News Briefs

OPIATE WORKING GROUP TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING IN NOV.

The South End Forum’s Working Group on opiates will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, November 15, at 6:30 p.m. for the South End, Newmarket, St. Botolph and other adjacent neighborhood. The meeting will be an opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, and learn about what the Forum’s Working Group on Addiction, Recovery, and Homelessness has learned after a year of collaboration, education, and consideration of various initiatives and solutions that confront our neighborhoods in the wake of the unprecedented opioid epidemic everyone faces.

The venue is still being finalized, but the format for this Public Meeting is designed to offer neighbors ample opportunity to ask thoughtful questions and to hear from a wide range of Working Group members representing an expansive cross-section of disciplines and expertise including public health, addiction medicine, law enforcement, urban design,  recovery providers, homelessness specialists, outreach workers, policy makers, city councilors, neighborhood association representatives, and others who will be part in an on-stage panel to directly respond to questions and comments from the neighborhood on behalf of the Working Group.

Rather than have various disciplines make formal presentations, the format instead will include a few moments to welcome attendees, make introductions, and then offer a brief 15-20 minute introductory summary of what we have learned and done over the past year, to include some of our key observations, and a brief review of some of the ideas that we believe hold promise going forward.

 

GYM TO BE NAMED FOR MEL KING

The gym at the McKinley South End Academy on Warren Avenue is scheduled to be named after South End legend Mel King on Friday, Oct. 20 at 11 a.m.

The Academy honored King with a mural at the corner of Dartmouth Street and Warren Avenue last summer.

Neighborhood leaders and school leaders are expected to attend

 

OLD DOVER:  IS NEW YORK STREETS NA DEFUNCT?

The Old Dover Neighborhood Association said at its Tuesday night meeting that they are convinced that the New York Streets Neighborhood Association (NYSNA) has ceased to function.

Not so fast, though, said NYSNA board members after the meeting.

“We are still running and are ready to have a meeting after a long summer vacation,” read a statement from the Board.

Old Dover President Ken Smith said they had concerns about NYSNA forming within their traditional territory about 18 months ago, but were happy to cooperate with the new association when it decided to move forward in its formation.

However, Smith said there didn’t appear to be a functioning association right now, and attempts to contact members have gone for not.

“New York Streets did set up a year ago and we had concerns in general because there is more power in numbers,” he said. “Back Bay has one neighborhood association and as it is, the South End is split into about 14 associations. The co-founders decided they really wanted to have their own organization and went ahead. It looks like the association may not be active now though. It doesn’t look like its website is up now…The overall message is we are here and will always represent the whole area. Developers and businesses will still come to us to make presentations. We’re not going to get into pedantics regarding two versus one. We’re always going to be there to represent everyone.”

 

LANDWAVE MEETING POSTPONED

The community meeting on the potential removal of the failed LandWave sculpture in Peters Park that was set for Oct. 16 has been postponed. According to the Boston Parks and Recreation a new date has yet to be scheduled.

The slowness of the removal of the dangerous public-art piece has been, in part, due to a new policy being written up by the Arts Commission regarding proper procedures for removing public art. With that in place now, the City said it was ready to get some movement on the LandWave. The new date for a public meeting will be announced soon.

The meeting on Monday was canceled because one of the original artists was sick.

 

INK UNDERGROUND ‘OK-TACO-FEST’ OCT. 21

The foodies will be flocking to the Ink Block area this Saturday, Oct 21. Start your day at 10 a.m. at the Basic Batch Donut Pop Up at Bar Mezzana. Once full from those sugary sensations, one can head down the block for a day of never-tried-before taco creations by the chefs at Loco such as the BBQ Chix Taco or the Grilled Avocado Taco and sip iced cold beers with feature flavor’s from Sierra Nevada’s entire fall catalog.

Spend the day immersed with friends, lawn games, street art and drinking and chilling beats by DJ Silent Partner. Its all happening at the 1st Annual OK-TACO-FEST at Underground at Ink Block, noon to 8pm. Free & open to the public.

 

FROG POND PUMPKIN FLOAT

The annual Fall Pumpkin Float will be held at the Boston Common Frog Pond on Friday, October 20 from 5 – 8 p.m. Hundreds of illuminated jack-o’-lanterns will be floated on the water accompanied by spooky family activities.

