South Boston Today August 31 2023

Poll: Boston Public Schools Parents Concerned

Anew poll shows almost half of Boston Public School parents are skeptical about the high school options available for their children, two months after the state education commissioner knocked the district for falling behind state-mandated improvement targets. The survey by MassINC Polling Group, a non-profit, non-partisan think tank, showed only 55% of BPS parents said they were satisfied with the high schools available to their kids. When asked what matters most while choosing a high school, most parents’ priorities were education quality and safety.

NBC News 10 Sam Drysdale reports that of the seven surveys MassINC has done in a series that began in summer 2021, the percentage of BPS parents who say the district is “partnering with the community, families, and stu-

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Let Them Run Wild And Boston Will Be Like Chicago

To say what happened in Boston last weekend was a disgrace would be to soft pedal it. Hundreds of teens and even pre-teens brawling at the South Bay Mall, terrorizing shoppers and assaulting police. The Boston Common was also the scene of rioting and destruction and again, police were attacked. Assaults at the Andrew MBTA Station, teens on motor scooters, ATVs and Dirt Bikes racing through and even blocking streets in several parts of the city nearly running over pedestrians and sending people running and diving for cover.

People are stunned and asking why. Why is this happening? Why are these kids on a rampage, raising hell and caus-

ing citizens of all ages to be in fear? The answer is simple. They are acting up like this because they know they can.

Many of the punks are under the age where they can be tried in court as adults, so the punishment, even if the city wanted to give any punishment at all, is minor and they know it. But even those in the crowds that actually are of adult age know that though they are older, the odds of any real punishment being a consequence of their actions are low. It’s just the sign of the times, especially in large cities of the Blue States. Soft on crime and anti-police officials, both those elected and those appointed, by their actions and by their stated goals and

positions, are all but giving a green light to those who are prone to violence.

This is how it starts. Look at Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, Baltimore, New York City, Seattle and so many other cities where rising crime rates are all but holding decent law obeying citizens hostage in their homes. What do they have in common? They are all run by soft on crime liberals who have allowed the streets of those cities to become war zones. It has taken a while for this type of atmosphere to reach Boston, but it has apparently arrived.

When officials in this city make excuses for the motorized menaces tearing up the streets in gangs riding their

Dirt Bikes and Quads by saying they are just bored kids blowing off steam and then order police not to pursue them and put a stop to it, what began with a couple of dozen now number sometimes over a hundred. When police are prevented from using physical force to protect shoppers and even themselves from rampaging violent youths, it encourages these kids to become even more violent. We saw videos of teens as young as 13 jumping on the backs of cops and punching and kicking them. And still, police are warned not to be too rough on their attackers, lest they lose their jobs and get brought up on charges themselves. Here’s what needs to

happen: The soft on crime/ anti-police officials in this city must smarten up and stop treating the troublemakers with kid gloves. They don’t need understanding; they need severe consequences for their actions. The courts need to stop coddling them when police arrest them. And the police need to be given more resources and more support and allowed to do their jobs. If there are still people shocked at the numbers of law obeying citizens flocking to firearms training classes, applying for permits and then buying guns, they might want to start paying attention. If the city won’t allow the police to protect citizens, the citizens, out of necessity, might start protecting themselves. And do we really want it to come to that?

Day

Postal Service employees across the commonwealth will celebrate Labor Day as all Post Offices will be closed on Monday, September 4, 2023. There will be no delivery of mail on the 4th, with the exception of guaranteed overnight parcels. Full retail and delivery services will resume on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

As we celebrate our nation’s labor force, if you’re considering a new career or looking for work visit www.usps.com/careers and you can search, by state, for available jobs near you. As the Postal Service’s Delivering for America Plan transforms USPS into the premier shipping provider in the nation, we need your help moving the nations mail and are currently hiring for positions in your area.

Get Ready. Are Plans For A New Covid Scare Being Hatched?

By now, most of you have heard what the plan is.

The news media, some in the medical field, pharmaceutical companies and of course first and foremost the usual cast of character in the federal government are preparing to bring back the Covid scare. The preparations are in the planning stages now and they will begin implementing them almost immediately but in ‘baby steps at first.

They’ll be running stories about the resurgence of the Covid virus in different locations around the country and even the world. They’ll begin reporting a death here and a death there and pick up the pace slowly and then it will be an everyday occurrence. And as we’ve learned from experience, no matter what the cause of actual death, Covid will somehow be the culprit blamed. Most of us remember how it was exposed that people dying in motorcycle crashes had their cause of death listed as Covid. And by the time it was shown that Covid had nothing to do with it, the panic had already begun to spread. Then there were the countless cases of victims of cancer, heart attacks, industrial accidents, if they even had the slightest touch of Covid, the virus was said to be the killer so they could jack up the numbers and cause even more fear.

As the scare tactics began to take hold, mandates would be announced. Everyone must wear a mask we were told. Masks will save your lives came shrieks from the now infamous and disgraced Dr. Fauci. He would bellow from his podium daily all the while raking in millions of dollars and that was on top of being the highest paid federal employee in the nation, receiving an even bigger paycheck than the President of the United States. But then studies by well-known and well-respected researchers began to be

released saying that wearing a mask made little, if any, difference at all in preventing Covid. And then more surveys were released to back those findings up. In the meantime, ignoring the findings, Fauci, the government, the media and many politicians doubled down on forcing people to wear masks. But that began the resistance building up by people who just weren’t buying it anymore.

