South Boston Today February 3 2022 by SouthBostonTodayOnline

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February 3, 2022: Vol.10 Issue 5

SERVING SOUTH BOSTONIANS AROUND THE GLOBE

High School Sports And Extracurricular Activities Make A Difference

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he Boston Public School (BPS) system has been faced with the reality of leaving a significant segment of this student generation - beginning in 2019 with the onset of Covid 19 and its various forms – with an overall academic disadvantage than at any time in its history. There have been conflicting premises and opinions regarding the Covid Virus put forth by epidemiologists and other medical field researchers who have been appearing as ‘talk-

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February 3, 2022

EDITORIAL The Big Storm Was Met With So Many Acts Of Kindness

k, we can all agree. It was January and it snowed last week. It’s been happening for thousands of years. And despite the ranting of Leonardo DiCaprio and the other members of the 90foot yacht sailing, private jet flying set, shrieking at us about Climate Change, the odds that it will continue to happen for thousands more years. It is a better bet than the latest ‘world will end in 9 years’ predictions they are shouting at us now. But that aside, it was a good size blizzard. Whether it qualified as the latest ‘in’ term of “Bomb Cyclone”; whatever the heck that is, is up for debate. Storms like this are what you make of them. Some find them disruptive and inconvenient – even dangerous. Others consider them opportunities to take some time to spend with the kids at the sledding hill, get in some skiing or snowshoeing or just kick back and enjoy winter’s beauty. But in South Boston, what a big winter storm also provides is an opportunity to see and marvel at just how helpful and caring some of

our neighbors are when it comes to lending a hand to those who need it. We are of course speaking of the many acts of kindness that took place with neighbors helping neighbors. The snow had not even finished falling when squads of local teens, with shovels shouldered, took to the streets and offered their services to dig out sidewalks, stairs and cars. Sure, they wanted to get paid for their labor; it was hard work. But, in so many cases, if a person was a senior or disabled, many of the teens would adamantly refused to take a cent for the job. Instead of simply clearing their own property, residents would often lend a hand to others on their block and assist them as well. There are some who own snow blowers. Rare was the case that they did just their own area. They would make the rounds and make short work of the property of others as well and even remove the snow from around fire hydrants to eliminate fire hazards and do a great service for our local fire fighters.

And it was certainly no surprise to see one of South Boston’s famous lifelong residents, who never wants recognition for all the good things he does around town, making the rounds with his ‘Bob Cat’; using his machine to dig out the cars of those unable

to do so by hand. He was on the streets for hours, nonstop, handling his Bob Cat with all the skills of a rodeo cowboy and making life so much easier for others. It’s what he does. It’s what so many residents do because they are community minded and just darn

good people. The bottom line to this week’s editorial is this. Though storms like last week might bring with it some negative impact, it also helps highlight the positives that come with living in a neighborhood with so many genuinely nice people.

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Hold On To Freedom Of Speech and Never Let Go SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone

ho would have thought that ‘Freedom of Speech’ and whether or not to allow it would one day be an issue in America? Those who paid attention in history class growing up know that in countries around the world, the first thing the tyrants move to eliminate is any and all criticism against government policies even before they attempt to take away guns from law abiding citizens. From ancient times to the modern era, dictators, monarchies, emperors etc. start off slowly with their efforts to ban what the people can say and then accelerate the process until finally, daring to express an opinion different from what is allowed by government watch dogs and hacks could actually get someone thrown in prison or even dead. If you’ve been following the controversy going on between Podcast Host Joe Rogan and a gaggle of long washed-up hippie musicians, you can actually see the process of eliminating free speech attempting to be played out. Most people know who Joe Rogan is. In addition to being an accomplished Mixed Martial Arts expert he is the host of his own wildly popular podcast that can be heard on ‘Spotify’. Rogan is known for being outspoken and he definitely leans Conservative in his politics and most often takes political positions directly in opposition to ‘Woke’ policies of the liberals currently in power in government. This also means he is seldom on the same page as most celebrities and certainly not the mainstream news media. This is pretty much what makes his tens of millions of followers

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like and respect him so much. And of course, it drives the leftist censors in America into raging meltdowns. Enter one Neil Young. He’s a rock singer from a bygone era whose music is seldom still heard – anywhere. Some would classify Neil Young’s sound as being similar to listening to a coyote being strangled. And while Young has, during his career, been vocal at expressing his particular brand of leftist politics, he doesn’t believe that Joe Rogan should be allowed the right to express his own personal views. He demands that Rogan be removed from his Spotify podcast for expressing and allowing different opinions and if Spotify didn’t comply with these demands, Young would demand the removal his music from the format. This was an easy choice for Spotify really. They removed Neil Young. For every fan of Neil Young that subscribes to Spotify, Joe Rogan probably as at least 500. It is said that most people alive today couldn’t name a Neil Young song, while Rogan is now almost a household name. And while Joe Rogan comes across as friendly, intelligent, very likeable and above all, reasonable, Neil Young, whose appearance now resembles a crazy cat lady, epitomizes the typical has-been, self-entitled whiner who still thinks he’s relevant and demands that he gets whatever he wants. Again, easy choice for Spotify. But looking at the big picture, it hasn’t turned out all bad for Neil Young and the other forgotten musicians who have come out to support him in this controversy. This little dustup has brought them the most atten-

tion they’ve had in decades. And though it might only last them a few more days, it seems at this point, they’ll take whatever they can get. Whether you agree with Neil Young’s brand of politics or Joe Rogan’s, the lesson that should be taken by all of this is that this is the United States of America. Free speech is a given. Our entire country was designated a free speech zone by our amazing Founding Fathers, who in their wisdom, saw to it that no matter what was taking place in the rest of the

world, Americans would always be free to express their views and challenge the status quo. If people like Neil Young and the liberal politicians they are now schilling for can silence the views and opinions of Joe Rogan, because they disagree with them, there will be no stopping this and free speech in America will one day be just a memory. Thankfully, what seems to be happening now in our country is a recognition of the dangers that ‘wokeness’, cancel culture and censorship will cause if it’s not stopped in its tracks right away.

