Given there is so much news, good, bad and indifferent related to President Donald Trump’s’ executive actions, the Middle East cease fire, another school shooting and ICE making arrests in major cities including Boston, let’s check out the fantasy, fiction and drama of this year’s Oscar nominees. It is clear to readers of this publication that there is an opinion that those in Hollywood live in their own world, have an outsized effect on politics given its progressive lean-
CONTINUED ON page 6
There’s been a lot of talk in Boston and surrounding areas about what the perceived new powers or authority ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) will have now that President Trump seems to have given them new marching orders. If you listen to the hysteria by the political types on the Left and many in the news media, one might think that ICE Agents wearing jack boots and dressed like Nazi storm troopers will soon be roaming the streets in battalion type formations kicking in doors and dragging migrants out of houses by the hair.
First, let’s be clear on who these ICE Agents are. They aren’t monsters who get their thrills on beating people with batons, spraying Mace in their target’s faces or shooting them if they suspect someone is in the country illegal. Yes, there are some panic spreaders who’ve actually described them that way. The truth is they are professional law enforcement officers, much like our own district city or town cops or the State Troopers who
patrol our highways, beaches and natural areas. They are for the most part, men and women who more often than not, have families , many with children who are dedicated to uphold the law and believe in the well known police motto of ’Protect and Serve’. But they also have a job to do as like all members of America’s law enforcement agencies and departments which is to be truth to the oath that they take on the very first day of being sworn in. It’s to Support and Defend the Constitution of the United States, uphold the law and serve the community. The ICE Agents take their job very seriously and in most cases, they do it well. It doesn’t mean they are mean, violent or sadistic as some officials in public office and yes, the news media, people who know better want the public to think. They are coming into this city in greater numbers, we all know that now. But as we said, they have a job to do and it’s sometimes a tough job; often putting them in harm’s way. The last thing they need is to have road blocks and obstructions thrown at them
by certain city officials who have proven on several occasions that they will protect migrants here illegally; even the criminals who have committed heinous violent crimes against innocent people. These are the migrants that ICE Agents are mainly concerned with.
Boston City Councilor Edward Flynn, to his credit, sees no reason why local,
State and other police departments can’t offer cooperation to ICE Agents. And he’s right in his belief and he like any other official, who’s truly sincere, should do all they can and whatever is needed to make the streets of the city and surrounding towns as safe as possible. Everyone knows; though some will deny that there are illegal criminal
migrant gangs operating in this city just like other cities. The goal of everyone, whether law enforcement or civilian, should be to want them taken off the streets as soon as possible. And yes, that includes cooperating with the dedicated men and women of ICE. If officials can’t agree to that, then at the very least, stay out of the way.
limate Accord. He is cancelling the EV Mandate, which means that Americans can own electric vehicles if they choose but will not be forced into it. President Trump also signed The Inauguration of President Trump made it official. It’s done. A new era has begun in America and according to surveys, the overwhelming number of Americans are feeling positive about the coming four years and a brand new administration taking the reins of government. But the change is more than just new names and faces coming in. It will be a complete change affecting the direction the country takes. In a way, it can be a total turn around; call it a 180 degree shift in direction from Left to Right so to speak. The surveys also show that many people who didn’t vote for President Trump, for any number of personal reasons, are willing to give him a chance and hope for the best because they want America to benefit – to succeed, because they too are good Americans and want what’s best for their country. The feeling seems to be give the guy a chance, hope for the best and wish him well. Yet not everyone feels that way. Some are furious and actually are hoping he fails in efforts to make this a better, more prosperous country. I’ll speak briefly about that mindset before moving on to what I feel we can expect for the next 4 years. As we’ve witnessed during the election season, there are people in our country who hate Trump so much, a saying was created just for them: ‘If your hatred for one man is more important than your love of country, you are the problem. Many of you know people like this. They are unreachable, they cannot be reasoned with. The hate in their hearts consumes them. They are bit-
ter and petty and are actually hoping for disaster so they can say SEE, we told you so. The tantrums they are taking started before the election and continue. Even before Trump was sworn in last Monday they were already screaming that the food and gas prices haven’t come down so he was lying. Nothing is better they were shouting, see, we told you he wouldn’t keep his promises. Mind you, he wasn’t even president yet. Mention the term MAGA or Heaven forbid they see someone with a Red Hat and their heads explode.
You have to ask yourself, what kind of Americans wish the country they live in to fail? Look at AOC and some of the other members of the squad, Michelle Obama etc. A bit of pettiness was on display as they refused to attend Trump’s swearing in and the festivities that followed. As I said, most of the people who still feel like this are beyond reach; you can’t reason with them. No matter what you say to them they will continue to meltdown. But their numbers are rapidly shrinking which is a good thing for the country. So it’s probably better to just let them scream and rant, curse and hate. America will be moving into a promising future. If the disgruntled and the haters want to stay miserable it’s their right, their choice, but also their loss. All we can do is pray for them.
