Steve Datish
(617) 899-4452
sdatish@gmail.com

Chris Stanley
(617) 510-5334
cstanley23@gmail.com

In response to the tragic events at the Boston Marathon, and the inspiring outpouring of support from so many people near and far, St. Mark’s Area Main Street has established the Richard Family Fund, to support the family in light of  expenses that will inevitably arise. 100% of donations collected via this campaign will be disbursed to the Richards. We expect the funds will be used for medical expenses, for memorial services, or other appropriate expenditures at the family’s discretion.

The fund was set up by SMAMS volunteers, staff and friends.

Contributions can be made online at:

http://richardfamilyfund.org/

Also, checks payable to “Richard Family Fund” can be mailed to:

St. Mark’s Area Main Street, Inc.
1914 Dorchester Avenue
Dorchester, MA 02124

For questions about the Richards, please contact family spokesperson Larry Marchese:  lmarchese@legionthirteen.com

For questions about the fund, please contact SMAMS president Tim Deihl:  deihlre@gmail.com

For questions about the donation site, please contact Chris Peterson:  chris.peterson@mit.edu

Many thanks to all who played a role in this, especially Chris Peterson and colleagues at the MIT Center for Civic Media, and Eastern Bank.

St. Mark’s Area Main Street, along with Dorchester, Boston, and people of good will everywhere, is devastated by the loss of Martin Richard and the injuries to sister Jane and mother Denise.  In the days to come we will remember, mourn and pray with the Richard family, and we will stand with them always.

The outpouring of support has been overwhelming, and most welcome.  It speaks to the goodness of relatives, close friends and total strangers.

There will be a vigil tonight (Tuesday, April 16) at 7:30 p.m. at Garvey Park, 645 Neponset Avenue, Dorchester.

We will update this post with further information as it becomes available.

Thank you from all at St. Mark’s Area Main Street.

“Joan Rivers” (aka Doreen Collins) and awardee Marisa Luse share a laugh. Photo copyright Mike Ritter

In true Oscar fashion, “We’d like to thank…” everyone who made Oscars on the Avenue 2013 a success!  Tavolo’s fantastic food & service, Doreen Collins’ version of Joan Rivers, Craig Galvin’s awesome auctioneering, Mike Ritter’s “celebrity” & crowd photos,  our generous sponsors and auction donors, a tremendous cast of volunteers, and all the dedicated partiers who braved the snow to support economic and community development on Dorchester Ave!

To view photos of the event, please click here.

The after-party, Dot Ave style.  Photo Copyright Mike Ritter.

Thanks to our generous sponsors and donors!

City Clerk Maureen Feeney…1810 Realty Group…Anh Hong Restaurant

Eric Abenaim – Omega Mortgage – A Division of Lowell Bank…Ashmont Auto Collision

Ashmont Cycles…Ashmont Tire…Liz Carney…Designer Draperies

Building & Construction Trades Council of the Metropolitan District

EST Associates…Ed & Ellen Frechette…Ligris & Associates PC, Attorneys

Flip Hair Salon…Maureen Connolly Insurance…Mohawk Insurance

O’Brien’s Market/Liquors/Deli…Tedeschi Food Shops

Tedeschi’s Peabody Square…Charlie Tuttle

Image design by

Sunday, February 24, marks the return of Oscars on the Avenue – one of SMAMS’ best events ever!  This community celebration of the Academy Awards will feature great Tavolo hors d’oeuvres, great friends, our own “Joan Rivers” and awards, a fantastic auction, and more!  Proceeds will help SMAMS continue our work revitalizing our Dorchester Ave. business district.

Sunday, February 24, 8:00 p.m., at Tavolo Ristorante, 1918 Dorchester Avenue, in the Carruth Building at Ashmont Station.

Tickets are $75 in advance (until 5:00 p.m. Feb 22), and $90 at the door.