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February 3, 2022

Window Into The State House

Window Into The State House provides our readers a synopsis of important issues of interest, past and current, that are being proposed, debated or acted upon by the Massachusetts Legislature. Many issues that are not related to local city government services are acted upon and have a direct impact on daily life. They are tax policy, transportation infrastructure, judicial appointments, social services and health, as well as higher education. We will excerpt reports from the gavel-to-gavel coverage of House and Senate sessions by news sources focused on this important aspect of our lives. These sources include a look ahead at the coming week in state government and summaries and analyses of the past week, re-caps of a range of state government activity, as well as links to other news.

What’s Happening On The Hill Gov. Charlie Baker announced last month that he would seek commutations for both William Allen’s first-degree murder sentence, a high-profile case that has drawn advocates to the Governor’s Council to testify in support and Thomas Koonce, a former Marine who has spent the last 30 years behind bars. As State House News Service’s Chris Lisinski and Sam Doran previously reported, there has only been one other time where elected officials have commuted an inmate’s sentence in the 21st century. It also marks the first time Baker has sought a commutation in the seven years since he took office. Now on his way out the door, Baker said he spent months “weighing the circumstances of the two terrible crimes, the actions of the two men since, and the Parole Board’s recommendation for commutation.” Allen was involved in a robbery in Brockton in 1994 where an accomplice stabbed an occupant of an apartment. He was

charged as a joint venturer and was eventually handed down a first-degree murder sentence. The person who stabbed the occupant reached a plea deal for second-degree murder and was later released on parole. Allen has been in prison for 27 years and has widespread support for his commutation, including from the victim’s family. If the Governor’s Council signs off on the commutation, Allen would become eligible for parole. Welcome to Joint Rule 10 Day (2-2-22)... This is the day we find out which bills face a legislative death or live to see another day. Legislative committees must decide by the end of Wednesday whether to grant a bill a favorable or a negative report or let them stall out by referring them for further study as the biennial Joint Rule 10 deadline passes. Of course, deadlines in the Legislature are really just suggestions at this point. A number of bills in various committees have already been reported

High School Sports continued from front page

Today, there are numerous studies that focus on all types of participation benefits, but what sometimes goes unappreciated is the impact that high school athletics has on students after they graduate. Participating in high school athletics has long-lasting, definitive benefits, especially when athletic leaders create an environment that challenges and rewards the growth mindset. When participants are supported in this way, they develop lifelong habits that transcend high school. Three of the most important participation takeaways that students continue to practice after graduation are:

ing heads’ in both government and academia forums. Given this confusion and disagreement, BPS would do a further disservice to this generation, if it allowed high school sports to fall victim to the recurring uncertainty. High school athletic programs have been studied for more than a century. As noted here, early studies focused on how athletics helped foster a collective identity and generated pride for participants and community members. These studies evolved to clarify how participation brought about improvements in physical health, stress management and academic benchmarks.

out favorably --- though that doesn’t mean they’ll see a floor vote or become law -and other committees have been given extensions. Gov candidates report January fundraising Attorney General Maura Healey is rolling in cash after raising $426,756 in January for her gubernatorial bid. State House News Service’s Matt Murphy reports Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz and Harvard professor Danielle Allen reported their own record-setting months for campaign cash raising $166,125 and more than $200,000 in January, respectively. ‘Pretty solid:’ Baker says Feds commit to funding Cape bridge replacements Gov. Charlie Baker says he received a “pretty solid commitment” from the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to fund the $2 billion replacement of the bridges over the Cape Cod Canal. Mike Deehan of GBH has the details on timing of when the funding could be locked in after Baker’s productive weekend road trip to D.C.

1) a stronger sense of self-confidence in building relationships with others and having an expanded capacity for empathy; 2) developing a better understanding of oneself and in so doing understanding how their actions affect others; and 3) building foundations for lifelong fitness habits. To make these a reality, coaches and mentors need to value character education more than wins and losses. When coaches understand they can start students on a path to reach their unfulfilled potential, they can help students set the foundations for a lifetime of success. Students who played competitive sports in high school demon-

Galvin looks to sunshine as best disinfectant Secretary of State William Galvin wants to know what’s going on in the governor’s office. Boston Globe’s Andrea Estes reports the secretary planned to file new legislation Tuesday to make many of the governor’s emails and other documents subject to the state’s public records law. As it stands now, the governor’s office, the judiciary, and the Legislature are all exempt from the state’s public records law. ‘Desire’ to act on ARPA funds before session ends A top House Democrat teased out some details for how and when the branch may consider what’s left of the state’s ARPA allocation. GBH News’ Mike Deehan reports House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz said he expects the Legislature to use some of the remaining $2.55 billion to boost aid to Blackowned restaurants. As for a timeline? Michlewitz wasn’t specific but did say, “I think there is a desire to do something before the end of the session here.”

