South Boston Today October 26 2023 by SouthBostonTodayOnline

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Scapegoating The South Boston Community Is Shameful, Mr. Gibbons

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ccording to a recently issued investigative report, commissioned by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA), and authored by the law firm Prince Lobel Tye-LLP, the firm found a pattern of unfair treatment and racial discrimination against employees and vendors at the’ independent state authority’, as categorized by a WGBH reporter. The new members of the MCCA board of directors, recently appointed by Governor Maura Healey (replacing former Governor Charlie Baker’s appointees) will have to immediately address these findings, as well as others, in the 112-page report, in order to restore their credibility. As a result, it stands to reason that ‘pink slips’ will be issued. David Gibbons, the executive director of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center on Summer

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October 26, 2023: Vol.11 Issue 43

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October 26, 2023

EDITORIAL Halloween In Southie Is Still Fun And Kid Friendly

hough many things have changed in South Boston, some not so good depending who you talk to, there is still that community spirit that motivates so many civic minded and caring adults to put the effort into making sure there are plenty of healthy, safe and enjoyable activities for neighborhood children. One only has to look at the youth sports leagues that continue to exist. There is Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball, South Boston Youth Hockey, CYO and Community School Program Basketball and the SB Youth Soccer League to name some. And then of course there are the many activities for the various holidays that cater to the young. Christmas of course is the biggest with the visits by Santa Claus, the Christmas tree lightings with all the elves and reindeer, the Church pageants and plays. On Easter, the egg hunts and so much more bring smiles to the faces of the young and yes, to the adults too, as they observe the fun everyone is having. And even though Halloween is not really

an official holiday, it’s a day the children in the community look forward to and this community does it up big for them. Among the many activities organized by locals to the delight of the young ones are of course the huge Trick or Treat on Broadway sponsored by the South Boston Chamber of Commerce and the South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation and supported by local businesses along East and West Broadway, the BCYF Tynan Halloween Party, Trunk or Treat, provided by the South Boston Neighborhood House, The South Boston Spooktacular Parade and of course the good people on Beckler Ave put on an incredible Halloween extravaganza that thrills young and old alike. There are of course many others. Check the local newspapers online and the many neighborhood blogs and Facebook pages to get more details. Door to door Trick or Treating still goes on in most parts of the community. Hundreds of little goblins, ghosts, Superheroes and scary creatures wearing a

Hi, my name is Kevin Devlin and I’d like to tell you about my latest self-publication, entitled Freedom Park. Freedom Park is a dystopian novella in which freedom of thought, speech, and free choice is challenged.

I magnificent variety of other creative costumes haunt the streets accompanied by family members , which speaks well for South Boston still being safe, especially in comparison to some other locations around the city. Yes, Halloween in South Boston, especially for local children and their families is a festive time and a happy time to make memories. This has been the case for generations and hopefully it will continue to be well into the future. Let’s all make the best of it and enjoy it. And oh yeah, if you have the need to drive your vehicles on Halloween night itself, please be sure to stay focused, drive carefully and keep it safe for the little ones out haunting.

n the story, the main character and narrator, Sean, a young man, lives in a Citizen Enrichment Opportunity Community, aka “the Co-op”, an isolated, gated community located in the middle of nowhere. Life is good. Sean and other Associates have everything they need to live happily. But something doesn’t feel right, and Sean begins to question why everyone must blindly obey and not question the dictates of the Keepers and Supreme Council. When allowed to explore the landscape outside the Co-op, Sean and several fellow Associates are surprised at what they see and who they meet. And when Sean discovers a sinister plot, he must lead several fellowAssociates in a risky undertaking so they can finally be free. Freedom Park is available to purchase on Amazon.com.

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October 26, 2023

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Information Center The

Will Not Comply: MA Gun Grab Bill #H4135 John Ciccone

n response to the latest attempt by the Massachusetts House of Representatives to chip away at the Constitutional rights of lawabiding citizens, I’ve released a statement giving my view on yet another attempt to leave good citizens defenseless, as criminals are getting more brazen and violent. The Bill they are pushing this time, which still needs to go to the state Senate and then to Governor Maura Healy, is labeled #H4135. Statement“Though the United States Supreme Court will eventually block the recent gun grab bill voted on by the Massachusetts House of Representative which is designated as #H4135, in the meantime, Massachusetts gun owners have already announced, in massive numbers that they will not comply. My question to the Democrat politicians who voted for it is this: What are you going to do about it when there is massive noncompliance? I’ll answer it for them: ‘NOTHING’. Why? Because there is not a thing you can do about it. Even the 400 Massachusetts Chiefs of Police are opposed to it. They have all taken an oath when they were sworn into office to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. And they know this bill is unconstitutional and will not hold up in the highest court in the land. So my message to all of those Democrats who voted for this (Every Republican voted against it and even 12 Democrats voted no) is, pass all the ridiculous ‘feel good/solve nothing’ bills you want. But don’t be surprised when so many law-abiding citizens refuse to comply with your unconstitutional Communist style attacks on the God given rights of the citizens to keep and bear arms.

