Looking for Summer Youth Programs?
Apollinaire Play Lab has what you need! Apollinaire Play Lab is excited to announce visual and performing arts summer programming for youth ages 5-16! Scholarships and payment plans are available to all who need them.
Single Week Programs (July 1-26): Enjoy a variety of visual and performing arts activities, games and classes based around a weekly theme! Feel free to register for as many weeks as you would like!
Week 1 (July 1-5) : Magic – Explore the world of magic! Create your own fantasy world and uncover your own magical abilities!
Week 2 (July 8-12) : Myths and Legends -Dive into ancient stories of myth and legend! Meet new creatures and characters while you partake in mythical and legendary adventures!
Week 3 (July 15-19) : Science – Combine science and the arts! Hypothesize and experiment while you create new works and even new inventions!
Week 4 (July 22-26) : Around the World -Travel around the world in 5 days from the comfort of the Riseman Family Theatre! Discover new locations, art, music and culture!
3 Week Production Program (July 29-Aug 16):
Rehearse and perform a full show in just 3 weeks! Students will shine on stage over the 3 week program, while also cultivating a backstage and design skill set. This program will culminate in a free outdoor performance in collaboration with Apollinaire Theater Company’s professional summer production.
Do you love movies?
Apollinaire Play Lab is hosting a Movie Night on May 25 at 6p. Sit back, relax and enjoy a free movie with popcorn! Any age may join, but youth under the age of 10 must be dropped off and picked up by an adult.
All events and programs take place at Chelsea Theatre Works in the Riseman Family Theatre (187 Winnisimmet Street Chelsea MA 02150).
For more information and registration visit: www.aplaylab.com or email [email protected]
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden Pays $5,000 Civil Penalty
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden has paid a $5,000 civil penalty for violating the conflict of interest law by failing to stop his staff from issuing and by failing to withdraw a DA’s Office press statement aimed at discrediting his opponent in the 2022 Democratic primary election. Hayden signed a Disposition Agreement in which he admitted the violation and waived his right to a hearing.
an August 23, 2022 newspaper article described allegations that Hayden’s opponent in the September 6, 2022 Democratic primary, Ricardo Arroyo, had been investigated by the Boston Police Department for alleged sexual assaults when he was a teenager, the allegations became a focal point of the primary race. Arroyo sued the City of Boston for Boston Police Department investigation files he claimed would show the allegations were unfounded.
On September 2, 2022, four days before the primary election and 90 minutes before a court-ordered deadline for the City of Boston to provide investigation files to Arroyo, the Suffolk DA’s Office issued an official statement to the press announcing that the office had “reviewed the entire unredacted file regarding the sexual assault allegations,” that “nothing in the file suggests the allegations were unfounded,” and that “the campaign to sabotage the victim’s credibility is shameful.” The Suffolk DA’s Office statement was widely published by multiple news media outlets, many using it as a response to Arroyo’s claims. An article published in one outlet reported that “Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin R. Hayden released a statement saying prosecutors never deemed the case ‘unfounded.’”
Hayden was aware that his DA’s Office staff intended to issue a statement directly contrary to Arroyo’s public claims that the allegations against him were unfounded and challenging his credibility. Hayden took no action to prevent his staff from doing so and did not withdraw the statement after it was released. By these failures to act, Hayden knowingly or with reason to know used his official position as Suffolk District Attorney to secure for himself the unwarranted privilege of using valuable public resources for his own personal political advantage and violated the conflict of interest law.
“The authority and prestige of a District Attorney’s office and the worktime of its staff are valuable public resources to be used for the public good,” said Executive Director David A. Wilson. “Their use to discredit a political opponent in order to gain advantage in an election or for any other private purpose is prohibited by the conflict of interest law.”
The Commission encourages public employees to contact the Commission’s Legal Division at 617-371-9500 for free advice if they have any questions regarding how the conflict of interest law may apply to them.
Chelsea Uniting Against the War Prepares for May Day
Members of Chelsea Uniting Against the War – Chelsea Uniendose En Contra La Guerra gathered to prepare signs for the upcoming May Day March. This international holiday has its roots in the labor movement and was first celebrated in 1886, as part of the struggle for the eight-hour workday. On May 1st of that year, many thousands of workers across the country went on strike, demanding better working conditions and shorter working hours. The national strike was peaceful at first, but on May 4th, a bomb exploded at a labor demonstration in Chicago’s Haymarket Square, several people were killed and many others severely injured. The incident energized the labor movement and led to the establishment of May Day in 1889 as a day of labor solidarity and protest. The holiday, also known as International Workers’ Day, is celebrated in parts of the United States, throughout Canada, most of Latin America, Asia Africa, Europe and with tremendous enthusiasm in the annual rally with residents from Chelsea, East Boston and Everett.
For more information about Chelsea Uniting Against the / Chelsea Uniendose en Contra de la Guerra contact Joel 617-688-1197 (español) or Fran – 617- 821-4504 (English and Spanish) FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/chelseauniting.againstthewar.9
City, State Officials Attend MVES Legislative Breakfast
Mystic Valley Elder Services (MVES) recently hosted its 2024 Legislative Breakfast. The annual event brings together local and state officials to address MVES’ legislative priorities and how policy and budget decisions impact the lives of thousands of residents in Greater Boston.
This year, one of the Legislative Co-Hosts was State Senator Sal DiDomenico (Chelsea, Everett). The other Legislative Co-Host was State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian, who is also Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs.
Other officials, including State Representative Joe McGonagle (Everett) and State Representative Jeffrey Turco (Revere, Winthrop) also spoke at the event. They discussed issues impacting older adults and people with disabilities, and the budget challenges that lawmakers face that can affect services and programs.
Lisa Gurgone, CEO of Mystic Valley Elder Services, would like to thank all the officials who attended for demonstrating their commitment to the older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers in our community.
Special thanks to Patricia Bainton for sharing the story of how MVES impacted her life, and to the Board members and allies who support MVES’ mission of empowering the independence of older adults and people with disabilities.
Established in 1975, MVES is a non-profit agency that provides a wide range of resources and care. It serves 11 communities in Greater Boston. For more information, please call 781-324-7705 or visit www.mves.org.