News Briefs

CORRECTION

In a recent story in the Boston Sun, it was reported that a new study about cocaine usage was being conducted by a doctor and team at the Grayken Center in Boston Medical Center.

However, a doctor with Boston Medical Center’s Psychiatry Research Center is looking at how to help people curtail their use of cocaine use with the diet drug lorcaserin, which is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The study is funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, not the Grayken Center for Addiction at BMC.

FLYNN APPEARS             AT FORUM

Councilor-elect Ed Flynn appeared at the South End Forum on Tuesday night to introduce himself as the newly elected councilor for the area.

While the room of South Enders certainly hadn’t been major supporters of Flynn – with most strongly backing candidate Mike Kelley – Flynn took the microphone and promised to treat everyone fairly and earn the trust of the South End.

“If you supported me or didn’t support me, I will treat everyone fairly and with respect,” he said. “I hope to earn your trust over the next weeks and months. I will have an open door policy at City Hall, and I want to bring office hours to the neighborhood. I want to bring City Hall to the neighborhoods. As long as I’m city councilor, I will always have an open door and I hope I can earn your trust.”

Many in the South End have historically felt disenfranchised by councilors from other neighborhoods – particularly South Boston. Many fear that Flynn could ignore the neighborhood as well, but at the forum he said he would represent the entire district fairly.

FALL CLEANUP                NOV. 18

The former Boston Shines, now dubbed Love Your Block, for the fall season will take place in the South End on Saturday, Nov. 18.

Faisa Sharif, neighborhood coordinator, told the South End Forum that there have been a lot of details worked out. The two main gathering places for tools and volunteers are outside the Boston Center for the Arts on Tremont Street and in front of Franklin Square on Washington Street. The event goes from 9 a.m. to noon.

OLD DOVER TO BERKELEY?

The Old Dover Neighborhood Association will begin a discussion at its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28, on whether or not to change its name.

The idea is to perhaps work together with New York Streets Neighborhood Association (NYSNA) as a stronger, unified group. To achieve that, and move across Berkeley successfully, the board will initiate a bid to change the name of the organization.

Some initial thought batted around are ‘Berkeley Streets’ or something along those lines.

The discussion is meant to be a brainstorming session about whether or not to change the name, and if so, what it could be.

The New York Streets area was previously part of Old Dover, but split off on its own about 18 months ago in order to have a new group. In recent months, the NYSNA has gone quiet, but members have said they are back up and running. They plan to have a meeting in the near future.

ALBANY TO GET RE-DESIGN

Vineet Gupta of the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and BTD Commissioner Gina Fiandaca announced at the South End Forum meeting on Tuesday that a complete review and re-design of Albany Street will likely take place during review of the Flower Exchange.

Fiandaca and Gupta indicated that with so many developments there, including the BU School of Dental Medicine and the Flower Exchange, not to mention the Harrison Albany Project that is under construction, they will look to do a thorough review of the entire corridor.

Since Howard Stein Hudson is the traffic consultant to all of the ongoing projects there, the Flower Exchange review process will include all of the project there.

After that, there will be an effort to re-design and reconstruct the roadway.

“As a result of that, we are also looking to re-design Albany Street completely and see what we can do using mitigation funds,” said Gupta.

PILOT BLOCK REVIVING

Nicola Truppin announced at the South End Forum that the Pilot Block Neighborhood Association is making another go at reorganizing and getting on a regular meeting schedule.

The group has been around for a long time, but has not been meeting regularly. The effort is now on again, and the group was scheduled ot have a meeting this week on Wednesday.

Watch for announcements for future meetings as well.

The Pilot Block area runs between Tremont Street and Columbus Avenue and is bounded by West Canton and Rutland Square. Its main street is Pembroke Street.

IBA TO BE A POP-UP CENTER FOR PUERTO RICAN NEWCOMERS

The Boston Public Schools has scheduled three pop-up centers to help welcome students coming from the devastated island of Puerto Rico to live in Boston.

Reportedly numerous young people and their families are flocking to Boston to live with extended family as their island continues to prepare.

One of the BPS pop-up centers will be in the South End at IBA, 100 West Dedham St. The times will be on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Tuesdays, from 1-4 p.m.

