Summer W&S Work

For those that didn't get a flier on their door today, The BWSC (Boston Water & Sewer Commission) is having a public meeting Wednesday, 3/25 about water and sewer work in the neighborhood this season.   No dates on construction are given.

The public meeting is on 3/25 at the BWSC, 980 Harrison Ave at 6pm.

Construction projects are listed here.  Highlights include water main replacement on East Berkeley; and sewer linings to be installed on Milford and Hanson, and sections of Tremont & Shawmut.

You can also visit the BWSC web site.

Stephie's Open

The Thrillist web site reports that Stephie's on Tremont is now open.   This is the 2nd location of Stephanies that is opening at the Garden of Eden location.

Read the article here.

March ESNA Meeting

Hi All! I hope everyone is prepared for March to come in like a lion.

The monthly ESNA meeting will be this Wednesday, March 4th. 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 two approval requests for this meeting - balconies for 31 1/2 Dwight, and a roof deck at 79 Waltham St.

Wednesday also brings us several candidates coming to speak with us. With the special primary election coming soon, State representative candidates Susan Passoni and Ryan Higginson will be coming to speak with us. Additionally, Mayoral candidate Kevin McCrea will be coming to speak.

All candidates will have some time to speak, and then take some Q&A from the audience. Sal was in office for 30 years, so this is the first time we've had an empty seat in the Mass. House, so this is an important election for us. (We'll be having some more candidates at the April meeting as well).

I hope everyone can make it. We need to show the candidates that South End residents take an interest in our own politics.

Snow Emergency

A reminder that Boston has officially declared a snow emergency for Sunday night/Monday.  This means parking restrictions are in place.    School is also canceled for Monday.   Complete notice is below.

A Reminder that city Snow information can be found at www.cityofboston.gov/snow

You can also have these alerts sent right to your inbox - just visit www.cityofboston.gov/alerts

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March 1, 2009 (correction: libraries open, trash pickup cancelled)

Mayor Thomas M. Menino today declared that a snow emergency and parking ban will go into effect at 10:00 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2009.

Boston Public Schools are closed Monday. Libraries will remain open. Community Centers are open on a limited basis. City Hall remains open for business. Trash pickup is cancelled Monday. Residents should not leave their trash curbside until their next regularly scheduled pickup (for example, residents with weekly pickup should take out their trash out on March 9).

Mayor Menino would like to remind residents of the following:

* The City of Boston encourages businesses to ask employees to work from home when possible, take public transportation, and be prepared for a potentially dangerous evening commute. Everyone is encouraged to use public transportation.
* City of Boston afternoon and evening activities are subject to cancellation.
* Move cars from main arterials during snow emergencies. A listing of main arterials can be found at www.cityofboston.gov/snow/parking.asp
* Do not park cars within 20 feet of an intersection. Parking too close to an intersection can restrict emergency vehicle access.
* Do not throw snow back into the street. "Throwbacks" force the city to remove snow from the same street twice.
* Shovel out fire hydrants and storm drains close to your home.
* Property owners are reminded to shovel snow from sidewalks that abut homes and businesses.
* Do not double park.
* Keep wheelchair ramps clear.
* Lend an extra hand to elderly and neighbors and others in need.

During declared snow emergencies, discounted parking is available at several parking lots and garages to cars that display Boston resident parking stickers. A list of locations is available at www.cityofboston.gov/snow. The city's Know Snow program will be in effect this afternoon to alert residents of the snow emergency.

The City of Boston Storm Center will open at 10:00 p.m., when the snow emergency goes into effect. Residents with storm-related questions or concerns should call the center at 617-635-3050, starting at 10:00 p.m.

Councilor Linehan & St. Pats

Councilor Linehan is having a St Pat's "1st annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration" at JJFoley's on March 11. Complimentary Food & Drinks & Traditional Irish Music. Suggested Donations $50…$75…$100

If you're interested, here is the Flier and Additional Information (pdf)

Early streep sweeping

Although street sweeping does not begin until April 1; DPW is trying to get out to do some early sweeping, to clean up the trash and sand that has accumulated. If "No snow" continues to hold out next week, they will be in the South End on March 4 and 5. If they will sweep a particular street, they'll poster lamps and flier cars 48 hours beforehand. If you park on a street that will get swept, please move your car so we can get a start on the winter's mess.

Blackstone fundraising

From the B/FNA:

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Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association is having their annual book scholarship fundraiser. The proceeds support scholarships for books for South End high school seniors heading to college. Last year we raised enough money to support three $800 scholarships.

The event is on Thursday February 26 from 6 pm to 8 pm at a private home in the South End. Refreshments will be served. It is $25/person or $40/couple. All donations are tax deductible. For additional information, please email info@bfsna.org. So come and meet your neighbors.

