Mt. Hope· Providence, Rhode Island

Meeting Minutes, Oct. 20th

Greater Camp Concerned Citizens

Minutes from Member Meeting of October 20, 2005

Introductions of members and invited guests led by Nada Petrovic

Invited Guests: Alan Goulet, Attorney’s General Office, Melissa Dubois, Attorney’s General Office, Councilman Kevin Jackson,
Rita Murphy, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, Lt. David Schiavulli, District 8 Commander,

Open Forum for Invited Guests Moderated by Nada Petrovic

Questions directed to Lt. Schiavulli

 Interest in Crime Watch
 Increase drug dealing and drug use in the Camp Street /Cypress Street intersection, Pleasant Street, and Camp Street between Cypress and Larch Streets
 Update on substation

Answers
 NOCD active in Mt Hope
 This district statistically the safest in Providence
 Issue of not enough manpower in the city
 NOCD just got four additional officers
 Providence is the only city in the US that has more firefighters than police officers
 Renovations on substation will be complete in the next few weeks; will be looking for volunteers to man the phones

Discussion about how the Attorney’s General Office affects Mt Hope presented by Alan Goulet and Melissa Dubois (Juvenile Division)

 Once an arrest is made the suspect is then charged
 AG office recommends that drug dealers are held without bail
 Any kind of drug dealing is a felony charge
 AG office recommends jail time for at least a year in all charges of drug dealing
 Court is reluctant to come down hard on juveniles; prefer to rehab them
 Citizens can file Community Impact Statements anonymously through the AG in drug dealing cases
 Prosecution liaisons are getting revamped

Questions for Rita Murphy and Kevin Jackson

 Why spent money on traffic calming instead of police officers?
 Why no traffic calming in Mt Hope?
 Request for no littering signs
 Sidewalk repairs
 Speed bumps
Answers
 Traffic calming project was paid for by bond money; could not be used to fund additional police officers
 Sidewalks do need to be redone
 City is responsible for maintaining all sidewalks; citizens cannot be held liable for condition
 1997 was the last time that sidewalks were redone (approximately 300)
 $1.2 million is set aside to begin sidewalk repairs in the spring
 Beta Engineering has the list of all sidewalks to be repaired
 Speed bumps are not a good idea; denied public services (ambulances, fire trucks, snow plowing, etc.)
 Trees are going to be planted in the island on the intersection of Camp and Rochambeau
 It was cobblestoned at the citizens request; did not want a park
 Bump outs are going to be painted so they are visible at night
 Community needs to interact with MONS and Kevin Jackson with requests and let them handle the problems
 Request for trimming low lying branches; call MONS at 421-CITY
 Police officers will be ticketing people who don’t shovel their sidewalk this winter

Crime Watch Update presented by Ellen Baver

 Need to meet with Lt. Schiavulli
 Want to implement Crime Watch on Woodbine Street as a test
 Member interest on Forest Street
 Crime Watch will try to meet in November

Transition Team presented by Nada Petrovic

 Call for member involvement in transition team
 Transition team will meet in November to start discussing a charter, bylaws, member recruitment, and the 2006 agenda
 Currently ten members on the transition team

A big hand, please, for Jen, for producing these detailed minutes, and for Nada for moderating the meeting, and for everyone who helped out. A good job was done by all.

Posted at 03:13 PM | GCCC | Comments (0)

Website Stats & Factoids

The last time I updated website stats was August 18th and August 24th. The last time I reported on Hits and Visitors the Mt. Hope Community Website had received 173,451 Hits and 8,103 Visits: Website Statistics, August 18th.

Today, those numbers stand at 300,940 Hits and 12,178 Visits.

We have nearly doubled our traffic since late August!

In July, we recorded 42,942 Hits and 1,651 Visits.

In September, 66,505 Hits and 1799 Visits.

In addition, just in October, we have added a number of new international sites of origination for visitors:

Hong Kong,

South Africa,

and

Taiwan.

In October, we welcomed visitors from at least 9 different countries.

