South Boston Today June 20 2024

Ranked Choice Voting Was Rejected Statewide Once Before

Boston City Council members led by Ruthzee Louijeune are supporting a new push to implement ranked choice voting in city elections.

Ranked choice voting is a system where voters rank candidates on their ballots in order of preference. A candidate that receives more than half of the first-choice votes wins, but races without a majority winner are determined by an “instant runoff.” This means that the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and voters who ranked that last-place candidate as their first choice will have their votes count for their second choice. The process then continues until there is a majority winner.

“Our commitment to democracy should be measured by our willingness to adapt and innovate. Adopting ranked choice voting means embracing a method that fosters greater engagement and reduced

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Summer Has Officially Arrived And Our Beaches Are Awesome

If you like to swim or just hang out at the beach and get the sun, it could not be more convenient if you are a local resident. Because for most people here, it’s just a walk or a short ride on the ‘T’ to get to what is now considered by recent surveys to be some of the finest urban beach front in an inner city neighborhood in the country. AND, the water is clean according to the results of testing done by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The DCR has the results and the water quality is amazing – it’s clean. And as long as this summer isn’t a washout without too many torrential down pours it should remain that way throughout the season. As most people know, when we have rainy summers, those conditions can often cause an uptick in bacteria which can cause the water quality to become less than healthy. But all indications point to it being a beautiful summer season which bodes well for those who love water sports or just like to be submerged in some cool, clear, clean

salt water.

While many residents also like to travel to out of town beaches whether it be to Cape Cod, Rhode Island or the fresh water lakes and ponds in the northern mountains, which are all beautiful and inviting destinations, we are fortunate to also have the opportunity to have such excellent choices locally; especially when travel might not be an option.

Think about it. There are very few large cities that have 3 miles of white sandy beaches within their borders and so easily accessible. The relatively few that do often impose a hefty parking fee if you want to bring your vehicle. South Boston’s beaches are free to park along the entire 3 mile expanse – at least so far.

The point of this editorial is not only to welcome the arrival of summer; where people have the opportunity to be outdoors in the fresh air after enduring that long dark New England winter with short days and long nights. It’s also to remind us that we have so many great recreational opportu-

“Never

nities and facilities located right here in our own back yard; chief among them our beautiful beach front. And in addition, to take this opportunity to urge our

friends and neighbors to take advantage of all this neighborhood has to offer in these summer months.

The days are long, the sun is shining bright, the air is warm and the nights are beautiful. This combination doesn’t last all that long in the northeast so why not take advantage of it, make the most of it and enjoy.

WInformation Center The Can We Trust That Every Election Is Secure?

ith the coming presidential election in November, there is a growing suspicion among the American public that the federal government; along with the news media and so called world elites will try to resurrect, if not the Covid 19 scare again, something similar as voting draws near. The giant venomous flying Goro Spiders seem to be given a test run to see how the public reacts. The Murder Hornets of 2 years passed had no real effect. The suspected reasoning behind this is said to be to either frighten people enough so they are afraid to come out into public like last time and if that doesn’t work, actually mandate that people not leave their homes – you know, like last time in some states. The desired result is for voter turnout in person be limited and voting from home by mail be encouraged. And many people now think they know why.

It’s often been said that it’s sometimes not who gets the most votes that decides elections; it’s who COUNTS the votes that does. This is a saying that has always been used to describe elections in Communist countries and other dictatorships and up until recent years, never in America. But now, some people aren’t so sure anymore. And yet, the actual counting of votes isn’t the only way to manipulate the outcome. Dictatorships have often attempted to imprison the opposition. Sound familiar?

Let’s not forget, Joe Biden and his administration; claiming that protecting Americans from Covid was their goal, forced thousands of loyal US military personnel out of the service because those soldiers, sailors and Marines refused to allow the vaccine to be injected into their bodies, while at the same time, Biden brought millions of unvaccinated illegal migrants into the country - so

much for the ‘my body my choice’ party. And now, the big news this week is how Biden is pushing a short cut path to citizenship for hundreds of thousands of people here illegally. Is there a plan here; maybe a specific agenda that only the hopelessly naïve aren’t wondering about?

Yes, there is more than one way to manipulate elections. Could this be a two; maybe a three pronged plan? Dare to question them about it and we get the ‘you’re trying to destroy our democracy’ outrage response. Or, they toss the ‘Conspiracy Theorist’ label at you. But if we’ve learned anything in 2024 it’s that most of what have been initially called conspiracy theories turn out to have some truth to them and in some cases, they are right on the mark. And remember, as Americans, we have the right to seek truth; whether the effort makes those in high places uncomfortable or not. A couple of decades ago, there was a saying that could be seen on posters, on bumper stickers and even emblazoned on T-Shirts. It read ‘Question Authority’. It’s a saying as relevant now as it was then and it is the absolute right of every American to do so.

