2010 President's Messages
November 2010
Dear Neighbors,
I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and fun Halloween. Thanks to Sallie
Permar and Matt Ferraguto for organizing the increasingly popular
Savin Hill Halloween ‘Parade’.
Joe Walsh from Renew Boston will speak about programs which
allow eligible Boston residents to make subsidized energy efficiency
home improvements. Don Walsh will discuss a Dorchester-wide
initiative to promote and implement these programs.
After overwhelming opposition voiced at several meetings, RSA
Media has withdrawn their proposal to erect an electronic billboard on
the NStar property off Dewar St.
December is our annual Holiday celebration. Volunteers are needed
to help organize event; please contact me if you can help. Remember to
invite a neighbor to our monthly meetings. Thanks! See you MONDAY
NIGHT! Please vote on Election Day, Nov. 2nd.
-Maureen
October 2010
Dear Neighbors,
Our September meeting was informative and enjoyable as attendees
sampled refreshments and some went home with raffle prizes thanks
to several generous neighborhood merchants. Thank you to all who
contributed to the evening’s success. We heard Peter Meade,
President & CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US
Senate describe this exciting addition to Columbia Point. We also
learned about another wonderful resource on the Point, the
Commonwealth Museum. Ice-cream samples from the soon to be
open Savin Scoop were a crowd favorite.
Thank you to the following merchants who donated items or services
to our raffle during the September meeting:
• Commonwealth Museum (Columbia Point)
• Dorchester Market (Dorchester Ave & East Cottage St)
• Eagle Liquors (936 Dorchester Ave)
• John F Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum (Columbia Pt)
• McKenna’s Café (Savin Hill Ave & South Sydney St)
• Savin Scoop (107 Savin Hill Ave)
• Spire (65 Bay St)
This month we will hear from a group of Tufts University researchers
who are embarking on an air quality study which measures the effects
of air pollutants along I-93. The CAFEH (Community Assessment of
Freeway Exposure & Health) study will explore the potential heart and
respiratory health effects linked with traffic along this strip. Outreach
workers will visit randomly selected homes and ask residents a
variety of questions; a white research van will be checking air quality
in the neighborhood. Come to the meeting to learn details.
Hard to believe it is almost October. Fall is the perfect time to clean
out your basement, garage, shed and yard in preparation for that
dreaded season (dreaded by me at least). The City of Boston offers
several opportunities to assist with disposal of items during its
Electronics Recycling event on October 8th at the Bayside Expo
Center parking lot, the Household Hazardous Materials Drop-Off on
October 9th at UMB Marine Campus, or the free shredding event also
on October 9th at the Bayside Expo parking lot. Leaf and yard waste
pickup program is 10/18-11/27. See newsletter for details.
Please reach out to neighbors, roommates, area business owners and
friends and invite them to attend our monthly meetings. The CSHCA
provides an effective voice and efficient vehicle to voice
neighborhood concerns, celebrate its accomplishments and share
news of upcoming events and new business openings. Our Elected
Officials and/or their representatives and public safety officials
regularly attend our meetings and are responsive. Please invite a
neighbor. See you MONDAY NIGHT!
-Maureen
September 2010
Dear Neighbors,
It’s still summer but fall is ‘in the air’ as I type this note. Hopefully we
enjoy a long warm fall and a brief and mild winter. Labor Day signals
the start of school and the return to typical routines. Your civic
association resumes its monthly general membership meetings on
Monday, September 13th at 7pm at College Bound/Little House, 275
East Cottage St. The Executive Board, Planning Committee and
Beautification Committees met through the summer hiatus and we
have much to report next week.
Please reach out to neighbors, roommates, area business owners and
friends and invite them to attend our monthly meetings. The CSHCA
provides an effective voice and efficient vehicle to voice
neighborhood concerns, celebrate its accomplishments and share
news of upcoming events and new business openings.
Each month we will try to offer a brief presentation from an institution,
agency or person with ties to our neighborhood. I am excited to
announce we have a very special speaker scheduled for our
September meeting. Please join us and enjoy Peter Meade, President
& CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate as he
details this exciting addition to Columbia Point. Together we will
learn about their innovative building design, educational concept and
development timeline.
