Health Center offers free career advancement classes and health information workshops!

(EAST BOSTON, MA — January 11, 2012) Start the New Year off on the right foot! Beginning this month, the Education and Training Institute of the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC) will offer free career advancement classes and health-information workshops to the residents of East Boston, Revere, Winthrop, Chelsea, and Everett.

Starting on January 18, the East Boston Harborside School will provide free General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes during daytime hours at the Education and Training Institute at 155 Addison Street in East Boston. Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to develop your potential! To find out about hours and to register, call 617-635-5115. 

Other sessions to be offered this year include certified nursing assistant (CNA) training, financial literacy and math classes, job placement training, a disability rights workshop, and many health education topics.  Most courses are offered in English as well as Spanish, and participants do not need to be EBNHC staff members or patients in order to attend.

While the Education and Training Institute is commonly known as a training facility for EBNHC employees, the goal of the Institute is to help the community in other ways beyond traditional health care services. “We are pleased to have great partners working with us, like the Harborside School, to help provide valuable resources to our neighboring communities,” said Steven Snyder, Vice President of Education and Training at EBNHC.

The Institute isn’t limiting itself to the typical continuing education courses, either. “We are also planning to offer some really interesting and fun topics to get community members together at the Institute,” said Snyder. “Our schedule includes a presentation on the great history of Revere Beach and another on the history of immigration in our community.”

The East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC) has been a vital part of the community for over 40 years, providing easily accessible, high-quality health care to all who live and work in East Boston and the surrounding communities of Chelsea, Revere, Everett, and Winthrop. EBNHC handles 300,000 patient visits per year—more than any other ambulatory care center in New England.

For more information about the Education and Training Institute and upcoming offerings, call 617-568-6444 or visit www.ebnhc.org.

CONTACT:
Joanna Cataldo
Education and Training Institute
East Boston Neighborhood Health Center
cataldoj@ebnhc.org; 617-568-6444

Source: EBNHC

Chamber to install new officers on Feb. 9 at Spinelli's

This just in from the Chamber of Commerce:


2012 INSTALLATION of the NEW OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS CEREMONY & DINNER

President Diane J. Modica
First Vice President  Pat Todisco, III

Second Vice President  Marisa DiPietro

Third Vice President Scott Heigelmann

Treasurer  Kim Altschul

Secretary Joanna Cataldo

New Board Members:  Phil Giffee, Michael Sulprizio and Bobby Martin.

Existing Board Members:  Sal Amico, Rodrigo Angulo, Robert Indresano, Christopher Pachios, Maureen Ferris

Outgoing Members: Joe Zirpolo, Franz Israel, Scott Warren and President Neffo Cappuccio

Thursday, February 9, 2012
Spinelli’s
282 Bennington Street, East Boston
6:00PM
$30

Reservations are required, please call 617-569-5000 or e-mail at Eden@eastbostonchamber.com
175 McClellan Highway (Rt. 1 A), Suite 1, East Boston, MA 02128  Tel: (617) 569 5000

www. EastBostonChamber.com

Local Big Sister celebrates one-year anniversary with Little Sister

East Boston (January 10, 2012) — East Boston resident, Big Sister Kim Stanhouse and her Little Sister Amanda, of Revere, recently celebrated their one year anniversary.   

Big Sister Association of Greater Boston asks for a minimum commitment of 12 months in their Community-Based Mentoring program, though many of our Big and Little Sister relationships last for several years, and even develop into lifelong friendships as the Little Sister becomes an adult. Research has shown that mentoring relationships lasting at least one year, particularly for girls, result in more positive outcomes in a girl’s social-emotional development, academic performance, and ability to make healthy decisions.  

 The success of the relationship is a direct result of the volunteer’s commitment and the professional assessment, training, and support the volunteers receive from the agency’s social work staff.  Big Sister wishes to congratulate Stanhouse on making a difference in the life of her Little Sister as a caring, supportive friend and mentor.

About Big Sister Association of Greater Boston

Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, founded in 1951, is New England's leading advocate for the healthy development of girls. They are the only mentoring organization in Massachusetts that combines the established, research-based practices of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America with a gender-specific lens proven to increase positive outcomes for girls. In 2011, Big Sister mobilized 200,000 volunteer hours to mentor 2,956 girls in Boston and inspire them to excellence in school, at home, and in the community. For more information about Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, visit www.bigsister.org .

East Boston Family to Present Donation to Boston Medical Center

2011 Deep Freeze Hockey Tournament raised $2,000 for BMC cancer support services

(Boston) – On Thursday, Jan. 12, members of the Anthony Family from East Boston will present a donation to Boston Medical Center (BMC) for its cancer support services. The $2,000 was raised during the two-day East Boston Deep Freeze Hockey Tournament, held in December that featured the high school hockey teams from East Boston, Newton South, Swampscott and a combined St. Clement, Medford-Pope John, Everett team.

