About Jeanne Rooney

Jeanne Rooney is the Editor in Chief for South Boston Online.
24 01, 2024

Cafe Porto Bello Takes the Pizza Crown

2024-01-24T12:54:48-05:00January 24th, 2024|Categories: News|Comments Off on Cafe Porto Bello Takes the Pizza Crown

We asked, you answered. The top vote-getter in South Boston Online’s Best Pizza in South Boston poll is … Cafe Porto Bello! What makes the pizza so good? Donna Palermo, who works at the restaurant on East Broadway, breaks it down: The finest Italian ingredients Fresh secret recipe dough And, of course, it’s made with love Eslin Hill, a pizza creator, added, “I’m the guy who puts the magic on it.” Then there’s the side of amazing homemade sweet Vidalia onion dressing that people dunk their slices in.  Cafe Porto Bello owner Steven Costa has been making pizza since he was 13 years old and has created the restaurant’s recipes. He estimates they make 700 pizzas a week, with Thursday through Saturday generating at least [...]

22 01, 2024

Sharing a Love of Reading

2024-01-22T12:31:26-05:00January 22nd, 2024|Categories: Education, Featured|Comments Off on Sharing a Love of Reading

For South Boston’s Linda Chiaramonte, it started a dozen years ago when she spotted a flyer at the library. Literation’s, a program designed to help students reach reading proficiency by fifth grade was seeking volunteers to help students at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club after school program. “My husband was quite ill, and I had to stay close, but also needed something. And I thought working with children, which I hadn’t done, would be good when I was so absorbed in illness,” she said. “There is fun and energy with young people.” She has continued ever since. Ellie Sullivan started eight years ago, when she wanted to do something meaningful and local. Both Linda and Ellie had leadership positions through their lives, and though each [...]

11 01, 2024

Celebrating Three Kings Day, Community

2024-01-11T18:00:08-05:00January 11th, 2024|Categories: Featured, Happenings, Lifestyle, News|Comments Off on Celebrating Three Kings Day, Community

City Councilor Flynn and South Boston En Accion Host Event City Councilor Ed Flynn and South Boston En Accion Executive Director Mercy Robinson celebrated Three Kings Day with a well-attended community supper Wednesday evening at the West Broadway Community Center. “I’m honored to partner with Mercy on this wonderful Three Kings event,” Councilor Flynn said, noting it’s an important day, especially in the Latinx community. “I just want to say thank you, Mercy, for the great work you do in the community.” Mercy was happy to see everyone come out for the event. “When we come together as a community, when we get to know each other as neighbors, we have love for one another. We really are changing the structure of the community.” At-large [...]

5 01, 2024

Senator Collins Announces Appointments to the SBCDF

2024-01-05T09:40:03-05:00January 5th, 2024|Categories: News|Comments Off on Senator Collins Announces Appointments to the SBCDF

Senator Nick Collins recently selected LTC Tim Murphy, MANG and Mrs. Haley (Dillon) Walsh to his appointed seats on the South Boston Community Development Foundation (SBCDF). “Tim and Haley know the community well having participated in many of the types of programs SBCDF seeks to support whether in their youth or now as coaches and supporters. I have faith that they know where the needs are and can help guide SBCDF with their fellow membership and execute its special mission.” LTC Tim Murphy was born and raised in South Boston, MA and currently resides there with his wife, Leah and 3 kids, Thomas (9), Molly (7) and Maddie (5). Tim is a 2002 graduate of the United States Military Academy where he played hockey and [...]

15 12, 2023

Mary Ellen McCormack $2 Billion Redevelopment Project

2023-12-15T07:13:47-05:00December 15th, 2023|Categories: Featured, News|Comments Off on Mary Ellen McCormack $2 Billion Redevelopment Project

WinnCompanies and the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) announced that work will begin in 2024 on the $2 billion redevelopment of the Mary Ellen McCormack public housing complex under a two-phase master plan to build 3,300 mixed-income apartments on the 30-acre site, including the replacement of all 1,016 public housing units with a guaranteed right to return for current residents. The announcement follows Thursday night’s approval by the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) of the Phase One Development Plan for the South Boston property, which was the first public housing community in New England. The BPDA vote capped two-and-a-half years of design review by the City of Boston and clears the way for final permitting of the massive, historically significant project. It will be the [...]

