SouthBostonTODAYOnline • On Your Mobile • At Your Door April 11, 2019: Vol.7 Issue 14 SERVING SOUTH BOSTONIANS AROUND THE GLOBE Safe Injection WWW.SOUTHBOSTONTODAY.COM Sites – The Go to our South Boston Today page to view online content. Decision Has Make sure you like & share Real Life t Bos on T Consequences h o t d u a n its face, the notion of al- o lowing drug addicts to visit a y S O‘safe needle injection’ site to continue their unending need to ‘get high’ seems inherently contradictory to the general population. The debate @SBostonToday among the professionals is raging on, while the government decision-mak- ers, colored by the political ramifica- tions, are ‘kicking the proverbial can’ Want to see your ad in South down the road as far as they can. In Boston Today & SBT Online? the meantime, the drug addiction crisis and its collateral consequences contin- Office: 617.268.4032 or cell: ues, but for the traditional approaches 617.840.1355 or email at [email protected] of ‘education, prevention, interven- CONTINUED ON page 4 REFINANCE YOUR DEALER LOAN OR BUY NEW/USED, 60 Days MAKE NO PAYMENTS FOR 60 DAYS!+ AUTO LOANS as low as 2.49% APR* to Play! Apply EASY: online: by phone: in person: massbaycu.org 617-269-2700 at any branch Easy! massbaycu.org (617) 269-2700 147 West 4th Street, South Boston 409 D Street, Seaport Federally insured EQUAL HOUSING by NCUA OPPORTUNITY *APR= Annual Percentage Rate. Monthly payment is $21.91 per $1,000.00 borrowed. 2.74% APR without automatic payments or direct deposit with monthly payment of $22.02 per $1,000.00 borrowed. Other rates and terms are available. Up to 105% financing based on the NADA retail value. Qualification restrictions apply. Rate, term and approval based on credit worthiness. Rates are subject to change without notice. +Payments may be deferred up to 60 days. Interest will accrue during deferral period. 2 SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com April 11, 2019 EDITORIALEDITORIAL The Calendar Says It’s Spring. Well, We’re Waiting k, the calendar says But it’s ok. Experience has reminds us that we have our it is spring. And yet, taught most people that in beautiful parks and beaches O some of our neigh- some years winter takes a bit and playgrounds in our own bors are complaining that longer to give up its grip but back yards to enjoy. While their furnaces keep running soon, the warm weather and most people must get in the steady into the second week sunshine will grace us with car or jump on a bus to get in April and they don’t like its presence and cause the to well-kept recreation ar- it. Is there anyone out there leaves on the trees to sprout, eas, South Bostonians are who actually likes paying the flowers to bloom and the fortunate to have them all high heating bills this time robins to make their arrival within walking distance, of year? If there are, please with more frequent appear- which is perhaps one of the let us know, because we ances. We all just need to reasons that so many people know many who will glad- have a little patience and we find our neighborhood sud- ly send you theirs to pay as will be rewarded with pleas- denly so desirable and want well. If there really is such ant weather. At least, that is to move here. out the sun and the wind around and we can enjoy the a thing as Global Warming, the hope. So in the meantime, while keeps howling, why not use great outdoors? Oh yeah, there are many who would Springtime in the city, but the temperatures hover in that time to plan your ac- the forecast for the weekend like a bit of it here and now. especially in South Boston, the forties, the clouds block tivities for when it all turns is for temps in the 60’. “I like to say what I think. If that happens to push buttons, sorry” - Miranda Lambert is to prevent under-age use South Boston Community of Juul and other nicotine Health Center’s Youth related products through peer education workshops Ambassadors and support organized by the Youth Ambassadors ‘Youth Anti-Vaping Initiative’ program. In the workshops arlier this year, the ditional research shows that youth learn the facts and FDA launched “The the number nearly doubled health risks associated with E Real Cost” Youth in 2018. Based on those nicotine addiction. They E-Cigarette Prevention numbers, FDA now believes also practice resistance Campaign in an attempt to youth use of e-cigarettes, skills and learn how to say educate kids and teens about especially JUUL, is reach- no to these substances. the dangers associated with ing epidemic proportions. In Massachusetts alone, to- e-cigarettes and vaping. The In response to these bacco companies spend 2.59 main message: e-cigarettes alarming statistics, the million dollars every week to like JUUL put young people South Boston Commu- market their products. Edu- at risk for addiction and oth- nity Health Center’s Youth cation about the dangers of er health consequences- just Ambassadors have created nicotine found in JUUL is an tional workshops about Juul or to schedule a workshop like traditional cigarettes. a “Youth Anti-Vaping” ini- important step in the preven- for youth groups ages 9 and please contact Linda Doran More than two million tiative to share facts about tion of youth addiction. older. The workshops are of- – Youth Program Coordi- middle and high school stu- Juul with youth in the Youth Ambassadors and fered free of charge and are nator at the South Boston dents were current users of South Boston community. their adult mentors are avail- fun, informational and inter- Community Health Center e-cigarettes in 2017 and ad- The goal of the initiative able to facilitate informa- active. For more information 617-464-7463. PO Box 491 • South Boston, MA 02127 SouthBostonTODAYOnline • On Your Mobile • At Your Door South Boston Today is not liable for errors appearing in advertisements beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Publisher • John Ciccone All South Boston Today produced artwork, design, and layout 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 917 East 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 April 11, 2019 SOUTHBOSTONTODAY • www.southbostontoday.com 3 InformationThe Center Rest in Peace Ed Hamilton • You Will Be Missed SOUTH BOSTON TODAY John Ciccone Note: talk back to John Ciccone by email at [email protected] ost of us have known larger than life figures over the Myears. As South Bostonians, current and former, we may be blessed to know a larger number of them than most people from other places. It’s the nature of our community. We’ve had and still do have perhaps more than our share of great people to call friends and neighbors. Sad to say, we lost yet another one of the greats this week. Ed Hamil- ton passed away at the age of 93 and the town will hardly be the same without his smiling, familiar face. Most residents, including many of our newer arrivals knew Ed. He was often out and about walking up and down L Street, along Broadway, at the markets, at Cumberland Farms, pretty much everywhere, meeting and greeting locals with that friendly smile ready to make polite conversation with anyone around. People happily re- sponded to him, because he was such a sincere and pleasant guy. In fact, in re- cent years, someone thought enough of him to post fliers on lamp posts, trees and in windows wishing him Happy Birthday each year, when the day came Jima and Okinawa. In fact, he was in 9 years. I can still remember first being in- Ed Hamilton had many good char- around. He was that popular. major battles during his time in the Navy troduced to him as a boy by my father acteristics and chief among them was And while South Boston was his home and received many medals; including for who also served in WW II as a United being a loving husband to his late wife town, he also had an impact, a positive bravery for his actions. States Marine. While walking to the Melba and a great father to his children, impact, in many other places as well. Be- So impressive was Ed Hamilton, that corner store one day, my Dad and I ran Melba, Laura, Patricia and Leslie. His cause as we all know, Edwin ‘Ed’ Ham- he had been invited by the Navy to be into him. They knew each other well and family will miss him dearly as will this ilton was a genuine war hero, like so a participant several times for events in greeted one another with that brotherly entire community. many of our other local vets, who have Hawaii during the annual Pearl Harbor warmth that is so often shared by fellow There are some people who you meet served and continue to serve our country Day ceremonies. He was even the in- vets.