Community journalism

Dorchester, Dorchester, Dorchester: All Good

rsiasoco — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:12:02 -0400

Three things that reinforce my decision to live in the Dorchester community: Dot2Dot Cafe ( I’ve been waiting for a cafe to open up in Dorchester since I moved here three years ago); DotOut at the Dorchester Day Parade; and the Revitalization of Dorchester Ave.

Girl Meets Mass.

pierce — Sun, 18 May 2008 17:59:03 -0400

Generous tax breaks have made our fair city into the Toronto of the US and made Hollywood faces a not uncommon site around certain restaurants.

So does our Sunset Blvd. stretch all the way to Worcester? If so Perez Hilton may have found our Viper Room, where TV's Topanga, Danielle Fishel, got all Britney last night......

Seen this dude?

adamg — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:58:38 -0400

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).

Attending the Civic Summit

rossoduck — Sat, 03 May 2008 17:16:23 -0400

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!

Online tools for community organizing

adamg — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:11:25 -0400

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/

the zak — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:41:14 -0400

http://localgovwatch.blogspot.com/

http://bplmarathon.blogspot.com/

the zak — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:09:34 -0400

http://bplmarathon.blogspot.com/

High Times Magazine Publisher and Founder of NORML Go To Trial For Boston Pot Bust

MikeC — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:03:30 -0400

"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.

Engine 48, Ladder...in repairs

Cleary Squared — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:50:59 -0400

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.

Public libraries reference desks protocols outwardly but in an intimidating mean manner.

the zak — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 13:43:19 -0400

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.