Explore... Get involved... Make a difference.
Welcome to the John W. McCormack Civic Association. The purpose of our volunteer Association is to help maintain and improve the quality of life in our North Dorchester neighborhood by working in partnership with the city government, local businesses and other community organizations to bring about civic betterment and social improvements for the good of residents and the welfare of the community.
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Next Monthly Membership Meeting:
Tuesday, 16th September 2025
(after the summer break)
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
(registration from 6:30PM)
St. Teresa of Calcutta Church Hall
NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC ART, DINING & SERVICES
Your neighborhood's public art
Neighborhood public art worth exploring:
The Clapp's Favorite Pear sculpture celebrates the history of Dorchester as fertile agricultural land, when the area near Edward Everett Square was part of a 300-acre estate and orchard where the Clapp's Favorite Pear was first grown in the 1880's. Known for it's sturdy skin and sweet interior, the pear serves as a metaphor for the people of Dorchester. Five quotes circle the base of the pear sculpture and describe the stewardship that characterizes this community over time.
The ten smaller artworks (Dorchester Voices/Dorchester History) reflect the lives of those who have passed though this important intersection. Each work juxtaposes experiences of different residences over time as two or three different personal quotes circle a sculptural still-life to reflect common stories from different epochs around the same theme. Designed to engage people through intimate touch and the exciting transformation of common materials into bronze, the artwork draws poetic comparison so local residents and visitors alike can understand and appreciate Dorchester's unique history.
Your neighborhood's dining, shopping and services
Your neighborhood is home to a vibrant collection of locally-owned and managed businesses that make our community a great place to live. You are invited and encouraged to visit the businesses that contribute to the betterment of our neighborhood.
- Accommodation
- Courtyard by Marriott, 63R Boston Street
- Holiday Inn Express Boston, 69 Boston Street
- Home2 Suites by Hilton, 15 Jan Karski Way
- Dining / take-away
- D.J.'s Market and Deli, 120 Boston Street
- 224 Boston Street Restaurant, 224 Boston Street
- Dot Tavern, 840 Dorchester Avenue
- Dorchester Brewing Company, 1250 Massachusetts Avenue
- The Avenue Grille and Pizzeria, 856 Dorchester Avenue
- Cafe Polonia, 611 Dorchester Avenue
- Sugar Bowl Cafe, 857 Dorchester Avenue
- Taqueria Casa Real, 861 Dorchester Avenue
- Great Wok Restaurant, 1284 Massachusetts Avenue
- JP Licks, 24 District Avenue (South Bay Center)
- 110 Grille, District Avenue (South Bay Center)
- The Pearl, 20B District Avenue (South Bay Center)
- Chipotle Mexican Grille, 27 District Avenue, (South Bay Center)
- Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, District Avenue (South Bay Center)
- Olive Garden, 11 Allstate Road (South Bay Center)
- Totto Ramen, 4 Lucy Street, (South Bay Center)
- Dunkin' Donuts, 847 Dorchester Avenue, 256 Boston Street
- Applebee's Neighborhood Grille and Bar, 11 Allstate Road (South Bay Center)
- Panera Bread, 8 Allstate Road (South Bay Center)
- Public transport
- Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
-
Subway
- Commuter rail
- Surface transport (Bus)
- Route 8 - Harbour Point, UMASS/Kenmore Square via Boston University Medical Center
- Route 10- City Point/Copley Square via Andrew Square Station
- Route 16- Forest Hills/Andrew Square Station via Columbia Road
- Route 17- Fields Corner/Andrew Square Station via Uphams Corner
- Route 18- Ashmont Station/Andrew Square Station via Fields Corner
- Route 41- Centre & Eliot Streets/JFK UMASS via Dudley Station
-
- Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
- Shopping
- Triangle Point Market, 777 Dorchester Avenue
- South Bay Center
- Stitch House Dorchester, 846 Dorchester Avenue
- Domestic Boot, 859 Dorchester Avenue
- New Store on the Block, 847 Dorchester Avenue
- Euromart, 808 Dorchester Avenue
- Gem Auto Parts, 204 Boston Street
- Super Stop & Shop, 1100 Massachusetts Avenue (South Bay Center)
- Services
- C. Lo Hair Studio, 831 Dorchester Avenue
- Savin Jones Insurance Company, 867 Dorchester Avenue
- The Law Offices of Russo & Minchoff, 123 Boston Street
- Orlan's Tailoring, 867 Dorchester Avenue
- Delilah and Linda's Unisex Beauty Salon, 863 Dorchester Avenue
- Olde Towne Real Estate Company, 862 Dorchester Avenue
- Ziggy's Tours, 827 Dorchester Avenue
- Unison Realty LLC, 835 Dorchester Avenue
- ScrubaDub Auto Carwash Center, 25 West Howell Street
- Other Services
