It's the face of a suspect in three unsolved sexual attacks along the Esplanade and in South Boston last year, officials say.

State and Boston police and the Suffolk County DA's office released the sketch today of a man they say attacked a woman jogging on the Esplanade around 11 p.m. on July 29, 2007 and whom they believe is involved in a similar attack on June 16, 2007 near the Esplanade and on July 29, 2006 at Moakley Park in South Boston.

Each victim described her assailant as a clean-shaven African-American male in his mid-20s to mid-30s, standing 5'8" to 5'10". At the time of the attacks, he had a medium to large build and a bald head.

Officials say they are also looking for some specific people they believe may have witnessed the Back Bay attacker: A lone male present near an Esplanade footbridge around 11:15 the night of the Esplanade attack; A pair of bicyclists wearing helmets and cycling gear who were walking their bikes near the footbridges between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. on July 29, 2007 - whose presence prompted the attacker assailant to put his arm around the woman as if they were a couple; and a man and woman, both well-dressed and in their late 20s, who were near Joe's American Bar and Grill at the intersection of Dartmouth and Newbury streets between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m. that same day.

Info? Call the State Police at 617-727-6780 or the Boston Police CrimeStoppers tip line at 1-800-494-TIPS - or text the word "tip" to CRIME (27463).

Like Adam, I attended the Boston Civic summit today. I was pleasantly surprised. I posted an entry on my blog about it here: http://rosslevanto.blogspot.com/2008/05/boston-civic-summit.html

Enjoy!

I'll be at the Boston Civic Summit on Saturday, so if you're there, look for a bearded middle-aged guy wandering around with a perpetually worried look, a black laptop bag and camera and say hi. More specifically, I'll be participating in a couple of sessions in the morning (9:30 and 11, I think) on how community groups can contact the media (John Henning) and organize online (me, although, really, Joseph Porcelli should be doing this!).

Rather than printing out a gazillion pieces of paper, I'll point folks to this page, so here's a start at a basic online-organizing toolkit - essential things every budding community activist should know about. Feel free to add suggestions!

http://localgovwatch.blogspot.com/

http://bplmarathon.blogspot.com/

"High Times" Magazine Publisher Rick Cusick and
Keith Stroup Founder of the National
Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws (NORML) were arrested
for allegedly sharing a marijuana
cigarette on Boston Common in September 2007.

The two have refused the offer to dismiss the case with an apology.

The two and their defense team plan to challenge
the constitutionality of marijuana prohibition.

Their next court date is May 15th, 10AM, 24 New Chardon St., Boston. Press conference to follow.

On Saint Patrick's Day, Ladder 28 broke down and had to be taken to the maintenance and repair facility over on Southampton Street. Usually, the Boston Fire Department has plenty of spare ladders to send to the firehouses that need them...but as Murphy's Law would have it, they too were having problems.

Customers services.
Customers services at our cities' public libraries need continuing
improvement with more staff development opportunities and continuing
supervisory programs.

Teaching library.
Our cities' public libraries could be teaching libraries for the
library, archival, records management and information policy
professions in the same way medical centers are teaching hospitals
with many professional seminars and rounds as well as introducing
students to the professions, promoting the growth and development of
that interest.

Transparency.

I went down to Gary's today to show my support for The Phoenix, Gary's, alcohol, debauchery, sin, liberals, and whatever else the Bobby J. clan was protesting. There were more police than protesters, and it was unclear what the protesters were actually doing, as they used a pretty small font for their signs.

Upon closer inspection, and after wiping off the old eyeglasses a little, I saw what was not a protest at all ...

Turns out everyone loves a good escort advert! Hooray for West Roxbury!

"I want to shame them," Grossack said of attorneys Mark Harmon and Jason Greenberg. "They're not doing anything illegal. But it's not halachically correct, and it's not helping the Jewish community."