A reminder to folks that the artists at 450 Harrison (a short walk from ESNA) have a nice open house the first Friday or every month. Studios are open, giving people a chance to browse, meet artists and socialize. This is becoming a large event, and can be a fun way to spend a Friday evening.
The First Friday notice can be found on http://www.sowaartists.com/calendar.html
Eight Streets is one of the sponsors of this forum, happening in our neighborhood THIS MONDAY, 12/4. I hope everyone can attend
Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, 41 Berkeley Street
USES Harriet Tubman House, 566 Columbus Avenue
(South End) “Light Rail Today” is the theme of two public meetings in which South End and Lower Roxbury residents and users of the Silver Line bus service can learn how light rail would work as a transit alternative along Washington Street. The forums will be held on December 4 and December 14. They will feature presentations by members of the Washington Street Corridor Coalition, followed by questions from the public. Both are free and open to all.
“Light Rail Today” is co-sponsored by the Eight Streets, Ellis and Old Dover Neighborhood Associations, Castle Square Tenants Organization and The Neighborhood Forum, a program of United South End Settlements.
When planning to dismantle the elevated Orange Line, the MBTA promised its riders an equal or better replacement service. The line came down in 1987, and since then there have been buses on the route it served from Dudley to downtown. Many in the community believe that bus service is not an adequate replacement for a rapid transit line. The bus ride takes longer (averaging 22 minutes now, compared to 8 minutes), and riders must then transfer into the central subway system.
The Washington Street Corridor Coalition has developed alternative proposals, using both light rail and rapid transit technology, that deserve active public discussion and evaluation by the MBTA. These alternatives could prove more effective and less costly than the Silver Line bus service and bus portals currently being debated.
Since the MBTA has not engaged in a public process that brings the neighborhoods together to discuss alternatives, neighborhood organizations are now joining together to take on this responsibility. In the next few months more such informational meetings are being planned with neighborhood groups along the entire length of the replacement service corridor, from Chinatown to Mattapan, to raise public awareness about the light rail alternatives.
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John McLachlan
President, Webmaster
Eight Streets Neighborhood Association
South End (Boston) MA
http://eightstreets.tripod.com
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SOUTH END STROLL & HOLIDAY HUNT AND CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
THIS WEEKEND
December 1st, 2nd and 3rd – South End Stroll and Holiday Hunt
Find the peppermint ornament at one of the participating merchants below and receive a point. Make a purchase and win a bonus point. A total of 15 points wins you an entry into the raffle to win a $1000 GRAND PRIZE gift certificate basket (2nd prize $500, 3rd prize $250). For more details, please visit:
Hudson, Michelle Willey/Vessels Gallery, Red River Trading Company, Voila, Jari, Laura Preshong Gallery, Sara Campbell, Sooki, Tadpole, Turtle, Parlor, Michele Mercaldo, Aunt Sadie’s Lekker, POSH on Tremont, Appleton Bakery, Red Fez or the South End Buttery
December 2nd - Annual South End Holiday Tree Lighting in front of the BCA, 539 Tremont Street at 3:30pm. Guest appearance by Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Santa. Sounds of the Seasons Performance featuring local choirs and brass band. Food, refreshments and surprises!!! Bring the kids!
For more information, please call the South End Business Alliance at
617-304-4421.
Stacy Koeppel, Administrator
South End Business Alliance
617-304-4421
A reminder - the City has a semi-regular newsletter of major city
happenings. The newsletter, "Cityline" can be found on the city's
web pages at
http://www.cityofboston.gov/mayor/cityline.asp
The web page also contains links to the city calendar and the mayors
weekly podcast. At the bottom of that page is a link to subscribe to
the newsletter.