For the complete list of countries, visit our archives, August 24th, Scope Internationale: I add the flag symbols and country names as they visit. To date we have received visits from over 18 countries. Who are these people?

On the August 25th post, Funny, Ha, Ha, I documented some of the humorous search terms that were used to access our website. If you click on the continuation of this post you will find all the search terms so far for October: hmmn, interesting.

SEARCH TERMS USED IN OCTOBER 2005

ellen baver 4 3.5 %
crime stories in providence rhode island 3 2.6 %
community impact statement - crime 3 2.6 %
mount hope fence 2 1.7 %
kevin kazlauskas 2 1.7 %
acadian driftwood gypsy tailwind 2 1.7 %
behavoir of delinquency in to a young boy and a young woman? 2 1.7 %
oriana diaz providence
c-24-91-15-176.hsd1.ma.comcast.net

mount hope community providence 2 1.7 %
mthope-eastside 2 1.7 %
mount hope rhode island 2 1.7 %
www.mthope-eastside.org 2 1.7 %
eastside of providence photos 2 1.7 %
mount hope weblog 2 1.7 %
mount hope wine 2 1.7 %
william fowler crime ri 2 1.7 %
brian laferte 2 1.7 %
david n. cicilline lead paint 2 1.7 %
cypress street condos ri 1 0.8 %
rhode island gang websites 1 0.8 %
did people enjoy neighbors by raymond carver 1 0.8 %
mthope-eastside.org 1 0.8 %
nechama baver 1 0.8 %
hugger amma stabbed 1 0.8 %
illegal drug crime in providence rhode island 1 0.8 %
lenny mt. hope 1 0.8 %
william fowler providence crime 1 0.8 %
crack user and faces 1 0.8 %
rhode island free spaying & shots 1 0.8 %
helping animals fact sheets rhode island 1 0.8 %
mthope-eastside yahoo group 1 0.8 %
mount hope providence crime 1 0.8 %
gangs in providence rhode island 1 0.8 %
thomas refusal to mourn 1 0.8 %
saint kevin s school rhode island 1 0.8 %
booster crime rate music on mine 1 0.8 %
rhode island ecco depot 1 0.8 %
address for ripta stop kennedy plaza providence 1 0.8 %
providencepolice 1 0.8 %
dir 1 0.8 %
mt. hope providence neighborhood nada 1 0.8 %
providence shooting 1 0.8 %
providence murder 1 0.8 %
eastside gangs 13 1 0.8 %
basement wall construction in providence 1 0.8 %
stephen paine rhode island 1 0.8 %
teaching childern basketball 1 0.8 %
acadian driftwood 1 0.8 %
community dental providence rhode island 1 0.8 %
condominiums and mount hope and providence ri 1 0.8 %
deer storking 1 0.8 %
the roger mowry house 1653 1 0.8 %
nada petrovic california 1 0.8 %
providence ri news hope high 1 0.8 %
camp street providence marginalized 1 0.8 %
rhode island animal noise ordinance 1 0.8 %
shabnam 1 0.8 %
mount hope section of providence rhode island 1 0.8 %
substation beatings providence 1 0.8 %
could i measure up? sisters seattle charity providence 1 0.8 %
rhode island bank robbery statistics 1 0.8 %
firemen in ri 1 0.8 %
rhode island water fire city scape jpg 1 0.8 %
mentally challenged schools in rhode island 1 0.8 %
organizational proportions regarding at risk youth in rhode island 1 0.8 %
shootings in providence ri on october 13 2005 1 0.8 %
alix ogden 1 0.8 %
providence rhode island housing bubble 1 0.8 %
rhode island graffiti forums 1 0.8 %
tuesday s providence journal 1 0.8 %
north-burial-ground providence 1 0.8 %
laura pisaturo 1 0.8 %
rebbies jackson s daughter 1 0.8 %
rhode island pocketbooks 1 0.8 %
rhode island 1937 photo 1 0.8 %
projo letters august 29 2005 invisible people in the sky 1 0.8 %
gccc mount hope 1 0.8 %
how far to newport rhode island from providence rhode island 1 0.8 %
player photos providence rhode island mount pleasant high school 2004 1 0.8 %
mt hope ri 1 0.8 %
guy shot in providence for stealing purse 1 0.8 %
houses sold in providence rhode island 1 0.8 %
how was the life of the childern in the colony rhode island 1 0.8 %
louise gluck formaggio 1 0.8 %
cicilline lies 1 0.8 %
crimes committed in the 15th century 1 0.8 %
gypsy tailwind canadian 1 0.8 %
whipple house providence 1 0.8 %
readers digest amritanandamayi 1 0.8 %
shootings at mambo nightclub in providence ri. 1 0.8 %
al buco providence 1 0.8 %
david n cicilline homosexual