Then the Vaccines came on the scene. The public was told to pretty much get the shot or die a horrible death. One shot, we were told, will protect you. Then it was two shots, then three, then the boosters were needed. First it was one, then multiple boosters. When pressed, medical ‘experts’ would reluctantly admit that no one – absolutely NO ONE - could say what the possible future side effects would be. But regardless of the fact that no one knew what the longterm effects were, people were told to either get those shots or lose their jobs and be ostracized. To coincide with the vaccine mandates, lockdowns were implemented in mostly Blue States by often tyrannical governors like Cuomo in New York, Newsome in California and Whitmer in Michigan and others. These governors were often caught ignoring their own stay at home orders and could be found partying at large events, crowded with hundreds of their supporters and donors – without masks.

The pushers of the Covid scare tactics would order schools, churches, and small businesses to shut down, but allow the big stores to remain open. They would ban large gatherings at sporting events, religious meetings and anti- mandate protests, but never ban BLM and Antifa rioting.

By now, most people are familiar with what went on and realize that many of the scare tactics were ginned up to make things seem far worse than

they were. And in many cases, the goal was more about control than prevention. Officials wanted to see just how far they could push the masses before those masses would rise up and revolt. But for those who doubt these findings, ask yourselves this: If Covid was as serious of a concern as Americans were being told, so bad that the government didn’t want people to leave their homes, run their businesses or even go to church or for the kids to go to school, why did they refuse to shut and secure the border? Why did they allow unvetted, unmasked and unvaccinated migrants to just pour into this country? And why as

they prepare to bring back yet another Covid scare are they still refusing to close the southern border?

But the American public, at least those who still think for themselves can see what’s coming. Another presidential election year is approaching and isn’t this really what this is all about?

Those pushing the plan must know that this time, it’s not going to be so easy. Compliance among the public will be nowhere near what it was last time. To quote a line from an old song by the 1960’s band called ‘The Who’, “We won’t get fooled again”. And we certainly won’t allow ourselves to be bullied again.

John Ciccone

Mayor Wu and Social Media

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu knows that abundant and effective communication is critical in managing a metropolis, which explains her new role as an author — and so far, a prolific one — on the Substack platform. Why let the media muddle the message when you can go directly to the people?

Her latest missive is something of a history lesson and policy paper on the stubbornly difficult Mass & Cass issue, and an argument for her new initiative to enhance police oversight at what has become, as the summer winds down, an open-air drug market and a crime-ridden zone that has compelled some social service groups to exit out of safety concerns. Her fundamental argument: The unsheltered population at Mass & Cass

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.

is small compared to the larger element that has populated the area, and police need to clear the encampments promptly to curb illegal and dangerous activity. She urges the City Council to pass her Unlawful Camping ordinance, which she sent to the Council earlier this week. There’s been blowback to her plan, especially the creation of a “safe sleeping space” on Mass. Ave., a move Wu said would be temporary.

Mayors joining Substack seems to be a trend. Texas has a Substack featuring a group of 18 bipartisan “Big City” mayors combining to voice policy opinions. There are several small-city mayors as well, including the mayor of Bend, Oregon. Wu promises to be a regular correspondent – already providing four posts a one-week stretch. With school start-

Massport Lends a Hand to Students Returning to School

The 15th annual Backpack Project benefitted nearly 100 children

Employees at the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) joined together this year to help prepare students in neighboring communities for the upcoming school year. Nearly 100 children at the 21st Century Afterschool Program in Winthrop, Condon Community Center in South Boston, Crossroads Family Center in East Boston, East Boston YMCA and the South Boston Neighborhood House, are starting the school year with new backpacks, new school supplies and new clothes donated by Massport employees through the 15th annual Backpack Project. The Backpack Project is Massport’s annual back-to-school drive aimed at assisting local families in need.

“The annual Backpack Project is always fun and rewarding for Massport employees to participate in,” said Massport Director of Community Relations & Government Affairs Alaina Coppola. “We are grateful for the generosity of our employees and proud to partner with these organizations to help make a positive impact on local children.”

“Thanks to the support from organizations like Massport, we are able to ensure all of our children are ready for the new school year,” said Barbara Kelly, Condon Community Center.

This year, over 150 Massport employees participated in the Backpack Project by sponsoring children individually or as a group, providing school supplies and new outfit for children, ages 4-17.

ing, a sudden spate of youth violence, and her rent control proposal in limbo, there will be plenty for the mayor to write about in coming weeks.

Mass & Cass, is Wu’s new ordinance really necessary?

No, says the Boston Globe’s Rachelle Cohen, who writes: “…The ordinance is less about giving police and public officials authority they already have than offering up a feelgood bill of rights for tent dwellers.” And it also would provide the mayor more political cover, Cohen adds.

And what about Widett Circle?

Is a nearly abandoned industrial space hidden in the middle of the city the answer to public safety chaos at Mass & Cass? The Globe’s Shirley Leung explores the possibilities of

installing a homelessness services campus at Widett Circle until the Long Island bridge is restored, an idea being championed by business leaders in the nearby Newmarket area. The land is now owned by the MBTA, which has plans to eventually use the space, but as Leung notes, that could take some time.

Fall bummer: Berkshires orchards say they can’t offer pickyour-own this year

Now what’s everyone going to do on the Patriots bye week? The owners of two of the largest orchards in Berkshire County say they won’t be able to offer pick-your-own apples this year, the key revenue generator just the latest fallout for farmers from the surprise mid-May frost.

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Condon Community Center: Tommy Butler Jr. of Massport delivered backpacks to Condon Community Center as part of the Authority’s annual Backpacks Project.

South Boston Neighborhood House: Tommy Butler of Massport delivered backpacks to South Boston Neighborhood House as part of the Authority’s annual Backpacks Project.

Council President Flynn Schedules Hearing to Bring all City of Boston Meetings Back In-Person with Hybrid Accessibility for Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 2 p.m.

Boston City Council President Flynn has scheduled a hearing on Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 2 p.m. to discuss bringing all City of Boston Meetings, abutters meetings, City Council committee hearings and related business back in person, with a hybrid option for accessibility and persons with disabilities. The hearing will also discuss bringing back meetings including the City of Boston Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), Licensing Board, Cannabis Board, and Boston Planning and Development Agency Board (BPDA).