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That line in the sand that should have been drawn long ago to combat the overreach of out-of-control politicians has now been crossed in this state – at least in regard to the Second Amendment. While it’s true, elections do have consequences, so too do the attempts to pass laws that chip away at individual rights – consequences for those politicians who ignore those rights in their attempts score points with their party’s leadership in their craving for plush committee assignments. In the end, these politicians will eventually lose this case and many of them know it. I have spoken personally to some of them who have admitted as much. But some are too ideologically blind, too stubborn, or too ignorant of the reality of the situation they are putting this state in. All they will have accomplished is costing Massachusetts taxpayers millions in court and legal fees and in their minds, making criminals out of hard-working law-abiding citizens. This bill will do nothing at all to stop the real violent career criminals who will never – ever give up their guns. But this after all, is Massachusetts. Penalizing the real criminals and wasting the tax dollars of Bay State citizens has never been a concern for far too many of those holding public office in the Commonwealth. This state is famous for it” – End of Statement. On to another topic: The question was recently put out there as to why, when shopping at markets in South Boston, Dorchester and other surrounding Massachusetts areas, the cost of, just for example, a dozen large eggs is five dollars or more when people can just drive over the border to New

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

Hampshire and get eggs for $1.75 for a dozen of Extra-large eggs. And it’s not just eggs, it’s so many items in local markets that are priced so much higher. This is a major hardship for many families finding it more difficult to put food on the table. Some of the responses by readers were comical: One woman asked if the Massachusetts chickens were on strike. But one reader chimed in with the following thoughts on the excuses that might be made from progressives going into contortions to defend the Biden economy. He said, and

I quote: “As an expert on these matters, I think I can shed some light on this subject. You’ve got to factor in Global Warming, Climate Change and Toxic Masculinity. Divide that by January 6th and add the 1619 Project and White Privilege or the Plight of Indigenous Peoples and the fact that Donald Trump exists. But don’t worry, when real Socialism kicks in, you won’t be able to buy eggs anywhere at any price. Problem solved.” That was brilliant, on the mark and put in a humorous way. We thank the reader for sharing.

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October 26, 2023

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.

Climate Change Report Massport should consider reducing availability of certain “short hop” flights where there are rail alternatives (such as from Boston to New York), public school districts should implement a K-12 curriculum addressing climate change, and Mass Save should undergo major reform to prioritize decarbonization and electrification. These are only a few of the dozens of recommendations Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer made in her report to Gov. Maura Healey, made public today. Healey ordered this report on her second day in office, when she created the firstin-the-nation position of climate chief, and tasked her new appointee with analyzing the state’s executive offices and recommending ways to bring their operations more in line with the state’s climate goals. The plan got held up in Healey’s office, but Hoffer’s 86-page report has a wide range of new ideas to reduce emissions and bring the state closer to its goal of net-zero by 2050. One important piece of hitting that target — Hoffer

suggests that the state know how much it will cost. The climate chief is calling for the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, Climate Office, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and MassDOT/MBTA to complete an analysis of how much it will actually cost to achieve net zero by 2050, and outline where that money should be coming from and flowing to. (The total cost to decarbonize the U.S. economy by 2050 is estimated in the range of $25-$30 trillion.) Other plan highlights include moving towards a requirement that new school construction be decarbonized, developing a Comprehensive Coastal Resilience Plan, establishing a Climate Service Corps to recruit young people into careers in clean energy and climate resilience, accelerating the electrification of state-owned vehicles, reviewing all executive office grants in the first half of 2024 to see if they align with the state’s climate goals, and issuing an annual report card on progress Massachusetts is making towards those statutorily-required targets.

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State education officials sound alarm on absenteeism State education officials expressed concern Tuesday about new data indicating chronic absenteeism in the state’s public schools increased 72 percent from 2019 to 2023. The data shows that chronic absenteeism is up for students at all grade levels, but most-acutely among elementary school students. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeff Riley said the problems began during the Covid-19 pandemic. The state considers a student who misses 10 percent of school days chronically absent. Proposed law would remove fines for striking public employee unions Public employee unions whose members strike would no longer be violating state law, and therefore would not face fines for the job actions, if a measure that lawmakers are considering becomes law. Strikes would be allowed after six months of failed negotiations. The proposal’s champions include the state’s largest teachers’ union, the Massachusetts Teachers Association. A half-dozen Massachusetts communities recently wrestled with strikes by teachers. MBTA estimates fixing Green Line will take two weeks Repairing the Green Line Extension tracks that were built incorrectly but installed nonetheless will require around two weeks of work that will halt evening service, MBTA head Philip Eng said. The work would start around Nov. 1, he said. “This is not going to be something that continues on for months and months, or even longer. It is something that can be addressed in a matter of weeks,” Eng told the board that oversees the MBTA. Repairing the tracks

