DISTRICT 2 CAMPAIGN TRAIL
- Candidate Mike Kelley has been visiting the various neighborhood associations as he meets people in and about District 2. This Tuesday, April 18, he appeared at the Old Dover Neighborhood Association to discuss his candidacy. Reminiscing about past efforts as the City Hall liaison to the neighborhood, including bringing a movie night to Peters Park some years ago, Kelley stressed his values and the fact that he no longer sees the district as a divided place. In fact, he said that many issues are common denominators for the various neighborhoods in District 2.
One of the major concerns of those in attendance was for workforce housing. Kelley said it is a priority of his to assure that plans for middle-income people and families gets pushed to the forefront in neighborhoods like the South End and South Boston. He said he worries that Boston, and especially neighborhoods like the South End, could become only areas for the wealthy and the very poor – with no in between.
- District 2 candidate Ed Flynn was out and about in the South End on Good Friday, marching with hundreds of parishioners from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross as they performed their annual Passion Play and Stations of the Cross through the streets of the South End. Afterward, he enjoyed a slice of pizza from Harry O’s on Washington Street.
“No doubt, this is the best pizza in the South End,” he proclaimed to all in the restaurant.
- Candidate Mike Kelley was at City Hall Wednesday morning, April 19, to officially apply for his nomination papers, which was the first day to apply. Papers will become available to all municipal candidates on May 2. They have until the end of the day on May 23 to turn them in.
“I was excited to be back at City Hall to apply for nomination papers for District 2 City Councilor,” he said. “I look forward to getting out in the district to collect signatures and to continue to talk with residents and hear what’s on their minds. My campaign is putting people first and I will take advantage of every opportunity to make sure that happens.”
- Candidate Ed Flynn also said this week that he will lead on historic preservation if elected. Last week, at two community meetings in South Boston residents expressed anxiety and concern about the destruction of a beautiful home located inside the the Greenbelt Protection Overlay District on M Street in South Boston. Despite the claims by the developer proposing a multi-unit condo building in its place, the project requires approval of variances by the Zoning Board of Appeal and approval by the Parks Commission due to its location in the Greenbelt Protection Overlay District. Flynn said the Zoning Board and Parks Commission should reject this proposal.
“As the next City Councilor for District 2, I will lead on the preservation of our communities by working with residents, homeowners, community groups, historic preservationists, and others to identify and designate historic districts to preserve their architectural character and integrity,” he said. “Throughout the district, from South Boston, Bay Village, Chinatown and the South End, residents are all dealing with similar challenges of institutional expansion and overdevelopment in today’s building boom. As your City Councilor I will work to ensure that communities like South Boston, Chinatown and downtown Boston, are able to maintain their neighborhood’s character through long-term planning and historic preservation, as neighborhoods like the South End, Bay Village, Fort Point and Beacon Hill have been able to through the creation of local historic landmark districts. Working together we can preserve what’s unique and special about Boston.”
CALL FOR ARTISTS ON ALBANY STREET
Mayor Martin J. Walsh made a call for artists this week for temporary public artwork on the exterior of the Finland Building at 774 Albany St. The call for artists is a joint effort between the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services, the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, and the Boston Art Commission.
The Finland building houses a number of the BPHC’s addiction recovery services programs. Clients come to the Finland building for a broad range of services, including harm reduction services, which are a set of practical strategies aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use, and as an entry point for detox and other treatment programs. The building is adjacent to Boston Healthcare for the Homeless and across from Boston Medical Center.
The proposed space for public art is an outside wall next to the entrance of the Finland Building. The entire wall is available and measures 70′ x 20′. A second, perpendicular wall is also available and artists may propose an artwork that spans both walls.
The call for artists is open to all professional artists, artisans or teams with experience in public art, site responsive design and project management. The initial amount budgeted for this project is $8,000, which includes artist fee, materials, and installation. The artist will be selected by the Artist Selection Committee, which is comprised of representatives from the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services and the BPHC as well as two local artists. The final artwork design will be approved by the Boston Art Commission. The call is available online and all submissions are due by noon on May 9.
TEAM ‘USES’ AT MIDA
Team USES (United South End Settlements) has completed the Boston Marathon, and Jana Eggers is celebrating with a night of delicious food and fundraising at MIDA this Sunday, April 23. Join them for a wine tasting at 5 p.m. All proceeds will go directly to USES.
Anyone staying for dinner and supporting USES will have $10 of their meal donated to USES.