I mentioned the term ‘world elites’ in one of the above paragraphs. As most know, it’s a term that refers to certain mega wealthy people in the world; such as those who meet in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum or WEF who believe that they have the duty and the right to make decisions for everyone else on Earth. They figure that they have the money and the power which gives them the authority to decide how the rest of us will live. A perfect example of someone who follows that line of thought is Bill Gates. For those who haven’t been following what the guy has been up to lately he is working to develop a technology called ‘Solar

Geoengineering’. What its supposed to do is dim the sun’s rays. That’s right, using the excuse to combat ‘Global Warming’, if successful, it will spread certain types of dust particles into the atmosphere that will help block the sun’s rays and lower the temperature of the planet. He’s working in cooperation with Harvard University (of course) to experiment with and test the process. And yet, Gates and Harvard and others pushing this plan seem to think that the Earth belongs to them, that they can do whatever they feel like to it and the rest of us will just have to go along with it. Their attitudes highlight the sheer arrogance of these people that

they can make the decisions for the world’s population.

Of course there’s no guarantee that their plan will work. And there is always that chance that what they’re doing will cause negative results. But the way most people see it, the Earth belongs to all of its inhabitants. It isn’t the domain of Bill Gates, Harvard University or any other individual or organization to be tampering with. Let them sail their yachts, dwell in their mansions and leave the rest of us alone and oh, leave the weather alone. The Earth’s climate has been changing just fine on its own for a billion years. It doesn’t need the help of ego consumed megalomaniacs. One more comment: This sun dimming scheme is said to have been kept quiet and under wraps from the public for some time so as not to concern the public. Any tidbit of information that was leaked about it was dismissed as just another ‘conspiracy theory’. But what do you know? Another one has been exposed as real.

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

SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone

Double Barreled Legislative Action

Simultaneous action in the House and Senate is about to become a regular occasion as the days go on, and this week, lawmakers will tackle both climate and maternal health. The House’s maternal health bill, which lawmakers have been crafting at the committee level for some time, is set to include proposals aiming to increase access to birthing centers, postpartum screening and midwifery.

Rumblings about a climate bill have been common on Beacon Hill for months, and top Democrats have put off releasing any concrete proposal until now. The Senate will take up two bills: a push to rein in the use of plastics, and another measure handling siting, permitting and electric supply regulation reforms. Under the current process, siting and permitting clean energy projects can take years and require multiple permits. At the rate of change that Massachusetts

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.

needs to meet its 2050 net-zero emissions goals, that timeline isn’t cutting it — so the Senate is proposing a different, single-permit approval approach its leaders say attempts to expedite the review process. While concerns have been raised that the Legislature’s approach will cut back on local control, Senate President Karen Spilka said the bill “gives lots of opportunities” for cities and towns to offer input.

The Senate’s siting bill also bans allegedly predatory competitive electric suppliers from enrolling new residential customers, attempts to increase EV infrastructure access, and enforces state property emissions evaluation. And add onto the day’s work a second Senate bill, which would ban single-use plastic bag distribution in retail stores and prohibit state agencies from purchasing single-use plastic bottles. What Senators

choose to focus on today will depend on which amendments survive private chats, and while the Senate’s plastics bill has a mere 26 amendments — one of which addresses the controversial nip bottles — its siting bill sits at 122, covering everything from offshore wind, to zoning, to electrification.

How do Boston schools teach desegregation 50 years after its end?

This week marks 50 years since the order to desegregate Boston Public Schools, and yet state standards don’t require schools to teach the history of busing in the city — they only recommend it, reports GBH’s Saraya Wintersmith. Individual teachers have to prioritize it if they want to teach their students — the district, however, started offering professional development courses for new teachers on how to build those lesson plans, bringing to light

a host of historical events that students, and even many teachers, had no idea about.

What’s to blame for Tuesday’s statewide 911 outage?

A firewall system that stopped calls from reaching dispatch centers caused the statewide 911 shutdown on Tuesday, and while the investigation continues, the telecommunications operator at the helm told the state it has already found solutions ensuring the breakdown won’t happen again. This was the second time in the past three months the state’s 911 system went down, reports the Globe’s Nick Stoico, but officials say they don’t know of any emergencies impacted during the time the line was down Tuesday.

Ballot question campaigns surge on with signatures filed to local elections offices

As the Tuesday deadline

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REP. BIELE SECURES $400,000 in house budget to support TREATMENT AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMs

House budget includes $193.5 million for the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services

Recently, State Representative David Biele joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).

Funded at $58 billion, the House budget includes substantial investments in public health and mental health programs, funding the Department of Public Health at $1 billion and the Department of Mental Health at $1.18 billion for FY25. To combat the addiction epidemic, the House budget invests $193.5 million in the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS).

During the House’s budget debate, Representative Biele filed and successfully advocated for the adoption of several amendments to provide funding for local substance use treatment and recovery programs as well as behavioral health programs.

“Every community in the Commonwealth has

felt the impacts of addiction and substance use, which highlight the continued importance of recovery and behavioral health supportive programs” said Rep. Biele.

“These crucial investments will ensure that providers with proven track records will continue to provide to life-saving mental health and treatment services to the most vulnerable. I am grateful to my colleagues for their support of these crucial resources.”

Collectively, Rep. Biele secured $400,000 to support programs that provide behavioral health continuum of care and comprehensive substance abuse and narcotic use reduction services at the Gavin Foundation, the Joseph Nee Collaborative Center, and the South Boston Community Health Center.

