Thursday, July 31, 2014

State Representative Candidate Celeste Ribeiro Myers Calls for Three Public Debates in East Boston

(EAST BOSTON, MA July 31, 2014) —Celeste Ribeiro Myers, candidate for Suffolk County’s State Representative seat in the First District, today invited her opponent, Rep. Carlo Basile, to participate in three public debates or forums leading up to the Nov. 4 election. In a letter to the Basile campaign Thursday, the Myers campaign called for three public debates: one focusing on development in East Boston, another chosen by the Basile campaign, and a third debate covering a variety of topics.

“Voters should know where we come down on issues affecting East Boston and have the opportunity to hear our respective visions for this community, which no doubt differ in many ways,” the letter states.

The letter also requests a meeting between representatives of each campaign to finalize debate topics and discuss possible sponsors, venues and formats, and asks the Basile campaign to respond by next Wednesday.

Myers, a lifelong East Boston resident, is known for leading the ballot question campaign group No Eastie Casino, which successfully defeated a proposal to site a casino at Suffolk Downs in East Boston on Nov. 5, 2013. (Basile opposed an area casino as a candidate in 2007 but vigorously supported casino plans in the run-up to the vote).

Earlier this month, Myers asked Basile to join her in rejecting campaign contributions from special interest groups, including lobbyists. The Basile campaign has not yet responded to the request to take the “people’s pledge.”

Myers’ robust platform includes plans to give residents more say in how Eastie develops; transportation improvements; job creation and economic development; health; and equality and inclusion for all. Check out her entire platform at www.celesteforeastboston.com.

Source: Steve Holt, 617-447-6519

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Festival Italia set for August 22 and August 23 in Wakefield

(WAKEFIELD, MA, July 30, 2014) Festival Italia, a two-day community-wide event, will be held on Friday evening August 22 and Saturday afternoon August 23, 2014. 

Friday, August 22nd 6:00 pm at the Sheraton Colonial North Hotel located on Audubon Road in Wakefield: You will experience an evening of fine cuisine provided by top area restaurants along with a cash bar, dessert table, music, dancing, raffles and a door prize.  This is 21+ event, and tickets can be purchased at the Wakefield Daily Item (Mon – Fri) and Smith’s Drug (Mon – Sat).  This event was sold out last year.

Saturday August 23rd 2:00-8:00 pm in downtown Wakefield (portions of Main St. and Albion St. will be closed to traffic):  Downtown Wakefield will become Little Italy.  The Event Planning Committee (EPC), organizers of this annual event, promises the vibe of an authentic Italian neighborhood street festival without having to leave Wakefield.  There will be food from local eateries, street vendors, entertainment, four live bands, beer garden, wine vineyard, meatball contest, shopping, and a host of children’s activities. 
Go to www.wakefieldepc.com to view updates on the event. 

Wakefield Festival Italia

Fire on Webster Street in Jeffries Point section of East Boston

Globe: Fire rips through three buildings in East Boston



Firefighter walks back from fire scene on Sumner St. (7/30/14) Photo credits Eastboston.com



Monday, July 28, 2014

Stand For Democracy and Don Berwick for Governor Campaigns Agree to Work Collaboratively in the Fight Against Casinos


Leaders from both Stand For Democracy and Don Berwick for Governor campaigns met last week to discuss the repeal of the 2011 Expanded Gaming Act. Both organizations have agreed to work collaboratively towards repealing the commonwealth’s casino law and promoting Berwick’s stance as the only candidate opposed to casinos and supporting the repeal. “We have taken a close look at all of the gubernatorial candidates and their stance on casinos in Massachusetts. Don Berwick’s position against casinos is the only one in line with that of Stand For Democracy”, said Pedro Morales, one of the founders of Stand For Democracy.

Stand For Democracy is an organization that emanates from the successful 2013 anti-casino campaign in East Boston. “Don was inspired by the ability of grassroots activists to take on powerful corporate interests in the East Boston casino referendum. It is exciting to collaborate with some of the leaders of that movement, and we look forward to working together to promote Don’s position on this crucial issue around the state,” said David Marsh of the Berwick campaign. A schedule of joint events will be released shortly.  

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Friends of the East Boston Greenway With the East Boston Greenway Council Meets on July 24, Thursday

Thursday July 24, 2014
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
East Boston YMCA, 215 Bremen St.

