Bruins announced over the weekend that they’ve signed forward Taylor Hall to a four-year, $24 million deal. Hall, 29, was traded to the Bruins at the trade deadline in April. In 16 regular season games with Boston, Hall scored eight goals and had six assists. He had three goals and two assists in 11 postseason games, as the Bruins were eliminated in the second round after losing to the New York Islanders in six games. In a team statement, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney spoke to Hall’s value to the team’s continued attempt at a Stanley Cup.

NBA THURSDAY, JULY 29 2021 NBA Draft 8 P.M. ABC/ESPN

Friday, July 30 at 4 p.m. ET. As the Red Sox are prepared to be buyers, the question remains as to just how much they are willing to spend in the form of prospects. If Sale is going to be viewed as a hypothetical “tradedeadline acquisition” then the Red Sox could target someone with a little more offensive pop at first base. One big name to watch is Chicago Cubs 31-year-old first baseman Anthony Rizzo. ESPN’s Jeff Passan has already linked the Red Sox to Rizzo in recent days. But if the Red Sox are going to function under the “you can never have too much pitching” mindset, then another big name to watch is Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer, who, like Rizzo, will be a free agent this winter.

ALL EYES ON QB BATTLE AS PATS BEGIN CAMP

SBT Staff

he New England Patriots officially began training camp this week at Gillette Stadium. As camp rolls on, there will be plenty of questions regarding Stephon Gilmore’s contract situation, N’Keal Harry’s trade request, and of course, COVID-19. But the real story is at the quarterback position. Right now, Cam Newton is the Patriots’ starter. But he certainly won’t be able to take that for granted, as first-round pick Mac Jones will undoubtedly be putting the pressure on Newton throughout training camp. As for how Bill Belichick feels about it, he was asked, on Tuesday, if there would be an “open competition” for the starting quarterback position. His answer was as expected. “Yeah as I said every one of us has to go out and establish our level of performance whatever our role or capacity is. It’s

a new season. We’ve done some things in the spring, but this is really the start of football season in terms of the team building part here in training camp. We all have a lot of work to do. That includes all of us. So we go out and do anything, so it’s pretty much a clean slate.” Newton, 32, re-signed with the Patriots on a one-year deal worth up to $13.6 million. In 15 games as New England’s starting quarterback last season, he ran for 12 touchdowns and threw eight touchdowns, while throwing 10 interceptions. Jones, 22, was drafted by the Patriots out of Alabama with the 15th overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.