SMAMS will present Oscars on the Avenue ? an Academy Awards night fundraiser/party ? on Sunday, Feb. 25, 8 ? 12 p.m., at the Ashmont Grill, 555 Talbot Ave., Dorchester (at Dorchester Ave., across from Ashmont Station).

Guests will enjoy the Grill?s superb hors d?oeuvres; Dorchester's own Jeopardy champion Gerry Wagget will quiz the crowd on movie trivia; Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral will lead a live auction; and Bob Wahlberg, who played in The Departed and Mystic River, may drop in for a visit. ?Red Carpet Attire? is suggested! (but not required.)

Tickets are $75 in advance, $90 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased by mail or online. For mail orders, please send checks, payable to SMAMS, to: SMAMS, 20 Roseland Street, Dorchester, MA 02124. To order online, visit www.smams.org For further information, please call SMAMS at 617-825- 3846.

Thank you to our many generous sponsors: The Ashmont Grill; Count rywide Home Loans; Mt. Washington Bank; Trinity Financial; The Dorchester Reporter; H. Levenbaum Insurance Agency; Prudential Financial agent Lee Adelson; Tevnan/Tevnan Law Firm; Au Bon Pain; Lavender Designs; and Strategic Spaces Space Planning and Design.

SMAMS is thrilled to welcome Mt. Washington Bank and Trinity Financial as Corporate Supporters. Mt. Washington and Trinity join our "Corporate Buddy" Count rywide Home Loans as committed sponsors.

Mt. Washington Bank has been serving the needs of local customers for more than 100 years. The bank has a branch on Gallivan Blvd., and a second Dorchester branch will be opening soon in Codman Square. Among its many services, Mt. Washington offers a wide range of mortgages, commercial loans, personal loans, IRAs, CDs, and investment planning services.

Trinity Financial has earned a reputation for developing high quality residential and commercial buildings. The company, headed by local residents Jim Keefe and Pat Lee, is the developer of the Carruth building under construction at Ashmont Station. The Carruth will provide condos, apartments and much- needed retail space. Trinity also has a reputation for working with communities on the development process, as shown by the many community meetings they hosted while developing the plans for the Carruth.

Please join SMAMS in welcoming Mr. Gene Charles of the Public Works Department as the permanent street sweeper in the SMAMS district. Mr. Charles will be looking after our neighborhood Wednesdays through Sundays. Now is an especially important time to concentrate on trash, with two major construction projects underway at Ashmont Station and all bus stops located on Dorchester Ave. We are very fortunate to have Mr. Charles with us, since permanent sweepers are very rare in the City. Many thanks to City Council President Maureen Feeney and Councillor Charles Yancey for their support of this project.

Thanks also to our many businesses who regularly sweep up in front of their shops. Mr. Charles will be a partner to them, as he is tasked with cleaning the street, while the City requires merchants to keep their sidewalks clean.

Beginning Thursday Feb. 8, the Ashmont Grill will be open for lunch from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, when dinner begins. Owner Chris Douglass will offer a complete lunch selection from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with limited lunch selections such as burgers from 3:00 to 5:00.

With its top-quality food and service and attractive, spacious layout, the Grill is the perfect place for a mid- day business meeting as well as a great spot to grab lunch!

Please pass the word about two programs offering summer jobs for youths in Dorchester: The Boston Hope Line program and the Bird Street Health Center's Work Force program.

Please contact the programs for details (Hope Line 617-635-4202; Bird Street 617-282-6110). NOTE that teens must register for the Hope Line during certain limited days and hours between Feb. 20 and 27; Bird Street applications are due sooner.

The Dorchester Substance Abuse Coalition sponsors "Substance Abuse in Youth & Our Community: Myths & Reality - How Can We help Kids Stay in the Straight & Narrow" Thursday, Feb. 8, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, Elder Service Plan, 2216 Dot Ave. Light Dinner provided at 7:00. To register, please call 617-282-3200 X 380 or e-mail to marketing@hhsi.us (Note the deadline was Feb. 6, but don't let that dissuade you from attending this important meeting!)

Jack Conway Real Estate is sponsoring an ongoing winter food drive to benefit DotWell's food pantries at the Codman Square Health Center and Dorchester Multi Service Center. Ongoing. Drop off non- perishable food items or a check at the Jack Conway office, 1810 Dot Ave (at Edwin St.), or call the office at 617-288-0100 to arrange a pick up.

Codman Academy Charter Public School will hold an information session for students and parents interested in applying for admission for Grade 9 for September 2007. The session will take place Feb 15, 6:30 - 7:30 PM, at the Codman Square Health Center's clinical building at 637 Washington Street. Info: 617-287- 0700

St. Mark's Church Daughters of Mary present nationally known comic hypnotist Frank Santos March 3 at St. Mark's Church Hall, 1725 Dorchester Ave. The evening, for a 21+ audience, will also include a cash bar and DJ. Doors open at 7:30 PM, show at 8:30. Proceeds will support St. Mark's students doing missionary work this summer and to provide a scholarship to a member of the 8th grade graduating class. Tickets are $20, $25 at the door -For information, please call 617-825-2852 or email stmarksdaughtersofmary@yahoo.com

And much more! For more information on what's going on in Dorchester, and to publicize your Dorchester events, visit SCI Dorchester's Dot Board and Community Calendar

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.