Attendees are asked to bring 8-inch or smaller carved pumpkins that will be lit and then floated on the Frog Pond for a dramatic evening display. In addition, attendees are invited to view creatively carved decorated jack-o’-lanterns from various local sports teams and organizations.

Adults and children are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes and participate in a wide range of fun activities. Children are invited to decorate luminary bags, which will be displayed and illuminated along the edge of the Frog Pond. There will also be a haunted corn maze.

This free family-friendly event will also include a roving magician, glow-in-the-dark games, a video game truck, children’s crafts, games and more.

To learn more visit www.boston.gov/parks.

 

SOUTH END DATES

  • The next Working Group on Addiction, Recovery, and Homelessness in the South End will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 4 p.m. in the Hampton Inn and Suites meeting room. Other meetings will include Jan. 16.
  • The Eight Streets Neighborhood Association will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14, in Project Place at 7 p.m.
  • The Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association will have its General Meeting on Nov. 14, 7 p.m., at D-4 Police Station Community Room.
  • Ringgold Park Halloween has been secured for Oct. 31 in the evening, but this year there will be no food served.
  • The BPDA will hold an IAG/public meeting for Exchange South End (former Boston Flower Exchange site) on October 26, at 6 p.m. Learn about the project and provide comment. The meeting is at the Ruth Lillian Barkley Apartments, 1472 Washington St.
  • The next meeting of the Old Dover Neighborhood Association will be on Tuesday, Nov. 28. The regular time was to be Nov. 21, but due to Thanksgiving, the date has been pushed back one week.
  • The Worcester Square Area Neighborhood Association will have its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 24, in the community room of 88 E. Newton St., 7 p.m.

 

OLD DOVER WANTS CONTINUED OVERSIGHT ON STALLED PROJECTS

Several residents have grown concerned in the Old Dover neighborhood about projects that were approved years ago, but still haven’t come to fruition.

Were they to break ground now, residents said, the approved project might be a surprise – and might not fit in the current neighborhood.

A prime example is 80 E. Berkeley St., which was a large office tower permitted by Drucker Companies several years ago and approved by the neighborhood. Drucker had said they wouldn’t break ground until they had a major tenant to fill the building. Apparently that has never happened, and neighbors said they would like to have a second review before any permitted project many years old breaks ground.

“The flavor of the neighborhood has changed,” said Jeff Gates. “We need more communication with the BPDA.”

President Ken Smith said the Board feels the same way.

“Maybe we need to get them here to talk about that,” he said. “We should write a letter saying any project approved four of five years ago should, we want them to come back before they proceed. Nine million things change in that kind of time.”

 

FORUM TO FOCUS ON TRANSPORTATION

The South End Forum Fall Meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. at the South End Library. This meeting will have “South End Transportation Impacts and Issues” as a key focus and will include senior representatives from Massport, the FAA, Chris Osgood (Chief of Streets) and Gina Fiandaca (Commissioner of Transportation) among several other guests and agenda topics.

 

BEEHIVE CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

On Wednesday, October 25th, prepare to be shocked, amazed and titillated as The Beehive, in celebration of its 10th year in business, hosts an evening filled with ghoulishly glamourous and jaw-dropping performances paired with signature food and libations with: Boohive Halloween, Dance with the Devil. From 8-11:30 p.m., guests will enjoy “monstrous” performances by NYC burlesque legend Calamity Chang, Rebecca the Belly Dancer and vintage flapper and tap divas, The Tropigals.

Known as “The Asian Sexsation,” Calamity Chang is a New York City-based performer who produces the world’s only Asian Burlesque Extravaganza show in NYC. The Tropigals, New England’s premiere vintage dance company, reference a time when the silver screen required triple threat talent, and their performances are known to create an atmosphere of fantasies, glitz and glamour with their vintage culture and neo-vaudeville style. Rebecca the Belly Dancer is a Boston-based performer known for her audience-engaging charismas and energetic performances, and has studied with international artists in mastering a variety of belly dance and folkloric styles.

 

HEAVY METAL EXHIBITION

In this fifth installment of the Women to Watch exhibition series, artists enthusiastically investigate the physical properties and expressive potential of metalwork, long considered to be the domain of men. Featuring hand-built sculptures, vessels, and objects for personal adornment, the exhibition comprises innovative works by Massachusetts’s artists.

