By Bill Forry

We live in a neighborhood where toddlers can be shot while playing on their third-floor porch to escape the heat of a sweltering three-decker. Until further notice, that's a cold, harsh reality that we all have to face.

That having been said up front, it's also a fact that most crimes that happen here don't make it through the narrow viewfinders of Boston's media corps and into our collective consciousness. The tire-slashings, the nightly barrage of fireworks, the kleptomaniacal neighbor who "collects" other people's lawn tools - those are the little crimes that whittle away at our quality of life. Especially in the summer, when the mercury and windows are up and our tolerance for nonsense is way, way down.

Neponset's Garvey Park was the scene of one such incident a few days ago that has sent the District Three city councillor, Maureen Feeney, over the edge. Like a lot of local parks, Garvey generates the occasional nuisance calls from nearby residents. Kids cracking beers after dark, fistfights on the basketball court, swear words spray-painted on the street hockey boards. For the most part, it's pretty low on the to-do list for Boston's finest, who have much bigger priorities right now.

Over the July Fourth weekend, though, a "bunch of punks" as the good councillor calls them, decided to ramp up their normal shenanigans a few notches. Unsatisfied with the rush of blowing off some Roman candles, the park dwellers got their holiday rocks off by breaking into the field house next to the Devine ice rink. They smashed up the windows, ransacked the office and rendered the copy machine, shall we say, obsolete. They even managed to spray-paint a swastika or two on the walls for good measure before setting a trash filled with paint cans ablaze outside.

In case any of the Independence Day vandals are brushing up on their summer reading, here's what Councillor Feeney has in store for you:

"I want them all arrested," says Feeney, who visited the scene of the crime Monday and took a few deep breaths before venting some more. "And I don't care what the parents say. This kind of vandalism is dangerous. Someone could have been seriously hurt."

Garvey is now on the permanent radar screen of not only Feeney, but also the Municipal Police and the State Troopers in Southie, who have assured Feeney that the kids at Garvey can now expect to be rousted on a regular basis. All thanks to whoever masterminded the Fourth of July smash-a-thon. Party's over, guys.

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The ranks of potential candidates for at-large city council is beginning to swell, despite the late date. From South Boston this week comes word of what could be the most impressive entry to date among the "challengers": Mark Rooney, of the potent Southie clan that counts among its number ten - count 'em, ten - brothers. The 37 year-old father of three says he's still "seriously considering" a run. If he does take the plunge, which seems more and more likely, it could make things interesting in September.

Rooney is an ally of Southie neighbor and Council President Mike Flaherty and says that he considers Flaherty a lock for the top slot in the fall classic, one reason he doesn't hesitate to jump in himself.

"I think Mike Flaherty has a fabulous citywide organization and I expect him to do well across the city. He's out there day and night. Beyond that, though - not to knock anyone else - I think the field is wide open. If I go, I am looking to finish in the top four."

Most vulnerable of the incumbents is Felix Arroyo, the lone Latino member of the council, who slid into a seat last year when Mickey Roache jumped to the Registry of Deeds. In his short time in office, Arroyo has garnered most attention for his anti-war position, an issue that - despite his principled stance - is not likely to fly in an off-year election cycle. Plus, Arroyo has been less visible than you would expect for an election year. With the summer doldrums upon us, it's tough to see the newest councillor making much headway until after Labor Day.

That leaves an opening for a well-connected, high-energy chap like Rooney, who's got a ready-made field organization, just counting his family alone. Rooney cut his teeth at the State House, working for then-Senate President Bill Bulger on constituent services. More recently, he's teamed up with fellow Southie man Mike Vaughn to run Nauset Strategies, a marketing and public relations firm.

"I bring the experience and skills from both the private and public sectors to this campaign. I think that being a father of three young kids and living in the city, I want to do all I can to make this a better place to live. I think having an understanding of all the issues that young families face makes me a good candidate in this race," Rooney says.

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Another man eying the at-large race is less likely to make a citywide splash, but will likely cause waves close to his Dorchester home. Joe Urenek, best known in Dot political circles for taking on Feeney in the district race in 2001, is preparing an at-large bid. Urenek says he considered a re-match with Feeney, but found that she is too popular. Anyway, it turns out, he actually likes Feeney, too.

"Frankly, if I hadn't sat down with Maureen after the last race, I probably would have run in the district," says Urenek. "But, I've actually become friendly with her. And I think she's done a good job."

Urenek acknowledges it will be tougher running citywide, but hopes to use the opportunity to air out some of his views, which have swiveled from left-wing liberal 20 years ago to arch-conservative in the present tense.

Also on the "maybe" list for at-large, according to the city's election department, are: Roslindale's Phyllis Igo and Matt O'Malley; Joseph Cappuccio of South Boston; Edward Puglielli of East Boston; and Jacquelyne Payne-Thompson and David James Wyatt of Roxbury. Serial candidates Althea Garrison, Roy Owens, and Jamaica Plain's Arthur "Lucky" Craffey are also expected to mount their annual campaigns. Would-be candidates have until July 25 to apply for nomination papers to run, and papers must be filed by July 29. Citywide hopefuls must get 500 certified voters to make the ballot.

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The decaying shell of Joe Tagliente's Morrissey Boulevard Burger King remains an eyesore at this writing, despite his promise to clean it up made more than a month ago now. The good news: if Tagliente's weeds get much taller they'll soon block out the graffiti-covered nightmare he's left behind.

There may be some fleeting hope on the horizon, though. Word comes this week that the sprawling former fast food site is being eyed as a possible new home for the New England Carpenters Union. Several sources familiar with the regional union confirm that the Morrissey site is of particular interest to the union, which currently rents space in Southie and wants a permanent headquarters that's handy for members coming off 93.