Holiday tree lighting

The BCA and South End Business Alliance are hosting the annual Tree Lighting on the BCA plaza this Saturday, December 5th. Festivities start at 3pm. The event will feature “Families Connect at the BCA an afternoon of workshops that foster creativity, self-expression and artistic development in a fun and nurturing environment.”, as well as several performances, and the traditional visit by the Mayor and the big S. The event is free and open to all.

For more information, visit the SEBA Web Site

Trader Joes in the South End?

The Herald reports that GTI is working to put a Trader Joe's store in the old teolley barn warehouse on Harrison (the building where the South End Market is held).

Article (Herald article go off-line after a week, so the link is only good for a short time)

S End Cleanup Postponed

Due to the impending rain, the South End clenaup has been postponed until November 21.

Original blog post on cleanup

Recycling notes

The latest Boston Recycle More newsletter is now on line. We'd like to highlight some recycling news from the newsletter, and from our regular meetings with DPW.

• Since we no longer have to separate paper from other recycling, recycling rates have skyrocketed. In other neighborhoods, just as they have in the South End.



• If you live on a drivable alley (Dwight st) or live near an alley entrance, the city will give you a large recycle bin-on-wheels. (picture in the newsletter). Call the city to get one delivered.



• If you have another covered bin you’d like to use for recycling, call the city and ask for an “official” recycle sticker you can put on the bin to indicated it contains recyclables and not trash.



• ESNA and the city continue to encourage the use of clear plastic bags for recycling (if you have no space for a wheeled cart). The city is phasing out the ‘standard’ blue bins. They tend to get knocked & blown over easily and scatter paper and recyclables all over the street. Eventually the blue bins will go away (but you can keep your blue bin in the house)



• Cardboard boxes: They must be broken down and folded flat. If they are still assembled, recycling will NOT take them. They will assume the box wither a) contains styrofoam, which we do not recycle or b) it contains trash, which is trash. They will not look in each box – they will just take it as trash rather than recycle it. So please, break down your boxes and lie them flat under your recycling bag(s).



• TVs and computer monitors cannot be recycled or put out with trash. Call the city and arrange a pick-up time. You can leave it curbside on the day of the arranged pick-up time.



• We will continue to ask for recycling pickup on both trash days. Keep asking for it and we’ll keep pestering the city, and can hopefully get recycling pick-up both days in the future.

Remember you can keep your recycling in any kind of bin(s) in the home, and then collect it into a clear bag on recycling day. Or, just buy a second container for your home, line it with the clear bags and keep it near your household trash, so you can separate on the fly and just collect the clear bag to take to the trash. Just remember to not put 5-cent deposit cans and bottles into the trash or the clear recycle bags – the street collectors will tear the bags to get to the cans and make a mess on the street.

City recycling pages: http://www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/recycling/default.asp
Phone number for Recycling & Trash issues: 617.635.4500

Taylor tree removal

A tree in Taylor Park (Taylor & Milford) has been determined to be too close to a home nad is causing structural issues. The tree in the rear of the park marked with orange tape will be removed by the BRA (the owner of the land). There will be a meeting W, 11/18, 6pm in the park for more information. The text of the BRA flier is below

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The Boston Redevelopment Authority (“BRA”) is the owner of parcel ID # 030581000 located at #14 Taylor Street in the South End section of Boston

A large Alianthus tree that is growing on the BRA parcel is causing potential foundation damage to the immediate Homeowner located at 247 Shawmut Avenue. The homeowner retained the services of Rene Mugnier Associates- Structural Engineers whom have inspected the site and documented the necessity that this tree needs to be removed. A Massachusetts certified arborist has been retained by the BRA to make an opinion about the condition of the tree and its impact to adjacent foundation

It is the professional opinion of the Certified Arborist from Royer Tree Service Inc. as well as the Engineer from Mugnier Associates to remove the tree immediately preventing any further root damage caused to the foundation wall of the adjacent Homeowner.

An on- site meeting has been scheduled for the evening of Wednesday November 18th at 6:00 pm sharp. An orange tape has been tied around the tree in question

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the BRA’s Asset Management Department Project Manager Fran Collins at 617-918-6232.

