Repaving Eight Streets

As you may have read through other outlets, Boston DPW has announced street re-paving for the south end. The list is far more extensive than earlier lists, and almost all of Eight Streets will be repaved. Work will begin this week. The city adds "The PWD contractor will initially excavate the targeted roadway areas which have deteriorated due to potholes, utility cuts, depressed manholes, etc. They are then topped with asphalt providing a smooth surface.
Temporary parking restrictions will be posted in advance in these specific locations and all vehicles will be flyered with scope of work and contact information". A full list of all South End streets to be repaved is below. Questions can be directed to Tabitha Bennett, our South End coorinator for the Mayor's ONS. 617.635.3485

1.) Berkeley St ( Tremont St - Cortes St )

2.) Clarendon St ( Columbus Ave - Tremont St )

3.) Dartmouth St ( Tremont St - Columbus Ave )

4.) Lawrence St ( Dartmouth St - Berkeley St )

5.) Cazenove St ( Chandler St - Dead End )

6.) St. Charles St ( Chandler St - Dead End )

7.) Chandler St ( Claredon St - Columbus Ave )

8.) Dartmouth Place ( Dartmouth St - Dead End )

9.) Appleton St ( Dartmouth St - Dead End )

10.) Warren St ( Berkeley St - Dartmouth St )

11.) West Canton St ( Columbus Ave- Tremont St)

12.) Montgomery St ( West Canton St- Claredon St )

13.) West Brookline St ( Warren St - Tremont St )

14.) Columbus Sq. ( Pembroke St - Columbus Ave )

15.) West Newton St ( Columbus Ave - Tremont St )

16.) Rutland Sq. ( Columbus Ave - Tremont St )

17.) Greenwich Park ( Columbus Ave.- Claremont St )

18.) Concord Sq. ( Columbus Ave - Tremont St)

19.) West Springfield St ( Columbus Ave - Tremont St )

20.) Massachusetts Ave( St..Botolph St - Washington St ) ( Both Sides)

21.) Chester Sq ( Mass. Ave - Mass Ave) ( Both Sides)

22.) Tremont St ( Mass Ave - Berkeley St )

23.) Dwight St ( Tremont St - Shawmut Ave )

24.) Milford St ( Shawmut Ave - Tremont St )

25.) Bond St ( Hanson St - Milford St )

26.) Public Alley # 701 ( Tremont St - Shawmut Ave )

27.) Aguadilla St ( Tremont St - Tremont St )

28.) Hanson St ( Tremont St - Shawmut St )

29.) Waltham St ( Tremont St - Washington St )

30.) Bradford St ( Waltham St - Shawmut Ave )

31.) Union Park St ( Washington St - Tremont St )

32.) Upton St ( Tremont St - Shawmut Ave )

33.) West Dedham St ( Shawmut Ave - Washington St )

34.) Shawmut Ave ( West Dedham St- Berkeley St )

35.) West Brookline St ( San Juan St - Washington St )

36.) San Juan St ( Shawmut Ave - Shawmut Ave )

37.) West Newton St. ( Tremont St - Washington St )

38.) Rutland St ( Tremont St - Shawmut Ave )

39.) West Concord St ( Tremont St - Shawmut Ave )

40.) Worcester St ( Tremont St - Washington St )

41.) West Springfield St ( Washington St - Tremont St )

42.) Shawmut Ave ( West Dedham St - Mass Ave )

43.) Washington St ( WQest Brookline St - Herald St )

44.) Harrison Ave ( Herald St - East Berkeley St )

45.) Traveler St ( Washington St - Albany St )

46.) East Berkeley St ( Albany St - Harrison Ave )

47.) Harrison Ave ( East Berkeley St - Malden St )

48.) Union Park St ( Harrison Ave _ Albany St.)

49.) Paul Sullivan Way ( Harrison Ave - Albany St )

50.) Albany St ( East Berkeley St _ Malden St )

Recycling reminders

Single stream recycling, introduced last year in the South End, has been so successful it is now being put in place city-wide.   Single stream allows us to mix all of our recyclable materials together - we no longer have to separate paper from plastics, etc.

A reminder that materials to be recycled should be put into clear plastic bags.  Use of the blue bins is discouraged, and the blue bins will eventually be phased out.  'Open' containers like the blue bins allow papers to blow out and are easily tipped over, scattering material all over the sidewalks.   If you have the space you can use a trash can with a lid to hold your recyclables.  "The can must be no larger than 32 gallons and have a lid. Call 617-635-4500 to request an official sticker to label one of your existing trash cans as a recycling container."   Clear plastic bags can be found at Foodies and Shaws (the bags from Shaws ones are a little thicker).   Do not use the blue bags that some stores sell as recycling bags - the city will take those bags as trash.

Remember:

- use clear plastic bags for recycling

- do not put recycling into paper bags curbside - they will blow over or get knocked over

- Break up cardboard.  The city won't take your large cardboard boxes as recycling, plus passers by will throw their trash in them.  

- Pizza boxes are now recyclable, but put them in the recycle bag - don't just lay them on the sidewalk.

- Do not put your returnable/depost cans and bottles in the recycle plastic bag or in your trash.  The trash pickers will rip open bags to get them.  Put them in an open bag next to your recycling or put them out in some other way.

 

The city lists the following items as recyclable - all can go in your plastic bags.   

The following items can be mixed together in your recycling cart or container as of July 1, 2009. Leaving plastic windows, staples, paper clips, and spirals in paper is okay. Please rinse out cans, bottles, and jars. Leaving labels and lids on is okay.

