SMAMS presents Around the World and Around the Way on Wednesday May 3, 2006, 7:00 PM, at Florian Hall, 55 Hallet Street, Dorchester. A $30 ticket includes dinner and four of the area's funniest comics! Tickets can be purchased online at www.smams.org or by phone at 617-825- 3846. Tables of 10 and sponsorships are also available

Doors open at 7:00, dinner is served at 7:30, and the laughs begin at 8:00. Featured Comics:

Dorchester?s own Deb Farrar- Parkman, one of the founders of the ColorStruck Comedy Festival, has been lauded by The Boston Globe as "one of the most consistently inventive performers" to emerge on the Boston comedy scene. The Emmy-Award winning producer and writer performs coast to coast and is a regular host of the Sunday night Women in Comedy series at Jimmy Tingle's OFF BROADWAY Theater.

Self-titled ?All-American immigrant? Joe Wong has spent every minute of his spare time reading novels, magazines, newspapers, and humor books to improve his understanding of America. His jokes range from ethnic, personal, political, and observational to the bizarre. His short film, Joe Wong for President, won Best Short Film in the 2003 Cambridge Fringe Fest, and Joe was a finalist in the 2003 Boston Comedy Festival.

Dorchester comic Mike Baker tells comic tales of growing up Irish and Catholic in Boston. He has opened for such national stars as Dane Cook, Louis CK, Damon Wayans, Lenny Clarke and Colin Quinn.

Andrea Henry, from Boston, is a regular at The Comedy Studio in Cambridge and can be seen performing at clubs and colleges all over New England. Andrea performed in the 2005 Rhode Island Comedy Fest and was a finalist in the Providence Sierra Mist Comedy Search. Andrea has had several of her jokes published in the book Love's Funny that Way, by Judy Brown.

Thank you to our sponsor, JXD Kids' Furniture, 1825 Dorchester Ave. JXD is one of the four businesses that recently moved into the new building on the formerly vacant "Banton Street Lot." Owner Francisco Gomes carries a nice selection of children's furniture and can also procure adult-size items. For more information about the store, feel free to call Francisco at 617-436-4781.

SMAMS will team up with the City of Boston for the annual "Boston Shines" cleanup campaign on Friday- Saturday, April 28 and 29.

Friday marks SMAMS' first participation in the corporate phase of the campaign. Our "Operation Clean Sweep" volunteers will deliver brooms to many neighborhood businesses, along with information on the business benefits of keeping a clean storefront area.

On Saturday we will focus on actual cleanup, working on Peabody Square and the area around St. Mark's Church.

Volunteers are needed for both events! The Friday session runs from 9:00 - 11:00 AM. We will meet at the ODWIN Learning Center, 1943 Dorchester Avenue, directly across from Ashmont Station. Refreshments will be provided courtesy of Dunkin Donuts.

The Saturday session runs from 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM, but we will probably finish before noon. Cleaning supplies will be provided by the City. Mulch for the Peabody Square Clock Park has been donated by Mount Washington Bank.

For those who plan to work in the St. Mark's Church area, the meeting place is St. Mark's Rectory, 20 Roseland Street. For the Peabody Square cleanup, please meet at All Saints Church parking lot, 209 Ashmont Street.

To volunteer, or for more information, please call Dan Larner in the SMAMS office at 617-825-3846. But if you just decide on the last minute to participate, come on down!

Mayor Menino will be holding his eighth annual "neighborhood coffee hours" in April and May. The Dorchester hour will take place Friday, May 12, 9:30 - 10:30 AM, at the Martin Playground, at the corner of Hilltop Street and Myrtlebank Ave.

Times and dates are subject to change. To confirm, or for more information, please call 617-635-4505.

Please support The Connection's sponsors:real estate broker John Nguyen and House Call Cat Grooming Service.

John Nguyen is a sales agent with Olde Towne Real Estate Company, 862 Dorchester Avenue. You can reach John at 617-979-1119, 617-861-7249 or jnguyen@oldetownere.com

House Call will groom your cat (or small dog) in your home, where they feel safest. The service offers waterless and full baths, pedicures, soft paws, brush and comb-outs, de-matting, shave downs and lion cuts. For information or to make an appointment call Cynthia Goodridge at 617-265-1800.