South Boston Today May 19 2022 by SouthBostonTodayOnline

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May 19, 2022: Vol.10 Issue 20

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A Bridge By Any Other Name

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battle between the mayors of Boston and Quincy is heating up over the rebuilding of a bridge between the cities, as reported by NBC News. The City of Boston wants to rebuild a bridge that once connected Moon Island to Long Island, but the mayor of Quincy filed a lawsuit to stop the project. In steps U.S. Attorney Rachel

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May 19, 2022

EDITORIAL The Teeming Masses Arrived At Our Beaches Early This Year

hen the weather heats up, especially on weekends, South Boston’s beaches fill up fast. The Lagoon/Pleasure Bay, with its constant high tides thanks to the locks on the causeway gets crowded. This is the place where so many local families gravitate too. Carson Beach at or around the McCormack Bath House gets a decent crowd too.; often because of its close proximity to the MBTA. But the area that is more often than not, thick with beach goers is the section between M Street and O Streets. Some of the visitors who don’t know any better,

call it ‘Southie Beach’, but its real name is M Street Beach. Several years ago, and even in more recent years it was at M Street Beach that numerous complaints were generated due to heavy drinking of alcohol, dogs allowed to run without leashes and overall rowdiness that at times, disturbed and even frightened families, especially those families with small children. Last weekend, with the early summer like heat, the crowds at M St Beach, and in fact all up and down the Southie shoreline were once again massive. It looked like a crowded

day in July but it’s not even Memorial Day yet. But the good news is, even with the throngs of beach goers who flooded into our town, there were a minimum of problems reported and that was a relief. We believe that much of the credit for the relative calm last week goes to the healthy presence of State Police troopers posted directly at the beaches who stood by, in plain sight, to keep things under control while making sure everyone of every age could enjoy the beautiful weather in safety. And while the traffic along Day Blvd was sometimes bumper to

bumper and parking was horrible or non existing as usual, at least the rowdiness and lewd behavior of past years did not make an appearance to the delight of everyone. Hopefully this will be a good sign of what the coming summer months will bring. If those who cram our neighborhood beaches are considerate of those around them and show respect for the residents and their property in our community and show respect for each other, it will be a good summer at the beach in South Boston. But if all goes south, as in the return of the problems of past summers, it’s good to

know our local law enforcement will be on hand to deal with it. Some advice to those who plan to make local beaches their destination this summer. Not everyone is a fan of your particular genre of music so you may want to keep the volume below the earsplitting level. Don’t leave a mess. Litter is an eye sore that no one likes so plan to carry out what you carry in. There are posted sign prohibiting dogs and alcohol. You might want to pay attention to those. Follow these few recommendations and all should go well.

“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty.” - Mother Theresa “Honored to join Commissioner Rob Santiago, Rep. Jon Santiago, and JROTC students from Excel High School for the Hero Square rededication to Gen. Pulaski. We also celebrated the enormous contributions and sacrifices of the Polish and Polish-Americans in our city and country at the annual Polish Festival.” Publisher

John Ciccone

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Information Center The

A Ground Swell Of Discontent Will Be Felt At the Ballot Box SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone

ow! When even long time Democrat voter Elon Musk announces that he too is joining the massive nationwide switch away from the Democrats, as Americans are deserting the party in droves, it’s pretty much a sure bet that there will be a Red Wave coming in November. Musk recently announced that for what is probably the first time in his life, he will be voting Republican. And who can blame him? Even registered democrats who have been voting that way for years are jumping ship in huge numbers and have had enough. It’s not that these new converts are all that thrilled with all Republicans. It’s because now just about everyone can see what’s going on and what the leaders of the Democrat party are doing to our country. To repeat what’s been said in this space many times, the price of gas at the pumps, fuel to heat our homes, food to feed our families, building supplies, clothing and virtually everything else keeps soaring higher. The border is wide open and drug dealers and their deadly merchandise, gang members, violent cartels , human traffickers and even known terrorists are flooding in and then handed cash, phones and other benefits while American citizens are suffering. Economy killing inflation is running rampant and climbing higher by the day and nothing is being done to stop any of this. It’s not Putin or Covid that is doing all this, it’s the Democrat party and its leaders. They are causing it, they own this. Of course, the latest reported

