News from the Neighborhood

Some news from around the neighborhood

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Ringgold park gives a thanks to dedicated volunteer Munjeet Geyer: They are having their annual Spring Egg Hunt this Saturday, April 19th at 10 AM. If you can help fill eggs Friday and/or help hide them Saturday at 9 AM, that would be extremely helpful. Please email her at Munjeet@verizon.net to get involved!

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New Ringgold Summer Event! Volunteers needed!

The Friends of Ringgold Park is working with the Community Music Center of Boston on potentially including Ringgold Park as a site for a children's concert as part of CMCB's "Fete du Musique" on June 21. We are excited to offer a new type of programming in the park, after two consecutive summers of construction in the park. Please email ringgoldpark@verizon.net if you would like to get involved in this fun family event. 

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Milford and Dwight streets are on the list for repaving this year.   That is no guarantee that they will be paved (Dwight was on the list last year), but hopefully that will not only mean street paving, but full handicap reconstruction of all sidewalk intersections.

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New local business Rooster Mens Grooming Center is now open, but will have an Official ribbon cutting and social gathering on Tuesday, April 22 from 5:30-7:30pm.  Stop by to meet our new business and grab some light refreshments.

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Blackstone Community Center is having fundraiser.   More information here.

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Speaking of Blackstone, Councilor Wu's Small Business Tour is coming to the Blackstone Community Center next week

Permitting and Licensing Listening Tour with Councilor Wu April 24th

City Councilor Michelle Wu wants to hear from small business owners, advocates and residents about their experiences navigating the City's licensing and permitting process. The aim is to reform this process so that it is more efficient, streamlined and predictable for those seeking to do business in Boston. Please come have your voice heard  Thursday April 24th 9am-11am Blackstone Community Center at 50 W. Brookline Street RSVP to Councilor Wu's Office: 617-635-3115

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Spring Leaf and Yard Waste Collection
4 Weeks

April 28 - May 23 on your recycling day by 7:00am

Look Up Your Recycling Day

Place leaves, and yard debris in large paper leaf bags or open barrels labeled "yard waste" (no plastic bags). Yard Waste stickers for barrels are available by calling 617-635-4500 or placing an online service request (up to 2 stickers available per household). Yard waste will not be collected with trash.

Tie branches with string, 3' maximum length, 1" maximum diameter. Do not put branches in barrels.

Put barrels, bags and brances on the curb by 7:00am on your recycling day from April 28 throught May 23, 2014.  

Collecting leaf and yard waste for composting saves tax dollars, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and produces compost!

(Eight Streets recycles on Tuesdays)

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Cleanup & More Cleanup

Thanks for a great Cleanup!

We'd like to thank everyone who took part in the Ringgold park cleanup this past weekend.   We had a
great crowd and cleaned up a lot of winter debris - 40+ bags for parks to take away and compost.   it was great meeting all our neighbors, and the park looks ready for Spring.    During Boston Shines, may 10th, we'll be getting free mulch from the city, and meet back in the park to mulch around the plantings.

We have a bunch of photos on our Facebook page.

Thanks to

• All who participated, of course!
• Friends of Ringgold Park, for coordinating with the city
• Parks Department, for access to tools and for doing a special pickup to collect the bags of debris
• The Wholey Grain, for some great coffee to start our day!

We hope some of you want to become more involved in Ringgold Park.   A number of FoRP board members will be stepping down, and we'd like to get park neighbors to step forward and help out.   Please contact Michael if you're interested in joining the Friends, or would just like some more information.

Speaking of cleanups

Last month we went on an alley security walk with Officer Litto.   One alley we walked down is the Waltham/Hanson alley.   The alley was in rough shape, filled with lots of debris.   Officer Litto was concerned that if Police or Fire had to respond to an emergency, they would rick injury themselves trying to navigate the alley in the dark.

We'd like to get Waltham/Hanson alley abutters together to do an alley clean-up on Boston Shines day, May 10th.   If enough neighbors get together, we can provide tools and arrange for DPW to pick up everything we remove from the alley.   In the past neighbors helped clean up the Hanson/Milford and Milford/Dwight alleys, and we hope the Waltham/Hanson neighbors will be just as enthusiastic about cleaning up their common alley!

If you abut the alley, please contact John and I'll put you in touch with the folks organizing the cleanup. This would take place the morning of May 10th, as part of Boston Shines.  (and in conjunction with our Ringgold mulching.

Hope to see you then!