FMC Sports to hold meeting on Porrazzo Rink time

PUBLIC ICE MEETING SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

The general public and rink users welcome to attend ice allocation meeting

EAST BOSTON, MA The general public and current rink users are invited to attend the annual ice allocation meeting for the Porrazzo Rink on Thursday, April 19.

The meeting will take place at 5:00 PM in the lobby of the arena and will touch on the allocation process for ice time, review the 2017/18 season, and discuss the upcoming 2018/19 season.

The Porrazzo Rink is located at 199 Coleridge Street in East Boston, MA 02128 and is a public ice skating facility managed by FMC Ice Sports.


About FMC Ice Sports:

Facility Management Corporation is an innovative leader of public recreational facility management, specializing in ice arena operations. FMC has been operating community ice arenas since its inception in 1992. The primary focus of the company is the development and expansion of affordable skating opportunities and the extension of the operating season at the ice arenas, providing year-round programming to local skating enthusiasts. For more information, please go to www.fmcicesports.com or call 1-888-74-SKATE.

Source: 

Lauren Altmeyer                    
Phone: 888-74-SKATE x5057    

Ward 1 Republican Committee to meet on April 3

Boston Ward 1 Republican Committee
East Boston, Massachusetts

East Boston Republicans will meet Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at Jeveli’s Restaurant at Day Square in East Boston.  The meeting will begin at 6:00 p. m.  East Boston voters registered as “unenrolled” or as Republicans are encouraged to join us at this meeting.  

Discussion at the meeting will be about the Massachusetts Republican Convention in Worcester in late April.   

For more information please call Chris Morton at (617) 569-4075 or e-mail us at ebrwc@yahoo.com.  

East Boston Community Calendar (Under Construction)

Gove Street Citizens Association to meet on March 26

Gove Street Citizens Association Monthly Meeting: 
Monday, March 26, 6:30-8:30pm
The Noddle Island Community Room– Logan Airport Rental Car Center


Boston Planning and Development Agency 
The BDPA community planning staff will discuss their role in the community planning and development process and will answer questions residents might have about the community planning and development process. 

Community Preservation Act 
Kannan Thiruvengadam, member of the Community Preservation Committee, will briefly discuss the Community Preservation Act which funds historical preservation, parks and affordable housing and how one can apply for funding. 

Project Presentations

1. 173-177 Maverick Street (formerly DeAngelis Bakery) 
A complete rehab of three buildings into a proposed occupancy of a single retail space and 9 dwelling units. Attorney Richard Lynds 2nd presentation/VOTE to be taken

2. 128 Gove Street/Mt. Carmel 
A proposal to demolish the existing structures on the Mt Carmel property and to build new housing structures on the vacant lot on Frankfort Street for a total of 115 units. Project consists of 50% condos and 50% rentals. Attorney Jeff Drago, presenting updates/No vote 

3. 28-30 Geneva Street,  Attorney Jeff Drago, 1st Presentation/No Vote

Location: The Noddle Island Community Room is located on the first floor of the Logan Airport Rental Car Center, situated at the end of Porter Street. Free event parking in front of the building and in the Porter Street parking lot adjacent to the building.

LOCATION - The Noddle Island Community Room located on the first floor of the Logan Airport Rental Car Center situated at the end of Porter Street. Free event parking in front of the building and in the Porter Street parking lot adjacent to the building.

LOCATION - The Noddle Island Community Room located on the first floor of the Logan Airport Rental Car Center situated at the end of Porter Street. Free event parking in front of the building and in the Porter Street parking lot adjacent to the building.

April 14: "I Migliori Awards Banquet" honoring the best Italian Americans in our midst

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances the location of this event  on April 14 has been moved to

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton
Cambridge -Boston
400 Soldiers Field Road

Boston

On behalf of the organization's president, Dr. Dean J. Saluti, Vice President, Pirandello Lyceum recently announced the recipients of this year's Pirandello Lyceum "I Migliori Awards." 

The award recipients this year (along with their sponsors) are:

• Bradley Austin Pennington,  by Domenic Amara, President's Award, Music;
• Dr. Frances R. Mazzaglia, by Domenic Amara,  Higher Education;
• Cynthia Pasciuto,  by Marjorie Cahn, Law;          
• Richard DeVito, by Dr. Dean Saluti, Medical Publishing;
• Matthew Conti, by Philip Frattaroli, Business;   
• Anthony Amore,  by Maria Capogreco, Literature; and
• Vincent Basile,  by Frank Conte,  Criminal Justice.

