Our good neighbors on the other side of the Neponset River are having a big celebration this weekend: the town of Milton this year is observing its 350th anniversary and three days of events are scheduled.

Officially, it’s Milton’s “Semiseptcentennial.” The town was settled in 1640, ten years after Dorchester, and incorporated in 1662, some 350 years ago.

This weekend’s events get under way on Friday night with a band concert at the high school just off Blue Hill Parkway, followed by a fireworks display at the lower fields of the high school at 9:15 p.m. Neighbors in Mattapan, Lower Mills, and Cedar Grove can expect to hear and perhaps see the display.

On Saturday, the anniversary parade (“The biggest in Milton’s History!”) begins at the high school at 2 p.m. and follows a route along Canton Avenue to Reedsdale Road to Pleasant Street to Cunningham Park on Edge Hill Road. Organizers say that some 25 bands will march.

Saturday night brings a band and drum corps concert at the high school field, featuring five bands, with the Mummers Woodland String Band as “special guests.” On Sunday, a town-wide picnic is planned for the town green on Canton Avenue. Organizers caution that there will be detours and road closings all weekend, especially during the parade on Saturday afternoon, which begins at 1 p.m.

Congratulations to the town of Milton and its 27,000 residents and best wishes for a warm, rain-free weekend of events.

– Ed Forry

Keep the spiritof Dot Day alive

Now that Dot Day has come and gone, there are still good opportunities to celebrate our community’s rich history. The Dorchester Historical Society, always at the leading edge of such observations, will help keep things going this month with a series of events meant to celebrate Dot’s Descendants. On June 23, Dot native Emily Sweeney will come to the Historical Society’s Boston Street headquarters for an illustrated talk on her book, “Boston Organized Crime.” On Sun., June 24, they’re planning a trolley tour of the neighborhood with a focus on history, of course. And, on June 29 the Dorchester Arts Collaborative plans to host a reception called “Dorchester Artists – Then and Now” that will be on display during the weekend of June 30 and July 1. Much more information on these events can be found online at the Dorchester Historical Society’s website or at facebook.com/DorchesterDescendants.

Sunday’s Dorchester Day Parade was another huge success, thanks largely to the volunteer committee that put it all together over the past several months. Thanks to all of the men and women who played a role, including Parade Committee president Marty Hogan, vice-president Christine Hogan, Parade Adjutant and webmaster Ed Geary, Jr., Secretary Mary DeMarino, Treasurer Joe Chaisson, historians George Hacunda and Dick Bennett, and Judge Advocate Karen MacNutt. Members include Jill Cahill Baker, Ruth Brown, Kelly Butts, Caroline Cahill, Kim Kostka Delano, Jean Donovan, Annissa George, Chris Hogan, Marie Marshall, Binh Nguyen, Pat O’Brien, Ed Pimental, Allyson Quinn, Peter Sasso, Pam Smith, Barbra Trybe, Suzyn Walsh, Joe Zinck and Lisa Zinck.

– Bill Forry