As America moves forward, President Trump has already been hard at work signing executive orders that surveys also show most people approve of and have been hoping for. Among them, closing the border, taking the restraints off of Ice and the border patrol and officially designating the Drug Cartels as terrorists. He’s lifting the ban on oil drilling, withdrawing America’s membership in the World Health Organization (WHO) and
Note: talk back to John Ciccone by email at jciccone@southbostontoday.com
removing us from the Paris executive orders to offer the thousands of US military who were forced out of the service for declining to take the Covid shots their positions and ranks back and giving them the back pay, retro to the day they were forced out.
President Trump has already set in motion the effort to lower taxes for EVERYONE, he will halt foreign aid to those nations around the world that hate and work against the United States and restore an America First trade policy. And there will be many more executive orders to be signed in the coming weeks as he is keeping his
promises to the voters. And something else he has promised to do. He will move to bring aid to the victims of the California wild fire victims, but he will not forget the Hurricane victims in North Carolina and the other southern states who are still living out in the cold after losing everything. They have been all but forgotten by the former administration. President Trump plans to make it up to them.
Over all, the future bodes well for the United States as the new administration; handpicked by our new President, is not afraid to boldly proclaim ‘America First’- and means it.
With the Trump administration promising a sharp turn on federal climate policy, advocates in Massachusetts are moving full steam ahead to keep clean energy and netzero emissions goals afloat.
The Environmental League of Massachusetts, an environmental advocacy group that has long pushed Beacon Hill to prioritize and pass climate-related policy, is kicking off the lawmaking session here with a new set of legislative priorities meant to keep the state moving toward its clean energy goals regardless of federal changes.
“We have more challenges than ever before and are expecting less federal assistance than ever before,” David Melly, legislative director for the Environmental League of Massachusetts, told MASSterList. Maintaining progress made so far, Melly said, will be incumbent upon “states stepping up and leading the way,” both in their ability to work regionally and to use the “policy levers” at their disposal.
The set of priorities falls roughly into three categories: transportation, the built environment and the
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.
energy grid. ELM is backing bills that would help decarbonize existing buildings, ensure new housing and commercial buildings are built following green infrastructure standards, increasingly modernize and electrify various modes of transit, and continue support for offshore wind, which Melly said “remains our single biggest lever for emissions reduction in the state.”
Gov. Maura Healey seconded that sentiment Tuesday, saying continuing work on offshore wind is “really important for establishing regional independence when it comes to energy.”
The outlook is more challenging under an executive order Trump issued suspending offshore wind lease sales. But Melly said that move “underscores” the responsibility states have to lead the conversation and to continue pushing forward; and it remains to be seen exactly how easy it might be for Trump to stop projects already in-progress.
ELM’s work from last session isn’t over yet, either. When the governor files her annual state budget today, the group is hoping to see various agencies receive enough
funding to implement major reforms in last year’s climate and economic development bills.
And for a quick look-ahead: ELM anticipates an environmental bond bill to be filed this session, which Melly said could provide the state an opportunity to focus more on environmental conservation, adaptation and mitigation. – Ella Adams
Healey announces proposal to repair, decarbonize state college campuses
On Tuesday, Gov. Healey unveiled a proposal that would use $125M of the state’s surtax on high earners annually to help cover the costs of borrowing bill worth billions of dollars that will help make building updates and fund construction on the state’s colleges and universities over the next 10 years.
Healey’s state budget set to be released today will include that $125M allocation, and the administration plans to use that money to leverage borrowing in a separate bond bill filed Tuesday. About $2.5B of the maximum $3B borrowing capacity would go to the UMass system.
As part of Compass on the Bay’s Annual Holiday Party, residents and families took a delightful trolley tour around the city of Boston in search of holiday light displays! This cherished tradition allows those on the tour to see Compass on the Bay’s surrounding area in a whole new way, offering a sense of warmth, comfort, and community spirit as the neighborhoods come together to honor the joy of the holiday season. Compass on the Bay is a Memory Support Assisted Living Community in South Boston. Learn more at CompassOnTheBay.com.
Healey said the borrowing will help schools tackle their maintenance backlogs, decarbonize infrastructure and modernize campuses to meet student needs.
Healey’s education announcement puts another piece of the budget puzzle in place, following her announcement last week of a proposed $8B in transportation funding over the next decade. Her idea to borrow against surtax revenues for college campus infrastructure repairs is similar to what she proposed doing in the transportation sector. By the end of today, Healey will have submitted her budget proposal, which will lay out her game plan headed into the next fiscal year that begins in July. House and Senate budget writers won’t file either of their versions of the budget until later in the spring, though they’ve been discussing and preparing for the realities of FY26 for months.
Administration plans to close state-operated public health hospital in Canton
The Healey administration confirmed on Tuesday that it plans to
continued on page 6
By: Senator Nick Collins
Earlier this month, residents across Boston saw their property tax bills go up and, in some cases, skyrocket. There are several reasons for this, and all were avoidable.