Other charitable opportunities throughout the night will include:
- Try a USES-sponsored cocktail – 100% of proceeds from this drink will go to USES.
- Participate in the silent auction – A silent auction will be taking place throughout the night on Sunday for a hands-on pasta cooking lesson with head-chef Douglass Williams – All proceeds will go to USES.
BPDA APPROVES PRUDENTIAL CENTER BENEFITS
The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) approved the dispersal of $44,515 to 10 community-based organizations that provide a number of services to residents in neighborhoods surrounding the Prudential Center.
The funds will be disbursed from the Prudential Center Community Benefits fund maintained by the BPDA.
By using the BPDA’s new community benefit fund application, the BPDA, through local elected officials and the Mayor’s Office, alerted various community organizations about the availability of the community benefit funds from the Project.
The BPDA staff along with staff from the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development reviewed the applications and decided on these 10 recipients.
Those include: The Esplanade Association, Inc. with $1,554, The Friends of Dickson Park with $3,961, The Garden Club of the Back Bay with $2,000, The Gibson Society, Inc., with $3,000, Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion, Inc. (IBA), with $4,000, More Than Words, Inc., with $3,000, Partners for Youth with Disabilities, Inc., with $6,000, South End Soccer, Inc., with $5,000, Theater Offensive, Inc., with $8,000 and the Women’s Lunch Place, Inc., with $8,000.
The Prudential Center Complex is an ongoing development project located in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston. Local nonprofits serving at least one of the seven neighborhoods under the Prudential Project Advisory Committee umbrella were welcome to apply. Those neighborhoods included: South End, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fenway, Kenmore, Symphony, and Bay Village.
COPLEY SOCIETY CELEBRATES ART WEEK
Join the Copley Society of Art for a special ArtWeek even at the Four Seasons Hotel on Boylston Street May 1, from 2-4 p.m.
The installation, dubbed ‘Florals and Fresh Paint,’ will be an interactive exhibit. Learn the art of flower arranging with Winston Flowers and enjoy a first look at the ‘Fresh Paint’ pieces while overlooking the Public Gardens. Attendees can take their original floral arrangement home after the event. Tickets are $50 and are available at www.copleysociety.org.
NEW YORK STREETS WALKING TOUR
The West End Museum will host a walking tour of the New York Streets in May.
The walk will concentrate on Boston’s first urban renewal project, which took place in the area of the South End known as the New York Streets. Historian and West End resident Duane Lucia will lead the walking tour and Gloria Ganno, a former resident of the New York Streets, will assist Lucia for the walk.
The tour will be on Saturday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to noon. It will start in front of J.J. Foley’s on East Berkeley Street.
This tour will survey the area of Boston’s South End once known as the New York Streets, including the Ink Block, Washington Street and Harrison Avenue. Encompassing 24 acres of land comprising 12+ city blocks, the old New York Streets neighborhood—like the West End—was a vibrant, multi-ethnic neighborhood of tenement houses and mom-and-pop shops that fell victim to redevelopment in the City.
Cost: $7 Museum Members/$15 Non-members; Pre-registration required.
SOWA MARKET BEGINS APRIL 29,
The SoWa Open Market will begin its expanded Saturday and Sunday market season on Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30, for another season of vendors, farmer’s market and art and design.
Bradley St. Amand of GTI properties appeared at the Old Dover Neighborhood Association on Tuesday, April 18, to brief the neighborhood on the upcoming opening for the season and some precautions they have been taking.
He said there would be staff on duty to direct those coming to the market down Albany Street to avoid some of the epic tie-ups on Harrison Avenue that have occurred in the past. There will also be enhanced signage and along the route. They have also arranged for ride-sharing companies like Uber to drop off on Albany Street rather than on Harrison Avenue or East Berkeley Street.
Owner Mario Nicosia has promised to allow abutters with a South End parking sticker to park for free during market hours in the lot on Harrison Avenue for convenience. He has also agreed to canvass the neighborhood for trash very thoroughly.
Some neighbors requested that signage be posted on Fay Street and and Thayer to let drivers and pedestrians know those streets offer no parking and no access to the market. He said that would go a long way to helping neighbors on that street deal with the crowds who often erroneously search those small streets for parking.
Meanwhile, some residents from the condo building on Rollins Square were vocal about their opposition to the expansion of the market to Saturday.
“I want you to know many, many, many residents are unhappy with this Saturday expansion,” she said. “Opening on Saturday takes up the whole weekend. I want to have my family and friends over and I cannot do that. You should be really, really careful about what happens.”
