News Briefs

OFFICER JORGE DIAS REASSIGNED

Officer Jorge Dias, long-time South End community service officer and patrol officer, was reassigned from the D-4 beat last week, with his last day at the old station house coming on Friday, May 12.

The South End native has been a fixture on D-4 for a long time, but now he will be assigned to the Boston Public Schools, working in schools across the City – including the McKinley School in the South End – and reaching out to young people.

Dias had an affinity for the young people in the neighborhood during his time in the community service office, helping to support and found the One Hood Basketball League at Blackstone courts in the summer.

It was uncertain if the Department would bring on another officer in the community service office to replace him.

 

HUANG STEPS DOWN FROM PRESIDENT IN BLACKSTONE

Tuesday marked the end of the successful two-year presidency of Eric Huang of the Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association.

“This is my last meeting as president,” he announced Tuesday night after the Association had conducted its elections. “I’ll be stepping down from the presidency and taking a minor role on the board next year. It’s been a great experience serving here the two years as president. It’s been exciting to work on events and try to come up with solutions for the neighborhood…It’s been a very rewarding experience all told. You were all fantastic neighbors.”

Huang said there technically is no new president. The Association voted in a new board and the board will eventually elect a new president.

Stepping down from the board and as vice president were Calay Ip, and also long-time board member Lisa Jenks. Jenks will stay on with the Association to help with the community scholarship.

Those elected to the Board for the next term include:  Michael Broderick, Toni Crothall, Eric Huang, Tiffany Hubanks, Vadim Kuksin, Matthew Mues, Mark Ott, Andrew Parthum and Joe Schutt.

 

OLD DOVER SUPPORTS MUSIC AT LION’S TAIL

Mangers of the Lion’s Tail Restaurant in the Ink Block presented their plans to apply for an entertainment (live music) license to the Old Dover Neighborhood Association on Tuesday night, May 16.

The general manager told Old Dover that they have been taking advantage of the Acoustic on Main program which allows live music until 10 p.m. However, the 10 p.m. cutoff for that program been too early for their customers.

“Having music has been a huge success,” she said. “The biggest complaint is that we have to shut it down so early, usually just when people are arriving for the night.”

The license would be good for seven days a week and would allow them to have music past 10 p.m. However, they said they would probably only be putting music in on Monday, Tuesday and maybe Wednesday, as well as for brunch. They plan to use the music as a way to draw in customers on slower days, so they won’t be looking for the end of the week or weekends.

The restaurant is outfitted with five layers of soundproofing and neighbors above in the Ink Block have not complained during the pilot programs.

They will also present to the New York Streets Neighborhood Association next month, and their License Board Hearing is in one month.

 

USES NEIGHBORHOOD GALA

United South End Settlements (USES) will be celebrating 125 years of uniting the community to strengthen families at The Neighborhood Gala, on Wednesday, May 24 at 6pm at USES’s Harriet Tubman House, 566 Columbus Avenue.

The Gala will spotlight the menus of 17 of the South End’s best restaurants contributing food to support USES’s enduring impact on local children and families. Above and Beyond Catering, Area Four, Bar Mezzana, Blackbird Doughnuts, El Centro, Flour Bakery + Café, FoMu, Gaslight Brasserie, Haley House Bakery Café, Mela, MIDA, Moko Japanese Cuisine, Petit Robert, Shun’s Kitchen, South End Buttery, and

South End Food Emporium/Dom’s Meats, will join event host and local legend José Massó of WBUR’s ¡Con Salsa! and hundreds of guests from around the community.

By late June, USES will begin embracing families with the holistic range of programs they’ll need to achieve economic mobility and “whole family” well-being; programs through every stage of their children’s development from infancy through young adulthood, and career coaching and skills-building programs for parents.

 

UNION PARK TO MEET MAY 24

The next General Meeting open to all in the Union Park neighborhood will be held on Wednesday, May 24, from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Community Center at 346 Shawmut Ave.

The tentative agenda includes these items:

  • Council President Michelle Wu on Boston City Council activities
  • Proposal from Walden Local Meats for 316 Shawmut Ave.
  • New restaurant proposal for 600 Harrison Avenue (The Girard)
  • Plans for development at the Flower Exchange site

 

DOGS IN THE PARK

As the weather warms and the days get longer, Blackstone Square promises to once again be the popular hangout for dogs and humans alike. It has been customary for the neighborhood to “look the other way” on off-leash dogs in the park, but this has come under renewed scrutiny in light of recent incidents. The Parks Department has asked the Friends group to remind everyone that dogs should be kept on leash as required by law. If anyone has a complaint about dog activity (or any activity for that matter) in the park, they should call 3-1-1. For cases like dog bites or unruly dogs, please call 9-1-1. To be more involved in the dog community, join The Square Dog Facebook group. The Dog Committee of Friends of Blackstone & Franklin Squares is working to create a set of guidelines for dog activity in the parks. To provide input, please email [email protected].

 

MEL KING AT THE LIBRARY

Next week, Tuesday, May 23, at 6:30 p.m., Mel King, the iconic South End activist, former state legislator, poet and author, will talk about his life’s work. He will be introduced by State Rep. Byron Rushing. Mel King’s recently re-issued book, Chain of Change, will be available for purchase and signing. Seating is limited.

