5 03, 2021

Puppy Love: Dogs Can’t Get Enough of Wolfie’s All Natural Treats 

2021-03-05T15:58:04-05:00March 5th, 2021|Categories: Business, Featured, Lifestyle|Comments Off on Puppy Love: Dogs Can’t Get Enough of Wolfie’s All Natural Treats 

By Ginger DeShaney Jane Hayes Handrahan loves dogs. Some might even call her a “crazy dog lady.” “Anyone who has surrendered their heart to their dog understands what I mean. I love dogs because people …,” she said, trailing off. “Dogs are wicked cool. They all have their own cool personalities. They’re kind of like people, but they don’t talk back. They are always happy to see you. They don’t make snide remarks.”  Then there’s that unconditional love dogs offer.  Jane turned her passion for pooches into a business. Several years back, Jane made the unfortunate mistake of buying her beloved black German Shepherd, Leyna, chicken treats made in China. She then realized that polyurethane was an ingredient in the product to increase its shelf [...]

2 03, 2021

Wick-ed Good: Noted’s Homemade Candles Spark Joy

2021-03-02T20:48:13-05:00March 2nd, 2021|Categories: Business, Featured, Lifestyle|Comments Off on Wick-ed Good: Noted’s Homemade Candles Spark Joy

By Ginger DeShaney Candles are so much more than a source of light or the perfect gift. “Each part of lighting a candle, the glow from the flickering flame, the warm fragrance wafting through the air, elicits very personal emotions,” said Ashley Seamans. “A familiar scent can trigger joy, calm, focus, and bring new energy to your sacred space.” Ashley and her team at Noted make each soy candle and reed diffuser by hand in small batches in her open, light-filled South Boston studio at 423 W. Broadway, Suite 302. “Our candles and diffusers are used as a tool for creating a happier life and making your house feel more like home,” she said. Noted’s core foundation is powerful: fresh and unique fragrances inspired by [...]

27 02, 2021

Opening day! Southie celebrates the Sully’s “holiday”

2021-02-28T14:41:03-05:00February 27th, 2021|Categories: Featured, Happenings, Lifestyle|Comments Off on Opening day! Southie celebrates the Sully’s “holiday”

By Ginger DeShaney Rain couldn't keep people from celebrating the national holiday that is Sullivan's opening day! By about 3:30 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 27), the Southie landmark had served more than 1,200 customers, said Kizito Paganini, director of operations at Sully's. "It's always sunny at Sullivan's," said Kizito, "but it's not always sunny at the Island." The lines weren't long but there was steady business all day. Joe Gateley of Southie looks forward to this day every year. "It's an institution," he said, noting he's been coming to Sully's for about 40 years. He was thankful that Sully's stayed open through December 2020 and is happy to celebrate this "holiday." Joe will be bringing a bit of Sullivan's to his son and his family in [...]

20 02, 2021

Dry Run: Temporary Pool Closure Can’t Stop These Swimmers

2021-02-20T10:37:19-05:00February 20th, 2021|Categories: Featured, Happenings, Lifestyle|Comments Off on Dry Run: Temporary Pool Closure Can’t Stop These Swimmers

By Ginger DeShaney  The swim team at the Edgerley Family Boys & Girls Club South Boston has been working out and practicing ... without a pool.  And while that’s been a challenge -- along with the COVID-19 pandemic -- it hasn’t deterred these determined members. The boiler for the pool went out several weeks ago but because of the pandemic, it’s taking a while for it to get fixed, said Tia Ferrie, the Club’s aquatics director and swim coach. So while Tia and the members wait patiently for the pool to reopen, “We switched pool workouts to dry land workouts,” Tia said, noting they usually do a lot of dry land training anyway.  The workouts include calisthenics, rope jumping, and other exercises. The last 20-30 [...]

18 02, 2021

Smoothie Operators: OTEN Celebrates Successful First Year

2021-02-18T20:01:08-05:00February 18th, 2021|Categories: Business, Featured, Happenings, Lifestyle|Comments Off on Smoothie Operators: OTEN Celebrates Successful First Year

 By Ginger DeShaney “Everything we do comes from the heart,” Denisse Tejada said as On The Edge Nutrition (OTEN) celebrated its one-year anniversary in South Boston last Saturday. “It’s heart work; it’s not hard work,” she said.  Denisse along with Yeison Baez have put their hearts and souls into the healthy smoothie bar at 283 Old Colony Ave. and it shows.  With a customer base of 4,000 and at least 100 regulars, the shop is making a name for itself. People travel from Rhode Island and New Hampshire for OTEN’s offerings. And many of those customers stopped by for OTEN’s socially distanced anniversary celebration that included balloons and banners, a DJ spinning tunes, specials, and giveaways. “We started this because we wanted to create change [...]