For more information about tickets or sponsorships, or to inquire about other advance payment options, please call the SMAMS office at 617-825-3846, or send us an email at office@smams.org

Thanks to our generous sponsors!

City Clerk Maureen Feeney; 1810 Realty Group;

Eric Abenaim – Omega Mortgage – A Division of Lowell Bank; Designer Draperies;

EST Associates; Ligris & Associates PC, Attorneys; Mohawk Insurance; Tedeschi Food Shops

Image design by

Back To Life Chiropractic & Wellness

Award Presentation. From Left: Rafael Carbonell, Deputy Director, Department of Neighborhood Development/Officeof Business Development; Co-Owners Philippe Saad and Dr. Anil Nair; Sheila Dillon, Director, Department of Neighborhood Development and Chief of Housing; Steve Gilman, Director, Boston Main Streets.

Congratulations to Back To Life Chiropractic and Wellness, winner of the City’s “Deck the Windows” decorating celebration!

Sheila Dillon, Director of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development and Chief of Housing,  presented the award to co-owners Dr. Anil Nair and Philippe Saad on December 20 at a neighborhood gathering at Back To Life, 1912A Dorchester Ave, in the Carruth Building.  For more photos from the event, please visit Facebook.com/smamspage

Back To Life is a great example of immigrant-owned businesses making a contribution to their community: Dr. Nair is originally from India, and Philippe  is originally from Lebanon.  Both are active on SMAMS’ Fundraising Committee, and Philippe is also a member of the Design Committee.

Back To Life was one of many SMAMS businesses that did a great job of “Decking” their windows.  Please take some time during the holidays to visit and congratulate them all!

GiGi Hair Concept, 1730 Dorchester Ave., honorable mention
Eden Natural Lifestyle Boutique, 1878  Dorchester Ave, honorable mention 

Tavolo Ristorante, 1918 Dorchester Ave.
Flat Black Coffee, 1906 Dorchester Ave.
Sea Breeze Mexican Grill, 1782 Dorchester Ave
Celia & Company, 1775A Dorchester Ave
Dot-2-Dot Cafe, 1739 Dorchester Ave
Beauty Line Boutique, 1692 Dorchester Ave.
Boston Hairnista Salon, 1690B Dorchester Ave.
Micci Fuel, 551 Talbot Ave
Ashmont Grill, 555 Talbot Ave
Yankee Insurance, 569 Talbot Ave.

Many thanks to all our participating businesses, and to our team of dedicated judges!

Some of the participants in the breakfast. Back row, from left: Dan Larner, SMAMS; Robert Weiss; Mihir Parikh, A Better City; Luis Perez and Yomiris Rodriguez, Sea Breeze Mexican Grill; Bill Howland, Carney Hospital; Jack Cunningham, Ross Common Quilts; Tim Deihl, The Residential Collaborative; City Councilor Charles Yancey.  Front:  Brandon Guillermo, Diverse Elements Online Marketing and Consulting

Thanks to all who attended SMAMS’ Business Task Force networking breakfast November 8 at Sea Breeze Mexican Grill, 1782 Dorchester Ave.

The breakfast focused on ways for businesses to save energy and money.

Mihir Parikh, of A Better City, told participants about ABC’s Challenge for Sustainability, which helps participants to shrink their carbon footprint and grow their bottom line.  The challenge features hands-on technical assistance and guidance, and direct access to city, state, and private incentives and subsidies.

To see the impact the Challenge has had on one local participant, please click here for a short video.

Steve Rumpler, from Boston’s Office of Business Development, gave information on two valuable City programs:

• Renew Boston – Partnerships with utilities that can reduce, by up to 70%, the cost of lighting and mechanical upgrades.
• Boston Buying Power – Group purchasing of electricity and natural gas that can reduce and stabilize energy costs

Lt. Commander Bill Fleming of MBTA Transit Police and Officer Tim Golden of Boston Police Area C-11 gave safety updates, and we welcomed Bill Howland from SMAMS’ newest corporate sponsor, Carney Hospital.

