SouthBoston
With MCAS Testing Gone Time Will
With the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) successful effort to eliminate MCAS testing as a requirement for graduation, the pressure to educate the very diverse and challenging student population in Boston is more than ever squarely on teachers to teach. Assessment of the changes in the exam school admission policy, and those school’s adherence to excellence in administering intensive curriculum, coupled with this MCAS change and its effect on ensuring that the fundamental pillars of a quality and measurable basic education are learned, will not be realized for several
Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, it doesn’t matter in which branch of the United States Armed Forces our veterans served, those men and women put their private lives on hold for the purpose of defending our very way of life. To serve one’s country; often putting themselves in harm’s way to do their part to protect their fellow country men and women is something each and every American should
be grateful for. Monday, November 11th, has officially been designated as Veteran’s Day – a federal holiday. But in the hearts, minds and souls of most South Bostonians, every day makes us proud of those who have served and still do. The different branches of the service have full time active military as well as reservists and of course we have the National Guard. All of them – every last one of them, who wears the uniform of our country, serve a vital purpose; they protect us all. Since our nation was founded more than 200 years ago, to the present year of 2024, the United States Military has been the life line that has allowed America to continue to exist and to prosper. If not for our veterans throughout our history, there would be no America today. It’s just that simple. Our military has also been a force for good that has literally saved the world from falling
victim to brutal and cruel forces of corrupt monarchies early in our history, and in modern times, from the evil that is Communism and Fascism. Today, the added challenge is terrorism which if given the green light, they will meet it head on anytime and in any place. But it’s not just during war time that US troops save the day. During times of peace, when and where there are natural disasters anywhere in the world, the American military rushes to the rescue. Our veterans can take pride in who they are and what they’ve accomplished. They have earned the respect, the love and the pride Americans in turn, feel for them. Our Veterans deserve very special praise, not just on Veteran’s Day but every day. From the entire South Boston Today Team to every veteran and their family members, we say God Bless You and Thank You all, so much, for your service and for your sacrifice.
WInformation Center
Red Wave Late In Coming But It Has Arrived
hile this Newspaper – South Boston Today, in large part tends to stay neutral as far as politics, this particular column; authored by yours truly is an opinion piece and I make no attempt to hide that fact. But its opinion based on research and observations. Those who read my column are pretty sure my views lean to the right politically. Yet as an American, I respect the views of all my readers and their right to have them whether I agree or not. And yes, I’m an upfront Trump supporter. The title above – Red Wave Late…, is how many political ‘pundits’ described what happed on Tuesday. If you remember, the election of 2022 was predicted to be a Red Wave or a Conservative sweep but it didn’t materialize; it just sort of fizzled out. But the wave showed up in force as the Republicans took over the Presidency and the US senate with the House; as of this writing on Wednesday night still not decided. But Donald Trump shocked the world with an electoral blow out and took the popular vote. It was a stunner to most, but not to now President Elect Trump who ignored the polling and constantly showed confidence in victory most of the way. You see, like most of the readers of this newspaper, Trump is wise to news media tricks and some of the polling companies games where they word the questions and even choose which people to poll in order to slant the results of the surveys they take. They kept insisting that the race was tight – even neck and neck but Trump knew better and wasn’t fooled and neither were many of you. Trump also knew that unlike the elections of 2020 and 2022, it would be much harder to cheat and manipulate voting tallies because this time, people were ready for those attempts to steal an election. Trump and those who advised him knew that there was much dissatisfaction among the American public; not just by Republicans, but from Democrat
and Independent voters as well; including voters of all racial groups. While Democrat Party leaders and their media allies kept insisting that the economy was great, the border was secure and crime was going down, the public knew better – they knew they were being lied to. All people needed to do to know the truth is look at the prices they’ve been paying for food and fuel and virtually everything else. They could see all the businesses closing down and declaring bankruptcy, they saw the live coverage of the massive crowds of illegal’s pouring over an open border at the invitation of Biden and Harris and all the deadly Fentanyl killing Americans, the human trafficking, the gangs and even known terrorists coming across. People were very alert to the rising crime rates in the major Democrat run cities and the countless billions of our tax dollars for the war in Ukraine with very little accountability.
The voters could see how illegal immigrants were being treated better than America’s veterans in so many cases as migrants were showered with free housing, clothes, food and plenty of cash while hurting Americans; especially those who lost everything in the recent natural disasters were an afterthought. Yes, American citizens were very much aware what was taking place under the Leftists that were running our country. Putting America and Americans first was definitely not priority. But, in addition to how working class families and veterans felt they were being treated, the public also witnessed the nonstop attacks on Trump. The indictments and law suits that even Constitutional Law experts said were frivolous and politically motivated didn’t sit well with most Americans including many Democrats. People could see our once trusted federal agencies being weaponized and used against political opposition. They didn’t like it.
