"SMAMS" is a non-profit corporation powered by dedicated volunteer residents and merchants. We work to revitalize our business district on Dorchester Avenue, from Ashmont Station to just south of Fields Corner. By working with the City of Boston and the National Main Street Center, we are participating in a citywide and nationwide revitalization of local business districts. (We are not a religious organization. We take our name from the neighborhood we serve, which is named after the local historic parish.) We welcome new members, so please take look around - if you like what you see, please vist the Membership page for information on joining. Or call us anytime at 617-825-3846.
Swing Into Summer at the 2nd Annual Main Street Open, June 21
Start practicing your swing, and mark your calendar for Monday, June 21, date of the second annual Main Street Open golf tournament, at beautiful Franklin Park Golf Course. Great golf, food, and prizes! Best Ball scoring. Price only $100 in advance, $125 after cutoff date. Hole sponsorships available for $100 and $200. More details coming soon - in the meantime, feel free to call the SMAMS office at 617-825-3846.
Many thanks to our generous sponsors! Trinity Financial; CWC Builders; WinnResidential; The Boston Main Streets Foundation
Fifth Annual "Martinis on the Avenue" - Oct. 29!
Stop by the Blarney Stone in Fields Corner on Thursday, October 29, 7:00 - 10:00 PM, for the fifth annual Martinis on the Avenue! Try out the new Halloween-tini, and support SMAMS' and Fields Corner Main Street's work revitalizing our Dot Ave business districts. To add to the fun and get warmed up for Halloween, come in costume for a chance at a great prize!
Tickets are $35 at the door. Admission includes the Blarney's great hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and a live auction hosted by Craig Galvin.
For more info on the event, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities, please call the SMAMS office at 617-825-3846.
Many thanks to our sponsors!
The Blarney Stone; H Levenbaum Insurance and H. Levenbaum Real Estate; Wainwright Bank; The Dorchester Reporter; Neighborhood Health Plan; Mt. Washington Bank; Trinity Financial; CWC Builders; Boston Main Streets; The Boston Main Streets Foundation; Just In Boston Properties; Century 21 Cahill Associates; WinnResidential;Rep. Marty Walsh; Councillor Maureen Feeney; Ashmont Tire; Designer Draperies of Dorchester; Dunkin Donuts; HNN Law; Jaymes Leavitt Photography; Olde Towne Real Estate; Pho Hoa Restaurant; Sovereign Bank; Attys. Michael Monteforte Jr. and Steven Grant; Dotsy Evans Creative; Vargas & Vargas Insurance; Metalsmiths, Inc.; and Mortgage Masters, Inc.
Ashmont/Peabody Square Farmers' Market Opens July 10!
The Ashmont/Peabody Square Farmers' Market will open Friday, July 10 at ODWIN Learning Center, 1943 Dorchester Ave., directly across from Ashmont Station and the Carruth Building. The market, sponsored by SMAMS, ODWIN, Wainwright Bank and the Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition, will run every Friday through October 30, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, rain or shine.
Market vendors include Brox Farm of Dracut, run by former Peace Corps volunteer Dave Dumaresq; Springbrook Farm of Littleton, a family farm since 1713; Flats Mentor Farm of Lancaster, a project that helps immigrant farmers get a start in the United States; and Dorchester's own Cedar Grove Gardens. Additional vendors are being recruited over the summer, with an eye toward a bakery and an artists' group.
To make this healthy food available to all, vendors will accept Food Stamps, WIC coupons, and Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition coupons. Food Stamps up to $10 will be matched by "Boston Bounty Bucks."
For more information on the Grand Opening July 10, or to ask about volunteer opportunities, please call the SMAMS office at 617-825-3846.
SMAMS Resident Wins Grand Prize in Healthy Main Streets/Where's Charlie Promotion
Congratulations to Cheri Robartes, who won the grand prize - a year's membership to the Metro Boston YMCA of her choice - in the Citywide Healthy Main Streets/"Where's Charlie?" promotion.