It was duly noted.
Nicosia added that many tie-ups last year on East Berkeley and Harrison were a result of two markets operating simultaneously in a two-block area. With the South End Open Market no longer open on the Tufts Parking lot, and that lot once again open to supermarket shoppers, he predicted a lessening of the traffic jams experienced last year.
BPDA APPROVES 1065 TREMONT
The Boston Planning Development Agency (BPDA) approved the proposed project at 1065 Tremont Street on the border of the South End and Roxbury. The project will include 24 market rate units and four affordable units.
It will connect $30,000 in community benefits funding for St. Cyprian Church repairs and improvements.
The project will include the construction of a six-story, residential building totaling about 31,500 square feet. There will be a mix of 14 one-bedroom units, 10 two-bedroom units, two three-bedroom units and two four-bedroom units. Bicycle storage and trash/recycling will be located on the ground level of the building.
CITY OPEN TO RELOCATING PARKING ON EAST BERKELEY
Old Dover Secretary John Connelly reported at the Old Dover Neighborhood Association meeting on Tuesday, April 18, that the Mayor’s Office and the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) were open to listening about the bottleneck of traffic and bicycles on East Berkeley Street, and were also interested in Old Dover’s plan to relocate parking up the street near the Berkeley Gardens.
He said the news came at a meeting at City Hall less than a month ago, and it comes after years of disappointment in Old Dover due to the City seemingly ignoring the hard work done by the association.
“They agreed with us that it is an area of great congestion and they called it a hinge-pin,” he said. “Their goal is to maintain two consistent travel lanes for traffic and they had no objection to our proposal to relocate parking to Berkeley Gardens. They threw out a figure of six months to see implementation, but they didn’t promise anything. It seems, though, that it is moving in a direction.”
The Association engaged in a major survey of parking spots and traffic a few years ago, and came up with a solution of eliminating parking on the north side of East Berkeley Street, and relocating those spots to the turning lane along Berkeley Gardens. Some businesses have objected to the removal, but they were not in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting.
ANNOUNCING: ELLIS SOUTH END SCHOLARSHIP EXTENDED
Announcing scholarship applications being accepted for The Ellis South End Neighborhood Association
Career Technical Education (CTE) Scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to a senior high school student or recent high school graduate who plans on pursuing or is pursuing a technical degree at an accredited institution. The awarded scholarship will be $2,000 to be paid directly to the institution to offset costs for tuition or fees. To be eligible for this award, the student must graduate from high school or have a GED and reside in the South End or Lower Roxbury.
The application deadline has now been extended to June 1, 2017.
For more information contact: [email protected].
Download a scholarship application at:
http://www.ellisneighborhood.org/uploads/4/0/5/0/40506663/cte_scholarship_application.pdf
BACK BAY STATION VENTILATION
The MBTA will present design updates on the Back Bay Station Ventilation Project on May 3 in Boston.
The project team will present the 60-percent design of the Back Bay Station Stair 5 and 6 Pressurization, which is part of the overall project. The first component of the project includes pressurization of these stairs that lead to Tracks 1, 2, and 3 in order to provide an aerodynamic separation between the platform and the concourse levels. This allows for immediate relief by preventing fumes that emanate from the platform level from entering into the concourse level.
The meeting will take place at the Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, at 6 p.m.
OLD DOVER HEARS EXCHANGE SOUTH END
The Abbey Group continues to take its show on the road with initial thoughts on the potential Exchange South End project at the old Boston Flower Exchange on Albany Street, this time appearing at the Old Dover Neighborhood Association on Tuesday, April 18.
Bill Keravuori of the Abbey Group stressed that they plan to gather information from the neighborhood at association meetings, and also at an open house on the site this coming Wednesday, April 26 (5-7 p.m.). After that process plays out, he said they plan to circle back to a meeting of the South End Forum in May to reveal what they have learned on the tour and some adjustments they might make. Following that, they will submit their plan to the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) for the traditional review process.
While many are familiar with the commercial/retail proposal on the 5.5 acre plot (there is no residential construction proposed), Old Dover residents were adamant about making sure that the recently constructed BioSquare Drive along the Frontage Road is connected to that Frontage Road.
Keravuori said that was a priority for the project and for neighboring institutions like BU Medical School and Boston Medical Center.