The first reason is that the City
of Boston Assessing department unilaterally increased, in some cases dramatically, the assessed values of many homes across Boston. This was the data City officials refused to disclose when I sought this information last year during the Mayor’s push to change tax laws at the State House.
That means homes that saw their assessed value go up, would have seen an increase in their tax bills, even if tax rates stayed the same.
The second reason property taxes went up is because City officials were never going to cut taxes. When legislation was sent from City Hall to the State House last year it was billed as a residential relief proposal, though it
All are welcome to come to the 10:30 Sunday Family Mass this Sunday morning, January 26, 2025, followed by the monthly Coffee and Refreshments in the Downstairs Hall at St. Brigid Church.
came with the caveat that even if it passed, City officials planned to raise residential taxes on Bostonians by at least 9%.
That’s not residential tax relief. Increasing assessed home values and tax rates is the opposite of residential tax relief. Taxes are not assessed or raised arbitrarily, but to pay for government spending and programs. (City spending has increased by 21% in the last 3 years and over $1 billion in the last 4 years.)
The third reason is that City officials stacked tax increases into the first 2 bills of calendar 2025 instead of spreading them over 4 quarters. None of these actions represented residential tax relief, but instead unnecessary tax increases on property owners already struggling through an inflationary economy.
As the new legislative session begins, I am recommitting my efforts to support legislative solutions that deliver true residential relief as the Legislature did last
session by passing the largest tax relief package in a generation. Among those measures includes doubling the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit for eligible property owners aged 65 and up.
Last year we also urged City officials to increase the local exemption for seniors. Though it was initially tied to a different tax increase proposal last session, I was pleased to learn that the City Council has changed course and recently passed a Home Rule Petition solely targeting tax relief for seniors without the previous tax provision.
Statewide legislation has also been offered to allow municipalities to use surplus funds to cushion the spike in 3rd and 4th quarter tax bills. I support that wholeheartedly.
Finally, I am encouraged that the Mayor has filed new legislation to provide rebates to homeowners who unnecessarily saw an increase in their taxes. Though not part of
continued on page 6
Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) is offering Boston property owners a free inspection - and free replacement of their building’s water service pipe if we determine it is lead.
Take advantage of the No Cost Lead Replacement Program now. Please contact BWSC’s Lead Hot Line at (617) 989-7888 for additional program information.
Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects.
Some older properties in Boston may
BWSC distributes drinking water to Boston properties lead-free.
When lead comes in contact with water, it can dissolve and
The Oscars continued from front page there were some significant snubs and surprises sprinkled into this year’s nominees.
ings, not to mention pontifications, and viewership has been declining. Notwithstanding this, here are some tidbits.
The nominees for the 2025 Oscars have been announced. This year’s hopefuls were revealed during a live broadcast presented by Bottoms actor Rachel Sennott and SNL star Bowen Yang from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have notably impacted this awards season, leading the Academy to extend the nomination voting period and delay the announcement, which was previously scheduled for January 17.
Leading the pack was the divisive Netlfix musical Emilia Pérez with 13 nominations while The Brutalist, Conclave and Wicked emerged with 10 nominations each. Meanwhile, Demi Moore (The Substance), Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) and Ariana Grande (Wicked) were among the stars recognized in the acting categories.
While the frontrunners of Emilia Pérez, Conclave and The Brutalist were largely expected,
Sebastian Stan’s nomination for Best Actor was, in fact, part snub, part surprise. The actor had indeed been tipped to pick up his first-ever nod at this year’s awards, but for Aaron Schimberg’s surreal drama-comedy A Different Man – not for The Apprentice, which is how it has transpired. Meanwhile, Denzel Washington’s villainous turn in Gladiator II was passed over by the Academy. Others include Challengers being shut out and Felicity Jones getting a surprise nomination.
Comedian Conan O’Brien will make his debut as presenter, following Jimmy Kimmel’s stint in 2024, becoming the second (former) host of The Tonight Show to spearhead Hollywood’s biggest night.
Hosting the Oscars can be somewhat of a poisoned chalice: jokes can land badly, A-listers’ fragile egos can be easily hurt, and you could even have to deal with the slight hiccup of nominee Will Smith smacking Chris Rock on stage (as happened in 2022). In 2013, meanwhile, Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane was widely
criticized for presenting a slew of ‘sexist’ jokes that included his infamous “We saw your boobs” skit.
Nikki Glaser’s recent success as host at the Golden Globes – our critic declared her the best in years, with a set packed with “precision-tooled” zingers – will be making O’Brien even more nervous, but with such a strong CV (his own late-night show, writing jobs on Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, an acclaimed podcast) and a legion of loyal fans, the 61-year-old could well just pull it off.
The 2025 Oscars will be held on Sunday March 2 at 7pm EST –that’s around 11pm GMT for any British film-fanatics planning on staying up to watch the ceremony.
