South Boston Today October 20 2022

When Is Unity Not Unity –When It’s Boston Re-Districting Time

On Wednesday evening at the Condon School, City Council President Ed Flynn (District 2 – South Boston) hosted a meeting to discuss the compet ing maps that affect South Boston and Dorchester, drawn up by subgroups of city council members and outside organizations formed when the Committee on Re-Districting became disrupted by Flynn’s deci sion to replace Councilor Richard Arroyo. Flynn’s move was precipi tated by the public revelations of al leged sexual assault charges against Arroyo by a series of Boston Globe articles during Arroyo’s bid for Suf folk County District Attorney.

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The Scheme To Split And Neuter South Boston in the US Congress which is made up of the likes of AOC, Omar, Pressley and Rashida Tlaib, would like nothing better than to cut Police funding. Past statements proudly imply that defunding the police would be feathers in their caps. They seem to have less of a problem with violent criminals.

As most of our readers may have heard, some of what are considered the ‘crazies’ on the Boston City Council; and there are sev eral that many voters of all backgrounds have placed into that category, are at tempting to hatch a plan with the goal of diluting the voting power of the South Boston Neighborhood by splitting it in two. The goal is also to make it so that Dorchester City Councilor Frank Baker who is one of the few voices of reason and some would say sanity on the council, has a much more difficult time getting reelected. They also want to target Council President Ed Flynn of South Boston for the same reasons they would target Baker. Baker and Flynn have become targets of the so called ‘Pro gressives’ on the council because they so often go against the dangerous ultra liberal ideas of the out of control council majority. Some in the group; often compared to ‘The Squad’

It’s suspected that race is a motivating factor in this behind the scenes move as statements they make almost always descend into pushing racial division.

It’s been a while since South Bostonians have or ganized to do battle against those who would target this community in an effort to weaken it and yes, divide it. But this scheme by the council’s radical progres sive element to do just that seems to be a rallying call for South Bostonians; long time residents as well as new comers, to circle the wagons and prepare not only a defense, but to go on the offense as well. South Boston’s elected officials are

gearing up to oppose this politically and our neighbor hood groups are preparing to file a law suit against it if the divisive plot by the council progressives is passed and then approved by the mayor.

Last night, Wednesday, October 19th, a neighbor hood meeting was called by Council president Ed

Flynn and other South Boston Community leaders to update residents and seek their input and prepare to oppose these divisive plans. Apparently, those on the council pushing the split were hoping to catch this community sleeping. But what happened instead was the awakening of a sleeping

giant that still, to this day, has the ability to organize, unite and defend itself against those powers that be that would seek to diminish our political clout. This is an issue all of South Boston should pay close attention to and get behind. This is something this community cannot afford to ignore.

“If you don’t stand for something, how can anyone respect what you do?” - Miranda Lambert

Information Center

The News Media Busted Again/ Vote NO on Question #4

SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone

In a recent column, I had men tioned that the Biden Regime is getting so desperate to con American voters into believing that they are working hard to bring the high gas prices that they deliber ately caused down, that the leftists who are really pulling the strings had the occupant of the White House beg Saudi Arabia not to cut back on its oil production and instead produce more. The Saudis gave him a loud and clear ‘NO’ and they even plan to cut their produc tion way back. But that wasn’t even the most embarrassing part of the spectacle. Biden was then instruct ed by his handlers to ask the Sau di’s and OPEC to at least wait until after the upcoming midterm elec tion to cut production which will send prices in the US even higher – much higher. You see folks, the way the Democrats see it is, Ameri cans are already furious with them because of the raging high prices on everything which has created sky high inflation, which is caused by their out of control spending and their war on Fossil Fuels. So they didn’t want to make voters even more upset by what’s coming until after the election when it would be too late to toss them out of office.

The Conservative News outlets broke that story but the liberal media organizations tried to deny and hide it. They then resorted to try to discredit the story by saying it was just a bunch of fake propa ganda by right wing Republicans to stir people up against the Demo crats. But the ploy was exposed. Last week, the Saudi government made a formal announcement that yes, Biden really DID ask them to hold off until after the election. And now, even ultra liberal NBC News had to come out – reluctant ly and say YES, the story is true.

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

It must have almost killed them to confirm it since they are among the many mouth pieces that do the bidding of and run defense for the Biden Regime and the DNC. So to those who doubted what was written here, now you know we were correct. You can’t be blamed for questioning it since you had 90 percent of the main stream media desperately denying it. It just goes to show how little credibility the news media now has and how they really can’t be trusted to tell the truth about anything more impor tant than what color dresses Jill Biden and Jane Fonda were wear ing last week.

And now for an issue closer to home: The Ballot Questions for the state of Massachusetts up for a vote this coming November 8th which is right around the corner; one question in particular – Ques tion #4. For those voters who still might be unaware of what Ques tion 4 is about: A YES vote will give illegal immigrants driver’s licenses beginning next July. A NO vote will stop it from happen ing. Here again, we have a trust issue. Massachusetts state Demo crat politicians voted FOR giving them licenses and do not want to be embarrassed by having the pub lic overrule them. Governor Baker tried to stop it with a veto which the Democrats then overturned. So now it’s up to the voters. But as most of you now know, the strang est thing happened when Massa chusetts State Officials published the Voter Information booklets sent out to all voters. Out of the 4 questions that will be on the ballot, only three of them actu ally appeared in the booklet. One question was noticeably missing. And of course it was Question 4. Whatever could have happened to

Question 4? Did it mysteriously disappear from its page after print ing? Perhaps the printing presses ran out of ink by the time Question 4 was to be type set. Or maybe, the State Officials responsible for putting the information booklets together were just so over worked and exhausted that they forgot to add the last question. There are so many possibilities and explana tions, that we can’t understand why there is so much suspicion among the voters as to what hap pened. OR could it be that it was a deliberate partisan move; sneaky politics in an effort to hide

the information from the voters? Does election tampering really run rampant in Blue States? Let us know what you think. No one can or should be able to tell you how to vote. The decision is yours. But making an informed decision is always the best way to go. Once again, a YES vote will give driv er’s licenses to illegals, a NO vote would block it from happening. I’m personally voting NO. You do what you feel is best; but don’t let the multi- million dollar ad blitz by the media and out of state left wing activist groups mislead you with their BS.

Anew poll is showing Maura Healey with a commanding lead over her Republican rival Geoff Diehl, who is still unknown to 28 percent of the electorate.

With the two candidates for gov ernor set to square off for the second and final debate of the campaign, a new MassINC Polling Group survey found Healey leading Diehl by a 30-point margin, with 53 percent backing the Democrat to just 23 percent planning to vote for Diehl.

While the margin for Healey is wider than Tuesday’s Suffolk Uni versity poll (56-33), it also shows a greater percentage of undecided voters, with 18 percent telling MassINC pollsters they have still not made up their minds. Like the Suffolk poll, MassINC’s survey also showed support for passage of Questions 1 and 4 on the bal lot. Support for adding a surtax on income over $1 million regis tered at 59 percent to 31 percent opposed, while the question of licenses for undocumented immi grants was tighter.

The Suffolk/Globe poll showed Question 4 passing with 56 percent support for the law to 39 percent who want to see it repealed, but the new MassINC poll had a tighter 4937 margin.

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.

The poll also dug into voters’ at titudes toward transportation, with 66 percent saying that the improve ment of the conditions for highways, roads and bridges should be a top transportation priority for the next governor, followed by 59 percent who said public transit needs im proving. Only 21 percent of voters rated the condition of transporta tion in Massachusetts “excellent” or “good” and after the month-long shutdown of the Orange Line for repairs 59 percent said they would support future MBTA shutdowns.

“Voters are not happy with the state of transportation in Massa chusetts, but they’re not taking it out on Charlie Baker,” said Richard Parr, senior research director at The MassINC Polling Group. “It will be interesting to see if the next governor inherits Baker’s suit of armor on this issue.” Eighty percent support the expansion of passenger rail to western Massachusetts, which both Healey and Diehl back as priorities for improving the state’s transportation system.

However, Diehl’s support for repealing new zoning requirements around MBTA hubs to promote the construction of new housing is not popular. Thirty-two percent said they want to keep the policy

in place and another 31 percent say the state should require even more housing near transit stations.

Women electing women in races across Massachusetts

It’s well known that Maura Healey stands on the precipice of becoming the first woman elected governor of Massachusetts, and Andrea Campbell is likely to become the first black woman elected to statewide office as at torney general. But with women poised to take over five of the six statewide offices in January and occupy some of the most power ful positions on Beacon Hill, the Globe’s Matt Stout writes that it’s not just the candidates mak ing their presence felt. In fact, recent polling has shown how the electoral successes of these candidates, as well as several bal lot questions, is riding on women voters who are driving up the margins in their favor.

The ongoing struggle to find a solution to Mass. and Cass

With Boston Mayor Michelle Wu planning a press conference later today to discuss the city’s ef forts to clean up the area and help those living and doing drugs near

Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, the Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter reports how the situ ation has deteriorated again since the city cleared the area of tents. Cotter writes that as many as 200 people a day are gathering, and had to be removed from South ampton Street where they were creating a disturbance.

Woman charges after unleash ing bees on sheriff’s deputies

Hampden County sheriff’s depu ties attempting to serve an eviction notice in Longmeadow quickly found themselves in the eye of a swarm. The Springfield Republi can’s Stephanie Barry reports how the woman getting the unwelcome news decided to rile up the bees she was transporting in her truck and un leash them on the deputies, resulting in more than a few stings. This story is not one you read everyday.

Trash piling up in some Greater Boston communities

From Lawrence to Reading, the Globe’s Daniel Kool and John Hilliard report that trash is starting to pile up as an Arizona-headquar tered disposal company contracted to haul away the garbage is not fulfilling its obligations.

Boston’s 2022 Veterans Parade to be a Celebration of Service

Boston’s Office of Veterans Services, in partnership with American Legion Dis trict 7 Suffolk County, will host the 2022 Veterans Parade on Saturday, November 5. The ‘Celebration of Service’ themed-march will start at Noon in Copley Square. The West Point and Navy Band Northeast’s Marching Bands along with the Wentworth Institute of Technology’s Office of Military Connected Services are among the many units participating. This year’s theme showcases Veteran’s Day as a celebration, as well as a time to pause and reflect on the accom

plishments of the armed forces.

Says Commissioner of Veterans Services Robert Santiago, “I’m so excited about this parade. This pa rade is the kick-off to Veterans Month here in Boston and throughout Massachusetts, and we love being a part of it. We have a lot of amazing units signed up and look forward to seeing everyone lining the streets of Boston as we celebrate and honor our vet erans and service members on November 5th!”

Those who wish to view the parade should begin gath ering on Boylston and Tremont streets around 11:30 AM. The parade is expected to last until roughly 2PM and will

end at Boston Common where guests are encouraged to gather and continue the celebration. For organiza tions interested in participating in the parade, contact Bryan Bishop at bryan.bishop@boston.gov.

Big

Big Sister Boston’s Board of Directors has appointed Annissa Essaibi George the new President & CEO of the 71-year-old girl-serving organiza tion. The announcement comes after an extensive search which began following Deb Re’s announcement in May that she was stepping down after 16 years at the helm. Through a video message with Board Mem ber and WBZ anchor Lisa Hughes, Essaibi George expressed her pas sion and excitement for leading the organization into its next chapter of serving and uplifting the girls and young women of Greater Boston.

Essaibi George’s appointment comes after an extensive search which commenced earlier this year. To support the search, Big Sister Boston’s Board retained Koya Partners, a leading executive search firm with an exclusive focus on recruiting senior leaders to mission driven roles. Koya is the largest woman-founded executive search firm in the world and has assumed a leadership role in building diversity and equity internally and through its placements.

“The Board was extremely pleased with both the number of candidates and the broad range of experience of those who showed interest in the CEO position. It speaks to the importance of Big Sister’s mission,” says Carey Cort, Big Sister Boston Board Chair. “We are excited by Annissa’s breadth of experience and her passion for elevating the girls of Greater Boston She has the strategic vision to build on Deb’s legacy, and to forge strong connections and part nerships in the community that will benefit both Big and Little Sisters for years to come.”

Essaibi George, the daughter of immigrants, was born and raised in Boston. A mom of four, she is cur rently the owner of Stitch House in Dorchester. Essaibi George was elected as an At Large City Coun cilor in 2015, where she served as the Chair of the Committee on Ed ucation and was a voting member of the Committee on Civil Rights; Committee on Community Preser vation Act; Committee on Healthy Women, Families and Communi

Annissa Essaibi

ties; Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice; Committee on Small Business and Consumer Affairs; and Committee on Ways and Means. Prior to her time on the City Council, she spent 13 years as a teacher at East Boston High School. Essaibi George was a candidate in the 2021 Boston mayoral race and advanced to the runoff election before losing the election to fellow Councilor Mi chelle Wu.

“Annissa has been a part of the fabric of the Boston community all her life. From growing up in the city to being a teacher, City Coun cilor, and small business owner, she brings a wealth of lived experi ences that will serve her well as the new CEO,” says Re. “Annissa is not new to Big Sister. She has held match activities at her busi ness, spoken about the importance of our work at our Annual Meeting and has also participated as a “role” model in our Fashion Show. I know with her leading this organization, along with our phenomenal Big Sister team, the girls of Greater Boston will have new opportunities to thrive.”

Essaibi George will be meeting informally with Big Sister Boston staff in the coming weeks and will officially begin her tenure on No vember 28, 2022. The organization will be celebrating and honoring Deb Re’s tenure at the annual Big in Boston gala on October 27th.

About Big Sister Association of Greater Boston Big Sister Association of Greater Boston ignites girls’ passion and power to succeed through posi tive mentoring relationships with women and enrichment programs that support girls’ healthy devel opment. Since 1951, Big Sister Boston has focused on meeting the unique needs of girls by providing them with the guidance, care, and support of a Big Sister. Today, the organization serves nearly 2,500 women and girls throughout Great er Boston through professionally supported one-to-one mentor ing relationships and enrichment activities that address the socialemotional development of girls

ages 7 – 24. Big Sister Boston is the only independently supported agency within the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBA) nationwide network to solely serve girls and women and was recognized by

BBBSA’s Leadership Council as the 2015 National Agency of the Year. For more information, please visit www.bigsister.org or follow @bigsisterboston on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

The Evolution of

I Was Just Thinking…

by Kevin Devlin

At the end of Maryland Street, in Savin Hill, in which I lived when I was a young boy, there was a small industrial park. We named it “The Wary” because we were wary when we ventured inside the park, especially the small, wooded area located at the right, front corner. That’s where the Hobo Camp was, and we were told by our parents to stay clear of that area. Contrary to our parent’s wishes, we did ven ture inside, but never saw a hobo, only what appeared to be their campsite. So, the vision of a hobo was that of a dirty, disheveled and unhappy man who should be avoided at all costs.

Fast forward to 2022 and America has over a half million homeless people and the vision is now clear. It’s obvious, even to the most casual observer, that homeless people suffer from physical and psychological problems coupled with drug and alcohol addiction.

They need help not to be enabled to behave in a self-destructive manner.

Allowing homeless people to have homeless encampments on city streets and in city parks and other venues creates a vision of Third World countries who don’t, won’t or cannot solve this problem for the safety of all concerned.

Homeless encampments are unsightly, unhealthy, and danger ous to the homeless themselves.

Allowing public intoxication and drug use is ridiculous.

Sanitation problems can result in disease. Fires may occur. Physical and sexual assaults, robberies, and murder happen.

Disorder and mayhem reigns supreme.

And what about the average citizen?

Why should people have to walk past these homeless people and see them doing drug transactions or shooting up?

Or defecating on the sidewalk?

Why do we allow them to sleep on the streets or in our parks?

Why should our children be ex posed to this?

Some believe people choose to be homeless and should be pro tected by the law.

But who’s going to protect them?

And who’s going to protect other citizens?

Who is going to protect local businesses which suffer?

If I was standing on a street cor ner, drunk, and drinking a beer, the police might let me walk home or arrest me for public drunkenness.

If I was shooting up in public in a nearby parking lot, and the po lice arrived, they would arrest me.

And rightly so.

We elect leaders to protect and serve ALL citizens.

Enabling the homeless popula

tion to sleep in our streets and parks, urinate and defecate wher ever they chose, drink and do drugs whenever they want, intimi date and terrorize others at will, all without any repercussions whatso ever, is a travesty to law and order.

It is a dark stain on a great coun try, an affront to civilized society, especially common sense.

It’s time our leaders resolved this dire situation so the homeless souls who have been abandoned by Reason are allowed to live in more decent surroundings with Dignity and Happiness beside them.

Virtual Public Meeting

Public Meeting: 776 Summer St.- Phase 1

Wednesday, October 26 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Project Description:

Zoom Link: bit.ly/3TAVJD1

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 161 593 2722

The Phase 1 Project will be located on 8.4 acres / 364,409 square feet within the approximately 15.2 acre (approximately 661,500 square foot) parcel of land known as and numbered 776 Summer Street in South Boston. The Phase 1 Project includes the rehabilitation of the Edison Turbine Halls 1, 2, and 3 and the construction of the buildings on Blocks D and F.

mail to: Stephen Harvey Boston Planning & Development Agency

One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.4418 email: stephen.j.harvey@boston.gov

Bo@BostonPlans stonPlans.org

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Virtual Public Meeting

330 C Street Public Meeting

Wednesday, November 9

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Project Description:

Zoom Link: bit.ly/3TpENzy Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 161 292 9539

The proposed project consists of a new six-story 74-room hotel, with a ground-floor restaurant, situated at 330 C Street in South Boston. The lot size is approximately 8,202 square feet and is currently occupied by a vacant single-story concrete block building which formerly housed a repair garage.

mail to: Stephen Harvey Boston Planning & Development Agency

One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.4418 email: stephen.j.harvey@boston.gov

Virtual Public Meeting

207 E Street Public Meeting

Thursday, October 27 6:00 PM

Project Proponent: South Boston NDC

Project Description:

Zoom Link: bit.ly/3Cjlyjq

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 160 392 4737

Public meeting to discuss and take comment on the proposed 207 E Street Project in South Boston. Project Description: South Boston NDC is proposing an adaptive reuse of the former McDevitt Hall, a former convent of the St. Augustine Parish. The proposed program consists of the renovation and an addition to the existing building. The program will include 36 residential units, 35 of which will be senior affordable housing and one will be a resident manager unit.

mail to: Caitlin Coppinger

Boston Planning & Development Agency

One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.4280 email: caitlin.coppinger@boston.gov

Bo@BostonPlans stonPlans.org

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Properties

Close of Comment Period: 11/18/2022

Bo@BostonPlans stonPlans.org

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Guy The Wine

Colder Temps, Heartier Wines

As everyone is starting to bundle up, the things we make for meals change.

Redistricting continued from front page

Hearty replaces light and it’s the same with what we like to drink. Look at the following wines to take that chill off, have with that big Sun day dinner of that book you’ve been meaning to read......

Light to medium-bodied, Oregon Pinot Noir is more finely boned than California Pinots, and displays a wide, aromatic range of flavors including strawberry, raspberry, deli cate floral notes, and earthier notes like mushroom and truffle. As with other famous regions that produce this Noble grape, Oregon’s Pinot Noir can be as sophisticated and compelling as a fine red Burgundy.

While the wine industry in Oregon is relatively young, world-class

wines, especially Pinot Noir have come from this cool climate region for years. The heart of the Oregon wine industry lies in the Willamette Valley and has a similar latitude and climate as Burgundy.

From this valley comes Penner Ash Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon ($49.99), a tremendous wine of structure and elegance. On the nose, red fruit and dark chocolate covered cherries with hints of leather and spice give onto a layered palate of ripe red fruit and vanilla, creating a complex and textured finish. Wine Spectator says it’s delicious now, but will be at its peak through 2029, while James Suckling feels its best drinking point is now. Pork, Roast

beef and games birds, especially Duck are worthy complements.

Pinotage is a hybrid between Pinot Noir and Cinsault that’s grown almost exclusively in South Africa. It produces deep red wines high in tannins with smoky dark fruit flavors accented by earthy bramble characteristics. Simonsig 2018 Redhill Pinotage, Stellenbosch, South Africa, ($38.99) is a lively wine.

While Arroyo denies those allegations, despite the police reports and other records that exist from when the allegations were first investigated, Flynn believed that, since one of the victims, through her attorney, reaffirmed the statements she made in her original com plaint, replacing Arroyo was both justified and necessary out of respect for the victim.

It should be noted that Arroyo had not ac tively directed any meaningful dialogue in the form of meetings, reports or information gath ering since his appointment by Flynn earlier in 2022. His replacement chairperson is Council or Liz Breadon (District 9 Allston-Brighton), who essentially started with a clean slate.

