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July 2, 2010 - 12:55am
Cambridge City Councilor Denise Simmons reads the dedication while surrounded by Ms. Elder's family
(l-r) Dave, Marie, Renee, and Jamie
It was after Sunday church at the top of June, when Sister Renee said “They are going to dedicate a sign to my mother” And while I know I responded to her maybe even busted a big smile, my emotions about her mother wound up within, getting stuck in my throat like a thick frozen frappe that refused to go down. Over the past year, the freeze had come up too fast whenever someone mentioned my wise neighbor, the one who passed away on my birthday, the lady I called Ms. Elder…
Utter grey sky, rainy humid downpour, the weather respectfully mourned right along with family and friends who gathered on June 10th to dedicate the corner of Cherry and Harvard streets in Area 4 to Ms. Edith Brown Elder. Elder was loved, doted upon, by Renee and Marie her two daughters; she was adored in the community where she resided at 182 Harvard Street for 56 years. “Why should your mom be remembered?” asked this reporter and Renee said, “Because of who she was in the neighborhood. She was a selfless woman. Always wanting to help whoever she could. She was always teaching...
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June 21, 2010 - 6:00pm
Scores of children fluttered about like butterflies as they ran to and fro in the backyard of 71 Cherry Street. Nearly one hundred kids vied to either get the best spot on the long silver slide or to be the first to shoot three points in the b-ball hoop.
But in many cases kids simply reconnected with their fellow peers from the neighbor hood whom they have not seen since the last snow melted in spring. Hugs and smiles went the girls’ greetings, while boys passed out hand pounds and stern looks - this was the unifying start to the second annual Welcome Summer Cookout on Friday June 11th.
“We are all going to be here together in that we are going to continue to…bring peace to the Area 4 community” yelled Shayla, staff member at the Community Arts Center (CAC) in Area 4.SEE PICS http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonibeezSEE VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPazrnMqcHU
Peace and building relationships amongst youth and community agencies is the goal of the welcome summer events, an idea initiated in 2009 by Ardeene Goodridge. But Goodridge, the Area 4 coordinator, humbly admits that much of the cookout came to fruition due to efforts by the three youth focused agencies involved: The...
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March 29, 2010 - 4:56pm
A group of giggling teenage girls anxiously awaited, hoping a crowd would push through the drizzle, in order to see their best work last Thursday at Central Square Library on Pearl Street.
Their best work was a digital photography exhibit called Was.Am.Be and those presenting it were five young ladies in the Girls Group from the (TMP) Teen Media Program at the Community Art Center (CAC) in Area 4 Cambridge. “This exhibit is a culmination of the Girls’ Group winter session.”, said Elena Belle White program director . White feels, “It is an important step to go outside of your comfortable closed community and present to strangers you don’t know.”
The TMP girls who displayed their photos were: Amatullah Mervin, Skye Brooks-Dunkley, Akeira Parker, Nakia Clergeau, & Rose Merry
Digital art, celebratory lights, and TMP’s girls welcomed a swell of citizens & family, and board members who came out to support them. They explained their goal with the project then presented an appreciation award to Raina Matar, a female photographer who advised the ladies on their project.
“You have to let the kids know that they have a voice and someone wants to hear it” said Saquora Lowe. Lowe and...
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February 12, 2010 - 6:02pm
Last night red velvet chairs lined the stage and the aroma of Coast Café filled the hall of the St. Paul A.M.E. Christian Life Center as community gathered to gain insight about civil rights in Cambridge.
Over 200 people came out to hear a conversation called “Civil Rights: Policing, discretion, and race in Cambridge. The event was sponsored by Cambridge NAACP, The Massasoit Elks Club, and the Men of Color Task Force.
Keynote speaker Deborah Ramirez spoke vehemently was on fire as she spoke about her experience training police and the interesting culture she sense...NOW I gots much more to say and videos to show But I gots to head out the door and chat with yall later
Look at the picts and I'll get back at cha Cambridge - click here for more event photos!!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44968564@N05/sets/72157623422902164/
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January 15, 2010 - 5:59pm
Last Night, a somber air flowed thru the Boys Club gym at 119 Windsor Street in the Area 4 neighborhood. More than eighty people of Haitian descent and their supporters gathered in a spirit of unity and to seek any information about the island.
Members of Boston’s Haitian Consulate were on site to answer questions about the situation along with Mayor E. Denise Simmons, city councilor Ken Reeves, and even Cambridge Health Alliance mental health workers who provided counseling support if needed.