Posted at 10:59 PM | Website | Comments (0)

Desolation Row

They're selling postcards of the hanging
They're painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor is filled with sailors
The circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner
They've got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker
The other is in his pants
And the riot squad they're restless
They need somewhere to go
As Lady and I look out tonight
From Desolation Row

Cinderella, she seems so easy
"It takes one to know one," she smiles
And puts her hands in her back pockets
Bette Davis style
And in comes Romeo, he's moaning
"You Belong to Me I Believe"
And someone says," You're in the wrong place, my friend
You better leave"
And the only sound that's left
After the ambulances go
Is Cinderella sweeping up
On Desolation Row

Now the moon is almost hidden
The stars are beginning to hide
The fortunetelling lady
Has even taken all her things inside
All except for Cain and Abel
And the hunchback of Notre Dame
Everybody is making love
Or else expecting rain
And the Good Samaritan, he's dressing
He's getting ready for the show
He's going to the carnival tonight
On Desolation Row

Now Ophelia, she's 'neath the window
For her I feel so afraid
On her twenty-second birthday
She already is an old maid
To her, death is quite romantic
She wears an iron vest
Her profession's her religion
Her sin is her lifelessness
And though her eyes are fixed upon
Noah's great rainbow
She spends her time peeking
Into Desolation Row

Einstein, disguised as Robin Hood
With his memories in a trunk
Passed this way an hour ago
With his friend, a jealous monk
He looked so immaculately frightful
As he bummed a cigarette
Then he went off sniffing drainpipes
And reciting the alphabet
Now you would not think to look at him
But he was famous long ago
For playing the electric violin
On Desolation Row

Dr. Filth, he keeps his world
Inside of a leather cup
But all his sexless patients
They're trying to blow it up
Now his nurse, some local loser
She's in charge of the cyanide hose
And she also keeps the cards that read
"Have Mercy on His Soul"
They all play on penny whistles
You can hear them blow
If you lean your head out far enough
From Desolation Row

Across the street they've nailed the curtains
They're getting ready for the feast
The Phantom of the Opera
A perfect image of a priest
They're spoonfeeding Casanova
To get him to feel more assured
Then they'll kill him with self-confidence
After poisoning him with words
And the Phantom's shouting to skinny girls
"Get Outa Here If You Don't Know
Casanova is just being punished for going
To Desolation Row"

Now at midnight all the agents
And the superhuman crew
Come out and round up everyone
That knows more than they do
Then they bring them to the factory
Where the heart-attack machine
Is strapped across their shoulders
And then the kerosene
Is brought down from the castles
By insurance men who go
Check to see that nobody is escaping
To Desolation Row

Praise be to Nero's Neptune
The Titanic sails at dawn
And everybody's shouting
"Which Side Are You On?"
And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot
Fighting in the captain's tower
While calypso singers laugh at them
And fishermen hold flowers
Between the windows of the sea
Where lovely mermaids flow
And nobody has to think too much
About Desolation Row

Yes, I received your letter yesterday
About the time the door knob broke
When you asked how I was doing
Was that some kind of joke?
All these people that you mention
Yes, I know them, they're quite lame
I had to rearrange their faces
And give them all another name
Right now I can't read too good
Don't send me no more letters no
Not unless you mail them
From Desolation Row

Poem of the week: Robert Zimmerman (Bob Dylan) (for James)

Posted at 09:52 PM | The Arts | Comments (0)

Grafitti in Mt. Hope

Grafitti is back with a vengence

A member reports that the City has only a two man crew assigned to grafitti removal and that that is not their only duty. Does that make sense to you?