The ceremony will be broadcast live on ITV1 in the UK from 10.30pm, hosted by Jonathan Ross. In the US, viewers will be able to watch it live on ABC, stream it on services including Hulu, YouTube and Fubo, and watch clips on the Academy’s official social media accounts across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.
And then there is Red Carpet Fashion. According to the experts in promoting the Red-Carpet as -
pect of The Oscars, it’s clear that the red carpet is always evolving. And while it’s impossible to predict exactly what the future holds, there are a few trends that will continue to shape red carpet fashion in the years to come. One trend is inclusivity and diversity on the red carpet. That means more representation for people of all backgrounds, sizes, and abilities. After all, the professionals believe that fashion can and should be for everyone, and the red carpet is the perfect place to celebrate that. More and more stars are using their platform to advocate for inclusivity and diversity. n
Another trend is technology and innovation. From 3D printing to wearable tech, there are so many developments happening in the world of fashion right now. And more and more of these innovations on the red carpet in the years to come will be presented. For example, a gown that changes color with the touch of a button, or a suit that’s made entirely from recycled materials. The possibilities are likely endless as designers will use any creative means at their disposal to complete to be the ‘next big thing’ in fashion.
Window continued from page 4
close Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children, a 60-bed facility that offers medical, rehabilitative, educational and recreational services for individuals with “severe” physical and cognitive disabilities and other conditions, according to the Massachusetts Nurses Association. The union was the first to disclose the planned closure, which will be unveiled in Healey’s FY26 budget today. The News Service’s Alison Kuznitz reports that the administration said it intends to move the facility’s programs to Western Massachusetts Hospital in Westfield, a relocation process that will occur throughout the year.
Trump appoints Leah B. Foley as U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts
During a private ceremony Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Boston, Leah B. Foley was sworn in as “interim” U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, which will allow her to run the office during a likely months-long confirmation process if she earns the full nomination. Foley, a Republican and longtime federal prosecutor in the office, was tapped Monday to take on the role, which oversees about 200 attorneys, paralegals and other staff in Boston, Springfield and Worcester offices. Foley was a finalist for the job during Trump’s last administration.
Reports suggest Josh Kraft running for mayor of Boston
According to sources close to Josh Kraft, the president of the New England Patriots Foundation and son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft has decided to run for mayor of Boston. An official announcement could be expected in early February, and would pit Kraft against incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu, who plans to formally launch her reelection campaign following the birth of her third child. She gave birth last week.
last year’s tax shift proposal, it is something my colleagues and I recommended last year to provide real residential tax relief by using the city’s surplus funds. This would resemble rebates offered by the Governor in 2022 when more revenue came into the state from the income tax levy than was allowed under state law.
The facts are that the City of Boston has been sitting on a massive surplus built up over
previous decades. It should now be used to bring relief to taxpayers whose resources helped build it up so that our city’s finances could be strong. For property owners who feel they were overvalued by the Assessing Department, you can file an abatement application to lower your bill.
Visit https://www.cityofboston.gov/assessing/search/ for more information.
Applications are due by February 1st.
At last week’s Boston City Council meeting, Councilor Ed Flynn filed a hearing order to discuss new cancer presumptions announced by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This is in addition to a hearing order to discuss the goals and priorities of the City of Boston’s Office of Veteran Services.
Earlier this month, the VA announced that they have expanded several types of cancers to be presumptive for service-connection. This includes acute and chronic leukemias, multiple myelomas, myelodysplastic syndromes, myelofibrosis, urinary bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers. The expansion will lower the burden of proof for veterans to receive medical care and assume the conditions are service-related, allowing treatment at no-cost.
Veterans who are eligible for the presumption include Gulf War Veterans who served in Somalia or the Southwest theater of the Gulf War on or after August 2nd,
Register: bit.ly/40wyAY7
Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864
Meeting ID: 161 843 2476
PROJECT PROPONENT: 215 West Eighth Street LLC
DESCRIPTION:
The proposed project consists of a new five-story mixed-use building at 243-245 Dorchester Street in South Boston. The new building will contain twenty dwelling units intended to be condominium units for sale, in light of the site’s close proximity to Red Line rapid transit, as well as ground floor commercial space. The residential units are planned to be smaller in size, thus providing a more naturally affordable home ownership opportunity for first-time buyers looking for an alternative to renting.
Mail to:
Daniel Polanco
Planning Department
One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201
Phone: Email:
617.918.4460 dan.polanco@boston.gov
bit.ly/243-245-dorchester-street
Close of Public Comment Period: 2/28/2025
1990, and Post 9/11 Veterans, who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, or Uzbekistan and the airspace above these locations on or after September 11th, 2001. According to the VA, the presumptive status for urinary bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers came into effect on January 2nd, 2025, and the presumptions for acute and chronic leukemias, multiple myelomas, and myelodysplastic syndromes, myelofibrosis came into effect on January 10th, 2025.
