Flags flew everywhere over South Boston all day long and into the evening on Monday, the Fourth of July – from the crane on the Reserved Channel to Old Glory on Dorchester Heights as the Esplanade fireworks began. It was a stirring sight from the Heights, the City of Boston’s highest natural point. The fireworks followed the Pops Concert’s “1812 Overture”, when all of Boston’s church bells are rung.
When Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced that he was inviting me to deliver the city’s annual Fourth of July oration at historic Faneuil Hall, I was honored, grateful and overwhelmed. Honored because I was aware of the historic significance of the event. I was aware that great leaders including John Adams, John Hancock and John F. Kennedy had been chosen to deliver the address in the past. And I was grateful because I love the city of Boston and its unique immigrant pride and history. The immigrant pride I’m talking about is something I know about on a personal level, because my family is among the millions of American families whose ancestors came to the United States in search of freedom, independence and opportunity. I [...]
By Richard Campbell The framers of the American Constitution were not perfect men, though they disagreed strongly, they consistently put the creation of a nation before their own personal desires. They knew how to compromise and they created a system that relies upon the ability to do so. Americans who look honestly at our history will see there have been many times when the ability to run the government has been more threatened than it is at the present time, but there were also periods of equanimity in which we as a nation understood divisions and were more interested in mending them. America has been through a lot in the past fifteen years and is now at a crossroads of conscience. This is an [...]
Several police vehicles with blue lights flashing sirened their way to the East Boston Savings Bank Branch at 708 East Broadway on Tuesday morning, July 5. South Boston Online, which is located nearby, spotted four BPD vehicles. Two of these dispersed to drive around the neighborhood, as if they were seeking someone who was on foot. The Bank Branch itself was closed for a while, presumably to allow the police to investigate exactly what had happened. If it was an attempted robbery, this would be the third such incident in South Boston this year. The other two were suspected to be drug-related incidents.
The 2016 Gavin Foundation “Open Hearts/Open Homes” gala was an outstanding success. The high points of the evening were the well-deserved Gavin Foundation Awards: “Man of the Year 2016” to Congressman Stephen Lynch and “Caring Hearts 2016” to Sprinkler Fitters local 550. Some 20 dinner parties followed the festivities at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. by Rick Winterson Every two years, the Gavin Foundation, assisted by countless volunteers, puts on a gala fundraising party called “Open Hearts, Open Homes”. Last Thursday evening, June 30, the biennial cycle came to pass once again. The gala party’s festivities actually comprised two hugely enjoyable events: the first was an elegant awards reception in one of South Boston’s many popular gathering points; the second was [...]
Beginning last Friday, July 1, the Mandela/Washington Fellowship for Young Africa Leaders kicked off American Independence Day Celebrations at South Boston’s Paraclete Center. The Celebrations were held in McDevitt Hall, newly named (Friday, June 17) by The Paraclete for Southie resident Paul McDevitt. The Paraclete was one of the sites selected to work in partnership with Cambridge College, which is located just outside of Harvard Square. The South Boston location was chosen because it is a good host site for demonstrating community service to the visiting Nelson Mandela Fellows. Cambridge College is conducting a six-week institute for academics and leadership for 25 Mandela Fellows, who are some of Africa’s brightest young business leaders and entrepreneurs. Approximately 1,000 of these Fellows came to the [...]
Apparently, all is forgiven, even though we declared our independence from England an even 240 years ago on July 4, 1776. One of the key flagships in the British Cunard fleet, Queen Mary 2 (see photo) with her home berth in Southampton, UK, docked here at South Boston’s Black Falcon Pier, specifically so her passengers could disembark for Boston’s 2016 Fourth of July festivities. We trust that they thoroughly enjoyed themselves – the Pops Concert and the fireworks were both excellent.
He’s a polite, shy, young teenager who enjoys living in South Boston. His name is Jack Feeney. Jack, 14, is the son of Donna and Mark Feeney. He also has a dog he loves to pieces named Shadow, a black Labrador. After being schooled at the South Boston Catholic Academy he just finished the eighth grade at Boston College High School. He did well in school, Honor Roll grades, and loves going to science class. His favorite food is pizza, his favorite color is red, and his favorite professional athlete is Bruins goalie, Tuukka Rask. In the world of sports, Jack started his adventures in the world of hockey when he was five years old and his parents enrolled him in the Learn to Skate [...]
The Boston Public Schools may be closed for the summer vacation, but the community centers are open, and the “Fun and the Sun” summer camp counselors are busy keeping youngsters busy. These summer camps, coordinated by the South Boston Summer Collaborative, are held at the South Boston Neighborhood House (617-268-1619), the South Boston Boys and Girls Club (617-268-4301), the Condon Community Center (617-635-5100), and the Tynan Community Center (617-635-5110). “The South Boston Summer Collaborative is an association of South Boston’s leading youth serving agencies. The purpose of this collaborative is to provide…members with opportunities for growth and development in physical, educational, social, and cultural skills.” These sites offer a variety of programs for children aged six through fourteen. Overall, the four programs include sports games, [...]
