News

Thank you for returning me as your State Representative to fight for the issues important to our community. I am grateful for the confidence you have shown me. In the 189th General Court of the Commonwealth we had many legislative achievements. I was proud to have sponsored or co-sponsored several important pieces of legislation crucially benefitting our district and the state as a whole, including: Ensuring women receive equal pay for equal work — one of the strongest pay equity laws in the country Securing $109 million for improvements to the Paul W. Conley terminal in South Boston, creating jobs and ensuring the local shipping industry continues to grow and thrive Authorizing $200 million in local transportation funding- including $14.5 million for City of Boston [...]

by Rick Winterson   South Boston has enjoyed the presence of the Blue Hills Bank in its booming Waterfront and Seaport District for several years now.  But it wasn’t in the form of a bank branch.  Instead, since 2014 it has been the very popular Blue Hills Bank Pavilion.  But the question remained:  When will the Blue Hills Bank, which is headquartered in Boston’s Hyde Park neighborhood, open a full service branch bank here on the South Boston Waterfront? Well, after a year and a half of research, the (affirmative) answer to that question came last Wednesday evening, the 3rd.  Blue Hills Bank, now in its 145th year, threw a gala event to formally celebrate its Branch Bank opening at 87 Seaport Boulevard (corner of [...]

by Rick Winterson   NEVER FORGET:    The century mark of America’s Veterans Day holiday approaches rapidly.  On this Friday morning, November 11, in this Year of Our Lord 2016, the 98th Anniversary of the cessation of “The War to End All Wars” will occur. Of course, this is well-known history, but it bears repeating:  The original World War I Holiday was called “Armistice Day”.  It was a celebration of the end of that war – “The War to End All Wars” – the first war known as a World War.  While it is still observed as Armistice Day (or Remembrance Day) in many other nations, Armistice Day became Veterans Day in America in 1954 during the Eisenhower administration.  Its purpose:   To honor the service [...]

Last week, a bill filed by State Representative Nick Collins related to public safety and hot works was signed into law. This bill, cosponsored by both Rep. Collins and Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly (D-Arlington), was drawn up after the tragic fire caused by unpermitted welding that took the lives of two Boston Firefighters in the Back Bay in 2014. The bill will establish a commission consisting of primary fire safety officials in the Commonwealth, members appointed by the Governor and Legislature, as well as experienced professionals in the burning and hot works trades. The commission will evaluate the current regulations, punishments and penalties of welding Fire Safety Bill Signed practices to avoid future fires. It will also investigate and study the current requirements for obtaining [...]

The Gavin Foundation hosted an event with the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services in South Boston to raise awareness for the new “311 for Recovery Services” hotline and Red Ribbon Week next week. First Check Diagnostics offered parents free home drug test kits and prevention plans from non-profit notMYkid at the Gavin Foundation Devine Recovery Center, nettspill gratis. Pictured: Helen McDermott, Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services Brendan Little, Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services Kristen Polin, Vice President of Programs, notMYkid Susan Bradley, Development Director, Gavin Foundation Aimee Runyon, CEO, notMYkid and Jimmy McCray, Operations Director, Gavin Foundation

Last Saturday afternoon saw another of the increasingly popular poetry readings at the Branch Library from 1:30 to 3.  As usual, the event was emceed by Dotty Morris and featured some of the members of her South Boston writing group.  You may or may not know that, in addition to the many other cultural outlets in South Boston, there is an informal but very active number of people engaged in cultural writing.  The public is always welcome at these readings in the Branch Library; watch for the next one yourself.  They are free. Dotty Morris, a poet in her own right, served skillfully as the afternoon’s Emcee.  Rick Winterson began the 90-minute session with a brief discussion of Shakespearean sonnets, and their ongoing value 400 [...]

The South Boston Community Health Center has been a prominent member of South Boston’s support systems. For many years, it has been a bellwether of where modern medicine is headed; it dies this by caring for many thousands of local residents at its two West Broadway locations. Wednesday morning, October 26, the Health Center formally extended its benign footprint to the waterfront. The blue ribbon in front of 505 Con-gress Street (John Drew’s Waterfront project) was cut at 9:30. The “South Boston Health Seaport” facility, dedicated to the memory of Paul Drew, was open. More news on this welcome addition to our waterfront to follow. Stay tuned.

Two months ago, Paul Gannon, who practices law in his South Boston office on Broadway, announced his candidacy for Plymouth/Norfolk County State Senator, which includes Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Norwell, Scituate, Marshfield, and Duxbury.  If you have friends there, ask them to please consider Paul’s candidacy on Election Day, November 8. And this coming Tuesday evening, you are invited to join Congressman Stephen Lynch, State Representative Nick Collins, City Councilor Bill Linehan, City Councilor Michael Flaherty, and candidate for Register of Deeds Stephen Murphy at a reception honoring Paul.  That’s Tuesday evening, October 25, 6 to 8 p.m., at CAPO, 443 West Broadway. Paul is a third- generation, born-and-brought-up South Bostonian.  He says, “I am very appreciative that South Boston’s elected officials sponsored this fundraiser for [...]