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everal weeks back Lydia Polaski, the Andrew Square Civic Association (ASCA) MBTA liaison, sent a letter to the T asking for a meeting to discuss crime and public safety at Andrew Station. Included in the letter were questions for MBTA

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June 23, 2022: Vol.10 Issue 24

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June 23, 2022

EDITORIAL Long Days, Warm Temperatures and Lots To Do. Summer Has Arrived.

his week, on June 21st, we were treated to the longest day of the year. That’s right, as everyone knows it was the first day of summer and we have daylight that glows well beyond 8pm; even until 9pm. The time we have for long walks, runs and biking along the beach, taking in a game at one of the parks or just kicking back and hanging out with the neighbors on the front steps or on the deck are part of summer’s magic. Sure, there will be days when it is brutally hot, and some shade is a must. But for the most part, the warm

balmy temps and pleasant breezes are something that most people wait for and enjoy during this relatively short season. Here in South Boston, we are fortunate to have all the natural surroundings we are blessed with. With our 3 miles of shoreline and its (usually) clear, clean water we are able to enjoy; all within walking distance, we have something that people in most neighborhoods in big cities can only wish for. And its something to be grateful for. As the long, some call ‘dog days of summer’ settle in, there will be some who

quickly get bored of the extra day light, the heat and all the additional activity that typically takes place during June, July and August. And that’s understandable. The wish for change is normal and the idea of Autumn temperatures, colored leaves and pumpkin spice flavored treats becomes more appealing. But this is New England, and the changing seasons are part of life in the northeast so it will come soon enough. And what will follow then? Well, we all know the answer, short days, freezing weather and icy roads. And that’s ok too if you like it. But why not

make the most of the summer season and enjoy all it has to offer while it’s here? It doesn’t last all that long so you might want to at least try make the best of it. Whether you stay local, plan to travel or do some

of both, there is plenty to like about this season. Here’s wishing everyone a pleasant and enjoyable Summer of 2022. Let it be a memorable one in a positive way, one that you can look back on and smile.

“In life, quality is what counts, not quantity” - Audie Murphy

NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE HOUR IN SOUTH BOSTON Medal Of Honor Park, June 29th, 9:30-10:30am Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department host the 2022 Neighborhood Coffee Hour Series in local parks citywide from May 4 to June 30.

ayor Wu’s Neighborhood Coffee Hours are a unique opportunity to speak directly with the Mayor and staff from City departments about open space and their neighborhoods. Dunkin’ will

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be on-site to keep Bostonians runnin’ with freshly brewed and full of flavor Iced Coffee and assorted fan-favorite MUNCHKINS® donut hole treats. In addition, each family in attendance will receive a free

John Ciccone

flowering plant provided by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, while supplies last. Dunkin’ will brew up even more event fun with Dunkin’-izedlawn games and gift card giveaways. Residents at each

event will be eligible to win a raffle prize from Dunkin’. Fresh fruit will be provided by Star Market. Additional support by City Express. For more information and updates on possible weather cancellations, please con-

tact the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at 617-635-4505, on our social channels @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or by visiting the Parks Department website.

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June 23, 2022

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Information Center The

Even Most Democrats Blame Biden For Raging Inflation SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone

ne of the most viewed videos of the week was the one that showed Biden falling off his bike. And I’m not going to make fun of him for that; at least not today. Most people have fallen off their bikes at some point, although he wasn’t even riding the bike when he fell. He actually tipped over while stopped which is pretty hard to do. There is more than enough to criticize him about than that. If the country doesn’t remove him from office and Kamala Harris too, pretty soon we won’t have much of a country left. To call this administration a disaster is being kind. The economy is so bad that recent polling results show that now, even a majority of Democrat voters say Biden is to blame. 53% of Democrats now agree that this is the fault of Biden and his regime. Of course, a much larger percentage of Republicans AND Independents too feel the same way. Just the fact that his own party members are waking up and seeing clearly should send an unmistakable warning to the Democrats that their policies are harming our country and really ticking people off. More people by the day are getting the picture about what the January 6th hearings are all about. First, it’s an effort to try to ensure that Donald Trump can’t run for president again. But that effort will fail, and they seem to know it now. They won’t be able to stop him if he does choose to run. And if he decides not to run, well, there’s always Ron DeSantis. Second, it’s meant to be a distraction by

Note: talk back to John Ciccone by email at jciccone@southbostontoday.com

the Democrats that they think will make people stop paying attention to what’s happening in the country. And THAT will definitely NOT happen. Because, when millions of Americans think of what the country was like on January 6th, 2021, they aren’t thinking about the so called ‘insurrection’. They remember the following: Here’s what was really happening on January 6th: Gas was $1.93 per gallon, There was almost zero inflation, and The Supply Chain was functioning well. The economy was the strongest in 50 years, The border was controlled and secured, The Taliban was not armed with billions of dollars’ worth of sophisticated American weapons, There were plenty of workers to fill the jobs, the stock market was at record highs, Peoples’ retirement funds and investments were safe and also at record highs and interest rates were at record lows. So, what do you think people are more concerned about, not being able to afford much of anything anymore and empty store shelves or Nancy Pelosi’s Gong Show on prime-time TV from the capitol building? The most heard quote around the country right now is “January 6th has no effect on my life, but $5 Dollars a gallon for gas sure does”. And here’s another related quote on the subject: Question: Whatever happened to the big bad Monkeypox scare? Answer: It had a scheduling conflict with the January 6th hearings.” Moving to another issue mentioned often in this space – Gun Control. Liberals are always

looking for ways to pass additional laws that restrict the rights of legal gun owners but would have no effect on criminals and their guns. They could not wait to jump all over the recent Texas school shooting. The bodies of the slain children were not even brought out of the building before the libs were posing and posturing for the TV cameras and using the issue in fundraising efforts for

their political campaigns. One local wrote into this newspaper with the following comment: “If the liberals were seriously concerned about school shootings and safety instead of playing politics, they wouldn’t always be fighting tooth and nail to prevent armed security in the schools that could better protect the children.” It’s so refreshing to hear statements that actually make sense.

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SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

June 23, 2022

Window Into The State House

Window Into The State House provides our readers a synopsis of important issues of interest, past and current, that are being proposed, debated or acted upon by the Massachusetts Legislature. Many issues that are not related to local city government services are acted upon and have a direct impact on daily life. They are tax policy, transportation infrastructure, judicial appointments, social services and health, as well as higher education. We will excerpt reports from the gavel-to-gavel coverage of House and Senate sessions by news sources focused on this important aspect of our lives. These sources include a look ahead at the coming week in state government and summaries and analyses of the past week, re-caps of a range of state government activity, as well as links to other news.

