Ringgold park news

Friends of Ringgold Park just sent out a lot of news updates.   To summarize:

• The construction of the fountain has been delayed a bit due to manufacturing issues with some of the custom-designed pieces.  Fountain work should be complete in November
• Given the delay, there will not be Ringgold Park Halloween party this year.    Sorry kids.
• Parks department has announced the two Ringgold playgrounds will be renovated in 2012!!!

Check out the Ringgold Park News page for complete details.  And while you're there subscribe to their newsletter, subscribe to their news RSS feed, and Friend them on Facebook!!!

Free self defense class for Women

BPD is offering a free self defense class for women.   This is a 4 session class, being given at the JP Health center in Jamaica Plain.

Complete details can be found here

Tour Castle Square this weekend

Between 10 and 2 this Saturday, October 1, Castle Square will be offering tours of the ongoing Deep Energy Refit construction that has been going on at the square.   All the work going on will change the face of Castle square both inside and out, as units are made energy efficient and the exterior receives an insulation coating, transforming the look of the building.   Details of all the work can be found on the CastleDeepEnergy web site

Details and more information are below.   Hope you can take advantage of this opportunity!

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The Castle Square Tenants Organization and WinnDevelopment invite you to tour the construction of what is likely the largest Deep Energy Retrofit in the U.S.

When:            Saturday, October 1^st, 2011, 10:00 – 2:00 pm

Tours will be offered on an ongoing basis during this time.

Where:           Castle Square Apartments, 476 Tremont Street, Boston

About Castle Square  - The 500-unit, low-and moderate-income Castle Square Apartments occupies an entire city block in Boston’s South End.  Constructed in the 1960s, 192 apartments are currently undergoing a trailblazing Deep Energy Retrofit Renovation.

Why are Deep Energy Retrofits Cutting Edge?  - Deep Energy Retrofits are the next wave in green building.  The majority of green buildings are only 20 to 30 percent more efficient than typical buildings in the U.S.   To date, there has been a technical glass ceiling on what is feasible for energy and carbon reductions in existing buildings.   Deep Energy Retrofits completely raise the energy savings bar.  Castle Square is expected to achieve a 72 percent energy reduction (a dramatic improvement over 20 to 30 percent energy savings)!

How is Castle Square  Different than Other Green Renovations?

ü  The key difference between Castle Square Apartments Deep Energy Retrofit and standard energy efficiency renovations is insulation, which at Castle Square will be located on the outside of the building (visually transforming the dated property).

ü  A new 5” super insulated shell, combined with a super insulated reflective roof, high efficiency windows and extensive air sealing, will increase the insulation value of the building by a factor of ten.

ü  Because of super insulation, the building will require only a fraction of the energy to heat and cool.

ü  Additional energy savings will be made using small high efficiency cooling and heating equipment, LED and CFL lighting, Energy Star appliances and solar hot water.

ü  This is not a gut renovation, so fewer resources are used.  Residents stay in their apartments during the renovation, with minimal disruption.

To learn more about the renovation check out www.CastleDeepEnergy.com

This free tour is being offered in conjunction with the Northeast Sustainable Energy Alliance Green Open House.  http://www.nesea.org/greenbuildings/

Primary results: Linehan vs. Lee

Results from today's primary are in.

W3P7 had 13% voter turnout today - thanks to all that got out and voted!!    Results are:

Suzanne Lee:  39.12%
Bill Linehan: 35.03%
Bob Ferrara:  25.35%

Suzanne & Bill will move forward to the final elections on November 8, which will also include the office of City Councilor At Large.

Full (preliminary) results can be found on the City Election Web Site

Vote - primary on Tuesday

A reminder that we have elections this week.  on Tuesday, September 27th there will be a primary election for City Councilor for District 2 (our district).   The top 2 vote getters will proceed to the final election in November.

On Tuesday's ballot you fill find

• Incumbent Bill Linehan
• Suzanne Lee
• Bob Ferrara

All of Eight Streets votes at Cathedral High School gym, corner of Washington & Union Park Street.  (We are Ward 3, Precinct 7).  Polls are open 7am until 8pm.

Hope everyone can make it!!

What's going on this week?

A reminder that Eight Streets has a Google Calendar which we try to keep up to date with local events.   The calendar holds out business meetings, as well as other events in the South End; such as open studios this week, and the City redistricting meeting on Monday.

How you can you see our calendar you ask?

• You can go to it directly through this link and see the calendar on its own web page
• If you have your own Google calendar you can add the NA's calendar - just go under other calendars on the left, and add our address - eightstreets@gmail.com
• Head to the Eight Streets web pages - we've embedded the Google calendar right on our calendar web page

On our web site calendar page, we've also included links to several other South End calendars, so you can keep up on all local South End events...

Coffee Hours with Rep. Michlewitz

State Representative Aaron Michlewitz has announced his Fall coffee hours series, with 2 locations near the Eight Streets neighborhood.

