Copyright 2008
M St. ParkCouncilor Bill Linehan, Representative Brian Wallace, along with staff from Senator Hart’s office and Councilor Flaherty’s office asked the Parks Department to elaborate on the details of construction. The following measures are being taken:
• Faulty stadium has been demolished and removed
• All remaining concrete will be stabilized, covered with loam and grass will be planted
• A new retaining wall is under construction with stairs to the field
• A new walk way connecting M Street to N Street will be constructed
• A new fence will be added to wall and walkway
• New aluminum stands will be constructed at each ball diamond
• Permitted activities can resume in the evenings
• Field damage due to construction vehicles will be repaired
The completion of this project will provide the stands with a much needed face lift, while eliminating the current eyesore. Jim Kelly had this project put in the budget a few years ago. It was a rehabilitation he long sought to have completed. Thanks Jim.
At SB Little League Opening Day ceremonies, Bill Collins, Treasurer of SB Little League toured damaged areas in and around the playing field with Senator Jack Hart, Representative Brian Wallace and Councilors Bill Linehan and Mike Flaherty. Construction equipment, debris and field patching needed much attention.
Earlier this week Senator Hart called MWRA officials to their construction site at Moakley Field near and on LL Diamond #1. The MWRA pledged immediate clean up of their site and promised to repair any damage to the baseball diamond. Permanent field repair will be scheduled after the season.
All four elected officials tossed out the ceremonial first pitch simultaneously. All hit the mitt for a called strike!
Families eligible for federal and state fuel assistance can use those benefits to help pay utility bills. They are urged to apply immediately before the end of the Fuel Assistance application period on May 16.
This year the highest fuel assistance benefit for the poorest families is $1,165. Those with a total household income at 200 percent of the federal poverty level or below are eligible (approximately $41,000 in total income for a family of four, for example). They can call the ABCD Fuel Assistance Hotline at 617-357-6012 for specific information. They are also urged to contact their utility provider as soon as they receive a shut-off notice to attempt to work out a payment plan.
The average unpaid utility bill across the state is approximately $1,000, but ABCD sees many families with arrearages of $2,000 and $3,000 due to this year’s extremely high energy costs and an unrelenting, cold winter. Massachusetts utility companies report that the total amount owed them exceeds $100 million. Many families report that they are terrified at the pending loss of electricity or gas and wonder how they and their children will survive without lights, hot water, heat and other necessities that require electric power.
ABCD President/CEO Bob Coard called the situation “a human disaster” and called on Congress and the President to provide emergency disaster relief and to fully fund the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at the $5.1 billion level at which it was authorized in 2005, but it has only been funded at the $2 billion level every year since then.
“The fuel assistance program has been chronically underfunded and now with energy costs through the roof, we have a human disaster as severe as any tornado, flood or hurricane,” he said. “With oil at more than $4 a gallon we need emergency funding for fuel assistance so that families with sick, elderly and small children are not without a means of heat, light, and hot water. It is outrageous that hard-working American families are facing this situation.”
Coard said that people have nowhere to turn and utility shut-offs could force many of them into homelessness in a system where shelter beds are already filled to capacity.
“People are facing this catastrophe through no fault of their own,” he said. “We have working families - some with a parent working two and three jobs ñ and their total monthly income is about $1,100. How can they pay for these soaring energy bills on top of rent and food in the high-priced Boston economy?”
ABCD Fuel Assistance serves approximately 18,000 households in Boston, Brookline and Newton. Approximately 40 percent of those families are elderly or disabled and about 12,000 of them heat with electricity or gas.
In her 12 years as a Club member, Greer has found many positive things to participate in, including serving as a Junior Staff member in the Club’s aquatics department and Keystone Club, a teen leadership program.
Outside of the Club, Greer serves on the Mayor’s Youth Council and the Institute of Contemporary Art’s Teen Council; volunteers at Samaritans, a suicide prevention program; and is a senior at Boston Latin School, where she works as a sports writer on the school newspaper and makes academic achievement a priority.
“I used to be shy and uncomfortable with others, but when I joined Keystone Club in the ninth grade, it was a turning point for me. I am very happy with the person I am today, and I believe I owe it to the South Boston Club. I’m looking forward to college because real learning for me is going somewhere completely new and different, and making that place as comfortable as my home in Boston.”
“Greer displays the characteristics we instill in our Club members and encourage in their lives,” said Kate Croteau, Teen Director at the South Boston Club. “She is a remarkable teenager who shows respect, talent, responsibility and positive attitude in all of her actions.”