Then there were the organized personal attacks and slander against now more
Note: talk back to John
by email at jciccone@southbostontoday.com
than half the country known as MAGA’s. We had Harris calling people Nazis, Biden calling them garbage, Hillary Clinton still screaming deplorables, the hate spewing bunch on ‘The View’ and news anchors like Joy Reid calling everyone they didn’t like racists and even Klan members. We hear the term ‘hate speech’ a lot. But most of that hate speech came from the Left and it turned Americans off. But in addition to all of that, people could see there was a clear difference between the condition the country is presently in and the way it was under President Trump when he was in office. The big question was and is – Is America better
off now than it was 4 years ago? Voters answered with a resounding – NO! And Americans will not soon forget how Trump reacted in response to getting shot. He didn’t cower or hide. Instead he jumped up and defiantly pumped his fist ready to fight. Americans admire that kind of courage. What the Democrat leaders and the left in America should take away from the election results is this: America is changing. It has had enough of out of control liberalism bordering on Socialism and will no longer put up with it. It’s a new day in America. They might want to get used to it or be left far FAR behind.
Ciccone
SOUTH BOSTON TODAY
John Ciccone
Whither Goes The MA Democrat Party From Here
A promise to be a governor “for everyone.”
In Gov. Maura Healey’s first appearance following Donald Trump’s presidential victory, Healey said “people will look to [Massachusetts] to lead” moving forward under a Trump administration. She leaned into a message of Bay State unity, an attempt at appealing to Bay Staters both “happy” and “unhappy” with the outcome. Her words and demeanor reflect those of a Democratic governor in a safely blue state — but one who watched as her months of presidential and gubernatorial stumping ultimately failed, and as more than 1.2 million of her residents voted for Trump, a person she has publicly, aggressively criticized (and sued) throughout her career. Tuesday’s election shows Trump won over 36 percent of votes in Massachusetts, an increase from 2016, when he received 32.8 percent. A not-insignifi -
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.
cant number of towns across the state like Fall River, Salisbury, Billerica and Saugus flipped red from 2020 to 2024. Legislatively, Republicans finalized a pickup on Wednesday: Kelly Dooner received a concession call from Democrat Joe Pacheco Wednesday morning, officially confirming the district’s flip from blue to red. Two House seats flipped from blue to red with wins from Justin Thurber and Ken Sweezey. Those two MassGOP successes in the House were matched by two Democratic House flips: Michelle Badger’s victory for Rep. Mathew Muratore’s open seat, and Dennis Gallagher’s win for Rep. Angelo D’Emilia’s open seat. Eyes will stay on that latter race in Raynham, where Gallagher’s opponent, Republican Sandra Wright, lost by 178 votes and plans to pursue a recount. She described the risk of human error in ballot counting.
App-based drivers win ability to unionize
The Associated Press
called Question 3 midday on Wednesday, confirming that voters supported the measure enabling transportation network drivers — like those working for Uber and Lyft — to unionize. The breakdown shows 54 percent of voters voting “yes” to the measure and 46 percent of voters voting “no.”
Keep in mind: ballot questions don’t just pass automatically While voters passed three of the five measures on the state ballot this year, they won’t have the final say when it comes to implementation — that role lands with the Legislature, which can adjust or alter the measures before they become law. This conversation has been hovering around two measures in particular that voters supported on Tuesday: Questions 1 and 2. Experts and political leadership have been questioning the constitutional viability of Question 1, which found massive voter support despite Beacon Hill’s distaste for it. House
Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka released a joint statement Tuesday saying they will “consider next steps” on how best to “respect” the results of the measure “in a manner that aligns with the fundamental principles of the Massachusetts Constitution, including separation of powers.” Auditor Diana DiZoglio said that any changes to the voter law will be “unacceptable.”
The elimination of the MCAS might not have a smooth path ahead, either. While Bay Staters overwhelmingly voted in support of striking the exam as a high school graduation requirement, it’s worth remembering that recently, when asked, Mariano and Spilka didn’t rule out making changes to the question should voters pass it. Gov. Healey said Wednesday, however, that “the voters spoke” on the matter and that “the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be out with guidance shortly on that.”
Is this a ‘wake-up call’ for Democrats? Perhaps, according to a few Bay State leaders
Jim Brett attended the installation of The Most Reverend Richard Henning, Tenth Bishop of Boston, at the metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
In photo: Jim Brett and The Most Reverend Richard Garth Henning, Tenth Bishop of Boston
Westfield Sen. John Velis said in a statement released Wednesday evening that Tuesday’s election results “make it clear that Democrats need to conduct some serious soul searching about the future direction of the party.” Velis said that for Democrats representing purple or red districts, the night was ‘unsurprising and predictable,” and that as the party rebuilds, “it’s time to realize that completely catering to the far left is a political recipe for disaster.”