This hearing order was filed in June in part to reevaluate the practice of remote-only City of Boston meet-

ings in an effort to return to a sense of normalcy, with the federal government having announced the end of national and public health emergencies earlier this year. It comes in response to reports of high office vacancies and a slower economic recovery of the Financial District and Downtown Crossing. In addition, business leaders have also expressed serious concerns about the future of the city’s office space, and asked for assistance from local, state, and federal officials to play a key role in helping to bring more workers and foot traffic back Downtown.

While foot traffic in Downtown is rebounding, it is rebounding unevenly in different parts of Downtown. Foot

traffic in the two zip codes that make up the Financial District is still at 47.8% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, and office vacancies overall are at 20.4%. Reports indicated that the first quarter of the year saw 3.4 million square feet of negative net absorption in office spaces in Boston, marking the fourth consecutive quarter in which companies are putting space back on the market. Conversations with commercial real estate executives, restaurants, coffee shops, and other small businesses owners in Downtown have also highlighted serious concerns about the future of Downtown.

Resuming City of Boston Board Meetings in person, with a hybrid

option for public accessibility and persons with disabilities, would allow for all members of the various city boards, attorneys representing clients, proponents of a particular project, interested members of the public, and City Hall staff to return on site and provide the potential to support our local economy by visiting restaurants, coffee shops, and other businesses. All City Council committee hearings returning in person could possibly have a similar economic effect as well.

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I Was Just Thinking…

so many memories, growing up back in the day.

Taking me back to the nineteen sixties, I remembered the countless nights I’d play my record player in my room, listening to “Roy the Boy”, the “Caruso of Rock”, and aka the Big “O”.

He had a beautiful voice and sang powerful, emotionally stirring songs.

Known for his “impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads…his music was described by critics as operatic.”

(1963), and “Oh, Pretty Woman” (1964). Some of his other great songs include “Candy Man”, “It’s Over”, and “Pretty Paper”.

tack in December 1988 at the young age of 52.

by Kevin Devlin

“My voice is a gift. My talent is a gift. The life process is a gift. The opportunity for the journey is a gift.” (Roy Orbison)

Irecently watched a ninety-minute special on PBS TV the other day entitled “Roy Orbison & Friends: A Black and White Night.” I sat there and enjoyed every minute. I loved it because it brought back

BPS Parents continued from front page

dents,” and “transforming the lives of all children” hit record lows this summer -- at 29% and 23% respectively. Among the parents of current high school students, 36% of those surveyed said they considered finding a new school for their child during the past school year.

MassINC also found that only 52% of parents say their child’s school offers enough extracurriculars like art and music, 45% think there are enough afterschool sports, and 58% of high school parents say their child’s school offered enough advanced placement classes. The poll was sponsored by the Shah Family Foundation -- a Boston-based nonprofit focused on food access, health and wellness, and education -- and surveyed 841 parents.

In order to avoid the “underperforming” designation last year, the state and city hammered out an agreement to keep the district under local control while following a three-year, state-mandated improvement plan. In the agreement, signed by Riley, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and others, the district

Unlike Elvis, Roy the Boy performed while standing motionless and wore black clothes to match his dyed black hair and dark sunglasses.

Born in Vernon, Texas on April 23, 1936, Orbison’s dad gave him a guitar on his sixth birthday and by the time he was seven, music became the focus of his life.

From 1960 to 1966, twenty-two of his singles reached the Billboard Top 40. He wrote or co-wrote almost all of his own Top 10 hits, including “Only the Lonely” (1960), “Running Scared” (1961), “Crying” (1961), “In Dreams”

pledged to make improvements in student safety, special education, transportation, facilities conditions, English learner supports, the lowest-performing schools, data collection and reporting, and accountability. The plan also steered $10 million from the state to BPS to support the work.

At a June Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting, Riley criticized the district for blowing past deadlines outlined in the plan. “The administration signed a document saying that they would hit their goals. At best we can say their grade would be incomplete,” he said. “But I expect us to have a different discussion with this board starting if the buses aren’t running to great capacity in the fall, if the special education plan isn’t in place, if the agreed upon bathrooms aren’t fully redone, if the right people aren’t hired for special education, you will be hearing more from us.”

After that June meeting, the district hired Kay Seale as the chief of specialized services to expand inclusion and special education

But being a star, a future legend in rock and roll, didn’t shield him from the vicissitudes of life. In June of 1966, his wife tragically died in a motorcycle accident. Then, two years later, while Orbison was on tour in Britain, he received the horrific news that his two eldest sons (the youngest survived) had died when their house burned down. The property was sold to Johnny Cash, who demolished the building and planted an orchard on it. Orbison married again in 1969 and along with his youngest son Wesley (born 1965), he had two more sons.

After the mid-1960’s and personal tragedy, his career faltered.

But the Big “O” experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 1980s, when he co-founded the Traveling Wilburys, a rock supergroup, with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne.

Sadly, Orbison died of a heart at-

support services in BPS -- a position that Riley said the schools were overdue on filling.

Seale formerly managed special education and intervention services at the Worcester Public Schools and was a student and educator in Boston schools. Riley said in June that the district submitted a revised timeline for bathroom facility renovations that did not align with their original commitment in last year’s agreement. Since the spring, BPS has launched renovation projects in 16 schools, according to the district.

Many of these projects are major gut renovations, with new layouts and the addition of gender-neutral and accessible bathrooms, new ductwork and exhaust fan upgrades, new low-flow toilet fixtures with automated flushers, electric hand dryers, and improvements to floors, ceiling, lighting, tile and paint. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2023.