Community Garden Sign

This is the sign for the Community Garden. Who would deface their own community? Who teaches these kids their values, anyone?

When you look at this expression, in one way you are looking at the expression of ignorance. Chances are the parents or relatives of the kid who did this use, and love, the Community Garden.

BTP Retaining Wall above garden

Retaining Wall

The retaining wall above the Community garden. Believe, me it looks much worse in reality than it does framed in my photograph.

Cypress Street Overpass

Grafitti is back beneath the under pass of the Cypress Street Walkway. This time it looks more ominous. I do not know how to interpret these symbols. Is it gang related? You tell me.

Overpass Sidewall

SideWall

Two shots of the sidewall of the Cypress Street Overpass. Somebody feels comfortable enough of not being caught by the police that they stand there for some time to deface our city property in this way.

A Disturbing Trend?

Last, but not least, the most disturbing grafitti I found, the grafitti on a person's home on Knowles Street. It is more disturbing because it entailed an invasion of private property and vandalism of private property, a Mt. Hope tax paying citizen's home.

Grafitti on Mt. Hope home (Private Property)

Can anyone tell us what this symbol in red means? What does the perpetrator mean by the words "Black Fam"? It looks to me like the grafittier was writing "Black Family" when he/she/it had to run away and leave the word incomplete, "Fami . .". But what's it all mean. The house is owned and occupied by a long time, caucasian Mt. Hope resident.

If it bothers you . .

If the growing incidents of grafitti defacing property in our community, including private property, disturbs you, you should contact the people whose job it is run our City and to police our streets: your Councilman Jackson, your Police Chief Col. Esserman, and your Mayor, David Cicilline.

John Twomey

Posted at 04:17 PM | Issues | Comments (1)

Pleasant Street Drug Dealing

Suspected Drug House Identified

Crime Watch members report a great deal of what looks like alleged drug related activity at 107/109 Pleasant Street.

Most of the activity involves the second floor tenants. Crime Watch reports that cars are pulling up all hours of the night, beeping, people yelling up to the windows, going up to the the apartment, staying a short time then leaving. Soon, another car pulls up, and the sceniario repeats itself.

Some seemingly related activity is alleged to also take place in the first floor unit.

Can we find and contact the owners to notify them of the illegal activity on their property?

Crime Watch reports no police activity or visibility on Pleasant St. around this location or during this activity.

Crime Watch reports that another house poetntially involved in drug related activity, 117 Pleasant, has become much more careful in their activities since the Crime Watch first reported the location but that their activity still looks a lot like drug dealing.

Crime Watch is reporting the activity to Disctrict 8 Police and asking them to notify NOCD to investigate.

Anyone having any information to add e-mail Crime Watch

John Twomey

Posted at 03:29 PM | Issues | Comments (0)

Incident on Lancaster?

Incident on Lancaster -- any word?

Around 11:00 pm last night I heard a woman screaming outside my house. I checked the corner of Camp and Woodbine Streets (the usual suspect for noise) and saw nothing. The screaming continued and I finally located it somewhere behind my house.

I opened my window and I could make out that she was screaming words, "Help me! Help me! He's raping me!" Shaking, I quickly grabbed the phone and called 911. As I was on the phone I continued to hear her screaming, along with a man's voice. I couldn't make out what he was saying, but she was screaming "He's lying!" The operator transferred me to the police where they took all my infomation again and then told me I could hang up.

I listened to the screaming for a several more minutes before I saw an officer drive by on Camp Street and the woman screamed for him. He turned down Lancaster Street and the screaming stopped. I'm not sure what happened after that. Anyone else in that area witness this last night?

Posted at 11:28 AM | Issues | Comments (5)

Re: Getting Out the Word

I agree but disagree

Okay, maybe I'll be the dissenting voice here. While I agree that word needs to get out, I personally don't like the idea of it being widely publicized with fliers. While obviously this is a public forum, I feel fairly comfortable that I know who my audience is.

