| February 2003 Items that missed the printed issue: In addition to the regular meeting on Monday (there is an additional item of UMass' proposal to put new and additional docks into the water), I have been asked by some patients of the Little House Health Center to send out a notice to urge residents of the Columbia-Savin Hill community to call the Mayor's office and ask that he intervene in keeping the Little House Health Center in business. It is currently slated to go out of business in April when Beth Israel/Deaconess Medical Center stops supporting it. There are 3600 residents who are patients at this facility. The number of the Mayor's office is 635-4500. Please call today. ~Bill Walczak The Eastman/Elder Streets Crime Watch recently received a Family Strengthening Small Grant that will support Crime Watch Peer Leaders to organize activities for the children living in the neighborhood. "This is the first time that resources have been directly invested for the children and youth on Eastman/Elder and Caufield Streets," said Joan Tighe, a resident and member of the Crime Watch. "It's a great opportunity for us to be able to work with the Bird Street Community Center to help develop leadership skills among our young people." Other grantees include Titans Baseball Club, Grove Hall Mother's Club, Sisterhood on the Move, Take Two For You, Project E.D.I.E., Bobby Mendes Peace Legacy, and the Groom/Humphrey Neighborhood Organization. The purpose of the Family Strengthening Small Grants Fund is to support resident-driven, resident-led activities and projects in the greater Dudley area of Roxbury and Dorchester that build, strengthen and support families. The Small Grants Fund provides between $500 and $5,000 in funding to projects that are developed and carried out by individual residents of the greater Dudley area of Roxbury and Dorchester. In addition to individuals, volunteer-run neighborhood groups and associations in the greater Dudley area are also eligible. Nonprofit status is not required. Applications must come from individual residents and applications from community-based organizations will not be accepted. Grants are awarded by a panel of anonymous and unpaid trained volunteers of local residents. The Small Grants Fund was started in 1999, and so far has given out more than $125,000 in the Dudley areas of Dorchester and Roxbury. The program is funded by the national Annie E. Casey Foundation's Making Connections Boston initiative and the Boston-based Mabel Louise Riley Foundation, which also runs the program in Boston. Grant applications will be accepted in 2003 for future rounds of funding. Potential applicants may request materials by contacting Chè Madyun, PO Box 255751, Dorchester, MA 02125, 617-283-0351. (more updates in next months newsletter) National African American History Month - February This celebration was originally established as "Negro History Week" in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a well-known African American author and scholar of the day. The week in February was chosen by Woodson because the month includes the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas. It was expanded to a month in 1976 and officially became known as "Black History Month". The commemoration has more recently been referred to as "African American History Month", a time to remember the struggles and achievements of African Americans. Avenue Bakery Renovations- This is a letter from ISD directed to the Civic Association and it's members. Click here for the letter. DCAE Winter Classes There is still time to register for DCAE winter classes. Starting soon: Keyboarding, Beginning Sewing, Introduction to Public Speaking, Introduction to Quicken, Crocheting, Basic Home Repair, Beginning Hand Drumming, Genealogy, and many more. Call (617) 474-1170 for a free catalog. BEAT BACK THE TELEMARKETERS! Effective April 1st , by Massachusetts State law, you can have your home phone number placed on an in-state "Do Not Call" telemarketing list. Call 1-866-231-2255 (toll-free) and register your phone number at the prompt. You can also register online by going to: Ma State House Home Page under the online services list on the left side of the page click on the Sign up for Massachusetts' telemarketing "Do Not Call" list. This listing will help reduce but not eliminate) telemarketing calls to your home. Dorchester Day Parade and Celebrations Committees: The next meeting of these committees will be on Monday, January 27th in the Breakfast Room of Howard Johnson's, 900 Morrissey Boulevard (across from Stop& Shop). The Celebrations Committee will meet at 6:30 PM and the Parade Committee at 7:30 PM Join us for a cup of java! The Dorchester Day Celebrations Committee Essay Contest is in full swing. If you know of any students, grades 5-8 and 9-12, that would be interested in applying please direct them to Ed Geary, Jr. (edgearyjr.com or egeary@gis.net) for an entry form and contest rules. The deadline to submit an essay is February 28th. (ed. note: consult your January issue of "The Neighbors" for more essay contest details) CSHCA December Holiday Party- Thanks To Sponsors. We also wish to thank the following sponsors who gave generously to our party:
