East Boston Savings Bank Honors Board of Director Vincent D. Basile

(EAST BOSTON) On January 12th, the Board of Directors and the management team of East Boston Savings Bank joined Chairman, CEO and President Richard J. Gavegnano for a reception to honor retiring Board of Director member, Vincent D. Basile.

The reception was held at the Rosaria Steakhouse and Function Facility in Saugus.

Mr. Basile has served as the Corporate Secretary of Meridian Bancorp, Inc. (formerly, Meridian Interstate Bancorp, Inc.) and has been a Corporator of Meridian Financial Services, Inc. since 1977. Throughout his career, he was a self-employed Management Consultant, a Clerk of Meridian Financial Services and held the position as a Regional Administrator in the Massachusetts Office of the Commissioner of Probation. In addition to his career contributions, he proudly served his country as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Mr. Basile has been an Independent Director of Meridian Bancorp, Inc. since 2002 and has since served as a member of the Board of Directors for East Boston Savings Bank until December 31, 2015.

“Vinny has truly been an asset to the growth and success of EBSB throughout the years, and his years of dedicated commitment and service to the bank will continue to speak volumes within the communities that we serve, said Gavegnano.

Founded in 1848, EBSB is a proven community bank that offers products and services that meet the deposit and financing needs of both consumers and businesses.  And customers can rest easy knowing that their deposits are fully insured by both the FDIC and Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF). 

East Boston Savings Bank currently operates 29 full-service branches in the greater Boston metropolitan area, and offers a variety of deposit and loan products to individuals and businesses located in its primary market, which consists of Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk counties.

Board Member Vinny Basile honored upon retirement from East Boston Savings Bank board (L-R) EBSB Board of Director member Edward Lynch and Domenic Gambardella ; Chairman, CEO and President Rich¬ard J. Gavegnano; Vincent D. Basile; and Jim DelRossi.

Source: East Boston Savings Bank

Sept. 12: FMC ICE Sports & Porrazzo Arena invite you to our open house, come join the fun

FMC ICE SPORTS & THE PORRAZZO ARENA INVITE YOU TO OUR OPEN HOUSE

COME JOIN THE FUN!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12^TH

12:20PM-2:10PM

·         FREE FAMILY SKATE WITH AN ICE-SIDE DJ

·         APPEARANCE FROM FELIX MCCOOL, THE FMC ICE SPORTS MASCOT

·         FREE SKATE RENTAL AVAILABLE ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS

·         RAFFLES, ACTIVITIES, GIVEAWAYS & MORE!

·         $10 LEARN TO SKATE LESSON AVAILABLE! SEE BACK FOR DETAILS

TRY SKATING OUT!

$10 INTRODUCTORY LEARN TO SKATE LESSON

SEPTEMBER 12^TH, 12:20PM-1:00PM

PORRAZZO ARENA

For beginners ages 5 and older. Participants receive a $10 off coupon towards a future program registration. Skaters should wear long pants and sleeves, gloves or mittens. Helmets, such as a bike helmet or HECC helmet are required. Space is limited and registration may not be available at the door.

REGISTER TODAY AT WWW.FMCICESPORTS.COM OR CALL 1-888-74-SKATE

Statement of Ernani DeAraujo in support of the candidacy of Adrian Madaro

From Ernani DeAraujo:

I’m very excited to announce my support for Adrian Madaro to serve as our State Representative and am honored to be his campaign chairman.

Adrian has been my mentee since he was selected to be a John William Ward Fellow as a 17 year old at Boston Latin. He so impressed in his internship at City Hall--where he documented the environmental impacts of Logan on our community--that he was welcomed back to City Hall the next summer. Later, as a sophomore at Tufts University, he was unanimously chosen to receive the Ward Program’s DC fellowship and worked for United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. I recommended Adrian to the Board for the position of summer coordinator for the program--the youngest ever at the time--and he went on to create a summer speaker series for his fellow interns that had them personally meet with over a dozen congressmen, senators, and government officials--the highest number of meetings for the summer program ever.

When Rep. Basile asked me to refer a candidate to hire as his aide, I immediately reached out to Adrian who was a senior at Tufts and about to enter a Master’s program there in Public Policy and Urban Planning. Carlo offered him the job on the spot and Adrian quickly became the youngest Chief of Staff on Beacon Hill.  

