Friday, April 29, 2011

MIT students hold forth next week

Eastboston.com

MIT planning students have done their homework. They were all ears on how best to scope out the future for MainStreets. Next week they'll be presenting at three stakeholder meetings in East Boston.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Eastboston.com Friends of Orient Heights Branch Library Meeting 4/28

Friends of Orient Heights Branch Library Meeting 4/28:

Advance: Mark your calendars for NOAH's 'Trinity Treasures"

NOAH's 'Trinity Treasures' Event on June 22. More information is available at eastboston.com.

Spring Cleanup Slated for April 30

Spring Cleanup at Belle Isle Marsh is scheduled for Saturday, April 30th 9:30 AM — noon
Volunteers are welcome. Met Bayou Street near Fort Banks School Athletic Field. Park at the Belle Isle Cemetery near the Gorman-Ft. Banks School.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

The bad news

Globe:
Investors, already concerned about Europe’s debt troubles and fiscal policy in China, were jarred by the report. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 140 points, recovering somewhat from earlier in the day, when Standard & Poor’s revised its long-term outlook on US debt to negative from stable. The New York bond rating group said the American economy’s strengths still outweigh its risks, but, “we now believe that they might not fully offset the credit risks over the next two years.’’

Monday, April 11, 2011

EB Community Food Workshops “Stir a Memory” a huge success!

EAST BOSTON: Can you say “pupusa”!? Over 170 people gathered at the Harborside Community Center this past Thursday to celebrate food heritage at the “Stir a Memory” Community Food Series Workshop, sponsored by the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center.

An evening filled with art, food, and lots of chatter over memories, neighborhoods and health, this was one pupusa-sharing experience that feels sure to stick in everyone’s memory!

Artist Krina Patel discussing “food heritage” and her Stir a Memory project


Led by artist Krina Patel, workshop participants were encouraged to create food memory postcards that documented a particular connection to a food-related experience. Explaining her concept of “food heritage”, Patel stated that “Food - thinking about it, making it, eating it and sharing it with others - is a way of re-creating memories. When we recreate memories we ground ourselves. Instead of feeling alone in the world we feel connected.”

The cards quickly transformed individual experiences into a spontaneous public art project on a cafeteria wall, and sparked lots of chatting about yummy times gone-by!

"That’s what was neat about Stir a Memory," said Cait Van Damm, co-coordinator of the series. "The conversations that arise around our cultural and physical connection to food, whether that be in the context of a kitchen, a neighborhood, or faraway home. That’s what the Community Food Series is about."

Over a feast of pupusas, participants were treated to a cooking demonstration of the Salvadoran specialty by Mildred Alvarado of University of Massachusetts Amherst Ethnic Crops Program, followed by a discussion led by Community Servings nutritionist Meghan Ostrander.

Much like Patel and Alvarado, she believes that better health can be found through the embracement of traditional cooking at home.

The Community Food Workshop Series are an opportunity for discussion about food system issues relating directly to East Boston and provide opportunities for participants to get involved in urban gardening and public health initiatives. 

The series is sponsored by Healthy on the Block/Saludable en tu Tienda, an East Boston Neighborhood Health Center and Boston Public Health Commission initiative to increase access to fresh produce and whole grains in corner stores.

The next workshop, happening on Thursday, April 21, will be centered on “Food Justice 101”, and will feature the youth-led E3C crew (Environmental Chelsea Creek Crew) from NOAH.

A gardener-led “Container Planting” workshop will be happening on May 3. For more information regarding the Healthy on the Block/Saludable en tu tienda project or the Community Food Workshop Series, contact Cait Van Damm at 617-568-4028 or vandammc@ebnhc.org.

Source of this information: Email from Cait Van Damm (April 11, 2011).

Saturday, April 2, 2011

East Boston Main Streets adds 5 new board members

Five new volunteers join East Boston Main Streets board

On Thursday March 31, 2011 East Boston Main Streets held elections and added 5 new volunteer board members.

(East Boston, MA. 31-March-2011) East Boston Main Streets held elections on Thursday March 31, 2011 and added 5 new volunteer board members. Joining the board is resident and local realtor Phillip Gutowski, resident and the Director of Government and Community Affairs for Trans Metro Media, David Halbert, resident and Linguistic Specialist Marika Horsky, resident and owner of Tummy Toys, Melissa Tyler and last but certainly not least Mr. Albert” Buddy” Mangini who is a long-time fixture and active volunteer in East Boston. Three current members were reelected to the board; Dino Manca from Rapinos Memorial Home, Michael Moscone, Promotion Committee Chair, from East Boston Savings Bank and James Gleason, local resident, architect and Design Committee Chair.

Read more at eastboston.com.