Two recent events confirm something that South Boston Online has always said: South Boston is a great place to be. Both events confirmed that to us more emphatically than ever. The first was the “Fun in the Sun” Health Fair, held at the McCormack Pavilion on Carson Beach last Thursday, July 28, from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. The second was the annual First Monday“Kid’s Day” on August 1, from noon till 9 p.m. at South Boston’s Farmers Market in Perkins Square.
As you would imagine, the Health Fair’s exhibits and activities were devoted to the participants’ state of health. We have room to mention only a few – perhaps the most impressive was the Blum Family van that rolled up to the McCormack Pavilion from the Dana-Farber Hospital. This van is dispatched regularly each summer with the specific aim of detecting skin cancer on everyone who visits this van. It’s a very useful service of course, and it’s free.
Other exhibits were presented by several well-known South Boston institutions, such as the Gavin Foundation, famous for its work in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, and the South Boston Community Health Center, an original spearhead of the Community Health Center movement. W.I.C. (“Women, Infants, and Children”) was there; it has an office in the Health Center as well. The Home for Little Wanderers came over from their home office on Huntington Avenue to take part also, along with many other of Boston’s health organizations.
The Farmers Market was not only present at the Health Fair last Thursday, it also hosted the “Kid’s Day” this last Monday in Perkins Square. Now, the Farmers Market mostly sells healthy, natural foods. Seasonal, freshly harvested produce makes up the majority of its offerings, although there are number of other products for sale, such as honey, preserves, and baked goods. As journalist Michael Pollan says, “Eat food. Not too much, and mostly plants.”
But “Kid’s Day” presented more than just food. There was live music featuring children’s songs. A softly alive black and white rabbit seemed to enjoy endless petting. The New England Aquarium brought over sea creatures, including a 10-inch horseshoe crab (Limulus Polyphemus), the last of the trilobites from 450 million years ago. Games were played, iced tea was quaffed, bicycle repair was taught by the Boston Cyclists Union, and a great time was had by all.
Yes, South Boston is certainly the (healthy) place to be.
