Primary Elections

With Labor Day upon us, our thoughts turn to fall.  In a little over two weeks, the state's Primary Elections will take place.  There are two races of primary interest to Eight Streets.   Both are in the Democratic race.

• US Senator John Kerry faces a democratic challenger Edward O'Reilly.  There is no race on the Republican side, so the winner of the democratic side will continue on to the general election in November.
  
• As you may have seen in the newspapers, the local State Senator seat is up for election (State Senators are elected by districts - we are in the Second Suffolk district).   Incumbent Dianne Wilkerson faces challenger Sonia Chang-Diaz.   Since there is no republican candidate at all, the winner of this race will most likely go to the general election unopposed.   So this makes the primary race for this seat the only chance to vote for your choice as State Senator.
  

Elections will take place Tuesday, September 16th.  Polls are open 7am until 8pm Eight Streets voting location is the Cathedral Gym, Washington St and Union Park.  If you live in Eight Streets, your voting district is Ward 3, Precinct 7.

Unfortunately, if you are not registered, the deadline to register for this primary has passed.   You have until October 15th to register for the November elections. If you have any questions, please call the Boston Election Department at 617-635-3767 (Election Department Web)

Hope to see you at the polls on September 16th!!   

Thursday Movie Nights

The "Movies on the Diamond" series is back again this year.  Movies will be shown on Thursdays at 8pm on the baseball diamond at Peters Park.  Admission is free and open to all.   The next three Thursdays will being us:

8/14 - Surf's Up

8/21 - Bee Movie

8/28 - Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone

D4 police station building

There are apparently some problems with the new D4 police station over on Harrison ave.   This Herald article outlines some of their problems (Article should be on line for a week or two.)

And a great big Thank You to Carolyn MacNeil, who has left her job as D4 community coordinator to work a similar job city wide.  Carolyn worked with Eight Streets and all other South End NAs to help keep our neighborhood a safe place, and was a wonderful liaison between NAs and the police in general.  She will be missed.   Community interaction will now be handled by officers with D4.

Boston landmarks Orchestra

For more summer fun, remember the Boston landmarks Orchestra  has free concerts every Wednesday at 7pm on the hatch shell.   Complete schedule is available here.

August 27th seems to be an interesting and lively program.   Anyone interested in an Eight Streets outing to the hatch??  Let us know

Gospel Fest

The Mayor's Office announces this years Gospel Fest will be Sunday, July 20th from 5-8 at City Hall Plaza. Details and flier can be found here.

Shakespeare on the Common

The City Performing Arts Center has announced this years free Shakespeare-on-the-park presentation is the play "As You Like It".

July 16 - 17, 8pm, Open Dress Rehearsals
July 18 - August 3, 8pm Tue-Sat, 7pm Sundays

Short info below. Full press release can be found here. Shakespeare in Boston Common can be a lot of fun, so I hope everyone can make it. But show up early!! It's become a popular event.

Citi® Presents "As You Like It,” William Shakespeare’s
romantic comedy, which will be performed on the Boston Common Friday, July 18 - Sunday, August 3, and Springfield's Forest Park Friday, August 8 - Sunday, August 10. Directed by Steven Maler, founding artistic director of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, "As You Like It" continues the popular midsummer tradition that has brought Shakespeare under the stars to more than 885,000 people over the last decade.

Known as one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies, “As You Like It” is a captivating exploration of status, power and the bewitching mystery of love. This riotous romp through the Forest of Arden follows the
adventures of Rosalind, a good-hearted optimist, and her pursuit for true love. From sorrow to laughter, banishment to marriage, the play involves conversations about life and love, and a clash of views, with a hilarious mixture of romantic and slapstick comedy. A play of passion, romance, and disguise, the game of love is tried until identities are revealed and all is resolved.

Berkeley Shed info

As most of you read via email, the tool shed in Berkeley Community Garden was the victim of arson last Tuesday early morning (7/1).   We've gotten some good press coverage, and a fundraising effort continues as they try to rebuild and replace what was lost.   Those who wish to help can send tax deductable donations to 

Berkeley Garden Shed Fund
c/o SELROSLT
P.O. Box 180923
Boston, MA, 02118

The latest news updates can always be found at the Berkeley Web Site, www.berkeleygardens.org

• The South End News


• The Boston Herald


• Fox News Boston, reposted on YouTube.

Cyclorama painting

The NYT has a nice article on the restoration of the Gettysburg Cyclorama Painting - the painting that was original installed in the BCA Cyclorama.

Read the article here (you may have to log in)

Seee Yoooooou in Seeeep-teeeem-ber

A reminder the Eight Streets Business Meetings have taken the summer off.  The next schedule business meeting will be Wednesday, September 3rd.

Have a great summer!!!

July USES Neighborhood Walk

USES is now hosting the old UPNA walks. The latest one is of the South End's Community Gardens. Full announcement below

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Whether you have a green thumb or plants wither at your presence, you will want to join United South End Settlements (USES) and Betsy Johnson on Monday July 7th at 6:30 for a guided tour of the South End's amazing collection of community gardens. The walk will start at the new Harrison Urban Garden (HUG garden) located behind 700 Harrison Avenue between East Brookline and East Canton Streets. The garden is built atop the underground parking garage. On the tour will be one of the city's largest community gardens and one of the few with a distinctly Chinese character.

Betsy Johnson is a co-founder and current president of the South End/Lower Roxbury Land Trust. She is also the former executive director of the American Community Gardening Association and will provide insights about community gardening from across the country.