Pointing to some “bright spots” of progress made since last year, Riley said the district has made progress in hiring drivers and monitors for

One month later, his song “You Got It” (1989) was released as a solo single, becoming his first hit to reach the US and UK Top 10 in nearly 25 years.

Orbison was a man of God, humble and dedicated to perfection and his profession.

I was fortunate to witness his time on Earth and listen to his beautiful, compelling voice.

His songs played a significant role during my formidable years growing up in Savin Hill on Doris Street.

I miss those days sitting on my bed listening over and over to his songs that stirred my soul and moved my heart.

He had so many great songs that it’s so hard to choose a favorite, so I won’t even try.

I’ll just continue to enjoy them when I occasionally hear them again and recollect with fondness the wonderful effect (and feelings aroused) that they once had-and still do-in my life.

buses, though it has not yet met its target of 95% of buses arriving on time. The commissioner added that since new superintendent Mary Skipper started last year that bus arrival times have improved.

The district has hired over 200 bus drivers since May 2022, and they anticipate starting the 20232024 school year with over 700 monitors. “The Boston Public Schools is committed to providing our young people with the best quality education,” said BPS spokesman Max Baker. “We are proud to see that a large majority of survey respondents are satisfied with their individual schools, but we also recognize that there are deep inequities across our District that we must work with urgency to address. BPS is making positive impacts on the lives of our students by working to hire and retain a talented workforce that reflects our student body, offering a range of advanced coursework including new Advanced Placement courses at 10 schools, and expanding athletics and extracurricular activities.”

September Service Changes Will Allow Crews to Continue Improvement Work Across MBTA System

Service changes are planned for the Red, Green, Orange, Kingston, Middleborough, Greenbush, Newburyport/Rockport Line, and Haverhill lines.

and between Broadway and North Quincy Stations on the Braintree Branch all day from start to end of service during the weekend of September 30-October 1. This service change allows MBTA crews to perform critical work on the Savin Hill Avenue and Dorchester Avenue bridges, to perform necessary tunnel inspections on the Ashmont Branch, and to accomplish station brightening work at JFK/UMass Station.

The Kingston, Middleborough, and Greenbush Commuter Rail lines, which run adjacent to the Red Line, will also experience service changes. Accessible shuttle bus service will replace trains between South Station and Braintree on the following dates:

• After 7:30 PM through the end of service Tuesdays through Thursdays on September 5-7 and September 12-14 as well as Tuesday through Friday September 19-22.

The MBTA today announced service changes in September on the Red, Green, Orange, Kingston, Middleborough, Greenbush, Newburyport/Rockport, and Haverhill lines. The MBTA will continue working to improve service reliability across the system. Service changes will take place on the Red Line Braintree Branch this month in order for MBTA crews to perform critical rail and tie replacement work. Accessible shuttle bus service will replace Red Line trains between North Quincy and Braintree Stations on the following dates:

• Beginning at approximately 8:45 PM through the end of service Tuesdays through Thursdays, September 5-7 and September 12-14, as well as Tuesday through Friday, September 19-22.

• All day from start to end of service during the weekend of September 23-24.

Accessible shuttle bus service will also replace Red Line trains between Quincy Center and Braintree Stations beginning at approximately 8:45 PM on Friday, September 8, and through the weekend until the end of service on Sunday, September 10.

Accessible shuttle bus service will also replace Red Line trains between Broadway and Ashmont Stations on the Ashmont Branch

• All day from start to end of service during the weekends of September 9-10, September 23-24, and September 30-October 1.

• Accessible express shuttle bus service will also operate directly between South Station and Braintree Station.

• Passengers should note that bicycles are not allowed on shuttle buses, and regular Commuter Rail fares will be collected between Kingston, Middleborough, Greenbush, and Braintree Stations. Keolis Customer Service Agents, MBTA staff, and Transit Ambassadors will be on-site at impacted stations to support riders.

• The diversion schedule will be available online soon at mbta.com/ CommuterRail.

Due to the continued demolition of the Government Center Garage by private developer HYM Construction, Orange and Green Line service changes will take place in the downtown Boston area all day for 25 days from September 18-October 12:

• Orange Line trains will bypass Haymarket Station. Orange Line riders should instead exit at North Station or State, less than a halfmile from Haymarket (or a four- to eight-minute walk), and travel to the Haymarket area.

• Green Line service will be suspended between North Station and Government Center Station.

Riders are instead asked to walk above ground between these stations – Government Center, Haymarket, and North Station are each less than a half mile from each other (about a five- to 10-minute walk). The distance between Government Center to North Station is about three-quarters of a mile (about a 13-minute walk).

• Riders are also reminded that Orange Line / Green Line connections can also be made via the Winter Street Concourse, which connects Park Street and Downtown Crossing Stations.

• Accessibility vans will also be available for on-demand transportation – Orange and Green Line riders should ask MBTA personnel for information and assistance.

Accessible shuttle buses will replace Newburyport/Rockport Line trains between Swampscott and North Station during the weekend of September 9-10. This service change will allow for work on the future temporary platform at Lynn Station. There will be no service at Chelsea Station with passengers instead encouraged to utilize Silver Line 3 service. Passengers should note that bicycles are not allowed on shuttle buses. Regular train service will operate between Newburyport/ Rockport and Swampscott with regular Commuter Rail fares collected. A dedicated diversion schedule will be in effect and is available on mbta.com.