“The Gavin Foundation is most grateful for Rep. Biele’s legislative and budgetary support for the recovery community,” said John McGahan of the

Gavin Foundation.

“We are grateful to Rep. Biele for securing funds in the House budget to support recovery services and for his years of advocacy at the State House,” said Andy Ward, Executive Director of the Joseph Nee Collaborative Center.

“Rep. Biele has been a champion for South Boston Community Health Center in the House. He has secured funding in the House budget for critical Behavioral Health programs that help us to address the needs of our patients. We are grateful for his leadership,” said William J. Halpin, CEO of the South Boston Community Health Center.

The state budget is currently being reconciled by a six-member conference committee, which will produce a final compromise spending plan to send to the Governor for review and signature.

In-Person Public Meeting

South Boston Transportation Action Plan

Project Description:

South Boston Transportation Action Plan (SBTAP) DRAFT Recommendations Public Meeting

Location:

Tynan Elementary School Cafeteria, 650 East 4th St, South Boston 02127

Mail to: Jim Fitzgerald

Boston Planning & Development Agency

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

Phone: 617.918.4327

Email: SouthBostonTAP@boston.gov

Close of Public Comment Period: 7/27/2024 Website: bit.ly/3RbAsAo

@BostonPlans BostonPlans.org Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

BOSTON LOGAN I N TE RNATIONAL A IRPORT 2022 EN VIRONMEN TAL STATUS & P LANNING REP O RT (ESPR) I NFORMATION SE SSION

Massport will host a public information session (in-person & virtual) on the 2022 Logan Environmental Status & Planning Report (2022 Logan ESPR). This hybrid information session will be in English and Spanish.

The hybrid information session will take place: Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. Cathy Leonard-McLean Community Room at the Logan Airport Rental Car Center* 15 Transportation Way East Boston, MA 02128

To access the meeting link and for more information, please visit: www.massport.com/logan-airport/about-logan/environmental-reports/

Additional languages for the Public Information Session on the 2022 Logan ESPR will be available upon request. Requests for additional languages are due by Friday, June 21, 2024. For more information or to request translation services, contact community@massport.com.

Massport requested an extension of the public comment period for the 2022 Logan ESPR, which began on June 7, 2024, and will last for approximately 60 days until the close of public comments on August 6, 2024.

Written comments on the ESPR may be submitted by August 6, 2024 to:

The Honorable Rebecca L. Tepper, Secretary

Executive O ce of Energy and Environmental A airs Attn: MEPA O ce Jennifer Hughes, EEA No. 3247 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900 Boston, MA 02114

Electronic comments may also be submitted on the MEPA Public Comments Portal at: https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/EEA/PublicComment/Landing/

Please note that an electronic copy of the 2022 Logan ESPR is available on Massport’s website at: www.massport.com/massport/about-massport/project-environmental-filings/logan-airport/

Hard copies of the 2022 Logan ESPR may be obtained by emailing Brad Washburn at bwashburn@massport.com during the public comment period.

*The Rental Car Center is accessible via the MBTA Blue Line Airport Station then use of Massport’s On-Airport Shuttle bus (Bus 22, 33 or 55).

SUMMER STREET PILOT PROGRAM

COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE

The City of Boston is hosting three open house events for the Summer Street Pilot Program. This is your opportunity to engage directly with the City and share your feedback on the pilot. Your input is vital to shaping the future of Summer Street. Join the City to ask questions, hear updates on the pilot, and enjoy complimentary food and refreshments.

TUESDAY, JUNE 11

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

MA 02127 Scan to Register

Can’t make it to a meeting?

Visit boston.gov/summerstreetpilot to learn more and provide feedback via email at transit@boston.gov.

Virtual Public Meeting

Zoom Link: bit.ly/RLFMPJuly11

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864

Meeting ID: 160 376 4447

Project Proponent: The Coastal Resilience Delivery Team of the City of Boston Planning Department

Project Description: The RLFMP Flood Mitigation Planning & Feasibility Study aims to refine coastal protection options developed through CRS South Boston and advance the Master Plan sustainability and resilience vision by developing a feasible and implementable stakeholder-supported solutions that protect against current and future coastal flooding that support marine industrial uses and ship-to-shore transfer of goods. The Study, initiated by the Coastal Resilience Delivery Team of the City of Boston Planning Department in Spring 2023, is provided technical support by a consultant team led by Arcadis. The project team, working closely with stakeholders including Massport, marine-dependent businesses and other tenants, and the Boston Marine Park Business Association to complete an existing conditions analysis; risk and vulnerability assessments, alternative district-scale coastal resilience strategies and alignments, seeks to present and solicit community feedback on preferred alternatives.

Mail to: Dolores Fazio

Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201

Phone: 617.918.6209

Email: Dolores.fazio@boston.gov

Voting continued from front page polarization,” Council President Ruthzee Louijeune said during a meeting Wednesday. Proponents argue that ranked choice voting increases turnout, stops “gatekeeping,” gives voters more of a voice, and prevents “vote splitting.”

