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March 3, 2022: Vol.10 Issue 9
SERVING SOUTH BOSTONIANS AROUND THE GLOBE
Are Clean Energy Projects Sustainable Without Public Funding?
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enewable energy is becoming a significant part of the mix of energy production in many parts of the world. Renewable energy still faces major hurdles to wider adoption. Some are associated with various renewable energy technologies, and others are due to the modern realities of the marketplace, regulations and infrastructure. The MA House of Representatives plan to vote on a bill that seeks to change how Massachusetts procures offshore wind energy and to boost support for the emerging industry here, legislation that has been
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March 3, 2022
EDITORIAL Is The Southie Parade The Only One To Be Shortened?
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here is a lot of talk and buzz around town about the decision to shorten the length of South Boston’s Saint Patrick’s Day/Evacuation Day Parade. To be clear, there are some in town who are happy about the change, others have expressed disappointment all the way up to anger, while still others say that they wish the parade would move downtown because they are fed up with the rowdy, disrespectful hordes that descend on our neighborhood and leave it in shambles. Everyone has the right to their views and to express them. But there is also a
question being asked by many; a reasonable question to ask, and that is – would the city dare, cut almost in half, parades and festivals held in other parts of Boston? For example, will they shorten the Dorchester Day Parade, the Bunker Hill Day Parade in Charlestown, the Pride Parade or the Columbus Day Parade – Ooops, according to the ‘Woke’ crowd, using the term Columbus Day is hate speech now. Would the city ever dare reduce the size and content of the Caribbean Festival known not just for sometimes being violent, but deadly violent
where even police are nervous about working details? The answer is probably not. The main reason given for the shortened procession is of course Covid – an excuse used for every decision it seems. But Covid is fading fast as an issue and as a concern to nearly everyone. As many people have so accurately pointed out, the ‘social distancing’ worries, where they don’t want so many people crammed so close together along the parade route because of the potential spread of the virus is bogus. If a half million+ spectators plan to come into town, they
will come no matter how long the route is. If the route is halved, that will mean that half million plus people will be crammed even closer to one another. So, the Covid claim as the reason for the diminished route fools no one. Again, there is more than one view on how long the parade route should be and if there should even BE a parade in our town. But the political climate in this city sometimes causes suspicion among skeptical residents that makes folks wonder if the standards are different when those in charge apply them to different parts of the city and what the occasion is.
“I need ammunition, not a ride” - Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine
Boston Urban Forest Plan Virtual Open House March 14
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esidents interested in the future of trees in Boston are invited to join the Boston Parks and Recreation Department for a virtual conversation about the progress of the Urban Forest Plan on Monday, March 14, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. To join the discussion, follow the event link at boston.gov/
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urban-forest-plan. Boston’s first ever Urban Forest Plan will help prioritize, preserve, and grow the tree canopy throughout Boston for decades to come. In Boston, all residents depend on the many benefits provided by the trees in our urban forest. The issues being addressed include policy, funding, workforce development, design, climate resilience, and
John Ciccone
more. The goal is to create a strategic plan based on science and defined by the needs and desires of the community to ensure that the urban forest will be better managed both today and in the future. This project is a part of Healthy Places, a collaboration between the Heat Resilience Study, Urban Forest Plan, and Open Space and Recreation Plan. Healthy Places looks at
cooling the city, expanding the urban forest, and improving the park system. For more information on any of these projects, please visit boston. gov/healthy-places. Interpretation and translation services are available for the March 14 Open House at no cost. Please contact program manager Maggie Owens if you cannot attend this meeting, have any questions
or comments, or if you need interpretation services, translated materials, or disability accommodations by emailing maggie.owens@boston.gov or calling (617) 961-3025 by February 28, 2022. To stay up to date with news, events, and improvements in Boston parks, call (617) 635-4505, visit Boston. gov/Parks, join our email list at bit.ly/Get-Parks-Emails, and follow our social channels @ bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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Information Center The
If Only Ukraine Had A Second Amendment
SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone
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s one of the social media memes going viral reads: ‘Why does anyone need an AR-15 and 30 round magazines?” Well, the tough patriotic citizens of the Ukraine have answered that question for most thinking people. Ukraine president Zelensky, in his wisdom, when he saw that Putin and his Russian army weren’t bluffing and were on their way, passed out tens of thousands of firearms with high capacity ‘mags’ to the civilian population and that was a good move. But it was a bit late to discourage an invasion. The weapons had to be distributed and most of the people receiving them have little training in their use or none at all. They would need a crash course in their use and maintenance and hope that enough ammunition could be distributed in time. If Ukraine survives this brutal war, their leaders are saying they will have learned from their mistake and will never again demand the civilian population be disarmed. Here in America, we are blessed with the right to keep and bear arms. To put it bluntly, over a hundred million law abiding Americans are armed; many armed to the teeth and well schooled in the use of the guns they own. That is a deterrent so ominous to potential enemies that even the Japanese military machine of World War II knew that any attempt to invade the United States mainland would be crushed because as the saying goes – “there would be a rifle behind every blade of grass” in the hands of American defenders who know how to use them. Is it any wonder that the Chinese Communist government has
Note: talk back to John Ciccone by email at jciccone@southbostontoday.com
made it known that they would like to see American civilians disarmed? They believe that only the government should possess weapons. Of course, they do. All tyrannical governments do. We also have to ask ourselves why liberal Democrats in our own country are so determined to confiscate the guns of American civilians; although I think we can all guess why. Just because the United States has never been invaded since British Red Coats came ashore in 1814 during the Battle of New Orleans doesn’t mean it can’t happen again. In today’s crazy world, it seems nothing can be ruled out, especially with the bunch running things in DC. Add to that possibility, the always looming chance of terrorist attacks on our homeland and the idea of an armed populous, at least those who want to be armed isn’t just reasonable, it could be what enables America to survive as a free country in the not so distance future. So, the anti-gun activists in the US can demand that ever more gun control laws be passed in their constant attempt to ban all civilians from owning firearms which is their ultimate goal. And China and tyrants like Canada’s Trudeau can whine about the ‘gun culture’ in America in their attempts to shame our country into falling in line to create a defenseless American population. But their efforts are going nowhere and are being drowned out as common sense prevails here. As Americans watch world events play out and watch in disbelief and disgust, the raging spike in violent crime in cities around the country as efforts to defund law enforcement
so often hinder police from doing their jobs, they are continuing to arm up in the fear that when it comes to defending themselves and their families, they could be on their own some day and they have no intention of being caught unprepared. The new data out is showing that in just the last year, more than 5 million more Americans became first time legal gun owners, swelling the ranks of the already 100 million. This trend will continue and all the liberal whining and melting down can do nothing to stop it. Though most Americans don’t
want to see even one of our nation’s soldiers lose his nor her life in a Russian/Ukraine conflict, nor should they, we pray the Ukrainian people are victorious. They have attacked no one. They are victims of a crazed tyrant. The courage and determination of the people and leaders of Ukraine should be an inspiration to all freedom loving people. Their president, Volodymyr Zelensky is a true hero. He’s not asking for American troops. All he wants are weapons and ammunition. You know, like the ones the Brandon Administration left for the Taliban.