A major focus of this blog is highlighting the crime that goes on here in Mt Hope, whether we like it or not, and I would not feel comfortable posting in the manner that I do now if I knew there was a potential for those who are committing the crimes to be reading it.

I feel like the fliers would invite those this blog is aimed to bring down (the thiefs, the drug dealers, the thugs) to find us. And yes, personally, I would fear retribution.

The argument has been made that the petty criminals in Mt Hope are not sophisticated enough, if that is the right word, to find or use something like this blog to their advantage. I don't agree. When Josh had his computer and briefcase stolen, the suspect was on a computer (not Josh's) within two hours trying to use his credit card number. I think they may be more sophisticated than we give them credit. There are definitely some criminals who have or have access to a computer.

Unless we are going to lift the policy on posting anonymously, I would prefer to see the blog advertised by word of mouth, much like the GCCC. That's how I found it, and I have encouraged many of my likeminded neighbors to discover and use it. It may not be as effective as a flier campaign, and may require more work on the part of the regular blog users, but I think it would preserve the essence of the blog that we enjoy now.

Anyone else feel the same?

-Jen

Posted at 11:21 AM | Website | Comments (0)

Getting the Word Out

Posters & Fliers to get more posters (the people kind)

One possible reason why we do not have more people participating in the weblog may be that many of our neighbors do not know about it. I only found out about it by accident during a web search.

GCCC might put together a flyer that we can post on phone poles and trees in the neighborhood alerting residents to the GCCC and its web site. Blogs usually are very popular on the Internet, so that might increase awareness of and interest in our organization and the web site.

Peter C.

Posted at 01:16 PM | Website | Comments (1)

Meeting Impressions

Last Thursday's Member's Meeting

I could not attend last Thursday's meeting. How did it go?

I would like to hear people's impressions of the meeting, the guests, what they had to say, the topics covered, the pro's and the con's, what could GCCC do better, and what suggestions can you make, and what are you personally willing to do to help us improve in the areas in which we may need improvement.

The more details you can provide in your comments, the better. For instance, an assessment of what guest speakers said should provide some detail along with your commentary.

That is what this forum is for, for members to discuss the issues relevant to our neighborhood. It still seems under-used, doesn't it?

Not enough posters, not enough opinions, not enough ideas.

Please submit your impressions of the meeting as blog-entries and not as "comments". Thanks.

John Twomey

Posted at 11:38 AM | GCCC | Comments (2)

Re: Eyewitness Report

Eyewitness Report

As an attendee at last week's Greater Camp Concerned Citizens meeting, I have to agree with John's assessment. I was dissatisfied with the Lt's reaction to our concerns about the open air drug market we deal with at the Crossroads. To say that the area is not the worst in the city and saying that drug dealing occurs even on Blackstone Blvd. is not the answer we expect from the police. It is the same as saying, "Well, everyone's doing it. You have it good here."

I have signed on as a member of the group's Transition Committee even though I have my condo on the market and intend to leave the neighborhood as soon as it sells. My rationale: At least perhaps the neighborhood will be better after I leave if we take action to demand the elimination of drug dealing, which is responsible for the increase in break-ins. It certainly will make it easier to sell the place if the drug dealing is eliminated.

And, it looks like the graffiti has returned to the Cypress Street underpass. Can't they put a graffiti-resistant paint on the underpass so that it would be easier to erase it?

Or do we have to go all out to get the city to remove it every other week?

Peter Cassels

Posted at 02:17 PM | Issues | Comments (0)

Murder, Violence, Police

FRESH OFF THE WIRE:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) --

Providence police say a 42-year-old woman who died in a hospital yesterday was murdered.

A maintenance worker found the victim, Lucy May Daniels, inside a second-floor apartment in the city’s Mount Hope section around noon. She was taken to Rhode Island Hospital and pronounced dead four hours later.

Her death is the 19th homicide in Providence this year. Police say no one lived in the apartment where Daniels was found. She lived elsewhere in the city, but police would not say where.

No arrests were made in the case by last night.

- - - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - -- - - -

Submitted by Uri Baver

- - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - - - - - -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

EYEWITNESS REPORT:

A resident reported a big, big, violent bru-ha-ha outside the nightclub across from the Shell station on North Main Sunday Morning between 12:00 and 1:00. The scene drew at least 3 Police cars, two ambulances, and one fire truck.

Don't expect to see anything about it in ProJo or in the Police Stats.

Because this type of thing is better kept underneath our "Pollyanna" hats. Just ask City hall. That is where they keep it. And they know just where to keep "It".

We, in Mt. Hope, want to keep things "positive" in Mt. Hope. We don't want to offend the "POLICE."

Spoken with sarcasm:

And because we want to give prospective home buyers the impression that Mt. Hope is a great neighborhood, and because if more white, middle-class home buyers buy in Mt. Hope, it will drive all of our property values up, and because the quicker our property values go up the sooner we can all sell and move out of Mt. Hope . . . the better!

End sarcasm

Because, after all, who would want to live here?

Who want's to see junkies every day? With their zombie eyes?

Who want's to see drugs sold every day?

Who want's to live in fear of their home getting broken into?

Who want's to fight a battle every day, that they should not have to fight: to live in peace, to live in a neighborhood where the laws are upheld?

Not I.

You?

John

Editors note: The above post reflects the feelings, experiences, or the opinion of the writer (John).

Blogs are a medium for people to express their indivdual viewpoints and these should not be construed as being the viewpoint of GCCC or of the Mt. Hope Community Website.

Posted at 08:31 AM | Issues | Comments (1)

Member's Meeting Thursday

Greater Camp Concerned Citizens

MEMBERS MEETING

Thursday, October 20th, 6:30 pm
Rochambeau Branch Public Library
708 Hope Street

Agenda

TAKING MT. HOPE INTO THE FUTURE

Invited Guests Attorney General Patrick Lynch, Representative Gordon Fox, Councilman Kevin Jackson, Rita Murphy, Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services, District 8 Police Representative

1. Welcome/Introductions
2. Agenda/2005 Recap
3. Guest Speakers
4. Crime Watch Committee Report
5. Reorganization/Transition Team Report
6. Finance Report
7. Member Q & A

Posted at 01:35 PM | GCCC | Comments (0)

Poem of the Week

I Begin to Resemble an Old Man

Eggs shelled into a bowel.
The fork then enters the yolk
And swirls them (the eggs),
Incorporating the yellow into the white,
And these will be scrambled
In butter, in a cast iron pan,
Over low heat,
And the light, fluffy, perfect curds
Will be served, heaped onto warm china
And garnished with thin, sliced scallions,
Curled, on top.

Now, I like things, just so.

But it was not too long ago
That I was too fast
To go too slow.

I got so caught up
In the 6/8 jam.

But now I am beginning to resemble
That which I am becoming.

Damn!

John Michael Twomey, 10/16/05

Posted at 12:01 AM | The Arts | Comments (0)

A Passage to Lisbon . . .

For a long time now, my daughter and I had planned to visit Europe together. When we finally decided to do it this summer, we set our eyes on Italy or Spain. My travel agent gently suggested that a trip to any of those countries in July would be “crazy!” and would we consider Portugal? I had never been to Portugal and said “why not”? It turned out to be one of the best trips we have ever taken. I not only recommended it to everyone, but I also plan to return to Portugal soon. These are some of what Lisbon has to offer:

A Lisbon Cityscape

Set across a series of hills overlooking the broad Rio Tejo (River Tagus), the city is rich in history, architecture, and offers a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The population is around 2 million but with the laid back energy that makes you forget you are in a large city. Comfortably warm from April to October, cool Atlantic breezes make it more enjoyable than other cities with the same altitude. Lisbon once controlled a maritime empire that stretched from Brazil to Macau. The Great Earthquake of 1755 destroyed much of the city, and today’s buildings date to the late 18th and 19th century.

Lisbon Street

Another Street Scene

The outdoor cafés along cobblestone streets, and a buoyant nightlife offering a range of music from traditional fado to jazz to African and Brazilian beats make this one of the most fun cities I have visited. The people are friendly, and besides Portuguese, most of them speak English as well as French.