strate more confidence, leadership, and self-respect. They are better at setting goals and managing their time. They have a better appreciation for diversity and a more developed sense of morality. Sports teaches lessons of life, such as teamwork, accountability, self-confidence, responsibility, and self-discipline. According to studies from the National Center for Education Statistics, students who compete in high school activity programs have better educational outcomes, including higher grades, higher achievement test scores, and higher educational

continued on page 11

February 3,, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

Rep. Lynch Urges PHMSA to Immediately Terminate Operation of Weymouth Compressor Station

oday, U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch (MA08) sent a letter to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown requesting PHMSA immediately terminate the operation of the Weymouth Compressor Station. Rep. Lynch cited PHMSA’s authorization to issue an emergency order to abate an “imminent hazard”, which federal regulations define as a “facility that presents

a substantial likelihood that death, serious illness, severe personal injury or substantial endangerment to health, property or the environment” may occur. “I urge the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to exercise its regulatory enforcement authority in the area of the pipeline safety and immediately terminate operation of this dangerous project,” Rep. Lynch wrote. “Recent emergency events at the Weymouth Compressor Station have

more than validated the health and safety concerns that South Shore residents, community safety groups and local, state and federal officials have expressed for nearly seven years. The Weymouth Compressor Station clearly falls within the regulatory definition of “imminent hazard” and necessitates emergency action by PHMSA.” Last week, Rep. Lynch sent a letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Richard Glick requesting that the

Commission immediately rescind the certificate of public convenience and necessity for the Weymouth Compressor Station. His letter was in response to Chairman Glick’s recent statement in which he acknowledged that FERC “likely erred in siting the Weymouth Compressor Station where it did” due to its location in a heavily populated area. Rep. Lynch has also introduced H.R. 309, the Pipeline and Compressor Safety Verification Act, to require FERC to revoke the certificate until state public safety and fire officials certify that the Weymouth facility does not pose a danger to neighboring residential communities.

MBTA’s System-wide Accessibility Department Launches Communication Survey

The MBTA announced that its System-wide Accessibility Department (SWA) launched an online survey about how the MBTA can improve its communication efforts, communicate more effectively and inclusively, and better connect with people with disabilities and/or older adults. The online survey serves as just one step in the T’s continued work to improve the inclusivity of its communication and outreach strategies with SWA staff having previously connected with local community and advocacy groups, requesting these groups to encourage their members to take the survey. This online survey is available today through February 16, 2022, at mbta. com/SWA-survey. “The MBTA has made great progress in working toward a fully accessible service, from upgrading stations to operator trainings to the design and procurement of new vehicles – but we know there’s always more we can be doing,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “The

results of this survey will help us to better understand how we can better communicate with riders about important accessibility and T-related topics.” The MBTA is more accessible than ever before. Over the last several years, the T has upgraded over 20 stations to make them fully accessible, constructed more than 50 new station elevators, purchased new buses with ramps and reconfigured seating layout with more space, designed and purchased its most accessible subway cars yet, retrained operators and station agents on safety and accessibility, partnered with a new customer advisory committee to involve riders in key decisions, and more. Despite these achievements, the MBTA recognizes that there is still more work to do, especially in sharing information inclusively and engaging with as many riders (or future riders) with disabilities and/or older adults in order to shape important decisions about the future of accessibility at the T.

With this in mind, SWA designed this online survey to help supplement feedback from riders and future riders about the kinds of communication barriers that exist, how the MBTA can narrow the information gap in communicating with riders, and how the MBTA can improve its communication efforts about important accessibility and MBTA-related issues. Through this survey’s results as well as other outreach efforts, the MBTA hopes to develop strategies to better connect with riders, particularly non-native-English speakers and older adults. Available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Haitian Creole, the survey should take about 10 minutes to complete. For more information, including on how to join the Riders’ Transportation Access Group, please visit mbta.com/accessibility or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, or Instagram @theMBTA.

This survey aims to identify existing communication barriers, to develop strategies to better connect with older adults and people with disabilities in order to update traveltraining-related materials so that they are more inclusive, and to seek feedback on accessibilityrelated decisions.

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

February 3, 2022

Your Guide to Purchasing a Video Doorbell

By Better Business Bureau

mart doorbells make it easier to keep an eye on your home while you are away. But finding the right option for your house or apartment can be tricky. Be sure to consider the following tips when shopping for a video doorbell. Also, learn how to protect your new doorbell from hackers and steer clear of tech scams. How to purchase a video doorbell Know your power source. If you have an existing doorbell, check to see if it is hardwired or battery powered. If it is connected to two small wires, it’s hardwired. This means you can purchase a hardwired video doorbell and use the existing connection with relative ease. If there are no wires, or you’ve never had a doorbell installed, a battery powered video doorbell will be the easiest option. Keep in mind that battery powered doorbells must be recharged, but they stay on if your power goes out. Hardwired doorbells never need charging. But if your power goes out, they stop working, too. Think about video storage. Doorbell cameras start recording when someone approaches your doorstep or a car or animal passes by. Some cameras house mini SD memory cards to save these recorded events for later viewing, but memory cards can only store so much data. You may want to pay for a cloud service that uses WiFi to save every event the camera records. If you don’t pay for cloud storage and the video doorbell doesn’t have internal memory space, you’ll only be able to watch what happens at your doorstep live. Consider the tech capabilities. Some video doorbells use AI to distinguish between people, animals, vehicles, and even packages. This is a useful feature if you don’t want to receive an alert every time a car drives down your busy street or a stray cat walks across your porch. Some video doorbells allow you to limit the

