News & Events
April 2007


This page contains several items which weren't in the printed version of the newsletter.

C-11 Police Station Community Meeting
Thursday April 12th at 7:00 pm at 40 Gibson Street in the Guard Room.

Columbia Savin Hill Civic Association Meeting
Next public meeting is Monday April 2, 2007 at 7:00 pm at 275 East Cottage Street.

Beautification Committee
Please see the committee page for an important update.

Little Miss Dorchester Contest
Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 1:00 pm at the First Parish Church on Meetinghouse Hill (10 Parish Street). Sponsored by the Dorchester Day Celebrations Committee. All girls entering the contest must be residents of Dorchester; ages 7, 8, or 9 on May 12, 2007; able to participate in the Dorchester Day Parade on June 3, 2007; provide a copy of their birth certificate; and attach their response to one of the offered questions and be prepared to read it the day of the contest. Judges final decision will determine the winnder and runners-up. For more information, to get an application form, or to mail an application, contact:
The Little Miss Dorchester Contest
c/o Annissa Essaibi George
32 Mayhew Street
Dorchester, MA 02125

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FREE Tax Preparation Clinics
Clinics are at the DotWell Community Tech Center at 450 Washington Street (corner of Park), and at the Dorchester House (1353 Dorchester Ave). Volunteers assist those who need help with filing taxes. Find out if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which can give dollars to working persons with low and moderate income. For more information, call 617-822-8171.

Rock the Night 2007!
The Edward Everett School benefit gala, Rock the Night 2007, will be held on Saturday, April 28th from 8:00pm to midnight at the James J. Rice AmVets Post 28 (33 Romsey Street, 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. 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 St, Dorchester, MA, 02125
For further information contact Alicia Zipp, Friends of the Edward Everett Schoolyard at 617-282-6722.

New Schedule for Spring Leaf and Yard Waste Collection
Residents' leaf and yard waste will now be collected on the same day as their recycling is collected. No more Saturday collections. Now residents can do their yard work on the weekend, and put it out during the week for collection. Boston Public Works Department will collect yard waste for four weeks beginning Monday April 30th through Friday May 25th.

Place your leaves, grass, weeds and other yard waste in large paper leaf bags or open barrels (no plastic bags). Tie brush with string; 3-feet maximum length and 1-inch maximum diameter is allowed. Please do not put brush in barrels.

Put barrels, bags and brush on the curb by 7 am on your recycling day from April 30th through May 25th. Leaves and yard waste will not be collected as trash from April 16th through May 25th. Yard waste in plastic bags will not be collected.

Your yard waste composted becomes natural fertilizer for Boston’s community gardens. Thank you for your participation. For more information call (617) 635- 7573.

Boston Shines 2007 Neighborhood Clean-up
Saturday, April 28, 2007 from 9:30am to 2:30pm. We will meet in front of 84 Sumner Street. Rakes, brooms and garbage bags will be provided for your use. If we have enough neighbors participating, the streets we will clean are: Sumner Street, Stoughton Street, Sumner Square, Sumner Park, Kevin Road, Alvin Terrace, Annapolis Street and Annabell Street. We hope you can join us! For info, call 617-233-9177.

BPS Summer Stuff 2007
This is a great resource from the Boston Public Schools which is now available online at the Summer Stuff 2007 web site. Activities for Summer Stuff Jr (kindergarten thru grade 5) and grades 6 thru 12. Copies are available in schools, libraries, neighborhood centers, and at the BPS web site.

19th Annual Poster Contest
The contest is now open for registration! This year's theme is "Unity Through Community." All children between the age of 5 and 18 enrolled in any school, community center, library, and before and after school program, in the City of Boston are eligible. Registrations must be submitted by a teacher or program coordinator. The deadline for poster submissions is May 1, 2007 at 3:00pm. Prizes will be presented by Mayor Thomas Menino at an awards luncheon on August 3rd at the Fairmont Copley Plaza. The Grand Prize is a $200.00 US savings bond. In each category: First - $100 Bond; Second - $75.00 Bond; Third - $50 Bond; All winners get an Art Kit. (Savings Bond winner will be required to provide a Social Security number. For more information or to register, call 617-343-4345.

Make A Difference
As the oldest police department in the country, the Boston Police Department (BPD) has a rich history and well established presence in the city of Boston. Today, the mission of the BPD is to dedicate ourselves to work in partnership with the community, sharing responsibility to ensure safe, secure, and livable neighborhoods. The BPD seeks individuals to become a part of Boston's future. If you seek a fullfilling career in law enforcement, we invite you to sign up to take the upcoming civil service examination on May 19, 2007. You need to be between 21 and 32 years of age. And, you need to register before the deadline in April. The phone number to register is 1 (888) 333-2353 or visit www.JoinTheBPD.com.

E-LERT
A Listing of Incidents in Columbia-Savin Hill area. If you want to subscribe please e-mail wwalczak@codman.org.