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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
Window Into The State House
Window Into The State House provides our readers a synopsis of important issues of interest, past and current, that are being proposed, debated or acted upon by the Massachusetts Legislature. Many issues that are not related to local city government services are acted upon and have a direct impact on daily life. They are tax policy, transportation infrastructure, judicial appointments, social services and health, as well as higher education. We will excerpt reports from the gavel-to-gavel coverage of House and Senate sessions by news sources focused on this important aspect of our lives. These sources include a look ahead at the coming week in state government and summaries and analyses of the past week, re-caps of a range of state government activity, as well as links to other news.
MLB pushed back Opening Day as labor talks faltered with the players and President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union last night at a precarious moment in his presidency, with the COVID-19 pandemic waning, inflation driving up prices for everyday goods and the war in Ukraine testing western countries in ways not seen since World War II. The Act to Protect Victims of Crimes and the Public, which Baker first proposed back in 2018, would expand the list of offenses that could be used as grounds for a dangerousness hearing to hold someone who poses a potential threat to include crimes of sexual abuse and threats of violence. It would also allow police to detain people observed violating courtordered release conditions such as a stay-away order, rather than waiting for a court-issued warrant. In the video pinned to the top of Baker’s official Twitter account, a woman can be heard telling Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito that if their bill had passed her attacker would not have been free to break into her home last November and violently assault her. “This survivor was violently attacked by her abuser who had been released from custody, despite having convictions for offenses like first-degree murder, escaping from prison and kid-
napping. That is unacceptable,” Baker wrote.
campaign gave no update on that process Tuesday.
Hot potato: Goldberg tells lawmakers she can’t divest from Russia on her own After a bipartisan coalition of 58 lawmakers urged her to immediately divest the state’s pension funds from Russian investments, Treasurer Deb Goldberg dropped the issue right back in their lap, saying the Legislature will have to take action to purge the assets, The Herald’s Amy Sokolow and Christian Wade of the Salem News have more.
Most of Boston mask mandate to end Saturday..... It’s almost safe to show your face again. After Saturday, face masks will no longer be required to enter most businesses and venues in the city of Boston after the Public Health Commission voted unanimously to drop the mandate as coronavirus caseloads and hospitalizations fall, the Globe’s Jeremy Fox and Anissa Gardizy report.
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endar or arriving from the Senate. The Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy released the bill favorably about six weeks ago and Chairman Jeff Roy said the House wanted to tackle the proposal “sooner rather than later.” The version that emerged would “soften the state’s project price cap without scrapping it in every circumstance, would impose more than $45 million a year in new charges on electric and gas customers to gener-
among House Speaker Ron Mariano’s top priorities. Representatives were given more information early this week about the House’s plan for a formal session scheduled for Thursday. Aside from the offshore wind bill (H 4348), which may be changed further by the time it is released from the House Ways and Means Committee, an email from Mariano’s office said the House could also consider bills on its cal-
That’s the ticket? Doughty taps former lawmaker as ‘running mate’ Former Republican state Rep. Kate Campanale has launched a bid to become the next lieutenant governor and says she will run on an informal ticket with gubernatorial hopeful Chris Doughty. Matt Murphy of State House News Service reports how the move adds an extra layer of intrigue to the GOP primary battle between Doughty and former lawmaker Geoff Diehl.Campanale left the Legislature in 2018 for an unsuccessful bid for Worcester County register of deeds and currently works in the Baker administration. Diehl is said to also be looking for a running mate, though his
...but not quite everywhere Saraya Wintersmith of GBH reports the vote does not apply to the city’s schools, though that mandate could fall in coming days as well. As Harvard hits mid-terms, long waits for mental health help The pandemic is a drag, exhibit infinity: Harvard students are being told they may have to wait as long as six weeks for a therapy appointment through the health services department as two years of living through a public health emergency drive both a surge in demand and a shortage of qualified counselors. Lucas Walsh and Vivian Zhao of the Crimson have the details. Play ball (sort of): WooSox’ second season faces lockout impacts The Worcester Red Sox should
ate revenue for an offshore wind investment fund, would give legislative leaders a chance to appoint two of five seats on a new project selection committee charged specifically with maximizing economic development, would establish a slate of tax credits and incentives for offshore wind companies, and would launch a pilot program to connect high schools with offshore wind industry training opportunities”. Some opposition has come from
March 3, 2022
start their second-ever season on time in April even after Major League Baseball owners said they would push back Opening Day and cancel some early-season games amid a labor dispute with players, the Telegram’s Joe McDonald reports. The Polar Park home opener is April 12. Purdue says money does make you happy Data from a Purdue University study suggests the minimum salary one needs to be happy in Massachusetts is just a tick below $140,000, MassLive’s Cassie McGrath reports. That’s likely bad news for a lot of residents since the median income is closer to $80K. EPA tells GE it can move on Housatonic River cleanup The Environmental Protection Agency has informed GE it can proceed with a controversial plan to bury as much as 1 million cubic yards of contaminated soil in a Lee landfill, even though the plan continues to face legal challenges from area residents. Larry Parnass of the Berkshire Eagle unpacks the state of play. Girded for battle: Healey war chest swells to $4.2M Attorney General Maura Healey says her gubernatorial campaign raised more than $400,000 again in January, growing her campaign account to more than $4.2 million, 12 times that of Democratic rival Sonia Chang-Diaz, Alison Kuznitz of MassLive reports. The Republican gubernatorial hopefuls have yet to disclose their February fundraising figures.