will entail removing bolts fastening rails to wooden ties, drilling new holes in the wooden ties about one-quarter inch away from the old ones, and then re-bolting the rails Campaign-finance settlement includes record-setting fines Republican Sen. Ryan Fattman will pay $55,000 as part of a deal struck with the office of Attorney General Andrea Campbell to settle alleged campaign finance law violations stemming from Fattman’s wife Stephanie’s 2020 campaign to remain the Worcester County Register of Probate. Campbell said the fines in the settlement are the largest paid for violating Office of Campaign and Political Finance rules. On the map: East-West rail push gets new name to emphasize Springfield’s role State transportation officials have begun calling the plan to connect Boston to the western part of the state and beyond via passenger train “Compass Rail,” a moniker meant to emphasize how the long-imagined connection previously known as EastWest rail will make Springfield a hub for travel in all directions. MassLive’s Jim Kinney reports the shift comes as the project took a major step toward becoming reality last month thanks to a $108 million federal grant. Gillette move means more change on the way for Southie After more than a century in South Boston, Gillette’s parent company plans to move manufacturing operations to an existing plan in Andover, a shift that will keep the razor company’s headquarters in the city while opening up a rare redevelopment opportunity for more than 30 acres of prime real estate.

October 26, 2023

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

Greater Boston Plumbing Contractors ‘Industry Appreciation Night’

lumbing industry giants Harry Brett and Hugh Kelleher received Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Greater Boston Plumbing Contractors Association’s “Industry Appreciation Night,” which also featured ex-Boston Celtics and NBC Sports host Brian Scalabrine and state Sen. Nick Collins. More than 450 contractors, union plumbers and guests turned out at the Omni Seaport Hotel Thursday, Oct. 12 to raise money for college scholarships for the sons and daughters of union plumbers and employees of Greater Boston PCA contractors. The event also honored Brett, International Representative of New England for the United Association, and Kelleher, the former Executive Director of the PHCC of Greater Boston which would later become the Greater Boston PCA. The bi-annual event celebrates achievements in the plumbing industry and this year’s theme was “The Power of Partnership.” “Harry and Hugh are legends in the plumbing industry and the union labor movement in Boston,” said Greater Boston PCA Executive Director Andrew DeAngelo. “It was fitting to honor them on a night where we celebrated the importance of ‘partnership’ as they worked together for decades to build unity, trust and success with labor and management. Congratulations also to all the scholarship recipients, many of whom represent the next generation of partnerships that will shape our industry in the years to come.” State Sen. Nick Collins, a longtime union ally whose district includes the Seaport, spoke about the importance of plumbing industry leaders having a voice in the broader conversation about the transition to green energy, as well as development in Boston.

Scalabrine regaled the crowd with tales of being a member of the 2008 NBA Championship team with the Celtics “Big Three” - Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce - as well as sharing his personal journey as a hard-working role player who had an 11-year pro career. He is now an on-air analyst for Celtics broadcasts on NBC Sports and hosts a basketball show on SiriusXM’s NBA channel. “Brian Scalabrine embodies the working class ethos of the Massachusetts labor movement,” said Greater Boston PCA President Paul Dionne. “He understands the value of hard work, dedication and teamwork. In that spirit, it was fitting to hear his stories of perseverance during his journey from a small town in Washington state to the NBA.” Plumbers & Gasfitters Local 12 Business Manager Tim Fandel also spoke about “The Power of Partnership” between the union and contractors, saying: “We are far stronger when we advocate for our industry issues together. Local 12 will always be there as a strong industry advocate and partner.” About the Greater Boston Plumbing Contractors Association The Greater Boston Plumbing Contractors Association is a coalition of 65 union plumbing businesses based out of the Greater Boston area. Greater Boston PCA provides a multitude of services, including education, networking, collective bargaining representation, representation to the Apprenticeship and Benefit Funds, government relations, membership in a premier Trade Association (MCAA), and much more. The Greater Boston PCA is dedicated to the advancement of the plumbing industry in the Greater Boston area by upholding the highest standards of the plumbing, heating, cooling and mechanical industry.

(l to r) Greater Boston PCA Executive Director Andrew DeAngelo, Greater Boston PCA President Paul Dionne, Sen. Nick Collins, Local 12 Business Manager Tim Fandel

Retired Boston Celtics player and NBC Sports on-air host Brian Scalabrine

(l to r) Harry Brett, International Representative of New England for the United Association, and Hugh Kelleher, former Executive Director of the Greater Boston PCA.