1.  Introductions and Welcome  

2.  Greenway Safety and Security Update 
•  Boston Police Dept. –Community Service Officer Simons, District A-7

3.  Continuing the Greenway
•  Wood Island Link Section “Greenway Connector,” Massport (invited) 
-  Soft opening expected Wed. July 23
-  Community opening celebration – date and plans?
•  Narrow Gauge Section to Constitution Beach, BRA (invited)
- Permitting progress, project status and updated 2014 timeline

4.  Programs & Volunteers
•  Youth Conservation Corps – Teens working mornings on Greenway through 8/15
•  Seed Share open at EB Library, Seed Saving Workshop Sat 6/26 12:00pm
•  NEW! Cooking workshops with BNAN and EB Ashley St YMCA 
Tuesdays 8/5, 8/19, 9/9 5:30 – 7:00pm
•  Boston Parks Dept Open Space Plan Meeting: Wednesday, August 6, 6:30 p.m.
Paris Street Community Center, 12 Paris Street

5.  New Business

CALENDAR OF MEETINGS
All meetings on 4th Thurs at East Boston YMCA, 215 Bremen Street at 6:30 p.m.
Upcoming meetings: 
August T/B/A;  Thurs. Sept. 25;  Thurs. Oct. 23

Source: Candace Cook

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

July 16: Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association Meeting; BRA to present

July 16th 7pm at the Jeffries Point Yacht Club.
 

This is a very full meeting, and all residents are welcome to attend and participate.
 

Agenda:

BRA Article 80 presentation, BRA staff- this is an opportunity for residents to learn more about the BRA Article 80 process and for the JPNA to learn more about being involved.
 

254 Sumner Street, formerly Dollar Rent a Car- rehabilitation to school and office facilities for East Boston Neighborhood Health Center
 

320 Maverick Street, currently an empty lot, development of an article 80 residential facility
 

135 Bremen Street, formerly Paul's Low Cost Airport Parking, a mixed use development including commercial space and 94 proposed residential units. (informational)

Monday, July 14, 2014

Parks Department announces Open Space Plan Meetings: East Boston meeting set for August 6

The City of Boston is preparing a new citywide Open Space Plan for the years 2015 to 2021.  As part of this effort, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department developed and launched a survey questionnaire to enable the public to provide input about their park use and preferences.

The Parks Department will be holding a citywide series of public meetings from July 21 to August 14 to discuss the results of the survey.  With this information the Parks Department is developing a multi-year integrated plan for open space protection and development.

Public participation is crucial to the success of the Open Space Plan and the key ingredient to helping us make our parks and open spaces better.  The Plan looks at all public open space, regardless of ownership, including parks, playgrounds, squares, malls, urban wilds, community gardens, cemeteries, greenways, trails, thoroughfares, and harbor islands.  The Plan will also look at demographic and socio-economic data for how the use of open space can be affected in the future.

As part of the data collection process, an environmental inventory is being compiled enabling natural areas to be targeted for protection and stewardship in a priority plan. Natural features of our parks, rivers and harbors, wildlife, geologic features, soils, and vegetation become part of this truly comprehensive Open Space Plan.

Open space advocates, parents, caregivers, and all users of Boston’s parks are invited to attend these meetings.  Dates and locations are as follows. 

6:30 p.m. 
Wednesday, August 6; 6:30 p.m.
Paris Street Community Center
12 Paris Street, East Boston

Wakefield to hold 5th Annual Festival Italia Aug. 22-23


Visitor Center and Museum Meeting set for August 4, 2014

Monday, August 4th, 6:00PM, Maverick Landing Community Room.  Please come with your ideas.

Maverick Marketplace Receives Prestigious Award From Boston Preservation Alliance

EAST BOSTON - The 2014 Boston Preservation Alliance Awards have been announced. Among the 10 high profile, big budget projects that received the award year is an unusual entry from a local husband and wife team using their own funds and labor.   

The owners of Maverick Marketplace (the former East Boston Welfare Building at 154 Maverick Street), John and Melissa Tyler, are proud today that their renovation this building has been recognized by the BPA.

The competition was fierce. According to the BPA this years entries were "our strongest group of nominations in the Award's twenty-six year history". The Alliance selected winners based on their "outstanding contributions to preservation and the character of Boston's built environment".

"Recognition of the hard work of our team that completed this two-year renovation is important to us" said John Tyler. "I am really proud of my wife, Melissa who was not only the vision and driving force of this project but also the General Contractor in charge of the day-to-day work on the building".

"The award is really a great accomplishment for our neighborhood project", said Melissa Tyler. "But what really makes us proud is the 17 new businesses that call the building home. They are generating jobs and wealth for their families on a corner of Maverick square that had been abandoned and empty for 24 years".

In a joint statement John and Melissa Tyler said "We wish to thank the City of Boston's Department of Neighborhood Development, and First Priority Credit Union whose faith in us enabled this project to go ahead and allow us to show that small, local developers can invest in their communities and produce huge results.  We would like to thank our elected officials who helped support this project from the initial Request For Proposal, to zoning and permitting and to occupancy permit. Most of all we would like to thank the community of East Boston that visit the building and do business within it."