MBTA – Every Governor’s Achilles Heel--Gov. Charlie Baker seems destined to leave office the same way he came in - answering for an aging public transit system that can’t get on track. The Republican won’t be the first governor to try and struggle to get ahead of the problems at the T, and despite his recent boasting of pumping more capital dollars into the MBTA than any administration that preceded him, questions about management and funding persist. Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano announced Tuesday that amidst the chaos of the end-of-session legislative flurry they intend to squeeze in an oversight hearing to put T officials on the spot over the recent safety gaps flagged by the Federal Transit Administration. The House Ways and Means Committee also released a new version of a transportation bond bill that contains $400 million for the T, though it will take time to address the staffing issues raised by the FTA. The MBTA has responded in the short-term by cutting back service to ensure that it has enough dispatchers and other staff to properly oversee operations without jeopardizing safety. The T also had to pull all its new Orange Line cars from service on Tuesday due to a battery failure on one of the cars, and acknowledged to the Globe an escalator malfunction in Chinatown over the weekend that caused it to reverse direction with riders on it. “The FTA’s findings and the

MBTA’s subsequent service cuts don’t inspire any public confidence in our transit system,” Spilka and Mariano said. As the Globe’s Matt Stout and Samantha J. Gross report, the Democratic leaders made clear that they view this as a Baker failure, noting that after the winter of 2015, at the governor ’s request, the T was put under the management of a control board. Transportation Committee co-chair Sen. Brendan Creighton said Tuesday the new T board, which only recently replaced the Fiscal and Management Control Board, needs to be given time, and suggested it was too late in the session to revive talks about long-term financing solutions for the MBTA if the problems are, in fact, financial or if they run deeper. This all but assures that candidates for office this summer and fall will be asked at every turn how they plan to fix the T. But history has shown it can be risky for anyone who claims to have an answer. -- Almost half of Legis opposes MCAS changes A bipartisan group of 97 lawmakers have signed a letter to Education Commissioner Jeff Riley and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education urging against raising the passing scores on the MCAS exam needed to graduate high school. The board is expected to make a final decision next week. Sens. Jo Comerford and Patricia Jehlen and Rep. Jim Hawkins spearheaded the effort, arguing that a higher testing standard would hurt more vulnerable student popu-

lations. “Raising the cutoff score for high school graduation will make it harder for our most vulnerable students to get diplomas, limiting their opportunities for jobs and military service. Their schools will focus even more on test preparation; students won’t have the chance to develop skills in collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking,” Jehlen said.

from Minnesota where she had been commissioner of education. Interviews are expected to take place over the coming days with a selection expected next week, though the Globe’s James Vaznis and Jenna Russell report some stakeholders are disappointed in the diversity of the finalist pool after two other candidates of color backed out of the process.

-- Home sales slow, but prices keep climbing The housing market may be cooling off a little with single-family home sales slowing by 7.3 percent in May compared to last year, but the Eagle-Tribune’s Christian Wade reports that the disconnect between supply and demand continues to fuel record setting prices. According to the Warren Group, the median price of single family home in Massachusetts jumped to $590,000 in May, and a townhouse or condo costs an average of $525,500.

-- Nativity School says donations pouring in after Bishop’s decree The president of the Nativity School of Worcester says more than 1,200 donors from across the country have donated $100,000 to the school in the days since Worcester Diocese Bishop Robert McManus issued a decree declaring the school could not longer identify itself as a Catholic institution because of its decision to fly Black Lives Matter and Pride flags. MassLive’s Kiernan Dunlop has the details.

-- Two finalists emerge to lead Boston Public Schools In the end, the city didn’t look too far to find its top two candidates to lead the Boston Public Schools as the system’s next superintendent. The finalists for the job are Somerville Superintendent Mary Skipper, who previously worked in the Boston system, and Tommy Welch, a regional BPS superintendent who oversees 15 schools in East Boston, Charlestown, and the North End. That stands in contrast to the background of current Superintendent Brenda Cassellius who arrived in Boston in 2019

-- Action called for as crowds return to Mass. and Cass With the warm weather bringing more homeless and those struggling with addiction out in the open in the area of Boston known as Mass. and Cass, some elected officials are urging the city and police to perform another sweep to remove anyone with outstanding warrants or mental health conditions. U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch and state and local elected officials say action is needed to preserve public safety, but GBH’s Tori Bedford reports some fear a warrant sweep won’t address the underlying problems that haven’t gone away.

June 23, 2022

REP. BIELE SUPPORTS PASSAGE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LEGISLATION

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

tate Representative David Biele joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass comprehensive legislation addressing longstanding issues with the behavioral health care delivery system. The bill focuses on acute psychiatric care and crisis response, youth behavioral health initiatives, community-based behavioral health services, investments in the workforce, and enforcement of existing behavioral health parity laws. Highlights of the bill include initiatives to address emergency department boarding, such as: • Creating online portals that provide access to real-time data on youth and adults seeking mental health and substance use services, including a function that allows health care providers to

easily search and find open beds; • Requiring the Health Policy Commission (HPC) to prepare and publish a report every three years on the status of pediatric behavioral health; and • Codifying an expedited psychiatric inpatient admissions (EPIA) advisory council to reduce hospital emergency department boarding, including a protocol to expedite placement into appropriate care settings for patients under the age of 18. “Mental health and behavioral health are essential,” said Rep. Biele. “This legislation will help increase access to quality behavioral and mental health services by expanding coverage and eliminating obstacles to quality care.” This legislation seeks to increase behavioral health care access across the Commonwealth through the implementation of the nationwide 988 hot-

line to access 24/7 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis services. This legislation also expands 911 to bridge the gap until 988 is implemented by increasing training, funding, and capacity for regional emergency responses to behavioral health crises. This bill tackles disparities in mental health and other forms of health care by giving the state additional tools to enforce existing parity laws, such as: • Requiring licensed mental health

professionals to be available during all operating hours of an emergency department (including via telehealth). • Directing DMH to create a comprehensive plan to address access to continuing care beds, intensive residential treatment programs, and community-based programs for patients awaiting discharge from acute psychiatric hospital units. This legislation requires expands insurance coverage of critical behavioral health services, including: • Emergency service programs; • Services provided under psychiatric collaborative care models; • Mental health acute treatment, community-based acute treatment, and intensive community-based acute treatment without prior authorization; and • Annual mental health wellness exams. The legislation “An Act addressing barriers to care for mental health” (H.4879) passed the House of Representatives 155-0 after a similar version of this legislation passed in the Massachusetts State Senate. The legislation moves back to the Senate for further consideration.