Cambridge Rep. Mike Connolly also released a statement Wednesday evening on X, arguing that the worst possible outcome for Democrats has never been losing
Veterans Day Has Special Meaning To South Bostonians
This coming Monday is Veterans Day. An official federal holiday, it is celebrated all across America with memorials, parades, religious services and family gatherings. Its purpose is of course to remember and honor all of our
nation’s military personnel. In 2024 as it does every year, Veterans Day has a deep and emotional meaning for most South Bostonians.
A brief history of the day shows us that Veterans Day, once called Armistice Day was first celebrated in 1919. This followed the previous year, 1918 when the Armistice Treaty to end World War I was signed. Initially, it was only to honor and remember veterans who fought in that war, but later was expanded to honor all of America’s veterans from the founding of our country, up to the present day and into the future.
Here in South Boston, it has always been and still is a strong tradition to pay tribute to all of this community’s many veterans. It can
Age Strong Commission’s Mayor’s Column October/ November 2024
Older Adults Can Save Money During the Annual Medicare Open Enrollment Now Through December 7
Dear Neighbors,
With fall in full swing, I’m excited to share some important information that could help you save money on your health insurance premiums and prescription drug payments during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period from now through December 7.
Now is a great time to meet with one of our certified SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) counselors to go over your current health needs and find the coverage that’s right for you.
be said that nowhere are veterans and military personnel held in higher esteem than in this town. We have active and thriving veterans’ organizations, posts and monuments that neighborhood people worked diligently to create and maintain. All of them are a source of great pride to residents here. Many locals will visit cemeteries where family members who served are buried and lay wreaths and flowers. Often families will gather for dinner with the many veterans of all ages who are with us today.
Since Veterans Day is one of this nation’s most cherished holidays, government buildings, schools and banks will be closed. Restaurants, stores and other busi -
ness will remain open; depending on the owners. This is also considered a good day to shop as Veterans Day sales and discounts are usually pretty tempting.
But here in South Boston the shopping, sales, discounts and all the other entertainment that might come with this special day are fine but as always, takes a back seat to the real priority for South Bostonians which of course is honoring our veterans and showing them they are appreciated because they make us all proud as they put their lives on the line to preserve America’s freedom and way of life.
From the entire South Boston Today team, Happy Veterans Day 2024 to all.
BOSTON’S AGE STRONG COMMISSION TO HOST FREE MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT EVENTS ACROSS BOSTON
Our health is constantly changing; reassessing your needs and your plan each year is the best way to ensure that you get the right coverage at the most affordable price.
For our Age Strong Commission, making Boston a home for everyone means ensuring that our older residents have access to the care and services they deserve—at the lowest possible cost.
So, to help you navigate the Open Enrollment process, Boston’s Age Strong Commission will be hosting in-person events through December 6th. To see the schedule and location of these events, visit boston.gov/medicare.
Or, if you’d like to set up an appointment with a member of our Age Strong team at City Hall, call 617-635-4366.
Wishing you a wonderful fall, Mayor Michelle Wu
Boston’s Age Strong Commission, the city agency serving its nearly 120,000 residents aged 60+, will host 15 free in-person events to assist older adults enroll in Medicare and make changes to their current Medicare health insurance and prescription drug coverage plans.
These events are open to the public, and will be hosted in 11 neighborhoods across Boston. Make advance appointments by calling 617-635-4366. Those not able to attend the events may schedule an appointment with Age Strong certified SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) counselors through December 7.
Older adults are urged to assess their health insurance and prescription drug coverage each year, as health needs and health plans change. SHINE counselors will help residents get the best coverage for the lowest cost. In addition, Age Strong will screen older adults for other cost-saving benefits including Medicare Savings Program (MSP), fuel assistance, and food resources (SNAP).
Wednesday, November 13 BCYF Curley Community Ctr. 1663 Columbia Rd., S. Boston
Friday, November 15 Boston Public Library, W Roxbury 1961 Centre St., West Roxbury
Tuesday, November 19 Upham’s Community Care 415 Columbia Rd., Dorchester
Thursday, November 21 Boston Public Library, Codman Sq 690 Washington St., Dorchester
Friday, November 22 BCYF Nazzaro 30 N Bennet St., North End
Saturday, November 23 Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Bldg. 2300 Washington St., Roxbury
Tuesday, December 3 Boston Public Library, Grove Hall 41 Geneva Ave., Dorchester
Friday, December 6 Elks Lodge 1 Morrell St., West Roxbury
To see a full list of in-person events, and information in other languages, visit boston.gov/medicare.
