About Jeanne Rooney

Jeanne Rooney is the Editor in Chief for South Boston Online.
16 08, 2024

Colin’s Joy Project Rock Painting Event a Celebration of Joy, Love, Remembrance

2024-08-16T19:26:17-04:00August 16th, 2024|Categories: Featured, Happenings, Lifestyle|Comments Off on Colin’s Joy Project Rock Painting Event a Celebration of Joy, Love, Remembrance

Rocks hold a special meaning for the McGrath family.  “After the accident, when we were still in the hospital, people dropped off painted rocks on our front steps. It started with one rock that just said ‘love’ on it,” said Kerri McGrath, Colin’s mom. “And the next thing you know, our entire front steps were covered in rocks.” Colin McGrath was almost 3 years old in July 2018 when he was killed by a vehicle in South Boston. Despite their grief, Kerri and Brendan McGrath started Colin’s Joy Project to bring joy into the lives of others just as Colin did.  Wednesday’s Colin's Joy Project Rock Painting & Music Party was a celebration of love, joy, and remembrance. Kerri said people had also left rocks [...]

16 08, 2024

Summer Block Party

2024-08-16T09:43:35-04:00August 16th, 2024|Categories: Featured, Happenings|Comments Off on Summer Block Party

Saturday, August 17, 12-9 p.m. Enjoy a FREE summertime event at the Lawn on D with inflatables (adults only after 5), lawn games, entertainment, and food/drink for all ages!  Family activities are scheduled throughout the afternoon, and live music is on tap in the evening.  Limited free parking.  Visit LawnonD.com for schedule and details.

2 08, 2024

Peter Barbuto, the New President/CEO of the Gavin Foundation

2024-08-02T10:23:11-04:00August 2nd, 2024|Categories: Featured, News|Comments Off on Peter Barbuto, the New President/CEO of the Gavin Foundation

Over this last weekend, an important management change occurred in South Boston. Friday, was the last day that John McGahan served as the long-time leader of the Gavin Foundation. Peter Barbuto formally assumed the position of Gavin Foundation’s President and CEO. The changeover was marked with a breakfast at the Gavin’s Devine Center. Obviously, John and Peter’s transition was “in process” for a considerable time before this weekend – they spent more than full time for several weeks making sure their transition was both smooth and successful. For more than 30 years, John had been an excellent leader of the Gavin Foundation, with highly significant accomplishments in programs devoted to recovery from substance abuse. Peter brings significant knowledge and past experience in recovery work to [...]

26 07, 2024

South Boston Elected Officials Support Increased Public Safety Resources

2024-07-26T10:25:17-04:00July 26th, 2024|Categories: Featured, News|Comments Off on South Boston Elected Officials Support Increased Public Safety Resources

The South Boston elected officials support the installation of Shot Spotter technology to assist law enforcement response to shootings in real time. After a series of shootings in South Boston, the South Boston delegation had a meeting at the MaryEllen McCormack and West Broadway Housing Development and have remained united in support of this technology. Despite some pushback from advocates and some City Councilors, the South Boston delegation is united in support of this technology. It was a focal point of a meeting at the Maryellen McCormack and West Broadway Housing Developments after a series of shootings. “We simply do not have enough police to cover every street and every neighborhood 24/7,” said Congressman Lynch. “Many of our police officers are already working long hours [...]

12 07, 2024

South Boston Artist: Dominique Nelson

2024-07-12T07:57:24-04:00July 12th, 2024|Categories: Business, Featured|Comments Off on South Boston Artist: Dominique Nelson

By Carol Masshardt Dominique Nelson, can turn an ordinary, imperfect, sun backed sidewalk into a stunning work of art. A twenty-five-year-old, life- long South Boston resident, she is an accomplished artist and teacher with a unique honesty and joy in who she is. The chalk drawings outside her East Broadway home near “H” are only the most obvious of the creations. She began drawing when her wise mother thought she needed to express more, and later at Boston Arts Academy and Mass. College of Art. If you know her mother, Luanne Litif, you will hear unmitigated, well-deserved pride and respect for a talented young woman who didn’t always have an easy course. Dominique is currently the Foundations Director at Artists for Humanity, where she teaches [...]

