Milford/Hanson clean-up

A group of residents is organizing a cleanup of the alley between Milford and Hanson streets as part of Boston Shines.  Come out and join your neighbors and help make our neighborhood a better place.

This Saturday (4/28) at 9am meet Lewis and Michael at the top of the alley near Emilios on Tremont street.   Bring some work gloves - Boston Shines will have rakes, shovels and bags for use right across the street at the BCA Plaza.

For more information, see this flier

A Ringgold Park Weekend

Join the fine folks at Ringgold Park for a weekend full of activities.

Stop by Ringgold this Saturday (4/7) between 9am and noon for the annual Spring Cleaning.  Help clear away the winter buildup and get the park ready for a great summer!

And on Easter Sunday the Friends are hosting their annual Easter Egg Hunt. Great fun for the kids!!  FoRP also thanks a special volunteer who came forward to organize the event.  Park access will be restricted before the hunt while the goodies are hidden.

If you're interested in helping out on the board, send an email to the Friends.

April business meeting

Hi Everyone!

Our next monthly Eight Streets business meeting will be this Wednesday, April 4th in the Boston Ballet 5th floor board room (corner of Warren & Clarendon streets)

6:30-7 - Neighborhood Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting.
7-8:30 - Business meeting.

On the agenda this month:

• Open member discussion

Hi everyone.   No hot topics on the agenda this month.   But since we had some good discussion during last month's open discussion, I decided to have another open meeting rather than just cancel.  So come with your favorite neighborhood topics in hand and let's get some discussion going!

Hope to see everyone there!

Ringgold Playground community meeting

A reminder that This Thursday there will be a public meeting on the playground improvements for Ringgold park, scheduled to take place this summer.

 At this meeting the Parks department is looking for community input on the design for the play ground areas. What would you like to see? What kind of materials would you like to have? What kind of play areas are you looking for?

All neighbors are welcome to attend. Get involved in the latest changes to our park!!

Thursday, April 5 
6:30pm 
Blackstone Community Center (50 W Brookline, across from Franklin square) 
2nd floor computer room 

For more information you can contact Cathy baker-Eclipse at parks dept. 617.961.3058 or cathy.baker-eclipse@cityofboston.gov.

Click here to download an event flier (pdf).

Rep Aaron's Coffee Hour

State representative Aaron Michlewitz is starting up his coffee hour sessions this Spring, with this first session being this Saturday over at Berkeley Perk from 10am until Noon.   Stop by and meet your representative in an informal setting.  Chat.  Ask questions.   Voice concerns.   Get into.  Or just say Hi.

Aaron's invitation is below, as well as some other near-by dates and locations if you can't make Berkeley Perk on Saturday

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Aaron will be starting up his coffee hours for the Spring starting this Saturday. I have listed the schedule below. As we gear up towards the fall election we are trying to have a good showing for these gatherings. We would greatly appreciate your attendance at these coffee hours, even if its only for a short period of time. It will also give you a chance to meet the newest addition to team Michlewitz, Maria Puopolo, our new Legislative Aide.

Thank you all for your continued support. If you're around please stop by and say hello!

Thanks again everyone and hope to see you this spring!

-Blake

Saturday March 31st 10am-12pm

Berkeley Perk, 69 Berkeley Street

Saturday April 21st 10am-12pm

Mohr & McPherson

Saturday May 12th 10am-12pm

The Appleton Street Bakery, 123 Appleton St

Chevron approved

The ZBA (Zoning Board of Appeals) has approved construction of the new building at 514 Tremont.   This is the 6 story building that will replace the Dutch Candy building at the corner of Tremont and Dwight.

Details can be found in this Boston.com article

Ringgold Park updates

Spring is almos there, and like the bird and flowers, the great folks of Friends of Ringgold Park are making their return and gearing up for the return of warmer weather.

Friends is on the lookout for some new board members.   If you enjoy the park, live near the park, or just want to get a little more involved, the boar dof Friends of Ringgold is looking for new members!!   Contact ringgoldpark@verizon.net to join or for more information.