The Master of Ceremonies will be John Nucci,  a former I Migiolri recipient -- presently a member of the Massport Board of Directors and Senior Vice President for External Affairs for External Affairs at Suffolk University.

The banquet honoring the recipients will take place on April 14, 2018 at the above address.

The event begins at 6PM for cocktails, with dinner at 7PM. 

Tickets are $80. 

Please RSVP right away to Dorothy Maio at 781-245-6536/ sfmaio8391@aol.com or Maria Capogreco at 617-567-1233/ mcapogreco@aol.com. For more information, please call 617-285-6565 or email pirandellolyceum@aol.com.

April 12: East Boston Social Centers Pizza and Comedy Night at Prince Restaurant

This just in from Marisa DiPietro

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your continued support of the East Boston Social Center!  We are planning our Annual Spring Fundraiser, a Pizza and Comedy night at Prince Restaurant in Saugus, to be held on the evening of Thursday April 12th, 2018. We are looking forward to seeing you and sharing a great night of laughs, pizza and friendship.

As you know, East Boston Social Center (EBSC) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit multi-service agency that has served the children, families, and senior citizens of East Boston since its founding in 1918. That’s 100 years!  Stay tuned for our Anniversary Gala later this year.

Net proceeds from the Pizza and Comedy night will support EBSC programs, which serve over a thousand members of the East Boston and surrounding community each year. EBSC provides fully licensed and accredited Early Learning and After School programs for children ages two months through fourteen years, free after-school programming for at-risk teens, a Summer Program, as well as nutritional and social and recreational programming for the elderly, and community space for advocacy, self-help and community groups.

Please fill out and return the attached form by April 5th to reserve your tickets to this fun event.  The ticket price of $35 per person includes all you can eat cheese pizza, free soft drinks and a hilarious comedy show.  There are also other menu items available for purchase and a cash bar.  We look forward to seeing you on April 12th! 

You may also purchase tickets online: https://www.ebsoc.org/news-events/

 Your participation and donations are a very important part of our fundraising efforts.  Our fundraiser and raffle will help to raise funds that will allow us to continue our work in the community.  The projected attendance is approximately 200 people. Raffle donor names will appear on the event program, raffle prize list, and follow-up publicity.

If you have any questions, please call me at (617) 569-3221 ext. 107, email at mdipietro@ebsoc.org  - or contact any of our Board members.

Thank you for your continued generosity to the East Boston Social Centers and the community of East Boston.


Sincerely,


Marisa Di Pietro

Development Director

East Boston Social Centers

March 21: JPNA Planning & Zoning Agenda

Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association P&Z Agenda 
March 21st 7pm
Jeffries Point Yacht Club
565 Sumner Street

Agenda: 

• 159-165 Everett Street- proposal to combine lots and erect a 9-unit residential dwelling with parking for 4 vehicles.  Att. Lynds.
• 283 Webster Street-  proposal to extend living space into the basement of existing 3 unit dwelling and add rear decks and roof deck.  Att. Lynds.
• Narrow Gauge Lots- Continued discussion of potential development on four vacant lots between Maverick and Everett, Everett and Sumner, Sumner and Webster and Webster and Marginal.     Att. Lynds.
• 238 Webster St -  2nd appearance.   Demolish existing building and erect 9 residential units with 8 parking spaces. Atty Drago.
• 30 Orleans St -  New construction on lot.   4-family. Joy Street Design.  3rd appearance with changes.
• 9-14 Webster Ave.  Mark Lacasse - Complete gut renovation of existing structures of 11 and 15 Webster Avenue and erect additional unit on each to create a 4th unit on each.  Vacant lot, 9 Webster Avenue to erect 3 units. (Making it a total of 9 units with no parking since Webster Avenue is a private way and no parking allowed.

Save the date: 10th Annual Breakfast Fundraiser

SAVE THE DATE
10th ANNUAL
BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER

Thursday, May 17, 2018
7:30 am – 9:30 am
       
Tickets $25 – Tables $250

For information & sponsorship opportunities, 
please contact Anita at 617-567-0863

Funds raised will go to support  our Summer Camp Program 

Event Location

Salesian Boys & Girls Club
150 Byron Street, East Boston

Guest Speakers to be Announced

SalesianClub.com   facebook.com/salesianclub

East Boston Democrats elect delegates to State Convention

Registered Democrats in East Boston held a caucus at the Salesian Boys & Girls Club on March 10, 2018 to elect nineteen (19) delegates and four (4) alternates to the 2018 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, where Democrats from across Massachusetts will gather to endorse statewide candidates and amend the Party Charter. 