the commercial fishing industry. Mariano and Roy announced that the House would tackle offshore wind policy during a boat tour of the Block Island Wind Farm off Rhode Island in September, just after the state’s third offshore wind procurement garnered bids from just two developers. Senate President Karen Spilka said in late January that her branch also has designs to address offshore continued on page 8
March 3, 2022
SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
Public Meeting for MBTA Fare Media Changes
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he MBTA will host a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at 6 PM to collect public feedback on proposed fare policy changes to support Fare Transformation. These proposed changes include: • Ending “Passback”: Currently allowed through the legacy fare system, the same CharlieCard or CharlieTicket loaded with fare value can be used to allow multiple riders through a fare gate. The MBTA refers to this practice as a “passback.” In
order to have “proof of payment,” introduce mobile and contactless payments, and integrate the Commuter Rail without creating pricing errors, “passbacks” will be discontinued. • Fare Media per Rider: Customers aged 12 and older will need to have their own fare media to ensure riders do not experience unexpected duplicate charges at fare gates and on fare readers as well as for riders to be able to provide proof of payment. • $3 Fare Media Fee and Free Card Distribution: There will be a $3 card cost for most new fare media issued by the MBTA. The MBTA recognizes that the
cost for fare media may be a burden for some riders and is currently developing a plan to distribute free Charlie Cards to minority and low-income communities through partner organizations. Cards will continue to be free to Reduced Fare Riders and for all riders purchasing a 1-Day Link Pass on a new Charlie Card. • “One More Trip” Protection on Charlie Cards: The upcoming fare media will allow riders to board with low/ zero balance to improve convenience and avoid leaving riders stranded. The MBTA welcomes public comment on these proposals. During the meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide input. The meeting will be held via Zoom. Members of the public can register for the meeting online. The meeting will be recorded and posted online
5 for those who cannot attend. The official public hearing on these fare proposals will be held virtually on Tuesday, March 22, at 6 PM. For specific details to access these virtual meetings and/or to submit direct comments regarding these proposed updates and changes, please email publicengagement@mbta.com. The public may submit comments through Thursday, March 31, 2022. Accommodations: For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation and/or language services, please email publicengagement@mbta.com. For more information and to sign up for the meeting, visit mbta.com/servicechanges, or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, or Instagram @theMBTA.
FEMA AWARDS NEARLY $23.4 MILLION TO MBTA FOR COSTS OF OPERATING SAFELY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
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he Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending almost $23.4 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) for the additional costs of operating safely during the pandemic. The MBTA will recive a total of $23,379,695 in federal funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program to reimburse some of the costs associated with keeping pub-
thermal cameras, and thermometers. “FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the MBTA with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Keeping public transportation operating during this time period was critical to allow emergency workers, medical personnel, and others to continue getting to work.” FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared
disaster or emergency. So far, FEMA has provided nearly $867 million in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemicrelated expenses. Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program is available at https://www.fema. gov/public-assistance-local-statetribal-and-non-profit. To learn more about the COVID-19 response in Massachusetts, please visit https:// www.fema.gov/disaster/4496
FEMA AWARDS MORE THAN $1.9 MILLION TO CITY OF BOSTON FOR COVID PPE EXPENSES
FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency. So far, FEMA has provided almost $867 million in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses. Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program is available at https://www.fema. gov/public-assistance-local-statetribal-and-non-profit. To learn more about the COVID-19 response in Massachusetts, please visit https:// www.fema.gov/disaster/4496
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he Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $1.9 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse City of Boston for purchasing and distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to city workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city will recive a total of $1,941,707 in federal funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program to reimburse the costs of supplying Boston Police Depart-
lic transportation services operating safely between March and June 2020. Those measures included: • Purchasing and distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to staff; • Overtime costs for employees; • Buying disinfecting supplies; • Dissemination of essential public health and safety information as barriers, signs, safety yellow paint & barricade tape; and • Providing testing equipment for staff and the public such as privacy screens,
ment (BPD), Boston Fire Department (BFD), Boston Emergency Medical Services (BEMS), the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management (MOEM), and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) between March 2020 and July 2021, including: • Purchasing and distributing (PPE) and related supplies like such as N95 masks, surgical masks, gowns, Tyvek suits, face shields, boot covers, hair bouffants, gloves, hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, Clorox wipes & drapes; and
• Purchasing an electric pallet jack and manual jack required for moving the large amounts of inventory from the loading dock to the storage area where the stock was stored and distributed “FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the City of Boston with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and our success as a nation.”
