Help Save the Lower Mills Library!

The Trustees of the Boston Public Library (BPL) have made a purposeful choice to close the Lower Mills library (and branches in East Boston, Brighton, and South Boston) and we are asking that as community members you take action to help prevent this from happening. In Lower Mills, the library serves such an important role as place for both education and community building and closing it jeopardizes the centerpiece of this section of the neighborhood, one that has existed since 1875.

What can you do:
1. Attend the benefit at Ledge (2261 Dorchester Avenue) on Wednesday, April 14th at 6 pm. Cost is $15. Call Vic Campbell at 617.822.4046 for more information.
2. Go to the Lower Mills Library and find out how to sign the petition.
3. Write the mayor, our city councilors, and state representatives to tell them your personal stories about the Lower Mills library.

For more info read: the Dorchester Reporter Story with Video.

Haitian Earthquake Relief

Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti and our neighbors here in Dorchester with family and friends there, who have suffered through this tragic earthquake.

Please consider making a donation to help with the relief work:
Doctors Without Borders*
Habitat for Humanity*
The Red Cross*
CARE*
Partners in Health (Local Boston-based organization)

*=Received an A+, A, or A- from the American Institute for Philanthropy - a charity watch group.

Highlight on Activism: Dorchester People for Peace

The Dorchester Think Tank is starting a new segment to highlight those who are activists in our community. Dorchester is one of the most politically active neighborhoods in the city and we want to illuminate the contributions of our fellow residents who are on the ground making our community and world better. Our first featured group is Dorchester People for Peace.

For years Dorchester People for Peace has been organizing opposition to the war in Iraq and US militarism in general. Their mission states they are building, "a multi-racial peace movement throughout the neighborhoods of Dorchester that can work against the war at home, including violence, budget cuts, racism and political repression." Recently, Dorchester People for Peace held a protest against President Obama's expansion of the war in Afghanistan, sadly only a few media outlets covered it (NECN for example), but never-the-less their activism needs to be commended. Every year we have seen this group tirelessly marching in anti-war protests on Boston Common and in the Dorchester Day Parade. As the radical historian Howard Zinn has said, "the day must come when there will be justice for women, for people of color, for the poor of the world, when the stupidity of war will be recognized, and military machines dismantled, and the world made safe for children." In a sentence this is the essence of the Dorchester People for Peace.

To find out more about Dorchester People for Peace or attend their meetings, check out their website: www.dotpeace.org

ADORE-chester! Top 5 Reasons Why Dorchester Is Progressing Boston Forward

Boston is America’s quintessential colonial city with its old world charm and quaintness, but it is also the country’s bastion for progressive reform. The last decade has brought many changes to Boston, pushing this hub of the universe into the next century. Dorchester Think Tank focuses on community change and activism, so our theme for our ADORE-chester! project posting is reasons why Dorchester is the neighborhood that leads the way on progressing Boston forward!

1. Dorchester is about social improvement. From the health care centers (like the Codman Square Health Center and Dorchester House, to improvements of our wonderful city parks (like Dorchester Park, Ronan Park, and Franklin Park, improvements to our thoroughfares (Dorchester Avenue Project), our plentiful farmer’s markets (Dorchester Farmers Markets), and urban farms (The Food Project and Revision Farms), we care about our neighbors' health and livelihood.

2. Dorchester is green. From environmentally sensitive restaurants like Ashmont Grill and dbar, to the always active DotBike, and transit-oriented and green building projects (such as The Carruth) in the neighborhood, and the thousands of Dorchesterites that ride the Red Line daily, we are doing our part to help make this world more sustainable.

3. Dorchester is one of the most politically active neighborhoods in the city. You can’t have an election without seeing the thousands of signs lining the avenues. You can’t vote in this neighborhood without shaking (or quickly dodging) the hands of many of Boston’s pols. And more importantly, you can’t win a citywide office without courting our neighborhood’s residents.

4. Dorchester supports its locally owned businesses. Whether it is family owned restaurants, the neighborhood mechanic, local hardware stores, or small ethnic groceries, Dorchesterites know supporting locally owned businesses is key to our neighborhood’s economy. It also means trying to avoid chains, who often take from us and not give us anything in return.

