Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Ringgold Park launches Capital Campaign.

Friends of Ringgold park are launching their Capital Campaign to raise money for the center area of Ringgold Park. Their goal is to raise $100K to compliment the $300K raised so far in an effort to bring the best materials to the design of the center area.

Join FoRP this Sunday, Sept 19th from noon-3pm in Ringgold Park. Enjoy some free pizza from Upper Crust, and enjoy the smooth sounds of local musician Alastair Mook and friends (I'm psyched about that). Designs of the park will be on display and you'll get to meet and discuss the future of the park.

More information can be found in the Campaign Announcement.

Also visit the new Friends of Ringgold Park Web Site.


Hope to see everyone This Sunday!!!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Vote on Tuesday

A Reminder that this Tuesday, Sept 14th, brings us the Primary elections. Eight Streets residents vote at Cathedral High School, at Washington & Waltham. Polls are open from 7am to 8pm.

You can chose to vote in either the Democratic or the Republican primary slate - you cannot vote in both. Here are the ballot names for the Democratic Ballot and the Republican Ballot.

On the Democratic ticket, we have multiple candidates for the office of Treasurer, Auditor, Governor's Council, and our State Senator. On the Republican side, the only contested candidacy is Auditor. There are also no Republican candidates for State Senator, so the winner of the Democratic primary for that race will most likely be the winner of the Senate seat. (Incumbent Sonia Chang-Diaz vs challenger Hassan Williams).

Check out the ballots, and use the Internet to research the candidates, and remember to cast your vote on Tuesday!

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

The connected city


If you're an internet junkie, the City of Boston has some information for you.

The city web site has now been optimized for your mobile device. www.cityofboston.gov will redirect to m.cityofboston.gov on your mobile device, giving you a more readable web site.

The City also has a large presence on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Check out the City Social Media web page to see a list of the available city feeds on your favorite social media outlet.

And don't forget the city's Citizens Connect section of the city web site can give you quick access to most city services, as well as providing an enhanced search engine. Coupled with that is the Citizens Connect iPhone App, which will let iphone users submit problems to the city right on the spot. (other platforms coming soon)




Yard Waste collections, Fall 2010


Yes, those are leaves you see in the street - but Autumn isn't quite here yet. The City has announced that Fall2010 yard waste pickup will be October 18th through November 27th.

yard waste is to be put in paper bags or open trashcans only - no plastic bags. yard waste is put out on your recycling day during those weeks (Tuesdays for Eigtht Streets)

For more info, see the City Web Site.

Did you flood this summer?

Given a summer of occasional hard downpours - Are you nice and dry? Many years ago there were flooding problems in our area. We worked with the city to get the storm system in the South End fixed (An article on the new pumping station was in the paper a few weeks ago).

Ed Allan, one of the residents who worked closely with the city, would like to know if anyone had flooding problems during the intense rain storms we had this past summer. If you've had issues, please contact him as outlined below.



Recently, there have been a number of short but really intense rainstorms that have dropped a lot of water in a very short period of time. If you have experienced ANY of the following, could you please let me know?

1. Flooding of your home.
2. "Near-misses" of flooding
3. Back-up of sewer lines (which can include flushing toilets but the water doesn't go anywhere -- that would normally mean that the check valves, intended to keep sewer water from getting into your home, are working.)

Please let me know where and approximate dates and times, if you can.

Also, if you've spotted subsidence or sinkage taking place in sidewalks or streets, could you please let me know?

Thanks.

Ed Allan

617-877-1619 or edwardjayallan@gmail.com

Meeting tonight (9/7)

A Reminder that the Eight Streets business meeting is Tonight, Tuesday Sept 7th, at our new location in the Project Place meeting room (Above Meyers & Chang)

Times remain the same

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

Agenda items include:
- Welcome back
- 35 Dwight st - change of occupancy
- 6 Milford st - request for rear decks
- Planning
- Open member discussion.

Hope to see you there this evening!!

- John Mc

Monday, September 06, 2010

“Fall in Love with all of Peters Park” Festival

Neighbors, local businesses, sports enthusiasts and dog owners will come together to “Fall in Love with all of Peters Park” on Saturday, October 2 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Peters Park’s first park-wide event will feature fun for all members of the community: a home run derby and tennis clinics for sports enthusiasts, mini boot camps, face painting and storytelling for children, a dog training and “tips and tricks” session for dog owners, food, refreshments and a raffle for Bruins tickets, dog DNA kits, local business gift cards and much more! Proceeds will support park maintenance and improvements.

Local businesses and organizations that have pledged their participation include Foodie’s Urban Market, PICCO, Gallows, Tufts Medical Center, Animal Rescue League, The Pawsitive Dog, Ming’s Supermarket, South End Formaggio, Polkadog Bakery, Bark Place, District D-4 Police Department and the Fire Department.

Peters Park (www.peterspark.org) is a vibrant urban park in Boston's South End that provides five acres of activities for people of all ages. Renovated in 2007, Peters Park features a gated playground, baseball field, tennis court, basketball courts, an off-leash dog park and gardens.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

A New season begins

Hi everyone,

It certainly feels Fall-like out there with the cool rain falling. If that weren't reminder enough of the changing of the seasons, it's just two weeks until the monthly Eight Streets meetings return.

Our meeting time and place has changed!!!

Due to construction at the Boston ballet building, we've had to change our meeting time and place beginning September through Springtime. We will be meeting the First TUESDAY of the month, and will be meeting at Project Place. PP is the building at Washington and East Berkeley (1145 Washington Street ). The meeting room is on the second floor - the entrance is right next to the door to Myers & Chang. The meeting times will remain the same - 6:30-8:30.

We currently have two items on the agenda - decks at 6 Milford and zoning for 35 Milford. But I'm hoping we can also do some planning for the coming year. What topics to people want to see discussed at meetings? Do we want guest speakers? Any interest in neighborhood events???

