July 19, 2013
This year’s mayoral race, the first time there has not been an elected or interim mayor seeking to hold on to the office in thirty years, hardly seems to exist in Allston Brighton. There are few yard signs, and even those have not been up long. I have yet to receive a single piece of mail, flyer or phone call from any candidate, despite the fact that I am as reliable a voter you will find.
Locally, the Ward 21 Democratic Committee has, to its credit, hosted candidate forums and posted the responses of the candidates to their questionnaire. But is is a far cry from the frenzy of activity in 1983 or even 1993, when Menino scored his first mayoral victory.
There are some reasons for this, I think. The staff cutbacks and circulation decline experienced by the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald are part of it. Boston political news no longer gets much attention on the main local television stations. We no longer have a local newspaper of any significance. The 1983 campaign also was the first year for district representation, with a horde of candidates knocking on doors for both city council and school committee seats. Some of the mayoral candidates had local offices (David Finnegan and Mel King during the preliminary, Ray Flynn joined Mel for the final, not sure of any others.)
It takes an enormous amount of organizing to engage people to vote in any Allston Brighton election. The Elizabeth Warren campaign did an outstanding job last year, but had the advantage of turnout that was also driven by interest in the presidential race, as well as intense attention to her battle with Scott Brown from both local and national media.
Posted in Allston, Brighton |
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July 9, 2013
The BAIA has a full agenda for tomorrow night, with two candidates for mayor, Charlotte Golar Richie and Mike Ross making their pitch, as well city council at-large hopeful Doug Wohn, along with an array of zoning and licensing issues. Among them: building a single-family home at 53 Gerrish Street; Domino’s request to allow deliveries until 3AM at their location on Washington Street near Lake Street; and an update on the development proposal for the former Circle Cinema site in Cleveland Circle. More detail here, stop by 326 Washington Street at 7PM tomorrow, meetings are open to everyone.
Posted in Allston, Brighton, Local Business, New Construction, Uncategorized |
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April 30, 2013
Rob Consalvo, candidate for mayor, and Michelle Wu, candidate for at-large city council, will be speaking at the BAIA meeting this Thursday, May 2. Also on the agenda is a proposal for building two 3-family townhouses at 165 Everett Street and a request by Dunkin’ Donuts the closing hours at their 1955 Beacon Street, Cleveland Circle location. The meeting will be at 326 Washington Street, starting at 7PM.
Posted in Allston, Brighton, Local Business |
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April 18, 2013
Last night a man was shot at 1:20AM near the Commonwealth/Washington/Fidelis Way intersection. Adam at UH has more.
Posted in Brighton, Crime |
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April 11, 2013
Six BC seniors have been charged with trashing an apartment on Gerald Road in Brighton last month. In the course of their rampage they damaged a gas line attached to a basement dryer, resulting in a dangerous leak. One of the students confessed when a call reporting the leak to NStar was traced to him, according to a press release from the Suffolk County DA’s office. Each student has retained his own attorney. More details on Boston.com.
Posted in BC, Brighton, Crime, Uncategorized |
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April 4, 2013
The property at the corner of Washington and Parsons Streets in Brighton Center may be transformed into a complex that would incorporate the existing home at 10 Parsons. Except for that house, the bank and the old Minihane’s Florist building would be demolished. More details at Boston.com.
Posted in Brighton, Brighton Center, New Construction, Preservation |
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April 3, 2013
Several disagreements ended in fights last week. Among them:
A dispute over something, perhaps the alleged theft of what one lady claimed was a $70,000 engagement ring, erupted outside the Brighton Brighton Beer Garden on Friday, March 29. The incident began when the two women were outside smoking, and the victim dropped the ring when she was took it off to show the other. Somehow it disappeared, leading to fisticuffs. The police arrived, spoke to both women and a witness/friend of the victim, and searched the suspect. The ring was not found, despite a search of the area by the police. Perhaps they weren’t looking too hard since the victim had directed a obscenity laced tirade at them.
Also on the 29th, an argument between two women over stolen drugs went from words to fists at 40 Atkins Street. After smacking the victim in the face multiple times, she fled but returned a short time later. By that time an ambulance had arrived to treat the victim, and officers were not inclined to let the suspect hunt around for her missing drugs and keys. Despite being told to call it a night and head home, she left only briefly and returned again. Again she was told to leave, again she departed but wasted little time before heading back toward the apartment. At that point she was arrested after screaming “I’m going to kill the f’ing bitch!” The booking process turned up two outstanding warrants, both for failure to perform jury duty. Probably just as well she wasn’t part of the jury pool.
Finally, officers broke up a twelve person brawl involving guys and at least one woman at 51 North Beacon Street at around 4AM on Saturday, March 30. Three were arrested and charged with affray.
Posted in Brighton, Crime, Oak Square |
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April 3, 2013
Is the 37 North Beacon development a done deal? I haven’t been able to confirm this, but there is talk that proponent Sebastian Mariscal’s option on the property has expired. A new developer may be in the mix. Either way, this site needs a better designed building that is less dense. The city’s Guest Street planning area, which encompasses this site and big swath of the neighborhood, calls for guidelines for height and size that this proposal ignores.
Posted in Allston, Brighton, New Construction, Union Square |
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April 2, 2013
The Bangkok Bistro wants to move to the site that Naked Pizza occupied for a few months and has been empty since early last year, except for a short stint as Elizabeth Warren’s local campaign office. Right now the restaurant operates in Cleveland Circle, the proposed location is 344 Washington Street in Brighton Center.
Other than that, it looks to be one of the quieter meetings at the BAIA this Thursday, with only a presentation from the Allton Brighton Community Development Corp. and the monthly report from the BPD. More meeting details here.
ADDITION: I omitted that at-large city councilor and possible mayoral candidate Felix Arroyo will also be speaking at the meeting.
Posted in Brighton, Brighton Center, Liquor Licensing, Restaurants, Uncategorized |
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March 24, 2013
Alice Mills, a long-time volunteer at all three local branch libraries, will be honored by the Friends of the Faneuil Branch in recognition of her dedication and to mark her 95th birthday. For many years, she coordinated ESL learning groups, which she referred to as “Friendly Conversations,” and continues this work at the Honan Allston branch. Her career ranged from a stitcher (and union leader) in a shoe factory to administrative assistant at Children’s Hospital and BU. The party is Tuesday, March 26 from 6:30 to 8PM, all invited.
Posted in Allston, Brighton, Local Heroes, Neighborhood Heroes |
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March 24, 2013
Taking their cue from the partying habits of BU students on Ashford and Pratt Streets in Allston, well over one hundred BC undergrads crammed themselves into the basement and backyard of 16 Gerald Road, Brighton on the evening of March 16. Police responded to a noise complaint and ended up seizing a couple of beer kegs. The crowd made a fast exit once they realized the BPD has arrived. The 2-family house is owned by Richard Cohen, who lists that as his address although he does not get the owner-occupant tax exemption.
Posted in BC, Brighton, