South Boston Today December 1 2022

SouthBoston

Student Loan Forgiveness Is A Paradox

The debate about student loan for giveness has centered on how debt forgiveness will play politi cally. The average student loan borrower leaves college with a debt of $28,400. What do students get for that debt? Stud ies have shown that, over the course of their earning lives, those with only some college gained a lifetime earnings increase relative to someone who only completed high school that is 10 times the average debt incurred. On average a graduate with a bachelor’s degree earns

Remove Jim Kelly’s Name From Our Bridge? No Way!

If you read the recent post by Brian Wallace, you know that there just might be a movement to try to remove the name of the late James M. ‘Jim’ Kelly from the Broad way Bridge. The bridge, when built was named in honor for South Boston’s/ District 2 City Councilor, City Council President and courageous community activist. Brian received an email from a Boston Globe reporter asking him how he felt about the possible effort. Brian minced no words when he expressed his thoughts on the ques tion. To sum it up – NO! Not going to happen, shouldn’t happen and gave many reasons why; in a way that only Brian Wal lace can do.

At this writing, November 29th, we aren’t sure who is behind the effort or if in fact he/she/they still intend to attempt it. We can guess it’s by a disgruntled leftist(s), who have too much time on their hands and nothing con structive to do with it. The reporter said the effort was in response to Jim Kelly’s “racist positions” and his “opposition to the LGBTQ community”. Let us clarify a few things for the reporter. Standing up for one’s com munity in opposition to a grave injustice such as the forced busing of children, an injustice proven to be a disastrous education killing failure, is not racism. Those who pushed the busing plan were in fact, the real racists.

Jim Kelly represented every part of his Council

district fairly. He was a hard-working elected of ficial that fought and fought hard for every section which included South Boston, the South End, China Town and parts of Dorchester. When constituents needed him, he was there for them without regard to address, sexual preference, color of skin, ethnic background or religion. He was on the job night and day and could be counted on to fight the tough fights and win. He was fear less, effective and fair. And that’s why he won reelection each time in landslides in what was/is the most diverse district in the City of Bos ton. Yet with ‘cancel cul ture’ being what it is today, if someone or some group doesn’t like your beliefs or your views, they feel they

have the right to ‘erase’ you. We see it in the statues they want to tear down, the street names they demand be changed and pretty much everything else these radi cals disagree with.

Well, not here. No way. The people old enough to re member Jim Kelly and those too young to have known him, but have heard about this great man have no in tention of allowing his name to be taken off the bridge

dedicated in his honor. This includes not only those still residing in the district but also those who have moved to other cities, towns and states. If the radicals want a battle, they’ve picked the target that will get them one. Come hell or high water, the bridge at Broadway will continue to carry the name of James M. Jim Kelly whether the radicals like it or not. If it is to come, let the battle lines be drawn.

The Thomas J. Fitzgerald VFW Post 561, 715 East Fourth Street (behind the Stop & Shop) will be accepting Christmas donations for the Chelsea Soldiers Home on Saturday, December 3rd between 9:00AM and 12:00PM: gift cards, hats, socks, scarves, toiletries, etc. Please support these men and women for their service

“It’s shocking how journalists viciously attack free speech but somehow think they’re the good

guys” - Elon Musk

Information Center

Cancel Culture And Everything Is Racist

We’re now into the Christ mas Season as you know. And the opinion of this time of the year varies among different people, from being ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ to ‘hectic’ and too commercial. What it also is and it’s unfortunate, is a time when the package thieves are ac tive. The package thieves are those crooks who creep around residential neighborhoods and steal items deliv ered by Amazon, FedEx, UPS and all the other shop by mail delivery companies from your doorstep. Be aware and take precautions. This is just a friendly reminder that they are coming for your ‘stuff ’.

This is pretty much a slow news week, as the time between Thanks giving and Christmas often is. But no matter what time of year it is, there is always plenty of liberal sil liness to report, usually of the ‘what is racist today’ kind. The latest target is of all things – ‘democracy’. Yup, CNN, that quickly fading network that is now totally lack ing any credibility has brought on a college professor (of course) who has labeled America’s Democracy as racist. To explain the reasoning behind these claims would lower IQs just by listening to or reading those explanations. But it seems our democracy has now joined the evergrowing list of liberal/progressive targets that they have labeled racist, among them are – French Fries, Certain kinds of trees in our Na tional parks, Ice Cream Trucks and even the music they play. A large rock on the University of Wisconsin campus, probably there since the be ginning of time, was deemed to be racist by left wing students and their nutty professors so the school’s ad ministrators had it removed – a rac ist ROCK? Teaching Math is racist, and of course English too, peanut

butter and jelly sandwiches are rac ist as is milk and lemonade and who can forget specific brands of butter and maple syrup. Traditional fami lies, the Road Runner and Yosem ite Sam cartoons, Clint Eastwood movies and by association, the great actor himself and police - no matter what color the officers happen to be. There are literally so many things the kooks are labeling as racist, that soon, the list of what isn’t racist will be much shorter than what is.

And yet, the racist/racism labels have been used so often and for so long to target virtually anything and anybody that takes up space, the effectiveness has worn off. To call something or someone racist now pretty much gets them an eye roll or it’s totally ignored. It just doesn’t intimidate like it used to. And that’s become a problem for those who throw it around so easily. So, they needed something new; something to add more bite. They’ve added the words White Supremacist Terrorist to accompany the racist term. Of course, all of these labels are used in attempts to silence opposition. People who call others such names, in most cases, do so to try to gag others whom they disagree with. As the saying goes, “Liberals insist that everything they don’t like must be banned while everything they DO like must be declared a human right and paid for by others”. But here’s where it gets almost comical. Some of them, in an effort to silence those whose views they don’t like, have even resorted to calling Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Dr. Benjamin Carson, South Carolina US Senator Tim Scott , Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King and other prominent Black Conservative voices Racist White Supremacist Terrorists. Why? Because they have the nerve to express different views

from the lunatics who now control the Democrat party.

I’ll close this week’s column with this, as it somewhat relates to what was written above. Many of you know that there are people, who are plan ning a campaign to have the name of the late James Kelly a favorite son of South Boston and a neighborhood hero and champion, removed from the Broadway Bridge named in his honor. These are a few leftist activists from across the city, who will be demand ing this take place. It’s seems that the ‘Cancel Culture’ has now set its sights on our community. But this won’t be a cake walk for them. Cancel culture

activists were successful in having statues removed and names of streets changed in Boston because, to be blunt, those who run the city didn’t have the stones to stand up to them. That won’t be the case here. This week’s editorial in South Boston Today, along with excellent Face Book posts by Brian Wallace will give more details about what’s go ing on and how a line must and will be draw in concrete to put a stop to these activists. More on this story as it develops and as we learn more about not only who is behind this but also who, by their silence, will enable the ‘Attempt’.

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

SOUTH BOSTON TODAY

John Ciccone

David Casper

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.

-- No Days Off

No days off. It’s a mantra Pa triot’s fans have heard coach Bill Belichick repeat many times, and in recent years it holds true for Bay State politics as well. Democrats in Massachusetts scored a resounding victory here on Nov. 8, reclaiming the governor’s office, building on their majority in the Legislature and sweeping statewide and Congressio nal races on the ballot.

It could be a time to rest to weary activists, donors and volunteers. But not when there’s a contest to be won 1,100 miles to our south. “We’re revving up our support for our friends in Georgia and we could use your help!” read the opening line of an email sent this week by Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman Gus Bickford.

Two years ago Bay State Demo crats mobilized just days after the presidential election to support Raphael Warnock and Josh Ossoff in their runoff elections in Georgia with control of the Senate in the bal

ance. The party organized bi-weekly phone banking events and sold tick ets to a virtual fundraiser with the cast of Hamilton to benefit the War nock and Ossoff campaigns. The state party is again trying to do their part in the Peach State to support Warnock, helping to recruit phone bankers for Warnock’s “Million Dial Day of Action” on Tuesday, and raising funds to support a campaign that raked in $52.2 million between Oct. 20 and Nov. 16.

During Warnock’s first special election win, donors from Mas sachusetts were rivaled only by the money that poured into Georgia from Georgians and Democrats in California and New York. War nock’s cash advantage in Georgia with just a week to go before the runoff election will get a boost from President Joe Biden, who will be in Boston Friday for a fund raising event for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are both expected to attend

the reception.

Warnock is trying to hold onto his seat in the face of a challenge from the Trump-back former NFL legend Herschel Walker. While control of the Senate does not hinge on the Georgia outcome this time, every vote in an evenly divided Senate matters.

The MassGOP, coming off its losses at home, has been less active than in 2020 when it tried money for Republicans in Georgia through the RNC, which had the added benefit of supporting the state party as well with a percentage of every dollar raised.

-- Romney among dozen GOP senators to back same-sex marriage Eighteen years after a court ruling made same-sex marriage in Mas sachusetts legal, the U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted to require the federal government and states to recognize gay marriages performed in states where the unions are legal. The bill, if passed as expected by the House and signed by Biden, would codify in federal law a protection for same-sex marriages that until now has been dependent on a decision by Supreme Court. Anxious about the rightward shift of the Supreme Court, Demo crats succeeded in passing the bill by securing the support of 12 Sen ate Republicans, including former governor and now Utah Sen. Mitt Romney. The vote marks the end of a long journey on gay marriage for Romney, chronicled here by the LA Times, who once opposed its legal ization in Massachusetts and tried to block couple from other states coming here after same-sex marriage became legal.

-- Baker points at drug dealing as ongoing issue at Mass. and Cass Gov. Charlie Baker pointed the finger at the Boston Police Depart ment on Tuesday challenging the city to address the problem of drug dealing in the area of Mass. and Cass at the same time city and state officials work to provide more hous ing and treatment opportunities to

those who are homeless and living in the area. Baker joined members of his 2015 working group on opioid use in Quincy to highlight the ac complishments of his administration in addressing the crisis. While both her and Gov.-elect Maura Healey - who served on that committee - agreed more needs to be done, Baker defended the state’s work as a partner with Boston to create more housing to get people off the street, reports the Herald’s Mat thew Medsger. “The one thing we can’t do much about are some of the issues around dealers,” Baker said. “That’s a city responsibility.” Baker and Wu have clashed recently over whether the state should be doing more to assist Boston with the situa tion at Mass. and Cass.

-- New approach to MBTA safety pitched

A new report published by the MBTA Advisory Board recom mends taking away oversight authority of the MBTA from the Department of Public Utilities and giving it to a new indepen dent agency. The Herald’s Gayla Cawley reports that the approach would be similar to how New York and Washington, D.C. operate their transit systems and begin to address some of the shortcomings identified by federal investigators after a series of safety incidents on the system. The paper was au thored by Chris Dempsey, a former MassDOT official and director of Transportation for Massachusetts, who ran unsuccessfully for audi tor this year. Dempsey and Ad visory Board Executive Director Brian Kane write in a separate op/ ed published by CommonWealth Magazine that Gov.-elect Maura Healey’s pitch for a statewide transportation safety chief “could be a good starting point for the creation of such an entity...”

-- Powerball jackpot helping to offset Lottery slowdown

The massive Powerball jackpot may have rescued sales numbers for the Lottery, but officials remain concerned about sluggish growth as the state prepared to introduce sports betting as more competition for gambling dollars. State House News Service’s Chris Lisiniski has more.

South Boston Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship Trust Fund 2022 Scholarship Ceremony

Since its founding in 1995, the South Boston Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship Trust Fund has 232 grants a grand total of $366,000, to our deserving South Boston Youth. The Fund was established in 1995 as a non-profit 501(c)3 organization to provide scholarship grants to South Bos ton students who are academically excellent, have a reasonable family need, and demonstrate good citizen ship and community involvement. Our grant program is educational in nature and we service all South Bos ton high school graduates regardless of where they attend school.

Fortunately, 2022 continued to be a success with another record-breaking year of 15, $2500 scholarships award ed to our deserving Youth below:

Katherine Bulger: Massport Scholarship Grant

Lauren Cloherty: Folan Family Memorial Scholarship Grant

Owen Donovan: “L” Street Brownies Association Grant

Caitlin Fitzgerald: South Boston Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship Award

Aidan Fitzgerald: Cunniff Family Scholarship Grant

Mary Kate Hart: Bob Nichols Memorial Scholarship Grant

Cormac Lafferty: Edward Sheehy Sr. Memorial Scholarship Grant

John Maddox III: Patricia Sheehy

Memorial Scholarship Grant

Evan Marcos: South Boston Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship Trust Fund Grant

Jane Matthews: Perry DiNatale Scholarship Grant

Sinead Mulligan: Amazon Schol arship Grant

Joshua Pascarelli Healy: Amazon Scholarship Grant

Hannah Rolston: Amazon Scholar ship Grant

Kaleigh Rosemund: South Boston Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship Trust Fund Grant

Garret Smith: South Boston Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship Trust Fund Grant

The Board would like to thank

the Tynan Community Center for offering their space, and would like to acknowledge Ed Buccigross for his tireless efforts in ensuring the annual success of the scholar ship program. Thank you to all of the sponsors for helping to ensure that this ceremony can successful ly continue each year! The Trust ees want to extend a massive thank you to our applicants, staff, and Trustees. Please keep an eye out for the upcoming round of applica tions for the Spring of 2023.

The Trust Fund’s sister organi zation, The South Boston Sports Hall of Fame, will be accepting nominations for the Sports Hall of

Fame through January 19, 2023. Anyone can nominate an individ ual who participated in a specific sport while living in South Bos ton. The person submitting the nomination is responsible for sup porting the committee with their nominee’s sports achievements, awards won, copies of photos and newspaper articles, and a cur rent photo of the nominee. The nominee needs to have been out of their sport for at least 5 years. Nominations can be mailed or dropped off at the following: Richie Linehan 4 Gates Street South Boston, MA, 02127 Have a wonderful holiday season!

40 times as much; a graduate with a mas ter’s earns 53 times; and a doctoral grad uate earns 80 times as much as the debt.

Law and medical degree holders earn almost 100 times as much. Even as the share of the population with a college de gree has tripled to 30.7% from 10.5% in 1967, the value of that degree has grown. The wage premium for having a college degree has grown to 96.2% today from 55.9% in 1967.

Advocates for student-debt forgive ness have essentially admitted their po litical motivation.

“It is actually delusional to believe

Dems can get re-elected without act ing on filibuster or student debt,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted last December.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley said in May this year: “Democrats win when we deliver, and we have to deliver in ways that are impactful, tangible and transformative, like canceling student debt.”

A headline earlier this year in a col umn in the Los Angeles Times read “Elizabeth Warren knows how Demo crats can win the midterms. It starts with canceling student loan debt.”

The New Republic publication also chimed in: “Biden’s Only Good Pre-

Midterm Play: Cancel Student Debt.”

President Biden sought to forgive $10,000 of student debt for some 45 million borrowers, 26 million of whom have filed applications to do so, and it has been characterized as “ the largest gift to such a large number of voters in American history”. Yet the taxpayer ul timately pays for student-loan forgive ness, so the gift won’t be free. In the minds of those who had played by the rules of the college loan process, and especially parents and families that sac rificed certain and many things in their lives to provide opportunity to their children, it isn’t fair, justified, or even

legal, politics aside.

With billions of dollars to Ukraine de fense, and billions to support migrants entering the country in record numbers, cynics on both sides of the aisle right fully see the focus on 45 million student borrowers as a political ploy, and most people question it as even shrewd.

Take into consideration that there are 97 million other Americans over 25, with at least some college, have paid off their loans, have parents or grandparents who sacrificed to cov er their college costs by using their retirement savings, went to night

I Was Just Thinking…

There is much debate whether the establishment of a world state should be desired, justified, promoted or resisted. Proponents of world govern ment see it as the ultimate solution to problems such as war, the develop ment of weapons of mass destruc tion, global poverty and inequality, global financial instability, disease, pandemics, as well as climate change issues. Some say the world govern ment should reflect the “unity of the cosmos, either by reason or through God, in pursuit of moral freedom and human perfection.”

The Swiss philosopher and writer, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, felt the solu tion to war was well-governed soci eties in which human beings would “realize their rational and moral po tential” and that these “ideal societies would have no cause for war, and no need for world government.”

considered incapable of building a peaceful world order.

But the idea that states should sur render unrestricted sovereign rights is another matter altogether.

by Kevin Devlin

The idea of humankind living in peace is not new and neither is the idea of a world body.

Throughout the ages, the concept of a “world government” in which all of mankind is unified under one global entity has been envisioned by ambi tious kings, popes, emperors, and dictators. It has also been the dreams of idealistic poets and worldly phi losophers hoping global unity would mean global peace and harmony.

Medieval thought centered on a world government under a single monarch or emperor possessing su preme authority over lesser rulers. Some modern proponents are not in favor of dismantling the sovereign state system but desire incremental steps to move humanity towards “…world federalism or a cosmo politan democracy.”

Lively debate is ongoing about the feasibility, desirability, and necessity of uniting humanity under a world government. It is uncertain whether world government, even if effectively pursued, could be the answer to hu manity’s aspirations for peace, justice and freedom.

Could a rational interest in self-pres ervation by creating a world govern ment backfire and produce more harm than good?

Would the concomitant evil commit ted to realize such an endeavor out weigh the benefits of this achievement?

Is a world government the answer?

The answer to our problems?

The Italian poet, philosopher, and statesperson, Dante felt humankind shared one goal and since peace could not be maintained if humanity was divided, a universal monarch (yet dis tinct from the pope’s religious power) closely resembling God, was neces sary to ensure lasting peace.

The German philosopher, Immanuel Kant, believed that only a republican constitution, based on universal rea son, guaranteeing freedom and equal ity of its citizens through the rule of law and representative political institu tions, would work in a world govern ment model. But if it was a universal monarchy, laws would be swept aside undermining the freedom and equal ity of individuals which would result in a “universal despotism” ending “in the graveyard of freedom.” Kant felt such a system would be corrupted and devolve into a “soulless despotism” of anarchy, the ultimate dystopia.

Man has been at war with each other since the first caveman bashed another caveman over the head with his club. The subsequent horror and death sustained throughout the ages has been barbaric, ghastly, terrifying beyond comprehension.

After over ten million and fifty million lives were lost respectively in WWI and WWII, cries were heard to establish a world government. These world wars created a mistrust of nation-states making it hard to see them as “…agents of moral prog ress.” Some didn’t reject the nationstate per se, only authoritarian ones

Conspiracy theories about a New World Order (NWO) and being ruled by secretive, globalist elites, replac ing nation-states, and ruling the world through a totalitarian world govern ment, is indeed a scary thought.

Somewhat Orwellian I would add.

But the idea is to free Mankind from war not create a global tyranny, hindering rather than enhancing hu man autonomy.

The idea is to make progress and not go backwards.

The goal is to maintain freedom of thought and the pursuit of happiness, not replace one system with a worse one where Hope, Justice and Free dom die at the altar of the authoritar ian state.

The League of Nations and the United Nations were formed to build a better world, save lives, and prevent war. But these worldly bodies have essentially failed in their mission.

There’s little doubt that globalists to day are planning to reshape the world.

I wish we could build a better world for everyone, as well as find a way to resolve war and prevent our possible annihilation through sheer stupidity.

Sadly however, I have little faith in our own elected leaders, our own elite class, so please tell me why would I trust globalists to change the world for the better?

Loan Forgiveness continued from page 5 school or junior college before going to a four-year college, worked during college, or sacrificed to win academ ic and athletic scholarships. Another 82 million never went to college. Do these 179 million Americans get $10,000 in relief?

Those earning in the top 40% owe 60% of all student-loan debt. Very high earners, with doctorates, medical degrees or law degrees, owe 40% of all student debt. In the perennial debt-forgiveness debate, few have ever had a weaker case than American student-loan debtors. In the 80s, the government garnished the wages of government employees to col lect defaulted student loans.

The Urban Institute, a liberal en

terprise, found that “debt forgiveness plans would be regressive—provid ing the largest monetary benefits to those with the highest incomes.” And since politics has always been its jus tification, paradoxically, Colorado Democrat Sen. Michael Bennet re jected its political advantages. “It of fers nothing to Americans who paid off their college debts or those who chose a lower price college. It ig nores the majority of Americans who never went to college, some of whom have debts that are just as staggering and just as unfair.”

On top of these observations, a lit tle-known fact about the ObamaCare legislation of 2010 is that the Con gressional Budget Office projected

that $19 billion of ObamaCare’s cost would be offset by nationalizing pri vate student debt. However, according to statistics, in the meantime, forgive ness programs and forbearances have cost taxpayers $31 billion. The Presi dent’s minimum offer, at $10,000, would cost $380 billion more.

With all of this being the case, a federal appeals court has blocked the President’s student loan forgiveness program. The 8th Circuit Court of Ap peals granted an injunction sought by six Republican-led states that argued the President exceeded his authority when he cited COVID-19 as a national emer gency to cancel student loan debt for millions of borrowers. The states also said they would lose out on future tax

revenue under the President’s plan. It’s the second decision by a federal court blocking the program in a matter of days. A U.S. District Court also blocked the program earlier in a different case. There is a chance the program could be revived. The administration can ap peal the decision to the Supreme Court, though it’s unclear how the court’s con servative majority would rule. The ap peals court ordered a temporary halt of the rollout of the President’s debt for giveness plan until a final decision. Nonetheless, the White House urged student loan borrowers to apply for re lief even amid the uncertainty. The Edu cation Department has since stopped taking applications following the out come of the Texas case.

Guy The Wine

We’re Off!

It’s that time of year again-Holiday parties, shopping the best Sales, seeing the lights and displays at the Seaport- and that’s just the day after Thanksgiving! How much more “holiday fun” can we take before we need a break? Well, here are some suggestions that will help you ponder that and all the other holiday decisions you have to make… Chinon, from the area of the Loire Valley by the same name, is another “all weather” wine. Joguet Chinon, 2018, Loire Valley, France, ($19.99) is a wine of high intensity, notes of raspberry, tobacco and oak fill the nose. Medium- bodied, it has soft tannins and high acidity, with rasp berry, blackberry, vanilla and floral tones on the palate, as well as a

Prudential Tower to Shine Orange in Support of Easterseals

Easterseals Mass. Participates in Annual 31 Nights of Light

Beginning in December, Prudential Tower will once again shine bright with the help of local community organiza tions. Easterseals Massachusetts will flip the switch to light up Boston on December 30, 2022, as part of Pru dential Center’s Annual 31 Nights of Light program. The top of Prudential

smooth finish, which make this wine great to have on hand this time of year. Since it’s also one that can be served with a wide array of meats, seafood and cheeses, you might want more than one bottle!

Another wine that’s great to have on hand this time of year is one that’s usually associated with warmer weather-Pinot Grigio, also known as Pinot Gris. The best Pinot Grigios are from the della Venezie, high up in Northern Italy. One of the most consistent is the 2021 Kris, della Venezie, Italy, ($13.99). It has the classic PG profile- notes of pears, citrus and honeysuckle on the nose and a medium-bodied finish. Nothing too complicated, which is why it’s so versatile with holiday seafood appetiz ers, cheeses and dips. If your stuffing includes chestnuts and/or mushrooms, sauté them first with some butter and this in the pan for that extra flavor ad dition to your stuffing.

It’s hard to have a great holiday without a good bottle of Chardonnay and you can always count on So noma- Cutrer to fill the bill. The 2021 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay, Sonoma County, California, ($22.99), has a sublime nose of peaches, melon and Kiwifruit, is buttery and soft, with just the right acidity and oak

overtones. It’s a structured wine, giv ing its flavors in layers; the finish is long and just simply delicious. This is definitely a sipping wine.

Whether you prefer it at the begin ning or end of your meal, something sparkling always adds that extra note of enjoyment, especially at this time of year. The Mumm’s, Napa Valley, Cuvee”M”, ($22.99), is the perfect sparkling wine for either. It’s a blend of Chardonnay, Cinsault and Pinot Menieur that offers soft acidity and notes of raspberries, blackberries and mountain flowers on the nose. The finish is long and stands up to what ever food you’re having. Be prepared to open more than one bottle!

If you lean more towards French Champagne or sparkling wines, you might want to try some Laurent-Per rier “Harmony” Demi- Sec ($34.99). For refreshment, elegance and a touch of sweet sophistication, look no further than Demi-Sec Cham pagne. This style of bubbles has a well-balanced dosage, meaning that a solid mixture of still wine and sugar is added to the Champagne post-vin ification to boost its sweetness. This gorgeous bottle comes from one of Champagne’s most prominent houses and boasts rich flavors of dried fruits, grilled almonds and honeyed stone

fruit. The wine’s full-bodied and unctuous palate makes it perfect for serving with savory dishes and des serts, from Caprese salads to pastries and petits fours.

If a nice glass of Port is more to your (or your guests’) liking, some Graham’s 20-Year-Old Tawny Port (375ML half-bottle), ($34.99) ought to be on your list. This fortified wine has an excellent bouquet, with a “nut ty” character, such as almonds, and delicious mature fruit with hints of orange peel. Rich, sweet and smooth on the palate, it is perfectly balanced, with a long and lingering finish. Graham’s 20-Year-Old Tawny Port pairs extremely well with vanilla ice cream or crème brulee’. You’ll enjoy it best if it’s slightly chilled, reveal ing the full complexity and sensuous pleasure of this wine.

Tower will beam orange in support of people with disabilities.

Easterseals Massachusetts has been a leader in disability services for over 75 years. They are known for their expertise in rehabilitation, assistive technology, youth services, Veteran’s services, employment and transition services, and disability advocacy. They are committed to providing services for people with disabilities to fully live, learn, work, and play within their own communities.

At the ceremony held that night in Prudential Center’s Center Court, young adults from ESMA’s #TeachDi sabilityHistory campaign committee will honorarily flip the giant switch when the tower lights up orange.

The 31 Nights of Light program was introduced in 2009 to celebrate local Boston-area organizations and draw attention to the great work they do in Boston and beyond. Utilizing a state-of-the-art LED lighting system,

the 52nd and 51st floors of the Pru dential Tower will change color daily to honor its 28 community partners.

For more information on Prudential Center, Boston, and the 31 Nights of Light event, visit www.prudential center.com, and follow @pruboston on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

About Easterseals Massachusetts Easterseals is leading the way to full equity, inclusion, and access through life-changing disability and community services. For more than 75 years, Easterseals Massa chusetts has worked tirelessly with their partners to enhance quality of life and expand local access to healthcare, education, and employ ment opportunities. And they won’t

rest until every one of us is valued, respected, and accepted.

Each year, Easterseals Massa chusetts provides 22,000 essen tial services to more than 10,000 individuals throughout the state and is well-known for their expertise in rehabilitation, assistive tech nology, youth services, Veteran’s services, employment and transition services, and disability advocacy. They pride themselves on empow ering people with disabilities to live full and independent lives and be equal participants in society. More information is available at www. eastersealsma.org and by follow ing @EastersealsMA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

South Boston Catholic Academy News

Congratulations and Thank you to our new Student Council Members

On Wednesday, Novem ber 23, 2022, our Student Council members led all of us at South Boston Catholic Acad emy in our Annual Thanksgiving Prayer Service before we left for our Thanksgiving Break. The President of the Student Council spoke over the school’s intercom system and wel comed everyone to this year’s Thanks

giving Prayer Service. The Opening Prayer was read by the Vice President. The other Student Council Members read passages from the Bible and took turns sharing what we are Thankful to God for followed by all of us respond ing… “Thank you, Lord.”

We are thankful to our newly elected Student Council Members for doing such a wonderful job with

this year’s SBCA Thanksgiving Prayer Service. The SBCA Student Council is made up of students from grades 2 to 6 dedicated to mak ing our SBCA Community the best it can be. They are the leaders of the school representing their class mates’ suggestions, interests, and goals. They are role models showing respect, kindness, and enthusiasm for all in our school community and for everyone they meet. Through their ideas and hard work, they help to make our school fundraisers and special events possible for their classmates and our community. The student council has also been

busy working on keeping our school beautiful. We are very thankful for our student council members for raking the leaves out in the front making our school look even more beautiful and it’s all thanks to our class reps and council members! We are so lucky to have such a great student support team! We would also like to thank Ms. Stephanie Olsen, the 3A teacher, for all her help, support, and guidance with this year’s Student Council members.

New families are welcome to email our admissions team at: ad missions@sbcatholicacademy.org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy.

Virtual Public Meeting

Seaport Square

Monday, December 5

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Project Proponent: W/S

Project Description:

Zoom Link: bit.ly/3TE5q2y

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 160 714 8957

The BPDA is hosting a virtual Public Meeting meeting for the proposed Notice of Project Change for the Seaport Square project, in the Fort Point neighborhood of Boston. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an overview of the project, and discuss the potential impacts and mitigation for the project. The meeting will include a presentation followed by questions and comments from the public.

For more information visit: www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/seaport-square

mail to: Nick Carter

Boston Planning & Development Agency

One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.5303 email: nick.carter@boston.gov

@BostonPlans BostonPlans.org

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

REMINDER

Bus Network Redesign Equity Analysis Virtual Public Meeting

DATE: Thursday, December 8

TIME: 6:00 PM

LOCATION: Virtual via Zoom

The MBTA is reminding the public about a virtual public meeting on Thursday, December 8, at 6 PM to present the results of the Fare & Service Equity Analyses for the Bus Network Redesign Program. Bus Network Redesign is a once-in-ageneration opportunity to make bold improvements to the bus network for the people who depend on it most.

These equity analyses meet the MBTA’s federal civil rights obligation to analyze service changes, and any fare impacts that may occur from mode shift, for any disparate im pacts on minority riders or disproportionate burdens on low-income riders. Following the presentation, MBTA and MassDOT staff will be available to answer questions from the public. The Fare and Service Equity Analyses will be presented to the MBTA Board of Directors for discussion and a vote at the December 15, 2022, Board Meeting. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. The meeting will be recorded and posted online for those who cannot attend.

Accommodations:

These meetings are accessible to people with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency. Accessibility accommodations and language services will be provided free of charge, upon request, as available. Such services include docu ments in alternate formats, translated materials, assistive listening devices, and interpreters (including American Sign Language).

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation and/or language services, please email BetterBusProject@MBTA.com or call (617) 651-1363.

Virtual Public Meeting

7 Channel Center Public Meeting

Wednesday, December 7 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Project Proponent:

7 CC 73 Owner, LLC

Zoom Link: bit.ly/3FVFLzi

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 161 716 4623

Project Description: 7 CC 73 Owner, LLC (the “Proponent”) proposes to redevelop 7 Channel Center Street in the Fort Point neighborhood of Boston (the “Redevelopment Site”), by constructing a new office/research and development (“R&D”) building (the “Redevelopment”). The Redevelopment is a part of the Channel Center Project (the “Channel Center Project” or the “Project”) which was originally reviewed by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (“BRA”) in the early 2000s. Since that time, six Notices of Project Change have been submitted for review and approval. This seventh Notice of Project Change (“Seventh NPC”) is for the Redevelopment Site only; the remainder of the Channel Center Project will remain as previously approved.

mail to: Daniel Polanco

Boston Planning & Development Agency

One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617-918-460 email: dan.polanco@boston.gov

Close of Comment Period: 12/9/2022

@BostonPlans BostonPlans.org

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Last week, I told you how I’m a fan of the World Cup. But never in my life would I think I’d be more inter ested in the World Cup than the MLB Winter Meetings. Sure, this year is a little different, considering that the 2022 World Cup is taking place in Novem ber and December, rather than its usual summertime schedule. Also, Team USA has advanced to the single-elimination knock out round of 16. They did so with a 1-0 win over Iran on Tuesday — their third and final group stage match. It was win or go home for the U.S. A draw wouldn’t cut it. They needed to win, and they did, thanks to a Christian Pulisic goal in the 38th minute.

Now, Team USA will play the Netherlands on Saturday morn ing at 10 a.m. The Netherlands is a -120 favorite. They finished in first place in their group, winning two games and finish ing to a draw in the other. The U.S. only won one game, fin ishing to a draw in their first two group-stage games against Wales and then England. The winner of USA vs Netherlands

will advance to the World Cup quarterfinals. It’s officially, win or go home.

Did I mention that the MLB Winter Meetings begin this weekend as well? And the Bos ton Red Sox have some serious decisions to make, regarding free agency and even the pos sibility of a few trades. The top names on the list? Xander Bo gaerts, J.D. Martinez, and Na than Eovaldi.

Bogaerts chose to opt out of his six-year, $120 million deal, leaving the remaining three years of that deal on the table. Both Bogaerts and Eovaldi re jected one-year qualifying offers from the Red Sox.

I don’t expect Martinez to be back, unless he’s willing to take some type of major discount to stay in Boston. And if Eovaldi signs elsewhere, it will be tough to see, but it won’t be the end of the world. As for Bogaerts, he’s the captain of the team, and as good an all-around ballplayer as they come. I don’t blame him for opting out. The Red Sox essen tially signed his potential re placement last winter when they gave Trevor Story a six-year,

$140 million deal. Bogaerts has every right to at least re-negoti ate with the Red Sox in order to make more money than Story.

If that’s truly Bogaerts’ mo tivation for opting out — and make no mistake about it, it is — sure, that seems a little petty. But you’re only a 30-year-old free agent coming off an AllStar season once, so go get your money if you can. One question now is, will the Red Sox be the team to give him that money? The other question is, how much money does Bogaerts want? I could see him asking for six years, $200 million. And I could also see teams counter offer that by offering him six years, $170 million. Which would probably result in a six-year, $180 million deal, at $30 million a year.

That’s just my own personal projection, based on the cur rent market value and statistical comparisons. Do I think the Red Sox should pay Bogaerts $30 million per year? No, I don’t. But in order for me to give a final answer to that question, I need to know what the Red Sox are going to do about Rafael Devers. In a perfect world, the

Red Sox keep both Bogaerts and Devers. But the organization has made it clear, this isn’t a perfect world. Though, I did think that trading away Mookie Betts was the way for them to keep both Bogaerts and Devers. Perhaps they should’ve never signed Story. But oh well. What’s done is done.

Devers isn’t a free agent yet, but he will be soon, and he’s reportedly made it clear that he wants a $300 million deal. At just 26 years old, Devers de serves that type of deal. And if the Red Sox somehow lose him, then I’ll be starting a hunger strike behind home plate at Fen way Park. I honestly don’t know what the Red Sox are going to do this winter. But as long as they don’t move Devers, I’ll find a way to be OK with it.

That said, the Red Sox might want to do something exciting, as the Winter Meetings begin. Because I’m slowly starting to lose interest the team’s offseason. And I never thought I’d say that.

Dare I say, I’d rather watch the World Cup? These truly are wild times.

Follow Danny on instagram @DannyPicard.

