“As a product of SBYH, I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without it,” said Rep. Nick Collins.  “I learned many of life’s most important lessons on the ice – team work, mental and physical toughness, believing in yourself and learning to never quit.  This benefit allows me to help, in some small way, pass on the tradition to the next generation.”

“I really want to thank Rep. Collins for taking the time to host this benefit.” said SBYH’s President, Tommy McGrath. “Our program is funded through the tuition of parents and generosity of local businesses “However, that generosity and the ability for parents to pay tuition has been severally strained due to the recession.  This benefit will help lessen the burden on parents and give more kids the chance to play hockey.”

SBYH started its first season in 1961 and will be celebrating its 50^th Anniversary in May.  Since the program’s inception, many of those who played SBYH went on to get hockey scholarships; play for the NHL, including: Billy O’Dwyer, Freddie Ahearn, Brian Noonan, and John Cuniff; and referee for the NHL – Chris Rooney.  Currently, there are 300 youth people between the ages of 3-18 learning and enjoying the game of hockey thanks to SBYH.

“I hope players – past, present, and future – as well as their families come out to help keep up the tradition and help make it more affordable for future players and their families.  It will be a great night of fun, food, music, raffles and prizes,” McGrath concluded.

Henry Knox hauling guns by ox teams from Fort Ticonderoga in New York to Dorchester Heights in 1776.

State Representatives Gloria Fox, Nick Collins, Carlos Henriquez and the Evacuation Day Heritage Committee cordially invite you to join us for a celebration of Evacuation Day, Thursday, March 17, 2011.

The ceremonies begin at 9 am with the annual Evacuation Day Mass at St. Augustine’s Chapel, the oldest Catholic Church in the Boston Archdiocese.

The annual Historical Exercises, will begin at 10 a.m., featuring the Lexington Minutemen, the South Boston Educational Complex Junior ROTC, the children’s choir from the South Boston Catholic Academy, the Allied War Veterans, and the Major General Henry Knox Lodge of Freemasons.

Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin will present a replica of General Joseph Warren’s 1775 letter to Congress describing the battles of Ticonderoga and the capture of artillery that was used at Dorchester Heights.  This letter is one of the Revolutionary-era treasures of the Archives, to which it was recently returned.  The Allied War Veterans will lay a wreath to honor the men and women of South Boston in the armed forces, and the Minutemen will fire a salute.

State Representative Gloria Fox will host the Historical Exercises at Fort Hill, in Highland Park, Roxbury, beginning  at 11 a.m, with ceremonies by the Minutemen and local elected officials.  This fortification,  designed by Henry Knox, prevented the British from breaking out of Boston during the siege.  Washington was so impressed with Knox’s ability at designing and constructing this fort, he put Knox in charge of American artillery.  These two fortifications, at Roxbury and South Boston, were crucial to the first American victory in the War for Independence.

State Representative Carlos Henriquez will host lunch at the Shirley Eustis House, 33 Shirley Street, Roxbury, following the Historical Exercises at Fort Hill.  The Lexington Minutemen will fire a salute, and Major General Knox himself will make an appearance.

It promises to be a memorable day and a fitting way to remember the sacrifices of those who have made two centuries of independence possible.   Special thanks to Mt. Washington Bank, the Mass Bay Credit Union, Yankee Bus Lines, and the National Park Service for their support.

For questions, call Robert Allison of the Evacuation Day Heritage Committee at 617-268-3240 or rallison@suffolk.edu.

• When: Thursday, March 17 from 6:00pm – 10:00pm
• Where: Stadium Sports Bar & Grill
  232 Old Colony Avenue
  South Boston, MA

Hope to see you there!

Best Always,

NICK COLLINS
State Representative (4th Suffolk District)

Freshman state representative Nick Collins has been appointed to the Library Legislative Caucus, his office announced on Tuesday.

Collins, who was elected in November to his seat representing South Boston and a part of Dorchester, was outspoken during his campaign in criticizing the Boston Public Library’s plan to close four of the system’s 27 branches, including one in his native South Boston: the Washington Village branch inside the Old Colony housing complex.

The caucus, formed in 2008, aims to legislatively bolster local public libraries by maintaining local aid.

The state allocated $350,000 in one-time spending to the Boston Public Library earlier this month. The funding will keep the four branches off the chopping block (the other three are Lower Mills in Dorchester, Orient Heights in East Boston and the Faneuil branch in Oak Square) through the end of the fiscal year in June.

E-mail Cara Bayles at carabayles@gmail.com.

Thank you to the residents of the Fourth Suffolk District for providing me the opportunity to represent you on Beacon Hill for the next two years. I am both honored and humbled by the tremendous support you gave to my campaign, and I promise to work hard and be a strong advocate for the things that matter most to our families as your next State Representative. Thanks again to all my friends and supporters.