| September 2003 Items that missed the printed issue: Upham's Corner Library Happenings Halloween Carnival -October 30, 6 - 7:30 pm. Ages 6 - 15. Lots of games, candy, mayhem, and prizes. Halloween Scavenger Hunt -October 15, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Search through the library for snakes, spiders, eerie legends and real-life monsters. Prizes for the fastest finders. Food and drink for all who compete. Ages 8 - 15. 215 Sydney Street update Just to refresh everyone's memory - almost two years ago we began a process that supported the current owners (Millennium Billboard) plans to take over management of the billboard at 215 Sydney Street (included plans to remove old & replace with new) provided a Community Agreement. The Community Agreement solidified the owners commitment to give something back to the community. The owners of 215 Sydney Street completed the final step in the approval process on August 13th, 2003 when the Outdoor Advertising Board approved their permit to operate. It is now our turn to identify community uses for the building and work with the owners to negotiate agreeable terms. Development and use of this building is not free. - Nora McDonnell The Little House Health Center Celebration Come Join the Friends & Neighbors of the Little House Health Center as we celebrate 30 Years of Outstanding Service and Commitment to the Community. Friday September 12, 2003 6:00 - 11:00 The Little House 275 East Cottage Street Dorchester, Ma 02125 Light refreshments and cash bar Please RSVP by 9/5 to 617-282-2180 Little House Pre-School The Little House Preschool offers a safe, comfortable and fun learning environment for children ages 2.9 - 5 years. There are openings available in the morning and afternoon classes that begin this September. For more information contact the Little House at 617-282-2180. Upcoming Local Events MBTA Fare Increase Hearing September 16th, 6-8 PM at the Vietnamese-American Community Center (behind the Fields Corner T stop). Historical Lecture The Friends of the Boston City Archives will present a lecture by Nancy Seashoals, October 14th at 6:00 PM at the Mass. Historical Society, 1154 Boylston Street, Boston. Ms. Seashoals will be speaking about her new book, "Gaining Ground: A History of Landmaking in Boston" (MIT Press). It is sure to be a fascinating evening about when, why and how the city land was created. Mark your calendars now! -John McColgan Mother's Parenting Resources Exciting news for CSHCA members with children! Come this Fall the CSHCA will be providing FREE child care at our monthly general meetings. This service is for parents who may not otherwise be able to attend otherwise. Please come with your child well in advance of the meeting time. It is also suggested that you pack a small snack and personal items that may be needed during the course of the evening. For more info call Dianna Wilson @ 282-1277. Free Yoga Classes Return to Codman Square Beginning September 4th, Thursday at 6:30 PM FREE hatha yoga classes will again be offered in Codman Sq. Sponsored by the Codman Square Health Center, and taught by certified Integral yoga instructor, Bhishman, the classes will be held in the Great Hall. Open to participants of all levels the class will incorporate a gentle meditative style of yoga. Participants should wear loose comfortable clothing and bring a mat. It is also advised that you should refrain from food intake several hours in advance of the class. We invite all members of the community to come and check it out. For more info contact Alicia @ 282-6722. Primary Election Day September 23rd from 7 AM to 8 PM For more info call the Boston Election Department at 617-635-4635. Down by the Sea - Paul Nutting Here is a question I've asked about projects of concern in the neighborhood and the response I've received from Jeff McLaughlin at the MWRA: PN: Can you tell me what is happening next to Morrissey Blvd., in the vicinity of the Savin Hill Yacht Club? JM: The project is part of our CSO (combined sewer overflow) program. The outfall lines are the property of Boston Water and Sewer and they are cleaning the outfall pipelines and installing gates. We are paying for the work, but because the lines are owned by BWSC they hired and oversee the work by the contractor. Here is a question I've asked about projects of concern in the neighborhood and the response I've received from Joe Orfant at the Department of Conservation & Recreation, Division of Urban Parks (formerly MDC): PN: Has the project been accepted by you folks yet? Is there any other information on the beach that I can report to the community? JO: I'm still refusing the close out the contract and release some payments until the contractor makes good on another 30(SH & Tenean) or so tree replacements and corrects the turf problem. The problem technically is not with McCourt but with M.O.N. their landscaping sub-contractor, but McCourt is responsible ultimately. Of course they can't deal with either now until September, but I'm looking for some action now such as tagging of trees and an action plan for the turf. I'm frustrated but I'm not about to give up now. They dragged their feet last Fall and through the Spring planting season. Stay tuned. The bathhouse is still stuck at DCAM awaiting release to the bid room. Its caught up in the budget crisis. Maybe the story about the East Boston bathhouse in Sunday's City Section of the Globe will help lodge them all free. Here is a question I've asked about projects of concern in the neighborhood and the response I've received from From David Lenhardt at the Bridge Engineering Office of Department of Conservation & Recreation, Division of Urban Parks: PN: The membership would like an update on the Beades Bridge (Morrissey Blvd). It looks as though all the major work is done? What is left? Of major concern is the transition between the road and the bridge northbound, there is a serious dip here that could cause an accident; will this transition area be smoothed out/filled in? DL: Last Friday(Aug. 1st) the Contractor was scheduled to close the roadway at 9:00 PM to do all the re-alignment work, but due to the weather it was canceled. Again, this