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

I Was Just Thinking…

by Kevin Devlin

remember reading books and watching documentaries on TV regarding the Holocaust. Over six million Jews, men, women and children were murdered by the Nazi Regime simply because they were Jewish, the ultimate scapegoat for all that plagued Adolf Hitler’s

Scape Goating continued from front page

demented mind. In January of 1942, at the Wannsee Conference held near Berlin, Nazi leadership met to discuss the “Final Solution to the Jewish question.” Hitler and his gang of miscreants were ahead of their time, naming their assault on Jewish existence simply as a solution to a question. Sounds nifty, maybe a way to solve a problem in an innocent manner. But oh no, no it wasn’t. It was the official code name for the murder of all Jews within their reach and starting across German-occupied Europe. Systematic, deliberate, efficient, effective, and brutal, thousands of concentration camps would be built where Jews would be shot, gassed or starved and worked to death to satiate the sickness of the Nazi butchers. After all, something had to be done to eradicate such a dastardly element. Why not just kill them all. In his book Mein Kampf (My

Street South Boston, was quoted as follows, “there is a continuing perception that “the building belongs to Southie.” Gibbons, in an attempt to redirect or divert responsibility for the seemingly toxic atmosphere that he and some members of his team created and leveraged toward certain employees, apparently believes that the South Boston community somehow forcibly dictates his decision-making. City Councilor Michael Flaherty, a new appointee to the BCEC board, took David Gibbons to task at the recent board meeting to address the findings of the report. As Mr. Gibbons declared that the Convention Center universe is “bigger than one zip code”, Flaherty responded by saying, “I don’t need a lecture on the diversity of my district. There are three major housing developments here where you could have recruited. Being the host community, the convention center only exists because of collaboration and negotiation with South Boston organizations and elected leaders.” The report acknowledged that, naturally, “BCEC’s impacts, negative and positive, are experienced most immediately by the residents, businesses, and political representatives of the neighborhood in which it sits. For a variety of reasons, South Boston has had outsized influence on the growth and development of BCEC, whether in the sphere of policy, patronage and other hiring, or business relationships. Some attributed “Southie’s” piece of the pie to the

October 26, 2023

Struggle) which sold 5,200,000 copies by 1939, Hitler denounced the Jews as a vile race. He said they embraced the Marxist creed and if victorious in carrying out their plans, their “…crown will be the funeral wreath of humanity and this planet.” They deserved to be discarded as a mere nuisance. After all, they were responsible for the ills of German society. Fast forward to 2023 and once again Jews have been murdered. Innocent men, women, and children, murdered by cowards. And people rejoiced. Not just people in the Middle East and Europe. Americans also cheered and approved of these murders, praising Hamas terrorists for doing the right thing. Students on campuses, professors addressing them, people on city streets, politicians on pulpits, all gathering to cheer on their heroes and feeling “exhilarated” by this

BCEC’s 1997 enabling legislation, Chapter 152 of the Acts of 1997. The report found some validity to this assessment, but it is hardly the whole story. The question for authors is whether this dynamic results in the unfair exclusion of non-South Boston populations from opportunities at the BCEC. As a former senior manager keenly framed it, “The origins of the BCEC made it essential to pay attention to mitigation of hardships in the ‘neighborhood,’ but as BCEC evolves you should open up opportunity to others.” The report goes on to attest that it ‘would be remiss if we did not mention the Authority’s charitable endeavors to benefit all the neighborhoods of Boston’, as over the last five years the Authority has distributed approximately $580K to a wide variety of community organizations in addition to distributing $1.6M to the South Boston Community Development Fund. The array of grant recipients is impressive and includes many that are focused on supporting Black and Hispanic communities. For example, the single largest recipient over the last five years is the highly-regarded No Books No Ball program. The report further states that Black and Hispanic employees disproportionately work in the lower rungs of the organization, are paid less, denied advancement opportunities and “tend to feel isolated or marginalized.” These employees are not represented by any union that could or would be able to give them support and guidance. Under Gibbon’s leadership, he states, the authority has been “much more focused on the

tragic chapter in history. Doesn’t anyone read history anymore? Don’t they realize the goal of The Final Solution almost succeeded in doing what was intended? Obviously not. If those who took to the streets to cheer on Hamas as doers of good deeds, would they also support them setting up concentration camps so these vile Jews could be transported to them to get what they deserve? It’s somewhat seemingly conceivable, and I’m inclined to believe they just might rationalize this as necessary, just. Sadly, we are at a crucial moment in history. Yet reason must prevail over hatred. Common sense over flawed political views and irrational religious zeal. And the Jewish people must be supported, and their lives defended, so they can continue to exist on this planet just like everyone else.

financial bottom line” than on racial equity and inclusion. Investigators found that complaints from employees have not been taken seriously, and an effective process for handling complaints is nonexistent. Employees did not trust the human resources department to follow up on their complaints and even ‘feared retaliation’ if they did complain. Throughout the report, the authors stated that they made findings based on the traditional “preponderance of the evidence” standard where the evidence conflicts. WGBH reported that State Rep. Bud Williams, from Springfield, who chairs the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, said he anticipates “major changes” at the convention authority following the appointment of a new board, the internal review and the expected results of a state audit currently being conducted by Auditor Diana DiZoglio. The report is a highly critical assessment of the management practices and workplace environment at the Convention Center. Apologies and commitment to “do better” is not acceptable at any level, given the state of affairs locally and nationally. Blaming his mistakes on some notion that the South Boston community wants more than its fair share of opportunity has been deemed misguided. Every employee deserves opportunities and the report suggests that opportunities for some have been thwarted by the management, led by David Gibbons, and unwittingly sanctioned by the previous board of directors.

