Watching the Wildlife

If you're subscribed to the South End email list, there's been some chatter about wildlife.

Even though we're in the city, we do have plenty of wildlife in the area.   Aside from your birds and squirrels, you'll find opossums, skunks, and the popular raccoon.  Between the parks and our green rear yards, there are plenty of places for wildlife to hang out.   Some tips if you have any wildlife encounters.

• Respect each other.   Give animals their space.  Leave them alone and they'll leave you alone.
  
• Don't pet or feed them animals.  feeding them will bring them back and interfere with their natural foraging.  Trying to pet them can get you bitten..
  
• If you find a visitor sleeping on your deck in the morning, leave it alone.   It'll wander off once it wakes up.
• Raccoon droppings can contain worms.  If you find droppings, pick them up with a gloved (not bare) hand.   you don't want to kick or sweep it off the porch, as it could break up and leave small particles on the porch, then you're outside with bare feet and...
• Unless you're on your porch or in the adjoining room, don't leave your door open.  An animal can walk form a porch into your home if the door is open to a dark room.
• Unless an animal has come into your home, don't call animal control.  
• You probably ignored the last two comments because you have a deck a few stories up.   Animals can climb.  They can jump from house to house.  They can make it onto any deck or rooftop.

So enjoy your outdoor space, and respect the critters the share it with us.

Claremont NA Street Fair

Claremont Neighborhood Association

20th Annual

Flea Market &
Street Fair

Saturday June 6th, 2009
(rain date June 7, 2009)

10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Wellington Street @ Columbus Ave
South End, Boston

Antiques, Collectibles, Household Goods and Raffle!!!
Children’s Programs, Food and Live Music

****FREE ADMISSION****

For Questions, or to rent space to sell your goods, please call

David Pimenta at 617-262-8599 or email
dapimenta@aol.com

South End Library Closed for summer

The SE Branch of the BPL will close over the summer for renovations. Below is the statement from the South End Branch web page.

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On June 2, 2009 the South End Branch will be closed for improvements that include removal and replacement of brick veneer from the second story to the top of the roof parapets. Additionally, a new modified bituminous roof will be installed, along with upgraded, new window systems in strategic locations. The new glazing will also improve the energy efficiency of the structure.

The construction is expected to last at least three months and during this time the branch must close to the public and the staff. During this project, please check out, hold, and return any items at any of the 26 locations of the Boston Public Library throughout the City of Boston.

The library will distribute the museum passes to nearby branches. Please call one of our other locations to inquire about the availability of museum passes.

If you have any further questions please call Christine Schonhart, Neighborhood Services Manager at 617-859-2340 or Sarah Markell, Assistant Neighborhood Services Manager at 617-859-2242.

South End Garden Event

Frederick Douglass Square Market

SATURDAY MAY 30, 2009

Featuring Fresh Fruits & Vegetables

 & Live Music

11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Corner of Hammond & Tremont (across from Slades)

By donating produce from your local community gardens, you can help raise money for your garden?

Musicians are invited for open jam sessions in the FD Peace Garden. Call to schedule!

 

Live Music Schedule 

Amelia Thrall (from AFHB) & the Woodrow Wilsons 12:00pm

  myspace.com/thewoodrowwilsons

NEON GOD 3:00pm

myspace.com/williamdwyer1

Local Garden & Community Center Tour 4pm – 5pm

A VILLAGE AT WORK PRESENTS

a Special Garden Event for the new UNLR Cultural Center

Featuring Special Music Performance with the

” Satellite Rockers & Koliba” 

www.myspace.com/satelliterockers

BBQ and an evening Film under the canopy courtesy of Boston Architectural College after 8:00pm

INFO CALL 857-318-1049 OR 617-271-1966

VENDORS CALL 857-318-1049

City Hazardous Waste Drop-off

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DROP-OFF DAYS

June 6, 2009 same day (different location) as free electronics recycling event!