10 07, 2024

Second In-Person Meeting:  The Summer Street Pilot Program

2024-07-10T10:13:15-04:00July 10th, 2024|Categories: Featured, News|Comments Off on Second In-Person Meeting:  The Summer Street Pilot Program

by Rick Winterson   Over the past twelve months, the Summer Street Pilot Program has progressed from a concept to the actual six-month execution of the Pilot Program between early December in 2023 until early June this year.  Last month, we reported upon this Program, after an update meeting and Open House in the CRISPR meeting room on A Street.  The Boston Traffic Department (the BTD) presented its early conclusions, led by Matt Moran, the Director of the BTD’s Transit Team – the group who actually designed and managed the entire Pilot Program from start to finish. The Transit Team’s second in-person update/Open House took place yesterday evening at the Tynan School.  The Open House generated significant interest and many comments from the attendees; it ran [...]

8 07, 2024

Summer Street Pilot Program Open House Meeting Tonight

2024-07-08T08:40:31-04:00July 8th, 2024|Categories: Featured, Real Estate|Comments Off on Summer Street Pilot Program Open House Meeting Tonight

SBTAP (the South Boston Transportation Action Plan) has the mission to improve traffic of all kinds in the central area of South Boston.  Last week, SBTAP held a community meeting and presented an initial list of draft recommendations to accomplish this.  Patrick Hoey, the Neighborhood Planning Director from the BTD (Boston Transportation Department) gave the presentation. It is important to note that SBTAP’s recommendations do not apply to all of South Boston. The SBTAP area amounts to just about one-third of the total square footage in South Boston, and it’s bordered on the west by Old Colony Boulevard and Dorchester Avenue down to Broadway Station.  It extends to the east between First Street, Ninth Street, and Day Boulevard all the way to Farragut Road.  The [...]

25 06, 2024

Gavin Foundation Appoints Peter Barbuto as New CEO

2024-06-27T09:17:28-04:00June 25th, 2024|Categories: News|Comments Off on Gavin Foundation Appoints Peter Barbuto as New CEO

Gavin Foundation Appoints Peter Barbuto as New CEO, Thanks John McGahan for Years of Dedicated Service Gavin Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Barbuto as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2024. The Board of Directors unanimously selected Peter for this key leadership role.  Peter brings a wealth of experience in recovery services, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Business Development & Marketing at Recovery Centers of America and formerly serving at American Addiction Centers, the South Boston Collaborative Center and the Gavin Foundation.  Peter has a personal and professional passion for recovery.  As CEO, he will lead the Gavin Foundation in fulfilling its mission of the “restoration of dignity” in the lives of those seeking recovery and [...]

13 06, 2024

Honoring a Hero: Students Receive Scholarships in Memory of Timothy “Doc” Cook

2024-06-13T12:07:03-04:00June 13th, 2024|Categories: Education, Featured, Happenings, Lifestyle|Comments Off on Honoring a Hero: Students Receive Scholarships in Memory of Timothy “Doc” Cook

Timothy “Doc” Cook was a man for others, saving countless lives as a Navy Corpsman in the Iraq war. The 13 exceptional students honored with scholarships this year in Tim’s memory are boys and girls for others as they work to bring awareness and help to veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Tim lost his battle with PTSD in March 2013 due to his combat experiences; he was 28 years old. Since then, his dad, Joseph Cook, family, friends, businesses, and neighbors have raised money in his memory for scholarships. “The Timothy (Doc) Cook Foundation will continue to have spirit, hope, and strength to make a difference for others,” Joseph said. “As always, we will remain being grateful one day at a time.”  [...]

12 06, 2024

South Boston Graduate 2024: Liana Flood

2024-06-12T08:15:19-04:00June 12th, 2024|Categories: Education, Featured|Comments Off on South Boston Graduate 2024: Liana Flood

By Carol Masshardt (The series will feature 2024 high school graduates from South Boston) South Boston’s Liana Flood can make it look easy. A 2024 graduate of the Dexter-Southfield School in Brookline, she excelled in track and is an editor of the school newspaper and has been a peer tutor. She with graduate with the academic honor of cum laude on June 1. “I went to the Condon K-3 and SB Catholic 3-5 and knew when I made a choice that I wanted a small, closely knit school community where I could connect on a personal level,” she said. “The athletics and academics are collaborative at Dexter Southfield, and the teachers are willing to work with you,” she said.   If high school success could [...]

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