MCAS continued from front page
years. Time will tell if high school students are prepared for life.
Massachusetts students will see all new graduation requirement standards next year following the passage of Question 2 in Tuesday’s election. Question 2, championed by the MTA, successfully threw out the MCAS standardized testing graduation requirement for high school students. Students will continue to take the test as a diagnostic tool, but graduation standards will be set by local school districts based on the completion of coursework.
Question 2 decisively passed 59% to 41%, with over 95% of precincts reporting Wednesday, according to the AP. Districts across the state must now determine what graduation requirements look like for the next year.
The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, led by a secretary who outspokenly opposed the question, has begun to lay out next steps with a statement to local districts — their first open guidance on the question. DESE stated the “earliest the law would take effect” in Dec. 5, 2024, and
Window continued from page 4
MCAS retests scheduled between Nov. 6 and Nov. 13 will go ahead. The department urged districts to “highly recommend” eligible students still take the retests.
However, DESE stated, students who do not pass the MCAS standard will be eligible to graduate based on the local districts’ coursework standards “as of the date the new law takes effect.” “The voters have spoken on this, and I think it was important was that DESE moved forward in getting out the appropriate guidance right now, in terms of implementation,” said Gov. Maura Healey Wednesday when asked if she would support efforts to undo the ballot question.
In an opinion article published in the Massachusetts Daily Collegian, the author avers that this question has split educators, parents and some of the state’s top politicians. The MTA has spent over $7 million in support of it. Chair of the Education Committee State Senator Jason Lewis, Senator Elizabeth Warren and State Senator Jo Comerford had all come out in support of a yes vote on Question 2. Some of the state’s top Democrats
have come out in opposition to the measure, including Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano. At a press conference, Attorney General Andrea Campbell expressed concern over what she argued could, “Potentially lead to haphazard assessments of student readiness for college and careers, Critics argued that removing the requirement will lower standards and impair the state’s ability to collect necessary data on student outcomes, which supporters contest.
Supporters argued that removing the graduation requirements is one step in addressing systemic inequalities that plague the education system, noting that students in underserved populations are left behind and that the current system does not adequately address the root cause of the inequity. There is data that demonstrates a fundamental disagreement between both sides in terms of how to improve student equity and success.
Opponents argue that there wouldn’t be something that would
a second time to Trump, but “upsetting the structure of economic power or losing proximity to power.” Connolly went on to call out “top Democrats’ for being unwilling to take on billionaires and the military-industrial complex, unable to connect with voters about the economy, and resistant to grassroots and activist help.
House Speaker Ron Mariano said earlier in the day that the Democratic Party needs to view the election as “a wake up call,” calling it “an opportunity to renew our focus” on issues that drove voters towards the Republican party.
hold districts or students accountable to meet a certain bar. Supporters say if this doesn’t pass, we’re going to continue to see students in areas that are economically depressed struggling, and those who have the resources and means excelling. People want the same thing, but through different avenues. Resolving this issue on a ballot initiative is problematic, because an issue like this should be resolved through deliberative policy discussion.
A teaching associate at UMass was quoted, “It’s an argument and a nuance that is lost when you put into a yes or no question. It doesn’t address those core issues…The question does not remove MCAS completely, but I think stakeholders need to get together and figure out what we want to measure consistently, if we can do that across the state,” he said.
Sheran also encouraged voters interested in learning more about the issue to check out the fact sheet produced by the UMass Amherst Center for Education Policy (CEP) and a civic summit with educators hosted by the CEP.
Guy The Wine Across The Pond
There aren’t too many places in the world today where wine growing and winemaking in a country is being described as, “just the beginning”, but I have one. As I delved into this story, given to me by a friend from France, I found that it’s a lot more than a cottage industry and that the wines- with help from a number of people from established vineyards in France-are delicious, with room to be even better.
Vines have been grown in England since Roman times for winemaking. The Doomsday book refers to over 42 vineyards in Southern England at the end of the 11th Century and there are now more than 500 vineyards in England and Wales producing still and sparkling wines.
In recent years, English sparkling wines have secured growing worldwide recognition, winning some of the most cherished awards and trophies in international competitions. Geological mapping proves that the chalky substrata of the South Downs is identical to that of the best Chardonnay vineyards in Champagne, and this has added yet more excitement about the quality potential of the wines.
Hambledon Vineyards, the oldest commercial vineyard in recent history, has some truly delicious sparkling wines, which the English call
“British Fizz”.Hambledon Vineyard Classic Cuvee, ($44.99), their signature Hambledon Classic Cuvée is produced exclusively from their own estate on the South East facing chalk slopes of Windmill Down, in the historic village of Hambledon. This wine is a well-balanced blend of all 3 traditional grapes, handpicked on their own estate. Aged at least 35 months, it is vibrant, with structured yet ripe acidity. Tasting will elegantly unfold to reveal layers of floral and stone fruit aromas.
