Civics
Civics
Leahy polar plunge set for Tenean Beach
Dec. 26, 2012
A scene from last year's plunge at Tenean.
Neighbors will splash in the new year on Tues., Jan. 1 with the second annual Brian Leahy Memorial Polar Bear Plunge at Tenean Beach. The event is a fundraiser for the Leahy-Holloran Community Center in Neponset.
Registration starts at 12:30 p.m. at the beach. A $15 fee is required. The plunge will be followed by a pizza party at Boston Bowl, donated by Joe Sammartino and Phillips Family of Restaurants.
Kerry nomination unleashes wave of speculation, pro forma statements
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President Obama gave Massachusetts pols an early Christmas present on Friday: A chance to move up the ladder, provided that US Sen. John Kerry makes it through the confirmation process and lands at the State Department. Read more
Wheelock College's Mattahunt work recognized by national group
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Wheelock College's Mattahunt work recognized
The American Association of University Administrators (AAUA) presented Wheelock College with the 2012 John Blackburn Award for its work in revitalizing the Mattahunt Community Center in Mattapan.
The center was closed in 2010, but the city of Boston and Wheelock worked in close partnership with the Mattapan community to set a collaborative vision for the center. Read more
Murphy says he has enough votes for another go at top council slot
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City Council President Stephen Murphy announced on Thursday he’s picked up enough votes for another term as the ceremonial head of the 13-member body.
Murphy’s office released a list of names supporting his bid in an email to reporters: City Councillors At-Large Felix Arroyo and John Connolly, as well as District Councillors Frank Baker (Dorchester), Mark Ciommo (Allston-Brighton), Rob Consalvo (Hyde Park), Tito Jackson (Dorchester), Sal LaMattina (East Boston), Bill Linehan (South Boston), and Matt O’Malley (Jamaica Plain). Read more
Mattapan’s maestro: Fred Williams pays it forward
Dec. 20, 2012
Great Hall recital: David Brown performed at the Great Hall last month during a recital organized by Fred Williams, right, who accompanied Brown on piano. Photo by Tayla Holman
At 84 years old, Fred Williams has spent much of his life studying and playing music. Today, the Mattapan resident is best known as a mentor and instructor to budding musicians from Boston’s neighborhoods. Read more
Meetinghouse Bank is branching out: Plans to open Roslindale Square office by mid-2013
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One of Dorchester’s most deeply-rooted financial institutions is set to expand its footprint in the city of Boston. Meetinghouse Bank, fueled by a first-ever public stock offering that generated millions in new capital, will begin its growth program by opening a new branch location in Roslindale Square by the end of next year’s second quarter. Read more
Editorial: A boy reminds us why we give
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Marc Murphy,9, and Michael Murphy, 4: Fourth grader Marc launched a toy drive three years ago that continues to grow. Photo courtesy Murphy familyWhen the Murphy family of Neponset hit the mall last week for their annual Christmas shopping excursion, they no doubt raised eyebrows at the checkout counters. The haul of plastic bags they carried out of the Target store and into their trunk could have tested the mettle of even Santa’s sleigh. And some may have wondered why the Murphy boys— Marc, 9, and Michael, 4— were along for the ride.
The gifts never made it back to the Murphy clan’s home in Neponset, of course. Instead, they were taken straight to the ABCD Family Service Center on Claybourne Street from which they’ll be given out to less fortunate families this season.
This is the third consecutive Christmas that the Murphys have made this toy-drive run. And it all started because Marc, then aged 7, saw an item on the news that a Toys for Tots trailer had been burglarized north of Boston. Read more
Diversity is issue as city’s lawyer clashes with Yancey at council hearing
Dec. 19, 2012
City Hall’s top lawyer clashed with District 4 Councillor Charles Yancey on Tuesday afternoon, accusing him of “grandstanding” and calling the councillor’s hearing on the racial make-up of city departments a “farce.” The intense back-and-forth drew several members of the municipal police force that patrols City Hall to the doors of the Council’s Iannella Chamber. Read more
Gov. Patrick taps Sheriff Cabral as public safety chief
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Gov. Deval Patrick on Thursday introduced the new members of his cabinet, including Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral as his public safety chief.
“I think this is an unbelievable opportunity to really move public safety forward in the next two years,” Cabral told reporters after a press conference at the State House. “I think there are going to be very solid, very bold initiatives by the governor and things that I personally support.” Read more
Amateur mapmaker gets Dot just right
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McCarthy's Dorchester mapIf you’re a Dorchester-phile (and if you’re reading this, you probably are), then you have to get a look at the map that a man named Ed McCarthy has created depicting our neighborhood. The map — which McCarthy has sold one-by-one to friends and colleagues since 2008— is beautifully illustrated and pops with interesting flashbacks about Dorchester’s past. An image of the map is shown here at right. You can get a closer look by looking at the attachment below.
Much to the relief of this space, the map is also a well-drawn and accurate laying out of historic Dorchester. McCarthy is a veteran city ambulance driver who knows the streets of Boston as well as anyone could. Fascinated with Boston history and geography, he grew increasingly dissatisfied with the neighborhood maps that he saw in circulation in books and at City Hall. So he decided to work up one himself.
“I said, ‘I can do this,’ so I hit the library and did the research. I got registered at the state archives and spent a lot of time at the BPL. I tried to get every reference I could find and I packed it into the map.” Read more