Louijeune introduced the home rule petition, with councilors Julia Mejia and Henry Santana as initial co-sponsors. Councilors Liz Breadon, Tania Fernandes Anderson, Enrique Pepén, Benjamin Weber, and Brian Worrell added their names after some discussion. It was referred to the Committee on Government Operations and will be the subject of future hearings and working sessions.

In 2020, the ranked-choice voting ballot initiative in Massachusetts was defeated by about 10 percentage points, according to Associated Press returns, despite being wellfinanced campaign with thousands of volunteers.

Some political scientists say the proposed change to the state’s election system may have appeared too confusing. “These are turbulent times, and the status quo is always a safer choice than change in general,” said Suffolk University Political Science Professor Rachael Cobb at the time as reported by GBH News. “If people are hearing

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that it’s complicated, especially when they’re feeling like life is really complicated, they may say, ‘You know, we’ve been doing it this other way for a long time, it seems to be OK. Why change?’”

Cobb supported the question, which would have allowed voters to select multiple candidates for an elected position, ranked in order of preference. Supporters argued the system would be especially helpful in elections like the crowded Democratic primary for the 4th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Joe Kennedy III.

“Most voters don’t have any experience with ranked-choice voting,” said Political Science Professor Peter Ubertaccio, dean of the Thomas and Donna May School of Arts & Sciences at Stonehill College. “Most voters don’t have any experience with any other kind of electoral system. So to inject a change such as that into the process of voting really requires some explanation in terms of what folks are hoping to achieve and then how it’s going to work — and also the pros and cons of such a change

That explanation, Ubertaccio said, does not seem to have been heard or accepted by voters, possibly because of a confluence of factors during this election. “Ballot questions in presidential election years suffer

passed for ballot question campaigns to get voter signatures into local elections offices for review, all six proposed ballot question campaigns confirmed they filed the signatures: the campaigns to audit the Legislature, increase wages for tipped workers, allow app-based drivers to unionize, classify those drivers as independent contractors, eliminate the MCAS as a graduation requirement, and decriminalize psychedelic substances. There’s still time for lawmakers to find a way to keep any of the questions off the ballot, but it’s running out — in 10 days, campaigns must file their signatures with the secretary of state’s office to lock in a spot.

Juneteenth flag-raising points to history of reparations, education, legislative to-do’s State lawmakers gathered Wednesday for a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony, where Rep. Bud Williams spoke to the history of reparations for formerly enslaved people, Gov. Maura

from a lack of political oxygen,” he said. “Everyone’s thinking about the big races.” Also, he said, proponents of ballot questions usually rely on community forums to get their message out. “Community forums are very difficult to do in a pandemic,” Ubertaccio said.

Without those forums, he said, those supporting the measure were left to rely on television advertising, “which is not always the best place to get at some of the underlying issues for complicated matters of public policy or electoral policy.” Ubertaccio said changes like this are better made through the legislative process, where there’s more room for thoughtful conversation. “But ranked-choice voting could very likely threaten the electoral paths for members of the legislature, so it’s not likely that we’re going to see the change there,” he added.

At the time, Gov. Charlie Baker cited the added costs for holding elections and the complications that ranked-choice voting could present to the state’s election system as he explained his opposition to the ballot question last week. “We’re seeing right now how tough elections are already and how complicated they can become, and to add this labyrinth into the system is just a terrible idea, and the average person gets that,” said former Massachusetts

Healey pointed to the equity and inclusion the state is striving for in “law and in policy and in action,” and Sen. Lydia Edwards nodded to the continued fight for freedom of education. Others pointed to the end of the session in six weeks, and the policy that they want to see done to support Black and brown communities

Less sex, drug use from BPS students, but more sadness

Survey results from last year’s Boston Public Schools’ Youth Risk Behavior Survey show that students continue to engage in less risky behavior, like having sex and doing drugs, but increasingly feel sad or hopeless. That number has been increasing for a decade the result of which some think has to do with tendencies to socialize remotely. The Globe’s Christopher Huffaker has the details about other behaviors charted in BPS’ survey, between smoking, drug use and safe sex.

Schools say state funding ‘glitch’ caused by rising costs, inflation is fixable

secretary of state candidate Anthony Amore, who served as a spokesperson for the campaign against the ballot question.

Those opposing ranked-choice voting were vastly outspent by the campaign supporting the ballot question, which took in nearly $10 million, in large part from out-of-state contributors. Amore said all that money might not have been an asset. “One thing that didn’t ring true for voters is the promise of the pro side that it would get money out of politics, while they were bringing in around $10 million to implement it,” Amore said. “So that seemed incongruous, I think, to people.”

In acknowledging the defeat, the ballot question’s proponents highlighted that the campaign received over 128,000 signatures to get the question on the ballot and had 7,400 volunteers. “Even amidst a global pandemic, we were able to mobilize a movement to strengthen our democracy in a time when it’s needed most,” Yes on 2 Campaign Manager Cara Brown McCormick said in a statement. “We were attempting to do something historic in Massachusetts and fell short, but the incredible groundswell of support from volunteers and reformers that assembled behind this campaign is reason enough to stay optimistic about the future of our democracy.”