Keep an eye on the website and blog (this), and see everyone on Tuesday, Sept 7th at Project Place!!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Joe V's to close

The Boston Restaurant Talk Blog reports that Joe V's restaurant, just outside of ESNA at Shawmut and Union park, will be closing as the owner opens a new establishment in Brookline (Globe Article)

Voter Registration for Primaries


Yes, election season is fast approaching. State primaries are on September 14th. If you are not registered to vote, next Wednesday, August 25th 2010, as the last day to register to vote and participate in the primaries.

More information, including how to register to vote can be found on the City elections web site.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

related crimes in the South End

Passing on this public notice concerning reported crimes that appear to be committed by the same persons.


NEIGHBORHOOD ALERT: POLICE SEEK ARMED ROBBER IN THE SOUTH END

Boston Police Investigators believe the following incidents may be related:

Boston Police have learned that between July 13, 2010 and August 13, 2010, several armed robberies have occurred in the South End (District D-4) and appear to be related. In all of the incidents, the suspect, a similarly described black male, showed a firearm during the robberies (note mostly early morning times for incidents reported below):

Incident Details:

At about 2:59am, on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, officers responded to an armed robbery at Concord Square & Columbus Avenue. On arrival, officers spoke with the victim who stated that, while walking from Columbus Avenue onto Concord Square, an unknown suspect approached him with a black handgun and demanded all of his belongings. The suspect was described as a black male with medium complexion, approximately 5’8” tall, thin build, wearing a black baseball cap, black shirt, and dark blue jeans. The victim handed over his brown and green duffel bag. Officers searched the area for the suspect to no avail.

At about 2:45am, on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, victim walked into the police station to report a robbery. According to the victim, while walking on Dartmouth Street, he passed a black male in his late 20’s, approximately 5’9” tall, wearing a baggy black hooded sweatshirt. After the victim walked past, the suspect approached the victim from behind, showed a black handgun and demanded the victim’s property. The victim turned over his wallet and cell phone. The suspect fled on foot in the direction of Tremont Street.

At approximately 2:54am, on Sunday, July 29, 2001, officers responded to radio call for an armed robbery at Clarendon Street and Tremont Street. On arrival, officers spoke with the victim who stated, while walking down Montgomery Street talking on the phone, an unknown black male, wearing all dark clothing and, possibly a hoodie, approached, showed a gun and demanded his wallet. The victim complied and handed over money and a cell phone. The suspect then turned and began walking down Montgomery Street outbound. Officers searched the area to no avail.

At about 9:40pm, on Saturday, July 31, 2010, officers responded to a radio call for an armed robbery in area of 65 Hammond Street. According to the victims, three black males walked up to their car while they were parked in front of 65 Hammond Street and robbed them. According to the operator, one of the suspects approached the driver’s side window with a handgun and demanded the victim’s property. That suspect was described as a black male, approximately 19 – 21 years old, wearing a red long sleeve shirt with a stripe. Officers also spoke to the passenger, who stated that other two suspects, both black males, approached the passenger side of the vehicle, displayed a black handgun and demanded money. Suspect #2 was described as a black male, approximately 17-19 years old, with gold teeth, about 5’9” in height, slim build, with short black hair and one long braid in the back. Suspect #3 was described as a black male wearing a yellow t- shirt. Victims stated that all three suspects then fled on foot through the parking lot of 65 Hammond Street.

On Tuesday, August 3, 2010, a victim came into the police station to report that he was robbed of his cell phone after being approached from behind by two black males. One suspect showed a firearm and demanded the victim’s cell phone. The victim turned over his phone and then watched both suspects run on foot towards Massachusetts Avenue. Suspect #1 was described as a black male, approximately 20 years old, about 5’8” tall, heavy set. The other suspect was described as a black male, approximately 18 years of age, about 6 feet tall, 180 lbs, wearing black basketball shorts and a white shirt.

At about 2:21am, on Friday, August 13, 2010, an officer on routine patrol in the South End was flagged down on Tremont Street near Massachusetts Avenue by a victim of an armed robbery. Victim stated that he was walking on Worcester Street from Columbus Avenue toward Tremont Street when the suspect (described as a black male, medium complexion, 25-30 years old, approximately 5’11” tall, wearing a black t-shirt and blue jean shorts) approached him from behind and placed his hand on the victim’s shoulder. When the victim turned around, the suspect showed a firearm and demanded money. Victim turned over his cell phone and wallet and then observed the suspect walked down Worcester Street toward Columbus Avenue. A radio broadcast with the description of the suspect and officers canvass of the area to no avail.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is encouraged to call Area D-4 detectives at (617) 343-5619. You can also provide information anonymously by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department is interested only in your information, not your identity. Your tip is 100% anonymous and we thank you for your help.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Recycling bin overflowing?

If you're on an alley or can store one of the larger recycling bins (see pic) on your property, the City has gotten more in stock. They're given out on a first-come first-serve basis. Go to the City Recycling web site and request one!

With a larger capacity and cover to prevent items from blowing away - if you can fit this in your home or on your property, it's one of the best ways to recycle. Keep a small trash can in your kitchen or home office, and when that fills up just empty it into one of these larger bins.

If you can't accomodate one of the larger bins, please remember to use clear plastic bags for recycling whenever possible. The 'regular' blue bins are nice, but they're easily knocked over and paper blows out, and they can leave a messy street. Also remember if you have cardboard boxes, flatten them down and fold or cut them down in size, and leave them under your recycling bags curbside. If you leave your boxes as-is on the curb, they will not be recycled. a) They may contain styrofoam shipping pieces, which are not recyclable and b) if people see an open box they will dump trash in it. For that reason recycling crews will not take 'open empty boxes' in the recycling trucks. This applies to all those flat-screen TV boxes we're seeing lately as people upgrade to HDVTs.