South End cleanup this weekend

A reminder that South End cleanup is this weekend - Saturday, November 14th.

This is similar to the Springtime Boston Shines effort, but on a smaller scale. While Eight Streets doesn’t organize a neighborhood-wide cleanup, we encourage everyone to get out and cleanup in front of their homes. Ever little bit makes our neighborhood cleaner.

If any street or group of residents wants to hold their own mini-cleanup that day, let me know ASAP and I’ll let the city know so they can have extra supplies on hands. Rakes, brooms, shovels and garbage bags are made available at the BCA plaza from 9am-noon, but if you don’t let me know you’ll be cleaning up, they may be short on supplies.

Street sweepers will be around on Saturday, but there will be no special towing. DPW will be making trash pickups that day. Have anything to pick up out by 11am; preferably at a corner where DPW can spot it easily.

Yard Waste

Yard wastes (Leaves, etc) are now picked up on Recycle Day. Place yard waste curbside by 7am on recycle day (Tuesday for ESNA). Yard waste must be in Paper Bags or Open Barrels (Yard waste in garbage bags will be taken away as trash). Yard waste will be picked up in this manner every Tuesday through December 4th (Dec 1 last ESNA yard waste pickup).

November business meeting

VOTE VOTE VOTE.

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday!!! The elections for Mayor and City Councilor-at-Large are big races this year. We vote at Cathedral High School, corner of Washington and Waltham. We're Ward 3, Precinct 7. Polls open 7am-8pm. See the City Election page for ballot and more info. http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/

The Wednesday after, Nov 3rd brings us our November meeting. Meeting will be at our regular location at Boston ballet 5th floor board room; from 6:30-8:30

Usual meeting format:

6:30-7 - Neighborhood Networking.

7-8:30 - Business meeting

Agenda includes:

- Update on Coppa. Construciton is in full swing, and will likely open within the month. Get an update on progress and more details on their business. This is an update only, with no votable business.

- 56 Dwight st - seeks support to add two decks and an oriel on the side of the building. There will be a vote.

- City services updates - Some information from our occasional meeting with DPW.

Hope to see you all there Wednesday, and of course - VOTE on Tuesday!

- John Mc

Vote Countdown

Less than a week remains before election day. Voting takes place Tuesday, November 3rd – polls are open form 7am-8pm. Put it on your calendar now so you don’t forget. This is a big election, as (in case you missed it) we will be voting for the Mayor of Boston. Also up for election are the City Councilors-at-Large. (Our city councilor, Bill Linehan, is running unopposed)

The city election pages can be found here. Here is a PDF listing the candidates in ballot order.

See you on Tuesday (And yes, I’ll remind everyone again next week…)

Community Safety Training - Repeat session

If you missed the previous session, D4 will have another round of it's "eyes and ears" community safety training. This session will be next Monday, Oct 26th from 7-8pm at the Blackstone Community Center. See the BPD notice below for complete information.


There will be an Eyes and Ears Training for interested Boston residents on Monday, October 26th at the Blackstone Community Center, 3rd floor, Childcare Room from 7 pm - 8 pm. The training/information session is designed to make residents more aware of what goes on in their neighborhood and what to do if, or when, something is happening. It is meant to provide information on the critical role of residents and their participation in their community. It will provide residents with a means to learn crime prevention methods. Your neighborhood safety lies in the combined efforts of all neighbors to look after one another and work with local police. Please contact Carolyn MacNeil, the Director of the Neighborhood Watch Unit of Boston Police for more information at 617-343-5682. Hope to see you there.

Ringgold Halloween party seeks volunteers

Please contact Tory if you can help out

The party is going to be a fantastic evening for the neighborhood but we are still in need of volunteers during the following shifts:

• AM Clean Up, 9 AM: Even a half hour of your time would be greatly appreciated to help make sure the park is sparkly clean for our trick-or-treaters!
• Set Up/Decorating, 2:30 PM: Lots of fun and kids are welcome, as we'll have a kid-friendly art project included in our decorating activities!
• Clean Up, 5:45 PM: Should be an easy process and any time you can spare is greatly appreciated!

