Meet the BPS Superintendant

Your chance to tell the new BPS Superintendent what YOU want for the schools

• What are your priorities for improvements?
• Do you want more funding for arts?
• Should every student have a textbook to take home?

Community Meeting with Dr. Carol Johnson, new BPS Superintendent
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 6-8pm @ USES' Tubman House

(dinner, child care & Spanish translation provided)

Youth, Youth Workers, & Parents are all encouraged to attend
Sponsored by YWA and The Neighborhood Forum, a program of United South End Settlements
Flier attached and can be downloaded at http://www.uses.org/

Tree lighting on Saturday

The annual "Enchanted trolley tour and Tree lighting) will take place This Saturday, December 1 at 4:15pm at the BCA Plaza. Tree lighting, usually free food & drink, stuff for kids, and of course the S man himself.

More information can be found at the City's Arts pages at http://www.cityofboston.gov/arts/

Meet your congressman tonight

Our Congressman, Mike Capuano, is having another "Telephone community meeting" tonight. His announcement is below.

Just a reminder that today, Monday November 26th from 7:00 – 8:00 PM, I [Mike Capuano] am hosting a telephone community meeting. Anyone interested in participating may dial 1-866-447-5149 and use PIN # 13034 at the scheduled time to listen in. If you would like to ask me a question, just press *3 after you are connected to the meeting. I hope you have some time to join us on the 26th.

Cleanup THIS weekend - Any takers?

As we discussed in this month’s meeting, THIS Saturday is the South End Boston Shines/Cleanup day. While Eight Streets doesn’t have an official neighborhood-wide cleanup, groups of residents or streets can have their own.

Please let me know by Tuesday if you will be holding your own local cleanup. I’ll let the City know to have the extra supplies on hand.

Also – the city will again have clear plastic recycling bags on hand to give away for free, as well as more information on recycling in general. I’ll post any more infor/schedule on our Blog as the weekend approaches.

Next Ringgold Park fountain meeting

Thursday, November 8, 6 to 8 PM:
Landscape architects present TWO designs for water feature for
consideration and discussion by the community. YOUR feedback
is taken away to help refine a final design.

The Blackstone Community Center, 50 West Brookline Street

Meet your city councilor! (2nd meeting)

A reminder the second of 2 meeting with City Councilor Linehan will take place THIS Thursday, 11/8 from 6-7:30 at the Salvation Army building (old post office) at 1500 Wachingston street. This is a short walk from Foodies...

There was moderate turnout at the last meeting, with some questions for the coincilor. Remember, Bill works for YOU. If you have problems with any neighborhood-wide issues, this is the time to bring it up. Police, valets, parks, traffic, taxes, BRA, licensing, schools, etc. These are all issues the councilor can look into, call hearings, or take some kind of action item.

If you have any city issues, don't complain to your neighbors - complain to your Councilor! If you missed the first meeting, or were just unable to make it - this is your opportunity! Remember, if we don't show the councilor we have interest in our neighborhood, he might lose interest in us!

Next Bio Lab lecture

The Community Liaison Committee of the Bisoafety Lab invites you to attend the upcoming Educational Forum on Monday, November 5, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. The forum will be held at the Gymnasium at Cathedral High.

Click on the image below for more details and the full (ongoing) schedule.

Park opening MOVED to Sunday

NOTICE - because of the impending inclement weater on Saturday, the Peters Park Grand Opening Celebration has been postponed to Sunday, November 4th at 2:30pm. Al the same entertainment (see link above) should be there.

Meeting on Towing

Do you like towing for street cleaning? Hate it?

Councillors Flaherty and Linehan would like to remind you about Monday's
public hearing to discuss towing in the City of Boston (see attached
hearing notice). They welcome your attendance and ideas on how the
city's street cleaning program could be improved, in particular the
towing policy.

The hearing is Monday, Oct. 29th at 6pm in the Iannella Chamber on the
5th floor of Boston City Hall. If you haven't already, please let us
know if you plan to attend. Also, feel free to pass this
message/hearing notice along to friends and family.

Is this useful

Well, we've already passed 100 posts on our blog here. I hope everyone finds this useful, and can take part in the many meetings and activities that we announce here!!

- J

Free clear plastic recycling bags

City’s “Recycle More” Pilot Program to Give Away Clear Plastic Bags
Saturday, October 27

South End residents have an opportunity to obtain free clear plastic bags to be used for their recycling on Saturday, October 27 at the Boston Center for the Arts on Tremont Street from 10AM to Noon.

Recycling in the South End just got a lot easier. This month, Boston Public Works Department (PWD) initiated the ‘Recycle More’ pilot program. South End residents can now mix their paper, cardboard, bottles, cans and plastic containers together, and put it all in a clear plastic bag. No more sorting, and no more having to store a recycling bin.

For more information, please visit www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/recycling or contact the PWD Recycling Program at 617-635-4959.

You're invited to a party

Residents of Eight Streets have been invited to the following event at the BCA/Beehive. Please RSVP as indicated on the invitation if you would like to attend. Please click on the image below to enlarge.

