Would you like to help pick out Dorchester’s next piece of public art?
Here’s your chance: Earlier this year, The Mather School community put out a call to artists to create a permanent public art installation outside the school building on Meetinghouse Hill. A committee that included Mather parents and the Boston Art Commission has narrowed the submissions down to three finalists.

A two-week public exhibition of the proposals is now under way in the front lobby of the Mather School through Oct. 23. The artwork and related greenspace, part of the original call to artists, will be installed on the northwest corner of the school property, near the intersection of Church and High streets. It’s a high-profile site where many parents drop off their children each day. The selected artist will get final approval from the Boston Art Commission early next year.

According to organizers, “The area is highly visible, very active, and serves as an important bridge between the school and the surrounding neighborhood. The aim of the project is to transform the existing greenspace and its surroundings into a more welcoming, comfortable public site and functional school entrance.”

For more information about the process for picking the finalist, please contact christina.lanzl@urbancultureinstitute.org.

No more free flu shots at Carney

Carney Hospital’s longtime practice of administering free flu vaccinations at Dorchester churches and at the hospital itself has been discontinued.

“Unfortunately Carney Hospital will not be providing free flu vaccinations this year,” said Barbara Couzens, a community relations staff member at Carney.  “The program that made the vaccine available to us has been ended,” she said, noting that “physicians’ offices should have ample supplies of vaccine for patients and the major pharmacy chains, i.e., CVS and Walgreens, both offer vaccinations.”

The news will be a disappointment to many seniors who have used the Carney program for many years. Readers who are interested in finding an alternative option for free flu clinics should call the Mayor’s Health Line at 617-534-5050.