Raimes Vineyards is located on the chalk slopes of the South Downs in Hampshire. Their Single Vineyard 2019 Vintage Classic, ($42.99) is made from Chardonnay (68%), Pinot Noir (18%) and Pinot Meunier (14%) and is on the lees for 34 months. It’s an elegant wine; the palate is very expressive with ripe citrus, stone fruit, apple and pear notes, soft fine mousse and delicate patisserie finish.
Gusbourne Estate Blanc de Blancs, Kent, ($71.99). Falstaff says of this one: “brilliant, medium white gold. Captivating aroma of yeast savoriness, white flowers, pear and hints of white currants and rock dust. Piquant, lively acidity, extremely creamy foam with well-balanced sweetness envelope the palate. Pronounced, juicy finish with notes of pomelo and mineral texture. Elegant drinking pleasure with certain aging potential.”.
Greyfriars Vineyard Classic Cuvee Brut, Surrey, ($29.99). This
wine has won many prizes: Silver from the International Wine Challenge was awarded as well as Silver, Silver_Points_90 from the International Wine Challenge. The county of Hampshire straddles the coastline between West Sussex and Dorset and the soils are again similar to Champagne, being a mixture of free-draining limestone, chalk and greensand. This wine tends to have high acidity, fresh and aromatic and sophisticated notes of citrus, green apple and pear as well as almond. The wines also tend to have a strong minerality as well as herbal and floral notes of white wayside flowers.
Bride Valley Blanc de Blancs, Dorset, ($46.99). This wine tends to exhibit strong citrus notes of lemon, lime and sometimes grapefruit, alongside freshly cut apple, pear and other orchard fruit. The cool climate ensures plenty of acid is retained; this sometimes has a green, tart, malic nature. Although the flavor profile tends to veer towards green fruit like apple, gooseberry and pear, occasionally riper, more yellow stone-fruit like peach, apricot, and plum can shine through, along with more tropical notes of melon and mandarin. Alongside the fruit, there are strong floral notes of elderflower, lily and rose as well as other meadow and wayside flowers. A certain minerality and flintiness, wet-stone and even struck match can also make its presence known.
South Boston Proposed Development + Transportation Updates
Here you will find an update on development + transportation proposals in the neighborhood, as well as City of Boston Planning Department events. Please share this information with your networks and neighbors.
SAVE THE DATE
Mayor’s Enchanted Trolley Tour December 8th, 2pm, Medal of Honor Park
ARTICLE 80 MODERNIZATION ACTION PLAN
Article 80 Draft Modernization Action Plan Recommendations include: expanding community participation by creating new ways for engagement besides public meetings, and getting feedback earlier in the process; clearly defining what mitigation and community benefits are, including standards for contribution amounts; and creating a more holistic and coordinated review process among city departments. These recommendations will help to create a new culture around development that is rooted in predictability, consistency, transparency and timeliness.
There are three ways you can share your feedback:
Fill out a survey
Submit your comments at the bottom of the project page
Email comments at article80modernization@boston.gov
Share feedback now through November 20th BLUEBIKES EXPANSION
The City of Boston is adding new Bluebikes stations to every neighborhood in Boston. During this phase, we are focused on South Boston, South Boston Waterfront, East Boston, and Charlestown. We have 28 potential sites for 7-14 new stations in South Boston and South Boston Waterfront. We want to hear from residents which sites would be best for the neighborhood.
Three ways to give feedback:
1. Attend an upcoming open house Open House - South Boston Thursday, November 7th, 6 - 8 p.m. ,Tynan School, 650 E 4th St, South Boston
Open House – Citywide Virtual Thursday, November 14, 6 - 8 p.m. Register at bit.ly/expansion-november
Interpretation provided in Cantonese, Mandarin, and Spanish.
2. Take the online survey at boston. gov/bike-share-survey
3. Email us at bikeshare@boston.gov
Learn more and sign up for the email list at boston.gov/bike-share-expansion.
ABUTTER’S MEETINGS
Please note that abutter’s meet-
ing information can also be found at https://www.boston.gov/events.
