January 6, 2009: Singing for Our World

How have social justice themes made their way into Jewish music? With Cantor Rosalie Toubes of Temple Sinai as our guide, we will look at how composers use text and music to share their message. A not-to-be-missed evening with one of Boston’s most talented cantors!

Details:
Tuesday, January 6, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Temple Sinai, 50 Sewall Avenue, Brookline, MA, 02446

RSVP by Wednesday, January 5 to Elyssa at or 617-524-9227.

The house where Dan Yakovleff was murdered is on fire right now. 3 Alarm Fire Rages in Savin Hill. According to The Dorchester Reporter, suspect Steven Odegard no longer lives there.

FYI

In anticipation of dangerous icy conditions after an over night freeze, city officials have canceled all Boston public schools for Monday. Because of the upcoming holiday school will be closed on Tuesday as well – opening schools for one day would be a waste of city resources. Students will return to classes after the winter break on January 5th.

The Snow Emergency and Parking Ban in Boston was lifted this morning at 9:00 am.

This was confirmed by the Mayor's helpline 617-635-4500 and Boston's snow webpage:

http://www.cityofboston.gov/snow/

"12/19 10:00pm: The snow emergency and parking ban will be lifted at 9:00 am Saturday morning."

After hearing about cities all scurrying to cancel school tomorrow, I asked a few people what their towns were doing. One town government member - who declined to be identified or to identify his town - told me his mayor was being shortsighted and knee-jerkish.

According to my source, this Boston-area community has handled this first storm of the season with a complete lack of common sense. I've written a post over on my blog about the situation, and here's an excerpt...the entire piece.

BOSTON (WBZ) ---- After listening to the city's safety concerns related to drivers taking alternate routes in protest of proposed toll hikes, StopThePikeHike.org has cancelled the protest, which was scheduled for Tuesday.

The protest called for Mass. Pike drivers to avoid the tolls on Tuesday. Upon hearing of the Pike protest, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and the city's public safety commissioners sat down with representatives from Stop the Pike Hike to discuss safety concerns.

At first, it looks like boston.com is on top of things this morning. They've got a nice new headline: "State of emergency issued due to damaging ice storm," and a photo and cutline to match. But click on the shiny headline, and what do you get? A short metro update from 6:55pm last night.

Just before 10:30 AM, 6 or more marked and unmarked Boston Police cars raced up Marlborough Street, in the Back Bay, the wrong way, turned onto Mass Ave and headed into Cambridge.

I returned home and turned on a police radio and heard reports that a police car was damaged but the officer was not hurt.

The car was to be towed from 99 Sixth Street, Cambridge.

There was talk about a bank but I can't confirm that this was the reason for the chase or a separate incident.

Finally, a police official came on and thanked everyone - the dispatchers, officers involved in the arrest, anti-crime squad, detail and foot patrol officers who helped. He said that robberies are a big problem and this arrest will help.

Alecia Batson reports on a crack that starts at the foundation, goes at least 30 feet up and is large enough at some points to put your hand in. And it's on the Dartmouth Street side, right where the MBTA is doing its never-ending Copley work, which is why she's written an open letter to the T (speaking for herself, not the church) asking what it's going to do about it:

... The organ should not be played, now, as it could prompt large portions of the plaster to fall. This directly affects the Boston Secession concert that will take place there tomorrow evening, Friday, 5 December 2008, as the concert makes use of the organ. Will my friends' concert take place? We do not yet know. Tomorrow, structural engineers will determine if the sanctuary is even safe for habitation. Will church services take place this coming Sunday? Only time will tell. ...