News Briefs

SOWA Market Returns May 5

The SoWa Open Market, on 460-540 Harrison Ave., will kick-off its 16th season on Sunday, May 5. Every Sunday, from May through October, more than 175 makers and thousands of visitors converge in SoWa, amidst a vibrant backdrop of artist studios, galleries, boutiques and vintage shops.

This season will feature the return of the SoWa Beer Garden. Created in partnership with Craft Collective, a different local brewer will take over the taps each Sunday. Brewers will include Fiddlehead Brewing Company, SingleCut Beersmiths, Finback Brewery, Banded Brewing and many more. Keep an eye out for special events and guest appearances, such as our Mother’s Day rosé pop-up with The Urban Grape and our annual Oktoberfest party hosted by Schilling Beer Company. The family and pet-friendly beer garden will also feature live music, lawn games, and Boston’s favorite food trucks. In addition, SoWa will continue to host a DIY Workshop series, where visitors can sign up for instructional classes led by a SoWa vendor, and will continue partnerships with local charities via collaborative activations, such as performances by Urbanity Dance, interactive painting with Artists for Humanity, a More Than Words book swap, and kick’n it with South End Soccer.

For information on weekly happenings, please visit: www.sowaboston.com/calendar/.

One Less Gun in Back Bay

On Friday, April 5, officers assigned to the District D-4 (South End) Drug Control Unit were conducting an undercover drug investigation in the area of Copley Square when officers observed the suspect, Rashjeem Benson, 36 of Boston, engaged in what appeared a drug transaction.

Specifically, officers observed Benson selling Class B Drugs (Crack Cocaine) in the area of 885 Boylston St. After observing the transaction, officers approached Benson and, after identifying themselves as Boston Police Officers, asked if he was dealing illegal drugs. Benson immediately became uncooperative and refused to comply with the officer’s commands to place his hands behind his back. After a lengthy struggle, officers were able to handcuff and subdue Benson. A search revealed a loaded .44 caliber revolver that was later determined stolen out of Nashua, N.H., on March 11.

Benson is charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Distribution of Class B Drugs (Crack), Resisting Arrest, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon on a Police Officer and Receiving Stolen Property.

Boston Police Recruit Info Session

The Boston Police Department will hold an information session and next steps meeting for potential recruits for the Department.

The session will take place on Tuesday, April 16, at 6 p.m. in the Bolling Building, 2300 Washington St. (Dudley Square).

Get information on new recruit fitness standards, the Civil Service Selection process and the anticipated BPDA hiring/time lines. Space is limited. Register online at EventBrite.

Red Sox Season Opener

The Red Sox kicked off the home season with their first home game Tuesday. Other upcoming home games include:

April 11 vs. Blue Jays at 7:10 p.m.

April 12 vs. Baltimore Orioles at 7:10 p.m.

April 13 vs. Baltimore Orioles 1:05 p.m.

April 14 vs. Orioles at 1:05 p.m.

April 15 vs. Orioles at 11:05 a.m.

Back Bay Happenings

•The Garden Club of the Back Bay, the Boston Parks Department, and the Boston Fire Department will be dedicating a cherry tree and installing a memorial plaque at 298 Beacon St. to Honor Edward J. Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy who lost their lives fighting a fire at that address on March 26, 2014. The dedication will be on April 18 at noon.

•Spring Fun Party! Come celebrate spring with the Friends of the Clarendon Street Playground. Join us for an egg hunt, coffee and donuts and a visit from the Easter Bunny. The fun all takes place on Sunday, April 13, at 11 a.m. in the Clarendon Street Playground. Volunteers are needed to hide eggs at 9 a.m. To help with the event, please call (617) 247-3961 or email [email protected].

•The NABB Police Panel/Public Safety Forum will take place on April 25, 6 p.m., in the sanctuary of the First Church in Boston, 66 Marlborough St. For more information, contact [email protected].

•Hop over to Fairmont Copley Plaza on Sunday, April 21, and celebrate Easter in a grand style this year. The Fairmont is hosting an extravagant, family-friendly brunch buffet with multiple seating options at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. As a special treat for the little ones, children can hunt for over 1,000 Easter eggs throughout the hotel, interact with adorable farm animals from Enchanted Animal Parties, enjoy an arts and crafts section, and get creative at a decorate-your-own-cookie station. Plenty of family photo opportunities inside the luxurious setting of Fairmont Copley Plaza.

South End Dates

•The Worcester Square Area Neighborhood Association (WSANA) and the Blackstone Franklin Square Neighborhood Association will hold a combined social mixer on April 16, at 6 p.m., in Estragon (Harrison Avenue). There will be free appetizers.

•United South End Artists will present an Art Marathon on Sunday, April 14, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in studios throughout the South End. Log on to USEAboston.com for details and locations.

•The Ellis South End Neighborhood Association Board of Directors will meet on Tuesday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. at One Chandler Street.

•The East Berkeley Neighborhood Association (EBNA) will meet on April 16, at 6:30 p.m. in Project Place, second floor. This month, there will be a development update from UDR, developers of 345 Harrison Ave. There is more to come on this project, and they will explain. Historian Russ Lopez will be on hand to talk about the history of East Berkeley. Finally, there will be a major discussion on the long-anticipated two-way Washington Street plan.

•The Worcester Square Area Neighborhood Association will meet on Tuesday, April 23, in Boston Medical Center’s Menino Pavilion at 7 p.m. New location, look for the signs to the surgical suite. Also WSANA will be holding elections on May 28 for the executive board. Anyone interested can send an email to the nominating committee, Peter Sanborn, [email protected], and Sahar Zaheer, [email protected].

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