1 Person $40,800 / 2 Persons $46,650 / 3 Persons $52,500 4 Persons $58,300 / 5 Persons $63,000 / 6 Persons $67,650 7 Persons $72,300 / 8 Persons $77,000 · First time home buyer and Boston resident. · Graduate of Homebuyer 101 class. · Income < 80% Area Median Income. Eligible Properties · Three unit residential property in the city of Boston. · One unit available for owner occupancy. · One unit available for or rented to low-mod tenant (< 80% AMI). · Purchase price cap of $425,000. · No rehab component. Terms and Conditions · Agree to covenant requiring one unit to be affordable for 20 years. · Owner occupancy required. · Complete a Homeowner 201 class. · A certificate of full de-leading compliance is required (additional funding is available in the form of grants and deferred loans for properties that require de-leading). Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston Charlotte Golar Richie, Director and Chief of Housing Department of Neighborhood Development For more information, visit the Boston Home Center, 26 Court Street; call 635-HOME (4663) Have a concern but, don't want to go on record? Most people are either hindered or afraid to call our local agencies to register a complaint or criticize for fear of their name or telephone number being put on record. Recently, there was an issue before the licensing board, that even though the community voted against the transfer, there were no prior complaints, thus leaving them with a clean record. The permit was granted. Following the hearing, I had a conversation with our City Councilor, Maureen Feeney, in which she affirmed me, to let everyone know, that if anyone feels intimidated, they should feel free to call her office and your concerns will be addressed and answered anonymously. Councilor Feeney's office 617-635-3455. Rest assured that our Congressman, State Senator and State Representative would offer the same service. NOTE: "Compliments" - Seldom given, but always welcome. ~Joe Chaisson CSHCA Membership Voting Rights- IMPORTANT You must be a paid member 30 days in advance of our General Meetings in order to cast a valid vote. CSHCA Food Drive Collection At our February 3rd General Meeting we will again be collecting nonperishable food-stuffs to benefit the Little House Food Pantry. Items such as soups, pasta, sauces and cereals would be most appreciated by local families in need. Please contribute to this effort ! Newsletter Submissions Do you have something that you would like to share in "The Neighbors"? We welcome all "appropriate submissions". Letters to the Editor, op-eds, write-ups about a neighborhood event, local announcements...etc. Please keep your written text on the short side (recommended: several paragraphs 1/2 to 2/3 of a page) and single spaced. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for clarity or due to space constraints. Call: 617-282-1277 or email: dleewilson@earthlink.net and cc: janderson@uusc.org Note: The March newsletter deadline is February 18th. CSHCA Membership Renewal/Application for Membership Please keep current with your annual membership dues if you wish to remain as a voting member in good standing and continue to receive a copy of this newsletter, "The Neighbors". NOTE: Check the mailing address label for your membership expiration date!!! Many of our memberships run out in December. It would be greatly appreciated if your memberships were to be renewed early. CSHCA Annual Memberships are only $5 per person. Checks can be made payable to: CSHCA Simply fill out the below form and give it with payment to the CSHCA Treasurer, Dianna Wilson, at the treasurer's table at our next general meeting or mail to: CSHCA, c/o Dianna Wilson, PO Box 255822, Dorchester, MA 02125-5822 Name(s)_______________________________________ Street________________________ Apt.__________ City/Town______________________State_____ Postal Code_________ Phone_______________________ Email________________________ |
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