11 02, 2021

For the love of cookies: Southie woman turns baking hobby into a business

2021-02-11T20:09:26-05:00February 11th, 2021|Categories: Business, Featured, Happenings, Lifestyle|Comments Off on For the love of cookies: Southie woman turns baking hobby into a business

By Ginger DeShaney The timing was perfect for Katie Rausch. Just as she was turning 30 years old (Feb. 5), she transformed her baking hobby into a business.  “I’m entering a new decade with a new passion,” she said. “I’m so excited. It feels like the right time.” While stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, Katie was looking for something to do “other than working and eating my feelings,” she said with an easy laugh. She’d been doing a lot of cooking during COVID and decided to take a baking course online, where she learned about cookies, icing techniques, decorating, and so much more.  She made decorated sugar cookies for family and friends. She made a batch for a friend who was going away [...]

5 02, 2021

Girl Power! Ollie Group Focuses on Skill Building, Leadership

2021-02-05T21:27:00-05:00February 5th, 2021|Categories: Education, Featured, Lifestyle|Comments Off on Girl Power! Ollie Group Focuses on Skill Building, Leadership

By Ginger DeShaney Callie Eastman knows something about leadership. Through South Boston Neighborhood House’s Girls Group, she’s had training.   “It’s very important to learn about leadership,” said the 14-year-old South Boston resident. ”If you don’t know it, it won’t happen.” Girls Group is an SBNH program for girls ages 10-16 to learn new skills, build social skills, gain leadership skills, and improve interpersonal skills while making lasting friendships. Callie is a member of the Girls Group Ambassadors. These leaders help pick out activities, events, and places to go for the program. “These are girls I can rely on to ... be an example for the younger girls,” said Caitlyn DeCarlo, Education and Career Development Counselor at the Ollie.  Activities and topics for Girls Group include [...]

30 01, 2021

Cafe Polonia Reopens: Polish Restaurant Under New Management After Hiatus

2021-01-30T15:34:53-05:00January 30th, 2021|Categories: Business, Featured, Lifestyle|Comments Off on Cafe Polonia Reopens: Polish Restaurant Under New Management After Hiatus

By Ginger DeShaney After an almost year-long hiatus, Cafe Polonia is open again! The famed South Boston Polish restaurant is under new management with a pair of hard-working Polish brothers at the helm: Marcin, 32, and Damian Biedrzycki, 24.   But the small, homey restaurant looks the same, the menu is the same, the cooks are the same (amazing Polish mamas), and the food is as good as ever.  “We’ll blow your mind with the taste,” said Marcin. “We offer traditional Polish meals,” Damian said. “It’s nice and filling.” “And you get a solid portion,” Marcin added.  What makes polish food so special? “Everything,” said Marcin, who loves pierogi. The restaurant offers different styles of pierogi: cheese; potato and cheese; cabbage and mushroom; and meat. Damian [...]

12 01, 2021

Get in the Habit! Longtime Southie boutique keeps neighborhood fashionable

2021-01-12T16:22:07-05:00January 12th, 2021|Categories: Business, Featured, Lifestyle|Comments Off on Get in the Habit! Longtime Southie boutique keeps neighborhood fashionable

By Ginger DeShaney When Pam Santorelli opened her boutique Habit at 703 E. Broadway almost 15 years ago, she received amazing support from the neighborhood.  “There was a lot of positive energy. We had a successful opening,” Pam said. “We got such a great response from the neighborhood. It pushed us to move forward.” That support remains strong today. When COVID-19 forced Habit, a women's clothing, accessories, and gift boutique, to close its doors for two and half months, right at the start of the busy season, the tight-knit Southie community was there for Pam. “We’re hanging in there,” she said. “We had a great response from the neighborhood. People want to shop small, which is so appreciated.” Christmas sales were good, again thanks to [...]

8 01, 2021

The Art of Giving: Local Woman Uses Her Talent to Help Others 

2021-01-08T21:56:21-05:00January 8th, 2021|Categories: Business, Featured, Lifestyle|Comments Off on The Art of Giving: Local Woman Uses Her Talent to Help Others 

By Ginger DeShaney Erica Hagler Erica Hagler uses her superpowers for good.  The South Boston artist has a passion for employing her talent to give back to the community. “If you have a talent, you should share it with people,” she said. “It feels really good to give back.” Erica’s mom instilled in her family the importance of giving back. The family fed the homeless every Thanksgiving; they donated toys to families in need; they saved extra toiletries to give out to people in need.  So it’s no surprise that Erica is involved in charitable giving every chance she gets. In November and December, Erica organized “The Art of Giving.” This project was born when Erica was sitting in her kitchen thinking, “I [...]

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