The Convention will be held on Saturday, June 2nd at the DCU Center in Worcester. 

The ten (10) female delegate elected were: 

• Teresa Polhemus, 
• Jacqueline Brangiforte 
• Karen Buttiglieri, 
• Alexis Kenney, 
• Debra Cave, 
• Gladys Oliveros, 
• Margaret Farmer, 
• Liana LaMattina, 
• Claudia Correa and 
• Lydia Edwards.

The nine (9) male delegates elected were: 

• Joe Ruggiero, 
• Anthony Gesualdi, 
• Jason Ruggiero, 
• Daniel Sibor, 
• Braulio Felipe, 
• Jeff Mathieson, 
• Jeff Thomas, 
• Thomas Briand and 
• Ed Coletta. 

There were also four (4) alternates elected and they were:

• Michael Othmer, 
• Matt Cameron, 
• Giordana Mecagni and 
• Madeleine Steczynski.

The following Massachusetts Democrats shall serve as ex-officio Delegates to the Convention with full voting privileges: 

• Adrian Madaro, State Representative, 
• Carol Aloisi, Treasurer Democratic State Party, 
• Gabriela Coletta, State Committeewoman, and 

Michael Sulprizio, Chairman Ward 1 Democratic Committee. 

In the spirit of inclusion, youth, minorities, and people with disabilities who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be add-on delegates, either at their caucus or online at www.massdems.org 

For more information on the caucus or the committee please contact Michael Sulprizio at Msulprizio@comcast.net / 617-438-0952 or check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ward1dems/ or follow them on Twitter @ward1demsEB.

Source: 
Michael Sulprizio.

What's Happening at the Library in East Boston this month

Check out what’s happening at the East Boston Branch Library

Family Story Time 
This weekly story time features books, songs, and movement. Tuesdays at 11:15 a.m. (runs through May 24. No story time on May 10). For ages 2-5 accompanied by an adult. 

Baby Lapsit 
Join us for bounces, rhymes, stories and activities. Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. (runs through May 25). For children under 2 accompanied by an adult. 


Countdown to Kindergarten Playgroup
Fridays at 10 a.m.
For children 1-5 years of age.Moms, dads, grandparents and other caregivers are welcome! Children will start to build on their school readiness skills.Para niños de 1 hasta 5 años. ¡Damos la bienvenida a los padres, los abuelos y otros adultos que cuiden a los niños! ¡Los niños comienzan a desarrollar sus habilidades de preparación para la escuela!


Need Homework Help?
Come to the library’s free homework help program. High school students help children in grades K – 8, Monday through Thursday from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
A Boston Public School teacher provides homework help on Mondays and Thursdays from 4 – 6 p.m. No registration is necessary. 


Drop-In Tech Help for Adults & Seniors
Mondays from 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Tech confusion? We can help! If you have questions about a laptop, Chromebook, Android or iPad tablet, Kindles and eBook readers, iPods, or about smartphones of all sorts, drop by with your fully-charged device and we can help you learn a new technique or trick to get your tech device working for YOU!


Yu-Gi-Oh Club -meets every Saturday from 1:30-3:30. 

English Conversation Groups Mondays at 6:30 and Tuesdays at 1 p.m.
Come practice speaking English with our conversation group.  It meets  meet on Mondays.These groups are free and open to the public.  No registration needed.


Monday Night Knit-in at the East Boston Branch Library
First Monday of the month at 6 p.m.
Unwind with your knitting at this monthly drop-in knitting session. Join us to meet new people, share ideas, get tips, learn from each other and have fun! Bring a project to work on. All skill levels welcome.

USCIS Information Session at the East Boston Branch Library
Thursday, March 22nd from 3-6
In this drop-in session, a USCIS (Citizenship and Immigration) officer will answer questions about immigration issues, including:
An Officer will provide information and answer your questions about: • Naturalization and Citizenship • Permanent residency •Immigration benefits •Avoiding immigration scams • Finding low-cost and safe legal advice NOTE: Staff will not address case specific inquiries. If you need case-specific information, call USCIS Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or visit your local USCIS office.


ESL Intermediate English Class
Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. -3:00 p.m.
This is an adult ESL Intermediate English class for people with some English experience. Registration is required. To register and for more information, please visit us, call 617.859.2446, or email literacyservices@bpl.org. Classes are free.