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popular for both their quality and price. A great example of both is Destino Fifth Empire Douro Red, 2017, ($17.99). This medium-bodied red has distinctive notes of crushed cherries and plums, blueberries and herbs. On the palate, though it’s medium-bodied, this one presents

layers and a pronounced structure. Under the country’s winemaking laws, it contains the requisite 10% of its leading grape, Touriga Nacional, as well as Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. Though it will continue to drink really well for the next 5-7 years, don’t hesitate to have a glass with any grilled red meat. Treana Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast, Paso Robles, ($27.99)is a wine from one of the best areas in California for real value. Bold, muddled blackberry, ripe black currants, blueberry syrup, crushed violets, roasted coffee, sweet vanilla, caramel, and clove aromas will form a distinctive nose, as well as provide a supple and elegant palate. The palpable black fruit flavors are marked by a distinctive toasted oak aroma and the tannins are moderate, but smooth. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the lingering, multi-flavored finish and you should pick up a few bottlesyou won’t be sorry. For a lot of people, Pinot Noir is their go-to “summer red”; lighter than Cab or Merlot, it can still be substantial in its own right. While the varietal is ancient, with first mentions of it being made by Pluny, the Roman historian, some of the best iterations are coming from

New Zealand, already renowned for its world-class Sauvignon Blanc. Mohua Pinot Noir 2018 Central Otago, New Zealand, ($23.99), hits all the right buttons and the Wine Enthusiast gives it 90 points, saying, “This Pinot starts off plush, fruity and relatively rich, with red fruit, mealy oak, baking spice and floral notes. It’s saved by the palate that is unexpectedly elegant, lifted and fresh, wound by spicy, chalky tannins that have muscle but never take over. Red berry and spice flavors flow gracefully to the finish.”. I think you’ll appreciate this one on a cool summer evening with dinner or by itself. When we hear “Veneto”, most of us would think of Pinot Grigio, but there are exceptions and they are delicious. Zenato Valpolicella Ripasso, Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy, ($23.99), offers fruity aromas and very fine tannins to the palate, with an aura of chocolate and spices. The Corvina grape varietal gives the wine a natural effervescence and on the palate, it’s very supple, with notes of cherries and almonds; while this is one of the Zenato family’s newer efforts, recent sales in the U.S. suggest that it’ll be around for a long time to come. This one can hold its own, as either an aperitif or the perfect dessert wine.

coronavirus and/or travel bans to certain areas. According to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, the cancellation of a trip out of fear of traveling or in relation to travel advisories is not typically covered by these insurance policies. However, travelers who purchased policies that include Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage may still have the option to recoup funds. Pandemics are often routinely listed as exclusions in policies, so read the fine print. In addition, travelers may also contact the airlines and other travel suppliers before filing a claim to see if there are refunds, waivers, or other accommodations offered through those companies. When thinking about purchasing travel insurance, consider these tips: • Travel insurance is intended to help with unexpected events, not

things like forecasted hurricanes. Once an event is a “known event,” meaning it’s been forecasted or anticipated, it may not be considered a covered reason for cancellation if a traveler books a trip after that date. • Policies vary. Before purchasing a policy or trying to file a claim, read the specifics on what the policy does and doesn’t cover. Contact the insurance company directly with questions. • Read the fine print. If CFAR was purchased, confirm the specific policy wording for all details regarding this benefit before filing a claim. • Be flexible with travel plans. Dates, times and arrangements can change at any given time. Make plans, but leave room for the unexpected. Be aware of travel warnings issued by the U.S. State Department and Canadian Travel Advisories. Visit BBB.org to research com-

panies that offer travel insurance. Ensure that the agency you choose adheres to BBB’s Standards for Trust.

The

Wine Guy

It’s Okay To Look

espite our location, it is actually beginning to feel more like summer every day (as a matter of fact, the official start of the season just occurred!). So, it’s not only a good time to enjoy a glass or two of cold white still and sparkling wines, it’s also a great time to stock up on some red wines that might not only be your favorites, but may be on sale as well. Here are a few to look at…. Though it’s one of the smaller countries in Western Europe, Portugal contains the highest number of grape varieties in all of Europe. In addition to being the Port wine capital of the world, the country’s red wines have become increasingly

Better Business Bureau Q&A Does travel insurance cover canceled trips? The short answer, according to experts, is it depends on the policy and the situation.

n 2020 and 2021, BBB received thousands of complaints related to travel insurance, many of which occurred because the policy didn’t cover the cancellation caused by the

June 23, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

A New Chapter Of Allied War Veterans Council Has Begun

usan McDonough, former Commander of the Martin F. McDonough American Legion Post #368 has been installed as the new Commander of the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council. With authority, once sworn in, she wielded the ceremonial gavel rumored to be the original gavel used by the South Boston parade-organizing former Commander and legend, the late John Wacko Hurley. Joining Susan during her installation and being sworn in as members of the e-Board were Sr. Vice Commander Randy Greeley, Jr. Vice Commander Dave Falvey, Treasurer Matt Olson, Parade Operations Brian Yanovitch and

Adjutant Jim Tooley. Unable to attend but vital members were Trustees Bob Lewis and Sean Connolly who was present via telephone. The remarks by the installing officer Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) John Beatty of South Boston, Executive Director of MA Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force, underscored the importance of the choice of Commander McDonough. As he stated, “the welfare and success of this council depends largely on you, and you must also know upon your shoulders equally rests the burden of preserving the integrity of the council”. He added, “There is no rank among us - each serve as an equal and

all strive toward the same goal”. The South Boston veteran community, its historical connections to the founding of our nation, its spirit of service and patriotism and its underlying community values of faith, family, friendship, love and loyalty will be acknowledged, venerated and preserved through the efforts of the council and its leadership. Beatty complimented the five years of service of now Past Commander Dave Falvey and the quality of that service. He thanked him for his “splendid service”, especially at a time of controversy and disorganization and helping to “right the ship” and get it back on course, thus preserving the credibility of the council.

And finally, to Commander McDonough, he finished by saying, “your loyalty to this council, to its members, to our national organizations, to this community, our state and nation are all obligations which you now assume”. On a personal note, Beatty stated, “You are the right person at the right time”. God speed! Commander Susan McDonough said “There will be changes in the Evacuation Day/St. Patrick’s Day Parade which will make the residents of the South Boston community proud and as Commander; I am looking to build a stronger Veterans community for those who chose to wear the uniform”.

