St. Francis House and Mayor Marty Walsh Welcome Hundreds of Poor and Homeless to Thanksgiving Dinner

BOSTON, November 26, 2015 –St. Francis House hosted its XX Annual Thanksgiving Day luncheon meal with support from Boston Bruins Matt Beleskey and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. More than 350 of Boston’s poor and homeless guests enjoyed their meals “restaurant style” with the assistance of more than 45 volunteers.

Boston Bruins Left Wing Matt Beleskey continued the Bruins Annual Thanksgiving Pie Delivery, visiting to deliver over 50 donated Mike’s Pastry pies for the Thanksgiving meal, and assisted in pre-slicing several pies.

Mayor Marty Walsh visited St. Francis House, met with guests and volunteers and assisted in carving turkeys. The Mayor’s annual visit has long been a special highlight for St Francis House guests.

"Thanks to local organizations like St. Francis House, many residents of Boston will receive a Thanksgiving dinner surrounded by family and members of the community," said Mayor Walsh. "When we work together to spread goodwill and service throughout our city, we are making a difference in the lives of others. I thank all the staff members, participants and volunteers at St. Francis House for going above and beyond to lend a helping hand to those in need and ensure that every person in Boston has a happy Thanksgiving."

“I volunteer because it's the way I was raised. My parents volunteered a lot and I guess it rubbed off on me. Plus I am blessed with having time in my life to help others in need.” said volunteer Chris Hobein of East Boston. “Most of my immediate family lives halfway across the country and I work every day this week except Thanksgiving. I couldn't get home to see family so this is a great way to spend Thanksgiving. My family knows that volunteering is an important part of my life so they love to hear that I'll be at St. Francis House on Thanksgiving.”
       
To feed Thanksgiving dinner to so many of our city’s citizens, it takes:

* 48 turkeys (750 lbs.)
* 150 lbs of mashed potatoes
* 120 lbs of vegetables
* 130 lbs of stuffing
* 750 rolls
* 50 gallons of apple cider
* 75 pies

About St. Francis House
Located in the heart of downtown Boston, St. Francis House is the largest day shelter in the Commonwealth, serving more than 600 poor and homeless men and women a day, 365 days a year. St Francis House provides basic, rehabilitative and housing services that overlap and build on one another to provide guests with continuous and comprehensive care.

Source: St. Francis House

Letter: Gove Street Citizens Association a long established group

Long time East Boston activist Mary Ellen Welch defends the Gove Street Citizens Association in a letter to the editor.

The GSCA is a strong neighborhood group. 

This letter is sent to correct misinformation in an article in the last issue about the Gove Street Citizens Association.  The article describes the Association as “a sort of splinter group of the Jeffries Pont Neighborhood Association.” This is not true.

The Gove Street Citizens Association operated for 35 years as a strong, effective neighborhood group representing the Mount Carmel area.  The GSCA worked very hard on many issues over the years. It organized residents about the issue of a third harbor tunnel when the route was along the railroad right of way and then at the foot of Jeffries Point through the Jeffries cove. Working with the Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association the groups lobbied the Governor and other state officials to have the tunnel surface on the airport.

The Gove Street Association worked for many years   on airport impact issues like noise and air pollution. The group lobbied at City Hall and at the State House to get the airport to implement noise abatement techniques and soundproofing of homes and schools.  All the while the GSCA worked together with other neighborhood groups making the neighborhood voice a stronger one.

Both of these neighborhood groups worked with the City to improve the zoning rules in this end of East Boston.  The idea was to control institutional expansion and allow the kind of development that would enhance the residential quality of the neighborhood. Both areas had historic overlay districts designated in parts of their areas to preserve some of the unique history of the sub neighborhoods.

During the 35 year operation of the GSCA many other ideas and issues were brought up for discussion and action. The Mount Carmel area was very strong and organized around neighborhood issues. They were recognized by all levels of government and earned the respect of all the elected officials and government agencies.

