By Rick Winterson

November 8

Well, I got back safe and sound late Sunday from visiting the grandchildren in England. It was a marvelous trip but I’m still both jet-lagged and feeling the effect of the switchover to Standard Time. Did you remember to set your clocks back one hour last weekend? And what time are you waking up, now that Daylight Savings is through for the year?

 Halloween Week was celebrated in great style in South Boston. Fort Independence was superbly decorated for the “Children’s Mystery Castle” by the Castle Island Association, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and many other volunteers. This event, which attracted thousands from all over Boston, was followed on October 31 by the Chamber of Commerce’s “Trick-or-Treat” night. Well over a thousand youngsters of all ages took part in collecting goodies from merchants and Chamber members all along South Boston’s “Main Street” – East and West Broadway. It was nice to see that an increasing number of grown-ups come to these events in eye-catching costumes of their own. There’s a bit of the child in all of us, I guess.

Three Honored as "Beacons of Hope"

Last Friday, November 2, The Collaborative Center gave out three Darlene Sheehan “Beacon of Hope “ Awards. The occasion was the Center’s annual Comedy Night fundraiser. The Award recipients were Curtis Lee, Danny Ryan, and Peter Barbuto. Congratulations to all of you.

Rash of Robberies in South Boston

A rash of three armed robberies has occurred in South Boston. All three took place the weekend before last, on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. All were in daylight; in all of them, the robber brandished a knife. All three were located near the intersection of E Street and West Broadway, and the robber was described in each case as a tall white male in his twenties wearing a hoodie. The police detained one man for questioning, but did not arrest him when it became obvious he was not the culprit. There were differences in each incident as well. In each case, the hoodies worn were of a different color. In the second robbery, the victim stated that the robber had a scar and a shamrock tattoo on his right hand. In the third and last robbery, the robber encountered resistance and ran off empty-handed. The police now think that two men were involved. Fortunately, no more robberies have occurred in the last ten days, but please be vigilant.

Local Candidates Win New Terms

The elections are thankfully over, after a long, long year of very intensive campaigning. You certainly know the results by now, so this will be only a brief commentary. President Obama was re-elected with a narrow popular majority but a decisive majority in Electoral College votes. Although the President’s voting base was narrowed, the political picture in Washington is virtually status quo: A Democratic Presidency and Senate, counter-balanced by a Republican House of Representatives. Whether federal gridlock will now be overcome, especially in time to handle the tax cliff that looms at year-end, remains to be seen. South Boston’s Congressman Stephen Lynch, state Senator Jack Hart, state Representative Nick Collins, and Clerk of Court Michael Donovan all retained their seats. Despite the fact that incumbents were generally re-elected, Professor Elizabeth Warren, the challenger, defeated Senator Scott Brown, who holds the Junior Senator’s seat in Massachusetts. Her victory was a clear win by approximately six percentage points, confirming the state’s firmly Democratic leanings.

Both Ballot Question 1 (right to repair motor vehicles) and Question 3 (use of marijuana for medical purposes) were overwhelmingly approved by Massachusetts voters. Question 2 (allowing physician-assisted suicide) was narrowly defeated.

City Councilors Try New District Plan

A footnote on our local political scene concerns redistricting of Boston’s City Council Districts, a project that is chaired by South Boston’s Councilor Bill Linehan. This was made necessary by major population shifts in Boston that were revealed by the 2010 US Census. Mayor Menino vetoed the first two redistricting plans, because he felt they did not give residents of varying ethnicities sufficient political strength. A third plan is now in the Mayor’s hands. A final redistricting plan must be approved soon, since the deadline for City Councilors to establish year-long residency in their newly-drawn districts is just a few days off. More on this in a future broadcast.

Happenings Around the Community

The Fitzgerald VFW Post will hold its 61st annual Veterans Day Memorial Service this coming Monday, November 12. Assembly at the Post on Fourth Street starts at 9:15 a.m. Refreshments will be served. The Post will then march to Saint Brigid Church for a Memorial Mass at 10 a.m. The community is invited to attend. Please reserve next Wednesday evening, November 14, for a Southie time at the L Street Tavern. This event is called “A Safe Home for Sydni.” The funds raised will be used to make her home handicapped accessible, as she continues her recovery from a brain tumor.

South Boston Community Calendar. . .

The 7th annual Neighborhood House Ladies Night is scheduled for Friday evening, November 30; the weekend of December 1 and 2 are the dates for the much-anticipated Labouré Christmas House Tours; Julie’s Family Learning Program will hold their annual awards dinner on Thursday night, December 6; and the South Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Stroll is also scheduled for Thursday evening, December 6. Check South Boston Online for details, as those dates approach. Well, Thanksgiving is coming in just two short weeks, otherwise known as a fortnight. I hope you have a blessed and joyful holiday weekend, as we celebrate this most unique of American feasts – an observance which goes all the way back to our original American roots in Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts, and Jamestown, Virginia. May I suggest that more than anything else, you, your family, and your friends relax for a few days? Thanksgiving is the threshold to our hectic Holiday Season. Don’t succumb to the non-stop shopping of Black Friday or any other distraction. Be thankful for all the goodness we share in the U.S.; kick back and enjoy yourself.