The Anthony’s are long-time supporters of BMC and, over the past seven years, have raised more than $20,000 for BMC by hosting numerous events in their community.

Robert Anthony, who is the coach of the East Boston High School hockey team, founded the East Boston Deep Freeze Hockey Tournament in 2006 to increase breast cancer awareness in honor of his wife, Jacki, who is a breast cancer survivor and a patient at BMC. 

Thus far, the funds raised have supported survivorship services at BMC, including funding for mastectomy prostheses and bras for underinsured women.

Another annual event organized by the Anthony family is Strike Out Cancer Baseball Tournament, which raises money for colon cancer research and cancer support services at BMC. This event was established in 2009 by East Boston High School administrator Phil Brangiforte and his wife, Carrie Anthony, who is a colon cancer survivor, a BMC patient and the daughter of Robert and Jacki Anthony.

IMG_1959 (L-R) – Dr. Amy Fallon from Boston Medical Center’s department of hematology and medical oncology and Jacki Anthony.

  

Dr. Chris Andry presented a letter of thanks from Boston Medical Center (BMC) President and CEO, Kate Walsh, to the Anthony family, who presented a $2,000 donation to BMC from their annual East Boston Deep Freeze Hockey Tournament.  The money will go to BMC’s cancer support services.(L-R): Robert Anthony, Jacki Anthony, Carrie Brangiforte (all from East Boston) and Dr. Chris Andry, executive director of cancer care services at Boston Medical Center

  

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News: East Boston Chamber of Commerce 2011 Election Results

The election results from the East Boston Chamber of Commerce are in.

New England Patriots Matthew Slater and Kevin Faulk to Visit East Boston High School on Dec. 9

Patriots Participating in ‘Training Camps for Life’ With Verizon Foundation and NFL Players Association  to Encourage Students to Help End Teen Relationship Violence

BOSTON – New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater and running back Kevin Faulk will visit East Boston High School on Friday (Dec. 9) to educate students about healthy teen relationships and how to prevent teen relationship violence, as a part of Verizon’s Training Camps for Life initiative.  Some 400 students are expected to attend.

WHO:     Slater and Faulk will speak as will retired Patriot and  East Boston High School alumnus Jermaine Wiggins; and retired Washington Redskin Pete Kendall, a football standout at Boston College.  They will be joined by Willis Whalen, manager of player services of the NFL Players Association; Ted Bunch, co-founder of A CALL TO MEN, an organization committed to ending violence against women; and Verizon’s Donna Cupelo.

WHAT:    Training Camps for Life is a half-day, NFL-star-studded event addressing topics suc as overcoming adversity, decisions and consequences, and healthy teen relationships.  At the end of the event, Slater will lead the students in taking the LIVERESPECT pledge, a commitment to end teen relationship violence and speak out against abuse.  Training Camps for Life is a partnership between the National Football League Players Association, A CALL TO MEN and the Verizon Foundation.

WHEN:    Friday, Dec. 9;    2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.;  Full agenda available upon request. NFL players and others will be available for interviews after they speak.

WHERE:    East Boston High School, 86 White St. East Boston, Mass

Media contacts/RSVP:  Phil Santoro, Verizon;  617-743-4760; philip.g.santoro@verizon.com.

Save the Date: The Great Savio Reunion: Saturday, March 10, 2012

The Great Savio Reunion for all St. Dominic Savio High School and Savio Preparatory High School alumni will be held on  Saturday, March 10, 2012 at the Salesian Boys & Girls Club of East Boston (former Savio Gym, Savio Hall), 150 Byron Street, East Boston, MA 02128.  Read more about the reunion plans at eastboston.com 

East Boston Chamber to elect officers and directors on December 15

This just in from the EB Chamber of Commerce.

Notice of 2011 East Boston Chamber of Commerce Election of Officers & Directors

Officers:

(One to be elected, per each position)

President, Diane Modica, Law Office of Diane J. Modica

1st Vice President, Pasquale ‘Pat’ Todisco, Todisco Towing

2nd Vice President, Marisa DiPietro, East Boston Social Center

3rd Vice President, Scott Heigelmann, Heavy Advertising

Treasurer, Kim Altschul, East Boston Savings Bank

Secretary, Joanna Cataldo, East Boston Chamber Boston Neighborhood Health Center

Board of Directors:

(Four to be elected)

Pedro Cordano, Cordano Real Estate

Phil Giffee, Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH)

Bobby Martin, Piers Park Sailing Program

Mike Sulprizio, East Boston Community Development

The elections will take place at the Chamber offices at 175 McClellan Highway Suite 1, on Thursday, December 15, 2011 from 11:30am-2:00pm and also 4:30pm-5:30pm. (Candidates for Officers and Directors are typically present at this time.) 