Other winners this year include Liberty Mutual's headquarters in Back Bay, the LogMein Headquarters in Fort Point Channel and the North Bennet Street School in the North End.

Previous years winners include the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stuart Gardener Museum extension and the new Spaulding rehabilitation hospital facility in Charlestown. Previous winners from East Boston include the Sumner Street Firehouse that houses Zumix and the Barnes School at 127 Marion Street.



On the first floor retail level, the Maverick Marketplace building houses:

    Hugisses Gift shop, specializing in handmade invitations, gifts and designs
    Shirley's Boutique, specializing in women's clothing imported from Colombia
    On/Off Computer and cellphone repair and service
    Inner Harbor Jewelers, watch repair and sales, custom jewelry creations and repair
    Adri's custom tailoring and alterations
    Amistad shoe repair
    Marketplace cafe offering organic coffees, teas and breakfast and lunch and (perhaps one day beer and wine!).

The second floor houses:

    Atlas travel agent and translation services
    Webtilia website design and consulting
    Didi's Spa, providing massage and other spa services
    Adonis MD cosmetic surgery service and consulting
    On/Off computer classes
    Babbling Brook tuition for all school age groups.
    Maverick Square Acupuncture
    Tax Center tax preparation services
    Accord counseling and mediation service
    Super Cargo shipping service

The third and fourth floor of the building house two apartments.

The Preservation Achievement Awards Ceremony will be held Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at historic Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston.

Source: 154 Maverick newsletter

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Basile Statement on Boston's Surrounding Community Agreement with Mohegan Sun

East Boston, MA (July 10, 2014) - Democratic State Rep. Carlo Basile released the following statement on the Surrounding Community Agreement Boston Mayor Marty Walsh signed today with Mohegan Sun:

"I am disappointed that the Massachusetts Gaming Commission insists on moving forward with issuing casino licenses before the people get a chance to vote this fall, but since they insist on moving forward, I am confident that Mayor Walsh got the best deal he could for the people of East Boston. 

"There are many points within the agreement that will benefit our community, but I am especially happy to hear of the $30M which will spent in East Boston specifically. I am also happy with the proposal to retain the voice of the people and the call for another vote should there be any gaming development proposed in East Boston. 

"I want to thank Mayor Walsh for his leadership on this difficult issue and for protecting the interests and preserving the voice of the people of East Boston."

Source: Kevin Franck via email

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Politics 2014: State Representative Candidate Celeste Ribeiro Myers Challenges Opponent to Refuse Special Interest Donations

(EAST BOSTON, MA, July 8, 2014)—Celeste Ribeiro Myers, candidate for Suffolk County’s State Representative seat in the First District, today committed to refusing campaign donations from special interest organizations and political action committees and challenged her opponent to do the same. In a letter to Rep. Carlo Basile, Myers also asked the incumbent to join her in refusing donations fron groups and organizations with a special interest in legislation before the House of Representatives.

“By joining together in this ‘people’s pledge,’” she wrote, “we will send a message to voters over the coming months that we are beholden to only them, rather than any outside special interest groups.”

Lobbyists and special interest organizations have given millions to candidates across the Commonwealth in an effort to influence their legislative priorities. Myers notes in her letter to Basile that East Boston has seen numerous groups attempt to impose their will on the neighborhood over the years and specifically cited the almost $3 million spent by Suffolk Downs and Caesars Entertainment leading up to their unsuccessful casino referendum in November. And with a question on the ballot that could repeal the 2011 casino law, millions more are sure to pour into East Boston and throughout the state in the coming months from casino companies and their lobbyists.

“I know you’ll agree that East Boston is a special place, a place where residents are invested in our community and know what is best for ourselves,” she wrote. “As we saw at the polls last November, voters here are savvy and do not fall for the messages from outside groups attempting to impose their will on us. They are disgusted with special interest money, its influence and how it undermines the democratic process because they have seen it in this community, across the state and across the nation.”

Myers, a lifelong East Boston resident, officially kicked off her campaign for State Representative on June 26 at an energetic event with more than 150 supporters on-hand. Former state Secretary of Transportation James Aloisi introduced Myers at the event, lauding her political courage and urging East Boston residents to send her to the State House. Myers is known for leading the ballot question campaign group No Eastie Casino, which successfully defeated a proposal to site a casino at Suffolk Downs in East Boston on Nov. 5, 2013. (her opponent, Basile, opposed an area casino as a candidate in 2007 but vigorously supported casino plans in the run-up to the vote)

Myers’ robust platform includes plans to give residents more say in how Eastie develops; transportation improvements; job creation and economic development; health; and equality and inclusion for all. Check out her entire platform at www.celesteforeastboston.com.

Media Contact: Steve Holt, 978-494-6109 

Source: Myers Campaign 7/8/2014