As previously announced, accessible shuttle buses will re-

place Haverhill Line trains between Ballardvale and North Station for 58 days from September 9-November 5. This service change allows crews to perform Automatic Train Control (ATC) work. ATC is a federally mandated safety system that sends signals to trains about potentially unsafe conditions, automatically slowing and stopping a train if needed. Shuttle buses will replace train service between Reading and Oak Grove where passengers can make an Orange Line subway connection. A shuttle bus will also provide service between Reading and Anderson/Woburn for connections to the Lowell Line and Haverhill Line. The shuttle service between Reading and Oak Grove will make stops in Wakefield, Greenwood, Melrose Highlands, Melrose Cedar Park, Wyoming Hill, and Oak Grove. Train service for passengers between Ballardvale and Haverhill will be re-routed along the Lowell Line after Ballardvale, making one additional stop at Anderson/Woburn station then running express to North Station. A dedicated diversion schedule will be in effect and will be available online soon.

The MBTA apologizes for the inconvenience of these scheduled service changes and appreciates the understanding and patience of riders as this critical and necessary work to maintain, upgrade, and modernize the system takes place.

Guy The Wine

Saint-Joseph

In the northern part of the Rhone Valley of France, lies the area called Saint-Joseph. While nobody thinks that the saint spent any time here, somebody gave the area a blessing; if you get a chance to taste any of the following, I think you’ll agree… Guigal, Cotes du Rhone Rouge, 2019, ($19.99) is a deep and dark red. Aromas of fresh fruits with red berries and spices fill the nose,

and are full, round and racy. Surrounded with smooth tannins, this is a full-bodied, rich and intensely aromatic wine, with a long finish and plenty of elegance and finesse due to the well balanced tannins and fruit. Pair this one with cold or grilled meat, game birds of any kind, especially Quail and Cornish Hen, or just your favorite cheese. The Blanchon family have been making wines here for generations. Domaine Blachon Saint-Joseph Rouge La Cote, Cuvée Hommage Roger Blanchon, 2017, ($45.99) is a beautiful example. I simply love this wine! The nose is an eclecticexotic spice and mineral notes accompanied by aromas of Black Cherry, Sweet Herbs, Tobacco Leaf and Sandalwood. Its minerality gives it a body that’s rich and ripe. Located in Mauves, the tenderloin of this sprawling appellation, Domaine Blachon is all about location. The steep, terraced hill-

Virtual Public Meeting

617 Dorchester Ave f/k/a 20 Boston St

September 12, 2023

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Project Proponent:

Mark Little

Project Description:

Zoom Link: bit.ly/617DotAve

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 161 861 2374

The information at this meeting is crucial to you as a City of Boston resident, and s takeholder. Interpreting services are available to communicate the content of these documents at no additional cost to you. If you require translation services, please contact the following: Tyler.C.Ross@boston.gov. The meeting is scheduled for 9/12/2023. Please request interpreting services no later than 5 days before the meeting date. Meeting of the general public to review the proposed 617 Dorchester Ave project in South Boston. Please note that this is a Public Meeting. The meeting will begin with a 30-minute presentation of the project by the development team, followed by 45-minutes of public Q&A. This meeting will focus on 617 Dorchester Ave, Sout h Boston by the BPDA.

mail to: Tyler Ross

Boston Planning & Development Agency

One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201

phone: 617.918.4214

email: tyler.c.ross@boston.gov

website: bit.ly/617DorchesterAve

@BostonPlans BostonPlans.org

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

side vineyards overlook the Rhone River and produce classic expressions of Syrah. This family has been bottling Syrah since before World War I from their exemplary and archetypal vineyards. Roger Blachon took on responsibility for his parents’ vines in the 1970s. He refocused on staying regional and producing small batches of premium quality wines. When Roger passed away in 2006, the estate transitioned to his children, Delphine and Sylvain, who are the 5th generation of inspiring vignerons carrying on his legacy. They created today’s wine “Cuvee Hommage Roger Blachon”, in his honor.

Domain Boissenet Saint Joseph, “Emisphere”, ($49.99) is a family tradition which goes back to the XVII century. The estate is home to 11 hectares of vineyards, created with love to offer fresh-flavored StJoseph. This one is quintessentially Saint-Joseph; a beautiful nose of tabac, leather and forest floor notes and a full, chewy mouthfeel giving onto a long, structured finish. As the weather gets cooler, have this

one with a Sunday Roast and some steamed potatoes and vegetables. The Pats might not win, but you can still enjoy the day!

Guigal, Cotes du Rhone Blanc,2021, ($19.99). I didn’t want to leave without presenting at least one white wine and this is a nice one! Yellow gold, clear and brilliant, with a freshness marked by the distinctive aromas of Viognierwhite flowers, apricot, acacia and white peach, with fruit notes that provide plenty of richness and body. It might surprise you that this is such a well-rounded wine with elegance, strength and balance; but aren’t the good surprises always better than the bad ones? Pair it with starters, shellfish and Asian food. By the way, I’m not the only fan of this one; Wine Spectator describes it as: “Floral and bright, with ripe cantaloupe, honeysuckle and nectarine flavors that are succulent and generous. Reveals chamomile and salted almond notes that add intrigue on the tasty finish. Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Grenache Blanc.”.

Virtual Public Meeting

27 Farragut Rd.

SEPTEMBER

6:00 PM - 7: 30 PM

Project Description:

Zoom Link: bit.ly/3KQnCVd

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 161 997 1709

The Proponent is proposing to construct a new four (4) story, twenty-one (21) unit residential rental building with garage parking for twenty-one (21) vehicles at 27 Farragut Rd. in South Boston.

mail to: Stephen Harvey

B oston Planning & Development Agency

O ne City Hall Square, 9th Floor

B oston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.4418

email: stephen.j.harvey@boston.gov

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Wishing You A Happy Labor

Thank

Thank you to the men and women in our workforce for your hard work each and every day and for all you do to support our City and our State.

