by Rick Winterson
There’s little or no question that South Boston is an extremely desirable neighborhood to live in. We have become America’s urban hometown. What makes South Boston so special? Perhaps taking a look at the recently completed month of June will help answer that question.
June, 2106, was (as always) sandwiched between late May, which featured events like the opening of the Lawn on D and the solemnities of Memorial Day itself, and the weekend of the Fourth of July, when the Esplanade festivities took place and the Queen Mary 2 docked at Black Falcon. Well, this is a marvelous framework for any month, but it is not the month of June itself. So, South Boston Online will confine our comments to days from Wednesday June 1 until Thursday June 30.
South Boston is a peninsula surrounded (mostly) by salt water. To start the month of June, the waters along our beaches, according to all tests, were pronounced absolutely, squeaky clean. Let the sun sports begin! Speaking of sports, the summer games and leagues really got underway in June.
EXCEL High School held its sports awards night on June 1. Friday, June 3, saw the debut of “Lion King” at the Boys & Girls Club. On the Heights, a replica of one of the cannons brought here by Henry Knox from Fort Ticonderoga was solemnly dedicated on Saturday, June 4. That same afternoon, Phoenix MultiSports opened its doors and its free workouts to those in recovery. Also that same afternoon, South Boston’s MOMS Club held their Fun Day in Farragut Park.
The first full June week started off fast in South Boston. Our Fort Point neighborhood held its first Fort Point Festival on Sunday, the 5th. On Monday morning, the Farmers Market in Perkins Square opened for the summer. The opening of developer Joe Fallon’s 100 Northern Avenue building was a mid-week celebration, featuring “vertical ballet” on the structure’s glass curtain walls. VSA and the Condon School celebrated their teaching season at a Children’s Museum “Cool Ways to Play” gala. Thursday evening, June 9, the South Boston Collaborative Center gave awards to Cathe Walsh and Joanie Lynch for their long-term support of the Collaborative’s recovery efforts. On Saturday, June 11, the South Boston Arts Association watched double amputee Peter Damon demonstrate his art work at their monthly meeting.
The Police Department’s Frank Williams and Officer Roy began tennis lessons on Sunday, the 12th. Tuesday, June 14, saw a Flag Day flag-raising at the Neighborhood House. On Wednesday evening, June 15, Medicine Wheel held its 25th Anniversary Party at Taj – Michael Dowling was honored as a “Medicine Man” for his vision. Friday afternoon, The Paraclete named its main hall for Paul McDevitt, to recognize the major support he has been to that organization. On Saturday, Dan McCole and his SBAA helpers completed their mural, “Landing the Curragh”, on the side of the McDonough Sailing Center.
The Fort Point Theatre Channel opened their original drama-with-music “Dreamboat” at the Playwright’s Theatre on June 16. The South Boston Sports Hall of Fame presented their annual scholarships to deserving scholar-athletes. The Notre Dame Education Center (the NDEC) graduated its largest class. The fundraiser at the McDonough Sailing Center was a resounding success.
The last Saturday/Sunday in June saw the Friends of Donnie Higgins Street Hockey Tournament. “Unity Day” took place at Old Colony Development. Another high point of that weekend was the Anniversary Mass offered by Father Joseph M. White on Saturday afternoon, June 25th – Fr. Joe had reached 25 years as a priest. The month closed on June 30 with the Gavin Foundation’s “Open Hearts/Open Homes” gala at the Renaissance. Well-deserved awards were conferred upon Congressman Stephen Lynch and the Local 550 Sprinkler Fitters, followed by dinners at homes all across South Boston.
And now, rugby is even coming to South Boston. Yes, the month of June in the Year of Our Lord 2016 was quite a month. So now you know: In June, South Boston was at its best – its very best.