 

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

 

UNION PARK ANNOUNCES EVENTS

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

  • Tuesday, May 23, 6-8 p.m., Margarita Tasting at Masa.
  • Thursday, June 22, 6-8 p.m., Cocktail Social, Ameriprise patio (546 Tremont).
  • Sunday, July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, (5-7 p.m.), Evening in the Park, Union Park.
  • Saturday, October 7 (rain date October 8), 8 – 5 p.m., Pictures in the Park, Union Park.
  • Sunday, October 8, 1-6 p.m., Crime Walk, City of Boston.
  • Friday, December 1, 6-8 p.m., Holiday Party, Benjamin Franklin Institute.

 

PETERS PARK GRAFFITI WALL TO BE PAINTED

Genaro ‘Gio’ Ortega and five youth collaborators will begin painting the Peters Park Art Wall late this week, and the public is invited to stop by and watch it all happen.

The wall was last painted 10 years ago.

 

FOPG BORDER BRIGADE

Join the Friends of the Public Garden’s Border Bridge every Thursday, 5-7 p.m.

Just show up ready to help at the Boylston Street border. FOPG is looking for champion volunteer weeders to help maintain the now-beautiful Boylston Street border and the Beacon Street border in the Public Garden. Gloves, kneepads, and some brief instructions on weed identification will be provided. No previous experience necessary and one can participate every week, a couple of weeks, or only once.

Participants will get a free Friends of the Public Garden t-shirt and a book about the Public Garden.

Email [email protected] if interested in volunteering.

 

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.

 

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

  • Woodmeister Master Builders is brining in a classic Steinway Piano to their 1317 Washington Street location for a concert performance by M. Steinerts and Sons on May 18 from 6-8 p.m. Then on the piano will be open for people to play from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Boston Center for the Arts invites you to their annual BCA Ball and Disco Under the Dome on June 3. The ball starts at 7 p.m. and then they turn down the lights and turn up the music for Disco Under the Ball at 9:30. The fun goes to midnight and both events support the BCA’s broad programs in the arts.
  • Groovin’ for South End Soccer will take place in the Channel Park on May 21, 4-7 p.m. There will be live music, dancing, food, beverages and prizes. The event celebrates and supports South End Soccer. Tickets are $30.
  • The New York Streets Neighborhood Association will have its monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 6, at 6:30 p.m.
  • Peters Park Fundraiser, the Friends of Peters Park and Old Dover Neighborhood Association will hold a fundraiser for the park on Thayer Street, June 8, from 6-8 p.m. There event will be hosted by GTI Properties, and there will be hamburgers from B.Good and beverages from Aquitaine. Music is planned, as is a raffle from local merchants. The suggested donation is $20-50.
  • Tropicaliente! The Hurley K-8 School in the South End will host Club Tropicaliente! to benefit the school on Friday, May 19, from 7-11 p.m. at the Benjamin Franklin Institute, 41 Berkeley St. Join the conga line! For information go to tropicaliente.supporthurley.org. There will be music, local food, an auction and great neighborhood fun.
  • The rescheduled clean up for the Blackstone/Franklin Square will take place on Saturday, May 20, at 9 a.m. Come grab a rake or a broom and clean up the parks.
  • The South End Forum has called a meeting for June 6, 6 p.m.
  • The Eight Streets Neighborhood Association will meet on Tuesday, June 11, at 7 p.m. Location TBA.
  • The annual Ellis South End Neighborhood Association Fundraiser, Celebrating the Neighborhood, will be held on June 11 at Mistral, starting at 5:30 p.m. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available; tickets are $125. Visit the website, EllisNeighborhood.org, to register.
  • If you are a Villa Victoria Community member, join the community every last Wednesday of the month at the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts for the community meeting. The next meeting is Weds., May 31, 85 W. Newton St.

 

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.

 

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.

 

BPDA APPROVES ONE NEWCOMB PLACE

The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) approved the high-end residential complex slated for One Newcomb Street on the border of the South End and Lower Roxbury this past Thursday, May 11.

It will have 23 housing units, including three affordable units. The total project will be 24,655 square feet. There will be a mix of nine one-bedroom units, six two-bedroom units, six three-bedroom units and two three-bedroom duplex units.

The project will connect $10,000 in community benefits toward Grant A.M.E. Church improvements, Pine Street Inn, and YouthBuild Boston.

 

BPDA APPROVES WENTWORTH ACADEMIC BUILDING

The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) approved the new building at the board of directors hearing this past Thursday, May 11.

The new academic building will have a height of about 64.5 feet and a size of approximately 69,000 gross square feet that will be located on the Wentworth campus where tennis courts are currently located.

The project will contain laboratories, student learning and group meeting space, offices, and support/ storage space on floors two through four, and a first-floor. It will also include a first-floor maker space, manufacturing, and gathering space intended to invite the Wentworth’s engineering capabilities and teachings.

The project will accommodate Wentworth’s transition from providing engineering technology program to engineering and innovation programs, such as a new biological engineering program.

It will activate the street edge along Parker Street and create two pedestrian plaza areas on parker Street and Pike frontages. The building will be LEED Silver certifiable.

In addition, the project will add eight new scholarships for Girl’s Summer Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program that expands the Boston Pipeline program to Madison Park High School.

It also creates four new scholarships for the welding certification program and adds three new projects to the Wentworth sponsored Co+Build program.

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