546 E Broadway
Proposal: Change of use from 1 apartment, professional office, and body art establishment to seven residential units. Interior renovation and rear 4-story addition. Reducing the parking spaces from 18 to 14. Combine two parcels into one: parcel ID0603001000 with 10,539 sq ft and parcel ID 0602991000 with 2,992 sq ft Resulting parcel: 13,531 sq ft
Time: Nov 14, 2024 06:30 PM
Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89509705466
Meeting ID: 895 0970 5466
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,89509705466# US (New York), +16469313860,,89509705466# US
70 Pier Four Blvd
Proposal: (i) an alteration of premise to expand its existing liquor license into an adjacent unit to expand the restaurant, and (ii) add an additional d/b/a name (“Rocco’s Sports & Recreation”) for the restaurant concept in that new area
Time: Nov 19, 2024 06:00 PM
Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81649081155
Meeting ID: 816 4908 1155
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,81649081155# US (Chicago,)+16465588656,,81649081155# US (NY) ZONING BOARD OF APPEAL / LICENSING HEARINGS
To participate in ZBA hearings, please monitor this page for instructions on joining a public meeting. Please note that the ZBA board will call on members of the public to testify for each proposal; you can share your thoughts in that forum.
617 Dorchester Ave South Boston 02127 Appeal Type Zoning
BOA App# BOA1636406 Hearing Date11/19/2024
Project Description: To construct four story 13 unit multifamily building fully sprinkle with an elevator
125 B ST South Boston 02127 Appeal Type Zoning
BOA App#BOA1633160 Hearing Date 11/19/2024
Project Description: DISH Wireless Rooftop Cellular Installation Eligible Facilities Request Antennas w support equipment RRH OVP Junction boxes associated cabling amp conduits 67 9 foot RAD Dish will require lease area ground Array on top existing penthouse
21 to 35 W Second ST South Boston 02127 Appeal Type Zoning
BOA App# BOA1654962 Hearing Date 11/26/2024
Project Description: In our first floor retail space we are currently looking to work with Fitness Concept move into We will need get zoning relief submitting this application start process.
80G ST South Boston 02127 Appeal Type Zoning
BOA App# BOA1634764 Hearing Date 11/26/2024
Project Description: Build 3 story addition to existing family convert 6 Demolish car garage
165 D ST South Boston 02127 Appeal Type Zoning
BOA App# BOA1650690 Hearing Date 11/26/2024
Project Description: Applicant seeks to construct 2 story addition, change occupancy from retail
58 Baxter ST South Boston 02127 Appeal Type Zoning
BOA App# BOA1649361 Hearing Date 11/26/2024
Project Description: Erect new four story 6 unit residential building with
garaged off street parking rear decks. PLANNING DEPARTMENT / SOUTH BOSTON PROJECTS
Gillette Redevelopment / Gillette Hosted Informational Page
776 Summer Street - Phase 2
259-267 Summer Street
22 Drydock Ave
181 West First Street
736-742 East Broadway Street
49-51 D Street
243-245 Dorchester Street
295 West First Street
43 Preble Street
147 West Fourth Street
6 Elkins Street
246-248 Dorchester Avenue
Channel Center / 7 Channel Center Street
South Boston Innovation Campus / 2 Harbor Street
Reserved Channel Development /
300 West First Street
150 Pier 4 Blvd
Lydia Hamilton Polaski
Neighborhood Liaison South Boston
Mayor Michelle Wu
Office of Neighborhood Services 617-293-8328
lydia.polaski@boston.gov
Register: bit.ly/3YuUhXv Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864
Meeting ID: 161 838 6463
DESCRIPTION:
The proposed project consists of 31 new residential home ownership units with 5 affordable units as well as approximately 759 square feet of ground floor commercial space.
Stephen Harvey Planning Department
One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 616.918.4418 Stephen.j.harvey@boston.gov Mail to: Phone: Email:
St. Peter Academy Halloween Parade
The Annual SPA Halloween Parade was a great take! It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining bright! The students marched around the neighborhood showing off their Halloween costumes. Our amazing parents
lined the parade route cheering the students along. Classroom parties followed the parade. This was a great kick off to the Trick or Treating festivities! We are looking forward to the Grateful Month of November and the Season of Giv-
ing! Join us on November 12th for Parents Night Out at Castle Island Brewing Co.
St. Peter Academy is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year. There are limited spots available for the Toddler Program for a January start. St. Peter Academy is an independent, community-based private school and serves students from ages 15 months through grade 6. SPA is currently accepting applications for the limited spaces available in the year-round toddler pro-
gram (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 617-2680750 or by emailing spa@StPeterAcademy.com.
South Boston Catholic Academy News Grade 4A&B News
The 4th grade students at South Boston Catholic Academy led us in this month’s School Mass honoring all the saints on All Saint’s Day, November 1. They had the chance to learn all about the many different saints. Each child chose a special saint to represent. Subsequently they dressed up as their favorite saint and some even had a chance to tell a little bit about the saint the chose. They did a remarkable job depicting
their favorite Saint, some of which included...St. Brigid of Kildare, St. Peter, St. Mary Star of the Sea, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Nicholes, St. Joan of Arce, St. Francis, St. Claire, St. Anthony, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Patrick, St. Madeleine, St. Charles, St. Sophia and St. Sebastian. They led us in singing “When the Saints Go Marching In” at the end of Mass. They also had a chance to take part in the televised All Saints Day Mass on CatholicTV.
