April 2006

Items that missed the printed issue:
District City Councilor Maureen Feeney has been invited to speak at the April 3rd meeting. She has been asked to talk about what issues are being worked on by the City Council, what committees she takes part on and anything specific that would pertain to the CSHCA area.



Cops nab suspect in pair of abduction-rapes
Breaking News from the Dorchester Reporter

(Tuesday, March 14 -12:05 p.m.) - Boston Police today arrested a suspect in a pair of alleged abductions and rapes that took place in Dorchester within the last week, according to several sources.

The first incident took place last Wednesday (March 8) at about 8:45 p.m. A second, similar kidnapping and sexual assault happened in the early hours of Monday morning (March 13).

In last Wednesday's incident, a woman reported that she was forced into a car at gunpoint while walking on the 1100 block of Dorchester Avenue, according to a police bulletin issued last week. The victim told police that her assailant drove her to an undisclosed location in West Roxbury, where she was held and raped. The woman reported the incident at about 5:50 a.m. the next morning, according to sources.

A second incident happened on the early morning of March 13, according to sources close to the investigation. More details are expected throughout the day.
Go to the Dorchester Reporter's website at http://www.dotnews.com for updates.



Street Cleaning Resumes April 3
Boston's Neighborhood Street Cleaning Program will resume on April 3, 2006. A joint effort of the Public Works Department, the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services and the Boston Transportation Department, the program provides for most neighborhood streets to be cleaned twice a month from April through November.

The city is looking for the cooperation of residents and businesses in removing their vehicles during the posted street cleaning day on each street. Mayor Thomas M. Menino said, “The neighborhood street cleaning program starting on April 3 will rid the city’s streets of the sand and refuse that has built up over the past few months, but the cooperation of neighborhood residents is needed. I am asking drivers to please make sure that they move their cars on designated days so that the sweepers can get to the curb.”

The Boston Transportation Department urges residents to park in accordance with the posted street cleaning restrictions so that cars do not hinder the quality of the job to be completed. Throughout the city signs are posted indicating the street cleaning schedule for that particular street.

Parking Enforcement Officers will enforce the “No Parking – Street Cleaning” regulations. Parking tickets, carrying an increased fine of $40.00, will be issued beginning on April 3rd. This fine increase was implemented by an order of the Boston City Council. The increase was enacted as an extra incentive to have residents remove their vehicles from the curb on street cleaning day. Vehicles parked in violation of this regulation may also be subject to towing and an additional charge of $90.00. For further information, please call the Boston Transportation Department Hotline at 617-635-4-BTD.



Click Here for CSHCA Beautification Committee Updates


Dorchester Recycling Coalition
To receive your FREE BLUE recycling bin or for more information about Boston recycling/composting call: 617-635-4959


Save These Dates

Beautification Committee Dates to Remember
Click here for a flyer with information about the upcoming Plant & Bake sale on June 3rd and the Neighborhood Yard sale on June 10th.



Letters to the Editor
Click here for a letter from David Desjardins
Click here for a letter from Marlea Mesh



Rock the Night 2006
For immediate release: April, 2006

Over the past few years, the Edward Everett Schoolyard in Dorchester has been transformed into a woodland garden and native habitat supporting abundant flora and fauna. The Friends group has sponsored numerous planting and maintenance days to ensure that the grounds continue to provide a haven for the neighborhood and a learning place for its children. We now find that our next responsibility is the replacement of the rusted and dilapidated chain link fence surrounding the property, with an elegant wrought iron fence, befitting the elegance and charm of our Jones Hill neighborhood. Since the perimeter of the property is over 800 feet long, this will be expensive, and we need your help. A new wrought iron fence will not only immediately increase the value of the surrounding properties, but will also function as another location to showcase student art. Most of you have seen the beautiful student made mosaics that grace the seat wall in front of the school. We intend to continue our beautification efforts.

To this end, the Friends of the Edward Everett Schoolyard are sponsoring a major fundraiser to raise money for the new fence. Rock the Night 2006 will be held on Saturday, May 13th, from 8pm to midnight at the James J. Rice AmVets Post 28, at 33 Romsey Street, in Dorchester. Tickets are $15 per person, with a cash bar. The band, CATBASKET, will provide the music for this adults only event.

Friends, neighbors, alumni and supporters are welcome to join us. We have counted on your generosity in the past and hope that you will purchase a ticket and/or make a donation to the schoolyard fund. Please send your check for a donation** or ticket purchase* to:

The Edward Everett Schoolyard
71 Pleasant Street
Dorchester, MA, 02125

Thanks for your support!

For further information contact:
Alicia Zipp
Friends of the Edward Everett Schoolyard
alicia@night-kitchen.com or by phone at 617-282-6722

* If you are purchasing tickets, please indicate how many are needed, they will be held for you at the Rice Post on the evening of the event. Include your email address for an immediate confirmation.

** Donations over $500 will be acknowledged with a plaque on the new fence



Support Our Local Businesses who Support the CSHCA!

