The city of Boston this week announced that street sweeping— and the related no-parking regulations that go with the cleaning— will go back into effect beginning this Sunday, April 1. Importantly, the city has changed the schedule of sweeping days to align with trash collection for some portions of Jamaica Plain and most of the Dorchester and Mission Hill neighborhoods. Take a look at the signage on your street now to see if there has been a change.

“These schedule changes will allow us to clean streets in a way that improves our operations and maximizes the benefits of sweeping,” Mayor Menino said in a statement. “I look forward to seeing our neighborhoods shine once again this spring.”

This year, City Hall is encouraging residents to sign up for its No-Tow automated alert system that e-mails users a reminder to move their cars the night before their street is swept so that they won’t be towed or ticketed — with a $40 fine. Go to cityofboston.gov/publicworks/sweeping to register and to get a full schedule for your street.

– Bill Forry

Reporter sponsoring Dorchester Day Parade Committee Essay Contest
The Dorchester Reporter is pleased to be the sponsor of this year’s Dorchester Day Parade Committee Essay Contest, which is open to all Dorchester children in the 6th through 8th grades or to any 6th through 8th grade student who attends a Dorchester school. Two prizes will be awarded to the winning essays chosen by a panel of local judges. The first place winner will receive a $300 gift card, while the runner-up will receive a $200 card.

All students who enter the contest will receive an award certificate. The entry and essay must be postmarked by May 20, 2013, to be considered for a prize.

The rules are as follows:
1.) The student must be a Dorchester resident or attend a Dorchester school.

2.) In honor of the 50th continuous year of the Dorchester Day Parade, the essay must be written about an invention that was created within the last 50 years so you can pick anything created between 1963-2013. Describe the invention, the reason why it is important, and why you chose this particular one.

3.) The essay must be between 500-600 words.

4.) Only one essay per student.

5.) The essay should be typed and double spaced.

6.) Sorry, no e-mailed submissions will be accepted. They must be put in the mail.

The two prizes will be awarded at the Dorchester Day Chief Marshal’s Dinner held at Florian Hall in Dorchester on May 31. The winners will be required to attend the dinner and will be asked to read their essays. They will also be invited to take part in the Dorchester Day Parade.

Students may download a flyer with the entry form at dotdayparade.com.
– B.F.