The sub-groups mentioned include map proposal from Chairperson Breadon and Vice Chair Brian Worrell (District 4 – Mattapan/ Dorchester); NAACP and Tanisha Sullivan, Ex. Director; Erin Murphy (At-Large); Tania Anderson (District 7 - Roxbury/ South End) and Ricardo Arroyo (District 5 – Hyde Park ).

None of these maps sit well with the Flynn nor District 3 Councilor Fran Baker (Dorches ter). Based on the census taken every ten years, population shifts cause the district to have to change. The most prominent impact of population shift has caused District 2 South Boston to have 13,500 more residents while District 2 lost 6500 residents. The rest of the Districts are vying for more modest shifts and alignments but are hoping to take advantage of the opportunity to enhance their demographic support. It’s part of the process. Guidelines to these decisions are to follow include equal population, compact districts, contiguous boundaries, preservation of neighborhoods and communities of interest with the additional aspect of opportunity districts.

Commonwealth Magazine offered that, de

pending on who you ask, the Boston redistricting process is either moving ahead sensibly toward a reasonable resolution or a train wreck that is unnecessarily slicing up neighborhoods into new districts and creating tension where it’s not need ed. Such are the divergent views of a body that has been riven with conflict over everything but the wisdom of a hefty pay raise for its members,

an issue on which the 13 members stood uni fied – but must now grapple with a response to a mayoral veto.

No small-scale tinkering will shed Flynn’s District 2 of that number of residents or add the needed new precincts into Baker’s District 3.

The council is facing an early November deadline to approve the new boundaries a year before the 2023 municipal election. Councilor Baker said the process is becoming “a side show,” with the succession of new maps being dropped. He decried the fact that councilors aren’t trying to work together in an open meet ing to craft new district boundaries.

One of its biggest changes is in refashion ing Baker’s district and the adjacent District 4, which also covers a big swath of Dorchester and Mattapan. Since the advent in 1983 of the current council system of four at-large seats and nine district seats, the two districts have largely divided up Dorchester between east and west. That has largely also aligned with the neighbor hood’s racial demographics, with predominantly white neighborhoods along its eastern corridor on the coast and Black neighborhoods running its length more inland, to the west. District 3 has had three white councilors, including Baker, over those nearly four decades, while District 4 has elected three Black councilors.

Baker has a map of his own and said the current broad configuration of districts makes sense, with his district including all the neighborhoods along the “spine” formed by Dorchester Avenue, which share common con cerns on transportation issues. Quoted in Com monwealth Magazine, former city councilor Larry DiCara, Esq. said there is always one time-honored principle at work in redistricting.

“It’s the age-old game of cover my tuchus,” he said. “Everyone wants a district that makes it easier to get reelected.”

South Boston Catholic Academy News

Ms. MaryKate Bourdon is excited to begin her 5th year at South Boston Catholic Academy, starting in a

new role as Director of the Early Childhood Program. She attended Loyola University Maryland for her undergraduate degree and received her Masters in Early Childhood Education from Gordon College. Prior to her new role, MaryKate taught K2 at SBCA for three years.

MaryKate loves watching the stu dents grow socially, emotionally, and intellectually.

In her free time, MaryKate en joys spending time with her family, catching up with friends, cooking and baking, and cheering on the Red Sox! MaryKate looks forward to partnering with the SBCA parents, students, faculty and staff to make

the 2022-2023 school year a strong, successful and wonderful year. One of Ms. Bourdon’s favorite quotes… “Teachers who love teaching, teach children to love learning” by Robert John Meehan. New families are welcome to email our admissions team at: admissions@sbcatholicacademy.org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy.

A BIG Welcome to our new Early Childhood Director

St. Peter Academy

A Trip to the Commonwealth Museum

After a two-year hiatus, the Commonwealth Museum welcomed St. Peter Acad emy students back to the museum. St. Peter Academy students had quite an enriching experience on their field trip to the Commonwealth Museum. They learned about the cultural and civic aspects of Mas sachusetts society from an historical vantage point, through seven differ ent galleries of museum exhibits. Students learned how the Puritans have been remembered in popular culture and historical writings as harsh

and intolerant. An example exhibit modeled a mock trial of the Salem Witch Trials, where students took turns, both interrogating and standing on trial as an “accused witch.”

