Rick Winterson

South Boston Online could rhapsodize on South Boston’s Pleasure Bay.  Better we simply quote a poem (note the internal rhyme): “Why spend a week in Martinique, Instead of a day on Pleasure Bay?” Jack Hart, Massachusetts state senator (2002-2013) Photos by Rick Winterson on Feb. 29, 2016

By RICK WINTERSON This year’s Jimmy Flaherty Kickoff Breakfast was a great celebration. It kicked off our St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day season in fine style – the season which ends with the three-mile long parade, the largest in New England. Since the Cornerstone closed last year, Tom Connolly’s Seapoint hosted this event, and did a great job. Each year, the South Boston Citizens’ Association, led by Tom McGrath, selects awardees to receive the Henry Knox Unsung Hero Award. Henry Knox was a key hero in George Washington’s command: He brought the Evacuation Day cannons here from Fort Ticonderoga and rose to become Washington’s Major General of Artillery and America’s first Secretary of Defense. The 2016 awardees are Kenny Ryan, Jr., for his community leadership and activities; [...]

By RICK WINTERSON The City of Boston has denied a permit for the full route of the St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day Parade this year. The city severely shortened the route that had been used for more 70 years, according to an update from the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, the organization which has been responsible for the parade since 1947. “At our February 22nd Meeting at City Hall, The City of Boston, without prior notice, Shortened our Parade by More than Half,” read a notice distributed to community members Monday evening. The parade, which is scheduled for Sunday, March 20, will only be permitted to march on Broadway, dispersing at Farragut Road. This is just half the distance that had been previously permitted. (According to the [...]

By RICK WINTERSON First, the disclaimer: South Boston Online does not endorse Bernie Sanders, or any other candidate for President. And we won’t in 2016. In fact, we endorse politicians very rarely, and only then if the candidate is campaigning for a local office that directly represents South Boston. But we thought it was interesting to see the maverick, highly publicized Sanders bringing his campaign here. An exhibition, including hortatory music, called “The Art of Political Revolution” was held in support of Sanders last Friday in the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter building at A and Second Streets. The crowd was young, sparse and seemingly not very political. They were, well, “collegiate,” to say the least. We hope and trust they all “felt the Bern.” The [...]

By RICK WINTERSON First things first: South Boston’s Allied War Veterans Council has scheduled this year’s St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day Parade for Sunday afternoon, March 20. It will step off from the intersection of Dorchester Avenue and West Broadway promptly at 1 p.m. It is a fitting and auspicious date. Not only is the 20th the first day of spring, it‘s also Palm Sunday. That’s the day that Christ paraded into Jerusalem for Passover, and was greeted by joyful crowds spreading palm branches before Him. For those of you who are new to South Boston, our St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day Parade celebrates American veterans, the Irish heritage and the Evacuation of Boston on March 17, 1776. The Evacuation was the first victory in the War for Independence [...]