SouthBoston TODAYOnline • On Your Mobile • At Your Door MAY 29, 2014: Vol.2 Issue 28 SERVING SOUTH BOSTONIANS AROUND THE GLOBE John Connolly South Boston Today’s Second Degree Murder Conviction Overturned he Associated Press reported breaking news Wednesday Tthat on a 2-1 vote a Florida South Boston Today appeals court threw out the murder conviction and lengthy prison sentence for former FBI agent John Connolly of South Boston in the killing of a gambling executive. The 3rd District Court of Appeal ruled that former agent John Connolly was @SBostonToday improperly convicted and sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in the 1982 slaying of World Jai-Alai President John Callahan. Go to our South Boston Today A hit man testified in the 2008 trial page to vote on our weekly poll. that he fatally shot Callahan after Make sure you like & share CONTINUED ON page 10 Sunday Brunch is More Convenient & Fun with FREE Ride Service To Some Of Your Favorite Restaurants! Stephi’s in Southie Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant Lucky’s Lounge We'll pick you up at home, church, your hotel or anywhere in South Boston and return you to any South Boston Location. To reserve your ride call us at 617-268-4110 or reserve online at SouthieShuttle.com 2 SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com May 29, 2014 SOUTH BOSTON TODAY EDITORIAL “Honor and Desecration” Staff Report o paraphrase the proceedings with They grew up with or President Kennedy, their presence. Officer served with virtually every T “a nation is judged John Sullivan and the name on that memorial. as much as by those it Boston Police made sure Sadly not all acted so honors”. That might be of an unimpeded march. honorably. Two nights extended to include who Finally, Veterans Services before the march some does the honoring. Chief Francisco Arenas cowards saw fit to rip out Veterans from the representing Mayor Walsh the flowers in the planters Thomas Fitzgerald Post noted that the small gesture along the memorial walk were joined in their of time expended by those way. Thankfully Boston Memorial Day march to in attendance to remember Parks and Recreation came Medal of Honor Park to and honor is a small tribute to the rescue repairing the lay a wreath by a host of to those who gave all of vulgar damage. those who do the honoring. their time and tomorrows But which America Congressman Lynch, for us. is today? The grateful Senator Dorcena Forry, Bob Guerrero, Bob country remembering with Representative Collins, Linehan, Jackie McGrath, honor or the ungrateful, Councilor Wu, Clerk Steve Foley and Jack selfish, ‘me’ segment, Powers and the South Kennedy used the previous plundering, taking or Boston High R.O.T.C. week preparing the looking with disdain on honor guard and the park, polishing it like those who believe in assembled residents graced an emerald. They knew. America. “Only those who want everything done for them are bored” - Rev. Billy Graham Letter To The Editor Want to see I feel compelled to respond to the parking issues in SB. While I agree there are resident parking issues, there are also visitor parking your ad in issues. Like many we do not have off street parking and, like many, have family and friends South Boston who do not live here. It is frustrating, sad and embarrassing for me to tell my family and Today & SBT friends that I have no overnight parking to offer to them during the week. This especially hurts Online? when it involves our toddler grandchildren. We should not be an exclusive community office: 617.268.4032 who does not welcome our family members to or cell: 617.840.1355 Make sure you like & spend some quality time here. It is clear we need or email at ads@ a solution that works for all, be it visitor parking southbostontoday.com permits, reopening more of Day Blvd to visitors, share South Boston &/or finding a place for a resident like me to park so my visitor can have what would be my Today with your friends! overnight space. This issue has many implications and I urge the politicians to consider all of us. Gale Tierney Columbia Road www.southbostontoday.com www.southbostontoday.com SouthBoston PO Box 491 • South Boston, MA 02127 TODAYOnline • On Your Mobile • At Your Door South Boston Today is not liable for errors appearing in advertisements beyond the cost of Publisher Editor In Chief Managing Editor the space occupied by the error. All South Boston Today produced artwork, design, and layout John Ciccone Brian R. Mahoney Brian P. Wallace remain the sole property of South Boston Today. Reproduction in whole or part is strictly forbidden. South Boston Today reserves