The Student Opportunity Act created an additional $878M in state aid for K-12 schools through FY25, but a provision in the Chapter 70 funding law limits inflation adjustments by no more than 4.5 percent — so when districts saw their costs driven up by inflation of almost twice that, they were left suffering while the inflation adjustment remains capped. Analysts and advocates say that if the SOA were to match inflation, there would be $465M in additional funding, and that 220 districts would take a piece of it home.

Calls for implementation of a CCC overseer

On Tuesday, Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffery Shapiro penned a letter to legislative leaders calling on them to appoint a “receiver” for the Cannabis Control Commission, an agency he called “rudderless.” Officials are reviewing the letter, which came days after the CCC stripped its executive director of her daily oversight role, and in the wake of openings and a suspension in the agency.

Guy The Wine Heatbeaters

With the temperatures we’ve had recently, I couldn’t think of a better category of wines to discuss than the following. Though they’re different types from different areas, the one thing they all have in common is that they can stand up to the heat and provide not just relief, but refreshment as well.

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier White Wine, California, ($10.99). Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier is an aromatic white blend that offers a bouquet of honeysuckle, orange blossoms, ruby grapefruit, white peach, and jasmine tea. With a bright and mouth filling entry, it exhibits refreshing acidity and roundness. The palate reveals flavors of tangerine, lime, lemon curd, lemongrass, ginger, white peach, and green apple. It finishes clean and long with a lingering hint of lime.

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, 2019, ($33.99). Notes of lemon verbena, citrus blossom, peach, subtle jasmine, and mango. Juicy on the entry with a beautiful acidity, a note of richness, and a long finish. This one pairs well with Spring vegetable frittata and fish tacos. Its blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Sémillon gives it that crisp, refreshing edge that really stands up to the heat.

ELY CHARDONNAY PASO ROBLES, 2020, ($23.99). The Ely by Callaway Cellars Chardonnay comes from the cool west side of the Paso Robles appellation where grapes experience warm days and cool nights, resulting in rich robust aromas and flavors. This wine opens with forward aromas of ripe green apples and creamy butterscotch, followed by rich, round, and ripe pear and pineapple flavors with vanilla oak spice on the finish.

Founded more than 40 years ago by Ely Reeves Callaway, legend and pioneer in both viticulture and golf alike, Callaway harnesses classic California coastal varieties to craft fruit forward, full-bodied wines for everyday enjoyment.

Moscato Bianco, Asti, Italy, ($26.99). This moscato comes from Italy’s renowned Asti region where we found incredibly lush, flavorful grapes for this sweet, fruit-forward wine. Pairs perfectly with cozying up on a Sunday evening under a blanket, Netflix, and ice cream. Aromatic, delicate, and intense with a graceful fruity finale, this is a vibrant wine with flavors of nectarine, honey, and peach. Despite its sweetness, you’ll find that this one can also, “take the heat” and still deliver real refreshment.

Feudi Di San Gregorio 2022, Fiano Di Avellino, ($29.95). Feudi di San Gregorio was established in 1986 in Sorbo Serpico, a tiny village in Campania’s Irpinia region, near Mount Vesuvius, by the Capaldo and Ercolino families from Irpinia. This highly acclaimed winery encourages you to rediscover the identity of Mediterranean flavors through indigenous grapes that reach their full potential with a modern winemaking approach. The color is a definitive golden yellow with green reflections. There are sharp sensations of the Mediterranean: fresh flowers such as chamomile, yellow peach and candied orange. On the palate, there are typical notes of the softness of the vine that are supplemented by freshness and minerality. Wine Enthusiast rated this 90 Points saying, “Lemons and yellow apples are on the nose with a distinct honey-nut element that evolves into cooked apples and toasted almonds on the palate, complemented by lemon curd and freshly squeezed lemon.”

Sweet Side

Many of the fastest-growing wines in the world today are not what you’d expect. Insead of being dry with a full body and long finish, they’re sweet, very often sparkling, with shorter finishes and lighter bodies. Whether you’re already enjoying this category or are considering a change, I think you’ll enjoy the following…..

Vietti Moscato d’Asti Cascinetta Vietti, Italy, ($16.99). The grapes for this wine are selected from vineyards on the Vietti estate located in Castiglione Tinella. Only the best Moscato grapes with extended maturation are used for the Cascinetta. The grapes are crushed, pressed and naturally clarified. Must is stored, without sulfite, at low temperature in order to naturally prevent fermentation. The result is a wine with notes of sweet fruits, honeysuckle and caramel. It’s typically enjoyed with lighter foodssalads, grilled chicken and shellfish.

Domaine Des Nouelles Rosé d’Anjou, Loire Valley, France, ($12.99).In Anjou, one of the Loire Valley’s major wine-producing zones, reds and rosés made from cabernet franc are of great renown. Unlike the dry rosés of Touraine, Sancerre and other Loire-based appellations, rosés from Anjou (Rosé d’Anjou) are known for being off-dry and slightly sweet. This bottle from Domaine des Nouelles is fruit-driven, bright, and loaded with flavors of sweet cherries, red currants and rose petals. Serve chilled with sweet crepes, a fresh bowl of strawberries or simply sip it solo.