- Dorchester Historical Society, 195 Boston Street
- Saint Teresa of Calcutta Church, 800 Columbia Road
- Speedway (gas/petrol), Dorchester Avenue at Columbia Road
- New England Regional Center for Carpenters, 750 Dorchester Avenue
- International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen, 64 Mount Vernon Street
- Pipe Fitters Association, 40 Enterprise Street
- Polish American Citizen's Club, 82 Boston Street
- Bank of America, (Banking Center) 1104 Massachusetts Avenue (South Bay Center)
- East West Bank, (Banking Center) 101 Allstate Road (South Bay Center)
- First Trade Union Bank (ATM/ABM only), 750 Dorchester Avenue (New England Regional Center for Carpenters)
FEATURED NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
DJ's Market, a Dorchester staple since 1979, is a third-generation family-owned Polish market and has grown into a beloved community hub. Famous for homemade pączki and Polish dishes, it also offers deli sandwiches, imported groceries, deli meats, and a new selection of European natural wines.
SERVICE DIVERSION
Bus shuttles will replace services between JFK/UMass and Kendall MIT, from 10th July 2025 to 13th July 2025 for signal upgrades.
LATEST NEWS FROM CITY HALL
BOS:311 is the City of Boston's award-winning effort to empower residents to help improve their neighborhood.
You can alert the City o neighborhood concerns such as parking issues, potholes, damaged signs, street cleaning, and graffiti, to name a few.
GET TO KNOW DORCHESTER @MeetBOSTON
Get to know the vibrant, inclusive, and diverse neighborhood of Dorchester! From Upham's Corner to Ashmont, Fields Corner to Four Corners, Dorchester offers bustling commercial districts alongside public parks, beautiful murals, and ethnic cuisine, including some of the best Vietnamese and Caribbean food in Boston.
Explore Boston's largest and oldest neighborhood, which is home to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum, Franklin Park Zoo, and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate and Commonwealth Museum. As you explore Dorchester, you'll discover delicious restaurants like 224 Boston Street Restaurant, dbar, and the Freeport Tavern.
EVENTS AND THINGS TO DO
Hump Day Trivia at Dorchester Brewing Company
Hump Day Trivia is here to get you through the week!
Grab a beer, some friends, and test your random fact recall!
Prizes:
First prize is a $30 Dorchester Brewing Gift Card, second prize receives a $20 Gift Card and third prize is a $10 Dorchester Brewing Gift Card.
Wednesdays from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Dorchester Brewing Company
Dorchester, MA 02125
"The first public schools, the first battles for American independence, the first abolitionist newspaper, Massachusetts has always been a leader in the quest for equal rights and opportunities.
The Commonwealth Museum brings the story to life with state of the art interactive exhibits. Its dramatic “treasures gallery” holds the great historic documents that protect our liberties. Spend an hour or an afternoon and share our common heritage."
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth
OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, 20th July 2025
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The Dorchester Historical Society celebrates nearly four centuries of Dorchester life through its collections and programs. Founded in 1843 and incorporated in 1891, DHS seeks to preserve and share the history of Dorchester, promote the preservation of historic buildings and sites, care for and exhibit articles of historic interest, and further education about and in the community.
Run by an entirely volunteer board, DHS offers monthly programs and publishes monographs relating to Dorchester history. The Society owns three historic houses, dating from 1661, 1765 and 1806, and a
c. 1850 barn; it also holds and exhibits collections of written and printed materials, furniture, paintings, items from the community's agricultural and
industrial past, and more.
MORE EVENTS AND THINGS TO DO
※ Discover fun events in Boston this week / week-end
Find your next great experience on MeetBOSTON's Calendar of Events. It provides the most popular Boston events, shows, sporting events, festivals, special happenings, family events, unique tours, and more. Find your Boston experience
※ Art and culture in the Berkshires this week
Serene mountain vistas, lush forests, and clear blue lakes define the Berkshire landscape, an idyllic setting for your next family vacation, romantic escape, or week-end with friends. Boasting more than 100 world-class cultural attractions, superior outdoor recreation, and a famous farm-to-table food scene, the Berkshires promises an unforgettable experience. Visit the Berkshires
You can help us create a safer neighborhood for everybody!
