FEBRUARY 18, 2021 PUBLISHED EVERY OTHER THURSDAY TT HEHE NN OROR TT HH EE NN DD EMAIL: [email protected] WWW.NORTHENDREGIONALREVIEW.COM [email protected] RR EGIOEGIO NN AA LL RR EVIEWEVIEW NEWRA supports Prince Street occupancy change By Phil Orlandella space will be renovated and con- verted into a two-bedroom res- By a vote of 14-0, the North idential unit extended into the End Waterfront Residents’ basement. In addition, plans call Association (NEWRA) supported for a new roof deck. plans by LLC to convert the build- A proposal by the City of ing at 81-81A Prince Street from Boston to convert State Street to four apartments and one store to a one lane road, a bike lane and five apartments. The ground-floor commercial (NEWRA, Pg. 3) MassDevelopment issues tax-exempt bond to repurpose Knights of Columbus Building for Senior Affordable Housing Mayor Martin J. Walsh cuts the ribbon with members of the community on the renovated Puopolo Park. Staff report 99-year lease from Ausonia Home Association for a portion of its MassDevelopment has issued a property at 41 N. Margin Street Renovated North End parks reopen $6.4 million tax-exempt bond on in Boston’s North End. EBCDC behalf of 41 N. Margin Senior and Affirmative Investments are By Phil Orlandella in renovations from Mayor Martin Downtown Boston and the North Apartments, LLC, an affili- also using bond proceeds to con- Walsh’s Capital Improvement Plan End, Climate Ready Boston. ate of East Boston Community vert the property, which has been Several public parks, including and Community Preservation Act Before any renovations began Development Corporation vacant for two years and was Puopolo Park in the North End funding was allocated to the reno- the City met with neighborhood (EBCDC) and Affirmative previously the headquarters for the have been completely improved vation of the parks. residents and the North End Investments, Inc., which is using Ausonia Council 1513, Knights and reopened by the Boston Parks North End parks were Athletic Association (NEAA) to bond proceeds to receive a (KOC BUILDING, Pg. 4) Department. designed with climate resilient plan the design of the local facili- Both Langone Field and the features embedded throughout ties. Puopolo Park in the North End the project to protect the area Registration is already under- were among the public parks from projected sea level rise and way for several NEAA Baseball reopened. increased storm events as planned Programs. A combination of $21.9 million in Coastal Resilience Solutions for (PARKS, Pg. 3) Cumulative COVID-19 test rate up slightly By John Lynds Downtown residents have been ing positive two weeks ago. tested for COVID-19 and the data At his press briefing last week The cumulative COVID-19 shows that 5.9 percent of those Mayor Martin Walsh reminded positive test rate in the North End tested were COVID positive--this residents that Governor Charlie and the surrounding neighbor- was 3.5 increase from the 5.7 per- Baker would increase the state- hoods increased slightly while the cent reported two weeks ago. wide capacity restrictions from 25 weekly positive test rate decreased Last week 3,097 residents were percent to 40 percent for the busi- for a fourth week in a row. tested and 2.4 percent were pos- nesses that are allowed to be open According to the latest data itive--a 20 percent decrease from in Phase 3 Step 1. The Mayor said released by the Boston Public the 3 reported two Fridays ago. that the City of Boston is aligning Health Commission (BPHC) last Citywide, 29,297 residents with the State on these capacity Friday, overall since the pandemic were tested and 4.8 percent were restrictions. The City and the State started 43,525 North End, Beacon COVID positive--a 17 percent Rendering of 41 N. Margin Street by architect Michael Angelo Hill, Back Bay, West End and decrease from the 5.8 percent test- (COVID-19, Pg. 5) Interbartolo, Jr., AIA. Visit www.northendregional.com Email [email protected] or [email protected] or call 781-485-0588 for your Regional Review information 2 PAGE 2 REGIONAL REVIEW FEBRUARY 18, 2021 editorial USE COMMON SENSE WHEN DRIVING Perusing through the police reports these days makes it apparent that the winter season is here -- and with it, the usual array of traffic incidents and accidents. Although we have not had any of the big blizzard-type of winter events this season (at least so far), we now are in a period of a stormy weather pattern that is sending us small snow & ice events that in reality are even more treacherous than big storms. The number of auto accidents seems to be inversely proportional to the size of the snowfall. It’s as though motorists think, “This isn’t too bad,” and then proceed to drive too fast for the conditions. In addition, we would remind our readers who have all-wheel drive vehicles that four wheels on ice are just as