Below is a list of the Columbia Savin Hill Civic Association's Merchant Members. The folks who run these businesses support us and have invested in our community. Please extend the same support to them by shopping in their stores, eating in their restaurants and seeking their services.

A Hohmann Oil Co. Inc. 1146 Dorchester Avenue
Alliance Auto Glass 902 Dorchester Avenue
Anna's Bakery, Inc. 1035 Dorchester Avenue
At Home Real Estate Group 109 Savin Hill Avenue
Avenue Auto Wholesales, Inc.  1121 Dorchester Avenue
Avenue Liquors 82 Savin Hill Avenue
The Banshee Pub 934 Dorchester Avenue
Bayside Exposition Center 200 Mt. Vernon Street
Best Liquors 1088 Dorchester Avenue
Boston Glass & Boarding 1068 Dorchester Avenue
The Boston Globe 135 Morrissey Blvd.
Brook's Pharmacy 1100 Dorchester Avenue
C.F. Donovan's Restaurant 120 Savin Hill Avenue
Coleen’s Flower Shop 912 Dorchester Avenue
Corcoran Jennison Mgmt. 150 Mt. Vernon Street
Creative Wrappings 22 Carson Street
dBar 1236 Dorchester Avenue
Dorchester Avenue Auto Repair 887 Dorchester Avenue
Dorchester Tire Service, Inc. 1160 Dorchester Avenue
Dorchester Market 951 Dorchester Avenue
First Spine & Rehab 916 Dorchester Avenue
Gately Insurance Co. 983A Dorchester Avenue
The Harp & Bard Restaurant 1099 Dorchester Avenue
Lee Myles Transmission 1110 Dorchester Avenue
Lee's Store & Bakery 982 Dorchester Avenue
McKenna’s Café 113 Savin Hill Avenue
Murphy Funeral Home 1020 Dorchester Avenue
Nash’s Pub 1154 Dorchester Avenue
NEALCO Environmental Svcs. 5 Caspian Way
Olde Towne Real Estate 862 Dorchester Avenue
P. Gioioso & Sons Construction 50 Sprague Street, Hyde Park (BWS project)
Pat Jay’s Pharmacy 940 Dorchester Avenue
Restaurante Laura 688 Columbia Road
Savin Hill Suds/Kennedy Cleaners 119 Savin Hill Avenue
Savin Hill Variety 110 Savin Hill Avenue
Shanti Restaurant 1111 Dorchester Avenue
SPIRE Printing 65 Bay Street
Sports Lab 1152 Dorchester Avenue
Tom's Barbershop 1000 Dorchester Avenue
Venice Pizza 39 Savin Hill Avenue
Victorian Realty 1859 Dorchester Avenue
Vina Realty/MSC Travel 988 Dorchester Avenue

Merchant Memberships are only $25.00 per calendar year.
Please note that this is a non-voting membership. If interested in becoming a Merchant Member please print out and complete the membership form at the bottom of this online newsletter. Merchant Members will be listed each month in our newsletter. Funds will be used towards neighborhood improvement projects and activities.



CSHCA Meeting Childcare
We offer free childcare at our general meetings for members and guests. Please bring along any personal items your child may need. Do come a few minutes early so that your child can settle in. Childcare attendant: Diana Michta.



The Little House Food Pantry
At our monthly meetings we collect non-perishable foods, toiletries and household cleaning items to donate to the Little House Food Pantry. We have a collection area at the sign in desk.
Thanks so much!



Special thanks to Bob Donovan for photocopying and also to UMass for the mailing of this newsletter.


Newsletter Deadline
The next newsletter deadline is April 24th. Please e-mail your submissions to John Anderson at janderson@uusc.org.



CSCA Dues
Note: According to the CSHCA By-Laws, you must be a dues paying member in good standing 30 days prior to voting at a meeting.



CSHCA 2006 Membership and Renewal Application
(If your membership(s) for 2006 have already been renewed.. we thank you in advance)

Individual Membership: $5.
Merchant Sponsor: $25. (non-voting membership)

Please make checks payable to: “CSHCA” and mail to:
Nora McDonnell, Treasurer
7 Buttonwood Court
Dorchester, MA 02125
(or make payment w/check or cash at our general meeting)

Name(s): ____________________________________________

Street: _____________________________ Apt: __________

City/Town: ___________________________ State: _____

Postal Code: ____________

Phone: ______________________________

Email: ______________________________



Neighborhood Services Coordinator
Replacing Molly Dunford in the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services is Lauren Smyth. She assumes the role of Dorchester Coordinator and can be reached at 617-635-4819 or Lauren.smyth@ci.boston.ma.us

Welcome!!



Edward Everett Square Committee
Late breaking news on the Edward Everett Square Project will be announced at our April 3rd meeting. John McColgan, Committee Chair, will announce updates, construction schedule and future committee/ public forum meeting information.




© 2006 Columbia Savin Hill Civic Association