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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
March 3, 2022
“The Heights” The Late Brian R. Mahoney (First Printed 2-10-2011)
The second of a 3-part series on the History of Evacuation Day that was first written in 2011- reprinted
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he British conducted their last and most destructive raid into South Boston (Dorchester Neck) on February 13, 1776, burning houses and property of the Blake, Wiswell and Foster families among others. This time however, the Americans responded with 300 mounted troops, causing the British to flee in their longboats. It was this raid which seems to have been the final straw. Washington had been advocating for a frontal assault across the ice from Cambridge and Roxbury. His military council disagreed and after his final council of war on February 26, Washington wrote, “I am preparing to take a position on Dorchester Heights to see if the enemy will come out to meet me.” He had reversed course and decided the Americans would fight from fortified positions and force the British to make the frontal assault. On the morning of March 2, the Americans opened a three-day bombardment of the British in Boston. Under an advance protective screen of 800 infantry, 2,000 artillery men began their stealthy advance into South Boston. With muffled horses’ hooves and wagon wheels, this column began to snake its way up the “Turnpike” (Dorchester Street). Reaching the area of today’s “Tele-
South Boston Citizens Association List of Events Save the date! 3/7/22 - Basketball Free Throw Even 6PM-Tynan School Gym 3/13/22 - Ice-O-Rama 9AM Murphy Skating Rink 3/16/22 - Flag Football Condon School Gym 4pm 3/17/22 - Evacuation Day Mass 9:30 at St. Augustine’s Chapel 3/17/22 - Historical Exercises, Essay /Poster Awards Ceremony 11:00AM Dorchester Heights 3/18/22 - 142nd Annual Evacuation Day Banquet Convention Center 5:30pm
graph Street”, nine cannons for three artillery batteries were muscled up to the peak of the “Twin Hill.” The column continued up the “Turnpike” until it reached today’s Perkins Square area. There, a sloping hill began to rise, extending west toward the West Broadway parking lot and north toward Dorchester Street and Emerson Street. This hill was known as “Leek’s Hill” and was designated for 7 cannons. Emerson Street, the second of South Boston’s original remaining streets, was called the “way to the Castle” and extended all the way to the east shore (Farragut Road). The column moved on this road to roughly “M” & East Fourth Street. At this point, six cannons were dragged up to “Bush Tree Hill” where their muzzles towered menacingly over the British warships at anchor. The last leg of the eastern march ended at Dorchester Point where a single three-gun battery was placed. Back at “Leek’s Hill”, 700 men and 10 cannons skirted the western base and followed “Pulaski Ave.” to West Third Street. This third and final road was known as the “Way to the Nook.” This road reached, straight as an arrow, to the 125-foot high “Nook Hill” located at today’s “B” & West Third Street. This hill was closest to British positions and warship anchorage so presented the most danger to the British. At the same time, its nearness made it the most exposed to British fire. It was decided by the Americans to fortify this hill last. The cannon’s movement and the actual construction of their fortifications was a master stroke itself. Besides wrapping hooves and wheels in rags to muffle sounds, the Americans took a number of pre-emptive measures that led directly to victory. The crossing into the “Neck” would have been under the eyes and guns of the British, particularly the “Green” artillery position located on a rise at today’s Berkeley and Washington Streets intersection. The American created a “Blind” or a wall that would cover their movements by twisting and weaving hay. This was called “Screwed Straw”. Washington, for weeks, had
his troops out in the “Wilderness” of Dorchester collecting thin tree branches and kindling. This was used to build “Fascine” or walls around cannon positions; usually by digging a trench and combing dirt and branches to make those protective walls. The frozen ground plus the need for secrecy made digging impossible. The solution was called, “chandelier”. These were simply 10 by 4-foot skeletal wooden tubs. Light, mobile, easily moved into position around the cannons, filled with the “Fascines” and immediately turned into sturdy defensive walls. During the next three days, the men labored to erect defenses while the non-stop bombardment of Boston provided cover their actions. A bombardment so fierce that famed jurist, Oliver Wendell Holmes, later wrote and spoke of it in a childhood memory. As a Boston schoolboy in the 1850’s, Homes recalled passing everyday by a house which still has “cannonball embedded in its chimney since that barrage”. Over the centuries, Americans have been stirred to the defense of their country, in part by words identifying their cause. “Remember 911” is most recent. Before that it was “Remember Pearl Harbor”. Earlier, “Remember the Maine”. Still earlier, “Remember the Alamo”. It was on the “Heights” that call to battle was first used as General Washington walked among
the troops exhorting them to “Remember the Men of March the Fifth”. Speaking of course, of the “Boston Massacre” six years earlier. Upon awakening on March 5, 1776, General Howe first noticed the silenced cannons. Next, across the harbor, was the astonishing sight of the “Heights” bristling with troops and cannon from four positions. He then made his famous statement, “These men have done more work in a night than mine could do in a month.” Undeterred, Howe immediately drew up plans to attack across the harbor and dislodge the Americans from the Heights. All day, Boston was the scene of increasing alarm as British troops hustled about preparing for battle. Longboats were brought from the warships to ferry the troops for the assault and tied up at “Long Wharf”. By late afternoon, 2,400 troops were lined up at the foot of “Long Wharf”, today’s Purchase Street. Stay tuned next week for the final chapter. In the meantime, please remember public drinking is illegal. A number of “Family Zones” have been created throughout the parade route. Please ask your guests to respect the celebration, the town, and themselves and refrain from “Mardi Gras” type actions. Folks have worked diligently for a year to provide a safe, fun day that can be enjoyed by all. Take care till next week.