the right to cut, edit or reject any copy without notice. [email protected] • [email protected] South Boston Today is a Series of the Today Publications Series LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company Deadlines 396 West Broadway • 617.268.4032 • Office hours: Mon-Fri 10:00am - 2:00pm Press Copy - Monday at 6:00pm • Advertisements Space Reservations - Friday at 6:00pm • Ad Material - Monday at 4:00pm • Camera Ready Ads - Tuesday at 6:00pm May 29, 2014 SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com 3 InformationThe Center You Can’t Make This Stuff Up SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone Note: talk back to John Ciccone by email at [email protected] ne of the great things about stop the hunting of Triceratops and valuables from the customers. natured fun at the Global Warming being part of ‘South Boston they will quickly become extinct”. Could it be that the robbers didn’t fanatics, who are convinced the O Today’ news is that we are This was no tongue in cheek see the signs telling them no guns Earth as we know it will cease blessed to have good writers and statement from PETA, they were were allowed? Uh, no. Most likely, to exist in five years, if we don’t contributors that help keep every serious and they were very upset and local police agreed, that it was all pay more taxes and radically issue interesting. We’re not boasting with Spielberg. Apparently, the because they DID see the signs change our lifestyles. This from at all. We’re repeating what so many fact that Triceratops, a type of that they knew it would now be an some of the same people who of you, our readers keep telling us. dinosaur, have been extinct for 65 easy hit. Far be it from me to laugh can’t accurately predict if it will Each week we do our best to bring million years was somehow lost at the misfortunes of others, but it rain next Monday. But this latest you a combination of hard breaking on the folks at PETA, even though is a bit difficult not to be at least event has Obama, John Kerry, Al news, coverage of community every student from the 3rd grade somewhat amused. Gore and the UN raging out of events, plenty of local and national on up knows this. When this fact And if you’re a regular reader their minds. In response to the sports stories and commentary, was brought to PETA’s attention, of this column you know that government report released a few arts, entertainment, real estate we’re told their reaction was “Oh, sometimes, I poke a little good CONTINUED ON page 7 updates. We also enjoy giving so never mind”. many different local groups and Then there was the incident in organizations a forum in our pages North Carolina just last week. A The Castle Island Association to highlight the many good things restaurant called ‘Pit Authentic Representative Nick Collins they do in the neighborhood. With Barbecue’ is said to have recently The Sullivan Family & talented people covering such a come under new ownership and South Boston Today variety of topics, it gives me the management. As the story goes, opportunity to ‘occasionally’ go someone from the northeast Are Pleased to Announce Their off the beaten track and have a bit moved there, a more ‘progressive’ Sponsorship of the of fun reporting on stories around thinking type bought the restaurant the country that shine a light on the and immediately banned patrons 2014 unusual or cause a snicker. Here are and customers from bringing their a couple for you. firearms in. Prior to this, customers Castle Island Senior Shuttle Most of you have heard of the were welcome to bring their guns extreme animal rights group called inside as is the case with many Door to Door Service within South Boston Will operate from 9AM to 4PM ‘People for the Ethical Treatment of establishments in the Southern Every Saturday, Sunday & Holiday Animals’ or PETA. (No, the letters states. The restaurant was always From May 24-November 2, 2014 PETA do not stand for People considered a safe place; never Eating Tasty Animals). Well, any trouble, it had never been last week officials at PETA were robbed. But as luck would have it, outraged at author and producer and quite predictably, according Stephen Spielberg. It seems to news reports, as the new signs Spielberg posed for a picture as went up at the front door reading he kneeled next to a ‘Triceratops’ ‘No weapons allowed inside/no looking as if it was a trophy that concealed carry’ and of course he had hunted and killed. It was ‘Gun Free Zone’, yes, you guessed To Arrange Your Free Round Trip actually a photo-shopped picture to it, the restaurant was robbed, at be used as a movie or book prop.