SOUTH END DATES

  • Boston Flower Exchange IAG will meet at 6 p.m. on Nov. 16 at Boston Medical Center to review transportation plans. Members of the IAG apparently aren’t convinced of some of the findings in the project’s traffic reports.
  • 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 holiday party on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at The Eagle, 520 Tremont St.
  • The Worcester Square Area Neighborhood Association will have its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28, in the community room of 88 East Newton St., 7 p.m. Council President Michelle Wu and Councilor Annissa Essaibi George are scheduled to be guests for the meeting. There will also be a discussion of 3-1-1 and efforts to make changes to it.
  • 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 next South End Forum will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. in the South End Library.

LANDMARKS VACANCY

The South End Landmarks Preservation Planner, Eric Hill, had been settling in nicely over the last several weeks. However, on Tuesday night at the South End Forum, Moderator Steve Fox announced that Hill had gone to Beacon Hill.

Apparently the city had transferred him suddenly to the Beacon Hill Landmarks, and now the South End is looking for another planner.

Mayoral Liaison Faisa Sharif, Fox and others will be searching for a worthy and understanding candidate.

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.

 

ST CECILIA CHOIR & ORCHESTRA CONCERT

Saint Cecilia Choir & Orchestra will present Timothy Edward Smith on organ and Jaime Korkos, mezzo-soprano on Friday, Nov. 17, at 8 p.m. at 18 Belvidere St.

Korkos has been heard worldwide, including performing with Gare St. Lazare Ireland, The Boston Lyric opera, St. Louis Opera and more.

Smith has been heard on NPR’s “Pipedreams” and has performed with The Boston Symphony Orchestra under Director Seiji Ozawa.

The Saint Cecilia Choir has been featured on the radio program “Sounds from the Spires” hosted by Dr. Jennifer Pascual, Music Director of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

Admission is free, and donations are gratefully accepted.

FENWAY GARDEN SOCIETY’S ANNUAL WINTER MEETING

The Fenway Garden Society’s Annual Winter Meeting is set for Saturday, Nov. 18 from 9 – 10 a.m. at Fenway Health, 10th floor located at 1340 Boylston St.

The annual Winter Meeting will hold the annual elections for the Executive Board and area directors, as well as providing updates, answering questions and closing out the season. There will be a nomination for honorary membership status for one of the former members and FGS merchandise available for purchase.

Contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

BAY VILLAGE TIMES

  • The Bay Village Fall Cleanup will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18. Residents will be asked to move cars to allow for street cleaning. Cars will be towed if they are not removed.
  • Dec. 2 will be the annual hanging of the wreaths throughout the neighborhood. The following day, December 3, the Bay Village will hold their annual holiday celebrations including caroling, tree lighting and holiday party at 6 p.m. Location is TBD.
  • 75th anniversary of The Cocoanut Grove Fire will be celebrated with the first screening of the documentary, “Six Locked Doors” from 1 – 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Revere Hotel, Liberty Hall, 200 Stuart St. All are welcome and light refreshments will be served. To learn more visit sixlockeddoors.com.

FROG POND ICE SKATING RETURNS

The winter ice-skating at the Boston Frog Pond as returned with its earliest ever opening this past Tuesday, Nov. 14.

Winter hours are Monday: 10 – 3:45 pm, Tuesday-Thursday: 10 – 9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 10 – 10 p.m. and Sun 10 – 9 p.m.

Admission price based on skater’s height 58-inces and over: $6, anything under free. Skating rentals and lockers are available for purchase.

LANDMARK CENTER PROJECT UPDATE

The public hearing scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Boston Planning and Development Agency board meeting will be postponed until Thursday, Nov. 30. There’s been no change to the project since the last public meeting; this scheduling change was an administrative matter.

The Nov. 30 public hearing will be advertised for 5:50p.m. It may begin later than that depending on the duration of preceding hearings, but it will not start before 5:50 p.m.

HUNTINGTON AVE PROJECT UPDATE

The public hearing scheduled for the 252-264 Huntington Ave. project with the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) on Thursday, Nov. 16, has been postponed to Thursday, Dec. 14.

The public hearing will be advertised to start at 5:50 p.m. but may begin later depending on the length of preceding hearings, but it cannot begin before 5:50 p.m.

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