David Biele State Representative 4th Suffolk District

Labor Day Celebrates the Greatness of the American Worker

To many people, Labor Day often means the unofficial end to the summer vacation season. The days grow shorter and there is that distinctive chill in the air. It also means time to kick back and enjoy that last long weekend for the warm season. But as we all know and according to the US Department of Labor, it’s a federal holiday with a history leading up to its designation. Labor Day is always celebrated on the

first Monday in September and is dedicated to the American worker. It constitutes and recognizes the many great contributions and achievements by America labor. On June 28th, 1894, it was officially designated as a legal holiday by the Congress of the United States.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has changed in recent years; especially in large industrial areas where there are sometimes parades, large

gatherings with speeches and special tributes that recognize the contributions made by the American labor movement and the organized labor unions that make it up. The vital force of Labor added to higher living standards which includes higher wages and job protections in many industries. So, it is appropriate that the nation pay tribute to those who made it all possible – the American workers themselves.

So, this year, during the Labor Day weekend of 2023, whether you are relaxing at home, visiting with family and friends, enjoying a back yard barbecue or maybe even travelling, be sure to remember the true meaning of the holiday and who made it all possible: The American worker, the work ethic that they possess and the creativity that is ingrained in so many. And of course, the labor movement itself. Enjoy!

South Boston Catholic Academy Highlights from Summer Camp!

South Boston Catholic Academy’s Early Childhood program has had an awesome summer between enjoying exotic animals, ice cream truck visits on hot days and spending lots of time having fun out on our Colin Joy Playground. We also had the chance to see some community helpers up close. Local firefighters came to show the kids their fire truck and they were even given the chance to climb inside and see what it’s like to be a real firefighter! During our

last week of summer camp the kids learned all about science and even got to see a silly science show and make their own slime!” We also had SBCA Summer Camp Programs for the 1st Grade and up and a 2 Week Adventure Camp.

At Summer Camp, we also had the SBCA Yoga Club. During the school year this club is also a 6 week after school program open to grades K2 through 5 and led by SBCA parent, Erin Holland. Erin is mom to two SBCA students, Connor (K2) and

Charlie (K0), and holds her 200 HR Yoga Teacher Certification. The main goals of the yoga program are to help students learn the foundations of yoga and mindfulness, build strength and flexibility, and make connections to their mind and bodies...all while having fun! Each class is designed with a different central theme. Some themes this spring have included “Welcome Spring”, “Pirate Adventure”, and “Let’s Go Camping”. Each session includes a combination of breath work, movement exercises, yoga poses, and time at the end to rest and reflect, with props and music included throughout class to help further engage the kids.

SBCA also started a Preschool Yoga

program this spring which offers a weekly yoga session to all of K0 and K1 during their school day. The yoga program at SBCA is a safe and welcoming space for all students, regardless of prior experience, physical or learning abilities.

Thank you to everyone who helped to make this another great summer for all the boys and girls at SBCA! We are looking forward to seeing everyone in September and the beginning of another wonderful new school year here at SBCA! New families are welcome to email our admissions team at: admissions@sbcatholicacademy. org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy.

U.S. Dept of Labor; MA Building Trades Recovery Council Held Mental Health Summit

Construction workers have one of the highest rates of substance use disorder compared to other workers, representing 25% of fatal opioid overdoses.

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration joined members of the Massachusetts Building Trades Recovery Council this week to discuss innovative methods to create supportive work environments for people with substance use disorder and mental health conditions in the trades.

The Massachusetts Building Trades Recovery Council has been a leader in the effort to support recovery efforts for workers with substance use disorder by promoting the recovery benefits and programs within each affiliate trade. Members of the 62 local unions and district councils in MBTU have access to recovery support 24/7, thanks to MBTU Recovery. Any union member can contact a peer at any time to ask for help, learn about local resources such as recovery meetings at union halls, explore treatment options, and find much-needed personal connection. Support is available to dependents of union members as well.

During the roundtable on Wednesday, attendees included:

• John Towle: Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Labor

• Doug Parker: Assistant Secretary, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

• Taryn Williams: Assistant Secretary, Office of Disability Employment Policy

• Ali Khawar: Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration

• Frank Callahan, President, Massachusetts Building Trades Unions

• Vincent Coyle, President of

Ironworkers Local 7

• Internal Employee Assistance Program leaders

• External Employee Assistance Program leaders with Peer to Peer programming in their local union Ironworkers Local 7 and MA Building Trades are proud to have collaborated on an event aimed at highlighting the value and importance of union-sponsored peer-led recovery efforts within the building trades and lead the way in innovative and effective recovery programming and support.

About Ironworkers Local 7

We are the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 7. Our 3,600+ members are proudly building communities, receiving excellent training, advocating for economic opportunity, and giving back to our neighbors.

We have a long history of getting the job done right, on time, and on budget. Every year, our workforce builds and services hundreds of pre-engineered, architectural, industrial maintenance, heavy rigging, and welding projects. Our standards for safe, quality construction and industry-leading benefits make us the leading choice for contractors across New England.

Visit https://iwlocal7.org/ to learn more.

About MA Building Trades Union

Massachusetts Building Trades Unions (MBTU) is a 104-yearold organization dedicated to helping working people improve their quality of life. We are comprised of 62 member locals representing over 75,000 working men and women across the state.

Visit https://massbuildingtrades.org/ for more info.

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES APPLICATIONS FOR RAPID REHOUSING GRANTS

“Every Bostonian deserves affordable, accessible housing. The Rapid Rehousing program will empower our returning citizens to not just reintegrate but also thrive in their communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m excited to see how these grants will support the City’s mission to build trust and rapport with constituents in our efforts to combat recidivism.”

priority and challenge for returning citizens returning home to Boston from incarceration.

According to the Boston Reentry Study completed by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Rappaport Institute, more than one in three of all returning citizens are either unhoused or living in unstable housing six months after release from prison; after one year, nearly half of returning citizens are unhoused or living in unstable housing. The RRH grant provides critical support to housing returning citizens, especially as rents continue to rise in the City of Boston.