5. Dorchester is the most diverse neighborhood in Boston – and we love it that way! Dorchester’s cosmopolitan population makes us feel like we are walking through the United Nations everyday. Our ancestors came from so many different places: Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, South and East Asia, and Latin America, and we have made Dorchester that great salad bowl, were our cultures retain their individual characteristics, but also interact in a smaller version of globalism.

To read the other ADORE-chester! postings, please check out their blogs:
Lower Dot
The Dottie Hottie
The Dot Matrix
Dot Boston
Local Spice
Candeliera Silva
Social Butterfly Experiment
dotmass
Greening of Dorchester

#9 Expand Grocery Options for Dorchesterites

Dorchester (and the rest of Boston) should follow the lead of cities like Paris, Tokyo, New York, Montreal, and even New Haven, Connecticut and promote development in their small grocery stores. In each of these cities you can't walk more then 5 or 6 city blocks without running into a small grocery store (often they are family-run or locally-owned). Although Dorchester is ahead of many other Boston neighborhoods with its growing number of ethnic shops run by our Vietnamese, Latino, Caribbean, Greek, and Irish residents, sadly for many Dorchesterites there are no grocery stores in walking distance and the nearby convenient store is where they must purchase most of their food. As a result, many of our fellow residents are essentially forced to have unhealthy diets. We encourage:

1. Local entrepreneurial-minded people to consider opening grocery stores in Dorchester that carry healthy and organic options (one good example is Jamaica Plain's Harvest Co-op) and small grocery stores in sections that have a major shortage of healthy food options.

2. The establishment of more ethnic eateries that carry the produce and products that many of our immigrant and migrant residents desire (after all Dorchester is Boston's more cosmopolitan neighborhood).

3. Dorchester demands the chains that offer reasonably-priced healthy and organic produce to our neighborhood, such as Trader Joe's (see our Lower Dot posting) or Foodie's Market. This also includes persuading our grocery conglomerates (Shaws and Stop and Shop) to carry more healthy and organic products (When I go into the Shaws or Stop and Shop in the 'burbs, they always seem to have a better selection of everything, why is that?).

4. In the warmer months, support the many farmers markets throughout Dorchester (and help the local farmers) at Bowdoin Square, Codman Square, Dorchester House, Fields Corner, Franklin Park, and Peabody Square or join a Dorchester farm share like Re-Vision Urban Farm or The Food Project.

Do you think this is a good idea? Rate below.

(Pictures of (top to bottom) Dorchester markets taken by the Dorchester Reporter, a grocery store in Paris, and Trader Joe's)

New Choir in Dorchester?

Peter Vaughan, a Dorchester resident and member of numerous Boston choirs is interested in finding others who want to organize a Dorchester choir. If you are interested, please contact him at bachfan23@gmail or petevaughan@gmail.com.

Follow Up: A World Class Zoo

Back in June of 2008, we suggested that Zoo New England close the Stone Zoo to strengthen its focus on the Franklin Park Zoo in Dorchester (the much larger of the two, located in the heart of Boston's Franklin Park). We have to admit we did not come up with this idea, it has been something we have heard from our neighbors for years. Finally, the Boston media has joined us in this idea.

Globe Article: One Zoo, Not Two

Original Post: A World Class Zoo

Dorchester Community Websites

Chad Baker, Melville Park resident, suggests we spotlight several websites that have sprung up allowing people in Dorchester to communicate and participate in the community. We encourage you to visit... Neighbors for Neighbors Dorchester, SCI Dorchester, and DotWell.

#8 More Art in Dot

All great neighborhoods support their artists and have their share of great public art! Of course we have the Gas Tank on the Expressway, the many street murals along Dorchester and Blue Hill Ave., the Edward Everett Square Clapp Pear, and the soon-to-be Peabody Square Moon. With organizations like Dot Art and Dorchester Arts Collaborative and the many artist studios throughout the neighborhood, Dot has its share of art, but could use more! Here are some suggestions for increasing the art in Dot:

1. More public sculptures. There should be sculptures at all of the various squares throughout Dorchester (especially along the main thoroughfares of Dot Ave., Blue Hill Ave., Columbia Road, and Adams Street). It would allow the public to engage with art on a regular basis and would draw attention to the squares. Downtown Boston is filled with statues of the Brahmins of yore, let's make Dorchester known for modernist sculptures. It would be like an outdoor museum!