For further information on any of the energy saving programs, or the Business Task Force, please call the SMAMS office at 617-825-3846 or email us at office@smams.org

Lt. Commander Bill Fleming, of MBTA Transit Police, gives a safety update.

Thanks to all who attended Harvest-Tini – the eighth annual Martinis on the Avenue – November 14 at The Blarney Stone

For a gallery of photos from the event, please click here and use the password: Dotini

Thanks to auctioneer extraordinaire Craig Galvin and our committee:  Evelyn Darling, Lee Adelson, Donna Finnegan, Lisa O’Neill and Rachel Hronek; and our many volunteers.

 Thanks to our generous sponsors!

 

 

Hon. Russell Holmes
Hon. Martin Walsh
Dorchester Board of Trade
Eire Pub
Fallon Residential
Fields Corner CDC
Harbor Health Services, Inc.
Karlene Valente Insurance Agency
Mohawk Insurance
planwork.us
Vargas & Vargas Insurance
Viet AID

City Council President Steve Murphy; City Councilor Frank Baker; Ashmont Auto Collision;
Ashmont Tire; Boston University Urban Business Accelerator; Comzer Insurance; Gerard’s Restaurant; O’Brien’s Deli, Market and Liquors; Princess Hair Palace and Day Spa; Super 99 Cent Plus; Tedeschi’s Fields Corner – Gibson Street; Tedeschi’s Peabody Square

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 – 7-10 p.m.
The Blarney Stone, 1505 Dorchester Avenue

SMAMS and Fields Corner Main Street invite you to reap the rewards of another successful year with us! Meet old and new friends, try a “Harvest-Tini,” enjoy the Blarney’s delicious hors d’oeuvres and cash bar, and bid on great items at our live auction. All proceeds go toward SMAMS’ and FCMS’ work to revitalize our Dorchester Avenue business districts.

Tickets $30 in advance, $35 at the door. For more information, please call 617-474-1432.

Click here to purchase tickets until November 12.

Thanks to our generous sponsors!

Hon. Russell Holmes

Hon Martin Walsh

Dorchester Board of Trade

Eire Pub

Fallon Residential

Fields Corner CDC

Harbor Health Services, Inc.

Karlene Valente Insurance Agency

Mohawk Insurance

planwork.us

Vargas & Vargas Insurance

Viet AID

Ukelele Union of Boston (photo courtesy of Judy Tuttle)

The Ashmont/Peabody Square Farmers’ Market has been very popular this year, with more shoppers than ever and some fantastic musicians, such as the Ukelele Union of Boston.

Our crop of vendors includes:

• Tavolo Ristorante – Sauces, meatballs, pizza dough, specialty items

• Red’s Best Seafood – Fresh, locally caught seafood

• Spring Brook Farm of Littleton – 299 years of family farming

• Langwater Farm of North Easton – Certified organic

• Cedar Grove Gardens - Flowers, plants, gifts and more

• Dorchester Arts Collaborative - new artists every week!

As always – the market accepts SNAP (food stamp) benefits for all food vendors. If you have a SNAP card, you can match with “Boston Bounty Bucks” to get up to $20 worth of fruits and veggies at half price!  Please stop in at the SMAMS  tent for information.  Also, Spring Brook Farm and Langwater Farm accept WIC and Senior Nutrition coupons.

The market is open every Friday, 3:00 – 7:00 p.m., through October 19.  Please stop in, and tell your friends!

For more photos, please see our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/smamspage

Many thanks to our host the MBTA, market sponsor Eastern Bank, and district sponsors Trinity Financial, CWC Builders, WinnResidential, Boston Main Streets, and the Boston Main Streets Foundation.

Langwater Farm (photo courtesy of Carlos Vargas)

Spring Brook Farm (photo courtesy of Carlos Vargas)