area they send you alerts for as well, meaning you can remove the busy street from your camera’s alert range altogether. Decide whether these features are important to you before you buy a doorbell camera. Think about video quality. When buying a video doorbell, think about the factors that can affect a camera’s video quality, such as resolution of the camera, HDR capabilities, field of view, whether or not you can zoom in on recorded videos, and how well the camera performs at night. Consider your personal needs and preferences and choose a camera quality that will do a good job covering the areas you need surveilled at the right times. Ask yourself if you need audio. Many video doorbells, but not all, give you the ability to talk to and hear the person at your doorstep, even if you aren’t home. If this feature is important to you, make sure the video doorbell you are considering offers it. Understand smart platform integrations. Many video doorbells are compatible with other smart platforms, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. If you want to use your video doorbell in conjunction with your smart assistant, make sure they are compatible. On a related note, if you plan on installing additional security cameras around your home besides just a video doorbell, it’s a good idea to purchase them together. That way you’ll only need to pay for a single subscription service to save all video recordings to the cloud. Protect your video doorbell from hackers. Video doorbell accounts have sometimes fallen victim to hackers. Keep your doorbell safe by using a unique user ID along with a strong password. Don’t use the same user ID and password for multiple accounts or a single data breach could expose several of your accounts all at once. In addition, take advantage of two-step verification to add an extra layer of protection to your account. Other

measures you can take are keeping your camera software and antivirus up to date. Finally, don’t share doorbell videos to social media and never share your login information with anyone. If you want a second person on the account, add a shared user instead. Avoid tech support scams. If you need tech support, always make sure you call the official tech support number or visit the official doorbell camera website. Scammers often use ads to make fake customer support numbers or websites appear high up on a search engine’s results. If you get in touch with a fake service, they may ask you for your login credentials or other sensitive information to “confirm your identity.” Worse yet, they may ask for payment in return for their assistance. Always double check the URL of the website you are visiting and confirm tech support numbers on

the company’s official website. Read more about tech support scams. Check out BBB’s tips on purchasing a home security system. To report a scam, visit BBB Scam Tracker. Your report can help other consumers recognize a scam before it’s too late. Always do business with companies that comply with BBB Accreditation Standards and the BBB Standards for Trust.

February 3,, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

MAYOR WU PROPOSES TRANSFER FEE ON CERTAIN REAL ESTATE SALES TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING; SEEKS TO EXPAND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR SENIORS Fees To Be Used To Generate Additional Funding For Affordable Housing In Boston and Provide Housing Stability Support, Including Property Tax Relief for Low-Income Seniors

ayor Michelle Wu today filed a home rule petition that would implement a transfer fee of up to two percent on real estate sales of $2 million or more in the City of Boston, a plan that would generate tens of millions annually to create and preserve affordable housing in Boston. The legislation would also expand property tax relief for seniors. “Housing is health, safety, and opportunity—and housing stability must be the foundation for our recovery from the pandemic. As the cost of housing has become more and more out of reach for families, we must take urgent action to keep families in their homes and build a city for everyone,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful for all the advocates and colleagues who have championed this proposal over many years and partners who have helped inform this updated version.” Transfer Fee The proposal would authorize the City of Boston to impose a fee of up to two percent on real estate sales. The first $2 million of the sales price would be exempt from the fee. The fee would be paid by the seller, and the funds generated would be allocated to the Neighborhood Housing Trust. The Neighborhood Housing Trust creates new affordable housing and preserves existing affordable housing. Funds also may be used to support programs that promote senior homeowner and low-income renter stability, and addresses disparities in housing access and opportunity. This legislation would generate new resources for affordable housing and discourage rapid repeat sales of properties. Some transfers are exempt from the fee, including transfers between family members, and the City may adopt additional exemptions for economically vulnerable populations, affordable housing developments, deed-

restricted housing, owner occupant homeowners, beneficiaries of a city-approved homebuyer program, or others. Based on 2021 sales in Boston, a two percent fee would have raised an estimated $99.7 million. Similar proposals were filed in 2019 and 2021. “This is a step in the right direction,” said Boston City Councilor and State Senator Lydia Edwards, one of the original sponsors of the 2019 proposal. “This helps the city of Boston come up with sustainable sources of funding for housing and also give our seniors and homeowners some tax relief. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the City Council and at the State House to get this transfer fee passed.” “We must enact policies that will combat displacement, create affordable housing, and help our senior neighbors,” said Councilor Kendra Lara, Chair of the City Council’s Committee on Housing and Community Development. “This legislation will raise the funds necessary for us to continue responding to the housing crisis with the necessary urgency.” Senior Tax Exemption The home rule petition also expands property tax relief for low-income seniors by modifying the eligibility criteria for the 41C program as well as increasing the amount of the exemption. These changes will modernize the aging criteria which has shrunk the pool of eligible applicants in recent years and will provide much needed financial assistance to a vulnerable population. The 41C program provides tax assistance to residents 65 years or older who are owner-occupants. Specifically, this legislation would: * Increase the base exemption from $1,000 to $1,500, and the total possible exemption from $2,000 to $3,000; and * Broaden eligibility by replac-