The Association works closely with local law enforcement agencies and your elected representatives to help keep our neighborhood a safer community for everyone to enjoy.
You are invited to help as well. If you see a crime or anti-social behavior such as human trafficking (prostitution), panhandling or illegal drug activity taking place, you can send a tip to report it, anonymously.
RESIDENT RESOURCES
Boston is one of the oldest cities in North America and one of the most liveable. To help you make the most of all that your city has to offer, you are invited to click on the following web links to helpful resources provided by the City, Commonwealth and your neighborhood's organizations.
- Animals and pets
- Business resources
- Education
- Your neighborhood schools:
- The William E Russell Elementary School (public)
- Roger Clap Elementary School (public)
- Boston Collegiate Charter School (public)
- Pope John Paul II Academy (Catholic)
- Boston's Public Schools
- Boston's Public Library System
- College Scholarships
- Your neighborhood schools:
- Elections and records
- Environment and trash collection schedule
- Trash and recycling collection schedule
- Leaf and yard waste collection schedule
- To report an abandoned shopping cart from a South Bay Center store phone 1 617 427 5551
- Elderly services
- Health and human services
- Housing and property
- Neighborhoods
- Public works and utilities
- Safety
- Student services (University/College)
- Transport and resident parking permits
- Uncovering Boston's history
- Utilities
- Electricity
- Gas (Natural)
- Heating and oil
- Water and sewer
- Youth services
- Veterans services
- Visiting Boston
NEWS AT-A-GLANCE
City & New England news
World news
ABOUT JOHN W. MCCORMACK
Image courtesy: TIME Magazine Cover 19th January 1962 - ©TIME Inc.
JOHN WILLIAM MCCORMACK
21 December 1891 - 22 November 1980
Mr. McCormack served as a member of United States House of Representatives from 1928 until he retired from political life in 1971.
McCormack represented the interests of our district as congressperson in the United States House of Representatives and later served as Speaker of the same governing body. All during his time in the legislature, Mr. McCormack and his wife, Harriet, lived in Columbia Road at Edward Everett Square, within the geographic boundaries of our Civic Association.
He triumphed over the forces of bigotry and poverty. On 10th January 1962 he was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives where he proudly and vigorously promoted the progressive domestic programs of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson - programs that were designed to advance the interests of civil rights, education and healthcare.
ABOUT US
The purpose of our volunteer Association is to help maintain and improve the quality of life in our North Dorchester neighborhood by working in partnership with the city government, local businesses and other community organizations to bring about civic betterment and social improvements for the good of our residents and the welfare of our community.
1995 - 2015
The John W. McCormack Civic Association celebrates 20 years serving our neighborhood. Thank you to everyone who volunteer their time and resources to help make our neighborhood an even better place to live, work and enjoy.
Executive Board
The McCormack Civic Association is governed by a volunteer Executive Board elected by members of the Association.
Executive Board:
- Gordon BEEBE
- Samantha BOSCH
- Matt MCALOON
- Christine MCCARRICK
- Alina MORRIS
- Elzabeth PITTNER
- Millie ROONEY
- Travis STEWART
- John ZARKAUSKAS
Committees
The Association works to accomplish it's objectives through the dedicated work of committees. The task of the committees is to consider and respond to issues presented from the neighborhood. You are welcome and encouraged to join a committee that is of interest to you.
Standing Committees:
By-Laws
The rules and regulations enacted by the Association to provide a framework for its operation and management have been approved by the Membership and can be found by clicking here.
Become a Member
Archived meeting agendas
Kindly click here to access an agenda from a meeting previously held.
Stay informed
Click here if you would like to be added to our e-mail list.
CONTACT US
You are welcome to contact us
To help us achieve our goal of helping to maintain and improve the quality of life within the geographic boundries of our neighborhood, please kindly include your address of residency in the body of your message.
Would you like additional information about our Association or to offer your support to our many endeavours? We would be delighted to hear from you. Simply use the contact form below, call us or write to us. We look forward to receiving your enquiry.
Our telephone number is:
1 857 220 7370
Our mailing address is:
John W. McCormack Civic Association
8 Saint Margaret Street
Dorchester, MA 02125
UNITED STATES
Our e-mail address is:
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