Continuing with the Columbia Point educational resource theme we
will also hear a brief presentation from a representative at the
Commonwealth Museum and MA Archives. We will also host City
Councilor at Large, Ayanna Pressley.
Updates regarding the Boston Collegiate Charter School, the BRA’s
Dorchester Avenue Zoning Initiative, development proposals in the
neighborhood and more will be shared.
To celebrate the start of our new meeting season and to welcome
back current and encourage new members, we will offer light
refreshments and raffle gift certificates and products from some of
our generous businesses. Please remember to support your local
businesses. Merchant members are welcome to join the association.
Thanks to Heidi Moesinger for organizing a neighborhood yard sale
this past weekend. Hopefully everyone found new treasures and sold
unneeded items. Boston’s Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off is
October 9th at UMass Boston’s Harbor Campus and is another
opportunity to clear out the cellar, garage, etc and prep for Winter.
Please come to the meeting on Monday and learn about your
neighborhood, ask a question or voice a concern. Our Elected
Officials and/or their representatives and public safety officials
regularly attend our meetings and are responsive. Please invite a
neighbor. See you MONDAY NIGHT!
-Maureen
February 2010
Dear Neighbors,
I hope everyone is well rested after the Holidays and most are still
observing their New Year’s resolutions.
It is only February but community organizers are already at work
planning some exciting spring and summer events. Savin Hill Little
League leaders will host two fundraisers (see below) and the Pacitti Cup
while the Dorchester Beach Festival committee is beginning to lay plans
for a fundraiser as well as their main event in August. The Beautification
Committee is developing their spring slate of events. Updates will be
posted on our website and via email blasts.
A status report on the Leo Lydon Memorial Clock installation at the
Savin Hill MBTA Station will be shared during our February meeting.
After numerous meetings with abutters, Elected Officials and the
Planning Committee, the Church in Boston has decided to abandon plans
to utilize their recent purchase at 202 Savin Hill Avenue as an assembly
space and elder residence. Instead they plan to convert the home to 3
condominiums and sell the units. They are seeking assembly space in a
more commercial part of Dorchester. Abutters and the civic association’s
planning committee will be kept involved/updated with this project.
I look forward to seeing you on Monday, February 1st at the
General Meeting. Happy Valentine’s Day!
-Maureen
January 2010
Dear Neighbors,
I hope you all had a joyful and restful Holiday season. Best wishes for health and happiness in the New Year!
Thank you to all the merchants who donated gifts or services to our association’s December Holiday party: Allard Farm Custom
Sportswear, Avenue Liquors, Cedar Grove Gardens, Coleen’s Flower Shop, CSHCA Beautification Committee, Harp & Bard Restaurant,
Pantry’s Pizza, Stitch House Dorchester, Sugar Bowl, University of Massachusetts Boston. Thanks to members who donated food & special
thanks to Anne Riley for coordinating many of the donations.
Much has happened in our neighborhood since we last met: UMASS Boston signed a letter of intent to purchase 20 acres of
commercial property at Bayside Expo Center, North Cambridge Catholic High School finalized a deal with the archdiocese and the local parish to
acquire the old St. William’s School at 100 Savin Hill Avenue and launch the Christo Rey Boston School next Fall, the BRA/Columbia Point Task
Force held a meeting to review latest draft of master plan (pre-UMASS Boston announcement) and several proponents came before the Planning
Committee’s December meeting seeking zoning relief and/or presenting future plans for their property. The Church in Boston presented initial
plans for their recent purchase at 202 Savin Hill Avenue. Based on feedback from the committee and abutters they advised they would
regroup and submit revised plans sometime in the future. An announcement of meeting date will be made once the church contacts us.
The civic associations pledges to reach out and work with the institutions, developers, agencies and fellow residents with projects in
our neighborhood. We encourage everyone to become involved to ensure your voice and point-of-view is represented. If you cannot attend
meetings please send me an email, letter or call to voice your opinion. I will forward your comments to the proponent, committees, elected
officials involved. It is our neighborhood and I hope you can find the time to take an active role in shaping its future.
Have a safe, healthy New Year!
-Maureen