Niepoort Ruby Port, Douro, Portugal, ($17.99).When the Niepoort family moved from Holland to the

Douro region of Portugal in 1842, one of the great Port houses of Oporto began. And in 1987, as the fifth generation to make fortified wines for the family business, Dirk Niepoort started following a brand-new path. Considered a true Renaissance man, Dirk continues to make Port using the same traditional methods as his ancestors while also leading the way as one of Portugal’s most innovative, creative, and exciting producers of dry table wine. Dark red in color, with a fresh vibrant aroma of dark fruits which follows through on the palate along with a mineral character, this is a youthful wine with good extract and great balance, offering superb drinkability.

Patrick Bottex Bugey-Cerdon La Cueille, Savoie, France, ($22.99). Vin du Bugey-Cerdon is an unusual non-vintage sparkling red wine from the Savoie in eastern France.

A blend of 80% Gamay with 20% Poulsard (a local grape), Patrick Bottex’s ‘La Cueille’ is a deep rose in color with a lovely taste of wild strawberries. Ever so slightly sweet, it makes a delightful aperitif, or party wine. And with just 8% alcohol in it, you can feel free to open a bottle for an afternoon dessert fest. Pair it with strawberry shortcake, cookies and even soft, ripe cheeses.

Freedom Park - A Dystopian Novella by Kevin Devlin

Local author Kevin Devlin pens a story that gives the reader of the early 2020’s a scenario in which students in academia and readers in general are probably more familiar today than their counterparts of the mid twentieth century were when books about dystopian societies were in vogue.

The book is titled Freedom Park and was published in 2023 – with a premise consisting of those features of a dehumanized society emphasizing those elements pervasive in a dystopian setting: the collective versus the individual, and the manipulation of a subservient population living in an urban environment deprived of the natural world and its elements by an omnipresent totalitarian government.

Of course, the fear of an oppressive government along with physical authority allows the state to not only control, but manipulate a population whose individual attributes are expunged to execute ample power to further advance the purpose of its leadership.

The reason that today’s readers might be more aware of the circumstances that the author describes is due to current day concerns respective to political and cultural challenges internationally.

The novella is narrated by Sean; he introduces the story and the characters within his circle, referred to as “Associates,” who live within the restrained walls of a “Citizen Enrichment Opportunity Community.” Sean takes the reader through the daily routine of this structured society, including providing background of those who are in command –the “Keepers,” those who make sure society functions per the dictates of the state; and

the Keepers, in turn have their superiors – those who operate at the highest level called the Supreme Council – the core governmental structure that keeps all in order and exists for the benefit of all it serves.

Although books by George Orwell, Ray Bradbury, Aldous Huxley and others wrote of similar situations, their settings and hypotheses were produced during eras where certain political philosophies and economic systems were perceived as a threat to the established capitalist economies of the First and emerging developing worlds.

However, now, despite almost a century since many of the previous century’s stories of a dystopian world were written, we find the world in a position where those admonishments have come to haunt the contemporary polity.

The audience must be discerning yet cautious; it is essential to look at Freedom Park as a work of fiction, which, of course it is. But, can the exclusion of knowledge, thinking, reasoning and individual aptitudes be something compromised? Most would argue no; in fact, this would be to the detriment of a healthy and effective society.

The elimination of distinct personalities – and the emphasis on a cooperative and collective society at the exclusion of the uniqueness of the individual is something no doubt that could portend injurious – not just to that singular individual but to the society at large and indeed, the world!

Albeit a novella, this narrative is definitely thought provoking - as the twentieth century experienced vestiges of governments compromised with collectivist ideology with its themes that do not dispel forewarning.

Freedom Park is blatant in its message.

Freedom Park is an engaging story unfolding over its 125 pages with thirty seven chapters; the audience is transported to a time and place where a small group of “Associates” who ultimately decide to journey on their own quest for freedom -- a quest which eventually gives them a whole new understanding of what the society from which their escaping is really about!

Freedom Park would be a good addition to your summer reading list!

Freedom Park is published by Y42K Publishing Services and is available online.

Book Review by John Joseph Fahey

A South Boston Tradition Continues At Ft. Independence

The annual Flag Retirement Ceremony was held at Ft. Independence on Flag Day, June 14, 2024. The Patriotic ceremony is hosted by the Castle Island Association. The meaning and history of Old Glory is read, the Pledge of Allegiance is recited, Taps is played and our US Flags that are torn and tattered are retired with respect and honor.

Harry McDonough Sailing Center Fundraiser 2024!

Last Thursday, The Harry McDonough Sailing Center held its annual fundraiser and sign up for the 2024 season. Southie’s own Thomas Park was entertaining the crowd with their amazing talent, we know they never disappoint and

Papa George LoCascio was making magic on the grill feeding the guests and volunteers. While the program is instructional and social, the program pays it forward. The sign up registers children who are interested in learning to sail, building on teamwork

and making friends. As they age out, they often become summer workers and then as we saw last Thursday, they come back as volunteers and supporters. Harry would be proud. Special shout out to the Board, sponsors, elected officials and leadership

teams. Happy Sailing and Happy Summer 2024.