USES walks are free, open to all, proceed at a leisurely pace that all may handle. Please contact Albert Whitaker at (617) 375-8137 or awhitaker@uses.org to reserve your place as participation is limited to 20 people. The walks are dog friendly but there is an optional dinner afterwards so leave the pooch at home if you plan on joining the group for dinner. Walks will be rescheduled in the event of rain.

Sincerely,

Kevin Hepner
United South End Settlements

June USES Neighborhood Walk

USES neighborhood walk for June looks interesting. Details and how to reserve your free spot is below.


United South End Settlements (USES) today announces the second walk in its monthly walk series. On Monday June 16th, Sylvalia "Val" Hyman, III, President and Chief Executive Officer of the United South End Lower Roxbury Development Corporation (UDC), will do a walking tour of Lower Roxbury. The walk will showcase UDC's business and real estate development activities in the area, highlighting key accomplishments such as Roxbury Corners Cooperative Housing Development. Expect to learn about the jazz scene as well because Val is a longtime resident of the community and a knowledgeable guide to its history. The walk starts at 6:30 pm and the meeting point is the USES Harriet Tubman House at the corner of Massachusetts and Columbus Avenues.

USES walks are free, open to all, proceed at a leisurely pace that all may handle. Please contact Albert Whitaker at (617) 375-8137 or awhitaker@uses.org to reserve your place as participation is limited to 20 people. The walks are dog friendly but there is an optional dinner afterwards so leave the pooch at home if you plan on eating with us. Walks will be rescheduled in the event of rain.

New tot-lot opens

On Monday, June 16th, the Union Park Street playground will officially open (95 Union Park Street, near Albany and the pumping station). Free t-shirts, face painting, music and food for the kids. From noon-1:30

South End Library Book Sale

The Friends of the South End Library are having a book sale on Saturday June 21 from 10-4 in conjunction with the South End Garden Tour. Books, volunteers, and especially plastic bags are needed. Bring them (and yourself) to the Library 685 Tremont St. Thanks!!

- Anne Smart

Scene 2, Take 1

Movie production on "Surrogates" has moved to the other side of Eight Streets, and will be filming at the Beehive on Tuesday night.   Beginning Monday night parking will be restricted on Tremont st.

Hazardous Waste Drop-off

The next hazardous waster drop-offs will be this coming June, from 9-2pm.

  

Saturday, June 14th at U Mass Campus in Dorchester.

Saturday, June 28 at the West Roxbury Public Words yard.

For more information see the City hazardous Waster Web site

EARLY START TIME for June meeting

Hi Everyone,

We're going to try something a little different for our June Eight Streets meeting. (Wednesday, June 4th)

We'll be starting the BUSINESS portion of the meeting AT 6:30 in the Boston Ballet. The one item on the agenda is 98 Waltham wanting to add rear decks.

After the business (should be done by 7) I'd like to do a neighborhood walk through.

Everyone there will break up into small teams and canvas Eight Streets doing a "Neighborhood Checklist". Take a walk through the neighborhood and see what might need a little TLC. Potholes, street lights out, trees need trimming. That sort of thing.

It's a chance for everyone to see parts of the neighborhood they may not usually walk down. And, of course, to meet some of your neighbors. Say hi while you're walking. Tell them about the NA. Get to know the area where you live.

At 8 we'll meet back in Ringgold park and collect forms and meet up to 'end' the meeting. Those who have some free times, we can grab a cocktail at a local establishment to finish off the night.

I think this could be a fun way to end the 'meeting season', and I hope you'll be able to join us for this special evening.

- John Mc

Candidate Forum

WARD 4 DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

IS PROUD TO SPONSOR

A CANDIDATES FORUM
FEATURING

STATE SENATOR DIANNE WILKERSON
2ND SUFFOLK
AND
CANDIDATE SONIA CHANG-DIAZ

DATE: Tuesday, June 10, 2008
TIME: 6:30 P.M.
PLACE: United South End Settlements
Harriet Tubman House
566 Columbus Avenue
Boston, MA 02118


Come Hear the Candidates Discuss Their Visions for Your Neighborhood
and Why They Deserve Your Vote


THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, ADMISSION IS FREE

Will I be towed?

Curious when your street gets street cleaning?   Forgot to read the signs when you parked?   The city now has a "No Tow" page, where you can input a street and look up the street sweeping (and towing) days.   You can also enter your email and add streets to your notification list.

Check out the city site at http://www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/sweeping/

Dwight st incident

For those that haven't heard, this was in the South End News. If we get any more information, we'll pass it on.

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16-year-old shot in stomach
by Linda Rodriguez
managing editor
Thursday May 8, 2008

A 16-year-old boy was shot in the abdomen last night at around 8:45 p.m. in front of 38 Dwight St. and transported to Boston Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries. According to the police report of the incident, a firearm was located in front of 9 Taylor St. and ballistics evidence was recovered from 35 and 37 Dwight St.

No further information is available at this time, although police media relations said the investigation is on-going.

Linda Rodriguez can be reached at lrodriguez@southendnews.com

May meeting

Evening everyone. Spring brings us to our May Eight Streets business meeting.

The meeting is This Wednesday, May 7th at our usual Boston ballet
5th floor boardroom location.

6:30 -7 - Neighborhood Networking. Meet your neighbors and catch up
on neighborhood goings on.
7-8:30 - Business meeting. Agenda includes:

- Presentation on the upcoming Youth Shines Art Auction (May 20)
- Presentation on upcoming work on the South End Library
- Local hot spot Pops would like to add seating to the rear of the
establishment. Presentation and ESNA Vote
- A business owner would like to open a restaurant at the current
Qing Ping location, at Dwight and Shawmut. They will do a
presentation only on their concept - there is no vote scheduled.

Hope to see everyone there!

- J

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