We're also excited to announce a community jack-o-lantern contest, to be judged at the party by our generous business sponsors! Please bring your carved pumpkin to the party and we'll display it for all to see! We'll also provide a battery-powered light to avoid any candle danger.

Thanks in advance for your much appreciated contributions!

Movie filming, Oct 20

The movie The Social Network, a Columbia Pictures production, will be filming on Tremont Street between Clarendon and Union Park Streets on Tuesday, October 20th. The scene will be shot in front of 567 Tremont Street during the early morning hours and should wrap up by midday. Production trucks will be parking around the area, so please take note of no parking/parking restriction signs posted along Tremont, Union Park and Montgomery Streets, which will go into effect before the crew arrives early the morning of October 20.

Also, there will be a temporary relocation of the #43 MBTA bus stop that is at the corner of Tremont and Union Park Streets in front of Aquitaine Restaurant for the morning of October 20 only. The bus will still pickup passengers at a to-be-determined location nearby, which will be posted.

If you have any questions or concerns related to the filming please contact Lucas Nalepinski, the Assistant Location Manager for The Social Network at #617-283-3156.

Register to Vote by Wednesday

A reminder that Tomorrow: Wednesday, October 14th is the last day to register to vote if you want to participate in the November 3rd elections. Instructions on how to register can be found on the State Web Site.

Mayoral Forum

MassVote, together with numerous community partners, are sponsoringa Mayoral Forum on Tuesday, Oct 27 from 6:30-8 at Faneuil Hall. Due to limited space, they ask you RSVP in order to attend.

City Council candidate Forum

The Beacon Hill Civic Association, in association with several other downtoan NAs presents a City Councilor-at-Large candidates Forum on Wednesday, Oct 21, from 6-8pm at the Park Street School - 67 Brimmer St (Flat of Beacon Hill). All are welcome (and encouraged) to attend!

Harrison/Albany St Planning presentation

The BRA has been working on a Strategic Plan to coordinate development on Harrison Ave/Albany St. They have posted this notice on an Oct 28th public meeting will present a draft of their proposal. I hope you can attend.

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The Harrison-Albany Strategic Plan Advisory Group and the Boston Redevelopment Authority
will host a community meeting to discuss the

HARRISON-ALBANY STRATEGIC PLAN / South End
DRAFT VISION

Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 6:15PM
The Franklin Square House ( across from Franklin Square)
11 E. Newton Street in the South End

The BRA, in collaboration with a 30-member Advisory Group, has initiated a strategic planning process for the Harrison Avenue - Albany Street portion of the South End. The study area is bounded by the Massachusetts Turnpike to the east, Albany Street/Southeast Expressway/Massachusetts Avenue Connector to the south; Massachusetts Avenue to the west; and generally Washington Street/Harrison Avenue to the north.

The meeting will include a presentation of the draft vision and goals and objectives for the study area, and discussion will include feedback on the issues and opportunities identified as they relate to land use, urban design, transportation, and economic development.

Please come to learn more about the planning process and provide input about the study area. Upon its completion, the strategic plan will include recommendations to guide future development so that it meets the needs of the diverse community.

Translation will be provided.

Meeting notes and PowerPoint presentations from the Advisory Group meetings are available on the BRA website at: http://www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org/Planning/PlanningInitsIndividual.asp?action=ViewInit&InitID=135

BRA Contact:
Marie Mercurio
Boston Redevelopment Authority
617-918-4352
Marie.Mercurio.BRA@cityofboston.gov

Silver Line changes

For those that take the Silver Line, some changes went into effect on Friday. An additional destination will be available on the Washington street line.

The MBTA has added busses from Dudley to South Station; stopping at a new bus shelter at the interseciton of Essex and Atlantic Avenue. This new stop is a short walk from South Station services (Red line, Commuter Rail, intercity bus and SL-waterfront). The T has 'added' this service - meaning there will be the same number of busses going to Downtown Crossing; the South Station busses are additional service.

As you catch the Silver Line, please keep an eye on the bus destination. SL5 busses will continue to go inbound to Temple Place/Downtown. The new SL4 busses will go to South Station. Both routes will stop at Chinatown station.