March 3, 2022
SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
HEY TEENS! THINK SUMMER! APPLY NOW FOR ABCD SUMMERWORKS 2022 Mayor Wu praises program, calls it “essential experience”
An ABCD SummerWorks job is a prize! Don’t miss out! Put dollars in your pocket, obtain career skills, receive mentoring, social supports
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f you are ages 14 to 21, incomeeligible, and live in Boston, you can earn and learn in the ABCD SummerWorks program this year! Plan now to spend your summer with ABCD, working 20 hours a week in a non-profit organization. You can earn up to $1,710! So put money in your pocket while receiving outstanding preparation for future school and work. Along with work experience that gives back to the community,
you participate in career skills and job-readiness workshops and receive mentoring and social supports. ABCD thanks Mayor Michelle Wu for her support of ABCD SummerWorks. “The City of Boston has been a longtime partner in this program and we are pleased to continue that important partnership this year, when our youth need help more than ever,” said ABCD President/CEO John J. Drew. Drew said that ABCD plans to provide at least 1,000 summer jobs for teens this year. “Our young people have faced tremendous challenges during this pandemic,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “The ABCD SummerWorks program is an essential experience for young people preparing for their careers and building community. As we approach the summer, I encourage all of our
young people to apply and get involved with this valuable program.” ABCD is reaching out to teens early this year, encouraging them to apply to this longstanding program with its documented success. ABCD SummerWorks provides the chance to work in interesting jobs with fellow teens and caring adults while preparing for the career of their dreams in the work world. Many successful business, public service and community leaders held their first jobs in ABCD SummerWorks! Past ABCD SummerWorks job sites include libraries, day camps, childcare centers, government offices, non-profit organizations, local historic sites and more. The application period began February 1. Apply online to ABCD SummerWorks at summerworks.net. If you have questions, email summerworksinfo@bostonabcd.org or call 617-348-6548. “Our young people have had to negotiate unprecedented difficulties due to the pandemic and political/social/racial upheaval over the past two years,” said ABCD President/CEO John J. Drew. “They have had their schools close, their parents lose jobs,
Welcome Back Sullivan’s - You Were Missed!
Opening day at Sully’s, February 26, 2022
7 their friendships disrupted. ABCD is putting together a summer experience that is safe, meaningful and important to their lives and careers. We want then to know that ABCD is here for them.” Drew said that ABCD is planning an in-person, on-site SummerWorks program, but will follow COVID-19 guidance and convert to a remote experience if necessary. The program is scheduled to begin the first week in July and run for six weeks for 20 hours a week with potential earnings of $1,710. Currently ABCD plans to hire 1,000 youth, but the need is far greater. ABCD and the City of Boston are calling out to Boston businesses, funders, non-profit leaders and philanthropists to step up and donate funds and/or provide jobs to ensure that every young person who wants to work has a job this summer! Drew pointed out that past enrollees often turn their paychecks over to their parents to pay for rent and food. “This is a program that keeps families going and fuels the local economy while making a difference for young people in every neighborhood,” he said. “Year after year I have seen it provide a ticket to future success.”
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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
The
Wine Guy
I
The Rhone Valley
n the central southern part of France lies the Rhone Valley. From the South, it begins near the Mediterranean and ends in the North, near a district named Saint Joseph. Within this valley’s borders are some of France’s most interesting and versatile red wines, as well as a few whites as you go farther North. Most, if not all of the varieties mentioned today are less wellknown than their cousins in Bordeaux and Burgundy, but don’t be put off by that; the following wines
Energy continued from page 4
wind this session, but suggested the Senate is preparing to approach the issue with a larger, more comprehensive climate policy bill that features offshore wind as one of multiple components. The industry as a whole has the following challenges and government support is crucial despite the projections put forth by the companies beeting the farm on its future • Costs The most significant and wellknown obstacle to renewable energy adoption right now is the costs associated with building and installing facilities like solar or wind farms. As with most renewable sources of energy, solar and wind are quite cheap to operate, with their “fuel” being free and maintenance being minimal. Upfront installation costs make lenders more prone to seeing renewables as high-risk, which has the effect of driving up borrowing
March 3, 2022
are hearty and delicious, so try a few of them when you’re in the mood for something different…. 2018 Éric Texier Chat Fou Cotes du Rhone, ($19.99) – A blend of (red) grenache and some white varietals, this is “no ordinary Rhone wine,” per the label. Unfortunately, it’s no great shakes, a quickly forgettable mix of intense earth and flabby fruit that lacks some needed vibrancy, eventually finishing on a note of tobacco, prune, and sticky mud. 2017 Stéphane Ogier Le Temps Est Venu Cotes du Rhone, ($19.99) – This is a more iconic bottling of Cotes du Rhone, with a vibrant fruitiness and notes of tea leaf, bold raspberry, and some bay leaf elements. A silky body pumps up blackberry and cassis notes, with some chocolate and allspice evident on the finish. Delightfully satisfying. 2017 Lavau Cotes du Rhone Villages, ($12.99) – A silky, chocolateheavy wine, Lavau has a simple construction but a focused one — plums and currants, with plenty of caramel-laced chocolate notes bringing up the rear. There’s a surprising hint of citrus on the finish, some tart lemon working to brighten things up a bit and breathe a bit of extra life into an otherwise straightforward —
and well-priced — bottling. 2017 Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône Villages Rouge, ($13.99) – Classically structured, this wine melds lots of earth and spice with a curiously nutty undercarriage, almost pistachio-like on the finish. The iconic density of the Rhone Valley is fully on display in this wine, yet it comes across with a surpris-