Official Swearing In of the newly elected South Boston Allied War Veterans Council. L to R: Commander Susan McDonough, Sr. Vice Commander Randy Greeley, Junior Vice Commander David Falvey, Treasurer Matt Olson, Parade Operations Brian Yanovitch, Adjutant Jim Tooley

Tom Lyons, Commander Susan McDonough and John Beatty

Former Commander Dave Falvey closing old business

Transition of leadership from former Commander Falvey to current Commander McDonough

Susan McDonough’s first speech as Commander of the SBAWVC

Commander McDonough thanking the SBAWVC, family and friends as well as acknowledging the South Boston Community and its Veterans

Meeting Adjourned by SBAWVC Commander Susan McDonough with the rumored John Wacko Hurley gavel!

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

I Was Just Thinking…

by Kevin Devlin

ast Sunday, June 19, FINA, swimming’s worldwide governing body, announced a ban on most transgender women from competing in major women’s races. The policy allows transgender women who transitioned before the age of 12 years old to compete in women’s races. This governing body also plans to create an “open” category for events for transgender women who want to compete. What’s right is right and transgendered women competing with biological women is not right. It’s so obvious it blows my mind how people could think otherwise. As suggested by FINA, the simple solution would be to have

transgendered women compete in their own division. Everything would be fair. Everyone should be happy. However, this decision has sparked outrage from the trans-community who labeled the FINA decision as discriminatory, a misogynistic hate campaign which is non-inclusive and unfair to transgendered women. This is their argument. We hate trans-people. This is such a bogus argument. Most Americans don’t care if a person is transgender or not. We believe in live and let live but please stop shoving it in our faces, please stop with the lies. Lia Catherine Thomas competed on the UPenn men’s swim team from

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2017 to 2020, and on its women’s swim team from 2021 to 2022. In March 2022, Thomas became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship in any sport, after winning the women’s 500-yard freestyle event. After dominating the 200m freestyle with a time of 1:43:47, in the NCAA Championships, Thomas allegedly bragged, “that was so easy, I was cruising.” At the conclusion of Thomas’ college swimming career in 2022, Thomas’ rank had moved from 65th on the men’s team to 1st on the women’s team in the 500-yard freestyle, and 554th on the men’s team to 5th on the women’s team in the 200-yard freestyle. So, from being a competitive swimmer in the men’s division, Thomas became a national champion in the women’s division. Progressives argue that allowing transwomen to compete in their chosen

June 23, 2022

gender’s sport promotes fairness and inclusion, but the opposite is reality because “scientific studies show that trans women maintain a biological advantage over ciswomen, even after prolonged hormone therapy. Consequently, allowing trans women to compete in women’s sports promotes inequity and exclusion for biological women. competing against biological males.” It’s ironic that those who support transgendered athletes competing in women’s swimming races blame political pressure bought about by vicious anti-trans propaganda for this ruling are themselves advocates of cancel culture. Advocates of harm to others. “I am woman, hear me roar, In numbers too big to ignore”, sang Helen Reddy back in the day. Now it’s time for biological women to stand up for their rights and roar once again, declaring what’s right is right, and what’s fair is fair.

June 23, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF THE 2022 HOMELESSNESS CENSUS

ayor Michelle Wu today announced the results of the 42nd annual homeless census. On the night of February 23, Mayor Wu led a group of volunteers, including City and federal officials, homeless service providers, and public health and safety-first responders in conducting the City of Boston’s 42nd annual homeless census. During the annual census, the City of Boston collects data on individuals spending the night unsheltered on the street, and individuals and families staying in emergency shelter, transitional housing, or domestic violence shelter programs. This point-in-time count is a national requirement for cities who are receiving funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. “This year’s census data helps us better shape Boston’s work to support our unhoused residents, coordinate effectively with our state and federal partners, and move closer to ensuring everyone has a safe, healthy home,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. Overall, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Boston on the night of the census decreased by 2.4 percent, from 1,659 individuals in 2021 to 1,545 individuals in 2022. This reduction builds on a decrease of 24.7 percent from 2020 to 2021 which was due in part to a coordinated effort by city agencies and homeless service providers to create alternative housing, shelter and healthcare options that de-concentrated shelters during the first wave of the pandemic. It also reflects sustained and successful efforts in housing individuals experiencing homelessness and at-risk individuals and diverting individuals from emergency shelter to safe alternatives when possible. The number of unsheltered persons staying on the street on the night of the census decreased

by 30 percent, or 51 individuals, from 170 individuals in 2021 to 119 individuals in 2022. There were no unsheltered families on the streets of Boston on the night of the census, as has been true for more than the past decade. After two years of increased unsheltered homelessness, this year’s street count is slightly lower than the total of 121 in 2019. The number of veterans experiencing homelessness decreased by 15.5%, from 213 veterans in 2021 to 180 veterans in 2022. In 2021, the Mayor’s Office of Housing, Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services, Boston Housing Authority and a collaborative of homeless services and housing providers launched the Street-toHome (S2H) Initiative focused on placing persons experiencing long-term unsheltered homelessness in permanent housing with wrap-around services. In November 2021, Mayor Wu brought in a special advisor, Dr. Monica Bharel, M.D. to accelerate efforts to mitigate the growing encampment crisis in the Newmarket triangle area at Mass Ave. and Melnea Cass Blvd. The Boston Public Health Commission, Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services, and numerous public health, behavioral health and health care agencies worked with the Mayor’s Office of Housing to support six low-threshold sites providing interim housing, access to much needed medical and substance-use disorder care and ongoing housing navigation. This effort resulted in placement opportunities for more than 150 individuals who had been living in unsafe and dangerous encampments in the depth of winter. “This census data is a valuable tool in devising strategies to solve homelessness in Boston,” said Lyndia Downie, president and executive director of Pine Street Inn. “ In the coming year, the

Mayor’s Office of Housing, the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services, Boston Police Street Outreach Unit, Boston EMS, Fire and Public Works and Parks will work with a newly appointed Coordinated Response Director, Tania Del Rio, and her team to ensure a continued coordinated response to street homelessness and the successful implementation of the plan developed over the last six months by former Senior Adviser Dr. Monica Bharel. The Mayor’s Office of Housing will invest up to $1 million in funding to work with Pine Street Inn, Eliot Community Health Services and other street outreach providers to strengthen diversion and housing navigation for unsheltered individuals The number of homeless families increased slightly this year, from 843 to 929, and Mayor Wu, the Boston City Council and a number of dedicated family homelessness providers, people with lived experience of family homelessness, and advocacy agencies have joined a Commission on Ending Family Homelessness to explore strategies and develop a plan to address the housing, childcare,

education and family support needs of homeless children and adults in families. The census helps inform the City of Boston’s policy development and allocation of resources. The information gained through the census is shared with other homeless service providers to aid in the coordination among the Continuum of Care members. Boston has one of the lowest percentages of unsheltered people living on the street of any major city conducting a census, with under 4 percent of Boston’s homeless population sleeping on the street in 2021, the most recent year for which HUD has published national data.