October 26, 2023

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

until approximately 2 PM on November vice Sunday, November 5. This service change is taking place to accommoService date an emergency response learning taking place near Malden Changes Will exercise Center. The exercise is an opportunity for public safety officials to emergency response plans, Allow Crews exercise policies, and procedures. shuttle bus service to Continue will• Accessible replace Orange Line trains Oak Grove and North StaImprovement between tion beginning at approximately 8:45 board the shuttle bus service. changes. Riders are encouraged through the end of service Tuesto subscribe to T-Alerts or to follow o A dedicated diversion schedWork Across PM day through Friday on November the MBTA on X (the site formerly ule will be in effect and is available 7- 10 as well as during the weekend known as Twitter) @MBTA for upon mbta.com. MBTA of November 11-12. This service Riders can find more informato-date service information. change allows MBTA crews to pertion on service changes through The MBTA apologizes for the System form critical work at the Oak Grove in-station signage, in-station public inconvenience of these scheduled

Service changes are planned for the Red, Orange, and Haverhill lines.

he MBTA today announced service changes in November on the Red, Orange, and Haverhill lines. The MBTA will continue working to improve service reliability across the system. Additional service changes may take place in November and will be announced when details are finalized. On the Red Line: • Accessible shuttle bus service will replace Red Line trains between Alewife and Kendall/MIT Stations during the weekend of November 4-5. This service change allows crews to perform rail welding and track work in order to alleviate speed restrictions. • Accessible shuttle bus service will replace Red Line trains between JFK/UMass and Park Street Stations beginning at approximately 8:45 PM through the end of service Tuesday through Thursday on November 14-16 as well as during the weekend of November 18-19. This service change allows crews to perform track work between Broadway and South Station in order to alleviate speed restrictions. On the Orange Line: • Accessible shuttle bus service will replace Orange Line trains between Oak Grove and Wellington Stations from the start of ser-

crossover track area as well as in and around the tracks at Sullivan Square and Community College Stations. On the Haverhill Commuter Rail Line: • As previously announced, accessible shuttle buses are replacing Haverhill Line trains between Ballardvale and North Station through 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. o Shuttle buses will replace train service between Reading and Oak Grove where passengers can connect to Orange Line subway. o A shuttle bus will also provide service between Reading and Anderson/Woburn for connections to the Lowell Line and Haverhill Line. o The shuttle service between Reading and Oak Grove will stop in Wakefield, Greenwood, Melrose Highlands, Melrose Cedar Park, Wyoming Hill, and Oak Grove. o North Wilmington Station will not have shuttle bus service with passengers encouraged to utilize Lowell Commuter Rail Line service at Wilmington Station instead. o 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 and then running express to North Station. Riders desiring service to or from Reading and Oak Grove should disembark at Anderson/Woburn and

announcements, and at mbta. com/alerts. Transit Ambassadors and MBTA staff will be available on-site to offer information and assistance during these service

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.

Photo Credit: Tom Zion

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

The

Wine Guy

No Doubt About It

f all the places in the world where wine grapes are grown, and there are many, there are very few that can make the claim that, “Only superior wine is made in this area.”. Bordeaux, in the west of France, is such a place. I’ve been lucky enough to have been there a number of times over the years and even asking for a “verre de rouge” in the humblest corner bar, it’s always been a great wine. Try any of the following and I’m sure you’ll see-and taste-what I mean…. Château Belgrave 2016 HautMédoc, Grand Cru Classé, ($49.95). This was a Wine Express staff pick. Among other things, they said, “An under the radar gem, Chateau Belgrave is a Classified Growth of superb quality that’s still amazingly affordable.”. This wine from the outstanding 2016 vintage is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. The wine aged 12 months in oak barrels (34% of which are new) on fine lees. Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored this 94 points saying “This is an opulent wine, packed with ripe fruit, sweet tannins and ample acidity, all in balance. The wine is full and juicy, with great spice at the end. The finish is firm while still reveling in fruitiness. “James Suckling scored this 94 points saying “Extremely enticing aromas of ripe plums and peaches with spices, such as nutmeg. Full-bodied, deep and firmly textured with beautiful fruit and a lovely, long and fla-

