Happenings

By Ginger DeShaney The Edgerley Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club helped shape Brendan Frize into the amazing young man he is today.  “Ever since I started spending time there at age 8, it’s been a big part of my life,” the son of Christine and Liam Frize said. “The Club has definitely prepared me for life … by teaching me tons of skills like leadership, honesty, and to be confident and outgoing” as well as responsibility, accountability, and empathy. Taking all those lessons to heart and incorporating them into his life set up Brendan to become the Edgerley Club’s Youth of the Year. “I was really excited when I got the call,” he said. “I was happy that I was able to represent [...]

By Ginger DeShaney More than 300 local youth are learning lacrosse and life skills. “We make sure we give them the skills to play, but we make sure it’s more than the X’s and O’s,” said Erin Brogan, director of Boston Youth Lacrosse and coach of the seventh- and eighth-grade girls’ team. “All our coaches talk about sportsmanship and remind kids how to be a great teammate.” There are also plenty of team-building activities, as well as leadership opportunities for the older kids and players who have graduated out of the program, including becoming junior officials and volunteering for the Learn to Play program for younger kids. The program started as South Boston Youth Lacrosse in 1997. In 2016, it became Boston Youth Lacrosse to [...]

Donna Brown and Noah White donned their gloves, grabbed their brooms and trash bags, loaded up the wagon, and hit West Broadway earlier this month.  Donna, the executive director of the South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation, and Noah, an intern there, were doing their part to help Southie shine by participating in the South Boston Spring Spruce-Up.  As Donna wrote in her SBNDC invitation to local businesses, nonprofits, and residents, “It's been a long winter, and South Boston's sidewalks could use a little TLC, especially along Broadway! If we all spend just 15-30 minutes picking up litter and giving the sidewalks a sweep, we'll head into [spring] looking and feeling fresher.” Donna said her organization tries to do something before Love Your Block (formerly Boston [...]

By Ginger DeShaney Cam Murphy Jared Frith, 15, really enjoys being a member of Boyz II Men at the South Boston Neighborhood House. “It doesn’t feel like any other program,” he said. “Cam is super chill, but not too chill. It’s almost like being at home but way more fun.” Cam Murphy is the Boyz II Men coordinator. “I definitely want this program to be a place where they learn independence,” he said. “I try to not be overbearing or overcontrolling. I want them to have these experiences where they can learn. “I want them to have that ability to grow. When they move on from this program, they'll be going off on their own a little bit.” Boyz II Men is a [...]

By Ginger DeShaney For Women’s History Month, the Condon Community Center Girls Group honored inspiring local women for their contributions. The girls created a bulletin board “celebrating women who embrace our community.” “It’s people within the community,” said Girls Group member and Condon CC school year staffer Keara Wilbanks, a student at Boston Latin School. “When you hear Women’s History Month, you think of celebrities. But these are not celebrities. They are more relatable.” They are the faces we see in the community, women who live here, women who give back.  “They are not celebrities,” agreed Barbara Caputo Kelly, Program Supervisor, BCYF Condon Community Center, “but they are celebrities to us.” Debra Flaherty, Condon CC staff assistant, said it was important for the girls to [...]

By Ginger DeShaney Do you ever wonder what it’s like falling under? Do you ever dream to succeed but you don’t? It don’t matter. ’cause the weight of the world is on your shoulders but nothing can bring you down. Is it wrong, is it right, but it don’t matter; what matters is right now. These are the opening lyrics of the original song “What Matters,” written by preteens Tiara H, Ella M, and Salamata B, members of the Edgerley Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club’s music program.  What matters, what matters is that we've got each other … When the world feels heavy and you feel lost, make sure one thing is clear: Don’t you worry about tomorrow; today you’re here. Tiara performed [...]

By Ginger DeShaney Andrea Antonucci has started a new tradition, transforming her Christmas tree into a St. Patrick’s Day tree. She got the idea from a post by Jenn Nauyokas LaMountain on the Southie Community Bulletin Board.  “Around that time, I was going to take down my tree but I didn’t want to,” Andrea said. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was home all the time and wanted to keep the tree up so she could continue to enjoy it.  “I knew I could use some of my Christmas ornaments,” she said. She repurposed green, gold, and white Christmas ornaments. She also had Ireland ornaments that she had bought for her mom but got back when her mom died.  Andrea bought Irish ornaments from Southie’s [...]