The Gallery also highlighted the Puritans ideals of the importance of elections and public education.

Students learned about the Puritan institutions of Harvard, the nation’s oldest university, along with the Boston Latin School. The exhibit showcased the life of Massachusetts first governor John Winthrop.

The last part of the exhibit took

place in the museum’s lab classroom, where students learned about Boston’s archeological “Big Dig.” Students donned excavation and lab attire, and learned about how modern archae ologists analyze the treasures found in Boston’s underground. Students studied colonial artifact samples, and as “archeologists” analyzed and classi fied them to decipher ideas about what Boston colonial life may have looked like up close.

It was an educational experience for all. A huge thank you and shout out to Paul Ford of Paul Ford Livery who donated his beautiful vehicle and time for transportation to the museum. St. Peter Academy is continu ing to accept 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. You may request scholarship information from the Front Office (spa@stpeteracademy.com). Appointments for individual virtual tours can be made by contacting Maria Blasi, at 617-268-0750 or by emailing spa@StPeterAcademy.com.

Have you bought your first Zappe Meal at McDonald’s yet?

Sorry, I had to get in on the fun. After all, it’s Zappe-Mania here in New England.

But there’s a disturbing trend surrounding this quarterback storyline with the Patriots. And that trend is coming from Patriots media members who support Mac Jones in the now-heated Jones vs Bailey Zappe debate.

But did it really ever have to get this heated?

I’m not talking about the on-field situation, but instead, with the offfield conversation regarding who should be the Patriots’ starting quar terback moving forward.

For the most part, public sup port for Zappe is strictly based on Zappe’s play. Nothing more, noth ing less. The kid’s confidence has continued to improve, it seems, with every snap he takes. And last Sunday in Cleveland, Zappe threw for 309 yards and had two touchdowns and zero intercep tions, picking up his second straight win, and getting the Pats back to .500.

Some of us — including myself — want to see Zappe make his third

straight start on Monday night, against the 2-4 Chicago Bears at Gillette Stadium. That mindset has more to do with Zappe’s perfor mance than anything else.

But the hardcore Jones supporters in the media don’t want to hear any of it. They don’t think it should even be a conversation. They believe, if Jones is healthy, then he should 100 percent return as the Patriots’ starting quarterback. If you think otherwise, not only are you wrong, but you’re a crazy lunatic. Not my words, theirs.

It’s an absurd mindset to have, really. Because on the surface, the Patriots were 1-3 just two weeks ago. Now, they’re 3-3, with a very winnable game in front of them against the Bears at home, fol lowed by an important divisional game against the New York Jets at MetLife in Week 8. Watching Zappe play well has been refresh ing. Watching the Patriots win because of it, has been reinvigorat ing for a fanbase that, let’s face it, still has part of the brain interested in what Tom Brady is doing down in Tampa Bay.

Nobody who wants to see Zappe start in Week 7 against Chicago is comparing Zappe to Brady. Nobody.

But it kind of feels like the media that fully supports a Jones return, when healthy, is treating the 2021 first-round pick as if he has the re sume of someone like Brady. News flash: he doesn’t.

What, exactly, do any of us here in New England owe Jones?

If I’m analyzing the last two decades of Patriots football under Bill Belichick correctly, and I am, then the way it works here seems to be: What are you doing for me right now? And is it working?

It doesn’t matter how big your contract is. It doesn’t matter what you’ve accomplished in the past. It doesn’t even matter what round you were drafted in. Belichick is not going to become obsessed with the shiny toy in the room, just because it’s the shiny toy in the room.

Jones would be that shiny toy. Thrived at Alabama under Nick Sa ban. National Champion. First-round pick. Pro Bowler his rookie season. He’s the Patriots’ new golden boy. But he got off to a rocky start to his second NFL season, before suffering a high ankle sprain in a Week 3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

For Jones’ seemingly-stubborn supporters in the media, the start

ing job in New England is still his. In their eyes, it doesn’t matter what Zappe has done since being thrown into the fire as a rookie. Jones is still the guy.

And if they’re right, and Jones re turns as a starter this season and has success, then most who’re support ing Zappe at the moment will be just fine with that.

For most Zappe supporters, like myself, this is more about Zappe than it is about Jones. But Jones sup porters in the media have taken that personal, for some very odd reason. Just because someone supports Zappe right now, doesn’t mean they hate Jones. The media has turned it into that though.

