The City's Transportation and Public Works Departments will host a public meeting Thursday, Nov. 16, to finalize many of the design elements for re-routing the streets leading into Peabody Square. The meeting will take place at 6:30 PM, at All Saints Church Hall, 209 Ashmont Street.

The new design will improve traffic flow, simplify pedestrian crossings, and create space for use as plazas, landscaping and art.

At the meeting, the City will present:

• Detailed plans of the design (which has evolved since the June 2006 design portrayed here)
• Streetscape, landscape and other materials preferred for the Square
• An update on the project schedule and how it will be coordinated with other ongoing initiatives such as the Dorchester Avenue Project

The Peabody Square Tree Lighting and holiday party will take place Saturday, Nov. 25, 6:30 PM at the Peabody Square Fire House. There will be hot chocolate and a sing-along at 6:30. Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive to light the tree and hand out goody bags at 7:00 and the Fire House crew hosts the party at 7:15. For more information, or to help with preparations, please call the SMAMS office at 617- 825-3846.

The Dorchester Substance Abuse Coalition presents Substance Abuse among Dorchester Youth - Available Resources and How To Access Them Wednesday, Nov. 15, 6:30 - 8:30 PM, at Caritas Carney Hospital, 2100 Dorchester Ave. A light dinner will be served at 6:30. All attending will receive a complimentary copy of a Resource Guide to Substance Abuse Services in our Community. RSVP by November 13 to Lanelle C. Fleming at 617-282- 3200 ext 503.

The Keighton Fund of Curry College and The Chamber Orchestra of the University of Massachusetts Boston present Mozart 250 - A Celebration on Sunday, November 19, 2006, 4:00 PM in the Parents? Room, Hafer Academic Building at Curry College, 1071 Blue Hill Avenue, Milton. The program will feature the Overture to the Abduction from the Seraglio; Symphony No. 9 in C; Horn Concerto No. 3 in E Flat; and Piano Concerto No. 22 in E Flat ?The Queen." For directions, call 617-333- 0500 or visit www.curry.edu/About+Us/Directions/ ; For more information, call the Curry College Events Office at 617-333-2320 or the UMass Boston Performing Arts Department at 617-287-5640

UMass-Boston presents "Art and the Art of the Self-Portrait," an exhibit through November 29 in the Walter Grossman Gallery, on the 5th Floor of the Healy Library. The exhibit features works by Dorchester artists Elie Alperowicz, Liz Carney, Madeline Carney, Elaine Croce-Happnie, Vincent Crotty, Lee Leonard, Amy Baxter MacDonald, and Melody Winnig.

And much more! For more information on what's going on in Dorchester, and to publicize your Dorchester events, visit SCI Dorchester's D orchester E-Blast

Please support The Connection's sponsors:real estate broker John Nguyen, House Call Cat Grooming Service, and JXD Kids Furniture

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.

JXD Kids Furniture, one of the newest businesses in the SMAMS district, is located at 1825 Dorchester Ave. They specialize in furniture for children, but they also carry adult-size pieces. JXD is open Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, and Sunday from noon to 6:00. For more information, please call owner Francisco Gomes at 617-780-0492.