“For reasons I don’t know, that connection wasn’t allowed in the past,” he said. “We clearly see the benefit of that connection for us. With us, the City, Boston Medical and the BU Medical School and others, we will push for that to happen now.”
The road was built by BMC years ago when they constructed a parking garage next to the highway as a way of keeping their worker traffic off the streets of the South End. The road was built all the way up to the Frontage Road, but federal and state officials at the time blocked the completion of that access point, leading to large amounts of traffic continuing to travel through the South End to get to the highway rather than having the clean connection at BioSquare Drive. With new folks in power at the state level, Keravuori said times have changed.
Chris Wells of Old Dover said having that connection is critical for neighborhood support.
“That has to be an absolute for the neighbors for this to happen,” she said.
“That’s a major priority of ours,” said Keravuori.
It was also asked if BU Medical Center was a potential organization that could occupy Exchange South End.
“They are a logical candidate,” Keravuori said with a smile, though he has said in the past they have not started to market the property to businesses or institutions.
LOVE YOUR BLOCK (a/k/a/BOSTON SHINES) COMING UP
The former “Boston Shines” is now re-branded as “Love Your Block.” Regardless of its name, the traditional Neighborhood Spring Clean Up is around the corner. All around the South End neighborhood, residents will gather to clean up the area.
Ellis: Equipment will be available at BCA Plaza so we can all chip in to help the neighborhood look beautiful. The Ellis will have a table set up from 9-12 for coffee and doughnuts.
Old Dover: residents will gather in Peters Park at the Shawmut Avenue entrance for a clean up from 10-3 p.m..
Eight Streets: The association will meet in Ringgold Park in the morning.
Blackstone/Franklin: Meet in Blackstone and Franklin Squares at 9:30 a.m.
THE SOUTH END KICKS
The South End Community Health Center will hold its annual fundraiser on April 26, dubbed South End Kicks.
The fete kicks off at the Ink Block Entertainment Lounge, 300 Harrison Ave., from 6-9 p.m.
For additional information, contact Henry Goodrow at (857)206-7625 or [email protected].
JAPAN FESTIVAL BOSTON
The 6th annual Japan Festival Boston will take place on Sunday, April 30, on Boston Common.
There will be workshops and performances and Japanese food.
The festival is free and runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, go to www.japanfestivalboston.org.
TASTE OF THE BACK BAY
The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay (NABB) will hold its 22nd Annual Taste of the Back Bay on Thursday, May 11, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Prudential Skywalk. Come and sample food and wine from some of Boston’s finest restaurants. This year a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Women’s Lunch Place in addition to NABB’s many community programs. Tickets are $125 members/ $135 non-members/ $150 day of event. For more information or to order tickets go to www.nabbonline.com or call 617-247-3961.
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.
CASA MYRNA BREAKFAST
A celebration of “40 years of new beginnings” for vulnerable women and families will be held on Thursday, May 11, at the State Room. The South End’s Casa Myrna is Boston’s largest provider of shelter and supportive services to survivors of domestic violence, providing safety, resources, advocacy and information since 1977. The keynote speaker will be Curdina Hall, with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito giving the welcome and remarks from Rev. Liz Walker.
The Community of Conscience breakfast will take place from 7:30-9:30 a.m. For more information, go to www.casamyrna.org.
PINE STREET INN GOOD NEIGHBOR HOTLINE
Residents who have any problems or concerns related to the Pine Street Inn on East Berkeley Street and Harrison Avenue in the South End are invited to call the Good Neighbor Line. Security Director Kevin Smith said they are glad to get calls from the neighborhood and would address any matter brought to their attention.
The number is (617) 892-9210.
SOUTH END DATES
- On April 25, 6 p.m., at the Blackstone Community Center, the South End Forum Working Group on Addiction, Recovery and Homelessness will meet. The meeting will be specifically about South End neighbors being able to share their thoughts, constructive suggestions and concerns about the challenges facing the Mass Ave/Melnea Cass area. Members of the Working Group representing South End service providers, institutions, government agencies, neighborhood associations, and our many partners will be on hand to listen to ideas and concerns from individual residents.
- The Worcester Square Area Neighborhood Association will meet on Tuesday, April 25, at 7 p.m. in the 88 East Newton conference rooms on the second floor.
- The Ellis South End Board of Directors will meet on Tuesday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m., One Chandler Street.
