Hill Happenings

It’s nice to see Wayne Selden back in action for the Memphis Grizzlies. Wayne, from Mission Hill, has recovered from a leg injury and he scored a career high 31 points against the New Orleans Pelicans last week. Wayne is a great kid who honed his basketball skills at the Shelburne Community Center in Roxbury.

The Shelburne Center, incidentally, is named after John A. Shelburne, a great football and track star at Boston English High School a century ago. Shelburne was an All-American fullback at Dartmouth College in 1922, becoming the first black athlete at Dartmouth to receive such award. Shellburne played pro football for the Hammond Pros before becoming the director of the Robert Gould House in Roxbury.

There have been several great athletes, who were also role models from Mission Hill. Tom Earley, a Mission High School graduate in 1936, was a great pitcher for Mission. I recall many years ago talking to my friend, John “Abner” Keiley, who was Earley’s teammate at Mission High. “Earley had a great fastball and he was virtually unhittable,” said Abner, who played center field for Mission.          Earley went on to play five years in the Major Leagues for the Boston Braves and he served in World War ll, passing away in 1988. Tom is the brother of the late Walter Earley, a beloved Boston Policeman from Mission Hill.

Condolences to the family of Mary Leyden, a beautiful Mission Hill woman who passed away last week. Mary taught in the Boston School system for 41 years. Donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Mission Grammar School.

Mary Dykes passed away last month at age 95. Mary loved Mission Hill where she raised her children and she is a graduate of Mission High School. I didn’t know Mary but she leaves a wonderful family, including my Mission High classmate, Maureen (Fitzgerald) Dykes. Donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Mission Church.

Welcome to Mission Hill, Colin Bentley, a nice guy who occasionally sips a beer at Flann O’Brien’s. Colin moved to the Hill from New York and he works at Channel 7 as a camera man.

Speaking of Flann O’Brien’s, a head turning group of young women stopped by last month and danced up a storm. I’m told the 15 or 18 women were from Russia and touring the U.S. They were fine dancers and they enlivened the bar.

A new residence, adjacent to the Harrington House on Alleghany Street, apparently will be built, despite concerns from neighbors. The Harrington House, named after John and Patricia Harrington, a beloved Mission Hill family, houses The Home for Little Wanderers and has always had the support of the neighborhood. The new building, however, will be a residence for older teens. Jeannine Barry, an abutter to the property, expressed her concerns to City officials but her apprehension fell on deaf ears, as the building permit was approved Dec.28 without her being contacted. Jeannine called Marc Joseph, who deals with building permits, at the City’s Inspectional Service Department dozens of times and didn’t get a return call. There has been an utter lack of transparency in this matter.

It was nice seeing Nancy Sheehan( Curran) last week at Mike’s Donuts. Nancy, looking fabulous, has been busy being a full-time mom. Nancy’s oldest boy, 9-year-old Richie Curran, is a terrific hoopster with a fine shooting eye. Richie recently won the local foul shooting contest, sponsored by the Boston Elks.

Mike McCarthy, a novice Ten Pin bowler, fired off four consecutive strikes last month. That is one-third of a perfect 300 game for the left handed bowler, who was a star first baseman in the Mission Hill Softball League.

City Councilor Josh Zakim, who represents Mission Hill, was on Dan Rea’s W.B.Z. radio talk show last week. Zakim is challenging incumbent Bill Galvin in the upcoming Secretary of State election. He was adept, articulating his various points of view, including being opposed to the primary being held the day after Labor Day. Zakim is also is against requiring photo identification to vote. I disagree with the councilor on this matter, as did Dan Rea and the majority of the callers.

It should be a great day for Sunday’s Pats-Eagles Super Bowl with the local bars humming. Have a grand time, don’t drink and drive. Final score, Pats 28, Philly 27.

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