I GOT VIDEO even though I had to dash out at the start of the event. So check out brother Jacobs speaking to the people at http://blip.tv/file/3092187
Here are a two GOOD websites where the “Haitian massive” can get support in dealing with the challenge of the earthquake:
from theBoston Haitian Reporter newspaperhttp://www.bostonhaitian.com/haitiresource.html
The City of Cambridge’s Haitian support site is:www.cambridgema.gov/alert.cfm?alert_id=118
God Bless my people God Bless you Dearly
Toni Bee
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December 1, 2009 - 4:20pm
Over 50 colorful men of Cambridge attended a soul food cooking demonstration featuring Chef Anthony Brooks owner of Coast Café. www.coastsoulcafe.com
The event took place in November which is Diabetes Awareness Month and was put on by The Men’s Health League (MHL) who appreciated using the Elks Lodge on Bishop Allen Drive - a well known hub of social interaction in Cambridge.“
First Alison, who studied nutrition for years, provided a handout and gave a simple explanation about the 5-2-1 concept of eating. (5 fruits / 2 hours or less of television/ 1 hour of physical activity a day) She urged the men to drink water, eat less processed food and told them that “Insulin actually works better” when you exercise.
The more you cook. The more creative you are” said Chef Anthony Brooks who next showed the crowd how to cook long time soul food delicacies - black eyes peas, cabbage, fish, and chicken – with a healthy flair. Brooks praised the benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish and urged people to use more seasonings and less salt. He then served a scrumptious meal of the same food in the demonstration
Albert Pless who manages the Men’s Health league felt that he fulfilled his...
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October 29, 2009 - 10:25am
Hi Friends - Thanks to Colin at CCTV he has been patient enough to digitize Bee
THANKS - and no talking mess cause I am sleeeePyyyyy
bzzzzzzz
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October 23, 2009 - 8:57pm
Marian Darlington - Hope, Brian Corr, & Bishop Brian Greene chat at the Candidate's Night. photo by Toni Bee
More than 80 neighbors came out last night to the Pisani Center in Area 4 for and evening of politics, food, and friends. The Candidate’s Night featured 15 city councilor contenders who exposed resumes and laid out their political agendas in an attempt to gain votes for the two year position. For years residents in the neighborhood have desired to hear from the mouth of candidates and dreams were fulfilled on a warm evening in October. Area 4 for Peace organized the well planned event thanks to the efforts of coordinators James Pierre and Ardeene Goodridge. Nearby restaurants Izzy’s, Cammie’s, and Stephany’s supported the potluck event and soulful music invited neighbors into the doors of the forum.“You made it here, you get to listen, you need to take advantage…” urged Attorney Sean Hope, a member of Area 4 for Peace, just before introducing moderator Dennis Benzan. Benzan rotated five pertinent questions amongst the council hopefuls which ensured that all candidates got a chance to present their views. The moderator’s prepared inquiries ranged from youth violence...
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October 6, 2009 - 1:42pm
T’was the last Saturday in September, and the first weekend of fall, when I felt the call to try and “build community” once again in this area I call ‘the 4’. Birthday Party Time at the Margaret Fuller House commenced on that day despite various challenges. One issue was that we planned the event on the same dia as the city’s annual Danehy Park Day. Eeeek – I psyched myself out wondering, “Will they come?” But the masses did not leave me in despair…
Folks ages 89 to 11 came out to celebrate their births. They mingled and mused over memories as Michael Jackson thrill-filled the group with funky rhythms. (Ahhhh sugar) Smiles abounded as we filled ourselves with pies, sweet conversation and delicious cake donated by Barbara Alfano of Newtowne Court who too helped host the party. But I was scolded by “my” mothers - Mildred Cox, Elise Greene, & Sylvia Watson – all who felt (and I paraphrase) ‘next time give we real food too ’. “Yes Ma” – I promised them I’d get it right in October.
So you ask, “Where the party at, and the breakfast and how can I get my free on?” NOW the below events are free BUT the House is a non-profit so they always encourage donations (please).All of the...
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September 21, 2009 - 5:11pm
“I look at my environment and wonder where the fire went”, sang Lauryn Hill … so I left home ablaze in yellow, fuchsia, and orange on the last Friday of Summer 2009. Reflections of past season ran amuck my dome: the CCTV barbeque where my kids boogied to Zili Misik; how slow my hips healed after shaking rump at Cambridge’s Caribbean Carnival;the screeching of 8-year-old’s in dank, coal dark tunnels of Georges Island. With a partaay here and there, this summer’s salad was mixed in/deed.
But now it’s time for bidness and I find myself traipsing into autumn a teeny bit amped to write. C’mon now massive - you know y’all been choosing not to write, “fronting on your pen’s ” Or maybe you just do not have the time. Well I have cut out a space for you to flow your led (or pen instead), a slice of time to shoot out a line or three:*Writer’s Block
Thursday 9/24, from 5 to 6 p.m.
@t The Margaret Fuller House
71 Cherry Street, Cambridge, MA
Adults are encouraged to attend the forum where last time the theme was red. During feedback mode I got off my game then heard my self say ‘e’time I see that dude he makes my cheeks… Well things just tend float out (ahem). And really they should folks!...
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