If Zappe keeps playing, will he turn into something special? Who knows? Maybe, maybe not. Some of us have enjoyed watch ing him play the last few weeks, to the point where we’d like to see if perhaps he could be a diamond in the rough. Why does that make the media so mad?

Right now, I’m Team Zappe. And they’re calling me crazy for that.

Time for some people to look in the mirror.

Follow Danny on instagram @ DannyPicard.

This week, Danny shared more of his thoughts on the Patriots’ quarterback situation:

PATRIOTS CRUSH BROWNS, RETURN HOME FOR MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

SBT Staff

Bailey Zappe did it again. The rookie quarterback helped the Patriots to their second straight win last Sunday, as New England defeated the Browns in Cleveland, 38-15.

It was Zappe’s third straight game, and his second straight start. He finished 24-of-34 for 309 pass yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Zappe got plenty of help from his defense, as the Patriots cre ated multiple turnovers in the game, forcing Browns quarter back Jacoby Brissett to throw two interceptions and forcing him to lose a fumble as well. The first in terception came on just the second play of the game, as Kyle Dugger picked off a Brissett pass at the Patriots’ 36-yard line. The ensuing

Tweet of the Week

possession resulted in a field goal for the early 3-0 lead.

The Patriots took a 10-3 lead late in the second quarter when Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for a 31-yard touchdown to finish a nine-play, 87-yard drive. The Browns kicked a field goal in the next possession to cut New Eng land’s lead to 10-6 at the half.

Zappe opened the second half strong by leading the Pats on a 75yard drive that resulted in a twoyard touchdown pass to Tyquan Thornton, giving the Patriots a 17-6 lead. Zappe threw his second touchdown of the day two pos sessions later, as he found Hunter Henry for a 31-yard score, putting New England up 24-6.

Things got interesting when Nick Folk missed a field goal in the fourth quarter, as the Browns responded with their first touch down of the game, with Brissett connecting with Amari Cooper for a 15-yard score. Cleveland’s attempted two-point conversion attempt failed, keeping it a twopossession game at 24-15.

New England sealed the deal on the win when Chester Rogers muffed a punt and the Patriots re covered at the Cleveland 19-yard line with 4:41 left to play in the game. On the first play of the en

suing drive, Thornton scored his second touchdown of the day, on a 19-yard rush, to put the Patriots up 31-15.

Stevenson added insult to injury with a six-yard touchdown run on New England’s next posses sion — his second touchdown of the game — making it 38-15. With Damien Harris out, Stevenson was the Patriots’ lone back, finishing with a game-high 76 rush yards on 19 carries.

New England had five players with four catches each: DeVante Parker, Henry, Jakobi Meyers, Thornton, and Stevenson. Parker led the team in reception yards with 64, while Henry led the team in targets with seven.

On the defensive end, Dugger finished with a team-high eight tackles to go along with his firstquarter interception. Jalen Mills had the other Patriots interception.

New England also had four sacks in the game. Deatrich Wise, Davon Godchaux, Mac Wilson, and An fernee Jennings were all credited.

Now, the 3-3 Patriots host the 2-4 Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football at Gillette Sta dium in Week 7. Chicago has lost three straight, and is coming off a horrible showing in a Thursday Night Football loss at home to the

Washington Commanders, 12-7, in Week 6.

For the Patriots, all eyes will be on their quarterback situation. Mac Jones should be nearing a point where he’s healthy enough to return from his high ankle sprain. But with Zappe playing well, it’s anyone’s guess as to what Bill Belichick will do when Jones is once again ready to start.

Belichick, of course, isn’t about to give anyone any hints as to where he’s leaning.

“We’ll see how that process is,” Belichick told the media on Monday, when asked who he expected to start when Jones is healthy. “Mac still wasn’t able to play [Sunday]. We’ll continue to evaluate him and see how he’s do ing physically.”

For what it’s worth, Jones did travel with the team to Cleveland. Still, Zappe was the one who started for New England. He has no choice but to prepare as if he’ll be starting once again on Monday night against the Bears.

“To be quite honest with you, I am just taking advantage of the op portunity and practice,” said Zappe after Sunday’s win. “I’m taking it week by week. As we come back [Monday] and watch the film on this game, it is really on to the Bears.”