A final reminder recycling for the Eight Streets area is Tuesdays only. Bring your recyclables to the curb before 7am on Tuesday morning.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Doggie Ice Cream Social, 2010

BOSTON VETERINARY CARE ‘ICE CREAM SOCIAL FOR DOGS’ AT PETERS PARK IN BOSTON’S SOUTH END

Boston, MA – What do dogs and ice cream have in common? Peter’s Park in Boston’s South End! Your best friend can enjoy free canine-friendly ice cream courtesy of Polka Dog Bakery, and free gelato for their human companions. Come and mingle with your canine and human friends and neighbors.

WHAT: A celebration of the “Dog Days of Summer”

Ø An ice cream sundae bar provided by Polka Dog Bakery

Ø Snapshots of you and you dog by photographer Amelia Hughes

Ø Free nutrition and health advice from Boston Veterinary Care veterinarians

WHERE: Joe Wex Dog Recreation Space at Peters Park, 1277 Washington Street (between Waltham Street and Berkeley Street.) in Boston’s South End.

WHEN: Thursday, August 19, 2010 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Animal Rescue League of Boston

Founded in 1899, The Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Boston is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing domesticated animals and wildlife from suffering, cruelty, abandonment, and neglect. In addition to the organization’s animal rescue, law enforcement, shelter, and veterinary headquarters in Boston, the ARL of Boston operates shelters in Boston, Dedham, and Brewster, Massachusetts. The ARL of Boston also maintains a fleet of animal ambulances, a mobile Spay Waggin’ providing subsidized spay/neuter services throughout southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod, and operates the state’s only Mobile Adoption Rescue Vehicle (MARV).


Free movie nights in August

Cathedral High School and Boston Centers for Youth and Families are presenting Thursday Family Fun Nights - a night of structured activities, light refreshments and a movie! It's presented for free a Cathedral High School gym. Activities begin at 3pm with the movie starting at 6pm.

Activities days are on Thursday,
  • August 12th
  • August 19th
  • August 26th

Movies are currently TBD. Fliers with a contact email can be found here

Friday, August 06, 2010

Biketown: Earn a new bike

Bicycling Magazine's BikeTown is coming to Boston!

In 2003, the editor of Bicycling Magazine wondered if a bicycle could change someone's life. After giving away thousands of bicycles to people all over the U.S., the answer is clearly YES! People have lost weight, connected with their family, been able to beat diabetes, saved money, overcome depression, renewed marriage vows and dozens of other stories. For 2010, BikeTown is going to eight cities: Cleveland - Indianapolis - Denver - Boston - Minneapolis - Los Angeles (with Best Buddies) - New Orleans - Charleston. BikeTown, MetLife and Jamis Bicycles will be giving away 31 new bicycles on Friday August 27 at Boston City Hall Plaza during Bike Friday. Submit a 50- word essay about how a bicycle could change someone's life at http://www.bicycling.com/enter-biketown [PDF Announcement]

Temporary art on the BCA Plaza

Monday afternoon, please join us for the launch of "Temporary Public Art on the Plaza" at the BCA.

Two distinct pieces make up this exhibition: John Slepian's Mementos (Aug 2- Sept 6) and Jamie Calderwood's Green Wave Bench (Aug 9-Oct 3). .
Each piece was designed specifically for the BCA's Plaza with the intention of giving audiences a unique opportunity to experience and enjoy public art. Slepian's piece is on display in the window of the Mills Gallery daily from 3-11 p.m., and Calderwood's piece will be on view outside of the Cyclorama around the clock.

Both artists will be on hand at the opening to talk about their individual approaches to creating a public art piece.

Normally closed on Monday, the Mills Gallery will be open during the event so that visitors can also enjoy Richard Bertman's Three Point Perspective, currently running in the space.

Please share this invitation with colleagues, friends or neighbors who may be interested in attending - ALL ARE WELCOME!


Best,
Kristi

Kristi Keefe
Director of Events and Community Relations
Boston Center for the Arts
P. 617.426.5001
F. 617.426.5336
M. 617.828.9155

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Free opera

For those who couldn't get enough of Carmen onthe Common, The Boston Lyric Opera opens it's new season with free opera at the Hatch Shell.

This Wednesday, 7/28 the BLO and BLO will present Highlights from Tosca. The concert is free and runs form 7-9pm.

From the BLO announcement:

Boston Lyric Opera and the Boston Landmarks Orchestra will showcase excerpts from the opera world’s beloved masterpiece, Tosca, by Giacomo Puccini, which will be the opening opera for BLO’s exciting 2010-2011 Season. Jill Gardner, who will sing the title role in November, will perform with her husband, Jake Gardner, who was recently seen as the “Music Master” in BLO’s critically acclaimed Ariadne auf Naxos. The Gardners will be joined by Richard Crawley, Taylor Horner, and the Boston Lyric Opera Chorus. The singers will be led by guest conductor Andrew Bisantz, who will also be the conductor for the production in November.

The night will also include a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 by the Boston Landmarks Orchestra, conducted by Charles Ansbacher.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Shovel that sidewalk!


If you haven't caught the news today, a Mass SJC ruling today has made a ruling on snow removal and liability. (Full article in the Globe). Before the ruling you were not liable if you never shoveled your walk, or if the sidewalk was covered with ice from "daytime melting and nighttime freezing". This means if someone slips and falls for any snow & ice reason, you can be held liable.

This ruling does not change the city rules - by city ordinance you must still shovel your sidewalk. but in the past if you did not shovel, or if you shoveled poorly, or didn't sand after a re-freeze, the worst that could happen is a city ticket. Now you can open yourself up to a lawsuit. (The ruling also changes the law retroactively - perhaps your friendly blogger can sue over his torn rotator cuff. hmmmm)

Not that we want anyone sued, but perhaps this will inspire more people to clear their walkways in a timely manner...


Monday, July 19, 2010

South End Library Concert & Pot Luck

Summer Potluck Picnic in Library Park

Hear Pat Loomis and his band White Chocolate Bring some food to share!

