News & Events
March 2007


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

C-11 Police Station Community Meeting
Thursday March 8th at 7:00 pm at 40 Gibson Street in the Guard Room. BPD District C-11 would like to respectfully remind users of personal electronic devices such as cell phones, I-Pods, and MP3 players to minimize their usage as they commute to work, home or school. Remain alert for potential criminal activity and do not hesitate to advise the police of your suspicions. Also, take the time to secure your home and vehicle. Many instances of house breaks and thefts from vehicles could be avoided if owners took the extra steps to lock their house and car.

Columbia Savin Hill Civic Association Meeting
Next public meeting is Monday March 5, 2007 at 7:00 pm at 275 East Cottage Street.

Upham’s Corner Safe Neighborhood Initiative
This program is sponsored by the Suffolk District Attorney Dan Conley’s Office. There are meetings every other month. The next meeting is Wednesday, Febraury 14, 2007 at 6:30pm in the Community Room at 36 Alexander Street.

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

Citizen Alert Network Expands Citywide
The Alert Network allows police to instantly update registered users about crime, emergencies and other important information. Residents need to register online to receive these alerts. People can register at www.CitizenObserver.com and click on the "Sign Up Now" link.

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.

Friends of Leo Lydon
Mark your calendar. The party is fast approaching! Friends of Leo Lydon - Savin Hill Celebration of Friendship on March 24, 2007 at 7:00 P.M. at Boston College High School. Activities include dancing, disc jockey, "Taste of Dorchester," silent auction, live auction, raffle and lots of fun! Proceeds from this event will support the purchase and installation of a Howard Clock named in memory of Leo to be located in front of the new Savin Hill T Station. To defray the expense of the clock, we have committed ourselves to various fundraising initiatives. One is the Buy–A-Brick Fundraiser which allows you to purchase and personally engrave a brick that will be incorporated into the beautifully designed brick façade and base of the commemorative clock. The cost for each brick is $125.00. You can have it engraved to commemorate a birth, death, wedding, gift, retirement, anniversary, message of love or any other event, milestone or special message. To learn more, call us at (617) 543-5392 or visit www.friendsofleolydon.com. The deadline for donations is March 31, 2007. Donation forms are also available in the March CSHCA printed newsletter.

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 Tip
District C-11 would like to remind you not to divulge your social security number over the phone to anyone who cannot be confirmed as legitimate. Tell any caller to provide a telephone number so that the inquiry can be verified. Do not provide your social security number, telephone number, or address out loud to a retail store or supermarket employee. Unfortunately, such instances allow for potential identity theft or burglary. Protect your personal information as much as possible.

Safety Tip
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.

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
All citizens are requested to exercise vigilance in the area of the JFK/UMass MBTA station, Sydney Street, and Crescent Avenue, especially during the evening hours. If there are any observations made of individuals who may be engaged in suspicious activity, citizens are requested to call 911 immediately.

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.

SURVEY: Open Space Plan Update (2007 - 2011)
In our constantly changing city of Boston, we need to be sure our parks, recreation facilities, and other open space resources are able to handle our needs. To find out what our needs are, the Parks and Recreation Department is launching a survey specific to the objectives of the updating of the City Open Space Plan: what parks do we use, what do we do there, what do we think are the local open space needs, and so on. Paper copies are also available to fill out at your public library or community center (Boston Centers for Youth & Families). To submit comments and suggestions via postal mail:
Aldo Ghirin
Senior Planner
Boston Parks and Recreation Department
1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02118
Fax: 617 635-3228. Phone: 617 961-3033

Health Reminder: Trash Cans
Please be mindful of the trash in and around your yard, and put all garbage in covered and sealed trash cans. Rats and other vermin are looking for new homes! Open trash cans and/or an exposed trash bags with food or household waste attracts rats! Please be careful.

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.

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

St. Williams Re-use Committee
Please see the committee page for an important update.

Metropolitan Beaches Commission
This commission was established by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2006 to: take an in depth look at each of the region’s beaches, identify the current conditions on each beach, identify the best management practices across the region, and make recommendations that would bring our beaches to their fullest potential as significant recreational and economic resources, ultimately improving the quality of life for residents and visitors, and strengthening our capital city and the region. The commission is co-chaired by our own Senator Jack Hart and has held a couple of public hearings in our area - the last one was January 20, 2007 at UMASS. The commission is still looking for public input. See the web site for more information.