• on Saturday, October 8th he'll be at Berkley Perk (69 Berkeley st) from 10 until noon
• on Saturday, November 12th he'll be at South End Buttery, 314 Shawmut ave, again from 10 'til noon.

This is a great opportunity to chat with your state representative in a casual atmosphere and discuss the issues of the day.   I hope you'll be able to make at least one of the sessions!

September ESNA Meeting

Hi Everyone!

Fall is in the air, and time to return from our summer breaks.   We will also be returning to our original dates and location.   Eight Streets NA returns to the First Wednesday of each month, and we return to our traditional, and new and improved location at Boston Ballet in their 5th floor board room.

Our monthly Eight Streets business meeting will be this Wednesday, September 7th in the Boston Ballet 5th floor board room (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:

• 86 Waltham street - seeks approval to add a roof deck.  A vote will be taken
  
• Rob Ferris - update on 5 Dwight construction; introduction to 21 Dwight work. Information only, no vote on any issues
  
• Discussion of crime in the "south east" South End.  Information on work ESNA has been doing with the Old Dover Crime Committee over the summer.  We'll also be looking for ESNA member(s) who would like to join the Crime Committee

 Hope to see you Wednesday!

District 2 Candidates Night

The Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association is hosting a Meet the Candidates night.

This election season we will be electing our district City Councilors  District 2 candidates include Incumbent Bill Linehan, and challengers Suzanne Lee and Bob Ferrara.

Join B/FSNA on Tuesday, September 13th at the Franklin house, 11 E Newton st.  The meeting starts at 7pm and should last about an hour.

One of these people will be your representative in city government.  Come out and meet them so you can be an informed voter in the upcoming elections

Discuss the redistricting process

Councilor Linehan will hold a discussion on the redistricting process with his South End constituents on Monday, September 19^th from 6-8pm at the Franklin House, 11 East Newton Street. 

Councilor Linehan is Chairman of the Council’s Committee on Census and Redistricting. The Committee held a public hearing at City Hall in May and will conduct five hearings at locations throughout the City this fall. Given the 2010 Census results and the current delineation of Council districts, it has become clear that the South End will be impacted and likely to see changes to the current City Council boundaries as a result of the redistricting process.  

As your district City Councilor, Bill would like to solicit feedback from neighborhood leaders and those active in the community.  If you cannot make the meeting, you can contact the Councilor's  office  via email or phone at 617-635-3203.  

Help plan the South End Holiday Stroll

Planning begins for the 2011 Holiday Stroll - meeting this Thursday (Sept 8) at 9:30am.   Please contact Nick Fedor if you would like to join the team.   The official announcement follows below...

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I’m writing to invite you to a holiday stroll and decorations planning meeting on Thursday, September 8 at 9:30am at Gaslight.  Gaslight is located at 560 Harrison Avenue.

At our first holiday planning meeting, attended by business owners, South End Business Alliance board members and Washington Gateway Main Street staff and board members, the group discussed coordinating holiday decorating efforts among businesses and neighborhood associations throughout the entire South End.  In this follow up meeting, we are hoping to get input from neighborhood associations.  It would be great if a representative from each association could attend this meeting.

We will also be discussing holiday stroll events centered around the Mayor’s tree lighting at the BCA plaza. 

The goal is to get the entire South End involved to create a fun, festive community atmosphere this holiday season. 

Please feel free to forward to anyone I may have missed. 

Thanks for reading and please RSVP to me by Tuesday, September 6^th.

Best,

Nick 

That time of year - ESNA resumes

Hi Everyone,

I can't believe September is about to smack us upside the head.   The summer doldrums are over and time for things we set aside for the summer to command our attention.   And so it is with the neighborhood Association as well.

Construction is finished at the Boston Ballet, and it looks fabulous.   The new boardroom is stunning - and huge - I hope we don't get lost in it!!  but today I confirmed the boardroom for the 2011-12 meeting year, so we will be returning to our regular time and location.  Thanks to Project Place for hosting us throughout 2011, and continued thanks to Boston Ballet for also hostin ESNA and other neighborhood groups in their space.

Beginning Wednesday, September 7th we will be returning to our schedule of First Wednesday of each month, and returning to the Boston Ballet 5th floor board room  (Board room is now right when you exit the elevators).

A complete meeting agenda will be going out later in the week, but please give us feedback if you'd like any topics or speakers in the upcoming year.  

And as we get the blog going with many September events - we want to let you know that our blog is now smartphone friendly.  If you visit eightstreets.blogspot.com on your smartphone, you'll see a smart-phone-friendly version of our blog! (see attached image for an example).

See you in September!

Sidewalk Sale this weekend

South End Business Alliance announces the annual South End Sidewalk Sale begins this Friday, Aug 19 and runs through Sunday the 22nd.  Shop local stores to see deals and special sales running all weekend long.