ingly light touch, its currants melding with strawberry notes on the expressive conclusion. Like the Rhône Glacier which carved its way south through France to create the Rhône River, carve your own image of a Rhone River journey with a glass of one of these. Talk To The Wine Guy at jdris8888@gmail.com
rates and making it more difficult to justify the investment. When lifespan costs are considered, renewable sources of energy can be better investments, according to data. • Transmission Infrastructure To sufficiently leverage renewable sources, a great deal of new transmission infrastructure is required. Over the course of the 20th century, power transmission infrastructure was built with large fossil fuel plants and nuclear plants in mind. This raises issues for renewable energy sources not located near existing infrastructure. In fact, some areas with little or no infrastructure, such as offshore wind farms, are some of the best hopes for sources of renewable energy. • Barriers to Entry With non-renewable energy being well-established, the utilities behind these legacy systems hold immense market power, and this presents a powerful barrier for renewable en-
ergy. Solar, wind, and other renewable sources of energy have to vie with deeper pockets, established infrastructure, and decades of experience and policy. Start-ups must deal with even bigger barriers to entry as they must contend with massive market players. To show their value, start-ups must show an ability to scale, as investors typically demand large amounts of energy production, which can be challenging. Higher investment in clean energy from governments, via subsidies and other measures, could level the playing field. • Politics Multi-billion-dollar industries tend to wield massive political influence, and the non-renewable energy industry is no exception. In most countries, the legacy power industry is backed by subsidies, tax breaks, incentives and regulatory loopholes. Whilst these advantages have probably elevated production,
they’ve also diverted resources that may have helped the expansion of renewable energy. More to the point, the fossil fuel industry has actively lobbied against the greater adoption of renewable energy and undermined climate change science, a strong driver for the adoption of clean energy. • Oversupply In recent years, governments and private companies around the globe have ramped up the production of solar panels. However, even with a growing industry, the large uptick in panel production created an oversupply situation. Since the supply is currently so much higher than demand, companies are scaling back their long-term investments and even going out of business. Investors have lost millions as a result. _ Some data for this article came from AZoM a leading online publication for the Materials Science community.
March 3, 2022
BC HIGH ANNOUNCES $2.5M GIFT FROM ALUMNUS JOHN V. MURPHY TO BUILD NEW STADIUM AND ATHLETIC FACILITIES Construction Set to Begin in June 2022 on New Grandstands, Press Box, Ticketing/Concession Facilities, and Spectator Plaza with Courtyard
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n Monday morning, at a special “Signing Day” luncheon attended by Boston College High School student-athletes and coaches representing each of the school’s 20 sports teams, BC High President Grace Cotter Regan announced that the school has received a $2.5M gift from alumnus John V. Murphy ’67, P’98 to build a new stadium and athletic facilities on the campus, which will be named Murphy Family Stadium. Thanks to the Murphy gift, which was presented to more than 50 student-athletes and coaches in Cadigan Hall, the new stadium will feature seating for 1,800 fans, including ADA-compliant ramps and stairs; a new press box with a state-of-the-art sound system; two new buildings to house permanent concession, ticketing, and restroom facilities; and a spectator plaza complete with a courtyard for students and fans to congregate in before and during athletic and school events. The original facility, named for a local businessman, Anthony Viola, was constructed in 1975. To better serve the next generation of students, alumni, and parents, construction will begin on the new stadium in June 2022 and is projected to be complete by the end of the fall season. James Cotter ’55 Field and Cornelius Keohane ’51 Track, both of which have been renovated within the last five years, and J. Donald Monan, SJ, Park, which was completed in 2015 and is adjacent to the stadium, will remain untouched throughout construction. “One of the guiding principles of Jesuit education is cura personalis, developing the whole person. Athletics are an important element of that mission. By providing new facilities we will be able to ensure that our students experience the best of BC High,” said John Murphy ’67, P’98. “I am particularly proud to be among three generations of Murphys whose
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lives were or are still enriched through their student-athlete experiences at BC High – my father, Jerry class of ’35 ; my brothers Jim, class of ‘61 and Rick, class of ’69 ; and my son Chris, class of ’98. I hope Murphy Family Stadium will stand in tribute to them in recognition of their past support of, and achievements in, BC High’s athletic programs.” “We are incredibly grateful for John’s generosity and his enduring commitment to BC High,” said BC High Vice President of Advancement Kelly DeGregorio. “This tremendous gift allows BC High to ensure that our studentathletes and their peers, families, and our community as a whole have the opportunity to enjoy athletic and school events in state-of-the-art facilities that support student wellness and success.” Building a new stadium and athletic facilities is a primary component of Phase One of the comprehensive Campus Master Plan, announced earlier this month as part of BC High’s Vision 2026 Strategic Plan. Fundraising for the stadium project, which is estimated to be more than $4M is now underway. “It is important that physical spaces on our campus – and this includes our athletic facilities and playing fields, which are an extension of the classroom and integral to our students’ personal growth and character formation – align with and complement our philosophical approach to teaching, coaching, and learning,” said President Regan. “Watching the joy and excitement on the faces of the BC High students and coaches in the audience today tells me that our new stadium and athletic facilities will have an immediate – and lasting – impact on our school community. John’s investment in the future of BC High will bring together generations of Eagles in a place that reflects the caliber of our storied athletic program, and I could not be more thankful to him and his family.” Additional details about the construction of the new stadium, including initial stadium renderings, are available on the Campus Master Plan section of the BC High web site.