South End Library
685 Tremont Street
617-536-8241
Tuesday, July 20 at 6:30

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Wholy Grain open house

The to-be-opening new business The Wholy Grain is having an open houe this Wednesday, July 7 form 7-9pm. They are in the process of renovating the space at 275A Shawmut (corner of Hanson) and going through the city permit process. You may have met Ken at one of the ESNA meetings he attended. Stop by their open house and say hi, and check out the plans for the space.

A Flier with information on the open houe and an overview of The Wholy Grain is here (pdf).

Saturday, June 26, 2010

2010 Free Friday Flicks schedule

Now a beloved, summertime tradition for New England families, Free Friday Flicks are classic & popular, family-oriented movies shown each Friday night throughout the summer at the DCR Hatch Shell on the Esplanade for FREE!

People of all ages flock to the banks of the Charles River with their own chairs, blankets and picnics to enjoy these Free movies under the stars.

All movies are shown rain or shine at sundown (approximately 8:30pm). But come early to grab your spot on the lawn...and visit the WBZ Tent for lots of free giveaways, food samples and fun interactive games!

What's Playing This Week?

June 18: Grease Sing-A-Long

July 9: The Wizard of Oz

July 16: Star Trek

July 23: Where the Wild Things Are

July 30: Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs

August 6: Monsters vs. Aliens

August 13: How to Train a Dragon

August 20: The Princess and the Frog

August 27: Up

Please call the WBZ Free Friday Flicks Hotline for weekly movie information: 617-787-7200.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Frog Pond opening celebration

Bring the youngins to the Frog Pond Opening Celebration. Wednesday, June 30, 11a-1p at the frog pond in Boston Common. Keep cool on a hot day, and maybe catch some free give-aways. Details on this flier. This is a free event.

Free concert at Fenway

Boston Landmarks Orchestra is having a free concert at Fenway park. Details can be found on this poster (pdf file) The only catch is you must get tickets beforehand. Visit www.redsox.com/familyfun to process and home print tickets (up to 4 per user) by July 4.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

SE Garden Tour this weekend!

A reminder that the South End Garden Tour is this Saturday, June 19th. This year the tour is on the Western end of the South End, in an area roughly bounded by Tremont St. --> West Newton St. -->Harrison Ave. --> Northampton St. and beyond. “The tour will feature many beautiful, diverse gardens in the South End - from pocket-sized patio spaces to rooftop terraces to neighborhood parks and community gardens.” The tour is also the major fundraiser for SELROSLT, a nonprofit organization that supports local pocket parks and community gardens.

Tickets are available now, or the day of the tour. Complete event info can be found on the Garden Tour Web Site. I hope you get a chance to hit the tour – it’s a great way to see many of the hidden gardens in the neighborhood – and Saturday is predicted to be great weather!!

Note – I got an email this morning that they are still looking for volunteers to help with the tour. Volunteers work on the tour for a 2 hour shift – and get to attend the tour for free! See the web site for contact information

Saturday, June 05, 2010

Is your home a fire trap?

Remember the large multiple alarm fire at Beacon & Mass Ave back in April? BFS has determined the preliminary cause.

The cause of the 9-alarm fire on April 7, 2010 at the Beacon Towers Condominium building, 483 Beacon Street, has been found to have been an electrical short circuit. Specifically, an extension cord running under a piece of carpet in a seventh floor unit shorted out to cause the fire. The building remains closed for renovations.

That's right. An extension cord running under a carpet destroyed one home, put many others our of their homes, and could have lead to loss of life.

Consumer Product Safety Commission provides this PDF on home electrical safety... Make sure your home is a safe home...

Thanks to Universal Hub blog for the BFD information

Mangia

The North End Waterfront blog posts a schedule of this summers North End Festivals

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

no June ESNA Meeting

Evening everyone,

Since we usually take the summer off, we were looking forward to our June meeting. Even though we had no 'gripping' agenda I had hoped to do some planning for the summer and see where you wanted to take the NA next year. Unfortunately I got a call today and we have lost out room space for Wednesday night.

Given a smaller room and tentative agenda, we'll be cancelling the June meeting. Should any agenda items need our attention, we can have a July or August meeting as needed.


In the meantime, we can use the email list to discuss the same items. Are there any activities you would like to see over the summer? Maybe another Foley's trivia night? Join Berkeley in a pot luck over the summer? Let us know!!! The email list is a two-way street, so feel free to share your thoughts.

Stay in touch, and have a good summer. Watch the Blog for current news, and if we have a summer meeting both the blog, email and web will be updated.

Enjoy the warm weather!

- John Mc

_________________
John McLachlan, President
Eight Streets Neighborhood Association
South End (Boston) MA
http://eightstreets.org
http://eightstreets.blogspot.com

Monday, May 17, 2010

Albany St Corridor

If you're interested in planning,t he Harrison/Albany St Corridor planning process has announced it's next set of meetings. Schedule can be found here.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

SoWa Art & Open Market walk this weekend

The SoWa (SOuth of WAshington) Art Walk is this coming weekend, May 15, 16. The SoWa Art Walk is both Saturday and Sunday, 11a-6p. Similar to Open Studios in the fall, the Art Work has artists opening their studios to the public for viewing. "Creative stores, cafes, boutiques and some of the city’s finest restaurants take part in the SoWa Art Walk by opening their doors all weekend, hosting artists who display on their walls and offering special event discounts."

This is also opening weekend for the South End Open Market. The open Market will be open Both Saturday & Sunday from 10a-5p. This year the Open Market has moved to 460 Harrison, down near Thayer/Perry streets (at Washingston st). Opening weekend usually has loads of extra vendors, so it's certianly worth the trip!

It looks to be a great weekend, so get out and about!

SE Library book sale this Saturday

The Friends of the South end Library are holding a book sale on Saturday, May 15 from 10 am-2 pm. Everyone is welcome!

