Next time you go out to dinner you might want to check to see if the restaurant you’ve chosen has recently passed or failed its health inspection.
Did you know that over the last month 10 restaurants in North Dorchester have failed their inspection and another 13 eating establishments failed their inspection in South Dorchester?
Most of the violations seem pretty minor, but some of the inspection comments might cause a bit more concern:
“Management not overseeing employees and safe food handling practices.”
– Pho Hoa Restaurant
“Clean shelving of droppings.”
– Johnny’s Pizza & Subs
“Shrimp and pork being defrosted in the same bucket at room temperature.”
– Ba Le Fields Corner
“Interior metal of ice machine with rust like residues.”
– The Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
“At time of inspection 1 staff member doing food prep without proper hair restraint.”
– New Garden Restaurant
You can also search the Mayor’s Food Court for health inspection information for restaurants throughout Boston.
Remember, most restaurant owners are doing their best to play by the rules and thankfully the city inspectors are there to weed out those who aren’t.
Did you know you could make your own wine right here in Dorchester? That’s right, in fact your very own barrel full of wine!
The folks at the Boston Winery guide you through the entire process of wine making from crushing the grapes through bottling. Call 617-265-WINE (9463) for more information.
An interesting side note, the upcoming War of ‘04cable television series about the Irish mob in Boston is currently being filmed there.
Upham’s Corner Main Street is organizing a scavenger hunt contest with local businesses this holiday season. The winner who visits the most stores in Upham’s Corner on December 19th and 20th will win an iPod. You can pick up an entry application at the UCMS office at 594 Columbia Road Suite #302, call 617-265-0363 or email zach@uphamscorner.org
According to local business owners and program directors of Main Street organizations, the national economic crisis has started to affect business here in Dorchester.
However, views are mixed on just how badly Dorchester businesses are feeling the pinch.
“I don’t think we’ve felt the full effect yet . . . People haven’t said that business is terrible, but if the economic slowdown continues we might.” –Evelyn Darling, Fields Corner Main Street Program Director
“We’re struggling right now . . . The economy is really doing us small business guys in.” –Marc Stallworth, owner Courthouse Convenience store on Washington Street
“I think that we’re pretty much holding steady . . . Most of the storefronts are getting rented and are not open for long. Overall, people are still investing in this neighborhood.” –Dan Larner, St. Mark’s Area Main Streets Director
There is still evidence of new businesses opening in Dorchester. Search for new business licenses issued in North Dorchester and South Dorchester over the last few weeks (please note these listings also include reissued licenses for existing businesses).
An asthma study conducted by Tufts University’s medical school over 2005 and 2006 to determine why asthma rates were so high in Dorchester was recently published in the Journal of Asthma. The big headline from the study shows that asthma rates among U.S.-born blacks are three times higher than blacks living abroad.
Researchers proposed several different theories about why asthma rates are so high in Dorchester:
African-Americans spend more time inside exposed to mold and bug droppings than their counterparts abroad.
Blacks in less developed countries are exposed to more life-threatening diseases, helping to strengthen their immune systems.
To learn more about asthma prevention in Boston, check out the resources, programs and events produced by the Boston Urban Asthma Coalition or call the BUAC at 617.279.2271.
Tonight there is a fundraiser at the Blarney Stone to save the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. As part of the state’s budget cuts this past fall, the Institute lost a $75,000 grant, threatening to shut it down. Donors have already generously responded by helping raise $85,000.
The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute was founded by Clementina Chery after her son Louis was killed in 1993. The mission of the organization is to promote peace and unity through a variety of programs to prevent violence and to provide support to victims of violence.
When you look at the Boston Globe’s map of the homicides in Boston over the last year, unfortunately, there is still much work to be done by organizations like the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute.
If you are unable to attend tonight’s fundraiser, please still consider making a donation by sending a check to :
Louis D. Brown Peace Institute
1452 Dorchester Avenue
2nd Floor
Dorchester, MA 02122
Want to show your Dorchester pride by putting a “DOT” euro oval sticker on your bumper? You can buy one online for just $4.49. Not sure where to buy them locally, so let us know!