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

Andrew Sq continued from front page

leadership. “We have just received the answers”, said Patti McCormack, and “we are not satisfied”. The ASCA is inviting its members and neighbors to the Association’s next Meeting on Monday June 27 at 6;30pm at Washington Village offices 240 Old Colony Ave at the corner of Dorchester Street. The Association raised some pressing public safety concerns and is asking for the support of the MBTA General Manager in providing definitive feedback, plans for resolution, and a commitment to accountability for a more secure public transportation experience at the Andrew Station T and throughout Boston. Notwithstanding that the T service in and around Andrew Square has been much improved, on the public safety front, crime, notably, has become a rampant problem in and around the T Stations and especially in Andrew Square. This has ranged from youth antics, such as gaining control of communication systems at Andrew Station and yelling obscenities, to armed robbery, random acts of violence and assault, and widespread illegal drug use. This has all occurred within the past few months and captures a narrow snapshot of the everyday reality here. In the opinion of the neighborhood, the Andrew Station T is extremely unsafe as far as the surrounding community is concerned. Describing the Andrew Station T as a “no-go zone,” especially during certain times of day, is an accurate representation of public sentiment, according to the

letter sent from ASCA. As a result, many people in the neighborhood have simply stopped using the T. As further stated in their letter, ‘This is especially concerning considering the PLAN: South Boston Dorchester Avenue Planning Initiative, which presumes heavy, if not exclusive, use of the T. Developments along this corridor benefit from specialized BPDA code requirements significantly decreasing or eliminating parking within/around structures. In light of the impending new developments, we can expect a significantly larger volume of public transportation riders in this area. Here are key questions raised and the T’s response: What cameras/call buttons/opportunities to contact the police and MBTA personnel are available at the Andrew Station T? and are they in order? And is someone at the MBTA actively monitoring camera content at all times the T is in operation? Answer: All cameras and call buttons are operational to our knowledge. And Transit Police monitors the public safety cameras 24/7 to ensure safety for our riders. The MBTA encourages our riders to report any incidents that they may see. Please call the customer support line at 617-222-3200 or send in an electronic comment via mbta.com/customersupport. If the incident should demand the attention of the Transit Police, then we encourage riders to download the See Say application, which is available for iPhone and Android users, to report incidents to the Transit Police.

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June 23, 2022

This application puts you directly in contact with the police (24/7) and allows you to remain anonymous if you prefer. There are also 12 call buttons throughout the station that connect with Transit Police and our Operations Control Center. Transit Police can also be reached at 617-222-1212. The Transit Police are at the station throughout service hours as needed and scheduled. Finally, the Transit Ambassadors are also located at the station as scheduled to assist the riders. When can we expect MBTA Police Officers to be on site at the Andrew Station T? Could you submit a schedule and number of units/officers? Answer: Transit Police dedicates substantial resources to Andrew T Station based on a comprehensive analysis of reported crimes, Boston Public School dismissal times and other intelligence that we gather from our law enforcement matters. As a matter of operational sensitivity, we do not release the schedule, times and number of officers located at any station for security reasons. Where will MBTA Police Officers be posted? Will any officers be patrolling the platform? Answer: The officers will conduct directed patrols at which they would check the entire station that includes platforms. Furthermore, Transit Police utilize a variety of strategies to ensure public safety. One of the strategies Transit Police utilizes is predictive policing which is the utilization of various data that can guide the deployment of officers and identify

areas where crime is more likely to occur. Given the limited resources of the department and the vast jurisdiction of transit police, it is difficult for TPD to be located at every station for patrol throughout the service day. However, given the unique proximity of Andrew station to TPD headquarters, the community can expect a rapid response in case of emergency. There is a crowd control issue with rowdy passengers taking the bus and train during certain hours, can the MBTA respond with a plan for providing a safe, accessible, and clear path for all riders to enter Andrew Station? Answer: Can you please provide further clarification on this issue? We will need more details including dates and times to better answer this question. The MBTA is happy to provide follow up to this question and would like to gain a better understanding. How do you plan to improve upon the enforcement of the law in and around the T? What type of crimes would trigger an arrest? The Transit Police are ardent practitioners of Community Policing standards that are set forth by the community. We work closely with our local police partners to ensure safety. Once again, if you are concerned about public safety please join us. The ASCA is inviting its members and neighbors to the Association’s next Meeting on Monday June 27 at 6;30pm at Washington Village offices 240 Old Colony Ave at the corner of Dorchester Street.

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June 23, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

St. Peter Academy Week Long Celebrations for a Fantastic End of the School Year

t. Peter Academy finished the school year with a week-long list of activities! We kicked off the week with The Annual Year End Show at the Lawn on D compiled by our exceptional teachers/ staff and performed by our talented students. Tuesday was the Great Butterfly Release, all classrooms met in our playground to release the butterflies they have studied during the

“How Things Grow” curriculum. It was a beautiful event enjoyed by all. Wednesday, the Upper Academy ventured into the Public Gardens for a field trip the Swan Boats. Thursday, we celebrated Field Day at the historical Dorchester Heights. Miss Jackie, our PE teacher organized super fun activities, which included Tug of War, Potato Sack Races, Relay Races, Bubbles, Hula Hoops, etc.

The weather was perfect. Friday (last day of school), our Pre-Kindergarten classes celebrated their Moving Up Ceremony in the playground, Good Luck in PreK2 & Kindergarten I. Thank you, Ms. Carmen, Ms. Jeanmarie and Ms. Julia for organizing such a great event and to the parents that brought all the great treats! We want to wish everyone a fantastic summer and can’t wait to welcome everyone back on September 6th. In the meantime, Toddler Program is operating on a regular schedule and Summer Program starts on Monday June 27th. Please email spa@stpeteracademy. com for information.

11 St. Peter Academy is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. St. Peter Academy is an independent, community-based private school and serves students from ages 15 months through grade 6. SPA is currently accepting applications for the limited spaces available in the year-round toddler program (beginning at age 15 months) and for students in Pre-K (School Year and Full Year Programs), Kindergarten and grades 1-6. Financial Aid Available. Two Scholarships will be offered this year for applicants for Grades 1 through 6. Appointments for individual virtual tours can be made by contacting Maria Blasi, at 617-268-0750 or by emailing spa@ StPeterAcademy.com.