Meet your city councilor!!!

Hey everyone - seems we have a chance to meet our district city councillor at a local public meeting. I encourage EVERYONE to come out and attend one of these sessions. Bring any questions you have with you - public safety, sidewalks, noice, traffic - anything that the city has a hand in controlling.

But most important of all - if they get low attendance, that only shows them that the South End doesn't care, and our voice in government will be diminished. Please attend and show our councilor that the South End matters!!!!

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Come Join Councilor Bill Linehan for ‘Conversations with the Councilor’

Come discuss the issues most affecting your neighborhood, your street, your quality of life in District 2. Whether it is public safety, parking, clean streets, or other city services, Councilor Linehan would like to hear how he can help you in your neighborhood.

When & Where

Tuesday Oct. 30th Thursday Nov. 8th
6:00-7:30 PM 6-7:30PM
Franklin Institute Auditorium Salvation Army
41 Berkley St. 1500 Washington St.

BOO!

Come join the fun at the Halloween celebration in Ringgold Park starting at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31st. Sponsored by the Friends of Ringgold Park, the party will feature food, games, glow-in-the dark necklaces, and Halloween favors for kids of all ages. At 5:45 p.m., party-goers will take part in a short costume parade around the block to show off all our terrific costumes.We still need many volunteers to help with the party preparations for this big event; please contact Halloween chair Heather Lionette at hlionette@aol.com for more information. In particular, we need people to help set up at 3:30 p.m. and/or bring food for the event. Savory rather than sweet snacks would be much appreciated, including hummus, vegetable trays, cheese and crackers, sandwiches, appetizers, and other filling morsels.

The Beehive at 541 Tremont Street in the Boston Center for the Arts has also extended an invitation to all children to stop by after the Ringgold party and come and trick-or-treat.

It promised to be a spook-tacular night. Enjoy!

Peters Park Grand Opening

Debate THIS Tuesday

Hi everyone,

A reminder that the At-Large city councilor candidates will be debating THIS TUESDAY, 10/23 over at the Park St School on the flat of beacon hill (http://tinyurl.com/2djvgx­). This is a joint debate sponsored by several different neighborhoods in the city, including US!!!

Please make an effort to attend and hear what the candidates have to say about issues for Boston residents.

And remember to Vote on November 6th at the Cathedral High School!!!

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The Beacon Hill Civic Association

The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay

The West End Civic Association

The Ellis South End Neighborhood Association

The Fenway Civic Association

The Bay Village Neighborhood Association

The Audubon Circle Neighborhood Association

The Rutland Square Neighborhood Association And

The Eight Streets Neighborhood Association

Present Boston City Councillor-At-LargeCandidates Debate

Tuesday, October 23, 20076:30 pm – 8:30 pmPark Street School67 Brimmer Street, Boston

During the debate, the candidates for Boston City Councillor-At-Large will be asked to respond to questions on topics relevant to our neighborhoods, including such likely issues as the impact of university expansion, affordable housing, crime on our streets, the quality of education at our public schools, and the future of our Boston neighborhoods.

Please contact the Beacon Hill Civic Association, at (617) 227-1922 or info@bhcivic.org, for more information.
www.bhcivic.org

Run the marathon for BLC

Nate from the Boston Living Center asked me to pass this on...

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My name is Nate Stell and I work for the Boston Living Center, New England's largest community and resource center for people living with HIV/AIDS. We are looking for applicants to join our team in the 2008 Boston Marathon and we would really appreciate it if you could forward the below message to members of your association. The deadline for application is November 1st.

26.2 Miles with the Boston Living Center

The Boston Living Center (BLC), New England’s largest community and resource center for people living with HIV/AIDS, was selected as one of just six new charities of the Boston Marathon®. As the only AIDS service organization represented, the BLC is honored to be part of this elite race. Funds raised through the marathon will support BLC’s education workshops empowering members to become advocates for their own health and well-being.

The BLC is accepting applications for its 2008 “Running for Life” team. Runners with a commitment to HIV/AIDS and an understanding of the demands of marathon training are encouraged to apply. Team members will benefit from fundraising and physical training support, and pre-and post race celebrations. Qualified runners may also join the team. For an application, visit www.bostonlivingcenter.org/marathon.shtml.

Contact Nate Stell at 617-236-1012 x256 nstell@livingcenter.org

Local news articles

On the lighter side, an article on the designers of the new DRS in Peters Park

http://tinyurl.com/yvey2w

On the serious side, the two youths who shot another youth on Shawmut Ave exit from Peters Park have pleaded guilty and have been sent to jail.

http://tinyurl.com/267xhh

Peters Park mural

An article from today's Herald on the new wall mural in Peters Park.

http://tinyurl.com/27eyeb

Halloween at Ringgold

We are starting to plan our annual neighborhood Halloween celebration for the evening of Wednesday, October 31st. Sponsored by the Friends of Ringgold Park, the party will feature food, games, glow-in-the dark necklaces, and Halloween favors for kids of all ages. More information to follow. Volunteers are needed to help decorate, assist during the event, and clean up. Please contact us for more details.