News

by Rick Winterson   In our last issue (JAN 18, page one), South Boston Online reported in some detail on the decision to demolish the building – now unoccupied for nine years – that once housed the Gate of Heaven School.  Arriving at this decision, basically to ensure continued preservation of the iconic Gate of Heaven Church, was not easy.  However, the reasoning behind this decision appears to have resulted in the best possible outcome. In order to communicate completely the decision to demolish the school, along with providing answers to any remaining questions from the members of Gate of Heaven Church, Fr. Robert Casey, the Pastor, convened a meeting last Thursday in the Gate of Heaven’s Lower Hall.  He presented a summary of the [...]

By Richard Campbell A new hotel 159 Room, 20,000 square feet hotel has been approved for 248 Dorchester Avenue on the location of the current Enterprise Car Rental site. The hotel that is within walking distance of the West Broadway T Stop will be eight stories, include a restaurant, roof garden, fitness center, swimming pool, and event space. Covered at grade parking for 60 vehicles, and landscape area around the hotel are also included. The proposal submitted by Evergreen Property Group has been under review since October 2017, and the architectural firm is Utile Design, whose work on the residential building 25 West Broadway is already known to South Bostonians. What you would see is the beginning of a significant rezoning of the end of [...]

By Richard Campbell As if the mass resignations of the Advisory Board of the National Parks this past Wednesday over being ignored by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke wasn’t enough, as the chaos in Washington ensued over the budget showdown, across the nation National Parks were forced to close.  People visiting Boston wishing go to Bunker Hill, and other sites were out of luck.  Though Faneuil Hall was closed for renovations in January, and some outside vendors allowed access to Old South, Old State, Old North, Revere House- and the USS Constitution & Museum, the rest of NPS Boston metro area shut their doors. The parks are, by most reports, back open- for now. Perhaps the issues at the National Parks is a small wrinkle next [...]

By Richard Campbell The cheap fast lunch options in the Seaport are starting to grow a little.  In the case Aceituna Grill, which opened in 2016, the restaurant is in its second iteration- having had a restaurant in Kendal Square, Cambridge. This Mediterranean grill offers a variety of lunch options believed to be more healthy than regular fast food. It is a little off the beaten path at 57 Wharf Road, off the corner of Seaport Boulevard, but close enough to the ICA to make it a good lunch spot before going to the museum. While I was there was a small mix of young families, and middle aged business people having lunch. I came specifically for the lamb / beef Shawarma which can be [...]

By Richard Campbell   You have to hand it to Artistic Director Spiro Veloudos, he’s not afraid of a challenge. The opening night of the musical Road Show, the Stephen Sondheim, John Weidman collaboration with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, had some rough spots.  Many of these seemed to be because of the inherent complexity of the piece.  Directed and choreographed Ilyse Robbins, this is a monster musical to put on such a small stage. Sondheim’s later musicals are also in a special category, bridging modern music and traditional musical theatre into a unique stylistic realm.  So for those who are not familiar with his work, the complexity of the lyrics and orchestration may take a little adjustment. Trust me, this is not a show for [...]

On Friday morning, January 12, 2018 the students, faculty and staff at South Boston Catholic Academy attended a short prayer service to commemorate Dr. King.  Several of our students, along with Mrs. Hoy, the music teacher, led the students in song and prayer honoring the extraordinary life and contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr. We look forward to highlighting our student learning during Catholic Schools Week, where students will present their Utopian Society projects as well as participate in our annual Science Showcase on January 31, 2018.  Our Open House will also be held on January 31, from 9-1.  For additional information about South Boston Catholic Academy, please visit their website at www.sbcatholicacademy.org or call 617-268-2326.  If you cannot make our Open House, but would [...]

  by Rick Winterson   Last Friday, there was an interesting article in The Wall Street Journal (still America’s best newspaper).  And it was on the front page, yet.  Entitled “Come to Our Stores – They’re Absolutely Not in a Mall”, this article described a new trend in America, a trend away from calling shopping centers “Malls”.  In a spectacular display of poor English, the article quoted one marketeer as saying, “This Mall needed to de-mall.”  Sigh-h-h! But bad English aside, the term “Mall” is derived from “pall-mall”, an urban game that was played 400 years ago in alleyways with a small wooden ball, something like a muscle-bound version of croquet.  Yes, “Mall” derives from the Queen’s English.  But no, it’s not a word describing [...]

by Rick Winterson      There are seven neighborhood civic organizations in South Boston.  They generally meet on a monthly basis to review crime statistics, proposed developments, and specific neighborhood controversies.  Since it’s early in 2018, South Boston Online will be reporting on these civic meetings, with an emphasis on key controversies that could be of general interest.  In our last issue (January 11, page three), we wrote about the City Point Neighborhood Association and their zoning controversies. For this issue, we covered the meeting of ASCA - the Andrew Square Civic Association.  Two key issues emerged:  The location of (now legal) pot shops in and around Andrew Square, and proposed route changes for the 2018 St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day Parade. Ed Flynn, the newly inaugurated [...]

By Richard Campbell Students searching for a professional career that is near recession proof need look no further than the piping hot nursing field. Massachusetts is projected as one of ten states accounting for half the total job growth in this sector in the nation, with the profession is sitting upon an expected job growth at 16% between now and 2024.  While anticipated income is probably not the primary reason for students to enter into nursing programs, a college graduate in a BSN program now would be set to earn about $63,000 annually.  With many nurses in Massachusetts getting older, the demand will only increase as current staffs expect a wave of retirements. Nursing is a highly professionalized career track that is very demanding mentally, [...]