It was as Chief of Staff that Adrian became my mentor. While I served as Mayor Menino’s Liaison to East Boston I worked hand-in-hand with Adrian to meet the needs of our community. As the campaign proceeds I will share with you many of Adrian’s accomplishments for East Boston, but here I want to focus on what he did for the families on Chelsea Street who were displaced by the building collapses. Adrian worked around the clock to help clothe, feed, and house the over 70 individuals who were suddenly homeless. One week into the disaster, temporary housing for 30 individuals was about to expire. I told Adrian earlier in the afternoon to go attend his class while I stay with the families that evening. Once I saw the tension and need of the families that night I became anxious and overwhelmed by the challenge and called Adrian to please come back and help me. The poor guy--who hadn’t slept or eaten well in two weeks--crashed his car passenger door into a pole as he rushed over. He showed up, as he always does, and proceeded to organize shelter for all the families. A week later, we had found housing for every single individual, raised thousands of dollars for the families in a fundraiser he coordinated, and facilitated the City’s emergency response to restore Chelsea Street to livability.

That’s Adrian: determined, brilliant, and selfless. East Boston needs a leader in the State House who cannot only serve the needs of our community--as Adrian has done so ably and at times extraordinarily in the past 4 years--but also someone with the vision and intellect to steer our neighborhood through this present of complexity and dramatic change. I’ve seen Adrian communicate with individuals of all classes, intellects, cultures, and ethnicities; I’ve seen him speak Italian and Spanish, and make himself understood to people speaking Arabic or Vietnamese; he’s designed creative posters for community events and written brilliant memos to argue for a particular policy or legislation.

Folks, our neighborhood is poised for great things. Adrian is the State Representative East Boston deserves. I ask that you not only support his candidacy but join this campaign to make East Boston great. Thank you.

Frank DiBona to serve as Campaign Manager for Joe Ruggiero for State Representative

(EAST BOSTON, January 11, 2015) – Today, Joe Ruggiero announced the hire of Frank DiBona to serve as campaign manager in his effort to run for State Representative for the 1st Suffolk District, representing East Boston.

“I’m thrilled to have Frank DiBona lead our team in this campaign,” said Ruggiero. “I’m impressed with his experience, but what he really brings to the table is an enthusiasm and work ethic that is unmatched. Frank is a strong organizer and an incredibly smart young man. He’ll be an incredible asset to our campaign.”

DiBona has previous campaign experience on the federal and statewide levels. He served as an Organizing Fellow for Ed Markey for U.S. Senate, responsible for volunteer recruitment and training for field efforts, targeting and canvass strategy, and voter identification. DiBona also contributed to field efforts for Elizabeth Warren for U.S. Senate, focused on voter persuasion, volunteer recruitment, and voter registration. In addition, DiBona served as field organizer, scheduler, and social media coordinator for Deborah Goldberg’s successful campaign to Massachusetts State Treasurer.

DiBona previously served as a legislative aide for State Representative Rhonda Nyman, where he managed all office operations in the Massachusetts State House and in the legislative district. In this role, he also: coordinated with state agencies to address constituent outreach; directed legislation and policy development; and created and executed communications strategy and products, including speeches, press releases, and social media and web presence. DiBona also served in an internship role for U.S. Congressman Bill Keating, involved with communications, research, and constituent response.

DiBona earned an Associate’s Degree in Social Sciences from Quincy College. He is also a recent graduate of George Washington University (GWU), where he received his B.A. in Political Science. At GWU, DiBona served as chair of the Phi Kappa Psi Philanthropy Committee, where he focused efforts on raising funds for veterans and their families. DiBona is a former member of the Phi Theta Kappa Academic Honor Society and the Gamma Beta Phi Community Service Society. He served as a volunteer for Teach For America, and a political journalist for Q.C. Voice student newspaper.

Joe Ruggiero declared his candidacy for State Representative for the First Suffolk District in December, representing East Boston. Joe is a lifelong East Boston resident and small business owner. He is an active member of the East Boston Chamber of Commerce and a recent appointee to the Downtown Waterfront Municipal Harbor Plan Committee. He has been a dedicated volunteer and leader for a number of youth-based organizations within East Boston, including the East Boston YMCA, East Boston Youth Basketball League, East Boston Little League, and the Archdiocese of Boston Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). In addition to his roles in youth mentoring and neighborhood business development, Ruggiero is an active member of St. Joseph & Lazarus Parish, and an active organizer of East Boston Substance Abuse Awareness Day and founding organizer of the Mayor's Annual Family Fun Day. To learn more about Joe Ruggiero and his candidacy, visit www.RuggieroforRep.com.

