Sociedad Latina is investing a recently-won $50,000 grant into expanded mental health and wellness programming for Latino youths and families. The organization is the first winner of the new $50,000 William L. Boyan award and grant, presented by Children’s Hospital Boston. “We’re very honored. We are a leader in working with children about health....
Breakthrough!: Recent Research from the LMA
A First Step to Curing Deafness A first step to a possible cure for genetically caused deafness has been taken by a research team co-led by Children’s Hospital Boston’s Dr. Jeffrey Holt. The sense of hearing is produced by tiny hairs inside the ear. The hairs move when hit by sound waves and turn...
NU dorm moves forward
Northeastern University (NU) continues to work on finalizing the GrandMarc at Northeastern dorm project despite two ongoing lawsuits aimed at halting the project. “Hopefully, we’ll have a deal done in the next several weeks,” said John Tobin, NU’s vice president of city and community affairs. “We’re working hard on the financing right now.” The...
Court: Legal immigrants get health coverage
Legal immigrants cannot be removed from the state’s low-income subsidized health insurance plan, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled Jan. 5, ordering the state to restore a $150 million budget cut. Local state Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez said the decision “validated” his longstanding concern that the cuts violated the state constitution. “I’m happy and excited,” Sánchez...
Tattooed man robs bank
A man with a Chinese symbol tattooed on his neck robbed the Bank of America at 1620 Tremont St. this week, according to the Boston Police Department. The man entered the bank around 9:45 a.m. on Jan. 9 and gave the teller a note claiming he had a bomb. “Do it now. I’m not...
Eight win ‘Harmony’ scholarships
Eight Mission Hill residents were awarded $500 scholarships for post-high-school education by the local Harmony on the Hill project at a Nov. 19 ceremony. The winners included: Esohe Amadin, Shante Clark, Ian Cotterell, Dominique Cotton, Lynette Crosby, James Morgan Thames, Laura Pizarro and Walter Pultinas. The awards were presented at a Tobin School ceremony...
State primary election date shifts
This year’s state primary election has been moved to Sept. 6 after the original date conflicted with a Jewish holiday. The election had been slated for Sept. 18 under the usual pattern of holding it on the third Tuesday in September. But officials belatedly noticed that day will be Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New...
Girls charged with robbery
Two teenage girls were charged with unarmed robbery for allegedly stealing a cell phone on Dec. 14. The victim reported that she was grabbed from behind while walking on Huntington Avenue near Parker Street. Two girls allegedly were involved and stole the victim’s phone. An unidentified man reportedly tripped the victim when she tried...
Rep. Fox wins award
State Rep. Gloria Fox was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) at its annual conference in Chicago last month. “I am happy to know that my hard work is being recognized nationally,” said Fox, who represents part of Mission Hill, in a press statement. The NBCSL...
Obituary: Bruce Wallin, NU professor
Bruce A. Wallin, of Jamaica Plain, aged 63, passed away on Dec. 29, 2011 after a short battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Vickie and two daughters, Anne, 15, and Eva, 11, and a sister, Barbara Lynch. He was born in Amsterdam, N.Y. In 1990, he moved to Boston to join...
Editorial: Fund the T like a treasure
Pay more and get less. That’s the pitch the MBTA is making to riders as it struggles to fill a $161 million operating budget deficit. It’s a draconian budget. Fare hikes that outpace anyone’s pay increases. No transit for people who work weekends or for tourists to and from the suburbs. A high impact...
Editorial: Seize the Year
The year 2012 is here, and very little can be said with certainty about what events it will hold. Except this: An ancient Mayan god will not return to destroy the world, contrary to a surprisingly popular superstition. More sophisticated thinkers point out that end-of-the-world stories are metaphors for changes in belief systems. They...
Hill Happenings
Belated condolences to the family of lifelong Mission Hill resident Winifred Dunn, who passed away in November at 94. Winifred was a beautiful woman who leaves four children, including Boston Police Officer Richie Caulfield. Winifred was married to George “Sonny” Dunn, a Mission Hill oil delivery man in the ’50s and ’60s. Sonny was...
What’s Happening on Main Streets
By Richard Rouse The New Year is proceeding in Mission Hill and a special note of thanks goes to all the businesses owners who ramped up the holiday decorating on their storefronts. The neighborhood looked great. Well done to Flann O’Brien’s, Mission Café, Squealing Pig, Penguin Pizza, Tremont House of Pizza, Brigham Circle Diner,...
What’s Up, Jan. 13-Feb. 9
The deadline for What’s Up listings is noon, Feb. 7 for the Feb. 10 issue. Email listings to news@missionhillgazette.com. Meetings MBTA fare and service changes Meeting. Thurs., Jan. 19, 6-8pm, Roxbury Community College, 1234 Columbus Ave. Info: mbta.com. LMA Forum, Mon., Jan. 23, 6:30pm, agenda & location forthcoming. Info: lfogerty@masco.harvard.edu. Meeting to discuss the...
Participación, Jan. 13-Feb. 9
La entrega para la sección de Participación es mediodía 7 de febrero para la edición 10 de febrero. Escribir news@missionhillgazette.com. Reuniones Los cambios al MBTA. Jueves, 19 de enero, 6-8pm, Roxbury,1234 Columbus Ave. Info: mbta.com. Foro de LMA, Lunes, 23 de enero, 6:30pm, One Brigham Circle. Info: lfogerty@masco.harvard.edu. Comité de crimen de Mission Hill,...
FinComm investigates school move
Updated The Boston Finance Commission (FinComm) is investigating Boston Public Schools’ (BPS) funding of a plan to open two new schools in the former Agassiz School building. “We are going to look at how the funding decisions were made and whether there is enough money for the renovations,” FinComm Director Matt Cahill said. BPS...
School move fight continues
Boston Public Schools’ (BPS) plan to move the Mission Hill K-8 School to Jamaica Plain was approved by the school committee Nov. 15. But opposition remains strong among parents, advocates and neighborhood residents. Fenway High School, which is scheduled to move into Mission Hill K-8 and New Mission High School’s current building at 67...
Vandalism payback fund starts up
A new $5,000 fund will pay Mission Hill residents back for vandalism to their property. The “restitution fund” is being paid for solely by local colleges. But there is dispute over whether it is an admission by the colleges that some of their students are vandals—including in cases where no suspect is caught. “The...
Holidays in the Hospital
While most people celebrate the holiday season with family and friends, some are restricted to a hospital room. Many hospitals—like the Longwood Medical Area’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC)—take matters into their own hands in trying to create a festive atmosphere in the midst of beds and...