When the City was forced to close the police station and a firehouse because of severe budget cuts the East Boston citizens rallied at the tunnel for 61 days to protest the closings. The GSCA was one of the neighborhood groups to recruit volunteers to march in the protest. To have an active citizen organization to watch over a section of a neighborhood makes the whole neighborhood a stronger one. There is more information able to be circulated among the neighbors on small and large issues. 

An informed citizen is an empowered one.

After 35 years the leadership of the GSCA decided to slow down and work within other organizations to do community work. In recent months with so many new development proposals surfacing in the neighborhood it became evident that more work and citizen involvement was necessary to protect the integrity of the neighborhood. So the old leadership and the newer neighborhood residents decided to revive the GSCA as a mechanism through their voices could be heard on important issues, so, the Association reintroduced themselves to the local and State officials and to developers in the neighborhood.  Of course the intention is to work with all the other neighborhood groups on issues that affect all sections of neighborhood.  Particular attention is to be paid to the local issues in the Mount Carmel area so each voice is heard and opinions are heard and respected by all who want to do business in the area.

The community is made stronger and more effective with more people and opinions involved in decision making for their immediate neighborhood. So, the GSCA is a healthy, invigorated group of residents who only want the best for their neighborhood.
Perhaps the newspaper could reach out to the leadership and membership of the GSNA to better understand the philosophy and ideas of this strong neighborhood group with a proud history.

Sincerely.

Mary Ellen Welch

Tonight! Big Meeting on Massport Plans for More Parking Spaces at Logan

November 14: Rally for Jude, diagnosed with breast cancer

Rally for Jude!

Saturday November 14, 2015, 5-10PM
Jeffries Point Yacht Club
565 Sumner St, East Boston MA 02128

Jude was diagnosed with breast cancer at only 35 years old. With no sick leave we are coming together as a community to throw a fundraiser to assist with medical and living expenses.

• Live music by local band We Die Young and DJ John Ciampa
• Food donated by various local restaurants
• Door & Raffle Prizes to be given throughout the event

COME SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
$10 entry & various raffles starting at $5

Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association Meeting agenda for November 9th 7pm

Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association
Meeting agenda for November 9th 7:pm
Jeffries Point Yacht Club
565 Sumner st.

Agenda - 

Announcement from Treasurer Matt Barison

Police update

14 Murray ct.  - Vote.  Atty . Richard Lynds
303 Sumner st. - Vote  . Atty .Richard Lynds
289 Marginal st. - Vote .   Atty. Diane Modica
5 Lamson street - Vote
Loftel - Update & Vote.   Jon Serra

Massport expansion of terminal E  - Anthony Guerriero

Composting in East Boston - Jordan Smith
Boston Home Center - Rob Consalvo
Solar Energy - Matt Rosa

Presentations will be posted on line for upcoming votes.  We encourage people to review in advance.

Justin Pasquariello,East Boston Resident Named One of Ten ‘Outstanding Young Leaders’ by Boston Chamber of Commerce

Justin Pasquariello addresses attendees at the Boston Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Ten Outstanding Young Leaders Awards at the Westin Waterfront Hotel October 29. 

(BOSTON - October 30) Justin Pasquariello, executive director of Children’s HealthWatch, was honored last night as one of the Boston Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Ten Outstanding Young Leaders (TOYL) at the Westin Waterfront Hotel. Pasquariello and the other young leaders were nominated by members of the community and selected by a committee of Chamber members for their talent and various contributions to the region. Children’s HealthWatch, founded at Boston Medical Center, is a nonpartisan network of pediatricians, public health researchers, and children’s health and policy experts committed to improving children’s health in America.

Pasquariello also is the founding executive director of Silver Lining Mentoring and currently serves on the organization’s board. In addition, he serves on the advisory board of the Taubman Center for State and Local Government at the Harvard Kennedy School, and previously worked as a nonprofit consultant with the Bridgespan Group.

Past recipients of the Chamber’s TOYL Award include President John F. Kennedy, conductor Leonard Bernstein, business leader Jack Connors, Jr., and community advocate Carol Fulp.

From left to right: James E. Rooney, president & CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Justin Pasquariello, and Antoinette Antonio, anchor, WCVB-TV and the Emcee of the awards ceremony.