- The Real Rider Fun’Raiser will take place at the rooftop terrace at the Troy Building in the South End, 266 East Berkeley St., on May 6, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $85 and include an open bar, great food, skyline views, music, giveaways and an auction. All proceeds will benefit the Real Riders. In August 2017, the REAL Riders will meet in Seattle, turn their backs to the Pacific, and begin an epic, 5,000 mile, three-month, off-road bike ride across the United States. This off-road cycling adventure will support Boston Day and Evening Academy (BDEA), a life-changing school for highly at-risk urban students the traditional system has left behind. BDEA catches these kids, gets them through high school, and enables a future full of possibility and hope.
- The Ellis South End Neighborhood Association will hold its Annual Meeting on Weds., May 10, starting at 6:30 p.m. and followed by a reception. The guest speaker will be Council President Michelle Wu. The venue will be announced later.
- Old Dover Spring Social, members of the Old Dover Neighborhood Association will be gathering for a social time at The Lion’s Tail restaurant in the Ink Block on Weds., May 10, at 6:30 p.m. There will be free appetizers and a cash bar.
- The Old Dover Neighborhood Association will meet on Tuesday, May 16, 6:30 p.m. at Project Place.
- O’Day Bike Tune Up, The Boston Police, IBA, the new West Newton Group, Boston Bikes and Bikes Not Bombs will all come together on April 29, 1-3 p.m., in O’Day Park to host family-friendly bike tune-up event to help kids and adults get their bicycles ready for the summer. For information e-mail Nicola at [email protected].
- The Ellis South End Neighborhood Association will have its Women’s Night on May 2 at the Urban Grape, Columbus Avenue, 6-8 p.m. They will be serving a mixed bouquet of rose
- The Eight Streets Neighborhood Association will meet on Tuesday, May 9, at Project Place, 7 p.m.
- The Friends of Hayes Park invite everyone to a celebration of spring at the Annual May Day in the Park, taking place on Sunday, May 7, from 3-5 p.m. Morris Dancers will help usher in the warm weather and Chica the Juggler will delight the kids with her many talents. There will be refreshments, music, and entertainment for all. Everyone is welcome.
- Scholarship awards. Scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors who are planning to pursue a college or a technical degree and for students currently enrolled in higher education.
These scholarships include $1,000 Scholarships for Academic Achievement and Community Service and $2,000 Andrew Parthum Scholarships for Outstanding Community Achievement.
Applications are due by Friday, May 19, 2017.
FENWAY/SOUTH END HOURS FOR CONGRESSMAN CAPUANO
Congressman Michael Capuano will hold office hours for the Fenway and South End neighborhoods on the second Thursday of every month at the Fenway Community Health Center, 1340 Boylston St.
The hours are from noon to 1 p.m. and will have a representative from Capuano’s office in attendance.
OLD DOVER GETS SAFETY COMMITTEE MOVING
The Old Dover Safety and Security Committee is reportedly getting a running start in their activities to make that part of the South End safer, and to connect with City and neighborhood officials to that end.
President Ken Smith reported at the Tuesday, April 18, meeting that they have met for the first time, and have a meeting scheduled at City Hall with Mayoral cabinet member Jerome Smith – chief of neighborhood services.
“This has really got some momentum,” said Smith. “It’s really exciting to see that from a few discussions, we created this committee and we’re really moving forward with our agenda.”
The Committee looks to address homelessness, crime, pedestrian safety and a number of other issues. They will regularly report to the overall Old Dover Neighborhood Association at its monthly meetings.
BPDA APPROVES PRUDENTIAL CENTER COMMUNITY BENEFITS
The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) approved the dispersal of $44,515 to 10 community-based organizations that provide a number of services to residents in neighborhoods surrounding the Prudential Center.
The funds will be disbursed from the Prudential Center Community Benefits fund maintained by the BPDA.
By using the BPDA’s new community benefit fund application, the BPDA, through local elected officials and the Mayor’s Office, alerted various community organizations about the availability of the community benefit funds from the Project.
The BPDA staff along with staff from the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development reviewed the applications and decided on these 10 recipients.
Those include: The Esplanade Association, Inc. with $1,554, The Friends of Dickson Park with $3,961, The Garden Club of the Back Bay with $2,000, The Gibson Society, Inc., with $3,000, Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion, Inc., with $4,000, More Than Words, Inc., with $3,000, Partners for Youth with Disabilities, Inc., with $6,000, South End Soccer, Inc., with $5,000, Theater Offensive, Inc., with $8,000 and the Women’s Lunch Place, Inc., with $8,000.