RBC Wealth Management contributes to ABCD Winter Emergency Campaign

For the 4th consecutive year RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) Wealth Management participates in “Keep Boston Warm” campaign donating to the ABCD Winter Emergency Campaign

BOSTON— For the fourth year in a row, RBC Wealth Management will participate in the “Keep Boston Warm” Campaign and deliver truckloads of coats, jackets and boots for distribution to poor families and seniors throughout Boston’s neighborhoods.

"On behalf of the employees of RBC Wealth Management in Boston, eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island we are proud to support ABCD through our 4th annual "Keep Boston Warm" winter clothing and fuel assistance drive” explained Paul J. Leyden, Boston Complex Director, RBC Wealth Management. “We know that our efforts are going to a good cause. ABCD does a great job of getting these winter clothing items we collected quickly into the hands of families in Boston that need them the most. We are proud of our connection with ABCD and hope our efforts will motivate other corporate citizens in Boston to think of ABCD during this extraordinary time of need. "

On Thursday, January 15 at 1PM RBC representatives will deliver donations to the ABCD central office located at 178 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02111.

“ABCD is so grateful to RBC Wealth Management for their ongoing support during these frigid New England winters,” said ABCD President/CEO John J. Drew. “The truckloads of warm coats, boots, comforters, and other goods that they are will go to homes where people desperately need help staying warm. The fuel assistance donation is critical in helping us respond to hundreds of emergency calls for oil from customers who have used up their benefits. We thank RBC from the bottom of our hearts.”

About RBC Wealth Management – U.S.:
In the United States, RBC Wealth Management operates as a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC. Founded in 1909, RBC Capital Markets, LLC. is a member of the New York Stock Exchange, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, and other major securities exchanges.  RBC Wealth Management has more than $281 billion of assets under administration and nearly 2,000 financial advisors operating in 200 locations in 41 states.

About ABCD:
ABCD serves more than 100,000 low-income Boston-area residents through its central offices and a decentralized network of Neighborhood Service Centers (NSCs), Head Start centers, Family Planning sites and Foster Grandparent sites. Programs and affiliations include Fuel Assistance; Head Start; Child Care Services; Child Care Choices of Boston; Education; Career Development; Housing and Homelessness Services; Health Services; Family Planning; Urban College of Boston; University High – an Alternative High School; Ostiguy High School for high school students in recovery; Weatherization; Foster Grandparents; Elder Services; Intergenerational Programs; management of the Combined Federal Campaign, Commonwealth of Massachusetts and City of Boston employee giving campaigns; advocacy and consumer services.

###

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

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

June 26: EB Greenway meets

Friends of the East Boston Greenway
With the East Boston Greenway Council

Thursday June 26, 2014
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
East Boston Branch Library, 365 Bremen St.
*Note special start time & location*


AGENDA
We will move through normal meeting business
followed by a history slideshow celebrating the Greenway effort’s 20 years!

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, Massport
    -  Construction completion update
    -  Community opening celebration – date?
•  Narrow Gauge Section to Constitution Beach, BRA
- Permitting progress, project status and updated 2014 timeline

4.  Programs & Volunteers
•  Youth Conservation Corps – Teens working mornings on Greenway 7/7 – 8/15
•  THIS SATURDAY! Sat. June 28, 10:30am: Greenspace Connections and Trees Walk in Jeffries Point. Meet at Piers Park entrance.
•  Seed Share open at EB Library

5.  New Business

6.  Greenway History Slideshow


CALENDAR OF MEETINGS
All meetings on 4th Thurs at East Boston YMCA, 215 Bremen Street at 6:30 p.m.
Upcoming meetings:
Thurs. July 24     August Mtg TBA     Thurs. Sept. 25
        Boston Natural Areas Network
        www.bostonnatural.org
        617-542-7696 • candice@bostonnatural.org

East Boston News: DiCara to discuss his book on June 9

He's a smart guy even though he may be right a little more than half the time!
East Boston News: DiCara to discuss his book on June 9

East Boston Shines: Community Clean Up, Saturday, May 10th at 9:00am

(East Boston, MA, May 5, 2014) – Come Volunteer to Beautify and Clean East Boston!  On Saturday, May 10th, East Boston Volunteers will join East Boston Main Streets at 9:00 a.m. at Maverick Square to kick of the 12th annual East Boston Shines Community Clean-up Campaign.
East Boston Main Streets is inviting volunteers to help clean up the neighborhood. Volunteers will meet at Maverick Square at 9:00 am on Saturday, May 10th to clean the streets, mulch tree pits, and plant flowers. We will then walk to Central Square and do the same.  Come join us – this is a family friendly event. 