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

outrage is pretty much the frosting on the cake. There is a major baby formula shortage all across the country; the shelves are nearly bare in many locations. But as video footage exposed last week, where there is NOT a shortage is, yup, at the southern border as pallet loads of it are being delivered there continuously and the warehouses are being stockpiled with it for distribution to illegals. Yet, with all of this going on, the Brandon Regime brazenly announced that it plans to cancel more oil drilling leases in Alaska to further diminish domestic supplies here and then ship another 40 billion dollars to Ukraine. God bless the Ukrainians, but Americans need to come first. But not in the eyes of the leadership of what has clearly become the ‘America Last’ party’s leadership. Pelosi, Brandon, Schumer and the rest of them know full well that the American people are opposed to these policies but couldn’t care less. What their party is doing, plain and simple and blatantly is thumbing their noses or raising their middle fingers- however, you want to phrase it- at Americans. And this, along with many other reasons, is why so many lifelong democrats are heading for the exit. The party opposes school choice and voter ID laws; two things that Americans, including an overwhelming number of minorities favor. They are pushing the indoctrination of young school children with plans like Critical Race Theory (CRT) and other schemes designed to cause division. Then they send the Justice Department to investigate and harass parents

who complain about it. Defunding police departments is high on the list of a number of Democrat politicians, even when they see the disastrous result it causes. Crime is surging in the big cities run by Democrats as they pass new laws to coddle and release violent criminals back into the public to offend again and hamstring law enforcement when they try to do their jobs. They are attempting to turn the military into a woke social service agency and weaken its war fighting capabilities which puts our national security in jeopardy.

This is what the leadership of the Democrat party has been up to since Joe Biden was installed in the White House. And this is why so many Democrat voters are saying they will be Democrat voters no longer. Because they too, most of them anyway, love our country and are not only disgusted by what they see happening but concerned for America’s future as well. So, it’s not just Elon Musk who is leaving. But when even a diehard Democrat says he’ll vote Republican, it speaks volumes about the mood of the country.

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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.

Campbell becomes first Black woman to cross signature threshold For weeks now, candidates for statewide office have been celebrating their achievement of collecting the 10,000 signatures required to qualify for the ballot in Massachusetts, But when former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell showed up to the Secretary of State’s office Tuesday with her paperwork piled in a clear plastic storage box, MassLive’s Alison Kuznitz writes that Campbell was making history as the first Black woman to get this far in a statewide campaign. Deadly force cases under review up to nine in Suffolk County After the fatal shooting last weekend of a man who allegedly stabbed another Boston police office, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden now has

nine deadly force cases under review as he seeks election to the office he was appointed to by Gov. Charlie Baker. The Globe’s John R. Ellement and Tonya Alanez take a look at the cases on Hayden’s plate. A fight over the future of waste containment on Cape Cod Nitrogen and other pollutants that leak from septic systems has contributed for years to “algae blooms, toxic bacteria, and a putrid scum coating the waters of Cape Cod,” writes the Globe’s David Abel. But in an effort to help the health of the waters and tourism, a coalition of groups pushing for the widespread adoption of a new type of septic system that can reduce nitrogen leaks are running into opposition from those who see sewers on Cape Cod as the better way to flush.

Department of Conservation and Recreation Commonwealth of Massachusetts

South Boston Capital Improvement Program, Staffing Levels, Pleasure Bay Designated Swimming Area Management Plan Public Information Meeting Thursday May 26th, 2022 @ 6pm – 7:30pm

Rollins opens investigation into Quincy’s fight of Long Island bridge U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins says her office has opened an investigation into whether Quincy violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by opposing the reconstruction of the bridge that connected the mainland to an addiction recovery campus on Long Island in Boston Harbor. Rollins’ office informed Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch of the inquiry, noting that the ADA prohibits discrimination against people battling substance abuse, the Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter reports. Going up? Brockton eyes boost from vertical farm It’s still early in the process, but Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan has high hopes for a developer’s proposal to erect a vertical indoor farm as part of a downtown multi-use project, the Enterprise’s Chris Helms reports. Sullivan says the idea to erect the first such farm in the state in the city of Champions could be a ‘game changer’ by generating fresh local produce and as many as 50 jobs.

Commission backs replacement of seal and motto A special commission tasked by the Legislature with reconsidIf you have agency-related questions or concerns or would like to be added to an email list to receive DCR general or project-specific announcements, please email Mass.Parks@mass.gov or call 617-626-4973. ering the state’s seal and motto voted Tuesday to recommend that both be replaced. The seal, which Department of Conservation and Recreation Commonwealth of Massachusetts dates to 1898, features a Native Department of Conservation and Recreation American beneath and arm holdSouth Boston Capital Improvement Program, Staffing Levels, Commonwealth of Massachusetts ing a sword. The motto has been Pleasure Bay Designated Swimming Area Management Plan Public Information Meeting translated from Latin to: “By the Thursday May 26th, 2022 @ 6pm – 7:30pm sword we seek peace, but peace th Boston Capital Improvement Program, Staffing Levels, https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rkpn5sxvQRecQRnZ79NT9g Register here: only under liberty.” GBH’s Adam The Department of Conservation and Recreation is hosting a public information meeting to discuss capital improvements, asure increased Baystaffing Designated Swimming Area ManagementReilly Planreports that the commission levels and new designated swimming management plan at Pleasure Bay in South Boston. This public did not decide whether to immediinformation meeting will inform the public of changes that will be implemented prior to Memorial Day Weekend and Public Information Meeting kickoff the public process for additional changes and improvements at Castle Island. ately solicit input from the public Thursday May 26th, 2022 @ 6pm – 7:30pm or to first create new options for If you have agency-related questions or concerns or would like to be added to an email list to receive DCR general or project-specific announcements, please email Mass.Parks@mass.gov or call 617-626-4973. the public to comment on. The Department of Conservation and Recreation is hosting a public information meeting to discuss capital improvements, increased staffing levels and new designated swimming management plan at Pleasure Bay in South Boston. This public information meeting will inform the public of changes that will be implemented prior to Memorial Day Weekend and kickoff the public process for additional changes and improvements at Castle Island.