This important announcement follows the signing of the PACT Act in 2022 by President Biden, which expanded benefits to over 3.5 million U.S. service members
and veterans who were exposed to Burn Pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances while serving overseas, many of whom developed an onset of diseases such as sinusitis, rhinitis, asthma, and other respiratory conditions after returning home. Prior to the PACT Act’s passage, many veterans lacked the proper documented evidence to prove these toxic exposures to receive treatment.
Additionally, Councilor Flynn filed a hearing order to discuss the goals and priorities of the City of Boston’s Office of Veterans Services. The City of Boston’s Office of Veterans Services works closely with our veterans and military families to connect them to resources and services that they
continued on page 11
Register: bit.ly/40mThV3
Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864
Meeting ID: 161 695 0888
DESCRIPTION:
The 776 Summer Street Phase 2 Project encompasses key components of the PDA Master Plan, including the construction of two residential buildings on Blocks A and B (Including up to 636 units across Blocks A, B, and E) with parking and ground floor retail; a hotel/residential building on Block E and the 1898 Building, offering up to 240 keys, along with parking, amenities, and ground floor retail; a research and development building at Block C with associated parking and ground floor retail; and the implementation of Phase 2 site improvements, such as portions of Edison Plaza (formerly M Street Plaza), public realm enhancements on Summer Street, East First Street, and Thomas Edison Way, and supporting Phase 2 infrastructure.
Mail to:
Zoe Schutte
Planning Department
Phone: Email:
One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4311 zoe.schutte@boston.gov
Website: bit.ly/3ZMyg7y
Close of Public Comment Period: 2/17/2025
As you know, there’s been a lot of attention focused on the nation’s capital lately; today, though, I’d like to talk about the other Washington, where the quality is high and sometimes can be had for surprisingly low prices. Take a look at these….
Chateau St. Michelle, Cold Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, ($33.99). This is a complex, layered wine. Notes of cherries, blackberries, caramel and earth tones almost smother your palate; the finish is long and multi flavored. This one is not only good with the usual items, but especially good with duck and other gamebirds.
Eroica Riesling, Ch. Ste. Michelle/ Dr. Loosen, Washington, ($22.99). This Riesling, a wine whose style is an homage to Dr. Loosen, captures a great balance of sweetness and body. Notes of mountain flowers, turmeric and peppermint on the nose give way to a pleasant finish. Best with poultry and pork dishes.
K Vintners, The Beautiful Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington, ($54.99). Close your eyes, take a sip and before you know it, you’re in the northern Cotes du Rhone. This Syrah is that good and more. Careful grape selection, new American oak aging and time make this one worth every penny.
Woodward Canyon Artist Series, Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington, ($55.99). Another full-bodied, sophisticated Cab. Structure, balance and distinctive notes and aromas. I’d suggest letting this one breathe for 30-45 minutes. Then just sip. 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington, ($15.99). This one from the Columbia Valley AVA, is simply a classic Cab- pronounced notes of red fruits, surrounded by a smoky overtone. A really nice array of blackberries, raspberries with an undertone of caramel. A pretty nice finish and all in all a Cab that complements a wide array of meats, grilled, fried or roasted. If you decide to try this one, better get more than one.
Just a final note on all of thesethey’re all widely available in our area. Stay warm and enjoy them!
Recently, State Representative David Biele announced the winner of his inaugural New Year Card Design Competition for South Boston students. Rea Liko, a resident and student at South Boston Catholic Academy, was chosen by a selection panel as this year’s winner after submitting a drawing of Dorchester Heights with fireworks. Rea’s drawing was included into a New Year’s greeting card that was mailed out to celebrate 2025 and Rep. Biele stopped by South Boston Catholic Academy to present Rea with a congratulatory citation, prize, and copy of the greeting card.
“Practice what you want to be,” said Rea who also shared that the quote serves as her daily motivation.
“Congratulations to Rea and to all students who participated in this year’s card design competition,” said Rep. Biele. “The works of art produced by our local students were incredible and a festive celebration of our community.”
Last December, students were invited to design a greeting card depicting their favorite South Boston landmark with a festive New Year’s celebration. The competition was open to fourth grade students attending schools in South Boston. Over 100 drawings were submitted, including illustrations of Dorchester Heights, Fort Independence, and Medal of Honor Park as well as local buildings, business store fronts, and beaches.
St. Peter Academy celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. all week long! Our youngest learner’s activities included a unity poem where they created a handprint poster using various colors to represent diversity and unity in our classroom and I will Change the World craft using different paint colors symbolizing their commitment to make a difference in the world. Our K1 classroom discussed Martin Luther King Jr. being a peacemaker and how he treated all
equally. K1 brainstormed some ways we could be peacemakers. They came up with great ideas like being caring, loving and gentle. K2 and Grade 1 learned about his work through poetry, literature and hearing his most famous speech. Grade 2 discussed the topic of What would you do or say if you met Martin Luther King Jr. today! Grades 3 and 4 students created stained glass quilt squares based upon personal dreams for themselves and for the world. There are so many lessons to
be taught and learned through the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and we are so proud of all our students!