Brooms, gloves, and T-shirts will be provided.   

For more details or questions please call Max Gruner, Executive Director of East Boston Main Streets at 617-561-1044.

EBMS is a non-profit corporation. Our mission is to create a more vibrant business district by initiating private and public improvements, promoting commerce, and supporting efforts to improve the quality of life for all who live, work and do business in East Boston.

Source: EBMS

Town Meeting about street safety for East Boston

This just in: 

In the wake of the multiple assaults in our community, concerned residents of East Boston have called a town meeting to discuss the recent assaults, ways to make a safer community, actions by elected and our police and to answer any questions that residents may have.
 
Please come this Thursday, March 6, 7:00 at East Boston High School, We look forward to your presence at such a difficult time in our community and look forward to your support in healing our community. Translation will be provided.

East Boston Malden Youth Hockey Week 13 Wrap-up

It was another great week of MEB Youth Hockey. It’s not too late to join our new session of Learn-to-Skate and Play Hockey, classes began on January 12th. For children ages 4 and over. The Hockey Clinic is a basic learn to skate, learn to play hockey program, for both boys and girls, with two one-hour practices a week. There are three levels taught; learn-to-skate, basic skills, and advanced skills. Wednesdays @ 6:00 pm and Sundays 11:30 am at: Porrazzo Skating Rink - FMC Ice Sports 199 Coleridge Street (at Constitution Beach) East Boston, MA 02128. See our website for details.

MITE K (5-8 Years Old)

Malden/East Boston 9, Methuen 9
Superskills, Tewksbury MA

The Malden/East Boston Mite team skated to a 9-9 tie with the Methuen Rangers on Saturday afternoon. MEB went down early 4-1 but kept battling back all afternoon. Jake Simpson scored 5 goals, Will Fosdick had the hat trick, and Chad Robertson added the last goal along with having 2 assists. Ryan Thomas kept MEB in the game all day making great saves late in the game to preserve the tie.

SQUIRT (9-10 Years Old)

Malden/East Boston 3, Belmont 6
Skip Viglirolo Rink, Belmont MA

PEEWEE (11-12 Years Old)

Malden/East Boston 6, Nashua, NH 3
Ice Palace, Burlington MA

The MEB Peewees took on the Nashua Panthers. The Mustangs struck first with a great up ice pass from Ronan Valarese to John Bernbaum who lit the lamp with 8:28 left in the 1st period. The Panthers fought back to tie it minutes later. The 2nd period saw an MEB breakdown as Nashua scored two fast goals to take the lead 1-3. Goaltender Kevin Ivany showed mental strength and shook off a tough few minutes. MEB found momentum behind Marc Giordano's end to end drive that finished with the bisket in the basket. Gio wasn't done yet as he passed on a rail to Corey Rufo to tie it up going into the 3rd period. The last period saw Gio tripped up in the act of one-timing a gift from Anthony Bocchino and a penalty shot that found the back of the net to take the lead 4-3. Gio picked up another goal with an assist by Rufo followed by Joe Melanson who picked up the puck in the corner and made his own opportunity. With that the Peewee's mark their first win of the season as they begin to gel as a team after a shaky first half of the season.

BANTAM AA (13-14 Years Old)

Malden/East Boston 5, Twin City 2
Ranger Rink Methuen, MA

BANTAM AAA (13-14 Years Old)

Malden/East Boston 1, Methuen 2
Ranger Rink Methuen, MA

MIDGET (15-18 Years Old)

Malden/East Boston 3, Jr. Crusaders 3
Navin Arena Marlboro, MA

If you or someone you know has a child who wants to play hockey, we have open enrollment. For more information visit http://www.mebhockey.com/ 
Email us your questions @ mebhockey1@aol.com
Like us on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/pages/MaldenEast-Boston-Youth-Hockey/179711587493
Follow us on Twitter @MEBHorsePower
Follow us on Instagram @ mebhockey

East Boston resident calls upon Suffolk Downs to withdraw casino application

East Boston resident and casino opponent Ernani DeAraujo criticizes City of Boston for embracing SD casino proposal without "due diligence."

"According to the Boston Globe, Caesars was disqualified because of alleged mob ties overseas. I think the ownership of Suffolk Downs owes the City of Boston and especially the residents of East Boston an apology for not doing their due diligence in selecting their "world class" partner and for trying to yoke us to a casino operator that is engaging in allegedly unethical and criminal behavior. This is a complete embarrassment for our City that embraced Caesars on Suffolk's recommendation and Suffolk Downs should say sorry and withdraw their application to end this fiasco."

Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation to present G. Washington Honor Medals on Nov. 9

Friends of the Belle Isle Marsh, Hospitality Homes of Boston, the Ipswich River Watershed Association, and Thomas Materazzo of Boston to be Honored at Ceremonies in East Boston

The Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge will present prestigious George Washington Honor Medals to two community environmental preservation groups and an organization that provides temporary housing to families visiting the City of Boston during a loved one’s medical procedure. The Chapter will also present a “Spirit of '76” Award for meritorious service and patriotism to a long-time veteran’s affairs official in the City of Boston.

The awards will be presented at the Bay State Chapter’s 33st Annual Awards Luncheon on Saturday, November 9, 2013, at 12:30 p.m., in Spinelli’s Banquet Facility, Day Square, East Boston. Tickets are $40.

The Honor Medal will be presented to: The Friends of the Belle Isle Marsh; Hospitality Homes of Boston; and the Ipswich River Watershed Association.

“The Friends of Belle Isle Marsh, Hospitality Homes, and the Ipswich River Watershed Association all represent the best ideals of America – selfless service to community, helping those in need and preserving and protecting our natural resources,” said Joseph V. Ferrino, Sr., Founder and Executive Director of Bay State Chapter, Freedoms Foundation. “We honor these organizations with the George Washington Honor Medal because they have made a difference in the lives of countless citizens around our state and across this country.”

Thomas Matarazzo of Boston will be honored with the Bay State Chapter “Spirit of '76” Award for his dedication to the good works of Freedoms Foundation, and his many years of serving and supporting military veterans in the City of Boston.

The Friends of the Belle Isle Marsh is a grassroots environmental organization, formed in the early 1980s to help preserve the marsh and publicize its importance as an urban natural resource. Belle Isle Marsh is a 350-acre reservation administered by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. Among the largest surviving salt marches in Boston Harbor, Belle Isle features plants and wildlife now rare to the Boston metropolitan area. The Friends of Belle Isle Marsh is a group of community-based volunteers who seek to protect the marsh from development and promote its environmental significance through educational and recreational activities available to the public.
 
Hospitality Homes of Boston provides free short-term housing in volunteer host homes and donated apartments for families and friends of patients seeking care at Boston-area hospitals. Since 1983, this unique home-away-from-home experience has brought a compassionate response, as well as emotional and financial relief to guests in need. These services are made possible by the generosity of volunteer hosts and supporters. Thirty years ago, Hospitality Homes was the first program of its kind in the nation, and since then, the organization has served more than 14,000 families.

The Ipswich River Watershed Association (IRWA) serves as a “Voice of the River” that was once one of the most stressed waterways in the country and is now being brought back to health and vitality thanks to the hard work and caring of its volunteers and professional staff. Through advocacy, education and conservation, the IRWA has improved stream flow in the Ipswich and saved the river. The organization has reached thousands of people through educational programs, inspiring people to enjoy the scenic beauty of the river and use its resources wisely. IRWA offers use of its canoe dock, sponsors fireside chats, develops school curricula and educational materials, offers programs on how to save water, supports low-impact development and water resource protection and trains citizen-scientists who help monitor the health of the Ipswich River.

Thomas Materazzo of Boston – the Spirit of ’76 Award winner – was the Commissioner of Veterans Services for the City of Boston for more than 27 years. He is a U.S. Army veteran who served in combat during World War II. As Veterans Services commissioner, he was instrumental in erecting memorials to those killed in action in the Korean and Vietnam wars, along with refurbishing the World War II Monument. He also initiated a program to award more than 200 high school diplomas to WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans who left school before graduation to join the service. He is a long-time member of the Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation and is a Past President of the organization.

Tickets to the Bay State Chapter awards luncheon are $40 and are available from Chapter Founder and Executive Director Joseph V. Ferrino by calling 617-846-2122.

Freedoms Foundation honors Americans who go above and beyond in their efforts to educate their communities about the values of good citizenship, either through teaching or by example. The foundation has recognized several thousand dedicated individuals and organizations in its 63-year existence.

Freedoms Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching all citizens the principles upon which our nation was founded. The organization seeks to convey the close link between the rights and the responsibilities of citizens in a free society.

Salesian breakfast a success

Eastboston.com has a few photographs from last week's annual Salesian breakfast.