Affordable Fitness Programs Available
The Dorchester House is offering a series of classes for all fitness levels in low-impact aerobics, walking, yoga, kickboxing, body sculpting and conditioning, exercise for seniors, and other forms of physical fitness. All classes are held at the Dorchester House. The fee is $25/month ($15 for seniors) for unlimited classes, and for a limited time, they are offering an introductory special of five classes for $10. For more information call 617-740-2235.

Winter-time Advisories

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.

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

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 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
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
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.

Graffiti Busters
For businesses or residence in Boston that needs graffiti taken off, the City Of Boston will do it for free. Log on to the City of Boston Web site at Basic City Services and sign up. For information regarding graffiti removal, contact Michael Bartosiak at 617-635-3492 or download this flyer in Adobe PDF format.

Volunteers Are Needed!

Boston Community Change Card
The Mayor has launched the Boston Community Change Card. This is a loyalty card for Main Street businesses that provides rebates to cardholders as well as donations to the charity of the cardholder's choice. Simply visit this web site and click on the ""Get your card" button. And, please pass this on to people you think might be interested in "shopping locally and sharing locally." If you have any questions, see the web site or contact your local Main Streets organizations or Office of Business Development at 617.635.0355 and ask for the Boston Main Streets division.

Boston Green Awards
Mayor Thomas M. Menino announces the first annual Boston Green Business Awards and Boston Green Residential Awards. Mayor Menino and the City of Boston want to recognize businesses and residents who are leaders in sustainability and it's practices. "It is my hope that these awards will encourage Boston businesses and residents to engage in environmentally sustainable practices, learn more about such practices and initiate their own sustainability efforts and programs," Mayor Menino said. The city invites the nomination of businesses and residents for these Green Awards. Nomination forms should be submitted by February 28, 2007. The winners of the City of Boston Green Business Awards and Boston Green Residential Awards competition will be announced by Mayor Menino in a ceremony in April 2007. Green Business Awards Mayor Menino’s Green Business Awards will honor businesses in Boston that perform exemplary sustainable business practices in their day to day operations. Awards will be given to both small and large businesses in three categories: Green Business Practices, Green Business Products, and Green Business Services. The Green Residential Awards will honor residents in Boston who are committed to sustainable living. Mayor Menino will recognize residents of the City of Boston who demonstrate exemplary sustainable practices in their community and in their homes. Awards will be presented to residents in five categories: Community Leadership in Energy and Climate Protection, Waste Reduction/Pollution Prevention, Sustainable Construction/Renovation, Energy and Water Conservation, and Sustainable Landscape/Green Roof. Download a nomination form today!

Summer Jobs Registration Extended!
Extended to March 20, 2007. Boston teens ages 15 - 17 can apply for the Hopeline Summer Jobs Program. The Hopeline is the only application process and is opened for a limited time. Don’t miss out! You must be registered on the Hopeline in order to work for the Boston Youth Fund. To register you: How to register: call (617)-635-HOPE (4673) or visit www.CityofBoston.gov and click on the Summer Jobs link. **REGISTERING WITH THE HOPELINE DOES NOT GUARANTEE A SUMMER JOB** Please call the BYF Headquarters with any questions (617)-635-4202

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.

Dorchester Arts & Culture Breakfast Club
The Dorchester Arts and Culture Breakfast Club, an informal group that discusses the arts and arts related developments in Dorchester, meets on the first Friday of every month at 8:30 am. If you are interested in attending, please e-mail Joyce Linehan. This is a FREE event.

BPHC and Obesity
Mayor Menino and the Boston Public Health Commission made a New Years resolution to target obesity in Boston. The City announced new steps aimed at addressing the public health threat of obesity in Boston. The new initiatives add to the City’s increasingly multifaceted strategy addressing this serious health concern, and focus on decreasing the health disparity of obesity in the African-American and Latino communities.

Kids With Asthma
Boston Public Library Public Campaign - Kids with Asthma Can... Play, Learn, Sleep...
Check out the new dial-a-story, "Buster the Lion Who Has Asthma" read by Arthur’s pal Buster Baxter. Kids and parents can hear the whole story over the phone by dialing (617) 859-2025.