ster here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rkpn5sxvQRecQRnZ79NT9g Please follow us on Twitter at #MassDCR

MGB agrees to cut costs by $70 million a year to discussIn capital improvements, a first since the 2012 passage

ervation and Recreation is hosting a public information meeting and new designated swimming management plan at Pleasure Bay in South Boston. This public inform the public of changes that will be implemented prior to Memorial Day Weekend and

May 19, 2022

of the state’s landmark health care cost containment law, Mass General Brigham says it will reduce its total medical spending by $70 million annually by reducing prices, lowering hospitalization rates and shifting some care to in-home settings, the Globe’s Jessica Bartlett writes. The cost-cutting was required by the Health Policy Commission, which directed the state’s largest provider network to develop a performance improvement plan after habitually exceeding the state’s cost-growth benchmarks for health care. The MGB plan must still be approve by the HPC board. LeBoeuf seeking treatment for alcohol use Worcester Rep. David LeBoeuf published a lengthy apology on social media Tuesday following his arrest last month for OUI. It’s the second time he has addressed his arrest and struggles with addiction, but the legislator went into greater detail about his immediate admission for inpatient substance abuse treatment and ongoing out-patient recovery program. MassLive’s Tom Matthew has more on LeBoeuf, who is seeking reelection and says he’s “committed” to rebuilding the community’s trust. Timeline sought for Abbott to refill formula supplies The entire state Congressional delegation, led by Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark and Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Lori Trahan, sent a letter to Abbott Laboratories Chairman and CEO Robert Ford demanding information on when Massachusetts families can expect the company to replenish supplies of Similac baby formula in the state. According to the lawmakers, Massachusetts contracts with Abbott to make Similac the exclusive baby formula brand for Massachusetts residents using the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children program. The company’s Michigan production plant was taken offline in February after several children became ill, and the FDA only agreed Monday to allow the plant to reopen. GBH New’s Sarah Betancourt has more details on the situation.

May 19, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

$17 MILLION BPS FOOD SERVICE CONTRACT WITH ROXBURY-BASED, BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS City Fresh Foods awarded contract to provide local and nutritious menu for BPS students

dvancing her commitment to use the City’s purchasing power to invest in local businesses, Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Public Schools (BPS) today announced a new contract with City Fresh Foods. Beginning July 1, City Fresh Foods, a Roxburybased employee - and Black-owned food service company, will provide breakfast, lunch, after-school meals, fresh snacks, and summer meals for Boston Public Schools. All meals will be freshly made in City Fresh’s Roxbury production facility with nutritious ingredients, including locally-sourced food. With a projected value of over $17 million, this is the largest non-construction contract the City has awarded to a certified Black-owned business. Wednesday’s announcement follows the unveiling of a Green New Deal for Boston Public Schools, a commitment to school facilities upgrades that includes $2 billion to launch 14 new construction or major renovation projects and accelerate ongoing district-wide improvements, including improvements to school kitchens. “Transformative change for BPS starts with the everyday experiences of our students, and this new contract ensures every child will have access to nutritious foods to energize and nourish them through the day,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We’re proud to partner with a local, Rox-

bury-based, Black-owned business to deliver for our young people.” “Access to nutritious food helps keep our students healthy and well so that they can learn throughout the school day,” said BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. “Our new partnership with City Fresh ensures BPS students and staff have access to a wide range of culturally relevant, nutritious foods and keeps City dollars in our neighborhoods by supporting a black-owned business that represents the heart and soul of Roxbury. All in all, it’s a great recipe for nurturing the future leaders of Boston who are learning in our schools today.” Through an expert culinary team, City Fresh Foods will design menus that ensure high-quality and nutrient-rich meals for nearly 50,000 BPS students. City Fresh will work with BPS to fulfill the goals of the Good Food Purchasing Program, championed by Mayor Wu when she served on the Boston City Council, to align the City’s food procurement with the goals of racial equity, environmental sustainability, and local economic development. The City Fresh Foods team includes a Registered Dietician to provide a comprehensive nutritional analysis of all meals, and strong mechanisms to monitor student participation and minimize food waste. In addition to providing nutritious meals, City Fresh Foods draws on a wide range of menu options to create culturally relevant meals for BPS students to enjoy. This new vended meals contract builds on recent investments to renovate BPS kitchens to enable scratch cooking on-site. “At City Fresh we believe that everyone deserves access to nutritious and delicious food, and we are thrilled to partner with the Boston Public Schools to deliver great tasting meals to the public school community of Boston,” said Sheldon Lloyd, Co-Founder and CEO of City Fresh Foods. “Many of our employees, including me, have chil-