This week, Danny shared his thoughts on the World Cup and the Red Sox offseason:

SPORTS TODAY

PATRIOTS LOSE ON THANKSGIVING, HOST BUFFALO IN WEEK 13

SBT Staff

Mac Jones had a career night on Thanksgiving in Minnesota. But it still wasn’t good enough for the New England Patriots to pick up their fourth straight win.

Instead, the Vikings outscored the Pats 10-0 in the fourth quar ter, en route to a 33-26 win, end ing New England’s win streak.

With the game tied at 26-26 in the fourth, Kirk Cousins fin ished a six-play, 71-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Adam Thielen that ended up being the game-winning score.

Even in the loss, the Patriots have to be happy with the way Jones played in the first three quarters of the game. Jones finished with a career-high 382 pass yards. He was 28-of-39 and threw two touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Jones’ first touchdown was to Nelson Agholor on a 34-yard pass in the first quarter that tied the game at 7-7. The second came in the opening minutes of the third quarter, on a 37-yard pass to Hunter Henry that put the Patriots up 23-16.

DeVante Parker had a teamhigh 80 receiving yards for New England, while running

Tweet of the Week

back Rhamondre Stevenson led the team in receptions, with nine, for 76 yards. Stevenson also led the team in rushing, with seven carries for 36 yards.

On the defensive end, the Pa triots allowed Cousins to com plete 30 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns. They did come away with the only inter ception of the game though, as Jonathan Jones picked off Cous ins in the first quarter.

Kyle Dugger led the Patri ots in tackles, with nine. New England’s only sack of the came from Josh Uche.

The Patriots are now 6-5 and are in last place in the AFC East. If the playoffs began after Week 12, New England would be on the outside looking in. The same cannot be said for their next op ponent, the Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo is 8-3 and is tied with the Miami Dolphins for first place in the AFC East. The Dolphins beat the Bills already this season, so as of now, Miami owns the head-to-head tiebreak er and is the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff picture. The Bills enter Week 13 as the No. 5 seed.

The Patriots host the Bills on Thursday Night Football, mark

ing the second of four-straight games that New England plays in prime time. In Week 14, the Pats are in Arizona for Monday Night Football. And in Week 15, they’re in Vegas for Sunday Night Football. Though, there’s a possibility that Week 15 game against the Raiders gets flexed out of prime time.

Regardless, the Patriots will have their work cut out for them down the stretch, as they’re also battling the 6-5 Los Angeles Chargers for a Wild Card spot in the AFC. Once this prime time stretch is over, New England’s final three games of the regular season will be against the Cincinnati Bengals and Dolphins at Gillette Sta dium, and then against the Bills in Buffalo.

First thing’s first though, and that’s their first game against Buffalo in Week 13.

“We need everybody,” said Bill Belichick in a press confer ence on Tuesday. “They’ve got good receivers, good tight ends, good quarterback, quarterback run game. It’s not like one guy’s going to be able to stop them.

“[Josh Allen’s] very danger ous out of the pocket, he’s

WHAT TO WATCH

NFL THURSDAY, DEC. 1

Buffalo (-4.5) at New England 8:15 P.M. PRIME

SUNDAY, DEC. 4

NY Jets at Minnesota (-3) 1 P.M. CBS

Miami at San Francisco (-3.5) 4:05 P.M. FOX

Kansas City (-2.5) at Cincinnati 4:25 P.M. CBS

Indianapolis at Dallas (-10.5) 8:20 P.M. NBC

MONDAY, DEC. 5 New Orleans at Tampa Bay (-3.5) 8:15 P.M. ESPN

SOCCER SATURDAY, DEC. 3 World Cup - Round of 16 Netherlands vs USA 10 A.M. FOX

dangerous in the pocket. So just team defense. Playing with our leverage, using our teammates help, them being where they need to be, being aggressive. He’s a hard guy to get and you can’t just stand there and watch him throw because he’ll throw it pretty good, too. So it’ll be a challenge for us.”

Thursday night’s game against the Bills will also mark Devin McCourty’s 200th NFL game. Belichick acknowledged Mc Courty’s importance to both him and the organization.

“Devin’s been a tremendous asset to this organization and me personally,” said Belichick in his press conference. “He’s been the team captain, the leader of our defense, really since the day he got here even though he started off at corner and we moved him to safety. That was a transition that he made very well, and he’s played well for us in the kick ing game.

“His communication, his lead ership, his work ethic, his train ing, on and off the field. We’re very fortunate to have him and have had him. He’s been a great asset to this organization.”

DO YOU WANT TO BE THE MAYOR OF SOUTHIE?

A fun and unique way to raise funds for the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day. The individual who is elected Mayor of Southie will be rewarded with the following honors:

• A prominent spot in the 2023 Parade for the Mayor and up to five supporters

• Mayor of Southie 2023 sash

• Two free tickets and recognition at the Evacuation Day Banquet

• Media attention and interviews from local media and parade website/social media

• A surprise gift

TO REGISTER YOUR CANDIDACY, YOU MUST ATTEND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS:

Dec. 6, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Roza Lyons, 709 E. Broadway Dec. 11, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Martin F. McDonough Post, 329 West Broadway

Dec. 13, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

L Street Tavern, 658A E. 8th Street For more information, visit southbostonparade.org/mayor