The 4th graders did a fantastic job as Greeters, with the Scripture Readings and bringing up the Gifts to the Altar. A special Thank you to their teachers, Ms. Samantha Guildford and Mrs. Patricia Coleman for helping the children prepare for this Mass. Thank you to our Altar Servers who did a great job serving at this Mass, and also to the SBCA Children’s Choir who sounded great! They were led by our talented Music Teacher, Mr. Carlo Bunyi and accompanied by our Parish Music Director and Organist, Kathy Clancy.
The Pastor, Father Robert Casey was the celebrant at this Mass. Father Casey spoke of the importance of
this day. All Saint’s Day is a Christian holiday that celebrates all the saints in heaven, including those who are known and unknown. It’s observed on November 1st and is a day to remember the Saints’ lives and the impact they had on the world. Father Casey also acknowledged Sister Evelyn Hurley, SCN, who recently went home to God at the age of 109. Sister Evelyn shared her love, faith and trust in God with everyone she met and prayed everyday for all of her many, many students and their families. New families are welcome to email our admissions team at admissions@sbcatholicadacademy.org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy.
So, at least Drake Maye is showing us that he has some heroics in his game. Kind of.
Maye’s touchdown pass at the end of the fourth quarter on Sunday in Tennessee was quite the thrill. But that joy didn’t last long, as the Titans won the game in overtime just minutes later.
Still, Maye has the ability to make highlight-reel plays, both with his arm and his legs. And that’s pretty refreshing to see, even if it’s not necessarily translating to wins right at this very moment.
Now, it’s on to Chicago. Here’s some of what Patriots coach Jerod Mayo had to say in his weekly Wednesday press conference:
JEROD MAYO: Good afternoon. So as always, win, lose or draw, on Wednesdays, it’s all about changing the page. My message to the team today is really just about a sense of urgency, a sense of urgency in everything that we do. We have a huge test coming up, another road game going out to Chicago. It’s always exciting, at least for me personally, to go to a stadium and play against a team like Chicago because of the history and the great players that have
come way before me or before the guys in the locker room. Offensively for these guys, let’s start with the quarterback. He’s a very good player. This guy is able to extend plays. He’s very athletic. I watched him a little bit coming out and then really just diving into the tape. This guy is very athletic. He’s elusive. He has great vision in the pocket, and I would say he scrambles more to make throws. Not as much – on the other side, you go against some quarterbacks in there, they’ll take off and get down the field. Not saying that he doesn’t do that, but he definitely does a good job keeping his eyes down the field and making those throws. Talking about just some of their skill positions, they have receivers that are very good players. It’s a mix, a combination of young and old, I would say, on the team. You’ve got a guy like [Rome] Odunze, who’s a rookie. A lot of us liked him coming out. Then, you also have Marcedes Lewis, who’s still going. This is like year 19 for a guy like that. So, when you talk about a mix of old and young players, there are definitely two extremes. Even
This week, Danny shared his thoughts on the New England Patriots after a Week 9 loss to the Titans:
talking about Marcedes, he’s still doing a good job in his role. His role right now is to go out there and move bodies, and he does a good job there. As far as the backs are concerned, explosive, all have to be at the point of attack. It starts up front with us as far as the run game is concerned. Defensively, obviously they put [Andrew] Billings on IR, which is a loss for them. In saying that, they definitely still have a lot of players on the field that have played a lot of football and have played at a high level for an extended period of time. Special teams, good in all the phases. It’s going to be a challenge for us. Our special teams unit, I should say it’s an opportunity for them to go out there and really string some games together as far as special teams play is concerned. We look forward to those guys preparing today. Today, fullpadded practice. We’re going to go out there and we’re going to – we talked about the sense of urgency this morning and really going out there and competing, and hopefully that carries over to the game.
Q: Jerod, you guys were obvi -
ously very involved in the quarterback draft market this past spring. I’m curious how much actual one-on-one contact you had with Caleb Williams during that process?
JM: For me personally, not much. For me, I think it was pretty clear-cut that he was going to be the first pick overall. Now, not speaking for the scouting department; I know they’ve done all their research, and they had multiple interactions with Caleb.
Q: Trade deadline comes and goes, nothing happens. Did you feel like you guys were close to adding a good player, as you just mentioned, or was there anything cooking?