dren in Boston Public Schools and we are deeply committed to further supporting our communities where we work, learn and live to simultaneously provide quality meals and support our local economy. We are grateful to the Wu Administration and Boston Public Schools for their partnership and look forward to getting started this summer.” The initial Request for Proposals for the BPS vended meals contract was issued in January 2022, and focused on maximizing the quality of the meals provided to students and finding a vendor who would work with the City to find new and innovative ways to deliver meal service. An evaluation committee drawn from BPS and City staff unanimously recommended that City Fresh be awarded the contract

based on its operational strength, its commitment to reducing the use of processed foods, and its dedication to Boston’s local neighborhoods. “Mayor Wu promised to change how the City invests in our local businesses, and this is an example of the City putting its money where its mouth is,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “In addition to the value of this contract, awarding this contract to City Fresh Foods proves that local, employee-owned firms have the capacity, experience, fortitude, and the best plan to provide our City with high quality goods and services. This decision is in line with the vision of Mayor Wu and our Office to help close the racial wealth gap, and is a victory Wu continued on page 6

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

May 19, 2022

Long Island Bridge continued from front page

access to addiction treatment and recovery services is a key goal shared by both Boston and Quincy. However, dedicating significant public resources to rebuilding the Long Island Bridge while ignoring common-sense alternatives only prolongs the boondoggling that has come to define the entire issue. Questions with Long Island have persisted over the years and remain unaddressed. The facilities on the island, which have gone unused since 2014, are structurally deficient and in need of major work, the scope of which is unknown. There are also serious concerns with the existing pier structures, left over from the old bridge, which a 2018 study found to be rapidly deteriorating. In other words: rebuilding the bridge would become merely the first step in a massively expensive, years-long process. The price tag here could very well be

in the hundreds of millions, before a single person receives any sort of treatment. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has an opportunity to reset this protracted debate, correct the mistakes of the past, and return the focus to ensuring access to recovery services for those in need. Viable alternatives exist to accomplish this goal. The alternative that makes the most sense is a ferry service. The city’s own study in 2002 — conducted by the Cecil Group — supports this. It concluded that access to Long Island “should be provided via an established water transportation system rather than relying on an inadequate and deteriorated land-based connection. Boston could also look to establish drug treatment services closer to home, following the example of the Roundhouse Hotel, which is being used for transitional housing with services for people relocated from the Mass.

and Cass encampment. Moving forward, Boston should conduct a thorough audit of vacant buildings that may be conducive to hosting these services more permanently. This is fiscally responsible and time-effective, and would place the patients closer to public transit, hospitals, and emergency services. Addiction is a multi-faceted problem that requires a multifaceted approach, and we all share the same commitment to supporting effective solutions. At the end of the day, Boston has many options that make far more sense than rebuilding the bridge. The city’s due diligence would save on costs, save on time, and most importantly, save lives.” Mass and Cass is the most visible, expansive and starkest petri dish of the scourge of drugs, especially any drug lace with fentanyl, which is now common practice by drug dealers. But, there are pockets of the Mass and Cass phenomenon all over the state. The addicted have lived nomadic lives and are rarely susceptible to behavior modification. The NIMBY factor always rears its head. Those elected to serve have a political dilemma - either represent their broad constituencies and keep kicking the can down the road – or – decide that the scourge of drugs affects their broad constituencies so deeply that they are willing to risk their political careers to champion the, or a, solution that spurs anger by the NIMBYs.

Wu continued from page 5

working with all cabinets across the city to break down silos, streamline our operations, and make the procurement process more accessible to new and diverse businesses.” The announcement builds off Mayor Wu’s commitment to investing in our City’s school communities and students. Last week, the Mayor announced a Green New Deal for Boston Public Schools, a $2 billion plan to overhaul BPS facilities. Other recent investments in expanding opportunities for Boston’s youth

include recent expansions of Early College and Innovation Pathways programming and the Summer Youth Jobs program and the launch of a partnership between the Public Works Department and Madison Park Technical Vocational High School to train high school students in electric vehicle maintenance. Mayor Wu previously relaunched the City of Boston’s Contracting Opportunity Fund to assist small, local businesses in building their capacity to bid on City

contracts. In March, she filed a home rule petition with the City Council that would expand access to City contracts for minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs). Through key investments in staffing and programmatic needs, the City of Boston is implementing new initiatives that seek to address the past and present effects of discrimination, disparities, obstacles and barriers in its procurement process that impact minority-owned and women-owned businesses.