2. Expand the Mayor's Paint Box program to paint most of the utility boxes in Dorchester and put more murals on the sides of our buildings. This makes the neighborhood seem artsy, while deterring graffiti.

3. Increase opportunities for the non-visual arts. Let's have more events with musical acts and theater, as well as performance art. From the newly renovated Strand Theater to more performances in our parks, let's do more to help these artists as well.

4. Have more local art on display in our Dot Businesses. This is already the case at places like the Ashmont Grill, Dot-2-Dot Cafe, and the Flatblack Coffee Company. This helps support the artists and adds a nice local flare to area businesses.

5. Continue supporting our local artists! Attend the annual Dorchester Open Studios and Arts in the Park at Dorchester Park. Donate to Dot Art and the DAC, and buy works from our many Dorchester-resident artists (see the links on this page).

Do you think this is a good idea? Rate below.

Follow Up: Improve Public Transit in Dorchester

The Dorchester Reporter and other news outlets report that the state will receive $100 million federal stimulus project to greatly improve public transportation along Blue Hill Avenue from Mattapan to Dudley Square, including a new connection to South Station via the current Silver Line. Although this is not quite the Indigo Line, it seems to be a step in the right direction. However, there is a debate whether this will actually be rapid transit or a glorified traditional bus route. It is key that the state implement the following in any design of a Silver Line extension: dedicated bus only lanes in the center of Blue Hill Ave. (like the Green Line trolleys), heated enclosed stations, signals timed to give buses the right-of-way, and no required transfers between Mattapan Station and South Station with minimal stops along the route. The people of western Dorchester deserve rapid transit!

Follow Up: Dorchester More Bike Friendly

Things continue to look better for bikers (although certainly talk is one thing and action another), but the Dorchester Reporter is making it sound like Dorchester Ave. getting bike lanes is closer than ever and there is even more talk of rental bikes coming to town. There is also a pending lawsuit mentioned in the article and if it prevails, biking from Edward Everett Square to downtown safely will be possible via a bike lane on Mass. Ave. in northern Dorchester. As far as the rest of the neighborhood, it seems things are looking less hopeful (especially for Talbot Ave. or Blue Hill Ave., which are equally in need of bike lanes). Consider writing the city about increasing bike lanes throughout the neighborhood.

Reporter Article: Mayor's bike plan draws support, and criticism

#7 Improve Public Transit in Dorchester

With the Boston Globe reporting T ridership at its highest level in the agency's history despite dropping gas prices, and concern that so many people are using the red line that they are creating seat-less trains to hold more passengers, the MBTA must do several important things to hold on to this new increased ridership.

More people ride the Red Line daily than any other subway line. Dorchester residents make up a large portion of those riders and several of the city's busiest bus lines exist in our neighborhood. Dorchester is the largest and most diverse neighborhood in the city and must be a priority for the MBTA.

1. Create the Indigo Line: It is both an important and thoughtful idea to get more people from Somerville and Medford to take the T into the city instead of their cars through an extension of the Green Line, but more people in Dorchester rely on public transit as their only means of transportation and deserve a rapid transit in the western side of Dorchester. This could be addressed through the Indigo Line Plan. Providing rapid transit with more stations, where currently there is a commuter rail, would give daily, reliable, and fast transit to downtown for thousands.

2. Improvements to Red Line: Consider running more red line trains, run trains later (perhaps until 2:30 am, even if they are infrequent after midnight), and for Ashmont station have the next train wait at the platform (like they do in Braintree and Alewife) providing a seat and protection from the weather for passengers. Finally, better time the Mattapan-Ashmont trolley to drop off passengers just before the next inbound Red Line train leaves and hold trolleys to Mattapan if an outbound Red Line train has just arrived.

Do you think this is a good idea? Rate below.