JM: Yeah, you know, the one thing about the trade deadline, I talked about this on Monday. At least in the NFL, everyone wants to build it up like it’s baseball, basketball or something like that. It’s not. Look, we do our research on everything that’s available. I would say Eliot [Wolf] and his staff have contacted multiple teams, and multiple teams have contacted us, just like every other team in the league.
Follow Danny on instagram: @ DannyPicard.
SPORTS TODAY
MAYE RETURNS, PATRIOTS LOSE TO TITANS IN OT Tweet of the Week
Aweek after leaving the game with a head injury, Drake Maye cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol and made the start for the New England Patriots in Tennessee on Sunday.
But the end result wasn’t ideal.
New England fell to the Titans 20-17 in overtime. Maye threw a wild touchdown to Rhamondre Stevenson with no time left in the fourth quarter to tie the game and send it to OT. But after the Titans kicked a field goal to begin overtime, Maye threw an interception to end the game and give the Patriots their seventh loss of the season.
“Obviously disappointed by the outcome of the game,” said Patriots coach Jerod Mayo after the loss. “We had our chances. We always talk about it, it’s not just one play, it’s not the interception, it’s not going for two, there are multiple plays that happen within a game that can change the tide of it. And at the time, I felt like that was the right thing to do. It’s easy to make a judgement one way or the other. But I thought that was the right thing to do at the time.
“I will say this, I thought the team went out there and they fought. Being on the road in this
environment, I will say, just a shout out to the fans that traveled. I felt like we had a lot of fans that traveled. You could hear them supporting us and too bad we let them down. We’ve got to do better. I have to do better. Coaches have to do better. We go back to the drawing board. Have to be able to run the football, obviously that was disappointing. I think Drake (Maye) was probably our leading rusher today. You never really want your quarterback to be your leading rusher, and that’s in all facets. We’ve got to be able to move guys off the line. I thought their defensive line did a good job. They were hard to handle inside, especially 98 (Jeffery Simmons), and we knew that coming into the game. Just got to be able to stand up. Every team that we play, they’re going to have either good edge rushers or good interior rushers, we’ve just got to do a better job of getting those guys off the ball.
“Defensively, again, leaky run defense,” added Mayo. “There were times where it goes back to fundamentals. We spend a lot of time talking about the X’s and O’s, but I thought the tackling still needs to improve. That’s part of it. We went into the game also saying special teams was going to
make a play, had to make plays, and we had big returns by Marcus (Jones) and those guys out there were blocking for them and too bad we let this one slip away.”
Maye finished 29-of-41 for 206 pass yards with one touchdown and two interceptions while being sacked four times and losing a fumble. Maye led the Patriots in rushing with 95 rush yards.
“I was proud of the guys for fighting, I think that’s the biggest thing,” said Maye after the loss. “At this point, the loss, we made some bad decisions, especially that one at the end there. We got a chance to go down there and at least tie it up, we’re on our own 40 and I think it was first down, so just got to be better. Some decisions that I made throughout the game that would have impacted the outcome. I take that upon myself, those guys battled up front, especially those guys up front. The receivers were battling. Thought I found a way at the end of the fourth and just came up short. I got to go back and learn from it, especially me, I got to take these and take advantage of these reps that I’m getting in the game, and I got to play better.”
The Patriots now head to Chicago to take on the Bears this Sunday at 1 p.m. They realize
they’ll need to limit the turnovers. “Look, we never want to go out there and turn the ball over,” said Mayo. “We came into the game saying we need to get turnovers and not turn the ball over. That’s the recipe for us to win football games. And we just didn’t do that today. [Maye]’ll learn from his mistakes. That’s one thing if you want to go back to a characteristic, he learns from his mistakes, and he’ll be better for it.”
SBT Staff
Join Commissioner Michael Cox, the Boston Police Department & the Boston Regional Intelligence Center for
SOUTH BOSTON COMMUNITY COMPSTAT
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2024 • 6-7:30 p.m.
LOCATION: GILLETTE HEADQUARTERS, 1 GILLETTE PARK, SOUTH BOSTON Main Entrance — Doors open at 5:45 p.m. ∙ Parking available on site
WHAT IS COMPSTAT?
COMPSTAT has traditionally been an internal meeting where Boston Police Department leaders discuss current crime trends and patterns in all of the City’s districts and coordinate our planning to strategically address them.
In 2023 we began incorporating the community as a key partner in these important efforts. This process ensures the BPD will continue to improve our work to address the continually changing needs of the communities we serve.
Your participation will allow BPD the chance to review critical information and to explain what we do and why, and it is also a chance for you to help us better understand the issues and resources that are most important to you and the members of your community.
FOR MORE INFO PLEASE CONTACT THE AREA C-6 COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICE AT 617-343-4747