Thanks,

Anne Smart

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Yard Waste collection schedule for Spring

The City will be collecting yard waste through may 28th. Yard waster is put out on Recycling day - Tuesday morning for ESNA. Yard waste should be put on the curb in paper bags or open trash cans. Yard waste in black plastic bags will not be picked up. Rules according during the City yard waste recycling web site:

  • 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 635-4959 (up to 2 stickers available per household).
  • Tie branches with string, 3' maximum length. Do not put branches in barrels.
  • Put barrels, bags and branches on the curb by 7:00 AM on your Recycling Day, between the collection dates listed below.
  • Yard waste will not be collected with trash during this period.
  • Yard waste in plastic bags will also not be collected.

  • Again, put out yard waste on the morning of May 11, 18 or 25.

    Tuesday, May 04, 2010

    May ESNA Meeting

    Hi everyone,

    Now that we've all survived Aquamegedon, it's time for the May Eight Streets business meeting,

    As I blogged last week, this meeting will focus on neighborhood security. Community Service Officer Sgt. Provenzano of Area D of the Boston Police Dept will be joining us. We'll discuss issues in the neighborhood, what police patrols we'll be getting over the Spring and Summer, and how you can help keep our ESNA neighborhood safe.

    We're meeting this Wednesday, May 5 at our usual location, Boston Ballet 5th floor boardroom (warren & Clarendon).

    6:30-7 - Neighborhood Networking, Meet & Green
    7-8:30 - Business meeting.


    Hope you can make it!

    Tuesday, April 27, 2010

    New BPD News site

    Wanna keep up on crime and the Boston Police Department? The new BPD News web site has been freshened up and now has a wealth of information. You can also find links to the following sites form the BPD News Home page.

    General BPD information




    connect to NeighborsforNeighbors web site - a unique web site to connect neighbors together (just starting up - could be interesting!

    Crime Reports - see an interactive map of your neighborhood and the location of all reported crime

    Visit the site, and keep in touch with your community!

    911 - the Boston users guide


    We always encourage residents to call 911 to report any suspicious activity. but many people are afraid to call, associating 911 with "life and death" emergencies. Boston does things a little different. Read on to find out how Boston's 911 system works and how it can be our neighborhood's best friend.

    First the numbers:

    911 - Call this from your home/landline phone. This will connect you to police, who will be able to automatically see your home address as soon as you call.

    617-3434-911 - To contact 911 from your cell phone. Put this number in your cell phone. Right now before your forget. I'll wait. OK - great. When you dial 911 from a cell phone you are sent to the State police, who will have to transfer you to Boston police. the 617-343-4911 number will get you directly to Boston Police. (smart phones are supposed to route 911 calls to the town from where you are calling, but that doesn't work most of the time.

    How 911 works

    In Boston, the 911 operator is the only way to get a police car dispatched. if you called the police department directly, you just get a desk office who can't dispatch a car. So while you still call 911 for the life-and-death stuff, you also call 911 for those loud parties, being blocked in by a double parker, or if you see some shady characters ducking into a dark alley.

    Boston and BPD has set up 911 to work this way. Do not feel strange or embarrassed to call 911 for 'trivial' matters.

    When you call 911 the dispatcher will answer "Is this an emergency". If it is not an emergency, then just answer "No". They'll then ask what the issue is and take your information. They will not yell at you for calling 911 if your call is about safety or any other neighborhood issue.

    Why it's important

    When people call 911 they picture a police car screaming down the street to answer your call. The truth is it could be a half hour before police show up, or they may not show up at all. (If it's a real emergency, everyone will show up - don't worry). What 911 does is prioritize calls. Emergencies get top priority. The loud party gets a lower priority. 911 takes all the calls, and dispatches police to the most important calls first. if it's a busy night (like the weekend) some of the low priority calls may never get an office responding.

    But that doesn't mean your call has been ignored.

    Every call is logged in and kept track of. They follow these calls over time to look for trends and hot spots. This data is looked over by local BPD chiefs, BOD overall, and City Hall. You think your one call about suspicious activity may not be worthy of a 911 call. But many calls about suspicious activity in the same area will start setting off flags in the BPD data, and let Police know something is up.

    Many years ago the power went out in my apartment. After 20 minutes I finally called the electric company to ask when the power is coming back on. She said they didn't even know the power was out. Like me, everyone else just assumed 'someone else' called it in. Needless to say if power goes out I'm on the phone instantly to report it.

    Crime is the same way. At a recent crime meeting someone said they see a lot of drug use in their neighborhood and why aren't he police doing anything about it? The police's answer? We have no reports on drug use in that area. And that's the issue. If no one calls, then they don't know what's going on, and can't do anything about it.

    The bottom line?

    If it doesn't look right? Call it in! Suspicious characters going into an alley? People drinking in the garden? Even if it's not your home. Walking to work and see a car window smashed? Call it in - it could be days before the owner sees it, and it could be the start of a crime wave. Complaining to your friends and neighbors is a nice way to vent, but unless you report it to 911, it's like it never happened.

    So report, report, report. And if you didn't put the 617-3434-911 number in your cell phone earlier, do it now!

    Safety discussion at May ESNA Meeting


    Hi Everyone,

    The next Eight Streets meeting is a little over a week away. This month we're going to have a focus on neighborhood security and safety.

    Last year Eight Streets worked with Old Dover and Boston Police (BPD) to try to tackle a drug problem that had moved into the area. Unfortunately, as good a job as BPD was able to do, the Spring has brought a resurgence of the problem. What we're seeing this spring is an increase in Drug sales in the Old Dover neighborhood, near Washington/East Berkeley/Harrison area. And with drug sales comes drug use. We're seeing those who want to use or just hang out starting to congregate in Peters Park, Berkeley Garden, and in our ESNA walkable alleys.

    At our May meeting, BPD Community Officer Sgt. Provenzano will join us with members of his team. We'll discuss some of the issues we have in the neighborhood, how BPD is working with ESNA and Old Dover to help tackle the problems, and what steps residents can take to ensure our neighborhood remains safe. We hope you'll be able to join us - watch this space for the official meeting notice this weekend.

    In the meantime, just remember to always keep an eye out for suspicious activity. Remember to lock your doors, and don't leave valuables in your car. Use your common sense, and report suspicious activity to police. (more on that in the next blog entry).