St. Peter Academy is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year. St. Peter Academy is an independent, community-based private school and serves students from ages 15 months through grade 6. SPA is currently accepting applications for the limited spaces available in the year-round toddler program (beginning at age 15
months) and for students in Pre-K (School Year and Full Year Programs), Kindergarten and grades 1-6. Financial Aid Available. Two Scholarships will be offered this year for applicants for Grades 1 through 6. You may request scholarship information from the Front Office (spa@stpeteracademy.com).
Appointments for private tours can be made by contacting Maria Blasi, at 617-268-0750 or by emailing spa@StPeterAcademy.com.
Our South Boston Catholic Academy students in Grade 3B led us in this month’s school Mass on the Feast of Epiphany. Epiphany is a Christian holiday primarily commemorating the Magi’s (Three Kings) visit to the baby Jesus. Grade 3B did a fantastic job as Greeters, with the Scripture Readings, Prayers of the Faithful and bringing up the Gifts to the Altar. Thank you
to their Teacher in 3A, Ms. Sammarco and Mrs. Bailey for helping them to prepare for this Mass. Father Ross, was the celebrant at 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 SBCA students Honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The students in Grades 4A and 4B did a class project based on Dr. King’s famous speech, “I Have a Dream”, “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but be the content of their character.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The students were given three categories to write about and share...”My dream for myself; My dream for my community; and My dream for the world.” Some wrote... “My dream for myself: My
dream is to be a police officer. To help people.” “My dream for my community: My dream is to help homeless people find a home.” “My dream for the world: My dream for the world is to cure cancer.” “My dream for myself: To be a good basketball player by practicing.” “My dream for my community: To make our park cleaner by picking up trash.” “My dream for the world: To make it a better place by being kind.” New families are welcome to email our admissions team at admissions@sbcatholicadacademy.org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy.
Topics for the 2025 South Boston Citizens’ Association’s Evacuation Day Essay and Poster Competitions have been announced by the SBCA for the 249th Evacuation Day Celebration
South Boston Citizens’ Association President Tom McGrath announced today that because of the tremendous success of the poster and essay contest, the Association along with Comcast, Mass Bay Credit Union and Liberty Bay Credit Union will once again sponsor the 2025 Annual Contests and all other events associated with the country’s most underrated holiday celebration.
Because of the successful amount of poster entries and interest, we will once again be expanding the winners’ categories for the poster contest for grades 3,4 and 5. These grades will compete against students in their own grades.
Once again, because of the passion and outstanding effort put forth by past President Bernie O’Donnell, Mary Collins and their committee, they have once again expressed an interest of taking on the challenge of chairing The Essay and Poster Contests.
“Bernie always taught me that
Flynn continued from page 7
these contests are a great way to educate and strengthen the interest of the children of the community, I was more than pleased when Bernie offered to once again head up this Event for the children of South Boston. This year we will once again, open up the High School competition to all students residing in Suffolk County or attends a school in Suffolk County”, Remarked McGrath.
Bernie further expressed “One of the missions of the SBCA is to reach out to the young children of this historically rich community, joining the SBCA in promoting, organizing, and judging the Evacuation Day Poster and Essay Competitions is a most fitting way to improve on that mission.”
The current plan with respect to our annual Evacuation Day activities is to continue to host all the events as we have done in years past. We will continue to work with Governor Healey, Elected Officials from the City of Boston, the City of Boston Health Commission, and the National Park Service for the planning of our activities, as we do every year, and will follow any requirements and guidance on all
have earned, and they also work closely with our state and federal partners to empower and support our veterans and military families. Aside from service referrals, the Office of Veterans Services also knows firsthand the gaps in service that need to be addressed, ways to better serve our veterans in need, and
aspects of our hosted events.
We look forward to working with the community again this year, which commemorates the 249th anniversary of Evacuation Day in Boston. Celebrating Evacuation Day events in the community is a huge undertaking, but thanks to Volunteers and Community Business partners in past years, such as Comcast, Mass Bay Credit Union and Liberty Bay Credit Union, we at the SBCA are confident we will be able to complete the task and make it possible for the entire community to safely enjoy this year’s commemorative events.
All entries should bear, in an attached envelope, the contestant’s name, school and a means of contacting the entrant, and should be submitted no later than Friday, March 7th, 2025, At 5 PM. All entries may be mailed to South Boston Citizens’ Association, P.O. Box 74, South Boston, MA 02127, or can be picked up at schools by a representative of the Citizens’ Association. Entries can also be dropped off at 170 M Street, in any Medium at least 8 1/2 “x11”, but preferably larger.
The poster competition is open to all students in grades 3, 4, and 5 who are either South Boston student residents or any student that attends a school in South Boston.
The Essay competition is open to all students in grades 6-8, who are either South Boston student residents or any student that attends a school in South Boston.
