Caleb’s Notes

I love these maps that the city puts out — simply useful.

44 of the 75 homicides reported in 2005 remain unsolved. Why is this fact lingering in my mind at the moment?

police.boston.gov/2005-unsolve...

The new Fields Corner Branch has officially been topped off!

Not only will it be the first BPL mass timber building, but it will also be the first branch built to meet the City of Boston's Zero Net Carbon standard for municipal buildings.

We can't wait to welcome the community into this space!

The former Jordy’s Men’s Store closed recently after 65 years in Codman Square, and North Side Family Sportswear closed 18 months ago. The two long-time retailers retired their businesses and left unoccupied spaces. An ATM once occupied a small space in the bank of stores. Seth Daniel photo

There’s no shortage of foot traffic in Codman Square’s business district, but destinations have dwindled for shoppers as commercial vacancies have accelerated at a pace that has community stakeholders concerned. www.dotnews.com/2025/imagini...

A preliminary rendering of the proposed new nursing and science building on the campus of UMass Boston. The building would bring three nursing locations under one roof on campus. Courtesy UMass Boston

UMass Boston files plans for nursing building, lays out its hopes for additional developments www.dotnews.com/2025/umass-b...

Maine's food pantries stare down volunteer shortage while anticipating cuts Maine has one of New England’s highest food insecurity rates. Directors of its food pantries say it’s getting harder to make sure people are fed not just because of diminishing federal assistance for food banks and increasing demand.

A majority of hunger-relief agencies in Maine rely almost entirely on volunteers to do the heavy lifting of distributing food. A collaboration with @themainemonitor, #ruralnewsnetwork

Crisp air, Crunching leaves, and golden trails await! Join a guided nature walk led by a Boston Park Ranger, and explore Scarborough Pond and its inhabitants.

Discover local wildlife, autumn plant life, and the history that shaped our parks!

🍂 www.boston.gov/calendar/walking-tour-franklin-park-0

Pennsylvania detectives killed in an ambush are remembered for saving lives and helping others The three detectives killed this week in one of Pennsylvania’s deadliest days for police officers this century are men who are missed for their humility, hard work and willingness to help others.

The three detectives killed this week in one of Pennsylvania's deadliest days for police officers this century are men who are missed for their humility, hard work and willingness to help others.

YouTube video by sdees Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age -by Norman Ohler [full audiobook]

Norman Ohler’s book Tripped maps out the origins of LSD. youtu.be/V9fzTwJ73M8?...

YouTube video by Beyond Homeless Beyond Homeless: Finding Hope | Full Film

“Drug addiction is a progressive disorder that ends in death,” Dr. Drew said in this eye opening documentary, Beyond Homelessness. “Leaving people untreated is murder.” youtu.be/6XQ-TteQbI8?...

Cybercriminals Have a Weird New Way to Target You With Scam Texts Scammers are now using “SMS blasters” to send out up to 100,000 texts per hour to phones that are tricked into thinking the devices are cell towers. Your wireless carrier is powerless to stop them.

NEW: Cybercriminals are increasingly being caught driving around cities with SMS blasters in the backs of their cars

These blasters connect to nearby phones, downgrade their connections to 2G, and then push scam text messages to phones

Some SMS blasters can reportedly send 100,000 texts per hour

How many of the 75 homicides that @bostonglobe.com reported at the end of 2005 are solved?

Kansas deputy charged with murder in the death of a man in custody A Kansas sheriff’s deputy has been charged with murder in the death of an inmate who sustained broken ribs after his back was kneeled on after he was wheeled from the infirmary to his cell.

A Kansas sheriff's deputy has been charged with murder in the death of an inmate who sustained broken ribs after his back was kneeled on after he was wheeled from the infirmary to his cell.

This week's print edition of the Dorchester Reporter is now in circulation across the neighborhoods. You can also read it here: www.dotnews.com/files/REP%20...

A 2024 rendering shows the 150 Centre St. project as proposed by Trinity Financial, Inc.

A 4-story building development that will replace a longtime auto repair yard with 72 new affordable units of housing next to the Shawmut MBTA station will move forward, according to developers who say a lawsuit challenging the project has been “resolved.” #Dorchester

www.dotnews.com/2025/shawmut...

Dorchester Reporter |

Voter turnout in #Boston as of noontime is 11.6% — or 49,650 total ballots cast so far, according to Election officials.
Go to www.dotnews.com for updates through the day and tonight

Only a small portion of the 2026 Boston city budget is going to District 5, says City Council candidate @winstonforboston.bsky.social — Pierre wants to change that, and if elected he will work to get more investment into Hyde Park, Readville, Roslindale and Mattapan.

One of the oldest Haitian radio stations in Boston, Radio Concorde broadcasts from Mattapan. Winston Pierre, a candidate for the Boston City Council, gave me a tour of his grandmother’s favorite radio station.

Winston Pierre’s top three issues, in his race for the District 5 seat on the Boston City Council, are Housing, Public Safety and Education. He’s seeking ways to keep rents affordable for seniors and young people. He advocates for clean streets. He champions job training for high schoolers.

What Russia stole, these Crimean Tatar authors endeavor to reclaim with literature To much of the world, Crimea is mostly synonymous with the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine — once a precious Black Sea resort, the peninsula was seized at gunpoint in 2014 and transformed into a...

Thrilled to contribute 3 translations to the anthology of writing in Crimean Tatar @arrowsmithpress.bsky.social
kyivindependent.com/what-russia-...

We’ve been dealing with these same sociological problems for decades, collectively. It’s hard to see symptoms — open drug use, loitering, flagrant scamming — and not write those off with a label like “unhoused people.”

“If he’s present, he’s looking out for you,” said Theresa “Trudy” Craddock, remembering what she learned from her cousin Bootsie, growing up around the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston. “If he had my hand I was fine. I jumped in ten feet of water, not knowing how to swim, because Bootsie had my hand”

Albert “Bootsie” Lewis’s name “will be present every time a kid nails their first ace. Every time friends pull off a long rally, and every time a young person starts to build their confidence here, and sees the glimmer of what they’re capable of,” Mayor Wu said at Almont Park on July 19th.

Enjoying the afterglow at the dedication ceremony for the tennis courts at Almont Park, Al and Dorothy Lewis celebrated their wins. They will have been married for 65 years in August.

“We’re just trying to contribute goodness to the park,” Earl Faulk said, standing on a hillside overlooking the basketball and tennis courts in Almont Park.

What a delight to be included in the effort to cover an often overlooked portion of the city, so close to where I grew up.

Albert “Bootsie” Lewis (himself) helped christen the tennis court at Almont Park this morning, celebrated by Mayor Wu and surrounded by family. Watch @dotnews.bsky.social for coverage details next week.

“Read things that don’t pertain to you.” - Charlamagne’s mom

Dorchester’s porch fest-style musical celebration, Dorchfest, returns to the Ashmont-Adams section of the neighborhood for a fourth season TODAY (May 31) from noon to 5 p.m.

Full schedule here: dorchfest.com

Graphic that reads, Boston's 2025 Bike to Work Day Friday, May 16, 7-9 AM, celebrate spring, community, and bike joy on City Hall Plaza, Register at: boston.gov.bike-to-work-day.

Celebrate Bike to Work Day Friday with friends and neighbors from all across Boston. Join a group ride from your neighborhood and enjoy free breakfast at our festival on City Hall Plaza. 🚲☕🥯

Sign up and learn more: boston.gov/bike-to-work-day.