    * Newspapers with inserts

    * Magazines and catalogs

    * Junk mail, colored paper

    * Flattened food boxes

    * Paperback books

    * Pizza boxes (empty)

    * Flattened cardboard boxes

    * Telephone books

    * Milk and juice cartons

    * Juice/soymilk boxes

    * Glass jars and bottles

    * Aluminum and tin cans

    * All plastic containers

    * NEW ITEM! Spiral cans (potato chip/coffee/nut cans, etc) (these are the pressed cardboard with metal ends type of cans)

    * NEW ITEM! Rigid plastics (laundry baskets, buckets, toys, etc)

Report from first City Councilor At-large debate

Universal Hub provides us with a transcript/overview of Tuesday's first debate, attended by 13 of 15 of the candidates for the 4 offices...

Ailanthus

I always wondered what these trees were called.   Boston Zest reminds these are Ailanthus trees - the invasive quick-growing 'city' trees that car parkers everywhere loathe...

At-large Candidates Debate This Tuesday

The Ward 4 & 5 Dems are holding the first debate for (currently) all 15 candidates for the 4 at-large seats. Full blog entry here. Meeting details:

Tuesday's event will be held at the Community Church of Boston, 565 Boylston Street, in Copley Plaza (over the Globe Bar and Restaurant). Beginning at 7 p.m., it is the first time the candidates will debate.

Local car break-ins

BPT Reports of car break-ins near out neighborhood this Saturday night. Even though these two thieves were caught, we should always be vigilant.

- Do not leave valuables in your car!!!!! Purses, ipods, cell phones, laptops, GPS devices, CD wallets or any bag that looks like it might contain something good. Take it with you.

- If you hear odd noises outside, look our your window. Thieves count on resident apathy to get away with crime

- Never hesitate to call 911 if you see something suspicious. In Boston, 911 is used for all police calls, not just emergencies. If you're on a cell phone, you can call 617-343-4911. (This is a direct number. Cell phone 911 gets you to state police who have to transfer you to Boston)

Special Election Tuesday

A reminder that the special election for state representative is THIS TUESDAY, June 16th.

Concerned about the sales tax increase?   have an opinion on the gas tax?   Interested in ethics reform?   Have an opinion about Suffolk county holidays?

All these discussions are going on in the State House, and we currently have no voice in the state house.   You can help fix that by voting for your choice of candidate for state house representative.   

In alphabetical order, the candidates are:

John Keith  (I) - http://www.johnakeith.com/

Aaron Michlewitz     (D)   http://www.aaronforrep.com/

David Trumbull  (R)   http://davidforstaterep.com/

Read each candidates web pages and decide who you would like to represent you in the state house.

Elections are Tuesday, June 16th.   We vote at Cathedral High School at Washington and Union park.   Polls are open 7am until 8pm.

Get out the vote!

Election results from primary

Election results for our neighborhood are in the char below.   These are all the vote for Ward 3.   We are Precinct 7, which is column 7 in the chart.  Complete results can be found on the City Election Results Web Page.  We were about 'average' with 13% of registered voters casting votes.     

And here's an early reminder of the final special election next week on June 16th...

South End Garden Tour

SELROSLT tells us about the upcoming South End Garden Tour, happening June 20th

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Please mark your calendars for the 16th Annual South End Garden Tour is scheduled for Saturday, June 2oth, rain or shine. The tour will feature over 25 beautiful, diverse gardens in the South End, it is a self-guided walking tour, kids and strollers are welcome. The tour starts in front of the South End Branch of the Boston Public Library (685 Tremont St.) tickets can be purchased the day of the tour for $20, or $17 in advance at http://www.southendgardentour.org/. Remember to mark in the memo line of your check/payment Berkeley Garden so the funds go directly to our garden!

We really count on our local Garden Friends to come out and support the tour each year. We know the change in the economy has meant that many people have had to cut their budgets, but hope that you will continue to support the tour - as this year it's more important to us than ever. The Garden Tour is the South End and Lower Roxbury Open Space Land Trust's biggest annual fundraiser, and every penny of your ticket goes to support our community gardens and pocket parks.

For More Information: Visit http://www.southendgardentour.org/, or call the South End/Lower Roxbury Open Space Land Trust at 617-347-0999.

Concerts at the Pru

Boston Zest blogs tells us of free lunchtime concerts at the Pru

And don't forget the farmers market at the Pru every Thursday 11a-6p, and in Copley Square every Tuesday and Friday, also 11-6

New restaurant at Dish location

the Globe has an article on the new restaurant, Coppa, to open up at the Dish location.

The Herald article is now on line as well

June meeting

Hi Everyone

The monthly ESNA meeting will be this Wednesday, June 3rd.  We'll be at our regular location in the Boston ballet board room.

6:30 - 7 - Neighborhood networking

7 - 8:30 - Business meeting.

The two business items that will require a vote:

- 288 Shawmut wants to add decks in the read, and will be restoring the front of the building to it's original condition.

- Verveine Corp will be opening a new restaurant in the Dish location (Milford & Shawmut).  They wish to buy the old Dish license, keeping the same hours of service.

After our business items, we'll have open discussion.  Given we usually don't have business meetings in the summer, I'd like to see if we can plan to do some activities over the summer, and talk about ways we can re-energize the neighborhood and hit the ground running come Fall.

Hope to see you on Wednesday!!!