Boston Public Schools
All About BPS is a new blog published by the Communications Office to keep families, staff, and the community informed about the Boston Public Schools. Also, you can sign up online for Boston School Closings Notifications.

Scholarship Opportunity
Numerous private and public scholarships, as well as student loans and other forms of financial aid, are available to students to help cover the costs of tuition and expenses. In 1994, Mayor Menino created the City of Boston Scholarship Fund to provide tuition assistance to successful graduates with financial need. Since then, the fund has awarded more than $700,000 in scholarships to help hundreds of Boston students pursue post-secondary education. For application forms and deadlines, visit www.cityofboston.gov/mayor/scholarship/.

South Boston Boxing Club
This is a FREE, educational boxing program for youth ages 10 - 21. No experience is necessary, and instruction is provided to youth grouped not only by age, but by weight and experience. The hours of the program are Monday - Friday, from 3:00 to 8:00 pm, and on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. For more information, contact the South Boston Boxing Club at 617-635-1416.

Homegrown in Boston!
Local author and Boston elementary students illustrate new children’s book! A board member of Generations Incorporated has recently written and published a children’s book, "Siamese Sam and the Things He Will Eat." This fun and colorful book about a unique cat was beautifully illustrated by talented students of Boston Public Schools. The author has contributed all proceeds to Generations Incorporated in order to continue to provide literacy services within Boston. Generations Incorporated is a non-profit that unites older adults and youth to strengthen communities. In Dorchester, one of three neighborhoods that Generations Incorporated focuses on, 111 residents over the age of 55 serve as literacy tutors to children in Dorchester elementary schools and after-school programs. Last year 811 children were served in Dorchester alone! For more information or to purchase the book, visit www.generationsinc.org.

8th Annual Online Student Essay Contest
This contest, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts Citizen Education Fund, has begun. The theme this year is "Making Democracy Work: Citizens' Rights and Responsibilities." We hope that young people, teachers, and youth leaders will discuss the freedoms and rights granted by the U.S. Constitution, such as those in the Bill of Rights, as well as the responsibilities of citizens to protect those rights and to participate in government. This contest is open to all Massachusetts students in grades 4 thru 12. Essay questions, rules, and prize information are available online.

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 that provides practitioners, youth workers, and parents an opportunity to learn about the resources for youth at high risk, to study the guide, and to practice strategies for engaging youth. The workshop will be an engaging, interactive and informative 2-hour session. The Medical Foundation / BEST Initiative provides this workshop series for the BMA, so there is no cost to participants. 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 www.bostonyouthnet.org/.

Mayor's Youth Council Now Accepting Applications
The application deadline is April 13, 2007. Do you know a high school student who wants to make a difference in their community? The Mayor's Youth Council provides Boston's young people with an active role in addressing youth issues. We are now accepting applications from high school sophomores and juniors from every neighborhood of the city to serve as volunteer representatives on the 2007-08 MYC. WHO CAN APPLY? Teens who will be 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. WHAT IS 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. Additional activities are available for those who want challenging new opportunities. The time commitment is approximately 10 hours per month.

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.

Subscribe to City of Boston E-Newsletters
Receive e-mail messages with the most up-to-date information about neighborhood events, youth announcements, snow notifications, funding opportunities, arts news, cultural resources and more! Go to www.cityofboston.gov/subscribe to sign up for the newsletters that interest you most!

Flu Facts: What You Need to Know
This event was sponsored by BNN, Boston Neighborhood Network Television (BNN), and the Rendon Group. They are participating in a statewide campaign to promote awareness about the common flu, the H5N1 Virus (also known as the Avian Virus or Bird Flu), and the possibility of a pandemic. The Rendon Group, a Boston-based communications company has created "Flu Facts: What You Need to Know," a 30-minute program that BNN cablecast on BNN’s News and Information Channel Comcast 9/RCN 15. See the Department of Public Health’s website if you have any questions that were not answered by the film.

Fuel Assistance
Mayor Menino Announces Fuel Assistance for Boston Residents. With winter upon us, we all need to think about how to heat our homes. The City is here to help you find out where you can turn for fuel assistance. For more information, see www.cityofboston.gov/residents.

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