The high School Essay competition is open to all students in
areas of policy that should be amended.
“When we send our veterans in harm’s way, we have an obligation to care for them when they return. I encourage all eligible veterans to take advantage of these benefits. Veterans and survivors can visit VA.gov or call 1-800-MYVA411 to apply,” said Councilor Flynn (U.S. Navy, Retired). “We also need to ensure that our Office of
grades 9-12 who are either City of Boston student residents attending any High School.
2025 High School Essays should be at least 750 words –2025 Grades 9 - 12
High School question grades 9th to 12th Explain how each term or person below increased tensions in the colonies or helped colonial leaders organize for action, Pick any three-person, place or event from the list below.
Stamp Act, John Adams, Patrick Henry, Sons of Liberty, Nonimportation agreement, Boston Massacre, Committee of Correspondence, Boston Tea Party, Intolerable Acts, First Continental Congress.
HS Essays should be at least 750 words; prizes are as follows: first prize $200, second prize $100, third prize $50.
Middle School Essays should be at least 500 words - 2025 Grades 6th to 8th Essay question Why did the American colonists who were originally British Subjects decide to fight a war against Great Britain to gain independence? Prizes are as follows: first prize $150, second prize $100, and third prize $50.
3rd Grade Fort Castle William (Castle Island) during the battle of Dorchester Heights.
4th Grade The Boston Tea Party Dec. 16, 1773
5th Grade Colonel Henry Knox and the Noble Train of Artillery Poster Prizes are as follows: first prize, $100, second prize $75, third prize $50.
Veterans Services has the resources they need to perform their work in supporting our veterans and military families. It was shameful that the Council previously voted to cut their budget in recent years.”
For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 or Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov.
The Baseball Hall of Fame is a joke. You can’t have a Hall of Fame without the likes of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, and Manny Ramirez. But here we are, still going through the motions with everyone else.
This year, we saw Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner all voted into the Hall of Fame. All deserving, of course. But still, not having Bonds, Clemens, Rodriguez, and Ramirez in there is brutal, and makes the whole thing seem less serious. But here’s some of the official press release, for those of you who do still value what’s going on in Cooperstown: (COOPERSTOWN, NY) – Ichiro Suzuki, a veritable hits machine on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, became the first Japanese player to gain entry into the National Baseball Hall of Fame when he was elected Tuesday to the Class of 2025 alongside pitchers CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and tabulated by Ernst & Young.
Ichiro, who was on the ballot for the first time, came within one vote of being a unanimous selection, a feat achieved by only one player, relief pitcher Mariano Rivera in
2019, in 81 years of voting by the BBWAA. Ichiro, a multiple Gold Glove Award-winning outfielder, received 393 votes, which accounted for 99.746 percent of the electorate, second only to shortstop Derek Jeter’s 99.748-percent showing (396 of 397 ballots cast) in 2020 as the highest plurality for a position player in Hall of Fame voting.
Sabathia, another first-time honoree, received 342 votes (86.8 percent), and Wagner, who was on the BBWAA ballot for the 10th-andfinal time, got 325 (82.5).
Ichiro, 51, burst onto the major league scene in 2001 with the Seattle Mariners as the first position player from Japan and went on to win both the American League MVP and Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Awards in the same season, a feat accomplished by only one other player, Fred Lynn of the Boston Red Sox in 1975. Over a 19-season career that included time with the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins, Ichiro knocked out 3,089 hits in becoming the first player with 10 consecutive seasons of 200-plus hits, including a record 262 in 2004, a year in which he won his second batting title at .372. His first came in his rookie year when he hit .350 with 242 hits and 56
This week,
Danny shared his thoughts on the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2025:
of his career 509 stolen bases.
Sabathia, 44, began his 19-season career in Cleveland as the runnerup to Ichiro for the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2001 and went on to post a 251-161 record with a 3.74 earned run average and 3,093 strikeouts – 18th all-time and third among left-handers behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton. Sabathia won the AL Cy Young Award in 2007. A year later, a mid-season trade to Milwaukee resulted in his finishing sixth in National League MVP voting after going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA and seven complete games, including three shutouts, in 17 starts for the Brewers. The next year, he anchored the Yankees’ staff enroute to a World Series title and was the 2009 AL Championship Series MVP (2-0, 1.13 ERA). Sabathia is one of only six pitchers in history with at least 250 victories, a .600 winning percentage and 3,000 strikeouts.
Over 16 seasons with the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves, Wagner, 53, had a 4740 record with 422 saves, the eighthhighest career total in history and the second highest among left-handers, just two saves behind John Franco. Wagner’s 2.31 career ERA is the low-
est among retired left-handed pitchers with at least 500 innings pitched in the live-ball era (post 1920). His career walks-plus-hits-per-inningspitched ratio (WHIP) of 0.998 is lowest among all retired relievers with at least 700 innings pitched.
The only other players to gain mention on more than half the ballots were outfielders Carlos Beltrán with 277 votes (70.3) and Andruw Jones with 261 (66.2).