Friday (weather permitting) the roadway will be closed and the roadway work will be completed. Also, around August 25, 2003, the bridge will under go a few days of testing to synchronize the electric motors. If everything goes according to plan, this project should be completed by September 1, 2003. Upham's Corner Library Happenings Toddler Time: Tuesdays @ 10:30 a.m. during September & October. Starting September 9, 2003. Ages 1 1/2 - 3 1/2. Rhymes, puppets, songs, and a couple of stories each week. Pre-registration necessary. Pre-School Story Time: Wednesdays @ 10:30 a.m., during September & October. Starting September 10, 2003. Ages 4 - 5 1/2. Lots of stories, rhymes, games, and crafts. Pre-registration necessary. Children's Film Series: Thursdays at 4p.m., September 11 through October 23. Large groups welcome. All titles G & PG. Please contact the library for specific titles and movie lengths. Little House Food Pantry Remember to bring to the monthly meeting a non-perishable food item donation for the Little House Food Pantry. Suggested items include: pasta, cereals, soup, crackers, canned meat/fish, condiments, canned veggies, toiletries. 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-ed's, 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: janderson@uusc.org Note: The October newsletter deadline is September 22nd. Heads Up - Holiday Offering The SERVE New England Holiday Package will be available again this November and December. (same details as before) Payment for Thanksgiving orders will need to be received by November 3rd for pick up November 22. Payment for December orders will need to be received by December 1st for pick up December 20th. More info forth coming... -Nora McDonnell Dorchester Center for Adult Education: Our Fall 2003 catalog will be available soon.... Courses in Tai Chi, Beginning Guitar, Developing a Home Based Business, Yoga, Stress Management, Water Aerobics, Interior Decorating, and many more are to be offered. Call 617-474-1170 for course information or to receive a free copy of our catalog. Support Our Local Businesses who Support the CSHCA! We would like to take this opportunity to welcome the Columbia Savin Hill Civic Association's Merchant Members. Remember, 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 and eating in their restaurants.
Merchant Memberships are $25.00 a year. If interested in becoming a Merchant Member please complete the membership form included in this newsletter and forward with your check in the amount of $25.00 made payable to the Columbia-Savin Hill Civic Association. We will list all Merchant Members each month in our newsletter. "EDWARD EVERETT SCHOOLYARD COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND BUILD SET FOR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6" If you've driven down Pleasant Street lately, you can't fail to be amazed at the transformation taking place on the Edward Everett School grounds. The long awaited schoolyard build, jointly funded by the City of Boston and the Boston Schoolyard Funders Collaborative, with grants from the George B. Henderson Foundation and a generous gift from Manulife Financial, is running at full steam. By the time school opens in September, everything but the actual play equipment should be ready. The Friends of the Everett Schoolyard will be holding a one-day community build for the play equipment on Saturday, September 6th beginning at 9 a.m. Guided by our general contractor, John Fleming, and landscape architect Sonja Johansson, with food contributed by Manulife Financial, we invite the community to help us construct this final piece of the puzzle. Back in June, the newly constituted Friends, who sponsored the 4th Annual Spring Festival on Saturday the 14th, were once again favored with beautiful weather. With volunteer help from teachers, parents, staff, students and the fabulous employees of business partner Manulife Financial, neighbors, students and their families had a great afternoon. Entertainment was provided by Everett students (with help from Maria Amado, Tim Archibald and others), the teen dancers from the youth group of the Vietnamese-American Civic Association, Irish Step Dancer Kieran Jordan and her students, and the Everett Chorus of the Boston City Singers directed by Jane Money. The stage and sound system was provided by the City of Boston. Other activities on the grounds included a visit from the New England Aquarium's Traveling Tidepool exhibit, face painting, jump rope, a kid's boardgame exchange, book giveaways, and Krazy Arts & Krafts with the Dorchester Recycling Coalition. Neighbors, students, teachers and parents mingled, applauded and shared ethnic food as well as other delights from: Ba Le Restaurant (1052 Dorchester Ave.), Theo's Pizza (1078 Dorchester Ave.), and Tropical Island Restaurant (149 Stoughton St.).We'd like to thank all the local donors to our raffle, (including restaurants: Donovans and 224 Boston Street) as well as Maureen Feeney, Marty Walsh and alumna Lucille Francis for their support of our fundraising campaign. The committee will continue to raise additional money to fully complete the project. Future plans include replanting the hillside to make a schoolyard habitat, a flagpole, and new fencing for the property. Anyone interested in making a contribution to the Everett Schoolyard Fund or participating in the community build, can contact Alicia at 617-282-6722, or send an email to alicia@night-kitchen.com for further information. CSHCA Courtesy Request: The CSHCA requests that all cell phones and beeper/pagers be turned off during our monthly general meetings. Also, as a matter of courtesy, please take your personal conversations outside the meeting hall. Thank you !!! 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, Chuck Mattina, at the treasurer's table at our next general meeting or mail to: CSHCA, c/o Chuck Mattina, 126 Herbert Rd., Braintree, MA 02184 Name(s)_______________________________________ Street________________________ Apt.__________ City/Town______________________State_____ Postal Code_________ Phone_______________________ Email________________________ Thanks to SPIRE and UMass for their newsletter help! |