All East Boston Chamber of Commerce members in good standing as of November 15, 2011, are eligible to vote. Good standing requires that members be current on their membership dues. Each member business of the Chamber is allowed one vote; however, Chamber by laws stipulate that any member who joined the Chamber after August 31 of the current year shall not be entitled to vote in this election; voting by multiple representatives of the same business is not allowed. 

Proxy voting and absentee voting are not allowed. 

All voting results will be counted and reported after 5:30 pm on Thursday, December 15, 2011, at the Chamber office; results will then be made available on the Chamber website and by phone call request as well.

A nominations committee is selected each year and is responsible for identifying candidates for the board of directors. This year, several members of the Chamber were recognized by the committee and invited as candidates, including: Citizen’s Bank, Meridian Insurance, First Priority, Cordano Real Estate, East Boston Community Development Corporation (CDC), Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH) , and  Piers Park Sailing Center.  As of the response deadline, November 10, four of these members, Michael Sulprizio of East Boston CDC Board of Directors, Robert Martin of the Piers Park Sailing Center, Pedro Cordano of Cordano Real Estate and  Phil Giffee of NOAH,  replied that they were able to accept candidacy for board service at this time.

Any other eligible candidates seeking to run for the four open Board positions are invited to run through the process for independent nomination outlined below. According to the by-laws of the East Boston Chamber of Commerce, any member of the Corporation that has been in good standing for a minimum of one year as of January 2010 may run for office by Independent Nomination. To be placed on the ballot for Director, independent nominees must obtain the signatures of at least ten (10) members of the corporation and forward them to the Chamber Secretary, Joanna Cataldo, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, 175 McClellan Highway, no less than 10 days prior to the day of elections on December 15, 2011.

Independent nominees for any of the Officer positions must meet the above requirements as well as have been a member of the Board of Directors for at least two of the previous five years. 

If you have questions regarding nominations, elections, or responsibilities of board directors, please contact Eden Smith, Executive Assistant of the East Boston Chamber, at (617) 569-5000.

For most part at-large status quo reigns in East Boston too.

Eastboston.com has the unofficial results of the At-Large race for Boston City Council in Ward 1. (PDF)

With the exception of Michael Flaherty's fourth place finish in East Boston, the election results in Ward 1 were very similar to the citywide totals for the four winning candidates. Ayanna Pressley who topped the ticket citywide finished fight in East Boston.

East Boston Main Streets to hold annual meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15

On Tuesday November 15, 2011 East Boston Main Streets will hold its annual meeting and it is open to the public.

(East Boston, MA. November 4, 2011) East Boston Main Streets will host its annual meeting on Tuesday November 15, 2011 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Main Street office; 146 Maverick Street East Boston. Board members will be on hand to answer questions and provide information on the activities and events the organization is sponsoring. All members are encouraged to attend. For more information call 617.561.1044 or visit www.ebmainstreets.com.

This post has been corrected.

East Boston High School to retire the numbers of Wiggins Coach Sousa

East Boston -- East Boston High School (EBHS) will retire the numbers of former NFL player Jermaine Wiggins (18) and retired football coach John Sousa (66) on Friday, November 4 at Sartori Stadium when the EBHS Jets host The English High School. 

More at eastboston.com.

Grateful for all those who helped residents displaced by 45 Chelsea Street collapse

The following letter was sent to eastboston.com from the office of State Representative Carlo Basile early today.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Dear East Boston Community:

On behalf of Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Senator Anthony Petruccelli, Representative Carlo Basile, and City Councilor Sal LaMattina, we express our gratitude for the support shown to the victims of the Chelsea Street building collapse. In total, 70 individuals were displaced and the residents of 45 Chelsea Street were left with only the clothing they wore while being evacuated.

Thanks to the financial support of our community, the families at 45 Chelsea Street each received over $4,000 to help replace their clothes, furniture, beds, and other belongings. The remaining money collected is being distributed to the families of 53, 43, and 41-39 Chelsea in the form of gift cards. This extraordinary outpouring of financial support—nearly $17,000 in cash or gift cards—is a testament to the strength of our East Boston community.

We especially want to thank the individuals and businesses that dug deep into their pockets to help these families, including: Richard Goldberg of Logan Communications; Richard Gavegnano of East Boston Savings Bank; John Zirpolo of Cora Electric; the Fields Family Foundation of Suffolk Downs; the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center; and McGladrey Inc.