To the staff, enjoy that new, well deserved, air-conditioned trailer!

*Contributions and donations can be made to Harry McDonough Sailing Center, PO Box 354 –South Boston, MA 02127.

South Boston Catholic Academy News

End

of the Year Highlights

The end of the school year

has been a very busy time for South Boston Catholic Academy. To start our day off, our SBCA Children’s Choir wonderfully performed “The Star Spangled Banner” for the entire school in the gym and all the students enjoyed singing fun songs in music class, as well. The St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry thanked the Student Council at SBCA for managing a very successful food drive to replenish the much needed food pantry for the spring months. Families had a great time getting together at the Spring Dance. The Spring Scholastic Book Fair was a big success. Students in the younger grades loved learning all about the life of butterflies, watching them change, growing their beauti-

ful wings and then setting them free to enjoy their new life. We also welcomed our Mystery Readers. The children loved to see which parent/ family member and/or special guests who came to read some of their favorite stories to the entry class.

We thank all our Mystery Readers, including our special guest readers,

Father Peter Schirripa, our Parochial Vicar, and Children’s Librarian Dani Crickman, the Children’s Librarian at the South Boston Branch Library.

The SBCA Drama Club gave an outstanding performance of their play Aladdin for their classmates, families and friends. The students in third grade read a book of their choice and did cereal box book reports. They also got to try acting as all of them recorded commercials

for their cereal. The cereal boxes looked great and the commercials were creative, funny and made us all want to run out and read the books they chose! All the students thoroughly enjoyed Field Day, where they had a chance to celebrate the school year coming to an end, show some school spirit and spend a day participating in fun-filled activities. The students enjoyed their last weeks of school by going on great field trips and having end of the year pizza parties and many awards ceremonies in their classrooms. The sixth graders did an amazing job with their Sports Research Fair. Shout out to the 6th Grade Graduations Class of 2023-2024!

We want to thank everyone for another fabulous school year. We are excited to continue to offer the most innovative programs and opportunities for our students. We are fortunate to have highly qualified staff who are committed to the

success of each and every student’s learning. This will not change for the next school year. We want to thank Home and School for their outstanding support and especially Benji Clause for his unwavering support and leadership on behalf of SBCA! A shoutout to all our wonderful students, families, friends, faculty and staff for another great year! As we all know, “It takes a village!” Enjoy the time with family and friends, Principal of SBCA, Dr. Civian, Assistant Principal, Mrs. Moriarty, Director of the Early Childhood Center, Mrs. Murphy, and our SBCA Faculty and Staff! We look forward to seeing many of you at Summer Camp over the summer and look forward to another fabulous 2024-2025 school year ahead! New families are welcome to email our admissions team at admissions@sbcatholicadacademy. org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy.

They did it. The Celtics won the NBA Title. And now, back to something we’re used to here in Boston: a championship parade.

Here’s the full press release from the Mayor’s office:

Today, Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston public safety officials, and Celtics leadership shared preparations for Friday’s rolling rally championship parade to celebrate the Boston Celtics’ 18th NBA Championships. Beginning at 11:00 a.m., Celtics players will ride on Duck Boats, starting at TD Garden on Causeway Street, passing by City Hall Plaza and the Boston Common, and ending on Boylston Street by the Hynes Convention Center.

“We are so proud of the Celtics players on and off the basketball court and are ecstatic to host a celebration for banner number 18,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “While we know how to host a parade in the city of champions, we are reminding everyone to celebrate responsibly, stay hydrated and mindful of the hot temperatures, and reach out to one of the many public safety officials who will be present along the route if you see something that needs attention.”

In anticipation of hot temperatures, Mayor Wu and Boston public safety officials are reminding spectators to stay hydrated and use sunscreen. Underage

and public drinking of alcohol will not be tolerated. Boston Police and Boston EMS will have a large presence along the parade route. The Office of Emergency Management will have misting tents out to provide cooling relief located at City Hall Plaza and the Boston Common, along with cooling towels.

Residents are encouraged to sign up for Alertboston emergency notifications at boston.gov/alertboston.

“Congratulations to the Celtics for their long deserved 18th banner. I want to make sure that we thank our State police partners, NEMLEC partners, and other public safety partners that have helped deal with the celebration last night, who will also help us in this year’s rolling rally coming up,” said Commissioner Michael A. Cox, Boston Police Department.

“Please be aware of your surroundings in general -- if you see something that looks suspicious, please say something by dialing 911. This is a championship City and I’m sure our crowds will continue to show that Boston’s the best in the world.”

While the previously declared heat emergency will have ended by Friday, first responders will be ready to help those feeling adverse effects from the heat.

“As we celebrate the Celtics and their victory, it’s important to do so responsibly,” said Boston EMS Chief James Hooley.

This week, Danny shared information for the upcoming Boston Celtics NBA Championship parade:

“Remember to look out for one another, take care of each other, and make sure everyone is safe. If someone doesn’t seem okay, get help right away.”