vorful finish. Best since 1989.” Château La Croix De Pez 2018 Saint Estèphe, ($39.95). A surefire way to get a bargain in Bordeaux is to find wine from a chateau that’s not well known but neighbors chateaux that are. In this case, the neighbors have names like Montrose and Cos d’Estournel! Not too shabby! Saint-Estephe wines are tannic, deep and powerful; with age, they take on body, fruitiness and delicacy. This wine from the exceptional 2018 vintage is 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 60% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. James Suckling gave this 92 points saying “Crushedfruit, mocha and earthy undertones on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, creamy tannins. Structured and savory on the palate with fresh acidity. Clean finish. “ While this isn’t a “Petite Chateau”, the quality and complexity of this St. Estephe wine at this price makes it a value that’s hard to beat. Le Seuil De Mazeyres,2016, Pomerol, ($29.95). Château Mazeyres, right in the heart of Libourne, is inextricably linked to the history of Pomerol. It has been a very active, lively site since the Roman era. Remarkable pottery dating from the third century has been found on the chateau site, representing traces of an old Gallo-Roman villa. The town’s archives reveal that vines have been grown on this site since the 14th century. This 65 % Merlot, 35 % Cabernet Franc blend is bright

ruby red. Black fruit and flowers on the nose. Soft and smooth in the mouth, this wine has a beautiful energy enhanced by real freshness. The finish is vibrant and offers up toasted notes paired with black fruit and liquorice. All of this comes together to make a wine that can be enjoyed young and for the next ten years. Château Moulis, 2018, Moulis En Medoc, Bordeaux, ($39.95). Château Moulis, whose wines were praised in the 1876 edition of the Féret guide, has been owned by the Lasserre family since the 17th century and has prospered for over three centuries. Its wines, classified as Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, have won numerous awards: a silver medal at the 1882 Bordeaux Exhibition, a gold medal at the 1885 Antwerp Universal Exhibition and a gold medal at the 1900 Paris Exhibition. Château Moulis is now a family project and an estate that encompasses almost 13 hectares and two wines: Château Graveyron Poujeaux and Château Moulis. And if you did not know, Moulis en Medoc is a next-door neighbor to the high priced real estate of Margaux! The blend is 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon with all grapes manually picked, and zero herbicides used in any of the farming. The British wine magazine, Decanter, rated it 96 Points and gave it a Gold Medal, (very rare for them) saying, “Warm and meaty, with a note reminiscent of pounded raw steak alongside gruff

October 26, 2023

elderberry, black cherry and cassis. Concentrated, dark, plunging black fruits are carried by lively acidity which keeps it driving and long. Outstanding.”. Domaine De Chevalier 2018 Le Petit Chevalier Rouge, PessacLéognan, ($29.95). This time, I’ve saved the best for last. The beautiful Domaine de Chevalier has been owned by the Bernard family since 1983 and is one of the greatest Crus Classés in Bordeaux. Domaine de Chevalier is located in a clearing in the middle of a forest that protects the vines from extreme temperatures. In fact, Chevalier is a sort of secret garden, far from the limelight. This is something of a paradox for such an excellent wine, among the greatest in Bordeaux. With regard to vineyard density, the terroir is best suited to 10,000 vines per hectare, like most of the finest estates in Bordeaux (the appellation average is 6,500 vines). This high density creates competition between vines resulting in low yields of grapes with thick skins and a high concentration of color, aromas, and tannin. It also reduces the time it takes for full, even ripening, and gives the wine the complexity necessary to age well for many years. Le Petit Chevalier has a dense and elegant mouthfeel with intense fruit. The development on the palate highlights a distinctive texture that forms a harmonious and delicious ensemble that builds into a long, powerful finish.

October 26, 2023

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

Virtual Public Meeting

6 Elkins Street OC TOBER

6:00 PM -8: 00 PM

Zoom Link: bit.ly/498MIJs

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 161 461 0865

Project Description:

MCM Properties

mcmproperties.com

The BPDA is hosting a Public Meeting for the proposed 6 Elkins Street in South Boston. The meeting will include a presentation followed by Q&A. The Proposed Project will include the construction of a new approximately 97,000 gross square foot research laboratory development, including office, laboratory, research and development uses, along with approximately 4,400 square feet of publicly accessible retail/restaurant space and approximately 8,250 square feet of incubator lab space. The proposal also includes approximately 48 parking spaces in a one-level below grade garage. Please use the following link to register for the meeting: bit.ly/498MIJs Webinar ID: 161 461 0865 Toll-Free Call-in Number: 833.568.8864 mail to: Ebony DaRosa Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.4419 email: ebony.darosa@boston.gov

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE: OPEN DISCUSSION ON MCCA CYPHER STREET REMEDIATION PROJECT On Thursday, November 2 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority will host a community discussion at CRISPR Therapeutics regarding an upcoming soil remediation project on Cypher Street. MCCA officials will be presenting and available to answer questions.