    Thanks to Dave and Jodi who are stepping up and taking an active role in ESNA and helping out with Safety. Many of you have seen their flier in your door, and I look forward to having them continue to work with BPD and Old Dover. And a nice warm ESNA welcome to those visiting the blog for the first time after seeing their flier! I hope to see you at the May meeting!

    Monday, April 26, 2010

    Friends of SE Library annual meeting

    The Friends of the South End Library will hold its annual meeting, and vote in a new board, on May 4 at 6:30 PM at the South End Library.

    For more details on this and related matters, such as the Save our Libraries update, as well as pictures of our April 4 Easter Egg Hunt, please visit our web site at www.friendsofsouthendlibrary.org .

    Regards,

    Marleen Nienhuis

    Thursday, April 22, 2010

    Boston Shines this weekend

    A reminder that Boston Shines cleanup is this Saturday (4/24). While we don’t have a neighborhood-organized cleanup, feel free to clean up your own space, or get together with your neighbors and clean up your section of the block.

    If you need some tools, the city will have brooms, shovels, rakes, gloves, and trash bags available to be borrowed from 9am to 1pm. Just stop by the BCA Plaza.

    If you want to clean up your sidewalk of dirt and tree droppings, sweep it into the middle of the street – street sweepers will be making the rounds throughout the day. (of course, bag your trash, don’t sweep it into the street)

    The city will also pick up trash until noon on Saturday. Leave bags of trash you have collected on a corner so the DPW can easily see the bags. Now remember this is trash you’ve cleaned up from outside – this is not a chance to clean out the basement and attic. DPW won’t take your junk (sorry).

    We hope the sunshine will inspire you to take some time to help clean up on Saturday morning!!

    Wednesday, April 21, 2010

    Watch what is in your car

    From time to time the neighborhood has the occasional car break-in. Usually someone has left their GPS or Laptop in the car, and it was just too tempting for a thief to pass up.

    Well, police recently arrested those responsible for a series of break-ins in Roxbury and JP. I urge you to read the article found here. Now this news isn't very exciting, and it wasn't in our neighborhood. But the article has several pictures of the stolen items laid out on tables to show what thieves take.

    Effectively, they take anything not nailed down. And some stuff that is nailed down (shift know and amplifier in the pile). Moral of the story - don't leave anything in your car that you would miss if stolen. Again, take a look at the pictures - they take some really stupid and worthless stuff...

    Monday, April 12, 2010

    Ringgold Park Fountian Meeting

    Dear Friends of Ringgold Park,

    Exciting news - the Parks Department is convening a public meeting to discuss the center circle fountain design. Please mark your calendars, line up a sitter if necessary, and join us to make your voice heard! We will be meeting at 6:30 pm on Thursday, April 29, in the second floor computer lab at the Blackstone Community Center. The Parks Department will be publicizing this meeting by distributing flyers to neighbors of the park.

    Some of you may have noticed that the Parks Department recently removed the swing in the small tot lot. Its foundation had become unstable in the recent rainstorms, and it was clearly a safety hazard. Replacing it has been added to the scope of work for our general capital improvements. And the upcoming public meeting is a great opportunity to find out when it will be replaced!

    Thank you to all the volunteers who pitched in to clean up the park and run our annual spring Egg Hunt last weekend, particularly the Effgen Family, the Mullin Family, Conrad Ello, the Weiss-Currys, Rebecca Schulman, and Beth Prindle. The weather was gorgeous and a great time was had by all! Attendance at the cleanup, however, was very low, and although our group worked for over 3 hours, we didn't get through all the areas of the park that need to be cleaned. In the past Hope House used to send over a group of energetic volunteers, but now For future cleanups, FORP is seeking to partner with a corporate entity that would like a community service opportunity. Our cleanups happen twice a year - prior to our Halloween event, and prior to our spring Egg Hunt. If you know of a company or school that would like to help us out, please let me know!

    Lastly, while you have your calendars out, please also mark Monday, May 10 at 9:30 to join Mayor Menino in Ringgold Park! This is our opportunity to demonstrate how important this project is to the community, and to show off our new plantings and irrigation system. I hope to see you there!

    Thank you as always for your support.
    Claire Corcoran
    President, Friends of Ringgold Park

    Tuesday, April 06, 2010

    Dover St

    The Globe today had an article on the effort to rename East Berkeley back to Dover St.

    Monday, April 05, 2010

    April ESNA Business Meeting

    Happy Spring everyone,

    Hopefully you won't be seduced by our warm weather and be able to attend our monthly business meeting this week on Wednesday April 7th. We'll be at our usual location at the Boston Ballet's 5th floor board room

    Meeting format:

    6:30-7 - neighborhood networking. Informal get together - meet your neighbors and catch up on all the good gossip
    7-8:30 - Business meeting.

    This month's agenda includes:

    - Owner of 43 Dwight street. Planned balcony on rear and roof deck. Seeks vote of support from neighborhood.

    - Owners of The Wholy Grain, who are looking to open a bakery/deli at 275A Shawmut (corner of Hanson). They are seeking a vote of support from the neighborhood, but I've yet to confirm the technical details (not sure if they've got a city rejection letter and need NA support, or if they'd like a general support letter). Complete details will be available at the meeting, but if you're an abutter or know an abutter, make sure they're at the meeting.

    - On a similar business note, Pops restaurant will be here for an informal neighborhood gathering. Many restaurant issues came up at their previous meeting concerning noise, rear of building situation and issues with the sidewalk front. There is a new manager at Pops and they have taken immediate steps to address many of the issues as presented. There is no vote - they will be presenting some of the changes they have instituted, and want to continue a dialog with the neighborhood. Again, abutters are encouraged to attend. While western abutters from UPNA have been invited to come in the past, Pops has already attended an UPNA meeting covering the same topic, so I'm hoping they have had a chance to have this discussion at their meeting, and that this meeting will include more Eight Streets members.