Rollins invoking a possible civil rights violation because Boston wants to open a long-term opioid recovery facility on Long Island. Engineering issues are an important and overlooked challenge as advocates politicize the decision-making process. For example, Recently, there is a question raised about the projected height requirement of the US Coast Guard related to shipping traffic and the ability of the existing footings to support this potential requirement. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu says, however, that the city needs the bridge to connect people to life-saving resources. “We need to continue to find resources, housing and treatment space,” Wu said. “I’m eager to make sure that we’re having a regional conversation. This is obviously an issue that’s bigger than Boston, but one that we’re doing our best to keep moving forward on.” The City of Quincy said it’s cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the investigation. Although Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch isn’t opposed to the facility, he’s worried about the traffic the project may cause. “Boston owns the island, so it’s not up to me to dictate the use,” he said. “However, if that use interferes with the quality of life of my residents, that’s where I have to step in, and that’s the whole issue here.” State Representative Bruce Ayers of Quincy penned the following statement. “Expanding

for Boston’s students, families, and our local community economies.” “The award of this contract supports BPS’ efforts to provide nutritious food for students and represents a strong step towards increasing equity in City contracting,” said Ellen Hatch, Deputy Chief of Finance and Chief Procurement Officer. “We know that navigating the procurement process can be challenging for businesses, and under Mayor Wu’s leadership, we are

May 19, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF ANNA WHITE AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON FOR SOUTH BOSTON

nna White moved to Boston from Albany, New York and has been a resident of the City for more than 20 years. She has a deep passion for civic engagement and brings to the role a wealth of public service and community engagement experience. White served as a two-term President of the South Boston MOMS Club and Co-President of the South Boston Association of

Non-Profits for six years. She was also a board member for Medicine Wheel Productions (now known as Spoke) and a multi-term elected member to the CityWide Parent Council of the Henderson School. “I am super excited to represent Mayor Wu and in connecting the residents of South Boston to City Hall,” said Anna White. “I look forward to engaging with the community and making sure that

their voices are heard.” White currently lives in South Boston with her husband and three children. She volunteers at St. Monica’s Kitchen, and is an active member of the CitySide Neighborhood Organization and the Office of Recovery Services Youth Prevention Advisory Board. She enjoys reading books from the South Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library, eating the

food her spouse makes, watching old seasons of Clone Wars and Top Chef with her kids, and exploring all of South Boston.

A Letter To The South Boston Community – Help Support Our Troops

y name is Kelly Conroy and I am a lifelong resident of South Boston. Being the mother of an Army Officer we have quickly learned how important it is to have the support of others even if it is just a quick note. I recently signed up for the “adopt a platoon” program at Ft. Drum, NY. The 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) has been the most deployed unit in the US military since 2001. Its combat brigades have seen over 20 deployments, to both Iraq and Afghanistan, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. These service members have just recently been deployed again. My goal is for each one of them, and

I have been assigned 40, to receive a few packages over the course of their deployment approximately 9 months. This will be a marathon not a sprint of collecting. Will you donate some items for their packages? These items could be as simple as letters and cards or things such as, granola bars, cookies, mints, gum, cards, games, socks, personal items, magazines, chips etc. I am not looking for anyone to spend a ton of money as little goes a long way. Please feel free to share my contact information with anyone that you think would like to be part of this. I would like to send my first packages beginning next week but this will be an ongoing thing and will continue until this unit is safely back on American soil. I know there are so many out there that would love to show support to our military. God Bless America and those that protect it. Sincerely, Kelly Conroy kconroy405@gmail.com 617-268-2745 (h) 617-543-3165 (c) @kconroy405 (venmo) Call or text for physical address for drop offs or Amazon delivery The cost to ship these boxes will also get very expensive so I am looking for donations to offset that as well. I will put together the boxes to make it easier for everyone. I am happy to pick up items from people in South Boston or surrounding communities.

“It was great to attend Monica’s Kitchen breakfast for seniors and families in need. Thank you to the dedicated volunteers who make this event possible: South Boston-Seaport Catholic Collaborative, parishioners from St. Monica Church, South Boston residents, Office of Neighborhood Services’ Anna White, Boston Police Department C-6, State Representative David Biele, and Boston Housing Authority.”

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

The

Wine Guy

Getting Closer

ell, it’s only a few more days until Memorial Day and hoping that the weather cooperates, we’ll find ourselves at the beach, by the grille or, at least, planting those summer flowers. No matter where you find yourself, here are a few ideas for a wine that will make all your upcoming events a little bit better. Mer Soleil Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey, ($19.99), is a wine made by the Wagner family of Caymus fame.This is a Chard that reflects the classic hallmarks of its White Burgundy cousins-tropical fruit notes on the palate, surrounded by a buttery mouthfeel and zesty, lingering finish. As it becomes slightly warmer in the palm of your hand, you’ll notice unfolding flavors with each sip. Try this with any white meat on the grill, seafood salads or some Chicken Piccata; you might also try tenderizing some chicken breasts and glazing them with a mix of Raspberry preserves, lemon juice and Cayenne pepper, mixed to taste. Very French and it’s really good! Kia Ora Signature Marlborough Sau-