The Youth of the Year program recognizes the teen Club member who most exemplifies excellence in the following areas: responsibility to home and family, moral character, community service, scholastic achievement and diversity of school activities, service to Club, ability to plan for the future and set goals, poise and public speaking.
In addition, the judges take into consideration any significant obstacles the youth has had to overcome. The nomination process requires two essays from the applicant, along with letters of support, and an interview.
Each of BGCB’s five free-standing Clubs selects a local Youth of the Year. The judges, who committed their time, hard work and thoughtful consideration, selected the BGCB Youth of the Year from among the five finalists. The judges were: Andrea Baptiste, a previous contestant on “The Biggest Loser,” and an advocate for youth and fitness; Felipe Martinez, owner of Astro Imagine, which donates office supplies to BGCB; and David Bergeron, a former NFL player who is now designing youth football programming for BGCB.
“Throughout her life, Greer has worked hard to excel and has faced obstacles with poise and strength of character. Her maturity, strong moral compass, and desire to help others have made her an outstanding Club member and a role model for her peers,” says Linda Whitlock, BGCB’s Nicholas President and CEO. “All of us at BGCB congratulate her on being named Youth of the Year, an honor that is well-deserved.”
Other teens honored as their Club’s 2008 Youth of the Year are: Hector Kilgoe, Charlestown Club; Patricia Orellana, Jordan Club, Chelsea; Maya Scott, Blue Hill Club; Jakeen “Keeny” Cobb, Yawkey Club
Greer will represent BGCB at the Massachusetts state Youth of the Year competition.
Five regional winners were selected from among the state winners to compete for the national honor in Washington, D.C., where the National Youth of the Year will be officially installed by the President in a White House ceremony in September. In addition, the winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship from The Reader’s Digest Foundation, sponsor of the program since its inception in 1947. The national program is administered by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA).
In order to be eligible for a scholarship all applicants must either reside or attend a school in South Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan or Jamaica Plain. In addition, applicants must be planning to attend a tuition-based high school, college or job development/training program in the Fall of 2008.
On the occasion of Mt. Washington Bank’s 115th birthday, it has increased its university and college awards to $2,000 and $1,000 for students planning to attend a tuition-based high school or job development/training program. The application selection process is done by a panel of educators and the scholarship award winners will be notified by mail.
“We are pleased to have our efforts to inform citizens about the good things happening in our city recognized for their production quality,” Mayor Menino said. “Our literacy program, Read TV and Cooking with Kirk, which focuses on family nutrition, are valuable tools to help Boston residents.”
Read TV is a monthly literacy program developed through Mayor Menino’s ReadBoston initiative, whose mission is to have children in Boston reading on grade level by the time they complete third grade. The episode nominated was taped on location at Fablevison Studios in the Boston Children’s Museum. Author/Illustrator Peter Reynolds joins host Sarah Farbo to read two of his books; “The Dot” and “ISH.”
Mr. Reynolds graciously allowed his animations to be incorporated into the program. Cooking with Kirk is an educational nutrition and cooking program hosted by Boston Public Schools Chef Kirk Conrad. These programs stem from Mayor Menino’s plan to make school lunches healthier and appetizing to Boston Public School students. Cooking with Kirk is produced in cooperation with Boston.TV, Boston Public Schools, the Boston Public Health Commission and is taped at the Rustic Kitchen studios on Stuart Street in Boston. Episodes are aired on Boston City TV and webcast on Boston.TV and the city’s website, www.cityofboston.gov. Food for all productions is provided by Whole Foods Market.
Boston City TV is the city television service featuring city news, announcements and notices as well as public affairs and educational programming on Comcast Channel 24 and RCN's Channel 3. Boston City TV features a number of regular public affairs programs designed to inform Boston residents, including:
• About Health with Jeanne Blake
• Mayor Menino’s Game of the Week
• Read TV
• Cooking with Kirk
• Daily updates of City notices and community activitiesAnyone can develop skin cancer! More teenagers and young adults are being diagnosed with skin cancer than ever before. This includes a rise in the deadliest form of skin cancer -melanoma.
“We want to raise awareness of malignant melanoma and urge Americans to regularly examine their skin for signs of this serious form of skin cancer,” said Dr. Stephen Werth, dermatologist. “Skin self-examinations consist of periodically looking over your body for any changes in the size, color, shape or texture of a mole, the development of a new mole or any other unusual changes in the skin. Any of these signs should be reported to a dermatologist or personal physician right away.”
Caritas Carney invites the public to take advantage of this free screening on Tuesday, May 20, from 5:00-7:00 pm, in the Ambulatory Care Center Area C, basement level. Pre-registration is required by calling our Caritas DoctorFinder line at 1-800-488-5959, ext. 175.