During July and early August, shoppers scoured Main Street districts around the city looking for the MBTA's "Charlie" emblem as part of a promotion to encourage walking in our neighborhoods. Cheri found hers at Hair Solutions Salon, 1882 Dorchester Ave (next to the Peabody Square fire station), and her name was drawn as the grand prize winner at the wrap-up celebration in Fields Corner on August 2.
Congratulations to our other local winners - Barbara Bean, Ian Haynes, Margaret Lamb and Nauze Lopes - and thanks again to our participating businesses:
* I-Wireless Communications, 1690 Dot Ave.
* Beauty Line Beauty Supplies, 1692 Dot Ave.
* Son Ha Gift Shop, 1737 Dot Ave.
Summer Wine Tasting Fundraiser (8/4/2008)
Thanks to all who turned out for our Summer Wine tasting at the Ashmont Grill on August 2! Proceeds will help to fund SMAMS' work revitalizing our Dot Ave business district. Thanks also to our many sponsors:The Ashmont Grill
Albert Winestein Wine & Cheese
Countrywide Home Loans
Mt. Washington Bank
Trinity Financial
The Boston Main Streets Foundation
Where's Charlie? Find Him and WIN in the Healthy Main Streets Promotion! (7/24/2008)
Mayor Menino invites you to walk, bike, or take the T to St. Mark's Area Main Street, find the T's "Charlie," and win great prizes in the Healthy Main Streets promotion.
Look for Charlie in participating St. Mark's Area businesses from Sunday, July 27th to Friday, August 1st. If you find him, you win an MBTA pass, a $50 gift certificate to the New Balance Factory Outlet Store, and a chance at a bicycle and a year's membership to the Metro Boston YMCA branch of your choice!
SMAMS Participating Businesses:
I-Wireless Communications, 1690 Dorchester Ave.
Beauty Line Beauty Supplies, 1692 Dorchester Ave.
Son Ha Gift Shop, 1737 Dorchester Ave.
Dot-2-Dot Cafe, 1739 Dorchester Ave.
Super 99 Cent Plus Store, 1767 Dorchester Ave
JXD Furniture, 1825 Dorchester Ave.
Hair Solutions Salon, 1882 Dorchester Ave.
Clay Station Studio, Dot-2-Dot Cafe Hold Grand Openings June 28 (7/8/2008)
Thanks to all who came out for the grand opening celebrations for Dot Art's Clay Station Studio and The Dot-2-Dot Cafe on Saturday, June 28. A good crowd welcomed Mayor Menino as he cut the ceremonial ribbon at both establishments - The Clay Station at 1782 Dorchester Ave. (at the corner of Shepton Street), and the Dot-2-Dot at 1739 Dorchester Ave. (just south of St. Mark's Church). It's fitting that these two ventures held their grand openings on the same day, because they've been helping each other out since they opened earlier this year: The Dot-2-Dot displays artwork by Dot Art graduates, and Clay Station students made the dazzling tile display that adorns the Dot-2-Dot's storefront.
Dot Day wrap-up (6/17/2008)
Thanks to all who marched and cheered on the SMAMS contingent in this year's Dot Day Parade on June 1! A special thanks to Mike Seigal and Ashmont Tire, who donated the "sweet" 1973 Mercedes that was the hit of the parade.
Community Meeting Thursday, June 12 re Proposed Transfer of O'Brien's Market Liquor License (6/4/2008)
Mr. Abu Zafar, who is planning to purchase O'Brien's Market at 1913 Dorchester Ave, has filed a petition to transfer the liquor license.
SMAMS and the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services are sponsoring a community meeting Thursday, June 12, 6:30 PM, at All Saints Church Hall, 209 Ashmont Street to get community input on this proposal. All are welcome to attend.
Mr. Zafar is looking forward to this meeting and to hearing residents' opinions. If you have any questions you would like to propose to Mr. Zafar, please send them to office@smams.org by Friday, June 6, and we will forward them along.