Upcoming events:

• Community meeting on playground improvements.  April 5, 6:30, Blackstone community center. We are excited to announce that the City of Boston is holding a public meeting to discuss the 2012–2013 playground improvements to Ringgold Park! The meeting will take place at the Blackstone Community Center, 50 West Brookline Street, 2nd floor. This is your opportunity to comment on the playground renovation design, so please mark your calendars and plan to join us!
• April 7 - Spring Cleanup!!! We have our spring cleanup scheduled for Saturday April 7th from 9 to 12. Please stop by the park for a few minutes or hours to lend a hand as we tidy up after winter. Tools, gloves, and refreshments will be provided.
• April 8 - Spring Easter Egg Hunt - if they get volunteers!!!  Contact ringgoldpark@verizon.net to help out or for more information.  If volunteers can't be found to help organize the event, they won't be having a hunt this year...
• May 6, 12:30 - Fountain Plaza Opening Celebration. Please join us for our opening celebration of the new fountain plaza in Ringgold Park! Mayor Menino, Parks Commissioner Toni Pollock, City Councilors, Parks employees, and Ringgold friends and neighbors will join together in the park to admire the newly constructed fountain. Refreshments will be provided — please stop by and say hello!

To keep up on all the latest park news, visit http://ringgoldpark.org/news-events and sign up to have news delivered to your inbox or your favorite RSS reader

March Eight Streets business meeting

Hi Everyone!

Our next monthly Eight Streets business meeting will be this Wednesday, March 7th in the Boston Ballet 5th floor board room (corner of Warren & Clarendon streets)

6:30-7 - Neighborhood Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting.
7-8:30 - Business meeting.

On the agenda this month:

• Construction Updates
• Open member discussion

After 3 months of full/busy meetings, we have a shorter agenda this month.   Several local homeowners/developers we be updating us on some local projects.  These are either already permitted, or they do not need neighborhood support, so no votes will be taken.   These are just courtesy updates so neighbors know what's going in the 'hood.    Projects include 21 and 59 Dwight, ans 26 Milford.

This leaves plenty of time for open discussion.   If there are any neighborhood topics on your mind, come down and discuss!

Hope to see everyone there!

Vote - Primary is this Tuedsay

A reminder that this Tuesday, March 6th is presidential primary.   Anyone who is a registered voter can vote.   Polls are open 7am-8pm.    Eight Streets voting location is the Cathedral High School gym - corner of Waltham and Washington streets.

South End Patch provides a nice summary of the ballot items:

• If you’re enrolled as a Democrat, you’ll only have one choice on the presidential primary ballot, President Barack Obama.
• If you’re enrolled as a Republican, you’ll have seven choices, (in order on ballot) Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Jon Huntsman, Michele Bachman and Newt Gingrich.
• If you’re enrolled as a member of the Green-Rainbow Party, you’ll have three choices, Kent Mesplay, Jill Stein and Harley Mikkelson.
• If you’re not enrolled in a political party, you’ll be able to vote in the primary of your choice, and you’ll remain unenrolled after voting.
• In addition to the presidential primary, you’ll also be asked to select candidates for State Committee Man, State Committee Woman and Ward Committee. The candidates will vary depending on your Ward and party affiliation.

New street sweeping delayed

The new street sweeping schedules, which were to start tomorrow, have been postponed because of potential snowfall.  The next scheduled street cleaning for Eight Streets is next Thursday, March 8th.

South End patch related article

Find us on Facebook

Speaking of Facebook, if you're a FB user, don't forget to "like" the Eight Streets Facebook Page.   Make our FB page a great place to connect with neighbors and share your ESNA experiences.   Feel free to post stories and share neighborhood photos and make our FB page a fun place to visit.

Firefighters Exam

Is firefighting in your future?   The city's firefighting exam is coming up in April.  For more information, see this city flier (pdf) on the exam.   And/or follow the Boston Fire Recruit page on Facebook.   Applicants must be between the ages of 19 and 31, and have lived in Boston for at least 1 year.

Waltham/UP Alley Gate Repairs

Union Park NA is spearheading an effort to fix and maintain the gates on the walkable-only alley that runs between Waltham Street and Union Park.  If you would like to help contribute, or want more information ont he project, please take a look at the attached flier.    (View)    (Download)

B/FNA Fundraiser Notice

From the B/FNA:

Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association is having its annual silent-auction fundraiser, next Thursday February 23.

The scholarship is available for South End high school seniors to be used to books, computer and other supplies. Last year we gave out eight $1,000 scholarships. This year the silent auction has an amazing range of items: restaurant gift certificates, framing, hair cuts, manicures and coffee.

The event is from 6 to 8 pm at Estragon, 700 Harrison Avenue, South End. Tickets are $25/advance, $30/door. For more information, tickets and a scholarship application, go to http://blackstonefranklin.org.

Thanks! Hope to see you there.