You can find a map of all SL service here. (pdf) and schedules on the MBTA Bus page.

Boston Living Center benefit

“Back 2 Basics” Tea Dance Party to Benefit the Boston Living Center

The new Verve Lounge in Boston’s South End will be hosting a tea dance to benefit the Boston Living Center, a local nonprofit organization that provides resources, services and support for people living with HIV/AIDS. The special event, geared to Boston’s GLBT community, is Sunday, November 8, 2009 from 4-8 PM. DJ Harrison will play his trademark music selections featuring retro and disco favorites from the 70s and 80s as well as top 40 dance remixes. Comedic drag queen Davina DelMar will also make a special appearance. The Verve Lounge, located at 811 Massachusetts Avenue is part of Rudi’s Resto Café and Bar at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard (at the Hampton Inn). Parking available in the public garage off Melnea Cass Boulevard (behind Quiznos). Admission is $10. Additional monthly Back 2 Basics Tea Dances for the GLBT community are planned at the Verve Lounge on the second Sunday of the month with the next dance on December 13. The Back 2 Basics monthly Tea Dances have been sell-out events in Roslindale for the past six months.

For more information contact: rickward51@comcast.net .

Community Safety training

As part of the 'crime awareness' effort going on in this part of the South End, Police area D4 will offer some safety training Tuesday Oct 6th at the D4 community room - The corner of Harrison and Plympton (A short walk from Foodies). Meeting notice is below. I hope you can attend!

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There will be, what the D4 police neighborhood watch unit entitled, an “Eyes and Ears” training for interested residents to be held in the Community Room at District D-4 on October 6th at 6:00pm. It will be about an hour long.

The training/informational session is designed to make residents more aware of what goes on in their neighborhood and what to do if, or when, something is happening. It is meant to provide information on the critical role of residents and their participation in their community. It will provide residents with a means to learn crime prevention methods. Your neighborhood safety lies in the combined efforts of all neighbors to look after one another and work with local police.

Please contact Carolyn MacNeil, the director of Neighborhood watch unit of Boston Police for more info at 617–343-5682. Hope to see you there.

No October meeting - OD Block Party instead

Evening everyone. As we suspected last month, we will not be having an October meeting.

However, Old Dover has extended a general invitation to their block party on Wednesday, Oct 7. It starts at 6:30 at the old trolley barn/power house (560 Harrison, where the Sunday open Market is held). Burgers & Dogs. Bring a dessert. Hopefully I'll see some of you there, and you can support our adjoining NA by buying some raffle tickets.

Our next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, November 4.

Friends of Ringgold Park Annual Halloween Party

[Friend of Ringgold Park] are excited to announce that the planning for the annual Friends of Ringgold Park Halloween Party has begun! It is already shaping up to be a wonderful night for the community. We hope you and your family will join us!

The festivities will begin on Saturday October 31st at 4:30 p.m. and the costume parade will worm its way out of the park and down Waltham Street at 5:30 p.m. We will have Waltham Street blocked off for the event so you can count on safe trick or treating for the little ones.

We are lucky to have generous neighborhood sponsors that donate delicious food, but we also need help from the community to fill out the menu. In light of the candy to come later in the evening, we particularly welcome savory treats. Veggie trays, hummus, chips, dips, pretzels, popcorn in small bags have been favorites in years past. We look forward to any fresh ideas as well.

Finally, we need volunteers to assist in the pre-event park cleanup, decorating, and post-event clean up tasks on Halloween day. Morning cleanup will begin at 9:00 a.m., park decorating and set up will begin at 2:30 p.m. and clean up can begin as soon as the parade leaves the park at 5:30 p.m., and will extend on into the evening. We promise it will be a fun and gratifying way to get involved and spend some time with your neighbors.

We can’t do it all on our own! If you can lend a hand with food, decorating, or clean up, please email Elfa Gretarsdottir at elfatholl@gmail.com. Please put “Ringgold Park Halloween: Food, AM Cleanup, Decorating, or PM Cleanup” in the subject line to help us keep track of volunteers.

Please direct any other questions to Becca Schulman at beccaschulman@gmail.com.

We are looking forward to seeing you and your family in all your Halloween glory!