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Memorial Day observances in South Boston actually stretched over four days, making it into a very full weekend of remembrance. This is appropriate: Memorial Day (originally called “Decoration Day”) began 150 years ago in Waterloo in upstate New York – a key stop on the North’s Underground Railway. On Friday morning, the Fallen Heroes (Iraq, Afghanistan) Memorial was dedicated on a plot of ground within John Hynes’ Seaport Square mega-development. This Memorial consists of a simple but stately pentagonal obelisk, representing the five American combat arms. At its base, there’s a reflecting pool and steps, in and around which bright flowers were left. The Fallen Heroes Memorial is a result of dedicated volunteer efforts by local firefighters, police officers, Gold Star families, and veterans. One [...]

By RICK WINTERSON It’s time for compliments, resulting from the opening day of the Lawn on D on Saturday, May 21, for the summer of 2016. But the biggest compliment that can be paid to the Lawn on D is the presence of the crowd that more than eagerly anticipated the lawn’s first day of its summer season. Families came and went, but it seemed that 500 or more were on hand for the entire time. Equal numbers of adults and kids mobbed the Lawn on D’s patented crescent swings – selfies were encouraged. The youngsters enjoyed a bubble bath filled with light plastic balls. They jumped onto and then rode inflatables of all kinds. There were miniature houses, crawl spaces, and hidey-holes everywhere. Creative [...]

By RICK WINTERSON Did you ever think of South Boston as being mostly a desert? Well, it is. Certainly, it rains here, but almost all of the storm water drains away quickly, with only a few puddles temporarily left behind. Otherwise, there is little or no fresh water anywhere out of doors. In other words, South Boston is normally a desert, and that can be hard on our cats, dogs and other pets. Well, Chris Gregorio, who lives in the Msgr. Powers apartments at 120 L St., decided he would do something about this. He has begun to set out water bowls, sometimes on one of his blankets when the wind is calm. He only asks that you sign your pet in – some 60 [...]

By RICK WINTERSON That’s Lorie Walsh of Broadway in South Boston, of course – East Broadway on the eastern slope of “Pill Hill,” to be exact. Lorie has just completed a run at Braintree’s Curtain Call Theater, where she performed as Felicity in Michael Cristofer’s gripping play, “The Shadow Box,” directed by Peter Kates. Many of Lorie’s friends from South Boston drove down to the Curtain Call stage to see her in that very challenging role. “The Shadow Box” debuted 40 years ago. It deals frankly – sometimes sadly, sometimes humorously – with the hospice movement and the inevitability of death. Even now, our society tends to wall off the experience of death, rather than facing (and eventually accepting) it directly. Almost two generations after [...]

By RICK WINTERSON South Boston Online mentioned 2016 Memorial Day observances at the Fitzgerald VFW Post No. 561 (VFW, 517 East Fourth St.) in our last issue. This is a brief reminder of those observances; as always, the public is cordially invited to attend and take part. The ceremonies at the Fitzgerald Post will take place on Sunday, May 29. They begin with an assembly and breakfast collation in the Post at 9 a.m. At 9:30, the Post members and their guests will march to Medal of Honor (M Street) Park, where there will be a solemn wreath laying at the Vietnam Memorial. After the ceremonies, members and guests will return to the Post for a complimentary lunch. Please plan to join us – see [...]

“It’s Time to Re-Tire” used to be the slogan of the old, once-famous Fiske Tire Company, featuring the young boy with a candle, a long, white nightshirt, and a tire over his shoulder. This picture, which has nothing to do with Fiske, was taken on East Eighth Street, in the Bayview area between I and K streets.  No one, even the police officer on detail there, seemed to know what happened. It’s not a result of Grand Prix Boston – that got cancelled - and it’s still a bit too early in the year for Halloween pranks. (Thanks to Ed Oliver-Bohlds for the tip) –Rick Winterson

By RICK WINTERSON The arrival of spring in South Boston is definitely spun out gradually (and graphically) by the northerly path of the sun, as sunsets become more or less centered upon Broadway for a couple of weeks. And with our main thoroughfares pointing west, accompanied by views from Dorchester Heights, the spring sunsets here are definitely worth a look. A long look. (Just don’t stare; it’s bad for your eyes. Use a polarizing filter, or glance at the setting sun quickly and only occasionally.) These sunsets happen in mid-April, almost a month after the vernal (spring) equinox on or around March 21. Perhaps they are rewards for what we did 240 years ago on that fateful Wednesday morning, April 19, 1775 - the first [...]