ing the fixed income limits with the 50% Area Median Income figure which is adjusted on an annual basis, and doubling the asset limit levels. * If passed, these changes would take effect for Fiscal Year 2023, and the income limits for that year would increase from the current $24,911 to $47,000 for single individuals, and from $37,367 to $53,700 for a couple. The asset limits would increase from $40,000 to $80,000 for single individuals, and from $55,000 to $110,000 (the asset limits exclude the value of the applicant’s home). “This modest fee on those who prosper from Boston’s success will provide much-needed relief to seniors who helped build this city but now struggle to remain. We applaud the mayor and council for their commitment to affordable housing and to Boston’s senior community,” said Edna Pruce, age 88, president of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council, and Mattapan homeowner. Currently, approximately 4,600 Boston senior homeowners are income-eligible for the 41C tax exemption. If passed, the legislation would expand eligibility to approximately 8,700 senior homeowners. Nearly half of those senior homeowners are severely housing cost burdened (paying more than 50 percent of their income to housing costs). The home rule petition has been submitted to the City Council, where it must be approved before being signed by the Mayor and then sent to Massachusetts Legislature and the Governor for approval. If approved by the state, the City would have the ability to determine the final rate for the fee, collection method, and any exemptions that would exist. About the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH) The Mayor’s Office of Housing is responsible for housing people experiencing homelessness, creating and preserving affordable hous-

ing, and ensuring that renters and homeowners can obtain, maintain, and remain in safe, stable housing. The department develops and implements the City of Boston’s housing creation and homelessness prevention plans and collaborates with local and national partners to find new solutions and build more housing affordable to all, particularly those with lower incomes. For more information, please visit the MOH website. About the Neighborhood Housing Trust Fund (NHT) The NHT Fund supports homeownership, rental, cooperative and transitional, housing developments. The fund provides financing for projects serving households earning at or below 80% AMI and gives preference to populations that face barriers in securing housing including seniors, veterans, artists, youth and people with disabilities. Priority is given to projects serving the greatest number of lowincome households. The program includes a preference for mixedincome developments, acquisition of unrestricted occupied properties, projects located in high-cost neighborhoods where most of NHT funds are generated, affordable developments at risk of losing affordability. Preference is also given to certified minority-owned business enterprise (MBE) development teams with ownership of 20% or more of the proposed project. Neighborhood Housing Trust Fund is funded through the commercial project linkage payment fee system.

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

February 3, 2022

The

Wine Guy

The Spanish Inquisitive

hen most people think about Spain, they think of its beautiful cities, like Barcelona and the Capital, Madrid; if you ask someone who loves wine what Spain means to them, you’ll get a lot of different answers, because there are lots of great wines. Spain is about a lot more than just Sangria. Like other countries in Europe, wine has been a part of Spain through the ages, but really got organized when the Romans took over the region and re-named it Hispania; gotta love those Romans! They taught the native population how to grow and manage the grapes and how to make wine. Today, there are more than sixty different growing regions and scores of different grape varieties, but two of the most prominent are Tempranillo and Granacha, or what we call Grenache. From the Jumilla region,

in the northern part of the country, some of the country’s most popular reds are produced from vineyards that were on the verge of disaster less than thirty years ago. A destructive louse called Phylloxera, destroyed nearly all the vine in the region and growers had to start over. They not only met that challenge, but in the process, became one of the most modern wine-producing regions in the country and are still leading the way today. The family of Juan Gil have been making wine since 1916 and the current crop is well-represented by its Bodegas Hijos Juan Gil 2018. The wine has a very dark cherry color with purple tones, and powerful aromas of red berries with toasted and smoked notes from their aging in oak barrels. It shows

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good structure with ripe and sweet tannins. There is great depth in the mouth with a perfect balance between fruit, alcohol and the oak tones which make it really great for so many meat-based Tapas dishes that are popular in this region. Among the higher-end wines in this region, one of the most famous is the Bodegas El Nido Clio; its Bodegas El Nido Clio, 2018, is rich and supple, with notes of dark red cherries, plums and dried fruit, soft tannins and a very long, lingering finish. This vintage is the most recent one available, but you might also see a 2010 here and there; if you do, grab it, as it will be drinking well until the early 2020s. From Bodegas Luzon comes its most popular wine, by the same name, Finca Luzon, 2017, a blend

of Monestrall and Syrah grapes. This wine has a bit of spice on the nose, in addition to red cherry and blackberry tones; the tannins are soft, and the finish is notable, but not overpowering. Pair this one with roasts, beef stews or grilled lamb. The Monterebro vineyards produce some of the best quality wines in the region, with one in particular, Monterebro Vinos Joven, Jumilla, 2018, offering exceptional quality for the price. This is a drier red, with smoked tones and earthy notes; great with stronger cheeses like Stilton or Muenster, but also delicious with hearty red sauce-based dishes. So, if you’re looking for a change of pace, keep an eye out for wines from this wonderful region! Talk To The Wine Guy at jdris8888@gmail.com

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February 3,, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

South Boston Citizens’ Association Announces the Jimmy Flaherty Kickoff Breakfast, Saturday, February 26, 2022 Seapoint Restaurant

BCA President Tom McGrath and the Executive Board are pleased to announce that on Saturday, February 26th, 2022, at the Kick-off Breakfast, The Henry Knox Award Presentation will take place at the Seapoint Restaurant, 367 East 8th Street, at 10AM. Family, friends and neighbors are respectfully invited to attend this wonderful event. A $15.00 donation is requested at door to help off-set costs. This year’s event will once again feature great music of Bob Fowkes and Curragh’s Fancy. The event Chairman will be Senator Nick Collins who will continue to lead the fight to preserve the historical importance of Evacuation Day while serving in the Massachusetts State Senate. “As president of the Association, it is an honor for me to appoint Nick to kick-off the festivities.