useless as the two wheels of a rear-drive vehicle, if you know what we mean. In other words, ice is ice is ice, regardless of what kind of vehicle you may be driving. So during this upcoming period of stormy weather, if you do have to be out on the roads, please drive SLOWLY. There is no such thing as exercising too much caution in wintry weather A NORTH POLE HURRICANE Residents in Texas and along the Gulf Coast have become accus- tomed in recent years to a seemingly-endless onslaught of devastating hurricanes barreling up from the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Harvey a few years ago dumped more rain and caused more flooding than any weather event in the region’s history. However, even with the hurricane season long-over, this part of the nation is being subjected to a weather event that has knocked out the region’s power grid, leaving millions of residents without in the dark Walsh announces Scholarships and without heat. But instead of coming from the south, this latest force of nature has surged from the north thanks to a dip in the polar vortex from the to diversify Boston EMS Arctic. The result has been a cataclysmic storm that has crippled the entire region. Staff report Boston EMS, and care for all those percent more than an EMT. It’s one thing to be without power amidst warm weather, but quite who call Boston home.” “I am very proud of what UCEP another to be without power when the temperatures are dipping to Building on a commitment Boston EMS paramedics staff was able to accomplish in just five near-zero. to promote diversity and inclu- five frontline ambulances, pro- short months, securing Mayoral Climate change is not simply about global warming -- though it’s true sion among the ranks of Boston viding advanced life-saving care support and funding, as well as that the earth’s average temperature has continued to climb year-after- Emergency Medical Services during medical emergencies across coordinating directly with Bunker year for the past decade. (EMS), Mayor Martin J. Walsh the city. Paramedics are state-certi- Hill Community College; increas- Climate change also is about extreme weather of the sort that wreaks and Boston EMS Chief James fied EMTs who hold an additional ing the diversity of our paramedics havoc in unexpected ways. Hooley last Friday announced certification, expanding their scope will result in a direct benefit inpa- The Texas power grid was completely unprepared for the near-zero new paramedic certification schol- of practice to include complex tient care,” said Boston EMS Chief temperature conditions that have struck that part of the country, with arships for current EMS members. procedures, such as intubations of Department, Jim Hooley. the result that millions of people are facing a dire, life-threatening situ- Coordinated through the and starting an IV. Boston EMS The professional development ation. United Coalition of EMS Providers members promoted to the rank of and advancement of Boston Climate change is arriving faster than anyone predicted -- and what- (UCEP), a Boston EMS affinity paramedic earn approximately 36 (BOSTON EMS Pg. 3) ever window we have to reverse course is closing rapidly, if it already group dedicated to advancing isn’t too late. equity, inclusion and diversity Yes, the pandemic is demanding our immediate attention, but climate at all ranks, and in partnership change needs to be addressed urgently -- because if we fail to do so, the with both the Mayor’s Office of worst is yet to come. Workforce Development (OWD) R EGIONAL R E VIEW and Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC), 16 emergen- - FOUNDED IN 1967 - cy medical technicians are now beginning their coursework at PUBLISHER: Debra DiGregorio - [email protected] END US OUR EWS Bunker Hill Community College to The North End RegionalS Review encourages Y residents N to submit birth and engagement become certified paramedics. This EDITOR AT LARGE: PHIL ORLANDELLA announcements, news releases, business briefs, honor rolls, social news, sports stories, and program is designed to expand the diversity of Boston EMS members REPORTERS AND CONTRIBUTORS: photographs for publication. Items should be forwarded to our offices at 385 Broadway, holding a paramedic certification. Citizens Bank Building, Revere, MA 02151. Items can also be faxed to 781-485-1403. The “Boston is a diverse city, and Seth Daniel, John Lynds and Cary Shuman Independent also encourages readers to e-mail news releases to [email protected]. it’s crucial that our public safe- ty services in Boston, including The North End Regional Review assumes no financial responsibility for typographical our paramedics, reflect our neigh- PHONE 781-485-0588 // FAX 781-485-1403 errors in advertisements, but will reprint that part of the advertisement in which the borhoods, and our values,” said error occurs.