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

South Boston Catholic Academy News

End of the Year Highlights!

he students of SBCA have had quite a year filled with exceptional learning from their teachers and doing a great job on their classroom projects and activities. The 6th Graders did an outstanding job making their 3D Utopian World. This class project gave the students a chance to use their math skills, as well as their creativity and imagination. Students also participated in the school

Masses, making cards acknowledging those in our community and so much more. This year we, also, welcomed the opening of our new Early Childhood Center. The children loved having their parents and grandparents come to visit their classrooms, as well as, participating in The Art and Spring Shows, going to the Public Library and school Book Fairs, welcoming Mr. John, from the Expanding

Horizons Through Music Program, going on special field trips to the Zoo and Aquarium, participating in our field days, the kickball tournament and having classroom pizza parties. The K1 and K2 students had a chance to release their butterflies into the world, the 6th Graders had a fun time at the Tree Top Adventures in Canton and the weather was just beautiful for the 1st Graders to enjoy their Teddy Bear Picnic. A Special Thank You to our Principal, Dr. Civian, our Pastor Father Casey and our Vice Principal, Mrs. Moriarty. A BIG THANK to all our

June 23, 2022

wonderful students, parents, families, friends, teachers and staff at SBCA and to everyone who helped to make this another outstanding school year possible! Here are some photos highlighting the end of another amazing school year here at South Boston Catholic Academy. We are marking the end of the 2021-2022 school year and looking forward to the new 2022-2023 school year starting in September! New families are welcome to email our admissions team at: admissions@sbcatholicacademy.org for more info. about South Boston Catholic Academy.

June 23, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

AMERICA’S LARGEST FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION MARKS ITS 40TH EDITION Milestone Event Runs July 1- 4 at Many of Boston’s Most Historic Sites. Free, Family-Friendly Music, History and Spectacle Events Daily.

ith events stretching from Downtown Crossing to the North End and from the Boston Common to Boston Harbor, the 40th edition of Boston Harborfest runs July 1-4, 2022 and remains the country’s largest – and Boston’s most expansive – Fourth of July celebration. Local and international leaders will oversee military music and pageantry during kick-off events in Downtown Crossing July 1. Harborfest highlights include a spectacular concert and fireworks display July 2 at Christopher Columbus Park, a turn-around sail of the USS Constitution in Boston Harbor and family-friendly events daily (full schedule below). Boston Harborfest ends July 4 with a 1 PM reading of an historic Frederick Douglass speech and a free ice cream social in Downtown Crossing. “The City of Boston is known as the Cradle of Liberty for our role in the Revolution, and so it’s fitting that we are home to one of the largest Fourth of July celebrations in the country,” says Mayor Michelle Wu. “Harborfest is an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate our journey toward independence.” Boston Harborfest is a collaboration between the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau (GBCVB), the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District (Downtown Boston BID) and Conventures, Inc. Partners include the City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Tourism, Sports & Entertainment, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, Friends of Christopher Columbus Park, as well as the Freedom Trail Foundation and many sites along it. Events happen each day; an updated schedule can be found at bostonharborfest.com/schedule. The current schedule includes: JULY 1 HIGHLIGHTS: 12 Noon – Harborfest Opening Ceremony with City of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, city and state elected officials, the British Consul General, travel and tourism industry leaders, and pres-

ence of military and historical groups. Includes a ceremonial cake-cutting, Colonial “living historians” and more. ALL-DAY PROGRAMMING: 11 AM thru 6 PM – Familyfriendly music, fashion and entertainment events in Downtown Crossing: • 11 am-5 pm – DTX Arts and Crafts Market (Summer St. Plaza) • 11:30 am-1 pm – 215th Army Band (Downtown Crossing Steps) • 12 n-2 pm – Through Me To You Puppetry (near Downtown Crossing Steps) • 12 n-2 pm and 4:30-6:30 pm – Downtown Boston Brass (roaming) • 12 n-2 pm and 5-7pm – Mediterranean Band (roaming) • 1-4 pm – Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes and Drums (Downtown Crossing Steps) • 2-4 pm – Macy’s “Red White & Blue Fashion Show” (Summer St. @ Washington St.) JULY 2 HIGHLIGHTS: 12 Noon – Chowderfest. Visitors can sample a variety of chowders from local restaurants, as a panel of judges visit each vendor and declare a chowder winner. (Summer Street Plaza, Downtown Crossing) 6-9 PM – Harborfest Pre-Fireworks Concert featuring Sweet Harmony and local talent performing Broadway standards and iconic patriotic songs, with children’s activities throughout. (Christopher Columbus Park, North End)

9:15 PM – Boston Harborfest Fireworks (Inner Harbor @ Long Wharf/ Columbus Park) Presented by M&T Bank, a spectacular display lights up the city sky above Boston’s Inner Harbor at approximately 9:15 PM. ALL-DAY PROGRAMMING: 11 AM-6 PM – music, auto, craft and family friendly events in Downtown Crossing including: • 11 am-2 pm – Classic Car Showcase (Summer St. Plaza) • 11 am-5 pm – DTX Arts and Crafts Market (Summer St. Plaza) • 12-2 pm – Through Me To You Puppetry (near Downtown Crossing Steps) • Unlikely Strummers Ukulele Band (12:00 – 2:00 p.m. – Franklin Steps) • 12-2 pm and 4:30-6:30 pm– Downtown Boston Brass (roaming) • 12-2 pm and 5-7 pm – Mediterranean Band (roaming) • 2-6 pm – Fife and Drums Showcase (Downtown Crossing Steps) oThe William Diamond Junior Fife & Drum Corps (from Lexington, Mass.) oThe Sudbury Ancient Fyfe & Drum Company (Sudbury, Mass.) oThe Middlesex County 4-H Fife & Drum Corps (regional) • 3-6 pm – Dancing with DJ Bruno JULY 3 HIGHLIGHTS: 12 Noon-2 PM – Patriotic Pooch Parade (Summer St. Plaza). A beloved annual event for our fourlegged loved ones with a guest panel awarding great prizes for Best in Show, Best Team, Most Creative and Most Patriotic. Registration required here to enter. 12 Noon-6 PM – Revolutionary War Re-enactors (Downtown Crossing) ALL-DAY PROGRAMMING: 12 Noon-7 PM – A variety of music and family friendly events in Downtown Crossing including: • 12-2 pm – Through Me To You Puppetry (Downtown Crossing Steps) • 12-2 pm and 4:30-6:30 pm– Downtown Boston Brass (roaming) • 12-2 pm and 5-7 pm – Mediterranean Band (roaming) • 1-4 pm – Middlesex County Vol-