Nick’s commitment and involvement with the SBCA and our community has been a tremendous asset to me and the Executive Board.” said McGrath. The award recipients will be announced next week as the committee is putting final touches on the upcoming events while working within the City and

State guidelines. The awards are presented to everyday volunteers in the community who seek no recognition, who are considered “Unsung Heroes”, which kicks off the month-long celebration for one of the most important events in American history. Tom McGrath, President of the SBCA, said “It is an honor to

Virtual Public Meeting

recognize these individuals who dedicate their time and energy to the South Boston Community. I hope the community will join me and others on Saturday the 26th to honor these men and women.” Tickets are available at the door for $15.00 and doors open at 9:30AM. Tommy McGrath

Virtual Public Meeting

Seaport Circle

Thursday, February 17

Zoom Link: bit.ly/SeaportCir

Wednesday, February 16

Zoom Link: bit.ly/SeaportCirIAG

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 161 645 8971

Meeting ID: 160 655 5506 Project Proponent: Lincoln Property Company

Project Proponent: Lincoln Property Company

Project Description: The Project will construct a 13-story laboratory/research & development and office building located on Parcel H totaling approximately 587,000 GFA, a twostory job training/non-profit center on an adjacent parcel totaling approximately 16,000 GFA, and an elevated walkway that connects these two buildings and surrounding properties. Additionally, the Project will include commitments to improve the Silver Line Way station as well as other significant public realm improvements.

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mail to: Tyler Ross Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 857.334.8952 email: tyler.c.ross@boston.gov

Close of Comment Period: 02.22.2022

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

mail to: Tyler Ross Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 857.334.8952 email: tyler.c.ross@boston.gov

Close of Comment Period: 02.16.022

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

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South Boston Catholic Academy News

Signs of Winter all around SBCA!

n the winter season we can cozy up with a good book; draw and color a snowman or wintery scene; play in the snow and make a snowman; enjoy a warm bowl of soup and a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows; cut out and make decorative snowflakes; go for walks,

sledding, ice skating and skiing in the great outdoors and so much more… As you can see from the pictures, the students of South Boston Catholic Academy are enjoying this winter season. The Kindergarten students read the book, A Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats during story time in their

classrooms and had fun making a picture based on this story. Some students made pictures of a colorful snowman and a big cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows out of construction paper, crayons, glue and shaving cream and some cut out beautiful snowflakes. The older students have gone for walks to the park to play while enjoying the cool crisp fresh air and winter scenery. Here are some other popular Winter Books the children in the Early Childhood Program like to have read to them during story time... The Biggest Snowman Ever

February 3, 2022

by Steven Kroll; The Mitten by Jan Brett; The Hat by Jan Brett; Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright; The Itsy Bitsy Snowman by Jeffery Burton; Ten on a Sled by Kim Norman and Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak. Happy Winter Everyone! “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?”– Percy Bysshe Shelley “You can’t get too much winter in the winter.”– Robert Frost. New families are welcome to email Mrs. Jamie Brown at j.brown@sbcatholicacademy. orgto learn more about South Boston Catholic Academy.

February 3,, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

SBCA Annual Essay & Poster Contest Is On!

opics for the 2022 South Boston Citizens’ Association’s Evacuation Day Essay and Poster Competitions have been announced by the SBCA for the 246th Evacuation Day South Boston Citizens’ Association President Tom McGrath announced today that because of the tremendous success of the past several years’ contest, the Association along with City of Boston Credit Union, Comcast and Mass Bay Credit Union will once again sponsor the 2022 Annual Essay and Poster Contests and all other events associated with the Month-long celebration. Once again, after last year’s outstanding effort put forth by past President Bernie O’Donnell and his committee, they have once again expressed an interest of taking on the challenge of chairing The Essay and Poster Contests. “Bernie always taught me that these contests are a great way to educate and strengthen the interest of the children of the community, I was more than pleased when Bernie offered to once again head up this Event for the children.

Bernie further expressed “One of the missions of the SBCA is to reach out to the young children of this historically rich community, joining the SBCA in promoting, organizing, and judging the Evacuation Day Poster and Essay Competitions is a most fitting way to improve on that mission.” The current plan with respect to our annual Evacuation Day activities is to continue to host all the events as we have done in years past, but with additional precautions, including social distancing and face coverings. We will continue to work with Governor Baker, Elected Officials from the City of Boston, the City of Boston Health Commission, and the National Park Service for the planning of our activities, as we do every year, and will strictly follow their requirements and guidance on all aspects of our hosted events. We look forward to working with the community again this year, which commemorates the 246th anniversary of Evacuation Day in Boston. Celebrating Evacuation Day events in the community is a huge undertaking, especially under current circumstances. But thanks to Volunteers