Boston Youth Survival Guide
The Black Ministerial Alliance's High Risk Youth Network has developed a resource guide for youth at high risk, called the "Boston Youth Survival Guide." A workshop is now available for practitioners, youth workers, and parents to learn about the resources for youth at high risk, to study the guide, and to practice strategies for engaging youth. The workshop is about 2 hours. The Medical Foundation / BEST Initiative provides this workshop series for the BMA, so there is no cost to participate. It is FREE, plus you will receive complimentary copies of the guide. For more information, contact Laurie Jo Wallace at the Medical Foundation. If you need resources for young people, see the Boston Youth Network site.

Mayor's Youth Council Now Accepting Applications
Do you know high school students who want to make a difference in the community? The Mayor's Youth Council provides Boston's young people with an active role in addressing youth issues. WHO CAN APPLY: teens entering their junior or senior in high school or an alternative program the following September. Boston residency required. Knowledge of teen programs and issues preferred. THE COMMITMENT: representatives attend 2 evening meetings a month at City Hall (Tuesdays from 5:45 - 7:45pm); participate in Youth Council meetings with Mayor Menino and city leaders; outreach to peers and youth programs through mailings, phone calls, and site visits; participate in skill building workshops and community service projects. The time commitment is about 10 hours per month.

Summer Jobs: Mayor's Mural Crew
The Mayor's Mural Crew is recruiting youth artists for summer employment. Under the direction of professional artists, youth artists will learn how to design and execute large-scale wall paintings on the sides of buildings. Eligible youth, ages 15 to 17, who are residents of Boston, must show samples of their work, and be registered on the City of Boston's Hopeline for 2007. Call 617-635-7355 for further info.

Operation HOPE
Operation HOPE a national nonprofit organization focused on improving our inner city communities through economic empowerment. In 1996, Operation HOPE began the "Banking on Our Future" program to address the lack of information that our youth have about understanding and managing their personal finances. For additional information please contact Josi Chapman at 617-725-5940.

Health Reminder: Trash
Do not throw ANY food on the sidewalks and streets. This not only brings unwanted animals, such as rats and birds into our neighborhood but also brings potential diseases from these animals. Food should be properly disposed in garbage containers. Please participate with the efforts of the neighborhood association and concerned residents to keep our streets and sidewalks clean. The neighborhood works with the City of Boston on these concerns and can be contacted with any questions (e.g., report trash violations, sightings of rodents, etc.). For questions or concerns, contact Lauren Smyth, Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services, at 617-635-4819. For animal control, contact Charles Rudack, Acting Director of Animal Control, at 617-635-5348 ext. 5349; or contact the Inspectional Services Department at 617-635-5300.

Invite a Friend!
Download one of our flyers and share it with your neighbors! Bring a friend to the next CSHCA meeting.

CSHCA Merchant Members

Listed below are 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 using their services.
A Hohmann Oil Co. Inc.
1146 Dorchester Ave		 Alliance Auto Glass
902 Dorchester Ave
Anna's Bakery, Inc.
1035 Dorchester Ave		 At Home Real Estate Group
109 Savin Hill Ave
Avenue Auto Wholesales, Inc.
1121 Dorchester Ave		 Avenue Liquors
82 Savin Hill Ave
The Banshee Pub
934 Dorchester Ave		 Bayside Exposition Center
200 Mt. Vernon Street.
Best Liquors
1088 Dorchester Ave		 Boston Glass & Boarding
1068 Dorchester Ave
The Boston Globe
135 Morrissey Blvd		 Brook's Pharmacy
1100 Dorchester Ave
C.F. Donovan's Restaurant
120 Savin Hill Ave		 Coleen’s Flower Shop
912 Dorchester Ave
Corcoran Jennison Mgmt.
150 Mt. Vernon Street		 Creative Wrappings
22 Carson Street
dBar
1236 Dorchester Ave		 Dorchester Ave Auto Repair
887 Dorchester Ave
Dorchester Tire Service, Inc.
1160 Dorchester Ave		 Dorchester Market
951 Dorchester Ave
Edens & Avant
21 Custom House, Suite #450, Boston		 First Spine & Rehab
916 Dorchester Ave
Gately Insurance Co.
983A Dorchester Ave		 Harborpoint Liquors
45 Morrissey Boulevard
The Harp & Bard Restaurant
1099 Dorchester Ave		 Lambert's Fitness Center
735 Morrissey Boulevard
Law Office of Vy Truong
1157 Dorchester Ave		 Lee Myles Transmission
1110 Dorchester Ave
Lee's Store & Bakery
982 Dorchester Ave		 McKenna’s Café
113 Savin Hill Ave
Murphy Funeral Home
1020 Dorchester Ave		 Nash’s Pub
1154 Dorchester Ave
NEALCO Environmental Svcs.
5 Caspian Way		 Olde Towne Real Estate
862 Dorchester Ave
P. Gioioso & Sons Construction
50 Sprague Street, Hyde Park (BWS project)		 Pat Jay’s Pharmacy
940 Dorchester Ave
Restaurante Laura
688 Columbia Road		 Savin Hill Suds/Kennedy Cleaners
119 Savin Hill Ave
Savin Hill Variety
110 Savin Hill Ave		 Savin Hill Yoga
11 Pearl Street
Shanti Restaurant
1111 Dorchester Ave
(617) 929-3900		 SPIRE Printing
65 Bay Street
Sports Lab
1152 Dorchester Ave		 Stylus Salon
107 Savin Hill Ave
Tom's Barbershop
1000 Dorchester Ave		 Venice Pizza
39 Savin Hill Avenue
Victorian Realty
1859 Dorchester Ave		 Vina Realty/MSC Travel
988 Dorchester Ave

