News

by Rick Winterson South Boston Online will begin this story with its ending first – not recommended journalistic practice, of course, but essential in this case. The news – the good news – is that South Boston’s Collaborative Center, which has done so much to help those suffering from addiction and substance abuse, has been officially named for Joseph “Dodo” Nee, a founder and key supporter of that organization. The sign rededicating the Collaborative to him now proudly hangs over the walkway leading up to its facility at 1226A Columbia Road (see photo). Look for it the next time you’re in the neighborhood. The Collaborative was founded an even ten years ago in 1997, in response to a wave of teenaged suicides. These suicides were [...]

SB Community Health Center’s Youth Ambassadors Partner with Habitat for Humanity On a sunny Saturday during Memorial Day weekend a group of teens from the SB Community Health Center’s Youth Ambassadors Program spent the day constructing a home for a deserving family in the Boston area. Working side by side with the family and members of Habitat for Humanity, the teens helped with building the house’s second story by cutting and preparing the wood for framing . For the past twelve years the Youth Ambassadors program has engaged teens ages 12 -18 in community service projects, health education and art-based activities. Alumni from the Youth Ambassadors also joined the group and used the skills they’ve gained on past nationwide disaster relief service trips to Mississippi, [...]

The long awaited Grand Parade of Sail, featuring over fifty magnificent ships from more than a dozen countries, will mark the official start of Sail Boston 2017. This free celebration of maritime culture and history unfolds in and around Boston’s waterfront from June 17 – 22, and the Parade of Sail on June 17 kicks off the five-day event in grand style. In anticipation of thousands of spectators along Boston’s waterfront, the City’s Police and Transportation Departments, along with the Coast Guard, Massport, MBTA, and representatives from Sail Boston, recently completed a series of public briefings in those communities that will experience the greatest influx of attendees to watch the Parade of Sail. To ensure everyone's safety and maximize enjoyment of this stunning spectacle, a [...]

Joseph Nee, nicknamed “Dodo”, spent his life in community service, as a firefighter, family man, and ardent supporter of countless good works in South Boston. He was one of those rare individuals who both lead and willingly serve. Last Tuesday, the Boston weather couldn’t stop hundreds from celebrating Dodo’s life at the Lawn on D. His son Brian’s eulogy at the end of the evening’s program was especially moving. Jon Cronin, who sponsored Dodo Nee’s memorial celebration, and Fire Commissioner Joe Finn, with Dodo’s son Brian Nee (center). Brian movingly eulogized his Dad during the celebration’s program.

In Ms. Emily’s PreK class - Lieutenant Tommy Cherry of Ladder 24 visited his son’s classroom at South Boston Catholic Academy. He was a special mystery reader, showed the children his fire gear and taught them all about fire safety. Ms. Kristen’s and Ms. Molly’s PreK classes were joined by Mrs. Donavan’s and Ms. Rice’s Third Graders for Friday Afternoon Book Buddies! Both Third Grades are paired with a PreK partner to read books and play with them, too. Each week the Third Grade students are so excited to meet with and "teach" their Book Buddies in PreK about reading and the PreK students are so happy to see their Book Buddies. In Ms. Samantha’s PreK class - Boston Police Officers, Allison Lane and Casey [...]

As the school year comes to a close, Excel High School held two events in the past week.  Sports Night took place on Thursday evening, May 31 in the school assembly hall.  The various teams and coaches were called to the stage by Mr. Brandon Arthur and other staff members and presented awards and certificates.  The annual Knight Award for overall excellence was presented to senior Claudia Camacho.  The students and staff gave a hearty round of applause to Headmaster Stephanie Sibley as she ends six years leading the school.  She was presented a framed jersey.  The prom took place on Friday evening, June 1 at Lombardos in Randolph.  Many car-pooled in long dresses and tuxedos, arriving around 7 p.m. for an evening of dinner and dancing [...]

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay awarded more than $55,000 in Better Beaches Program Grants to support more than 40 free beach events and activities on the Boston Harbor region’s public beaches this summer in a ceremony on Boston’s Fish Pier on Saturday, June 3rd, 2017. Among the 27 organizations from Nahant to Nantasket that received grants this year were five with programs in South Boston. BCYF Curley Community Center received $3500 for the Curley Community Center Summer Series, Mass Kiting received $1000 for the 3rd Annual International Kite Surfing Film Festival, South Boston Neighborhood House received $3500 for Family Fun Nights on the Beach and Olliepalooza, Greater Boston YMCA received $2500 for free swimming lessons at Carson Beach, and YES received $1767 for their program Outdoor Adventure: [...]

by Rick Winterson An important issue has been simmering in South Boston for a long time. It was emphatically brought into the open earlier this year of 2017 at a meeting of the South Boston Association of Non-Profits (SBANP). The members of SBANP spoke loudly and clearly that “Trauma” – especially childhood trauma – should become an essential focus of the SBANP mission here in South Boston. You may well ask how much of an effect trauma has on South Boston’s young people. From a non-medical, lay person’s standpoint, an accurate, meaningful answer is “a lot!” Poverty, violence, lack of good parenting, and neighborhood bullying can all be traumatic to children. And no one in South Boston has to be told that we have substance [...]

by Rick Winterson Last Sunday, May 28, the Thomas F. Fitzgerald Post, VFW No. 561 (Veterans of Foreign Wars) conducted its annual Memorial Day ceremony. This involved a solemn laying of the 2017 ceremonial wreath at the South Boston Vietnam Memorial - the nation’s first such memorial – in Medal of Honor (M Street) Park. The event was led by Ed Flynn, Commander of the Post. Occurring exactly 100 years after the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, it seemed that this year’s wreath laying was especially significant. World War I was called “The war to end all wars” soon after it ended. In part, this was due to many weapons of war that were used for the first time – gas warfare, the [...]