(Pictures of the new Ashmont Station, proposed Indigo Line, and outside the new Fields Corner Station)

#6 More Bakeries

Make more baked goods and pastries for Dorchester! We need more places to stop and get a variety of freshly made breads and desserts. A place where sugar, flour and eggs come together as tasty cakes, berry pies, and macaroon cookies that can be enjoyed on the premises with a cup of tea (outdoor seating, of course!) or taken to go when having dinner with friends. It's time to add some sweetness to Dot.

Do you think this is a good idea? Rate below.

(Pictures of Tartine Bakery and Miette Patisserie of San Francisco)

Follow Up: Dorchester More Bike Friendly

Signs are looking better for Dorchester and bikers. Two recent stories in the Globe since our posting highlight the city's attempt to make the neighborhood bike friendly. The first article discusses the instalation of two new bike lanes in the city (one of which is on the American Legion Highway by Franklin Park in Dorchester), 250 new bike racks, and possible future plans to create a bike-share program in the city by 2010. The second article discusses the increased in biking in Boston with local bikers.

Globe Article: Boston's Bike Lanes Nearly Set For Rider
Globe Article: Looking Wheel Good

#5 Make Dorchester More Bicycle Friendly

(Picture of a Bicycle Lane in Brooklyn)

With gas hovering around $4 a gallon, more people from the neighborhood are biking to and from downtown for either work or fun. Even the mayor of Boston, Tom Menino rides to work from the Hyde Park neighborhood. Biking is not only for a great way to exercise and get around, but increased biking would help decrease energy consumption. More bikers riding about may help reduce street crime because there are even more eyes and ears on the streets, and to be honest there is just something cool about communities with large numbers of bikers.

To encourage more bicycling:

1. The city of Boston should install bike lanes along main thoroughfares such as Dorchester Ave., Blue Hill Ave., and improve the bike/walking trail along Morrissey Blvd. (for example pave the entire path).

2. The city should also install more bike racks near T stations and other area attractions (such as popular restaurants, community parks, banks, supermarkets, and post offices).

3. Finally the city or a private company could create a community bike program (with various self-service terminals in Dorchester, and rental would be free or reduced-cost and use a credit card as a deposit) like those that exist in many European cities, Montreal, and Portland, Oregon. This way people that do not bike enough to purchase a bike, can use a quality bike for an hour or day trips.

Do you think this is a good idea? Rate below.

Please consider checking out Dot Bike for more information on biking and great biking maps of Dorchester or the City of Boston's Biking Site or Boston's Critical Mass. (Pictures of a bike lane in The Mission District of San Francisco and a community bicycle program in Vienna, Switzerland)

#4 A Movie Theater

Coolidge Corner Theater, Kendall Square Cinema, Somerville Theater, Brattle Theater, Dedham Community Theater, Embassy Cinema in Watham - These are all smaller independent or community theaters just outside the city of Boston. With the closing of the Copley Place Cinemas a few years ago, our city no longer has a theater dedicated to independent film. Dorchester would be a perfect place to open a new small theater. With the diversity of culture and a growing art community, as well as the neighborhood's dedication to supporting local business, such a theater would thrive. Not only that, people would patronize local eateries and cafes before and after their shows, bringing even more into the neighborhood.

Two examples shine as great models: The first is the Pleasant Street Theater in Northampton, Mass. This two screen theater is not in a traditional movie-house, but instead opened in 1976 in a former shoe store. The second example comes from San Francisco and the 4 Star Theater on Clement Street. Its screen is not very large and they don't have the latest super-surround sound, but its focus on ethnic films (particularly Asian and Asian American films) makes it an asset. Both are no frill theaters that serve as a bedrock of their communities. (In full disclosure, Chris grew up in western Mass. and Erin in the Bay Area and so we have a lot of expeierence going to these two theaters and can vouch for their greatness...)

Do you think this is a good idea? Rate below.

