Erin MurphyErin Murphy’s bid for Mayor of Dorchester has raised thousands of dollars so far to help finance this year’s Dorchester Day Parade. It’s fitting, then, that Murphy will get a prime spot in Sunday’s parade.

Murphy, 43, made the leap into the honorary mayor of Dorchester contest in April after learning that the Dot Day parade committee — which depends on the mayor’s race to help raise the funds needed to put the parade together— was in need of some help.

Murphy, a teacher at the Henderson Inclusion School on Dorchester Avenue, used Facebook and other online tools to help her gather donations for her campaign—which will all be turned over to parade organizers. She also raffled off a pair of quilts that feature Dorchester t-shirts, many of them with a Boston Strong theme.

“You don’t realize the amount of time and money it takes to run a good parade,” says Murphy. “Every dollar that’s raised goes directly to the parade. I love the neighborhood, so this is a way to give back.”

Murphy is still accepting donations for the parade: You can send a check to Erin for Dorchester Campaign 2014, 138 Msgr. Lydon Way, Dorchester, 02124
. Or go to her online fundraising page via Facebook.

Little Miss, Young Miss Dorchester winners crowned

One of the longest-running traditions of the Dorchester Day calendar is the Little Miss Dorchester contest, which was held on May 10 at First Parish Church. There is also a Young Miss Dorchester contest that has been added in recent years.

This years winners are Eleanor Moye-Gibbons, 9, who won first place in the Little Miss category and Gina Cruz, 12, who won the title for the Young Miss category. Cruz was joined by first runner-up Brianna Sapienza, 12, and Second runner-up Mary Ellen Tevnan, also 12. Gibbons is joined in her court by Sarah McDonnell, 9, won first runner-up, and Grace Foley, 8, second runner-up.

Cruz said this year was her second shot at the competition. When the judges announced her name, “At first it felt surprising,” she said, “but then it just felt really good.”

In her speech, Eleanor Moye-Gibbons said her favorite place in Dorchester is her kitchen, the place, “where my family most connects”—and also, she added, the place where birthday cakes get baked.

After the event, Moye-Gibbons, who was competing for her third year in a row, said she thought she had performed well. But, she said, “It was hard expressing what you like about Dorchester in just 50 words.”
Moye-Gibbons was joined by her mother, Jenny Moye, at the event.

“I think the experience is a lot of fun for her. From the contest to the parade,” she said.