vignon Blanc, New Zealand, ($17.99) is an exceptional estate grown Sauvignon Blanc reflecting the ultimate New Zealand flavor profile. It’s vibrant and juicy with flavors of passionfruit, lime zest, and fresh herbs. Terrific fruit intensity balanced by bright acidity attest to its Loire Valley roots; as well, this and many other New Zealand Sauv Blancs have an ABV at the high end, due to the intense Sun of the Southern Hemisphere. As for food, do what the Kiwis doput some shrimp on the barbie and dip them in some cocktail sauce mixed with lime juice and Cilantro. Conte Fini Pinot Grigio, Alto Adige, Italy, ($17.99), is a beautifully balanced Pinot Grigio from Italy’s Alto Adige region in the north that offers bright citrus fruit flavors with underlying mineral notes and a lengthy finish. In the higher elevations of the Alto Adige region, these grapes are harvested earlier in the season than the rest of Italy’s regions, insuring their crisp and fruity body. It’s a perfect match for lobster and shellfish, as well as Mexican and Asian fusion dishes. Candoni Moscato D’Italia, ($17.99), is a Moscato made in a more traditional manner. Candoni’s vineyard is mostly sandy topsoil and that forces the vines to go deeper to get the moisture they crave. That, in turn, creates grapes with a naturally higher sugar content, so that the end product is naturally sweeter, but not overly so. Italians traditionally have this wine with canapes of extra thin Parma ham and pepperoni on small, toasted squares. If you’re not Italian, don’t let that stop you!

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May 19, 2022

Around The Town Household Hazardous Waste, Paper Shredding, Textiles, And Electronics Drop-Off

Boston residents can safely dispose of hazardous waste, shred unwanted documents, get rid of textiles and clothing, and recycle electronics for free on Saturday, May 21, 9AM - 2PM, at the Central DPW Facility on 400 Frontage Road Boston, MA 02118. Learn more at boston.gov/hazardous-waste.

Southie Family Fun Day

You’re invited to Southie Family Fun Day on Saturday June 4, 11AM - 4PM, hosted by the South Boston MOMS Club. The event will be held at Marine Park. Learn more here.

South Boston Famers Market

The South Boston Famer’s Market will kick -off their season on Monday, June 6, 12PM-6PM in-front of the muni-lot on West Broadway.

MCM Properties

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May 19, 2022

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St. Peter Academy

Annual Invention Convention

t. Peter Academy students have been showing off their STEM skills by diligently working on their invention projects for the upcoming convention. Grades K2 through 3 students are

using classroom materials and other donations from families to build an invention to present to their classmates and peers. Grades 4 and 5 have been designing eco-friendly homes that produce zero waste and

are sustainable in all types of climate and conditions. SPA students love learning about and experimenting with SCIENCE! 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

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

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

In Loving Memory, A Special Bench Dedication For Kathy Morrison of SBSK

ast Sunday, South Boston Special Kids & Young Adults held a bench dedication ceremony in memory of the founder of SBSK, Kathy Morrison. Kathy was a mother of a special needs child. She established SBSK to provide a safe, fun environment for special needs

children and their parents. A special needs parent is strong and determined. They are the advocates and the voices for their children while believing in themselves and their children. Kathy taught them to never give up and to continue the progress and development of the program.

Some of the SBSK have been coming to the program for over 30 years and grew up knowing they have a place in our community that is safe, respected and nurturing thanks to Kathy and the many volunteers. Kathy’s bench is the fifth bench when you leave the Castle Island

May 19, 2022

parking lot, located on the boardwalk. Stop and sit if you’re going to the Island, remember Kathy and all she has done to create this wonderful program for the South Boston Special Kids & Young Adults. At the end of the dedication, the SBSK and volunteers honored Kathy with their signature song that represents who they are… “Keep Smilin’, Keep Shinin’ Knowing you can always count on me for sure, That’s what friends are for”

May 19, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

South Boston Catholic Academy News

Celebrating our Mothers and Grandparents

ll the students at South Boston Catholic Academy had a chance to show how much they love, care for and are grateful to their mothers and grandparents by making them special cards and letters. The students in Grade 1B made badges in honor of Grandparent’s Day! Some of the children wrote- Thank you for taking me to the park. You are Super, Mimi! You are #1, Grandpa! I love you, Nanny and Pa-you are the

Best! The children also worked on their paper for Mother’s Day-”How well do you know you’re MOM?” They answered questions pertaining to- her favorite food and flowers, what to wear, works at, and what to drink. Their teacher, Ms. Peggy Byrne enjoyed reading their responses!!! As you can also see from the photos, the students in K0E, K1A, 2B, and 5, as well as all the other students at SBCA made beautiful cards for their moms

and grandparents. Friday, May 6, 2022 was a very special day that SBCA set aside to honor and celebrate our grandparents. We started the day off with a school Mass at St. Brigid Church which many of our grandparents, families and friends attended. The students did a wonderful job as greeters, readers and bringing up the gifts. Father Robert Casey, our Pastor, was the celebrant at this Mass. At the end of Mass, Dr. Helenann Civian, our Principal, had a chance to say a Special Thank You to all the families and especially the grandparents for all their continued support. Then they were able to come to school for

May 19, 2022

refreshments and to visit with their grandchildren, to check out the new Early Childhood Center, attend the Art Show at SBCA where they had a chance to see all the terrific art work the children did. A BIG Thank You to, Ms. Valerie Szmurlo, our Art Teacher, for doing such an amazing job teaching the students the many different and beautiful types of art form. She, also, coordinated the Art Show and set up all the great art work the children did for this special Art Show. New families are welcome to email Mrs. Jamie Brown at j.brown@sbcatholicacademy.org for more information about South Boston Catholic Academy.