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an outdoor activity we go to the South Boston Catholic Academy News As school playground. We have many toys in our classroom that Welcome to our new Toddler B Class! learning our students can play with and learn

BIG SBCA Welcome to our new Toddler B Class and their new Teacher, Ms. Linda Sandoval and her Aide, Ms. Martha Wright. “In our classroom we have lots of fun. We do circle time where we learn the days of the week, letter of the day, the numbers,

weather etc. We also read books every day. One of our class favorites is “Brown Bear Brown Bear what do you see?” For music time we do the “ Freeze Dance”, “Head Shoulder Knees and Toes” among other songs. We do many different Arts and Crafts that our toddlers enjoy.

at the same time. Our classroom is a happy place of playing and learning and our toddlers enjoy it.” Ms. Linda, graduated in 2018 from Salem State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is looking to pursue her ECE Certifications through the Lynch foundation.

October 26, 2023

She loves to spend her time with family, especially her nephews and niece. She also loves to bake, take outdoor walks and is an animal lover. Ms. Linda loves children, and they are what makes her happy. She feels blessed to be part of the SBCA Family and to be an educator of our future generations. New families are welcome to email our admissions team at admissions@ sbcatholicadacademy.org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy.

October 26, 2023

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

St. Peter Academy

2023 Halloween Spooktacular Party!

nother Halloween Spooktacular in the books! It was a full house in the beautiful space of the Lithuanian Club. Everyone joined in the fun with fantastic costumes. DJ Paul DiMaggio entertained the crowd and kept them dancing all night long! Thank you to entire St. Peter Academy Community for showing up,

donating raffle baskets, buying raffle tickets, bringing friends/family to the event. We are so proud to have the best families/staff in our community. A shout out to Miss Jackie and Miss Brittney for organizing the event. The decorations and raffle baskets were as always on point. We are so grateful to have you in our community. Shout to Mr. Andy Dilba and the Lithuanian

Club! The club again, was donated for our event and Mr. Dilba did a great job bartending. It is such a beautiful venue! We truly value our relationship. If you are looking for a location to host an event, we highly recommend the Lithuanian Club. St. Peter Academy is accepting applications for the current school year. St. Peter Academy is an independent, community-based private school and serves students from ages 15 months through grade 6. SPA is currently accepting applications for the limited spaces available

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

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

October 26, 2023

This week, Danny shared his thoughts on the latest football ‘Spygate’ controversy:

e have a new “Spygate” on our hands. No, not with the New England Patriots. But in the football world, with the Michigan Wolverines. Michigan, currently the No. 2 team in the country, is being accused of stealing their opponents’ play-calling signs, and then using those stolen signs to their advantage during games. According to a Yahoo Sports report last week, the NCAA has launched an investigation into the Michigan Football program, in which Michigan allegedly sent staff to attend the games of their future opponents, in order to get those teams’ play-calling signs. As a result of these accusations, the Big Ten Conference sent out the following statement: “Late Wednesday afternoon, the Big Ten Conference and University of Michigan were notified by the NCAA that the NCAA was investigating allegations of sign stealing by the University of Michigan football program. The Big Ten Conference has notified Michigan State University and future opponents. The Big Ten Conference considers the integrity of competition to be of utmost importance and will continue to monitor the investigation. The Conference will have no further comment at this time.”

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has since denied any knowledge or involvement. Here’s what Harbaugh said in a statement: “I want to make it clear that I, and my staff, will fully cooperate with the investigation into this matter,” said Harbaugh. “I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment. I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action. “I do not condone or tolerate anyone doing anything illegal or against NCAA rules. No matter what program or organization that I have led throughout my career, my instructions and awareness of how we scout opponents have always been firmly within the rules.” University of Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel also released a statement, promising his cooperation with the NCAA’s investigation. “I want to personally assure you that U-M Athletics will offer its complete cooperation to the NCAA in this matter,” said Manuel in a statement. “At the University of Michigan, all of us are committed to the highest standards of ethics and integrity for all members

of our community. This is the same expectation I have of all coaches, staff, and student-athletes.” According to NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1, “Off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited.” Video has been released of the Michigan sideline looking over at Ohio State’s sideline, and as Ohio State audibles its offensive play call, many players and coaches on Michigan’s bench see the play-call sign on Ohio State’s sideline, and immediately make a hand signal to its defense. the assumption is that they stole the sign and informed its defensive players, in real time, what the play would be. This is the type of accusation that we’ve seen here in New England with the Patriots. And I feel the same way about this Michigan accusation as I did with the Patriots: change your damn signs. Call it Spygate. Call it whatever you want. But if you are using the same signs every single game, then that’s on you. You don’t play college football games in an empty stadium. Anyone who wants to try and see your signs on the sideline, can. So don’t be stupid. Just change your signs so that Michigan — or anyone else who’s attempting to steal

signs — can’t do it correctly. It seems like Deion Sanders agrees. “I mean, everyone’s trying to get an edge,” said Sanders during his Tuesday media availability this week. “Everyone’s trying to get whatever edge they can. You can have someone’s whole game plan, they could mail it to you. You’ve still got to stop it.” Exactly. And if you think Michigan is the only team in college football doing this, you’re a fool. They just made it a little more obvious than other teams. And the fact that these videos circulating are making it look as if Michigan just didn’t care about getting caught, kind of tells you everything you need to know. Michigan knows that they aren’t the only top college football program “trying to get an edge,” as Sanders put it. It’s exactly how I feel about every sport that has a controversy like this one. Too many people want to cry foul and make a big deal about other teams or players stretching the boundaries of the rules. But they’ll never admit they’re stretching those same boundaries of the rules, until they get caught. So change your signs every week, or just shut the hell up. Follow Danny on instagram @ DannyPicard.