Andrew Parthum
President, B/FSNA
617 834 2696

"Ink Block" BRA Hearings

Notice from the BRA on a public hearing for development on the Boston Herald site - named by the developers as the Ink Block.  The project overview can be found in these Boston.com and Boston Herald articles

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Project Name: Ink Block (Herald Site)

Project Proponent: National Development

Project Description: National Development (the “Proponent”) is proposing to redevelop the underutilized and soon to be vacant site located at 300 Harrison Avenue in the South End (the “Project”). The Project includes the construction of three new buildings and adaptive reuse of the existing Boston Herald industrial building creating a mix of uses that include new residential and retail activity, and provide public realm improvements. The approximately 548,900 square foot Project in four buildings will create approximately 471 new residential units and a total of approximately 85,000 square feet of retail space, including a grocery store and multiple smaller scale ground floor retail and/or restaurant spaces, The Project is served by a parking supply of approximately 411 spaces, the majority of which will be in the form of structured parking.
Meeting Date/ Place: 6:00 PM, Thursday, February 23, 2012 at Project Place, 1145 Washington Street Boston, MA 02118.

Close of Comment Period: Friday, March 2, 2012

MAIL TO:                             ERICO LOPEZ
BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
ONE CITY HALL SQUARE, 9TH FLOOR
BOSTON, MA 02201
FAX TO:                                617-742-7783
PHONE:                                617-918-4429
EMAILTO:                            erico.lopez.bra@cityofboston.gov


Erico J. Lopez
Project Assistant
Boston Redevelopment Authority
One City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
(p) 617-918-4429
(f)  617-742-7783
Erico.Lopez.BRA@cityofboston.gov

City hearing on Commercial trash pick-up times

A Hearing notice from Councilor Arroyo's office regarding commercial trash pickup times:

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We have heard from constituents throughout the City who are awoken at 2, 3, or 4 in the morning by the sounds of garbage trucks in their neighborhood.  Under current state law, the City of Boston can regulate the times for residential trash pick up, but CANNOT regulate the times for commercial trash pick up. To remedy this, I have filed a Home Rule Petition, co-sponsored by Councilor Mike Ross that would allow the City of Boston to regulate commercial trash pick up times.  

On February 27, 2012, beginning at 5:30 PM, there will be a Boston City Council hearing on this matter. I hope that you will be able to attend the hearing to support our legislation.  The details are below and if you have any questions, please contact Joy DePina at 617-635-4205 or at joy.depina@cityofboston.gov.

What:    Commercial Trash Pick Up Hearing
When:   Monday, February 27th at 5:30PM 

Where:  Boston City Hall

5th Floor, Iannella Chamber 

Sincerely,

Felix G. Arroyo
Boston City Councilor At-Large
One City Hall Square, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02201
617-635-4205Felix.Arroyo@cityofboston.gov

Deadline to register for primaries

A reminder that Feb 15th is the last day to register to vote if you would like to take part in the March 6th presidential primaries.   For more information, see http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/

New Rendering for The Chevron

For those who were at this past Wednesday's ESNA meeting.   The developers of the new building at the corner of Dwight and Tremont have issued a new building rendering, showing a limestone color warmer than shown on some of the renderings presented at the meeting

The new picture can be found on this Boston Globe article.

Street Cleaning - Continuing updates

Hi everyone.   2012 is flying by, and March 1 will be here before you know it, bringing with it street cleaning changes.   As a reminder:

• Street cleaning now runs March 1 - December 31
• Towing begins March 1 this year - no 'grace period'
• Street cleaning is postponed if there is snow on the ground, or torrential rain
• The city's No-Tow web site will list when street cleaning is suspended, as well as let you look up sweeping for particular locations (and register for alerts)

The city should be delivering a generic 'street sweeping changes' flier to everyone's door around mid-February.  They will also be putting a paid advertisement in the South End news, and putting fliers on all cars at the end of February.

The city gave me some street-specific fliers.   If anyone would like to door-to-door flier a single ESNA street, please contact me and I'll get you the fliers.

I've also updated the Eight Streets Street Sweeping page with the new dates and times.  Please note there are a few hiccups.   Bond and PA705 were missing form the city's list, so I'm making sure they are updated.   They city also posted the wrong Shawmut street dates, so I'm waiting for an update on that as well.  Tremont and Washington st will not be changing sweeping dates or times.

Neighborhood Restaurant News

South End patch points us to the bosguy blog, with some local restaurant news/rumors...