and Community Business partners in past years, such as Comcast, Mass Bay Credit Union and City of Boston Credit Union, we at the SBCA are confident we will be able to complete the task and make it possible for the entire community to safely enjoy this year’s commemorative events. All entries should bear, in an attached envelope, the contestant’s name, school and a means of contacting the entrant, and should be submitted no later than Friday, March 9th, 2022 At 5 PM. All entries may be mailed to South Boston Citizens’ Association, P.O. Box 74, South Boston, MA 02127, or can be picked up at schools by a representative of the Citizens’ Association. Entries can also be dropped off at170 M Street. Topics Poster Contest Open to all students in the City

of Boston. This year’s theme is the “Significance of British General William Howe’s evacuation of Boston on March 1776. Posters should be original compositions, in any medium poster at least 8 1/2 x 11 but preferably larger. Prizes are as follows: 1st prize $ 100 2nd $75 3rd $25 Essay Contest – Grades 6-8 “What is the significance of Dorchester Heights and the role of Henry Knox and the noble train of artillery leading up to March 17 1776?” Please focus on the history and the importance to the South Boston community. Essays should be at least 500 words. Prizes are as follows: 1st prize $100 2nd $75 3rd $25 Essay Contest - High school Grades 9-12 “What was the role of Paul Revere and the American Revolution? What connection did he have with Castle Island? Essay should be at least 1,000 words. Prizes are as follows: 1st prize $150 2nd $100 3rd $50 Posters and Essays are for residents of the City of Boston Tommy McGrath

School sports continued from page 4

activity and academic performance in younger students found that those who participated in vigorous physical activity did approximately 10% better in math, science, English, and social studies than students who did no or little vigorous activities. The study noted that many of the students reporting higher levels of vigorous activities were involved in organized sports, like soccer, football, or basketball. Participation in school-sponsored athletics “is associated with a 2 percent increase in math and science test scores”, school-sponsored “club participation is associated with a 1 percent increase in math test scores,” and “involvement in either in sports or clubs is associated with a 5 percent increase in Bachelor’s degree attainment expectations,” according to an investigation of National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS) data.

A report for the College Entrance Examination Board on the study of the relationship of extracurricular activity involvement in high school and SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores concluded that “participation in extracurricular activities provides all students – including students from disadvantaged backgrounds, minorities and those with less-thandistinguished academic achievements in high school – a measurable and meaningful gain in their college admissions test scores. The important reasoning abilities measured by tests like the SAT, evidently, are indeed developed both in and out of the classroom.” This conclusion was reached by analyzing the SAT verbal and mathematics scores of more than 480,000 high school students after controlling for a number of socioeconomic background and academic achievement factors.

An examination of SAT scores revealed that music students scored about 11 percent higher than nonmusic students. Students with coursework/experience in music performance and music appreciation scored higher on the SAT than students with no arts participation, about 60 points higher in verbal area of the SAT and over 40 points higher in math. For all of these reasons, the leadership of the BPS must treat sports and extra-curricular activities and their overall importance to the health and well-being of its students with equal weight to academics in delivering a quality education. As decision-makers, being cautious and prudent is acceptable. However, being fearful and insensible is not. In the end, the parents can make the final decision as to whether their child participates in anything, or not. Isn’t that the way it supposed to be?

expectations beyond high school. A study of nearly 140,000 Kansas high school students, for example, revealed that “athletes earned higher grades, graduated at a higher rate, dropped out of school less frequently, and scored higher on state assessments than did non-athletes.” Studentathletes of color contributed to these overall results having much higher grade-point averages much higher graduation rates, and much lower dropout rates than non-athlete students of color. Consequently, eliminating sports programs, and other extracurricular activities, or implementing pay-to-play (or increasing the cost) is likely to have a more negative impact on students who come from families that are poorer, and generally students of color are over-represented among poorer families. Another study looking at physical

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

February 3, 2022

This week,

Danny reacted to Tom Brady’s retirement from football:

e did it. He really did it. Tom Brady has officially retired. And he does so while still at the top of his game. I never thought I’d see the day. But here we are, as all good things must come to an end. Congratulations to Brady on a legendary NFL career. We here in New England were blessed to have the greatest quarterback of all time on our team for 20 seasons. I’m grateful to have been able to see it up close and personal for a handful of years when I was a reporter covering the Patriots from 2009-2013. I wasn’t a great reporter though, because I could never shake my fandom. It’s why radio/podcasting was my preference. I could show my true passion for Brady and the Patriots on the airwaves. And I did. When he left for Tampa Bay, that hurt. I never thought Robert Kraft would let him leave. Even more than that, I never thought Brady would choose to play for another team. Perhaps my love for the Patriots clouded my vision as to what was actually going on behind the scenes. Still, I’ll always believe it was a relationship that should’ve been repaired before we instead had

to read a social-media statement from Brady in March of 2020, saying goodbye to New England. Here we are, two years later, and Brady is retiring from football. Rather than celebrate his career, we here in New England are all worked up about his retirement post on social media, in which he said “thank you” and “goodbye” to pretty much everyone but the Patriots organization and Patriots fans. I’ve read Brady’s retirement post 100 times. And every time, I feel the same way. I’m not mad. I just think it’s one of the more bizarre things I’ve ever seen. Clearly, Brady left out any mention of the New England Patriots on purpose. Was it because he already made his “goodbye, New England” post two years ago? Or was it because he’s still mad at the Patriots? But, honestly, does it really matter what the reason was? I don’t think so. It’s a retirement-from-football post, not a retirement-from-TampaBay post. The fact that he also thanked his personal trainer and his agents, confirms that. How difficult would it have been to add a single paragraph thanking “the Patriots organization and Patriots Nation,”