May 19, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

General Casimir Pulaski Honored at Polish Fest 2022

Hero Square rededication was held to honor General Casimir Pulaski last Sunday in the Polish Triangle. What better way to acknowledge the General than at Polish Fest! Elected officials speaking at the event included State Representatives David Biele and Jon Santiago, President

City Councilor D2 Ed Flynn and Councilor-At-Large Erin Murphy. Commissioner of Veteran Affairs for the City of Boston Rob Santiago spoke on behalf of the Hero Square rededications and the honor of attending them. The festival attracted hundreds of people throughout the day. Many

tents could be seen on Dorchester Avenue with merchants selling their wares, especially the tent for Ukraine. The children enjoyed the face painting while the adults enjoyed the food. The line for Pierogis was long and constant. It was longer than the line for beer! The smell of Polish sausage and kiel-

basa filled the air. The Polish Club was open to everyone with live music, food, cocktails, while bringing the celebration inside and continuing the festivities. A shout out to BPD C-6 for assisting with traffic and road closures. Great day, great event and what a day to celebrate the Polish community!

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

May 19, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

This week,

Danny reacted to some of the rumors surrounding Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron’s future:

k, let’s put something to rest right now. Patrice Bergeron is not choosing to walk away from the Boston Bruins to sign with the Montreal Canadiens. And I can’t even believe I have to say that to people out loud. But some how, some way, this had become a rumor. I don’t know who started it, or where it came from. But whoever spewed this nonsense should probably find another hobby. Over the last couple years, I’ve pulled myself out of the sports-radio rumor mill, and so, I’ll be honest, I didn’t know a “Bergeron-to-Montreal” story was even a thing until I saw a few reporters dismiss the idea by linking to Bergeron’s end-of-year media session on twitter. Bergeron was asked by reporters if he could ever see himself playing somewhere else. The Bruins’ captain responded with a simple “no.” I’ll also admit this. Up until recently, I didn’t even know Bergeron was going to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Again. I haven’t been paying attention to Boston sports talk, and I do my best to try and remove

myself from the everyday hypnotism that is social media. It’s been exhilarating, to say the least. You just watch the games, read the box scores, keep an eye on some of the noteworthy press conferences, and enjoy sports again. With this strategy though, you’ll become oblivious to some of the juicy stuff. And you know the media loves the juicy stuff. Apparently, somebody thought it’d be a good idea to throw a “Bergeron-to-Montreal” rumor out there, hoping that it sticks. And well, of course it would stick. That’s how these media companies make money in the first place. The correct term for that is “clickbait.” Once one person throws out the rumor that Bergeron might consider leaving Boston as a free agent and return to Quebec to play for the Canadiens, every blogger, website, radio station, TV network, and digital media network are going to run with a headline of, “Bergeron to Montreal?” It’s laughable. But even as I laugh about it now, when I first heard about this, I thought to myself, “If Bergeron chooses to leave the Bruins in

order to go directly to Montreal and play for the Canadiens next season, he will be dead to me.” So, as ridiculous as this rumor might seem, even I entertained it for a moment. And while entertaining it, it struck a nerve. I thought to myself, “After all we’ve been through together, how could Bergeron consider jumping ship to the rival Canadiens?” I mean, if he ever did leave Boston to sign a one-or-two-year deal with, let’s just say, I don’t know, the Vegas Golden Knights, or the Winnipeg Jets, and then decided to sign with the Canadiens as he entered his 40’s. Well, that’s something I could probably live with. But to choose to leave the Bruins and jump right up to Montreal to drape himself in bleu, blanc et rouge? Sorry, he just can’t do that. Bergeron is not stupid. He obviously knows this. The guy turns 37 in July. He was drafted by the Bruins in the second round in 2003, and has spent his entire 18-year career with the organization. And when Zdeno Chara left two years ago, Bergeron officially became Boston’s captain, even though many had already consid-

ered him the unofficial captain for the last 10-plus years. So to rip that “C” off his chest, throw it in the trash, and buy a one-way ticket to Centre Bell would be one of the most ridiculous moves in the history of sports, if not the most ridiculous. Here in New England, we don’t like that Tom Brady left the Patriots. But at least he didn’t go to the Jets or Giants. Or could you imagine if David Ortiz came out of retirement to sign with the Yankees? I mean, even Roger Clemens chose to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays before he ended up in pinstripes. The point is, Bergeron probably isn’t leaving Boston. If he does, it will be because he’s either retiring, or going to play literally anywhere else but Montreal. Bergeron’s No. 37 will one day be lifted up into the TD Garden rafters, next to the likes of Cam Neely, Ray Bourque, and Bobby Orr. And knowing that, I expect Bergeron to re-sign with the Bruins and finish his career in Boston. It’s the only thing that makes sense. Follow Danny on Instagram @ DannyPicard.