The vote: Ichiro Suzuki 393 (99.7%), CC Sabathia 342 (86.8), Billy Wagner 325 (82.5), Carlos Beltrán 277 (70.3), Andruw Jones 261 (66.2), Chase Utley 157 (39.8), Álex Rodríguez 146 (37.1), Manny Ramírez 135 (34.3), Andy Pettitte 110 (27.9), Félix Hernández 81 (20.6), Bobby Abreu 77 (19.5), Jimmy Rollins 71 (18.0), Omar Vizquel 70 (17.8), Dustin Pedroia 47 (11.9), Mark Buehrle 45 (11.4), Francisco Rodríguez 40 (10.2), David Wright 32 (8.1), Torii Hunter 20 (5.1), Ian Kinsler 10 (2.5), Russell Martin 9 (2.3), Brian McCann 7 (1.8), Troy Tulowitzki 4 (1.0), Curtis Granderson 3 (0.8), Adam Jones 3 (0.8), Carlos González 2 (0.5), Hanley Ramírez 0, Fernando Rodney 0, Ben Zobrist 0. Follow Danny on instagram @ DannyPicard.
The New England Patriots not only have a new head coach in Mike Vrabel, but they also have new coordinators. Here’s the official press release from the team:
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel has announced the first three members of his 2025 coaching staff with the hiring of Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator, Terrell Williams as defensive coordinator and the return of Jeremy Springer as special teams coordinator.
JOSH MCDANIELS
McDaniels returns to the franchise where he has spent 18 of his 23 seasons in the NFL. He began his NFL career in New England in 2001 and served three seasons as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2006-08) before being hired as the head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2009. He spent one season as the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams in 2011 before returning to New England as the offensive coordinator from 2012 through the 2021 season. In 2022, he left the Patriots to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
McDaniels began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for Nick Saban at Michigan State in 1999. He joined Bill Belichick’s
staff in New England in 2001, starting his NFL career in the personnel department before transitioning to the coaching staff as a defensive coaching assistant in 2002. After two seasons in that position, McDaniels was named New England’s quarterbacks coach in 2004. In 2006, he was promoted to offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. In 2007, McDaniels coordinated an offense that set all-time NFL records for points scored (589) and touchdowns (75) en route to an undefeated regular season.
In his 13 seasons as offensive coordinator with New England, his offenses have finished in the Top10 rankings eight times, including the NFL’s No. 1 ranked offense in 2007, 2012 and 2017.
A native of Barberton, Ohio, McDaniels played wide receiver at John Carroll University from 1995 through 1998.
JEREMY
Springer joined the New England Patriots last season after spending two seasons (2022-23) as a special teams assistant with the Los Angeles Rams. Prior to entering the NFL in 2022, Springer spent eight seasons coaching at the collegiate level.
In 2024, Springer’s special teams units featured Brenden Schooler and Marcus Jones.
Schooler earned first team All-Pro honors and his first invitation to the Pro Bowl while Jones finished second in the NFL with a 14.8yard average on 26 punt returns.
Following his college playing career as a standout linebacker at the University of Texas at El Paso (2007-11), Springer spent two seasons (2011-12) at his alma mater as an assistant in football operations. In 2013, he transitioned to the coaching staff as a graduate assistant where he worked with the defensive line and special teams units.
In 2015, Springer was hired by Texas A&M as a special teams quality control coach. After three seasons with the Aggies (2015-17), he accepted his first special teams coordinator position at the University of Arizona (2018-20). His last season at the collegiate level was as Marshall’s special teams coordinator (2021) before joining the Rams in 2022.
Springer is a native of Los Fresnos, Texas.
TERRELL WILLIAMS
Williams joins Mike Vrabel’s staff as the Patriots defensive coordinator after spending six seasons on his staff in Tennessee. Williams has 27 years of coaching experience. His NFL coaching career started in 2012 as the
defensive line coach with the Oakland Raiders (2012-14). He then spent three seasons (201517) as the defensive line coach for the Miami Dolphins before Vrabel hired him to be his defensive line coach in 2018. After five seasons as the defensive line coach for the Titans, Vrabel promoted him to assistant head coach/defensive line coach in 2023. Last year, Williams was the run game coordinator/defensive line coach for the Detroit Lions (2024).
Williams coaching career began in 1998 at Fort Scott Community College (1998). His collegiate coaching career included stops at North Carolina A&T (1999-01), Youngstown State (2002-03), Akron (2004-05), Purdue (2006-09) and Texas A&M (2010-11) before joining the Raiders in 2012.
From 2018-23, Williams contributed to defensive units that ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing yards allowed during that span. In 2022, Williams helped the Titans finish first in the NFL in rushing defense with an average of 76.9 rushing yards allowed per game.
A native of Los Angeles, California, Williams played college football as a nose guard at East Carolina and helped them earn a Liberty Bowl victory over Stanford in 1995.