Donations can also be sent to:

Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association
PO Box 180940
Boston, MA 02118

Looking for parking?

Passing on the following information that was emailed to the NA. Looks like an interesting source of parking information...

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I would like to introduce you and your neighborhood to a great online
resource called www.ParkingSpotter.com. As the name suggests, the website
specializes in assisting neighborhoods solve their parking challenges with 2
great features. These are only two of our great features can that your
neighbors should know about.

1) Residents can use the website to find available parking spots for rent
among the 1000's we have listed - both public and private. This will
alleviate the headaches and tickets one gets from trying to find parking in
their own neighborhood each day.

2) Residents who don't use their spot can list it for free on our website
and make it available for rent. This is a great way to generate
incremental income while the spot is not in use - perhaps this is during
work day hours, or even on a monthly basis.

February meeting DELAYED

Hi Everyone! Hope all the winter snow isn't getting you down. Given warm weather today it almost seems like Spring can't be far away.


Our February meeting time is here, but we have a small change. Our regular room was booked, and we have a full agenda, so we have postponed our meeting by one week.

The February meeting will be Wednesday, February 11th

at our regular meeting place of Boston ballet 5th floor boardroom (Warren & Clarendon)

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

On the agenda for this month include two requests from Pops restaurant. They are applying to serve alcohol until 2am, and they are looking to expand the rear greenhouse. They are seeking letters of support for each request. They will be there to present their plans and answer questions.

There has also been a request to have a dialog with the south end Land Trust, the property owner for Berkeley Gardens. Representatives for Berkeley Gardens and SELROSLT will be on hand to present garden updates and answer any questions residents may have concerning the garden.


Hope to see everyone at the meeting, and remember we are a WEEK LATER this month, meeting on February 11th...

Support "snow fines" bill

Passing this notice on. This is our change to put some teeth into snow-removal tickets!! The phone call takes 15 seconds...

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Southenders should be aware that the legislation noted below is currently on the Governor's desk. No decision has yet been made on whether or not he will sign it, but as a common-sense measure, it would seem to address two winter hazards.

Message To Supporters of Better Sidewalk Snow Clearance

Neighbors should call the Governor's office TODAY (617-725-4005) to ask Governor Deval Patrick to sign House Bill #4883-08.

This bill would allow municipalities to increase fines for people who do not clear their sidewalks and also establishes that an owner's good faith effort to remove snow or ice will not make that person liable for injuries due to a fall (full text is shown below).

Your friendly reminder phone call need take no more than 30 seconds.


Section 5. A municipality may by ordinances and by-laws provide for the removal of snow and ice from sidewalks within such portions of the municipality as they consider expedient by the owner of land abutting upon such sidewalks. Such ordinances and by-laws shall determine the time and manner of removal and shall affix penalties, not exceeding $200 for each violation thereof. Such ordinances and by-laws shall be specific as to the width of the area to be cleared and the standards for clearance. An owner, lessor, occupant or other person in charge of real property or an agent thereof who, in good faith, removes or attempts to remove snow or ice from a sidewalk abutting his property shall not be liable for personal injuries allegedly caused by the snowy or icy condition of the sidewalk resulting from his act or omission unless the alleged act or omission constitutes gross negligence.

No January meeting

Due to no pressing business items, we will not behaving a January meeting. We'll schedule another social 'get together' for later in the month. Let me know if you want to try trivia night again, or just do light drinks at someplace like the Fez.


Two items to start thinking about

- It would be nice to have a neighborhood-wide event come Spring/Summer. Is there anyone who'd like to help working on putting something together? Maybe something in the park? Something in conjunction with Ringgold? There's also Spring cleanup day in April - maybe an event around that time?

Speaking of spring cleanup - I've gotten some emails concerning trash in the area. A clean neighborhood starts at home, and seeing the trash on trash day, a LOT of people aren't putting their trash out properly to begin with. I'm working on some information for the web pages - but is there anyone who wants to start working on a 'neighborhood education' program? Maybe fliers to hand out, or working with neighboring NAs to start a larger campaign?

Stay warm, and hope to see folks later this month!

Snow Emergency

No surprise, but Boston has declared a snow emergency for today. The announcement is below. A reminder that snow regulations can be found on the City's Snow Pages. This lists parking regulations as well as other city/snow information. On the lef menu is also a "notifications" menu item, where you can get city snow emergency alerts emailed to you as they happen.

So batten down those hatches, and remember to shovel your sidewalk, including crosswalks, all sidewalks of your corner lot properties, and don't forget those catch basins and fire hydrants!!