    We've got a full meeting, and I hope all of you can make it. Tell your neighbors and bring a friend - help the NA grow!

    - John Mc


    _________________
    John McLachlan
    President, Webmaster
    Eight Streets Neighborhood Association
    South End (Boston) MA
    http://eightstreets.org
    http://eightstreets.blogspot.com

    Sunday, April 04, 2010

    The city continues to embrace the digital age

    You can now follow the City on twitter. The Mayors Office of Constituent Engagement is posting city updates regularly to Twitter.

    You can follow them at http://twitter.com/NotifyBoston

    Reminder - Street Cleaning has begun

    A reminder that April 1 brought the return of street sweeping days. On street cleaning days and hours you must move your car from the street or risk being ticketed and/or towed.

    ESNA streets fall on a Monday and Thursday schedule, but you may park outside our neighborhood, so remember to read street cleaning signs before parking your car on the street.

    Thursday, April 01, 2010

    Ringgold Park cleanup

    Join the Friends of Ringgold Park on Saturday (April 3). Enjoy the beautiful weather while you help tidy the park for Easter and get it ready for Spring!

    Saturday, April 3
    Noon-2pm
    Ringgold Park

    Friends of Ringgold Park newsletter; Sp 2010

    Dear Friends of Ringgold Park,

    The buds on our new shrubs are swelling, Easter and Passover are right around the corner, and spring is in the air! Below are some important dates for your calendar.

    The Friends of Ringgold Park will host our annual Spring Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 4th at 10 am in the park. Please note: we will ask that children not enter the park while we are setting up the egg hunt from 9 to 10. This family event is appropriate for all ages, as different areas of the park will have eggs hidden at different levels of difficulty. Please join us for this annual celebration of spring.

    To prepare for the event, on Saturday April 3, we will host our Spring Cleanup of the park from 12 to 2 pm. Join us to spruce up the park for the egg hunt! Pizza and drinks, rakes and gloves will be provided.

    Although the center circle appears unchanged, our capital improvement project is moving along! The City of Boston has contracted with Copley Wolff, the landscape architects who helped us develop our fountain concept, to provide detailed construction specifications. As part of this process, we will be working with Copley Wolff on scheduling a series of public meetings to get further input from the community. Stay tuned for dates!

    An important part of this process is advocacy from the community of park users. On Monday, May 10th from 9:30 to 10:30 in the park, we have a critical opportunity to bend the Mayor's ear about our important issues! Please join us at the Mayor's Park Coffee Hour in Ringgold Park to ask for continued investment in improving Ringgold Park. We worked diligently to raise private funds to install the new plantings and irrigation system. This is our chance to show off our most recent investments to the Mayor. At this coffee hour, we will be ask the City of Boston to invest in 1) Big Belly trash compactor cans for the park; 2) permanent low cast iron fencing along the edges of the shrub beds to protect the plants and prolong their lives; and 3) our center circle fountain project, which also includes resurfacing of the play areas with safety foam.

    If you find yourself at Polka Dog Bakery, please thank them for sponsoring our Dog Waste Pickup Bags! They have generously provided both the refill bags and their storage.

    Thank you as always for your support, and see you in the park!

    Claire Corcoran
    Friends of RInggold Park

    Wednesday, March 31, 2010

    NIH Panel on Risk Assesment

    Dear Community Member:

    The NIH Blue Ribbon Panel to Advise on the Risk Assessment of the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories at Boston University Medical Center is holding a public meeting to update the community on the status and proposed approach of the study. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at the Boston Marriott Copley Place, 110 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 from approximately 6:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

    The meeting program will include presentations providing an overview of the risk assessment process, as well as breakout sessions in which more detailed presentations and dialogue about the proposed approach will take place. Members of the public may, at any time, file written comments to the following address: NIH Blue Ribbon Panel, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Mail Stop Code 7985, Bethesda, MD 20892-7985 or by sending an e-mail to: nih_brp@od.nih.gov . An agenda and slides for the meeting may be obtained prior to the meeting by connecting to http://nihblueribbonpanel-bumc-neidl.od.nih.gov/ .

    For additional information concerning this meeting, please contact Ms. Laurie Lewallen, Advisory Committee Coordinator, Office of Biotechnology Activities, Office of Science Policy, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, 6705 Rockledge Drive, Room 750, Bethesda, MD 20892-7985; telephone 301-496-9838; e-mail lewallenl@od.nih.gov .


    Regards,

    Carla

    Carla J. Richards, MPP
    Director, Community Relations
    Department of Corporate Communications
    Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical Campus
    85 East Newton Street, Rm 421
    Boston, MA 02118
    Phone: 617-638-8627
    Fax: 617-638-8044
    E-Mail: carla.richards@bmc.org

    Tuesday, March 30, 2010

    South End Baseball signup

    A reminder that this Saturday (April 3) is the final day for South End Baseball sign-ups. Please see the web site southendbaseball.com for times and location for signup (Your child's age will determine time and location).

    Wednesday, March 24, 2010

    Passing on this opportunity from BUMC


    Dear Community Member:

    The Executive Committee of the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL) is seeking applications for membership to fill three positions on the Community Liaison Committee (CLC). Membership terms are for two years. The CLC is comprised of six members whose role is to provide outreach and feedback to facilitate communication and information flow between the NEIDL and the community and to ensure transparency in the operations of the laboratory.


    CLC members meet bi-monthly and serve on a volunteer basis for staggered terms. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit an application via mail, e-mail or fax. To get an application or for more information, contact Carla Richards, Director, Community Relations, Boston University Medical Campus, 85 East Newton Street, M-421, Boston, MA 02118. Phone 617-638-8627* Fax 617-638-8044 * biolab@bu.edu. You may also download the application at: www.bu.edu/neidl

    ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:00 PM, FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2010 TO BE CONSIDERED.