unteers Fife and Drums (Downtown Crossing Steps) • 4-6 pm – Opera Man and Friends (Downtown Crossing Steps) JULY 4 INDEPENDENCE DAY HIGHLIGHTS: 9 AM – City of Boston’s 246th Independence Day Celebration. A short parade steps off from City Hall Plaza and passes Granary Burying Ground, where wreaths will be laid on the graves of patriots. The parade continues through Downtown Crossing to the Old State House. 10 AM – Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company carries on its tradition of reading the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House. 11:30 AM – USS Constitution sails through Boston Harbor (viewing shoreside and around Boston Harbor) 1:00 PM – “What to the Slave, is the Fourth of July?,” the famous speech by scholar and abolitionist Frederick Douglass gets a public reading by citizens including youth and community leaders organized by the New Democracy Coalition, with performances from gospel singers and dancers. (Downtown Crossing Steps) 1:30 PM – Ice Cream Social (Downtown Crossing Steps) TBD – Middlesex County Volunteers Fife and Drums Concert (Washington Mall) “We are thrilled to be a partner in this iconic festival,” says Martha Sheridan, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Harborfest brings together so many Boston neighborhoods to celebrate our rich culture, unique history, maritime heritage, and diverse offerings. We welcome visitors from our region and beyond to Boston this Fourth of July for the 40th rendition of Harborfest!” “Downtown Crossing is at the crossroads of history and commerce in Boston, making it a perfect central hub for Harborfest activities,” says George Comeau, Marketing and Brand Activation Manager for the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District. “The daily events here are designed for both residents and visitors, and the activities on the harbor are a short walk or ride from the heart of Downtown.” Full information (schedule, directions and more) is available at bostonharborfest.com.

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

June 23, 2022

Strong Start for Southie Sr Babe Ruth

he South Boston Sr Babe Ruth team began the 2022 campaign with a home game on Wednesday June 8th as the local nine welcomed South Shore League newcomer Brockton to Fitzgerald Field at Moakley Park. Brockton jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning with combination of hits and walks as Southie starting pitcher Bobby Delaney shook off the rust from the off season before settling in. Delaney (6 K’s) went on to strike out the side in the first inning to get out of a bases loaded jam. The Southie offense took advantage of several walks by the Brockton starting pitcher in the bottom of the first inning and with the help of RBI singles by Jerry O’Neil and Terry Markos, it was 5-2 South Boston after one. Delaney would help his cause in the 2nd inning by hitting into a fielder’s choice to drive in another run. A Brockton error allowed Jerry O’Neil to reach base again on a great hustle play that allowed Joey Macomber to come around and score Southie’s seventh run of the game. Brockton added a single run in the top of the 4th inning and then two more in the 5th inning to threaten a comeback but Bobby Delaney would shut them down from there to earn the complete game victory. Game two was on the road at Bishop Field in Quincy for a date with another league newcomer, the Wollaston Blue team. The game ap-

peared to have all the makings of a blowout early on as Southie stormed out to a 7-1 lead after just two innings. After adding another run in the top of the 4th, things were looking great until the bottom half proved to be “one of those innings”. Paced by a combination of walks, fielding errors, and timely hits, the Wollaston Blue offense exploded for a 12-run rally that left the visitors stunned with no answer as to what had taken place. It was a true “Murphy’s Law” type of inning in which everything that could have gone wrong, did. Southie would add one run in the top of the 5th inning but were stymied the rest of the way as Wollaston walked away 13-9 winners on the night. Joe Hamilton and Joey Macomber had multi-hit games, and Delaney, James Buzzell, Lydon McGarrell, Evan Markos, and rookie Ryan Shields also added hits in the 13-9 loss. Looking to get back in the win column, the team took a trip down Route 24 to the City of Champions for a rematch with Brockton. Jerry O’Neil took the mound for Southie in his first start of the season and did not disappoint. O’Neil was on cruise control pitching a 7-inning complete game while scattering 5 hits and punching out 12 Brockton batters in the process. The Southie offense was driven by two separate 5 run inning in the 2nd and 7th innings that helped Southie pull away to earn a 14-5 victory. Jake Harrison (3

Hits 3 RBI’s) and Joe Hamilton (2 Hits 3 RBI’s) were the offensive stars of the game. Lydon McGarrell, Terry Markos, and Finbar Kyne had multi-hit games while Brian Miller and O’Neil also had one hit apiece. Southie then hosted Braintree at Moakley Park on June 16th in the fourth game of the season. Bobby Delaney was back on the mound and found himself down 2-0 right out of the gate as a double by the Braintree five hitter plated two runs. A Braintree throwing error and a pair of walks helped sparked a South Boston rally in the 2nd inning as Andy Nova took one for the team and James Buzzell hit a sacrifice fly two tie things at two. More wild pitching by the Braintree starter led to a third run being walked in giving Southie a 3-2 lead. Things stayed that way until Southie scored two more runs in the bottom half of the 4th inning thanks to a Buzzell RBI single and a run scoring error by the Braintree second baseman. Braintree made things interesting in the 6th and final inning as they scored one run and had the game tying runs at second and third base but Bobby Delaney ended the threat with his 9th strikeout of the game to improve his record to 2-0 on the year. The team will have an upcoming home game on Tuesday June 28th vs Wollaston Black, game will be 6pm start. Please come on down and check out some great baseball.

June 23, 2022

SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com

This week,

Danny reacted to the Boston Celtics losing to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals:

hat sucked. But I can’t say it wasn’t expected. It would’ve been awesome to see the Boston Celtics knock off the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA Championship. But the reality is, the C’s just weren’t ready to dethrone Steph Curry. And yes, Curry is the current king of the NBA. He’s one of the greatest of all time. I really don’t know how anyone can argue that. Several years ago, LeBron James called Jayson Tatum the “Young King.” And while he was right about that, he’s not on Curry’s level. Yet. Tatum scored just 13 points in the Celtics’ Game 6 loss to the Warriors, resulting in Golden State celebrating with the Larry O’Brien championship trophy on the TD Garden parquet floor. Boston lost three straight to end the series and their quest for a title. In the Finals, Tatum averaged 21.5 points per game. He shot 36 percent from the field, and he averaged 3.8 turnovers per game. In the last three games of the Finals, Tatum turned the ball over 15 times. Brutal. But I’m not going to jump on the “Bash Tatum” bandwagon. He’s getting crushed out there. So much so, that Charles Barkley joined the intermission crew on ESPN during