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 and complete the membership form on the Membership page. Merchant Members are listed every month in our newsletter. Funds are used towards neighborhood improvement projects and activities.

Safety Tip: Your auto
Residents are asked to keep their vehicles locked and remove items of value from your vehicle. An alternative would be to keep items of value out of sight, by placing these items in the trunk or locked glove compartment.

Website Helps to Recover Stolen Goods
The Boston Police Department encourages residents and business owners to register valuables with JustStolen.net, a website that law enforcement can use to find the owners of recovered goods.

Safety Tip: ICE
ICE: Paramedics will turn to a victim's cell phone for clues to that person's identity. You can make their job much easier with a simple idea that they are trying to get everyone to adopt, ICE. ICE stands for In Case of Emergency. If you add an entry in the contacts list in your cell phone under ICE, with the name and phone number of the person that the emergency services should call on your behalf, you can save them a lot of time and have your loved ones contacted quickly. It only takes a few moments of your time to do. Paramedics know what ICE means and they look for it immediately. ICE your cell phone NOW!

Safety Tip
Darkness is the friend of the car thief. Your only protection is to park where there is ample light, and make sure nothing of value is visible in your car. Make sure street lights are lit, and call in the ones that aren’t to the Office of Neighborhood Services. To report City services problems (street light out, abandoned auto, potholes, open hydrant, etc.) contact: Mayor's Office Hotline 617-635-4500 (24 hours, 7 days/week).

Safety Tip: Protect Yourself from Scams
Beware of scam artists who solicit money over the phone or claim to represent various charities. Recently Boston Police were made aware of several incidents, which included fraudulent solicitation of funds. Police would like to take this opportunity to provide community members with crime prevention tips to help individuals avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Individuals are reminded to immediately contact 911 or your local police district if you believe you have experienced a dishonest solicitation:
  1. Use extreme caution should you decide to contribute. Always ask for the caller's name, address and telephone number so that you may call them back after careful consideration. Do not be fooled by callers who represent themselves as solicitors for local charities or police departments.
  2. Do not give your social security number to anyone either over the telephone or Internet
  3. Do not give out credit card numbers or personal financial information over the telephone or Internet unless you are the one that initiated the transaction and know the source to be reputable.
  4. Report all fraudulent solicitations to the police


Safety Tips: When Outside
  1. Always be aware of your surroundings, especially at night. When parking, walking or returning to your car, remain in well-lit and populated areas.
  2. Be watchful as to who is out there and what is going on. Keep your head up. Make quick eye contact with those around you and be observant of passing vehicles. Do not become distracted by talking on a cell phone or listening to an IPOD.
  3. Show that you are in control
  4. Walk with confidence. Be assertive
  5. Do not let anyone violate your space. Trust your instincts.
  6. If you think that someone is following you, switch direction or cross the street. Walk towards an open store, restaurant or lighted house.
  7. If you feel threatened, call out to residents that you need assistance. Yelling "Fire," "Help," and/or "Rape" as you are being assaulted, also signals people to assist you. Also, use a whistle to signal for help.


Safety Reminder: Anonymous Tips
The Boston Police Department urges anyone who would like to anonymously provide information regarding a crime to call the Tip Line at (800) 494-TIPS.

Recycle Old Telephone Books
Phonebooks are recycled with the city’s weekly recycling program. Boston residents will be receiving their new telephone books soon. Please remember to recycle your old telephone books. Place telephone books in paper bags along with the rest of the paper you are recycling. The books will be picked up on your recycling day. For more information visit the Boston recycling program web site.

Dorchester Recycling Coalition
To receive your FREE blue recycling bin, or for more information about Boston recycling and/or composting, call (617) 635-4959 or visit the Boston recycling program web site.

MBTA HELP LINE: 617-222-1212
Use this number to report police problems and issues with the T. General issues and problems should be reported to 617-222-3200.

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If you would like to join the CSHCA, membership information and flyers are available at our Membership page.