#3 A World Class Zoo

We have a world class Museum of Science, Museum of Fine Arts, Institute of Contemporary Arts, Aquarium, not to mention some of the best universities in the country. The Franklin Park Zoo (Boston's zoo - located in Dorchester) is a family-favorite for locals, and the zoo does a good job of reaching out to Boston students, providing free entry for field trips and programs for teen youths. However, there leaves much room for improvement. The Franklin Park Zoo should be world-class, as are the zoos of other major cities (think: Bronx Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, San Diego Zoo). Zoo New England (the parent organization of both the Franklin Park and Stone Zoo of Stoneham) should let go of the Stoneham Zoo and let it be privately run and focus its resources on the larger, urban zoo. This will increase the vision and funding for the Franklin Park Zoo making it a primary attraction of the entire New England Region. With increased attendance they could provide a free shuttle from Forest Hills (or if the MBTA ever brings the needed rapid transit to Blue Hill Ave. it would include a stop), making it easier to get there by public transportation, provide even more programs for kids, and expand their abilities to care for a wide range of animals.

Do you think this is a good idea? Rate below.

#2 Put Trash In Its Place (and Have More Places)

Kendra writes us suggesting that although with any city life trash is inevitable, its seems sometimes Dorchester has it worse then other parts of Boston. She says, "plastic bottles, chip bags, and piles of canine poop" litter the streets and that we can do better. We agree.

Doing a little of our own research, we walked from Ashmont to Fields Corner today - and counted only 12 trash cans along the mile long stretch of the Avenue. In fact, most barrels were grouped 2 or 3 together in 5 locations (It was particularly trash-can absent near Town Field and Ashmont Station). This lack of recycling and trash receptacles must have been what drove one man further down the Avenue to throw his trash into someone's front yard (a.k.a. unofficial trash can). This is a two-part improvement involving infrastructure and personal responsibility. The people of Dorchester do walk around, and should be encouraged to do so, as a result there should be both trash AND recycling cans along the main roads, such as Dorchester and Blue Hill Avenues and Columbia Road (particularly near bus stops and subways station entrances) and highly populated side streets. We must also encourage personal responsibility among our fellow residents, until we get those bins (see photos for exemplars) pack it with you (think back-country manners), pick up after your pets, and if you feel so moved, do a little extra for the sake of the neighborhood.

We would like to encourage all Dorchester residents to contract Mayor Constitute Services and inform them of the need for more trash cans on Dorchester Ave. - www.cityofboston.gov/mayor/24/.

Do you think this is a good idea? Rate below.

(Pictures from San Francisco [notice the ultra-smart recycle bin hood], New York City, and Paris)

#1 More Outdoor Seating in Dorchester

There is something that all great cities have: Paris, San Francisco, New York, Montreal ... they have a plethora of outdoor dining options. We need more of it in Dorchester. Dining al fresco is most exciting accompanied by good people watching, and we think Dorchester provides some great people to watch. A soundtrack of bird songs, friendly chatter and the commotion of the city is both relaxing and invigorating and encourages community interaction with the unexpected friend walking by. Outdoor seating wears down the barrier between the community and the establishment, creating an inviting atmosphere for all. It is a 'celebration of the season' when the weather is welcoming, and Bostonians can't get enough when the sun is out.

We commend the outdoor dining of: The Ashmont Grill, The Blarney Stone, and dbar. We recommend outdoor dining for: Any other current and future establishments.

Do you think this is a good idea? Rate below.

(Pictures from outdoor cafes in Paris 2007)

The Think Tank

We moved to the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston just over two years ago. From the day we moved in, we fell in love with what we believe to be Boston's best and most underrated neighborhood. We have lived in many places, but never found a place that fit us so well. Dorchester is the most diverse neighborhood of the city. Blacks, Whites, Asians, Latinos, gay, strait, young and old make their homes on our street alone. Here people help one another and you know your neighbors (something so rare in a city as large as Boston). Dorchester has a spirit of rebirth and future promise, and it is both a blank canvas and a wealth of tradition. Dorchester is urban chic, while still allowing quiet side streets. It has music, art, and culture.

Our original blog about Dorchester (Lower Dot) was created to share those things in our neighborhood that we think really shine. We wanted it to be a showcase for both those inside and outside the neighborhood putting a spotlight on makes south Dorchester great.

This is our latest venture in the world of blogging. It is our visions for the future of Dorchester. Like corporations and organizations have think tanks that advocate certain issues, we hope to create a forum to highlight the wants and hopes of our neighborhood.