Fire at Gallivan Blvd. McDonald'sA gas-fueled kitchen fire at the McDonald’s restaurant on Gallivan Boulevard injured one worker and caused heavy damage inside the building this morning. The fire began shortly before 7 a.m. as workers were trying to start a stove inside the restaurant, which suffered heavy smoke damage, according to employees.

A worker leaving the scene this morning told the Reporter that one worker burned her hand in the incident. She said that there was a heavy odor of gas just before the fire erupted. Smoke was seen rising from the restaurant at 511 Gallivan Boulevard near Adams Corner, snarling traffic in the neighborhood during the morning commute as emergency crews responded.  Read more

The Mattapan Square Main Streets board of directors held a public “visioning” meeting at the Mattapan Branch Library on Tuesday night, the first such event held by the organization since it was officially designated by City Hall last fall. Tuesday’s event was intended to gauge public opinion and serve as a brainstorming session for specific improvements that could be introduced to Mattapan Square through the program. Nearly 60 community members attended and gathered into several discussion groups to outline long and short term goals, and to discuss the current state of Mattapan Square.  Read more

New Mattapan Health Center Topping-OffMattapan Community Health Center celebrated a milestone in the construction of its new facility with a topping-off ceremony this afternoon. Patients, staff, neighbors and supporters signed a steel beam that was placed on the top of the new four-story building that is rising at 1575 Blue Hill Ave. The $34 million building - due to be complete next summer— will also house a pharmacy and bank branch.  Read more

Boston Police Superintendent-in-Chief Daniel Linskey: Testified during Wednesday's City Council hearing. Photo by Callum BorchersThe Menino Administration explained Wednesday the discretion implied in a proposed city ordinance that would bill negligent landlords for police details at properties that generate frequent service calls. A city task force organized by the Mayor's office unveiled its first likely target on Tuesday: A Roxbury three-decker that has been a chronic source of 911 emergency calls in recent months.

Addressing the City Council’s Committee on Government Operations, Corporation Counsel Bill Sinnott stressed the legislation’s benchmarks—referral to the newly formed Problem Properties Task Force after four serious crime calls in a year’s time, monetary charges after eight—are simply guidelines.

“What the city wants to emphasize,” Sinnott said, “is this is not a numerical exercise. The numbers are there as a trigger, as a prompt for the city to take action to address the problems and to look for solutions.”  Read more