The exhibit will take place at Gallery Kayafas at 450 Harrison Ave., #37, from October 20 – 27, 2017. Opening reception will till take place Friday, October 20 from 6 – 8 p.m.

 

UNION PARK EVENTS

The Union Park Neighborhood Association (UPNA) announced its upcoming social events throughout the rest of the year. Some of the events include:

  • Friday, December 1, 6-8 p.m., Holiday Party, Benjamin Franklin Institute.

 

MASSPORT AIRPLANE NOISE COMPLAINT LINE

Residents who are being disturbed by airplane noise are encouraged to call the MassPort Noise Hotline 24 hours a day. The phone number is (617) 561-3333.

 

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA OF BOSTON

The Chamber Orchestra of Boston will be putting on their first seasonal event on Saturday, October 21, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. at the First Church of Boston located at the corner of Berkley and Marlborough.

Entitled, A Little Night of Music, the program will include works by Mozart, Brian Balmages, Robert Edward Smith, Antonin Dvorak and more.

Tickets range in price from $15 for students up to $50. You can purchase tickets online at chamberorchestraofboston.org.

Another two concerts will follow on Saturday, March 10, 2018, and Saturday, May 12, 2018.

 

BWSC FENWAY UPDATES

The water main replacement project happening along Park Drive from Boylston St. to Brookline Ave. is still underway. The project began in April 2017 and will continue until Thanksgiving of this year.

Restoration of green spaces will pick up again in April 2018.

On-going work includes replacing the water main from Jersey St. to Kilmarnock St. From Park Drive at Brookline Ave., a second crew is starting a water main connection in the intersection. The intersection work is scheduled for nights for the week of Oct 16-20.

Upcoming work includes water main replacement from Kilmarnock St. to Queensberry St. and from Brookline Ave. to Queensberry St. All construction will take place during the day.

The 24/7 emergency phone number to reach BWSC is 617-989-7000.

 

PETERBOROUGH SENIOR CENTER AWARDED GRANT

The Peterborough Senior Center, a program of Operation P.E.A.C.E., has been awarded a grant of $24,428 by the Boston Foundation. The grant will be used for general support for the Peterborough Senior Center.

“Our organization is proud to have served Fenway and Boston senior citizens since 2013, providing over 400 programs and serving over 100 seniors annually,” said Mallory Rohrig, the director at Operation P.E.A.C.E. “The grant from the Boston Foundation will gives us additional resources to continue providing quality programming for an increased number of senior citizens.”

Operation P.E.A.C.E. Boston was founded in Fenway 2001 and serves under-resourced youth, families and senior citizens. In the Fenway, youth and family programming reach over 30 families annually while senior programming reach over 100 senior citizens annually.

 

CLUB CAFÉ STAFF MEMBER GROPES PATRON

A staff member at Club Café located at 209 Columbus Ave. was fired after groping a female patron in the early hours of Sunday, August 13.

The nightclub was brought before the Licensing Board for the violation on Tuesday, October 17. At the hearing, the police detective stated that the woman was standing by the bar when the employee grabbed her from the rear end.

The club attorney said after reviewing video footage, the incident clearly showed the employee grabbing the woman and not just ushering her away from the bar.

The employee who worked there for three years with no problems was fired that night after the security manager showed him the video.

The detective said that the woman did not have the means to follow up further with this case but said she was upset on the way she was treated.

 

FENWAY CDC GETS GRANT

The Fenway Community Development Corporation was recognized on Wednesday by Webster Bank for its outstanding impact on the Greater Boston community. The organization, which helps Fenway residents access affordable housing, social services, job skills training, financial workshops and civic engagement activities, received $2,500 through the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act program. The grant will help the Fenway Community Development Corporation serve more people in need in the community. Webster Bank donated a total of $40,000 to 11 organizations in Greater Boston.

“Our heartfelt appreciation to Webster Bank for the continued support and collaboration which enabled Fenway CDC to improve the quality of life for residents by providing affordable-housing, resident services, workforce development, and civic-engagement programs,” said Iris Tan, marketing and development director, Fenway Community Development Corporation.

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