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December 18, 2008

Mayor Thomas M. Menino today declared that a snow emergency and parking ban will go into effect at 9:00 a.m. Friday, December 19, 2008. Mayor Menino would like to remind residents of the following:
• The City of Boston encourages businesses to ask employees to work from home when possible, take public transportation, and be prepared for a potentially dangerous evening commute. Everyone is encouraged to use public transportation.
• City of Boston afternoon and evening activities are subject to cancellation.
• Move cars from main arterials during snow emergencies. A listing of main arterials can be found at www.cityofboston.gov/snow/parking.asp
• Do not park cars within 20 feet of an intersection. Parking too close to an intersection can restrict emergency vehicle access.
• Do not throw snow back into the street. "Throwbacks" force the city to remove snow from the same street twice.
• Shovel out fire hydrants and storm drains close to your home.
• Property owners are reminded to shovel snow from sidewalks that abut homes and businesses.
• Do not double park.
• Keep wheelchair ramps clear.
• Lend an extra hand to elderly and neighbors and others in need.
During declared snow emergencies, discounted parking is available at several parking lots and garages to cars that display Boston resident parking stickers. A list of locations is available at www.cityofboston.gov/snow. The city's Know Snow program will be in effect this afternoon to alert residents of the snow emergency.

The City of Boston Storm Center will open at 9:00 a.m. Friday, when the snow emergency goes into effect. Residents with storm-related questions or concerns should call the center at 617-635-3050, starting at 9:00 a.m. Friday

Storm's a Comin'

Given our tendency to panic at the mention of snow and rush out to buy anything and everything on grocery shelves at the mere sight of the S word, the folks at Universal Hub blog have issued a High warning on the French Toast alert system. This is a riot and worth a read. :)

Additional thanks to all who showed up for Team Eight Streets at Trivia Night at Foleys. We had a great time, and came in 5th place! Look for us to have some of these again in '09

More holiday sale

Additional South End realtors will be having special sales this weekend. Click on the image below for more details.

SoWa Holiday Market

The 5th annual SoWa Holiday Market is happening this weekend, Dec 13/14 at the Cathedral Gym.  Various vendors will be there selling gifts and crafts for your holiday lists.  Complete details on the flier below.  (click on the poster for a larger image)

Trivia Night 12/16

Hi Everyone!!

Since we didn't have a meeting this month, let's have a little fun get together. Tuesdays are Stump trivia nights at JJ Foley's. Let's meet there informally for a nosh and some trivia fun. I've been before it it's a night of good fun.

Tuesday, 12/16. Meet starting at 8. Trivia starts promptly at 8:30. (buy your own food/bev) We'll meet in the dining room part of Foleys (117 E Berkeley).

Hope some of you can make it!

Potential traffic mess on Friday

We may have a bit of an 'event' Friday (12/12) evening on Tremont street.    

Mr. "God hates Fags" Fred Phelps and his cult of followers will be at the BCA plaza on the 12th from 7-8pm protesting a play at the BCA.   Countering them will be a local group to counter the protest and will rally to show Mr. Phelps that such intolerance is not acceptable.  Such events usually are accompanied by police for control and TV news networks.   

If you have someplace to be, you may want to re-route your travels and avoid Tremont st for those times.   If you want to go and show your support for tolerance, I'm sure we can show Mr. Phelps he's not welcome in Boston.

BCA Tree Lighting on Saturday

Mayor Thomas M. Menino

cordially invites you to the South End Holiday Trolley Tour and Tree Lighting

Saturday, December 6, 2008

4:00 PM

Boston Center for the Arts Plaza

539 Tremont Street

Please join us for refreshments, entertainment and holiday cheer! 

Festivities and performances begin at 3pm, with the tree lighting to follow at 4pm.

Sponsored by: Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events, Department of Public Works, Boston Police Department Area D-4, South End Business Alliance, and Boston Center for the Arts


For more information, please contact:
Tabitha Bennett, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, 617-635-4517

December meeting + notices

Happy post-thanksgiving everyone,

With no business agenda for December, we’ll be cancelling the December (3rd) meeting, and let you get to your shopping. :) The next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, January 7th.

I’m thinking we could have a light get-together at Foleys – get an ESNA team going for one of the Tuesday night trivia nights. If interested, let me know if the 9th or the 16th is better for you. I’ll pick the more popular night and send an email out to everyone…

And don’t forget most folks still need to renew they memberships!! Head to http://eightstreets.org/membership.html and renew online with paypal or print out a renewal form to US mail to us.

Hope everyone has a good holiday season!!

- J

Downtown Deals

Downtown crossing has a holiday web site in place that has some coupons and discounts available for your holiday shopping.   Check out their web site.