City streets in the West End, Downtown, and Back Bay will be shut down to normal vehicular traffic for the parade route. A full list of street closures can be found here. A parking ban on impacted streets will begin at midnight on Friday morning so crews can start securing the parade route. Streets will shut down to normal traffic beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Friday.

Commuters are encouraged to work remotely if possible and avoid driving through the downtown area during the late morning and early afternoon Friday. Parade attendees and commuters are encouraged to take public transportation.

To accommodate higher-than-normal ridership, the MBTA will operate increased subway service and modified Commuter Rail schedules with additional train times before and after the parade. Riders are strongly encouraged to purchase roundtrip fares in advance. Riders can find more information on MBTA service, parking, paying fares, and more for Friday’s championship parade at mbta.com/Celtics.

Additional MBTA staff, Transit Ambassadors, Keolis personnel, and Transit Police will be deployed throughout

the system to assist with safety and wayfinding. Station platforms may become crowded, and as a safety precaution, riders are reminded to stay behind the yellow line when on platforms and not to obstruct closing doors of subway vehicles. Bikes will not be allowed on any subway or Commuter Rail trains on Friday. Riders can call the MBTA call center at 617-222-3200 for more information. To report an emergency, riders can dial 911, call the MBTA Transit Police Department at 617-2221212, or use the SeeSay mobile app to anonymously report an issue.

Accessible seating will be available to watch the parade on City Hall Plaza on the Cambridge Street side and outside of the Boston Public Library on Boylston Street.

“What stands out most about this group is their dedication to being team players and winning as a collective group,” said Rich Gotham, Boston Celtics Team President. “They achieved a historic feat through hard work and dedication, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to celebrate with the most incredible fans in the world this Friday in Boston.”

More information can be found on boston.gov/celtics. A map of the parade route can also be found on the webpage.

Follow Danny on instagram @ DannyPicard.

What to Watch

SPORTS TODAY

CELTICS WIN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP, BROWN NAMED MVP

The Boston Celtics won their 17th NBA Championship on June 17, 2008. Exactly 16 years later, to the day, the Celtics won their 18th NBA Championship on Monday night at the TD Garden.

Boston defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 106-88, in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, sealing the deal on a playoff run that saw the C’s lose only three games total. They never lost more than one game in a single series, having beaten the Miami Heat in five games in the first round, the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games in the second round, sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, and then finishing off the Mavericks in five games in the NBA Finals.

Jalen Brown was named Finals MVP.

“I share this with my brothers and my partner in crime Jayson Tatum,” Brown said after being given the award.

“I can’t even put into words the emotions,” Brown told the media after the championship win. “It’s just I’m blessed and I’m grateful. This was a full team effort. We had a great team. My teammates were great. They allowed me to lead us on both ends of ball, and we just came out and performed on our home floor. It’s just amazing.

“You know, [the Finals MVP] could have gone to anybody,” said Brown. “It could have gone to Jayson. Jayson, like I can’t talk enough about his self-

Tweet of the Week

lessness. I can’t talk enough about his attitude. It’s just how he approached not just this series or the Finals but just the playoffs in general. And we did it together as a team, and that was the most important thing.”

Brown finished the playoffs averaging 23.9 points per game, 3.3 assists per game, and 5.9 rebounds per game.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics in scoring (25 points per game), rebounds (9.7 rebounds per game), and assists (6.3 assists per game). In the clinching Game 5 of the Finals on Monday night, Tatum finished with a game-high 31 points and 11 assists.

“It means the world, said Tatum as he was accepting the NBA Championship. “It’s been a long time. And damn I’m grateful.

“I mean, this is going to be a night that I will remember for the rest of my life, from the game, the celebration, these moments,” Tatum told the media after the win. “Over the last couple years, we had some tough losses at home in the playoffs. We’ve lost the NBA championship at home in front of our fans. We had a chance to beat Miami in Game 6 a few years ago and lost that one.

“So to have a big win, the biggest win that you could have in front of your home crowd, I felt like that was really important to go out there and do everything in my power to make sure we won this game tonight.”

With Tatum and Brown still very much in their prime in their 20’s, the Celtics open as the favorite to win next year’s NBA Championship, at +300. The Denver Nuggets have the next-best odds to win next year’s title at +750, followed by the Minnesota Timberwolves at +850, the Mavericks at +900, and the Milwaukee Bucks at +1000.

For now though, these C’s will embrace this season and this title, which was the first for veteran Al Horford.

“The first thing you have to do when you come here is you have to embrace that pressure,” Horford said to the media after the championship win. “And I was ok with being in that position. I was ok if we were getting criticized and we weren’t getting it

done because I understood what it means playing here.

“Our group, we’ve had a lot of hardships the last few years. Last year, heartbreaker against Miami in Game 7. The year before, Golden State. It’s been building up. But this team has been resilient, and we’ve continued to work. I’m so proud of Jaylen [Brown], and I’m so proud of Jayson [Tatum]. Those two guys continue to take steps forward. People all year criticizing them, all that expectation, all the pressure.

“They did it,” added Horford. “And they’ve done it at a young age. They led our group. I’m just very proud of those guys and to put everything aside and focus on winning.”

SBT Staff