the Stanley Cup Final this week, and he compared an on-ice turnover to a “Jayson Tatum turnover.” Ouch. In the grand scheme of things though, is that really called for? I can’t blame anyone here in Boston for being disappointed in the Celtics’ Finals failures and Tatum’s showing in that Finals series. But I mean, how many people — back in December — thought the Celtics would be hosting a Game 6 of the NBA Finals at the TD Garden? The answer is: not many. Nobody wants to hear this, but the truth is the truth — Tatum is only 24 years old. His partner in crime, Jaylen Brown, is only 25 years old. Think about how many wild playoff moments these two kids already have in their young careers. And this year, their first Finals appearance, was another step in the right direction. Since Tatum was drafted in 2017, him and Brown have been to the playoffs every year. They’ve been in the Eastern Conference Finals three times, which includes this year’s run to the NBA Finals. To me, perhaps the most impressive was during Tatum’s rookie year in 2017-18, when Tatum led the Celtics in playoff scoring and helped the C’s get

all the way to Game 7 of the East Finals, where they lost to LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers. Tatum and Brown led the Celtics past the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, and nearly knocked off LeBron in the conference finals, all without an injured Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. I feel like people forget that. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens remembers. In a teleconference with the media earlier this week, Stevens had nothing but praise for Tatum and Brown in the aftermath of a Warriors championship celebration at the Garden. Stevens it made a point to remind everyone just how impressive their playoff careers have been at such a young age. “We’re all subjective in every moment and react emotionally,” said Stevens. “But when you start looking at it objectively and more so historically, what Jayson [Tatum] and Jaylen [Brown] have done in the playoffs, historically, at their ages, is rarified air.” To put it into perspective, Tatum and Brown are the only pair of teammates in NBA history to play in at least 70 playoff games, each, at age 25 or under.

In this year’s playoffs, Tatum became just the second player in Celtics history to score at least 600 points in a single playoff run, finishing 17 points shy of Larry Bird’s record 632 playoff points during Boston’s 1984 championship run. Tatum also became the third player in NBA history to total at least 600 points, 150 rebounds, and 125 assists in a single postseason, joining Bird and LeBron. Not too bad. Yet, if you listen to the critics after this year’s Finals, you’d think Tatum’s career was over, and that he was a disappointment and failed every step of the way. The reality is, his young career has been the exact opposite. Tatum needed to be better when the Celtics needed him the most in the Finals. But this will be a great learning experience for one of the best players in the league. So, everyone calm down. Tatum and the Celtics will be back in the Finals. I guarantee it. For now though, it’s time to recharge the battery. “I just told him, ‘Go on vacation. Go get some rest,’” said Stevens. “This guy gave us everything he had.” Follow Danny on Instagram @ DannyPicard.

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SPORTS TODAY GRONKOWSKI Tweet RETIRES FOR of the SECOND TIME Week

he Boston Red Sox are closer to getting a major upgrade on the mound, as Chris Sale continues to work his way back from a stress fracture in his right ribcage. Sale pitched in a game for the

NHL FRIDAY, JUNE 24 Stanley Cup Final Gm 5: Tampa Bay at Colorado 8 P.M. ABC/ESPN SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Stanley Cup Final Gm 6: Colorado at Tampa Bay 8 P.M. ABC/ESPN

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Boston at Cleveland 6:10 P.M. NESN SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Boston at Cleveland 1:40 P.M. NESN GOLF THURS, JUNE 23 - SUN, JUNE 26 Travelers Championship 1 P.M. GOLFC/CBS

ment though, we had to pick the location. So I wrote that I wanted to play in Tampa for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for many reasons, the sunny weather being #1. I completely forgot about writing this report until 2 years ago when I had the opportunity to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And let me tell ya, the journey in Tampa over the last 2 years has blown away what I originally wrote about in college, big time. And for this, I want to thank the whole entire first class Buccaneers organization for an amazing ride, trusting me to come back to play and help build a championship team. I will now be going back into my retirement home, walking away from football again with my head held high knowing I gave it every-

thing I had, good or bad, every time I stepped out on the field. The friendships and relationships I have made will last forever, and I appreciate every single one of my teammates and coaches for giving everything they had as well. From retirement, back to football and winning another championship and now back to chilling out, thank you to all. Buccaneers fans, the Krewe, without you guys, none of this is possible, all of ya brought it every game, thank you for all you do. Cheers to what’s next, maybe sailing the seas Arghhhhhh!!” The timing of Gronkowski’s latest retirement is certainly peculiar, considering that Brady just did the complete opposite and came out of retirement to play another season with the Buccaneers.

SALE BEGINS MINOR-LEAGUE REHAB ASSIGNMENT SBT Staff

WHATTOWATCH

MLB FRIDAY, JUNE 24 Boston at Cleveland 7:10 P.M. NESN

SBT Staff

e’s calling it quits once again. Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement in an instagram post on Tuesday. It’s the second time he’s retired from the game of football in four years. Gronkowski, 33, first announced his retirement after the 2018 season with the New England Patriots. After sitting out the entire 2019 NFL season, Gronkowski joined former Patriots teammate Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, where the duo won another Super Bowl together. Now, after two seasons with the Buccaneers, Gronkowski is hanging up the cleats. Here’s his instagram post: “In college, I was asked to write about a dream job opportunity that I wanted to pursue and where the location would be. Every time I had to write about my future, no matter what, I picked being a professional football player. For that assign-

June 23, 2022

first time this season on Monday night, as he threw one inning in the Florida Complex League. The veteran lefty allowed one hit and one run, while walking another and recording a strikeout. That strikeout came against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco,

who is also currently on a minorleague rehab assignment. Red Sox manager Alex Cora spoke with the media this week about Sale’s progress, and was very optimistic that Sale is in a much better position now than he was during last year’s recovery from

Brady also posted on instagram about Gronkowski’s retirement. Here it is: “Teammate, friend, brother, just a few of the words that come to mind when I think of @gronk. Nobody has ever embodied the idea of “leaving it all out on the field” like Rob has throughout his entire career. Every single snap, I knew that no matter how many people you put in front of him, he was going to get to his spot. “Even more important is the person he was off the field. Focused when he had to be, and FUN the rest of the time. Having Gronk in your locker room was every NFL players dream. I’m proud of all that we’ve accomplished together, and even more excited for all you have ahead of you. “Congrats Gronk, you deserve it.”

Tommy John surgery. “He’ll be here at one point, and he’s going to contribute,” said Cora. “Like I said before, this is a lot different than last year as far as his arm. He’s in a much better spot. He’s moving a lot better, so we expect him to use all his pitches, which is important compared to last year. Just be him. It’s a trade that not everybody can do.”