9am-2pm

UMass Harbor Campus

Morrissey Boulevard

Dorchester, MA

June 27, 2009

9am-2pm

West Roxbury Public Works Yard

315 Gardner St

West Roxbury at Millenium Park

INSTRUCTIONS: Put household poisons, insecticides, paint, tires, auto fluids, car batteries, wood preservatives, herbicides and pool supplies, propane tanks, motor oil, and products labeled corrosive, flammable or toxic in cardboard boxes for safe transport and bring them to the above location. For a complete list of acceptable items, http://www.cityofboston.gov/TridionImages/backside%20hw%20flyer%20(2)_tcm1-3115.pdf

PLEASE NOTE:

FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS ONLY

PROOF OF RESIDENCY REQUIRED

NO COMMERCIAL WASTE ACCEPTED

SURPLUS PAINT AND USED MOTOR OIL DROP-OFFS

FREE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PAINT AVAILABLE. Residents may bring containers of reusable paint, stains, varnishes, polyeurethane, and paint thinner to a Drop-Off. Residents may take away as much paint as they want--for FREE!

IF YOU CHANGE YOUR OWN OIL. Bring used vehicle oil from your car, boat, or other vehicle to a Drop-Off. Do not mix the oil with any other substance. Antifreeze and steering wheel fluid will not be accepted.

REGULATIONS

-proof of Boston residency required

-20 containers maximum

-paints must be in original containers with legible labels

-items must not be mixed

-evaporated or empty cans and aerosol paint cans will NOT be accepted

-commercial waste will NOT be accepted

SCHEDULE

Drop-Off sites are open May through August, 9am-1pm on the following days and locations:

1st Saturday of the month: Roxbury Public Works Yard, 280 Highland St

2nd Saturday of the month: Hyde Park Public Works Yard, 58 Dana Av

3rd Saturday of the month: Brighton Public Works Yard, 315 Western Av

4th Saturday of the month: East Boston Public Works Yard, 329 E Eagle St

Free electronics recycling

The city is hosting a Free recycling event on June 6th. Bring your TVs, computers, VCRs, game stations and the like to the Bayside Expo center 9am-3pm on the 6th. (No appliances). A correction to the flier - old microwave ovens will be accepted.

PDF Flier with more information

Recycling your electronics is better for the environment, and keeps the chemicals and heavy metals often found in electronics our of our landfills.

If you can't make this event, remember you cannot throw our TVs and computer monitors out with the regular trash pickup. You must contact DPW and schedule a pickup. You can email them at trashtvcrt@cityofboston.gov or call DPW at 617.635.4900

DPW web site with trash and recycling guides

Primary results

Unofficial results for todays State representative primary are below, summarized from the City Election Web Site.  Overall attendance was around 15%.   The winner was decided by only 171 votes - so again, please don't think your vote doesn't count.

AARON MICHLEWITZ 2116
SUSAN M PASSONI 1945
LUCY RIVERA 103
BRIAN V ROSS 44

Winner Aaron Michlewitz (D) will face John Keith (I) and David Trumbull (R) in the final Special Election on June 16th

VOTE - Primary Tuesday

This Tuesday, May 19th, brings us the special election Primary.   The democratic candidate for state house rep. will be elected from the 4 candidates.   Any democrat or unenrolled person can vote in this election.

Official state Ballot layout

Candidates and web sites, in ballot layout order:

AARON MICHLEWITZ
SUSAN M. PASSONI
LUCY RIVERA
BRIAN V. ROSS

The winner of this primary will face the Republican and Independent candidate on the final special election on June 16th.  If you are not yet registered to vote, you cannot vote this tuesday, but you have until May 27th to register to vote in the June 16th special election.

Eight Streets votes at Cathedral High School Gym (ward 3, precinct 7), at the corner of Washington and Union Park.  I hope everyone can get out and support your candidate of choice!!

Special election web site

South End Open Weekend

This weekend marks the unofficial South End opening.

