Page 8 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021 St. Therese housing applications to be available in December M ayor Carlo DeMaria recently announced that the St. Therese Affordable Housing Project has determined an anticipated timeline for its lottery. Applications will be available beginning in December. “The city of Everett has been committed to increase affordable housing in the community,” said DeMaria. “When the St. Therese Church closed its doors, we made the decision to repurpose this community gathering place to continue to serve the needs of our community. I am grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration, The Neighborhood Developers, MassHousing and Commonwealth Building, Mass Development, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center and our community partners for their work and support with this development.” Once applications become available, the anticipated due date for applications will be January 2022. The lottery is expected to be held in February 2022, and the construction is anticipated to be completed in May 2022. First-time homebuyers are eligible to participate in the lottery for the opportunity to purchase one of the six townhouses being built. Seniors ages 62 and over are welcomed to participate in the lottery for the opportunity to rent one of the 77 affordable rental homes. Those with Everett residence will receive preference for all units. For more information and to receive updates regarding the project, such as project information, recent updates, FAQs and lottery information, please visit https://theneighborhooddevelopers.org/sign-up-forupdates and sign up for updates. The Neighborhood Developers (TND) will reach out via phone, email and mailing to notify interested parties when the application becomes available. Baseball field could be dedicated to Swan Street Rats By Christopher Roberson T ucked deep into Everett’s past, there is a baseball team called the Swan Street Rats. Similar to the kids depicted in the 1993 film “The Sandlot,” the Rats were a group of local teenagers who regularly got together at Swan Street Park for pickup games of baseball. “That was the common denominator,” said Swan Street resident Carol Dondero, whose father, John McNeil, played on the team. “They lived in the neighborhood and they played in the park.” The team likely dates back to the 1930s and 1940s. “Back then, how much was there to do?” asked Dondero. Dondero said her father was joined by players who lived on Wall Street, Harley Avenue and Tappan Street. Some of them were Henry McLaughlin, Bill McNeil, Roger Doherty, Eddie Gilbert, Eddie Lafferty and James McNeil, who was nicknamed “soupy” as he resembled a kid on the Campbell’s Soup cans. Although the players lived on different streets, the team always went to Swan Street Park to play baseball. Therefore, Dondero recently asked Mayor Carlo DeMaria to consider dedicating the baseball field at Swan Street Park in honor of the Rats, a group of young men who loved baseball. “They played year after year,” said Dondero. “They were a great group of guys.” In their later years, the players stayed in touch and attended reunions at the French Club on Hancock Street. “They remained friends for years and years,” said Dondero. Unfortunately, time has since taken its toll on several of the players. “Most of them are gone,” she said. McLaughlin, Lafferty and James McNeil are the only surviving members of the team. Monthly blood pressure screenings return to Connolly Center M ayor Carlo DeMaria, the Council on Aging and Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) recently announced that blood pressure screenings will resume at the Connolly Center for seniors over the age of 60. Screenings will take place the fourth Monday of each month, beginning Monday, August 30 at 10 a.m. The Connolly Center is located at 90 Chelsea St. CHA has arranged for a trained clinician to assist with this program. For additional information please call Camille at 774-3607521 or 617-394-2323.
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