    Regards,

    Carla

    Carla J. Richards, MPP
    Director, Community Relations
    Department of Corporate Communications
    Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical Campus
    85 East Newton Street, Rm 421
    Boston, MA 02118
    Phone: 617-638-8627
    Fax: 617-638-8044
    E-Mail: carla.richards@bmc.org

    Tuesday, March 23, 2010

    Be on TV - My First Place

    From HGTV:

    My name is Cindy Baggish and I'm currently casting for HGTV's 8th
    Season of "My First Place." We're seeking first time homebuyers (and
    their agents) in the Boston area who might be interested in sharing
    their home buying experience with HGTV and its audience.

    Neighborhood Associations have proven to be one of our best resources in finding
    fantastic show applicants because of their knowledge of the community. I've attached a
    copy of our press release. Is there a chance you could run a blurb about our show on
    your website to see if members of the community might be interested in applying
    for our show?

    Please feel free to phone me or e-mail me with any questions.

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Thank you.

    Cindy Baggish | AP-Casting
    HGTV's My First Place

    High Noon Entertainment
    4100 E. Dry Creek Road
    Centennial, CO 80122
    Phone: 303-712-3093
    Fax: 303-486-3881

    Community Emergency Response Training


    The next CERT training information sessions are coming in April. "Help your neighbors be prepared for emergencies. Get trained to assist first responders and organize other Volunteers during and after a disaster. " Sessions 4/13 and 4/20 at the Tobin Community Center, Roxbury and 4/15 and 4/22 at the BPL main branch.


    City information brochure on CERT which gives more information on CERT and the training classes.


    Info on Library Closings


    Passing on this meeting notice from the Friends of the S End Library. If you use our library at all, we encourage you to attend.


    The Friends of the South End Library (FOSEL) is sponsoring a meeting with South End state and city representatives to discuss the proposed closings of up to a third of BPL neighborhood libraries.

    It will be held on Wednesday, March 24 at 6:30 PM at the South End Library.

    FOSEL has asked the representatives to update us on the short-term crisis as well as inform us how, for the long-term, we can empower them to be the strongest library advocates they can be.

    Attending will be Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, Representatives Byron Rushing and Aaron Michlewitz, and District City Councillors Bill Linehan and Chuck Turner. At-large city councillors have been invited, too.

    In addition, the office of Governor Deval Patrick is sending Under-Secretary of Administration and Finance Matt Gorzkowicz , while Brian Gosselin, one of their assistant budget directors, may also attend.

    Looking forward to seeing you there,

    Marleen Nienhuis, President,
    Friends of the South End Library,
    617 236-4077

    Sunday, March 21, 2010

    New Bakery/Sandwich shop

    The new shop that is applying to open at Shawmut and Hanson made an article in the Herald last week, This is the same gentleman that came to our March ESNA Meeting. Since herald articles expire after a week, the text of the article is below...



    The Wholy Grain, a bakery and deli emphasizing healthy fare, is coming to the South End this summer.

    Neighborhood residents Ken Hassett and David McFarlane are going through the permitting process to open it in a space that previously housed a private social club at 275A Shawmut Ave., near Coppa, South End Formaggio and the Franklin Cafe.

    “We’re looking to open a very health-conscious, take-out restaurant called the Wholy Grain with artisan-style breads, fresh in-house roasted meats and prepared meals to go,” Hassett said.

    The plan is to steer clear of processed foods and do much of the baking on-site, with pastries and a juice bar also among the offerings. The Wholy Grain eventually will operate 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. to catch business for all three meals.

    Hassett, who doesn’t cook, says the prepared meals geared to both meat eaters and vegetarians will be as much for himself as customers.

    “I’m trying to repeat what I grew up with: a nice, decent home-cooked meal that has a little flair to it, but is healthy at the same time,” he said.

    The Wholy Grain will be a takeoff of a fresh food takeout restaurant operated by Hassett’s brothers in the city of Cork, Ireland.

    “One of them is a master baker, and he has a great bakery that produces bread for a lot of restaurants in southern Ireland, and they’ve come up with a kind of takeout concept called the Wholy Grain,” Hassett said.

    The South End space is 800-square-feet and will have patio seating.

    “Outside, it doesn’t have a lot of curb appeal,” Hassett said. “But inside, it’s a really cute little space. We’ll kick it up a notch. It will be a nice, old-fashioned shop.”

    He and McFarlane also own the Carriage House, a seasonal bed and breakfast in Provincetown.

    Tuesday, March 02, 2010

    Be on TV

    HGTV is again looking for people who have had recent renovations to be on a TV show. Details and contact information are below



    Good Afternoon!

    My name is Brooke Schledewitz and I work for the show "Bang For Your Buck” on Home and Garden Television (HGTV). We are now in production of our 4th season and are looking to bring the show to the greater Boston, MA area. I'm hoping for your help in locating homeowners who may be interested in having their recently remodeled great room (ie. kitchen/family room) featured on our show!

    I am contacting you to see if you could pass this information on to the people in your neighborhood and/or if you know of anyone in your community who has completed this type of renovation.

    I have attached a press release for you to take a look at. If you have any questions or need any additional information please feel free to call or e-mail me. We are hoping to select our homes within the next few weeks, so time is of the essence.

    Please let me know if you are able to help!

    Thanks,
    Brooke


    Brooke Schledewitz - Bang For Your Buck
    High Noon Entertainment
    303-712-3168
    bschledewitz@highnoontv.com

    Monday, March 01, 2010

    March Eight Streets meeting


    Hi Everyone,

    The March Eight Streets meeting is coming up this Wednesday, March 5th. We'll be at our regular location at the Boston Ballet 5th floor board room.

    6:30 - 7 - Neighborhood networking, Informal gathering - meet your neighbors
    7 - 8:30 - Business meeting.

    Agenda includes:

    * Representatives from Councilor Arroyo's and John Connolly's offices will be in attendance, so bring your city/neighborhood questions.

    * The Carriage House Provincetown - is looking to open a deli/bakery at Hanson & Shawmut. No vote, just information on what they are seeing to open in the space

    * Open Member Discussion - discussion on neighborhood issues; future NA planning

    I hope you can make it!