13 12, 2023

    Naa-Jauh Benton: Emerging Leader

2023-12-13T09:10:37-05:00December 13th, 2023|Categories: Featured, Lifestyle|Comments Off on     Naa-Jauh Benton: Emerging Leader

At twenty-three, Naa-Jauh Benton, a graduate student at Tufts University, is determined to combat inequities. She had a strong start working in her teen years at the SB Action Center, and the Condon Community School and an internship with the Boston Police. Other than her time as a student, graduating with honors from Bridgewater State University, she has only lived in South Boston. “I feel like the main thing I received here was an education” she said, and it began at the Condon School, “I still remember the core values of looking within yourself, knowing your strengths, and getting better and helping others. They contribute to who I am today, and I am thankful for Barbara Kelly and Deborah Flaherty who helped me develop my [...]

10 12, 2023

SB Sports Hall of Fame Awards Scholarships

2023-12-10T11:07:07-05:00December 10th, 2023|Categories: Education, Featured, Happenings, Lifestyle|Comments Off on SB Sports Hall of Fame Awards Scholarships

The South Boston Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship Trust Fund awarded a record-breaking 16 $2,500 scholarships as well as the inaugural Ed Buccigross $5,000 Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Grant recently at the Curley Community Center. The Board applauds these youth for all that they do in their schools and in the community. Since its founding in 1995, the Fund has awarded scholarships to 249 deserving South Boston scholars for a grand total of $411,000. The Fund was established as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to provide scholarship grants to South Boston students who are academically excellent, have a reasonable family need, and demonstrate good citizenship and community involvement. Participation in athletics is not required in order to apply for the scholarship. The grant program is educational in nature [...]

4 12, 2023

Boys & Girls Club Explores Japanese Cuisine in Unique Collaboration

2023-12-04T19:29:29-05:00December 4th, 2023|Categories: Education, Featured, Happenings, Lifestyle|Comments Off on Boys & Girls Club Explores Japanese Cuisine in Unique Collaboration

Most of the preteens in the after-school program at the Edgerley Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club had never tried Japanese food … much less cooked it. But through a collaboration of Table for Two, SHOWA Boston Institute, and the Boys & Girls Club, the youngsters are getting a taste of international cuisine.  Table for Two has been providing Japanese cooking classes for the Club’s preteens through its Wa-Shokuiku program, a unique food education program in which American students learn about Japanese food and culture through hands-on activities. The SHOWA students, who are full-time Japanese college students attending school in Boston to learn about American culture, volunteer at the Club and are helping with the cooking classes. “It’s fun,” the Club kids agreed. “It’s [...]

1 12, 2023

Victor Baldassari: A Community Champion and the Heart of Kickoff for Kids

2023-12-01T17:42:04-05:00December 1st, 2023|Categories: Featured, Happenings, Lifestyle|Comments Off on Victor Baldassari: A Community Champion and the Heart of Kickoff for Kids

By Ginger DeShaney When Victor Baldassari was told he was being considered for an ABCD Community Heroes Award for his work with Kickoff for Kids, he asked if it could be a group award. “There's a couple of us that make the magic happen down there,” Victor said. But ABCD doesn’t present group awards.  So he had to think about it. “It’s not just Victor Baldassari,” he said, crediting Kickoff for Kids founder Allison Baker and Al Mallon, as well as Jackie Beggan, Lily Joyce, Haley Dillon, Ashley Miller, Lisa Maki, and DCR’s Bobby Ferrara. But after some contemplation, and a push from his cohorts, he decided to accept the honor, which was handed out in November. “Victor is the heart and soul of Kickoff [...]

1 12, 2023

Over Thirty Years and Under Three: Jane Crump

2023-12-01T09:52:47-05:00December 1st, 2023|Categories: Featured, Happenings|Comments Off on Over Thirty Years and Under Three: Jane Crump

(A series of profiles of neighbors who have long lived or are recent to South Boston by alternating weeks) Jane Crump, born in Indiana and raised in Weymouth, moved for love to South Boston in 1979. It is here that she stayed, for a period of nearly ten years living on Thompson Island with her husband, artist Norman Crump and where their daughter, Amanda, grew up. But, in the beginning, South Boston was not where she imagined being. “I remember my mother telling me not to go certain places because there would be ‘Southie boys,’ and then I met Norman in church and that’s where he was from. I remember the day he walked in,” she said. Her early fear became a second love affair [...]

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