We also want to thank all the businesses that stepped up to feed the displaced families including: Kelley’s Square Pub; Great Chef Chinese Food; Goody’s Catering; Italian Express Pizzeria; Meridian Food Market; and La Hacienda. Additionally, we want to thank DJ Chris Fiore and Balloon City for generously providing music and balloons at the fundraiser for the displaced residents. Finally, we want to thank the owner of 43 and 41-39 Chelsea Street, Jim Zarella, for going beyond his responsibilities as a landlord to house his tenants at a hotel for one week and for helping each of them to find new apartments.

It is said that in times of crisis, you can see the true character of a community. We are proud that East Boston has shown itself generous and resilient during this challenging time.

Thank you all.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino

Senator Anthony Petruccelli

Representative Carlo Basile

City Councilor Sal LaMattina

R.I.P. Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs is dead at 56, Apple Computer is reporting.

"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us that have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

There will never be another Steve Jobs. The man invented the idea of creative drive. He will be missed.

Dorchester Reporter: Vote should be citywide

Bill Forry's signed editorial in The Dorchester Reporter:

One aspect of the House bill that absolutely needs to be changed is a provision that would limit the rights of citizens in larger municipalities— like Boston— to have a voice in whether or not a casino is sited in their community. As it stands now, the bill would permit only voters of the ward of a city in closest proximity to a proposed casino to go to the polls to approve or shoot down the idea. In the case of Boston, with all signs pointing towards a likely site in East Boston on the current Suffolk Downs property, that would mean that only East Boston voters would be asked to make the decision about siting a casino in the city.|

State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz has filed an amendment to the Senate version of the casino bill that would require that all of the voters of a municipality will have a say. In the case of a Boston proposal, that would give us a chance to have a voice in whether our city welcomes a casino or not.

Chang-Diaz told the Reporter this week, “These consequences will affect all municipal residents, not just those within a few blocks’ radius of the casino. It’s only fair that all affected residents have an equal say in whether or not the positive impacts of a casino outweigh the economic and social costs to their cities.”

The senator has got it right. All Boston residents deserve a right to have a say in whether or not resort-style gambling sets up shop in our backyard.

Read the entire editorial from the Dorchester Reporter.  What do you think?

Learn about the branch library's programs

Over at Eastboston.com!

Opposition mounting to entertainment license for Taco-Mex

This email arrived today from Susan Van Tuyl, a resident of Maverick Square.

As a resident of Maverick Square I am sending you this notice as to the change in use of Taco-Mex.  Taco-Mex located at 65-67 Maverick Square, is applying for an entertainment license.  Given the history of the owner's previous venue with an entertainment license in Orient Heights (involving police and numerous arrests), this is not, in my opinion, the best thing for Maverick Square, especially neighboring residences.  Those of us that front on the Square already have to deal with the noise generated by Eddie C's.  Having entertainment on this side of the Square - directly below our windows - can only add to the disturbance.  The Owner of Taco-Mex has stated that the entertainment will only be one classical guitar. But that detail has been omitted from the petition to the Board of Appeal.

The hearing is scheduled at City Hall on September 20th, at 10:30 a.m.  If you have an opinion on this matter; if you have a concern, either for or against - just showing up at the hearing will have little or no affect - by then approval will be a done deal.  Opinions must be voiced to the Commission in advance.  The telephone number is 617-635-4775.  I will try to find an e-mail address.

ZUMIX 5K Run to the Beat ! Lace ’em up — let’s run.

This notice just in:

Run to the Beat 5K
Sunday, September 18, 9 a.m.
Piers Park
95 Marginal St.
East Boston, MA 02128

Description:
Come experience the race hundreds raved about last year – the second annual ZUMIX Run to the Beat 5K. Once again,  we’re running for ZUMIX, one of the city’s beloved music and arts nonprofits. We’ll start and finish in East Boston’s magnificent Piers Park, which offers expansive views of our city’s historic skyline and harbor that can only be described as … stunning. In between, enjoy our flat, fast course along Eastie’s wooded Greenway and two magnificent new parks. We’ve got prizes for the fastest runners, live music along the course, free food, and plenty of other goodies, T-shirts for runners and giveaways. Whether you’re running for time, fitness, charity, or all of the above, you won’t want to miss this fun-filled event.

For more information or to register online, visit www.zumix.org

Online Registration: https://www.signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/77742

Another success!

EBMS Kindergarten Parade a success! 

Eastboston.com is on vacation

Eastboston.com is honoring Labor Day by taking a few hard-earned days off. Coverage of local issues and news will resume on Sunday, September 4. Have a safe holiday weekend.