68 Blocks: Life, death, hope: Part 1 of 5

Dreams cut short, dreams reborn

It’s a neighborhood known for trouble, but Bowdoin-Geneva is much more than that. A Globe team spent months there, listening and asking why violence persists where love and loyalty also run so strong.

Graphic

How Bowdoin-Geneva has evolved

Less than 150 years ago, the portion of Dorchester known as Bowdoin-Geneva was rocky countryside with few residents.

Special Section

68 Blocks: Life, Death, Hope

A five-part Globe series on Boston’s Bowdoin-Geneva neighborhood.

Vivian Ong, 21, grew up helping in her aunt’s nail salon and applied for her state license the day after turning 17.

On the Job

As a manicurist, Vivian Ong nails it

Ong, 21, grew up helping in her aunt’s nail salon and applied for her state license the day after turning 17.

Best of the New 2012

Best of the New: Diversions

Dining with a flash mob, where to go on Wednesdays, a youth orchestra’s sweet sounds, and a star kangaroo.

Obama to visit Conn. town for memorial service

President Obama was scheduled to attend a 7 p.m. service in Newtown, Conn., in the wake of Friday’s school shootings that left 28 dead.

Kat Donohue of Newtown helped to decorate donated Christmas trees placed in front of the Sandy Hook School.

Getty Images

Kat Donohue of Newtown helped to decorate donated Christmas trees placed in front of the Sandy Hook School.

A woman walked away after leaving flowers near one of 27 wooden angel figures placed near the Sandy Hook School.

REUTERS

A woman walked away after leaving flowers near one of 27 wooden angel figures placed near the Sandy Hook School.

Candles displaying the names of shooting victims sat at a memorial in Newtown.

AP

Candles displaying the names of shooting victims sat at a memorial in Newtown.

Mourners embraced at a memorial in front of the St. Rose of Lima Catholic church in Newtown Saturday.

REUTERS

Mourners embraced at a memorial in front of the St. Rose of Lima Catholic church in Newtown Saturday.

A man stood near a makeshift memorial near the Sandy Hook Elementary School.

REUTERS

A man stood near a makeshift memorial near the Sandy Hook Elementary School.

A woman paid respects at a memorial outside of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church.

Associated press

A woman paid respects at a memorial outside of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church.

A teddy bear and flowers sat in the cruiser of Newtown Police Officer Maryhelen McCarthy.

Associated press

A teddy bear and flowers sat in the cruiser of Newtown Police Officer Maryhelen McCarthy.

A young girl holding a teddy bear looked at the memorial outside of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church.

Associated press

A young girl holding a teddy bear looked at the memorial outside of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church.

A police officer took up a position behind the rectory of the St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in response to a threatening call.

Associated press

A police officer took up a position behind the rectory of the St. Rose church in response to a threatening call.

ark Sherlach and his wife, Sandy Hook Elementary School psychologist Mary Sherlach. Mary Sherlach was killed during the shootings in Newtown, Conn.

Victims of the shootings

A list of the names and ages of those killed in the massacre that left 28 people dead in Newtown, Conn.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady joined his teammates running drills at practice in preparation for playing the 49ers on Sunday night.

49ers at Patriots, 8:20 p.m. Sunday

Patriots’ keys to win vs. 49ers

Two of the NFL’s best teams will face off in Foxborough on Sunday night, and Jim McBride’s scouting report explains how the Patriots can win.

Metro

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SHOOTING IN CONNECTICUT

Candles were lit at Boston’s Old South Church in memory of the 27 victims who died in a Newtown, Conn., shooting Friday.

Grief over Conn. rampage reverberates through Mass.

Vigils and church services are being planned in the wake of the deadly mass shooting, including one at Old South Church late Sunday afternoon.