Karaoke Coding for Teens
Wednesday, March 7th at 5 p.m.
Join us in celebration of Teen Tech Week as the Rhode Island Computer Museum leads us in a coding workshop that uses portable mics and free coding software. Teens will use drag-and-drop "code blocks" and create interactive stories, animations, and sounds. By the end of the session, teens will have learned how to make their very own beat box.

Ready, Set, Start Your Seeds!
Saturday, March 10th from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Join Eastie Farm and the Bremen Street Community Garden to get ready for growing season. Plant seeds from our seed library, including leafy greens, veggies, and herbs. Take home your very own mini tray of good green growing things! For all ages!

Amulet and Good Luck Charm Workshop
Wednesday, March 14th at 3:30 p.m.
We will be creating small wearable bags of amulets and good luck charms.  Materials will be provided.  However, if you have a special trinket or charm of your own, bring it along and we can help you incorporate it into a wearable piece.  You are also welcome to add small notes of intention or inspirational quotes. For ages 6 and up


Let Freedom Ring! Music and Poetry of Black History
Thursday, March 15th at 6 p.m.

Bright Star Theater presents a powerful production that takes every audience member on a journey through African American history and culture. Follow the journey from Africa through slavery to the Civil Rights Movement and the powerful voices of today’s leaders. Hear Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Maya Angelou, and more. 


For information any of these programs, call or come in to the East Boston Branch Library, 365 Bremen Street, (617) 560-0271.

Councilor Edwards to honor Maverick Street Mothers through Annual Scholarship Fund

(BOSTON, March 6, 2018) - Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards kicked off March as “Women’s History Month” by announcing an annual scholarship paying tribute to the Maverick Street Mothers awarded to local parents attending Boston-area colleges. 

"In honor of Women’s History Month, we celebrate the contributions of leaders who continue to inspire us, whose shoulders we stand on, and who helped shaped the history of East Boston. Today, we celebrate East Boston advocate Anna DeFronzo and all Maverick Street Mothers for their activism in fighting against airport expansion in the 1960's,” said Councilor Edwards.

"Tomorrow, we want to make sure that their legacy is never forgotten,” continued Edwards. "Therefore, I'm proud to announce a Maverick Street Mothers Scholarship Fund to be given in the fall for local parents seeking assistance to attend college."

Maverick street mother and longtime community activist Mary Ellen Welch is excited to see the next generation of leaders receive support through Edwards scholarship. "It’s been on the minds of activists that we needed younger generations to take on causes that were so important to the community back then and that are still prevalent now," said Welch.

"Councilor Edwards’ scholarship will provide the opportunity for young people to learn the importance of standing up for what is right, formulating principals around neighborhood cohesiveness, and allowing communities to have self-determination."

The Maverick Street Mothers organized community protests in the 1960’s against the Massachusetts Port Authority and the proposed expansion at the time. The protest was widely publicized as both women and men from the community formed a blockade using baby carriages to stop construction and delivery trucks on Maverick Street.

In order to be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be a local parent and resident of East Boston and attending, or planning to attend, a Boston-area college within one year. Each applicant must supply a letter of recommendation and a typed essay of no more than five-hundred (500) words describing the importance of civic engagement and community activism. Semi-finalists will then be asked to complete and in-person interview.

To find out ways to support the Maverick Street Mothers scholarship fund, please call (617) 635-3200 or e-mail gabriela.coletta@boston.gov.

Source: The Office of Councilor Edwards 3/6/2018.


Editor's note: Here's the obituary of one of the original Maverick Street Mothers, Betty Mazzarini
--

March 8: Community Preservation Act discussion

On Thursday, March 8, the City of Boston will host an open forum for community members in East Boston to engage in discussions around the future of the Community Preservation Act (CPA) as it is implemented in neighborhoods throughout Boston. 

The new $20 million fund, established as a result of the passage of the Community Preservation Act in 2016, will support historic preservation, affordable housing, open space and recreation across the city. 

In July 2017, Mayor Walsh announced the selection of Christine Poff to serve as the Director of the Community Preservation Committee, which aims to shape the future of investments in Boston's neighborhoods with funds contributed through the Community Preservation Act (CPA).

This event is being hosted by City Councilor Lydia Edwards, State Senator Joseph Boncore, and State Representative Adrian Madaro.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 8, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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

For more information and to stay up-to-date on CPA in Boston, please visit:  www.boston.gov/community-preservation