First we have the South End Art Walk, happening Saturday and Sunday (May 16,17). Various galleries and artists’ studios will be open Saturday and Sunday, so it’ll be the perfect time to get out and about in the neighborhood and see some great artists’ work. See the web for more info

This is also opening weekend for the South End Open Market. For opening weekend, the Market will be in place both Saturday and Sunday (it’s usually Sunday only) from 10-4. This is on540 Harrison, behind Rollins Square. Opening Weekend also means more vendors than usual, providing even more art, food, plants and other sundries. Joining the Open Market this year will also be a new Antiques Market. (Also there will be my friends from wardmaps.com selling historic maps of the South End – a great addition for any wall!)

In addition, various businesses along the Washington Street corridor will be having sales and discounts, so keep your eye out for sales and specials at every turn. So step out and enjoy a great South End weekend!

More filming, week of May 11

We have more filming taking place in the Union Park/Walthm st area. Their memo is below

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Dear Residents,

The film The Company Men will be returning to the South End to film the remaining scenes that take place in your neighborhood. We apologize again for the inconvenience and look forward to your continued cooperation.

We are scheduled to film in the backyard of 5 Union Park on Tuesday, May 12, 2009. In order to facilitate our production, we are requesting certain parking restrictions on Shawmut Ave and Union Park, but they will not be as extensive as before. Our parking plan will be as follows:

5/5 - & 5/15: 5 spaces in front of 5 Union Park
5/5 - & 5/15: 4 spaces near 315 Shawmut Ave
5/12 & 5/13: 9 spaces in front of 5 Union Park (both sides)
5/12: 21 spaces on Shawmut Ave between Upton St and Hanson St
5/12: 5 spaces on Waltham St at Union Park

NO PARKING signs will be posted on these streets in accordance with the City of Boston. As before, we will be offering alternate parking in the garage at 100 Clarendon for those residents affected during our filming. If you’re interested, contact Mike at (401) 391-7880 or see someone from our Locations Department on site for a voucher.

We look forward to filming in your neighborhood and will do all we can to minimize our presence. If you have any further questions or special concerns please contact me at (617) 921-2792.


Thank you,

Greg Chiodo
The Locations Department
Company Men Productions, Inc.

May ESNA Meeting

Hi All!

The monthly ESNA meeting will be this Wednesday, May 6th. We'll be at our regular location in the Boston ballet board room.

6:30 - 7 - Neighborhood networking
7 - 8:30 - Business meeting.

We have one approval requests for this meeting - balconies for the rear of 41 Dwight St.

The meeting also brings us more candidates for State Representative. Last month we heard form Susan Passoni. This month we'll hear from candidates

• John Keith
  
• Aaron Michlewitz
  
• Lucy Riveria
  

Each candidate will have some time to speak and take some questions. We'll then end the meeting a little early so everyone can mingle and talk to the candidates one-on-one.

I strongly urge everyone to come to this month's meeting. One of these candidates might represent you in the state legislature. With taxes and fees and reform on the cover of every paper, you'll want someone in office that will represent what you think is important. This is your chance to see where the candidates stand on the issues.

We also need to let the candidates know that the South End has an interest in who represents us. A strong attendance at forums like this gives candidates the message that the South End is here and we want their attention! So please make an effort to join us this month, and bring your neighbors!!!

Hope to see you on Wednesday!!

Exciting Weekend

This Saturday, May 2nd brings two big events this weekend.

Berkeley Community Garden has it's annual cleanup and lottery for available gardens.   Cleanup is from 10-3 - stop by any time and give the gardeners a hand making the garden spiffy for Spring.  This is also a good opportunity to just stop by and say hi - meet some of the gardeners and become more familiar with the garden.   At 10:30 the garden will take sign-ups to be in the lottery for available gardens.  If you're got a green thumb, this could be your chance.  :)

Also happening tomorrow is Opening Day for little league.   There will be a parade down Shawmut and ceremonies in Peters Park.  

At both events there will be plenty of politicians and candidates, so this will also be your opportunity to meet your representatives and meet some of the contenders.

Hope you can make it to one of our neighborhood events this weekend!