Window continued from page 4

Water woes postpone first day of school in Westport

Westport public schools abruptly canceled the planned first day of school because of problems with the water systems in two buildings and some parents are frustrated at the last-minute decisionmaking, the Herald-News reports.

City drops gender from marriage certificates

Mayor Michelle Wu, together with the Mayor’s Office of Returning Citizens (ORC), announced today the opening of applications for the Rapid Rehousing (RRH) program. This innovative grant aims to meet the housing needs of Boston’s returning citizens—those who are returning to Boston after being released from county, state, or federal correctional facilities. The total allocation of $1,100,000 for Fiscal Years 2024-26 will provide critical housing support including rental assistance, intensive case management, housing locator/search services, and other housing related services.

With this grant, the ORC is not only focusing on housing but also encouraging applicant organizations to build comprehensive support systems that will help returning citizens to stay stably housed. The programs should be designed to accommodate the various needs of the returning citizens, including financial literacy, job training, health care access, legal advocacy, family reunification, and educational services.

“We are excited to be able to work with our non-profit partners to provide housing support to returning citizens,” said David Mayo, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Returning Citizens. “Stable housing is key to preventing recidivism and this boost of support will help many to get back on their feet.”

Housing is the number one

The RRH grant will provide for a step-down approach to rental assistance, initially covering up to 100 percent of the rent and gradually reducing the percentage depending on the participant’s ability to pay. This is the first ever Rapid Rehousing grant to target services to formerly incarcerated Boston residents.

“This grant opportunity is another example of Boston seeing a need and meeting it through an innovative partnership strategy,” said José F. Massó, Chief of Human Services. “We look forward to launching this program later this year and connecting more returning citizens to housing resources.”

Applications for the Rapid Rehousing Grant are now open. The grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and will be administered through a competitive process. Registered nonprofit organizations are invited to apply, with awards likely ranging from $550,000 to $1,100,000 depending on the application and the capacity of the organization. The ORC expects to announce awards later this fall.

The Office of Returning Citizens understands the importance of addressing barriers, advocacy, and fostering strong partnerships to create positive social impact and collaborative initiatives. The Office envisions a Boston where returning citizens can return to their families, flourish in their communities, and regain their sense of dignity.

As part of new policies to bring more inclusiveness to Boston city services, gender identity will no longer be included as a requirement when applying for a marriage certificate. The new policies also include instructions for how and when city employees can ask about gender and sexual identity, GBH reports.

They want their tax breaks and they want them now

Two business groups — the Great Boston Chamber and the MassCPAs — issued a statement yesterday expressing impatience with the unresolved issue of tax breaks for individuals and businesses, Sam Drysdale of the State House News Service reports. The Legislature left a $581 million tax break placeholder in the current fiscal year budget, but exactly what those breaks will be has yet to be resolved — for the Legislature effectively gave itself an incomplete and will have to hand in its homework in due course.

“Downtown Boston plays a key role in driving our economy. It wasn’t all that long ago that we all made it a central focus to support our small businesses when we saw the pandemic disrupt our local restaurants, bars, cafes and shops. Once again, local businesses are asking the government to do all that we can to support them, and I think it’s critical that the city continue to examine any and all ways to bring foot traffic back Downtown,” said Council President Flynn. “I want to thank Mayor Wu and her team for their continued efforts on this important issue. I am hoping for a productive conversation as we work to continue to bring foot traffic, business, and vibrancy back onto our streets.”

For more information, please contact Council President Flynn’s office at 617635-3203 and Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov.

Flynn PR continued from page 5

For many sports fans, the fall represents football season.

I’m no exception. But every two years, the fall also represents a golf tournament that feels as close to an Olympic competition as you’ll see, the Ryder Cup, which gives us Team USA vs Team Europe in a 12-on-12 match-play format. This year, the Ryder Cup will take place in Italy, and will begin on Friday, Sept. 29.

And as of this week, the 2023 United States Ryder Cup Team has been picked. Here’s the official press release from the Ryder Cup website:

“United States Ryder Cup Captain Zach Johnson today announced that Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas have been named to the U.S. Team as Captain’s Picks for the 44th Ryder Cup, which will take place September 29 - October 1 at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy.

Burns, 27, is making his first appearance on the U.S. Ryder Cup Team, and will bring his strong match play experience to Rome. He won the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play for his fifth

career PGA TOUR title in March. Burns ranks 11th on TOUR and third on the U.S. Team behind only Xander Schauffele and Max Homa in Strokes Gained Putting (0.584) this season.

Fowler is set to participate in his fifth Ryder Cup, making him one of the most experienced members of the U.S. Team alongside Spieth. The 34-year-old registered a careerbest 18 top-25 finishes in 2023, including a victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in July. Fowler also set a U.S. Open record by totaling 18 birdies over his first 36 holes at Los Angeles Country Club.

Koepka, 33, will be competing in his fourth consecutive Ryder Cup. He owns a 6-5-1 career record and has never lost a singles match (2-0-1). Koepka captured his third PGA Championship victory and fifth Major title earlier this year at Oak Hill Country Club. He is just the third player to win three or more PGA Championships since it became a stroke play event in 1958. Following a T-2 finish at the 2023 Masters Tournament and his win at Oak Hill, Koepka has finished either first or second in nine of his last 24 major starts.

Morikawa returns for his sec -

ond Ryder Cup appearance after debuting in 2021. The 26-year-old went 3-0-1 to become the first U.S. rookie to go 3-0-0 or better in Foursomes and Four-balls combined since Larry Nelson in 1979. Morikawa is a two-time Major Champion and has finished in the top-10 in seven of his 15 Major starts. He leads the PGA TOUR this season in Approaches from 100-125 yards (16’2” Avg).