The Prudential Center Complex is an ongoing development project located in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston.
Local nonprofits serving at least one of the seven neighborhoods under the Prudential Project Advisory Committee umbrella were welcome to apply. Those neighborhoods included: South End, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fenway, Kenmore, Symphony, and Bay Village.
BPDA APPROVES PHASE II OF 1065 TREMONT STREET PROJECT
The Boston Planning Development Agency (BPDA) approved the proposed project at 1065 Tremont Street on the border of the South End and Roxbury. The project will include 24 market rate units and four affordable units.
It will connect $30,000 in community benefits funding for St. Cyprian Church repairs and improvements.
The project will include the construction of a six-story, residential building totaling about 31,500 square feet. There will be a mix of 14 one-bedroom units, 10 two-bedroom units, two three-bedroom units and two four-bedroom units. Bicycle storage and trash/recycling will be located within the ground level of the building.
CLUB CAFÉ FACES VIOLATION
On February 19, 2017 Club Café was issued a violation due to an intoxicated patron that needed medical attention after falling inside the premise.
An A-1 police officer said that the police arrived at the location after 10 p.m. The man was located towards the back of the club where he slipped and fell near the bathrooms.
The officer said, “He seemed a little of it.”
The attorney for the club said that the video showed that the man didn’t just faint but pealed over. One of the servers was a licensed EMT and went to assist the man while the staff contacted 911.
The man was not revived until the Boston EMT arrived.
After speaking with the servers who were on duty that evening, none of them could remember serving the patron or repeatedly serving him. It was a busy night and it could have been missed.
The attorney said that Club Café “takes the safety of their patrons very seriously.”
Due to the significance of his fall, the attorney says that he believes it was a lot more than just alcohol that caused it.
Commissioner Christine Pulgini said, “It seems like a significant issue if you tried to revive the victim and he did not revive right away.”
The Boston licensing board will review this matter at this Thursday’s hearing to see if the club could have done anything to prevent this and whether or not they will receive a violation or not.
ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY BEHIND ICON NIGHTCLUB FACES ANOTHER VIOLATION
Pasha Entertainment the owners behind Icon Nightclub, Venu Boston, Cure Lounge and Abby Lane were brought before the Boston Licensing Board once again.
Icon Nightclub is currently appealing five outstanding violations for underage drinking with the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC).
This past January, Venu Nightclub faced two other violations with the Boston Licensing Board: one for an incident of assault and battery of patron on patron with a failure to notify the police issued on October 29, 2016 and the other for patrons consuming 750ml bottles of champagne, without meals, issued on September 13, 2016.
But this time the story gets complicated.
The violation issued for January 30, 2017 is for assault and battery (employee on patron).
This complication began weeks before this incident occurred in the early morning Monday, January 9 when a car rear-ended another car when it was stopped at a red light at the corner of Columbus Ave., and Claredon St., in the South End at around 2:00 a.m.
In the car that was rear-ended was a female security guard from Venu Nightclub on her way home from work. In the other were two females that the security guard recognized from attending the club earlier in the evening.
The women were seen entering Venu Nightclub at around 11:00p.m. and then seen leaving at closing time around 1:45 a.m.
After the security guard asked the female passenger for her information, she refused saying she didn’t have it. After persisting for more information the woman than preceded to kick the security guard in the stomach and then fled the scene.
The attorney for the Paga Inc., or Pasha Entertainment, Mark Evlogiadis, said, “they were obviously intoxicated.” But, made it clear that they did not know what they did between closing time and the crash.
The Boston Police arrived at the incident at 2:15 a.m. and filed a report. The two females were charged with property damage and assault.
Then after a few weeks passed, the two females returned to Venue Nightclub on Sunday, January 29. The security guard recognized who the two females were and asked for their I.D.’s, patted them down and contacted her manager.
One of the females didn’t want to give the security guard her I.D. because she was afraid that she was going to take down her information.
After making copies of their I.D.’s the manager asked them to leave the club and not come back because of what happened in the prior incident.
Then one woman became very upset and tried to jump the rope and get around into the club. That is when a male security guard put his hands out and then escorted her out to the street. The manager then contacted the previous detectives who worked with them on the prior incident.
The alleged victim was not present at the Tuesday, April 11 Boston Licensing Board violation hearing. An A-1 officer spoke to the one of the females on February 2 about the incident but has not heard back from her since.
The Boston Licensing Board will determine the outcome of the violation this upcoming Thursday.