See flier for more details

Washington street survey

WGMS is conducting a survey to see what kind of businesses you patronize, and what kinds you would like to see along Washington street.    What do you think?

Take this short 5 minute survey

Dog Run users - feedback wanted!

  Peters Park Dog Park Patrons
We need your Help and want your Feedback !!

Tues June 28, 2011

7-8pm

Note Change of Location: The Franklin (11 E Newton St - corner of Washington St)

• Come and meet other DRS Users (and learn their names)
• Discuss planned improvements
• Learn how to be a good DRS user
• • Boston City License
  • Leash Law/Dog Fouling
  • Park Rules
• Review ongoing maintenance costs for park
• Learn ways to volunteer and contriute
• Share your thoughts in a positive way with us

Sorry - No dogs at the meeting

"Shakespeare for Everyone!"

 COMMONWEALTH SHAKESPEARE COMPANY’S SUMMER ACADEMY KICKS OFF ITS TOUR OF THE PARKS WITH SHAKESPEARE ON LOVE

What:               Shakespeare on Love, a performance piece comprised of Shakespearean scenes and sonnets

Who:                Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s Summer Academy Apprentices

                         Antonio Ocampo-Guzman, Director

Where:             Titus Sparrow Park (South End)

When:               Wednesday, June 29^th @ 6:30PM

Tickets:             Free

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s Summer Academy Apprenticeship students are at it again with Shakespeare on Love premiering on Wednesday, June 29^th at 6:30PM in Boston’s Titus Sparrow Park. The twenty-three Apprentices that comprise CSC’s Summer Academy Class of 2011 begin their 12-show Tour of the Parks with a series of Shakespearean sonnets and scenes from the bard’s bountiful stock of gestic poetry. ‘Tis bound to be an evening of theatre not to be missed.

South End Garden Tour THIS Saturday!!!

(if this email doesn't display correctly, visit the site directly at http://www.southendgardentour.org/ ) www.southendgardentour.org The South End/Lower Roxbury Open Space Land Trust is one the country's first urban, neighborhood-based land trusts.  It was established in 1991 as a means to protect community gardens and parks.  It currently owns and manages 16 sites in the South End and Lower Roxbury neighborhoods of Boston.  The all-volunteer organizations enables over 500 individuals and families to grow their own food and enjoy nature in the city.  The South End Garden Tour is the organization's primary fundraiser. CHECK OUT THE LAND TRUST'S NEW WEBSITE: WWW.LANDTRUSTGARDENS.ORG

June ESNA Business meeting

Hi Everyone!

Our monthly Eight Streets business meeting will be this Tuesday, June 7th, at Project Place (Washington & East Berkeley). 


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

7-8:30 - Business meeting.  


On the agenda this month.

• 26 Dwight - Seeking approval for enclosing their deck. This deck was cut in to the building, so enclosing the deck brings the rear wall even with the rest of the building, but triggers a F/AR issue. A vote will be taken. 

• 5 Dwight - they have their official city 'denial' letter for the planned rear decks, as shown to us at a previous ESNA meeting. They will be seeking support for the rear decks. A vote will be taken. 

• 251 Shawmut (Corner Shawmut & Milford) - Owners are planning to rehab the building, and wish to change the first floor from a commercial space to a residential space.  We'll have a discussion on the proposed change and what that could mean for the neighborhood.  A vote may be taken

 We  hope you can make this important business meeting.


See you on Tuesday!

Dover St hearing on Tuesday

On Tuesday, May 24 there will be a hearing on the East Berkeley/Dover street name change.   The hearing is at 6pm in the auditorium of the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (41 Berkeley st).

The purpose of the hearing will be resolve "any discrepancies" in the city's policy for street name-changes and to facilitate an open discussion on reclaiming the Dover Street name for the thoroughfare, currently known as East Berkeley Street.

More about the name change can be found here.

We encourage all to attend

Traffic on Wednesday (May 18)

President Obama will be at a fundraiser at our very own Boston Center for the Arts on Wednesday, May 18th.   While there will be traffic around the event time (3pm), be aware there may be significant parking restrictions in the days beforehand.    Please keep an eye on local news for details, and make sure you park carefully in case a "no parking" sign should pop up while you're away.   It's also not unusual for items like mail boxes and trash cans to disappear before such an event, so plan your personal trips accordingly.

Boston.com article

[Update]   South End Patch has posted the following parking restrictions:

Parking is prohibited on the following streets from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday:

• Tremont Street from Berkeley Street to Dartmouth Street
• Clarendon Street from Tremont Street to Appleton Street
• Warren Avenue from Berkeley Street to Dartmouth Street
• Montgomery Street from Clarendon Street to Dartmouth Street

South end News adds:   Tremont St. will be closed to all traffic between W. Dedham Street and Berkeley St. all day Wednesday as a part of the high security.