Like Fowler, Spieth will be competing in his fifth Ryder Cup. The 30-year-old owns an 8-7-3 career record, including 5-2-0 in Four-balls, and has come from behind in six of his eight Ryder Cup match victories. Spieth has registered the third-most top-5 finishes on the PGA TOUR over the last six months (5) behind only Scottie Scheffler (9) and Rory McIlroy (7).

Thomas will be appearing in his third consecutive Ryder Cup. The 30-year-old is a two-time Major Champion and 15-time winner on the PGA TOUR. Thomas is 6-21 in his career at the Ryder Cup, including 3-0-0 in Four-balls and 2-0-0 in Singles. He won two matches in 2021 at Whistling Straits after trailing by three holes

One of the big storylines with Team USA’s picks is that Brooks Koepka becomes the only player from LIV Golf to make the squad. If you’ve listened to me in the past, you know how I feel about that. I’m not a LIV Golf hater like most, mainly because I think the PGA is a bunch of hypocrites. And so, I’m glad that Koepka made the team, and that he wasn’t shun from the historic tournament just because he was part of LIV.

Right now, Team USA is the favorite to win this year’s Ryder Cup, at -125. Team Europe is the underdog, at +140. USA has won two of the last three Ryder Cups, including last year’s win at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. Prior to winning two of the last three, Europe had won three straight, and six of the seven Cups from 2002 to 2014.

Since the Ryder Cup began in 1927, Team USA leads the overall head-to-head, 27-14.

Follow Danny on instagram @ DannyPicard.

This week, Danny discussed the selections for the 2023 United States Ryder Cup Team:

(Four-balls with Patrick Cantlay vs. Tommy Fleetwood/Viktor Hovland and Foursomes with Jordan Spieth vs. Bernd Wiesberger/Viktor Hovland).”

What To Watch

SPORTS TODAY

PRESEASON ENDS WITH A LOSS AS PATRIOTS PREPARE FOR EAGLES IN WEEK 1

The preseason is officially over. After finishing 1-2, the New England Patriots can finally prepare for their Week 1 opponent: the Philadelphia Eagles.

New England lost its preseason finale last Friday night in Tennessee, 23-7, to the Titans. The good news is, most Patriots starters got the night off.

Bailey Zappe made the start, and

Tweet of the Week

didn’t look great. Zappe finished 8-of-15 for 57 pass yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions, while being sacked four times. Zappe also fumbled three times, losing one of those fumbles.

This week, Zappe was placed on waivers. But the expectation is that he’ll return to the Patriots to be Mac Jones’ backup, if he clears waivers. Either way, the Pats now turn their attention to the Eagles in Week 1, which is one week from Sunday. And even though New England’s starters didn’t see much playing time in the three preseason games, Bill Belichick feels he’s seen enough of them in practice to be

PATRIOTS MAKE SEVERAL TRADES, ROSTER CUTS

Bill Belichick was a busy man after the New England Patriots’ final preseason game in Tennessee.

The Patriots added two offensive linemen in a pair of trades this week, acquiring 26-year-old offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr. from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for running back Pierre Strong Jr.

New England also acquired 24-year-old offensive tackle Vederian Low from the Minnesota Vikings for a sixth-round pick.

“We want to work with a player, that’s why we traded for him,” said Belichick in a press conference this week. “After signing Zeke [Ezekiel Elliott], we felt like we had a little more depth at the running back position and had less depth on the offensive line. So, that’s why we made it, and we’ll see how it goes.”

As for the scouting reports on the acquired offensive tackles, Belichick gave the media a little something on both players.

“Lowe’s had two years in the league and played every snap against Tennessee

ready for the Eagles.

“Obviously, our better players have gotten a lot of work in our practices and in the joint practice with Green Bay, so they’ve taken a lot of snaps; they just haven’t been in preseason games,” said Belichick in his press conference after the final preseason game against the Titans. “So, we’ll see where things are at. I think we have plenty to work with for Philadelphia. I’m sure they’ve been working on things that they haven’t shown, and that’s always part of opening day, but we’ll do what we can to be ready for it and be ready to do.

“We’ll take a closer look at the

at left tackle,” said Belichick. “Wheatley played in the preseason, so it’s a combination of things. We had Wheatley in for a workout, last year I think it was. So, information comes from various sources: college film, college interviews, pro film, workouts, other information we’ve gathered along the way. That’s what the scouting department does. They do a good job of it.”

The Patriots also traded veteran kicker Nick Folk to the Tennessee Titans, making 23-year-old kicker Chad Ryland the team’s new No. 1 kicker. New England drafted Ryland out of Maryland in the fourth round of this year’s NFL Draft.

And in a somewhat surprising turn of

Eagles,” added Belichick. “We’ve seen a little bit of them in preseason, kept up with them a little bit and obviously spent time on them in the offseason when the schedule came out. Right now, I think the big thing for us is to get our team established, our roster established, and figure out what the Patriots are doing to prepare for the 2023 17-game regular season schedule. Philly’s a big part of that, but we have to see a whole season’s worth of football here and make those decisions, figure out what we need to work on this week and combine that with preparation for the Eagles. So, there’s a number of balls in the air, but we’ll work on all of them.”

events, the Patriots released all three of their backup quarterbacks before Tuesday’s deadline to cut rosters down to 53.

Bailey Zappe, Trace McSorley, and Malik Cunningham were all placed on waivers, leaving Mac Jones as the only quarterback to make the 53-man roster.

However, reports suggest that Zappe — and possibly also Cunningham — could return to the team if they clear waivers.

Veteran captain Matthew Slater told ESPN’s Mike Reiss that he was surprised to see Zappe get released.

Said Slater, “Certainly something that is, I guess, surprising for a lot of us, but that’s just the nature of the business.”

SBT Staff

SBT Staff