something he did on Twitter a few hours after leaving it out of his retirement post? Look, I’ll be honest. Brady could tell me he hates my guts, and I’d still be his biggest fan. I think most of us here in New England will always love the guy, no matter what he says or does. But I guess that’s kind of the point. It’s weird that he would leave all of New England out of his 10,000 word essay of a retirement post. And anyone here who’s adored the guy the last 22 years, you have every right to be upset about it. Don’t let some egotistical media member tell you that you have no right to be upset. You absolutely do. For 20 years as a Patriot, Brady wasn’t just our quarterback. Tom Brady was a religion. And to some (like myself), even after he left for Tampa Bay, he remained a religion. That’s why the snub in his retirement statement is so personal. It was illogical and unnecessary. So much so, that I have to believe Brady will sign a one-day contract with the Patriots in the offseason, followed by a press conference at Gillette Stadium, in which he’ll actually use the word “retire” — a word he actually did not use in

his retirement statement on social media. Instead, he said he was no longer going to “make that competitive commitment” to football. I don’t hate him for the snub. But he was wrong to not mention New England. It upset me, but it won’t stop me from continuing to thank God everyday for giving us Tom Brady for 20 years. This storm, too, shall pass. And Tom Brady will always be idolized as a Patriot. We will forever worship the ground that he walks on. That’s not a prediction. That’s a spoiler. So once again, congratulations Tom. And thank you for 20 years of excellence. Follow Danny on Twitter and Instagram @DannyPicard.

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February 3,, 2022

SPORTS TODAY BRADY Tweet of ANNOUNCES the Week RETIREMENT FROM FOOTBALL

SBT Staff

he greatest of all time is officially hanging them up. Tom Brady announced his retirement in an instagram post on Tuesday. The post had nine slides. The first being a picture of Brady in a Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ road white uniform. The other eight posts were just text, as Brady explained why he was walking away, while thanking the Buccaneers’ organization, his trainer Alex Guerrero, his agents, and his family, in that order. “I have always believed the sport of football is an “all-in” proposition — if a 100% competitive commitment isn’t there, you won’t succeed, and success is what I love so much about our game,” said Brady to open up his statement on instagram. “There is a physical, mental, and emotional challenge EVERY single day that has allowed me to maximize my highest potential. And I have tried my very best these past 22 years. There are no shortcuts to success on the field or in life. “This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention. “I’ve done a lot of reflecting the past week and have asked myself difficult questions. And I am so proud of what we have achieved. My team-

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

mates, coaches, fellow competitors, and fans deserve 100% of me, but right now, it’s best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes.” The most notable — and only — snub in Brady’s retirement statement was the New England Patriots. Owner Robert Kraft, however, released a statement of his own, on behalf of the Patriots. “Words cannot describe the feelings I have for Tom Brady, nor adequately express the gratitude my family, the New England Patriots and our fans have for Tom for all he did during his career,” said Kraft in the statement. “A generation of football fans have grown up knowing only an NFL in which Tom Brady dominated. He retires with nearly every NFL career passing record, yet the only one that ever mattered to him was the team’s win-loss record. “In his 20 years as a starter his teams qualified for the playoffs 19 times. He led his teams to 10 Super Bowls, winning an NFL-record seven championships. In a team sport like football, it is rare to see an individual have such a dominant impact on a team’s success. You didn’t have to be a Patriots fan to respect and appreciate his competitiveness, determination and will to win that fueled his success. As a fan of football, it was a privilege to watch. As a Patriots fan, it was a dream come true.

WHATTOWATCH NBA FRIDAY, FEB. 4 Boston at Detroit 7 P.M. NBCSB SUNDAY, FEB. 6 Boston at Orlando 6 P.M. NBCSB NHL FRIDAY, FEB. 4 All-Star Skills Competition 7:30 P.M. ESPN SATURDAY, FEB. 5 All-Star Game 3 P.M. ABC/ESPN+ NFL SUNDAY, FEB. 6 Pro Bowl AFC vs NFC 3 P.M. ABC/ESPN GOLF THURS, FEB. 3 - SUN, FEB. 6 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am 3 P.M. GOLFC/CBS

“I have the greatest respect for Tom personally and always will. His humility, coupled with his drive and ambition, truly made him special. I will always feel a close bond to him and will always consider him an extension of my immediate family.” Hours after his retirement post on Instagram which failed to mention the Patriots, Brady responded to the Patriots’ post of Kraft’s statement on Twitter by quote-tweeting: “Thank You Patriots Nation [red heart emoji]. I’m beyond grateful. Love you all.” It should be noted that Brady thanked the Patriots in a statement when he left to sign with the Buccaneers in 2020. Brady spent the last two seasons in Tampa Bay, winning a Super Bowl last year, and losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round this year. In 33 regular-season games with the

Bucs, Brady completed 66.7 percent of his passes while throwing for 9,949 yards and 83 touchdowns. In his 20 seasons with the Patriots, Brady won six Super Bowls. He played in total of 283 regular-season games with the Pats and missed out on the playoffs only once while he was healthy. Brady owns nearly every record in the league, and set the new record for most passing yards in NFL history this season when he threw for his 80,359th yard against the Patriots in his return to Gillette Stadium on Sunday Night Football in Week 4. He will undoubtedly go down as the greatest quarterback who’s ever lived. And one can only imagine that Brady will sign a one-day contract during the offseason so that he can officially retire as a member of the New England Patriots.