Peasant Dance

As for the food, you can never get enough of the rich tasting coffee, the fabulous pastries, or the delicious fish and steaks.

Lisbon is divided into several districts, each with its own rich history. Baixa is filled with cafes and shops, and it is the hub of daytime activity. Alfama is the oldest, traditional district rich in art and pottery, with the St. George castles overlooking its winding streets. Chiado and Cais do Sodre offer elegant shopping. Bairro Alto has some of the best restaurants and night clubs, as well as the cities’ funicular railways, called elevadores. Belem, a historic district along the river, is where the old maritime explorers set sail, and holds the Torre de Belem, Lisbon’s most recognizable landmark. You can get around easily in Lisbon through public transit which includes buses, trains, and the subway.

Castle

chapel

When you take in enough of the city life, you can take the train out to the beautiful coast. Make sure you stop in Estoril, where the largest casino in Europe resides, and in Cascais, with its beautiful beaches and many restaurants. And last but not least, the town of Sintra, home of the historic castles and mansions of the once rich and famous.

Shrine

This was all we could accomplish in a week’s time, but it is a place I highly recommend to anyone planning to get away to a beautiful, friendly and relatively inexpensive city in Europe.

Shabnam Hashemi

Posted at 08:21 PM | The Arts | Comments (5)

Thank You RedSox

WE SHALL WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR!

The Dance is Over

Only the Lonely go home

See ya next year Papi & Manny, God willin’

There are new Sox in town and they are White.

Congratulation Chicago White Sox.

Although our Red Sox got swept by the White Sox, they provided us with a highly entertaining, albeit sometimes grueling, season, with many highlights especially Big Papi’s late season heroics. Unfortunately, they just weren’t built for greatness like last season’s World Champions. Pitching and defense wins ballgames as the White Sox showed us. So it’s "wait till next year" for our Red Sox.

But I’m pulling for these boys in the white hose to go all the way.

John Twomey

Posted at 09:54 PM | Community | Comments (0)

Crack User on Doorstep

Crack user on my doorstep

It is just after 2 p.m. and I went out to retrieve my mail. I spotted a young man sitting next to the building Dumpster. He said hello. I went inside, looked out the window and saw him smoking crack. This is next to the convenience store at Cypress and Camp (which ought to be closed because of the element it attracts).

I thought the cops had cleaned up the drug problem in our wonderful tony neighborhood.

Peter Cassels

Update:

After I wrote that blog entry, I then went around the corner to see if someone was in the police station. As I did so, I spotted the same guy doing a deal next to the entrance to the convenience store.

Luckily, the Lt. was in the district station, but no one else. I described the guy, who was white (green jacket and blue jeans, very very thin). The dealer was a young black guy. By the time he [Lt.] got off the phone, the guy and the dealer were gone. The Lt. did "take a walk" though, but came back empty-handed.

The thing that bothers me the most is that it happened next to the district station, in broad daylight (the smoker and the deal) at about the time school gets out and the intersection is filled with kids on their way home.

What can we do to shake up the cops to do more than they are doing?

For one thing, it seems to me that a concentration of undercover drug detectives could clean up the Crossroads in a matter of a few weeks. Undercover stings would send the message that drug dealing will not be tolerated in Mt. Hope.

Peter Cassels

Editors note: The above post reflects the feelings, experiences, or the opinion of the writer (Peter).

Blogs are a medium for people to express their indivdual viewpoints and these should not be construed as being the viewpoint of GCCC or of the Mt. Hope Community Website.

Posted at 02:41 PM | Issues | Comments (1)

Lancaster Break-in

Break in on Lancaster

Long time resident Fernando came home Saturday at 7:30pm to find his home had been burglarized. He had left the house at 6pm. They stole a 19 inch TV, video games and jewelry. Fernando is most upset about a bracelet with charms that he has had for many years. He has filed a police report and continues to ask for leads for the return of his bracelet.

Naama Gidron

Posted at 02:50 PM | Issues | Comments (0)