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October 26, 2023

SPORTS TODAY PATRIOTS Tweet of the SNAP Week LOSING SKID WITH WIN OVER BILLS

SBT Staff

t was Bill Belichick’s 300th career win, but somehow that wasn’t the top story on Sunday, as the New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills, 29-25, at Gillette Stadium. The win snapped a three-game losing skid, and was exactly what the struggling Patriots needed, as Mac Jones put together an eight-play, 75-yard game-winning touchdown drive in the final minutes of the game. While trailing 25-22 with 12 seconds left, Jones found tight end Mike Gesicki in the middle of the end zone for the gamewinning score. Jones finished the game 25-of-30 for 272 pass yards, two touchdowns, and zero turnovers. It was the first game that Jones threw multiple touchdown passes since Week 1, when he threw three touchdown passes in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. “I think it was one of our most consistent offensive performances of the year,” said Belichick in his postgame press conference. “You know, we had

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

a couple long drives last week. You know, today, I don’t know, we had to punt a couple times. It wasn’t very many, which is good. That’s always a good thing. What, we had 10 punts against New Orleans or whatever it was. So, yeah, we moved the ball, we scored points, we changed field position. “Again, that’s not one person. One person can’t do it. You have to have 11 guys working together. And Billy [O’Brien] did a good job all week with the game plan. Team went in there and played, you know, with good competitive level, better fundamentals and better execution. So that’s a good place to start.” The Patriots jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter after a Chad Ryland field goal on the first possession of the game, and an Ezekiel Elliott touchdown run in their next possession. After taking a 13-3 lead into halftime, New England could only hold onto the lead for so long, as Buffalo battled back to take a 25-22 lead with two minutes left in the game, thanks to two second-half touchdown passes and a touchdown run by Josh Allen. Allen finished the game 27-of-41 for 265 pass yards,

WHAT TO WATCH NFL THURSDAY, OCT. 26 WEEK 8 Tampa Bay at Buffalo (-8.5) 8:15 P.M. PRIME

SUNDAY, OCT. 29 New England at Miami (-9.5) 1 P.M. CBS Cincinnati at San Francisco (-5.5) 4:25 P.M. CBS Chicago at LA Chargers (-8.5) 8:20 P.M. NBC MONDAY, OCT. 30 Las Vegas at Detroit (-8.5) 8:15 P.M. ABC/ESPN NCAAF SATURDAY, OCT. 28 WEEK 9 #8 Oregon at #13 Utah (+6.5) 3:30 P.M. FOX Colorado at #23 UCLA (-17.5) 7:30 P.M. ABC

two touchdowns, an interception, and a lost fumble. It was the Bills’ second loss in three games. Buffalo is in second place in the AFC East, at 4-3. New England, now at 2-5, is still in last place in the AFC East, just behind the 3-3 New York Jets. The Patriots now head to Miami to take on the first-place Dolphins, who are 5-2 and are coming off a loss to the Eagles. Miami defeated the Patriots, 24-17, back in Week 2. The Dolphins are a 9.5-point favorite in Sunday’s Week 8 showdown. Lost in the excitement of a Patriots victory, was the fact that Belichick became the third NFL head coach with 300 career regular-season wins, joining Don Shula (328 wins) and George Halas (318). Including the playoffs, Belichick has a total of 331 career wins, which ranks second behind Shula’s 347, and ahead of Halas’ 324. After his 300th regular-season win, Belichick was asked about the milestone, and answered exactly the way anyone would expect. “I mean, it’s great,” said Belichick. “I’m really more focused on, you know, our team and this year. Worry about that later. Thank you.”

Belichick was also in the news before Sunday’s game against the Bills. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported over the weekend that Belichick signed a “lucrative, multiyear” contract extension with the Patriots in the offseason. “His contract is one of the most closely held secrets in New England,” said Rapoport on NFL Network. “That said, I think it’s fair to say there was some, at least, uncertainty or intrigue surrounding him. Now, contractually, he is locked up long-term.” The news of Belichick’s secret contract extension comes after some media speculation that Belichick’s job was in jeopardy, following a 1-5 start to the season. But whoever leaked this news to Rapoport did so with a clear intention of squashing that speculation. Belichick isn’t going anywhere. “Yeah, I never talk about my contract,” said Belichick when asked about the contract extension in his postgame press conference on Sunday. “I focus on the game and try to focus on Buffalo. Now I’ll focus on Miami. Yeah, you can count on that.” The Patriots and Dolphins kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Miami.