The chief executive of one of Boston's largest financial services companies announced this week that he was selling the company to an even larger, Canadian company.

David D'Alessandro, CEO of the John Hancock company announced the Boston firm would be acquired and merged with Toronto's Manulife in a deal worth a reported eleven billion- that's billion with a b- dollars.

The Boston Globe's business writer said the action was taken "based on (D'Alessandro's) often-stated belief that his company, like others, must get bigger of face being marginalized in the years ahead by the giants in the industry."

That's big business for you these days: the bigger, the better. Merge into a conglomerate or die on the vine. It seems to happen in all sectors &endash; in media, in health care, in insurance, in banking. The survival of the fittest &endash; or at least the biggest.

That's why it is so refreshing today to take note of the opening in Dorchester this week of a new, little bank, the Mt. Washington Cooperative Bank. For years, the business operated out of one small home office on West Broadway in Southie. More recently, a branch was opened on East Broadway and, last year, another in Andrew Square. And this week, Mt. Washington opens its newest brach right here on Gallivan Boulevard at Adams Village.

The staff was all on hand Wednesday morning to watch bank President Ed Merritt cut the ribbon for the new office, while pledging to grow the bank with still more branches in the neighborhoods.

But before making the move here, bank officials spent the last year finding out about our community, meeting with neighbors and community leaders, and becoming engaged in our neighborhood's civic affairs.

Already, Mt. Washington has reached out to support several community efforts, among them the Marr Boys and Girls Club, Codman Square Health Center and the Cedar Grove Little League. Two weeks ago, the bank donated food and refreshments to a tree-planting hosted by the Dorchester Park Association, and has committed to be the major corporate sponsor of the upcoming Open Studios events for the Dorchester Arts Collaborative later this month.

Mt. Washington already has shown itself to be a leading corporate citizen in our town, and there's every reason the believe they will be a good neighbor. The bank is setting a standard for community involvement that other businesses would do well to emulate.

There is a case to be made for John Hancock's compelling need to grow, but there is great risk that as that company evolves into a multinational endeavor, the good works that Hancock has been noted for in its hometown will become less of a priority for current and future managers.

But as Mt. Washington Bank grows and becomes a larger (but still a small) bank, there's every reason to expect that its commitment to the neighborhoods will remain firm. And every Dorchester resident should welcome the bank into our community.

- Ed Forry

The Gonfalon's Within Our Grasp

We told you last spring: This could be the year our Red Sox go all the way! Sure, we have made that same statement, over and over through the years, but this time we really mean it.

The playoffs started this week, and depending on the outcome of the first two games in Oakland, this weekend at Fenway Park could be a wonderful time of celebration in this town. A series win over the A's is sure to lead inevitably to a pennant-winning series with some other pretender. The season was filled with ups and downs, but the results of the 2003 season thus far have been everything we could have hoped for.

So here's our fearless prediction: This is our year, the year the Red Sox cop the gonfalon.

Remember, you read it here first &endash; well, maybe about 20 years ago, and most years since. But this time, we really, really, really mean it.

- E.F.