PAGE 1 THE BOSTON SUN DECEMBER 24, 2020 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020 PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY SERVING BACK BAY - SOUTH END - FENWAY - KENMORE New PBS MALL SKIING documentary Groundbreaking shows the inner Vaccinations at South End Community workings of Health seen as historic new beginning moment for herself, the clinic Boston city By Seth Daniel and the community at-large, government Registered Nurse Morgan she said she also feels a duty Brister was the first employee to encourage others to take the of the South End Community vaccine. By Lauren Bennett Health Center (SECHC) to get Like for many front-line Filmmaker Frederick Wise- the Moderna COVID-19 vac- health workers who were the man’s 45th film takes a four cine on Monday, and she said first to receive the vaccine, they and a half hour look into what the moment felt emotional, have taken on a dual role as his- makes Boston city government groundbreaking and like a new tory maker and ambassador. tick. Called City Hall, the doc- beginning. (VACCINE, Pg. 6) umentary was filmed over 10 Now, after that historic weeks in 2018 and 2019, and premiered on PBS stations SBNA wreath sale brings across the country on Decem- ber 22. holiday joy to the neighborhood On December 18, GBH held a virtual public event called By Lauren Bennett no wreaths could be found, and City Hall: A Look Behind the another year the SBNA was Scenes, where GBH president After a two year hiatus, the St transitioning to a new board John Abbott spoke with Wise- PHOTO BY HANNAH WILEY Botolph Neighborhood Associ- and did not hold a sale. man and Mayor Marty Walsh ation’s (SBNA) annual wreath Steele said that over the about the film. Forget the slopes, Boston has the Comm Ave Mall to ski on. This sale brought in over $1,000 years, the sale has “been very The film was recorded “… neighbor took a cross country ski journey last Thursday night down from a record 157 wreaths sold. focused on the St. Botolph the Commonwealth Avenue Mall with the holiday lighting all a-glow Lorraine Steele, SBNA trea- neighborhood,” and the group pre-pandemic and kind of look- around them. Reader Hannah Wiley, a nurse, snapped the photo while ing at the way we used to gov- surer and organizer of the distributes flyers to every door on her way to work. wreath sale, said that though ern,” Walsh said. “What we’re “I was passing by and saw the shot and thought, ‘I can’t pass that up,’” advertising the sale, as well she said. Mayor Martin Walsh said all Boston neighborhoods had more this is the eighth sale, it has been as posts on their social media (PBS, Pg. 3) than 13 inches of snow last Thursday in the year’s first major storm going on for 10 years. One year of the season. There was, however, a pesky snow event at the end of the sale was not held because (SBNA , Pg. 9) October that was quite unwelcome and marked the beginning of the Wishing you & your families winter. a safe and healthy Christmas The office will be closed Thursday Dec. 24 and Fenway CDC proposes 100 percent Friday, Dec. 25 & Thursday, Dec. 31, and Friday, Jan. 1. affordable building with 27 units Advertising deadlines for New Years week: Weds. Dec. 23 By Lauren Bennett an opportunity for neighbors To submit ads: [email protected] to make comments and ask To submit copy: [email protected] The Fenway Communi- questions. ty Development Corporation Dana Whiteside of the BPDA (CDC) is proposing to build a said that this project is cur- six story, 100 percent afford- rently in Small Project Review able rental building with 27 under Article 80, and the com- units on the vacant land at 72 ment period ends on January 3. Burbank St. in the Fenway, just Suneeth John, Director of down the street from its own Real Estate at the Fenway office. CCDC, said that the parcel is The Boston Planning and currently under agreement, and Development Agency (BPDA) will be the CDC’s “first ground- held a public meeting o Decem- up development in decades.” ber 21 for the team to present the proposal, as well as provide (FENWAY, Pg. 9) Copley, the puppy, poses inside one of the holiday wreaths. PAGE 2 THE BOSTON SUN DECEMBER 24, 2020 editorial THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS The Christmas season usually is the most wonderful time of the year. But Christmas, 2020, is anything but wonderful. We are undergoing a degree of hardship unlike any that we have experienced in our lifetime. More Americans are dying each and every day from the coronavirus than perished in any of our wars or on 9/11. As the cumulative death toll inexorably continues to climb, the total number of Americans who will have been killed by the virus likely will exceed all of the combat deaths in all of our wars against a foreign enemy. The death count from the pandemic only tells part of the story, however. Those who have survived a bout with the virus face an uncertain future because of the serious long-term health effects on their vital organs. The burden that has been placed upon our doctors, nurses, and other front-line workers has been enormous and continues to grow as the virus relentlessly attacks our populace and fills our hospitals to overflowing. In addition, the economic impact of the pandemic has been pro- found for the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs, their businesses, and their homes. Millions of Americans, including one GUEST OP-ED in five children, do not have enough to eat. The lines of cars at food banks stretch for miles. For our nation’s young people, the virus has disrupted their Our Christmas Spirit lives to such an extent that economists say the effects upon their Dr. Glenn Mollette always remember what a good delighted that she was sitting education and future job prospects will linger for years to come. spirit he and his wife had and up and started laughing and The pandemic has eviscerated the usual holiday celebrations Years ago, our church group that we all left feeling uplifted waving at me. We exchanged that bring together family, friends, and colleagues, adding to the was out Christmas caroling. by them. Merry Christmas the best we mental health and anxiety issues, especially for older Americans, We weren’t far from the church This week I walked to the could yelling through a win- that are a by-product of the constant stress in our lives. and our leader led us out to back of a local nursing home to dow. While I almost wanted to But amidst all of the chaos and danger that society is facing, this the back of Mr. Castle’s house look through a window to see a cry seeing her there, I was so holiday season has provided us with an opportunity to discover to sing to he and his wife. His friend. Ms. Southard is 99. My encouraged by her good spirit. wife came to the door and a new-found appreciation for the things that really matter in our wife and I visited in her home The spirit of Christmas is greeted us with a smile and was recently. She was agile, men- inside you. This spirit is great- lives. gracious. We sang to her when tally sharp and dancing around er than you and I and pulls us With the usual holiday frenzy of parties, gift-shopping, vaca- suddenly through the window like she always does. Her atti- through the awkward and the tions, and other self-indulgent pursuits no longer viable, we have we saw her husband appear tude always lifts us up. She did very difficult times of life. a unique opportunity to reflect on what is really important: The in the family room with a big say on that very day we were The Christmas season we health and safety of ourselves and our loved ones, as well as the towel around his body. He there, “I don’t want to end up celebrate is one of hope and urgent need to assist those who find themselves in dire straits this obviously had just gotten out in a nursing home. “I told my celebration. The story of Jesus holiday season. of the shower. He came into son I don’t ever want to be in is the story of God’s hope com- We hope that all of our readers will heed the warnings of our his family room unknowing one,” she said. Two weeks later ing to us in the little baby a long that 20 carolers had all eyes public health officials and that those with the means to do so will while closing her curtains she time ago. 2020 has certainly on him. Several of the women made an awkward step, fell been a year we’ve needed hope. help the vast numbers of our less-fortunate fellow Americans. began to chuckle. I just knew and broke her leg. Surgery was 2021 is going to be a bet- If we do these things, we will come to a true understanding of we were all about to see some- required and also rehabilita- ter year. Vaccines for Covid-19 what the Christmas season really is all about. thing we had not planned on. tion. Her insurance plan would are coming. May your spirit Sitting down on his sofa he put not pay for her to go to the be rekindled.