Virtual Public Meeting
Rescheduled: 51 Melcher Street Wednesday, March 16 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Zoom Link: bit.ly/3uBXTIG Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 161 330 3968
Project Proponent: GI Partners Project Description: The BPDA sponsored Public Meeting on 2/23 for 51 Melcher has been rescheduled to 3/16. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the overall project and the potential impacts. The meeting will include a presentation followed by questions and comments from the public. The Proponent is proposing to redevelop the existing building to be lab use, as well as upgrades to the first floor and public realm. 作为波士顿居民和利益相关者，本会议的信息对您来说是至关重要的。可以提供翻 译服务以传达本会议的内容，您无需承担任何额外费用。如果您需要翻译服务，请 通过以下方式进行联系：(nick.carter@boston.gov) (617-918-5303) 会议定于 2022 年03月16日，请在会议前5天内申请口译服务 mail to: Nick Carter Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.5303 email: nick.carter@gmail.com
Close of Comment Period: 2/21/2022
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March 3, 2022
“Whenever I Go On Vacation, I Just Love Coming Back Home To Southie”
-Henry Knox Awardee Gerry Vierbickas
Mayor Michelle Wu Attends the Jimmy Flaherty Kickoff Breakfast
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ast Saturday, the Seapoint Restaurant was the site of the Jimmy Flaherty kick-off to the festivities planned by the South Boston Citizens’ Association in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and Evacuation Day 2022. The Henry Knox awards, always a highly anticipated program, was emceed by Senator Nick Collins, the Chairman of the Jimmy Flaherty Kick-Off Breakfast, as he welcomed over 100 guests and several dignitaries including State Representative David Biele, At-Large PHOTO CREDIT John Wilcox
City Councilors Michael Flaherty and Erin Murphy, City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune, and Mayor Michelle Wu and her Chief of Community Engagement Brianna Millor. Councilor Ed Flynn was unable to attend, as he was recovering from a positive Covid test. Susan McDonough, Commander, Martin McDonough Post and the longest serving Chief Marshall due to the canceling of the parade due to Covid-19, led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. This moment had a special meaning and appreciation while
thinking of the people in the Ukraine. Tommy McGrath, as always, was generous with his kudos to the many volunteers who help to make the festivities over the course of the next couple of weeks go off without a hitch. Pauline Bare, widow of Henry Knox aficionado, the late Michael Bare, who passed in 2010, was in attendance channeling his spirit. The awardees* were the following distinguished members of the South Boston community. • Gerry Vierbickas
• Marissa Walsh • Kenny Morrell and Sandy Alemian (Nick Morrell accepting award) • Greg Lally *Bios of these Awardees appeared in last week’s South Boston Today. A scrumptious breakfast was provided by Simply Good Catering and they were well prepared with the breakfast spread. Each of the awardees enjoyed the company of their respective families, fellow workers, employees, and neighborhood friends.
March 3, 2022
SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
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St. Peter Academy
February Vacation Camp!
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t. Peter Academy Vacation week was a blast! It started with a beautiful stretch of weather and ended with a snowstorm, but filled with loads of enrichment and fun in between. Mr. Christian and Ms. Dodge kept the older crew busy with STEM and Art Projects. Ms. Jackie, Ms. Carmen and Ms. Christina held down the fort with the PreK Campers enjoying stories, games and projects galore! Everyone enjoyed the Spring-like weather at our beloved playground and the Spiderman Park! Can’t wait for April Camp! St. Peter Academy is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. St. Peter Academy is an independent, community-based private school and serves students from ages 15 months through grade 6. SPA is currently accepting applications for the limited spaces available in the year-round toddler program (beginning at age 15 months) and for students in Pre-K (School Year and Full Year Programs), Kindergarten and grades 1-6. Financial Aid Available. Two Scholarships will be offered this year for applicants for Grades 1 through 6. Appointments for individual virtual tours can be made by contacting Maria Blasi, at 617268-0750 or by emailing m.blasi@ StPeterAcademy.com.
SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
March 3, 2022
March 3, 2022
SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com
South Boston Catholic Academy News
Celebrating Black History Month
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lack History Month (February 1 to March 1) is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society. Students
at South Boston Catholic Academy have learned about these contributions via many hands-on projects and activities across grade levels and curricula. Students in Grade 4
researched and wrote biographies about leaders and role models such as Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela. Their class theme for this project, “Black History is American History”. Students in Grade 6A worked on graphing coordinate points which, when completed, produced the image of Martin Luther King, Jr. giving his “I Have a Dream” speech. Grade 6A is also working on a Black History project that reflects their choice of researching the life and
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contributions of significant and influential Black people who make our story so special! Grade 6B students started off Black History Month with a novel study of “The Watsons Go to Birmingham” by Christopher Paul Curtis as well as learning about the struggles and victories of poet Maya Angelou. New families are welcome to email Mrs. Jamie Brown at j.brown@ sbcatholicacademy.org for more information about South Boston Catholic Academy.