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SPORTS TODAY CELTICS, HEAT MEET AGAIN IN CONFERENCE FINALS

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Tweet of the Week

NBA THURSDAY, MAY 19 Eastern Conference Finals Gm 2: Boston at Miami 8:30 P.M. ESPN

MONDAY, MAY 23 Eastern Conference Finals Gm 4: Miami at Boston 8:30 P.M. ABC MLB SATURDAY, MAY 21 Seattle at Boston 4:10 P.M. NESN SUNDAY, MAY 22 Seattle at Boston 1:35 P.M. NESN GOLF THURS, MAY 19 - SUN, MAY 22 PGA Championship 1 P.M. ESPN/CBS

SBT Staff

or the Boston Celtics, it’s on to Miami. After sweeping the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the NBA playoffs, the C’s sent the defending NBA champions home early, going into Milwaukee and defeating the Bucks in Game 7 of their second-round series. The Celtics fell behind 3-games-to-2, but evened up the series at 3-3 with a game 6 win at the TD Garden, and then whooped the Bucks in Milwaukee, 109-81, in Game 7. Now, Boston takes on the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, with the first two games in Miami. Games 3 and 4 will be at the Garden on Saturday and Monday. Every game of the series is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. The Celtics and Heat met in the Eastern Conference Finals two seasons ago, inside the COVID bubble. Miami won that series in six games.

HORSE RACING SATURDAY, MAY 21 Preakness Stakes 7 P.M. NBC

BRUINS’ SEASON ENDED, BERGERON ADDRESSES FUTURE

SBT Staff

t just wasn’t their year. The Boston Bruins lost to the Hurricanes in Game 7 in Carolina last weekend, sending the B’s home after just one round in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Boston lost all four games in the series that were played in Carolina, including a 3-2 loss in Saturday’s winor-go-home Game 7. Now, the Bruins look ahead to what the future holds, with all eyes on their captain, Patrice Bergeron. Bergeron, 36, is an unrestricted

free agent. Throughout the season, rumors have swirled about what Bergeron might have planned beyond 2022. And yes, some reports — as outlandish as they might seem — have even suggested that the Quebec native would consider returning home to play for the rival Montreal Canadiens. But Bergeron put that to rest this week, when asked during his seasonending press conference, if he could see himself playing for another team. “No,” said Bergeron. “I’ve been here for my whole career, and obvi-

NFL SCHEDULE RELEASED FOR 2022 SEASON

SBT Staff

he National Football League sure knows how to stay in the headlines. This time, it’s with the big reveal of the 2022 regularseason schedule. Week 1 officially begins on Sept. 8 with the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams hosting the Buffalo Bills in the usual Thursday night primetime slot. Here in New England, the Patriots open their 2022 season against the

SATURDAY, MAY 21 Eastern Conference Finals Gm 3: Miami at Boston 8:30 P.M. ABC

WHATTOWATCH

May 19, 2022

Dolphins in Miami on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. The Pats begin with two straight road games, as they’ll travel to Pittsburgh in Week 2 for a Sunday afternoon game. New England has its bye in Week 10, just after a home game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. The Patriots have five primetime games on the schedule, beginning with a Monday Night Football game in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears at Gillette Stadium. Their next four

primetime games happen in a span of four consecutive weeks, beginning in Week 12 for a Thanksgiving night showdown on NBC against the Vikings in Minnesota. Following their game on Thanksgiving, the Pats will return home to host the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football in Week 13. They’ll then close out their primetime portion of the schedule with a Monday Night Football game against the Cardinals in Arizona in Week 14, and then with a

ously it’s a special place for me.” Bergeron finished the 2021-22 regular season with 65 points on 25 goals and 40 assists in 73 games. In the Bruins’ first-round series loss to Carolina, Bergeron had three goals and four assists. On Tuesday, Bergeron was named a Selke Trophy finalist for the 11th consecutive season. The Selke Trophy is given to the NHL’s best defensive forward. If Bergeron wins again, he’ll become the first player to win the Selke Trophy five times, having won it in 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017.

Sunday Night Football game against the Raiders in Las Vegas in Week 15. The Patriots will also play on Christmas Eve in Week 16 at home against the Cincinnati Bengals, and then on New Year’s Day in Week 17 at home against the Miami Dolphins. New England closes out their regular season in Week 18 against the Bills in Buffalo. Other notable games on the Patriots’ 2022 schedule include the home opener in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens, and a Week 4 game against the Packers in Green Bay.