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March 3, 2022
This week, Danny reacted to the Major League Baseball lockout:
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ometimes, the “glass half full” guy can be annoying. But still, somebody has to say what I’m about to say: MLB canceling some regular-season games is a good thing. That’s right. I said it. Again, somebody had to. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced earlier this week that the “first two series” of regular-season games have been canceled because of the lockout. Both MLB and the Players’ Association negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement for over a week down in Florida, resulting in back-and-forth proposals, but no agreement. Manfred put a deadline on the negotiations. That deadline passed, so he did what he said he would do. He canceled Opening Day. To put into perspective how many games that is, the Red Sox were originally scheduled to begin their regular season on March 31 at Fenway park against the Tampa Bay Rays (why that series was supposed to happen in Boston and not in Florida in late March, early April is beyond me, but I digress). It was supposed to be a three-game series, followed by another three-
game series at Fenway against the Baltimore Orioles. All six of those games have now been canceled, thanks to an extended lockout. The next game that’s still on the Red Sox’ regular-season schedule is against the Yankees in New York on April 7. If a new CBA is agreed to soon, perhaps that could be the Red Sox’ new Opening Day, at Yankee Stadium. But I doubt it. The way this is going — and the way Manfred was smiling during his press conference announcing the failed talks and regular-season cancellations last week — it doesn’t feel like there will be an agreement on a new CBA anytime soon. I could be wrong. And I hope I am. But if I’m right, I’m praying that both the Owners and the Players will discover the silver lining in all this. And that’s a shorter regular season. We can sit here and go back and forth all we want about what the league should do about a possible universal DH, or if it should add a pitch clock, or how many teams should make the playoffs. But if anyone involved in Major League Baseball — from the commissioner down to the ball boys — wants to get serious about improving
the game, they’ll all agree on one thing: a 162-game regular season is just too much baseball. I’m saying that as one of the most loyal baseball fans in the world. I love the sport. I’m locked in for most of that 162-game season. But it doesn’t have to start as early as March 31. And it doesn’t have to end as late as September 30. So let me propose this. Cancel two more regular-season series right now. Start the 2022 regular season on April 15. And cancel the second half of September, ending the regular-season on or around Sept. 15. Make the regular season 132 games, and make that the new standard. The arguments against this would be related to money. Seeing that money is the one thing keeping the lockout going, I understand that this proposal of a 132-game regular season seems somewhat far-fetched. But if anyone is concerned about improving the game — and they all should be — then they’ll consider it. They’ll consider that canceling regular-season games right now might not actually be the worst thing in the world, and instead, it could be a blessing in disguise. Think about it. What are the main
complaints about Major League Baseball in 2022? “It’s too long,” people complain. That’s why the league has entertained adding a pitch clock. They are willing to speed up the game, why not be willing to consider shortening the season? Money aside, the only other reason to not consider a 132game regular season would be the history books. By cutting off 30 games from the schedule, you’re pretty much guaranteeing that most regular-season records — as they currently stand — will never be broken again. But I mean, let’s be honest, some of the guys who own those records aren’t even being voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame because of PED accusations. So how much do we actually care about regularseason records these days? In a world where our attention spans have been diminished to 30-second instagram posts, whacking 30 games from the schedule really shouldn’t be that big a deal. In fact, it’s a concept that should be embraced. That’s my glass-half-full take on the MLB lockout. Follow Danny on Instagram @ DannyPicard.
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March 3, 2022
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WHATTOWATCH
SPORTS TODAY MLB CANCELS Tweet OPENING DAY of the AS LOCKOUT Week CONTINUES
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SBT Staff
fter nine days of labor negotiations in Florida, Major League Baseball and the Players’ Association were unable to agree to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement before the league’s extended deadline of Tuesday at 5 p.m. As a result, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced that the first two series of the regular season would be canceled. Opening Day was originally scheduled for March 31, but that is now no longer the case. “The calendar dictates that we’re not going to be able to play the first two series of the regular season,” said Manfred in a press conference in Florida on Tuesday after no CBA agreement was made. “We’re prepared to continue negotiations. We’ve been informed that the MLBPA is headed back to New York, meaning that no agreement is possible until at least Thursday. As such, camps could not meaningfully operate until at least March 8, leaving only 23 days before the scheduled Opening Day. “The clubs and our owners fully understand just how important it is to our millions of fans that we get the game on the field as soon as possible. To that end, we want to bargain and we want an agreement with the
Players’ Association as quickly as possible.” According to multiple reports, Major League Baseball made what it called its “best and final offer” to the Players’ Association a little before Tuesday’s 5 p.m. deadline, but the MLBPA agreed unanimously to not accept that offer, leading to MLB canceling regular-season games. The Players’ Association released a statement shortly thereafter on Tuesday night, blaming the league for trying to “break the Player fraternity.” “Rob Manfred and MLB’s owners have cancelled the start of the season,” the statement read. “Players and fans around the world who love baseball are disgusted, but sadly not surprised. “From the beginning of these negotiations, Players’ objectives have been consistent — to promote competition, provide fair compensation for young Players, and to uphold the integrity of our market system. Against the backdrop of growing revenues and record profits, we are seeking nothing more than a fair agreement. “What Rob Manfred characterized as a ‘defensive lockout’ is, in fact, the culmination of a decades-long attempt by owners
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to break our Player fraternity. As in the past, this effort will fail. We are united and committed to negotiating a fair deal that will improve the sport for Players, fans, and everyone who loves our game.” Later in the night on Tuesday, Manfred released a “letter to the fans.” “I had hoped against hope that I would not have to be in the position of canceling games,” said Manfred in the letter. “We worked hard to avoid an outcome that is bad for our fans, bad for our players and bad for our clubs. “I want to assure our fans that our failure to reach an agreement was not due to a lack of effort on the part of either party. The Players came here for nine days, worked hard and tried to make a deal. I appreciate their effort. “Our committee of Club representatives committed to the process, offered compromise after compromise, and hung in past the deadline to exhaust all efforts to reach an agreement. “So far, we have failed to achieve our mutual goal of a fair deal. The unfortunate thing is that the agreement we have offered has huge benefits for fans and players.” The key issues that are report-
edly holding up a deal are Competitive Balance Tax thresholds, pre-arbitration bonus pools, and minimum salaries. Manfred continued in the letter: “So, what is next? The calendar dictates that we are not going to be able to play the first two series of regular season games and those games are officially canceled. We are prepared to continue negotiations. We have been informed that the MLBPA is headed back to New York meaning that no agreement is possible until at least Thursday. Currently, camps could not meaningfully operate until at least March 8th, leaving only 23 days before scheduled Opening Day. “We played without an agreement in 1994 and the players went on strike in August, forcing the cancellation of the World Series. It was a painful chapter in our game’s history. We cannot risk such an outcome again for our fans and our sport. “The Clubs and our owners fully understand just how important it is to our millions of fans that we get the game on the field as soon as possible. To that end, we want to bargain and we want a deal with the Players Association as quickly as possible.”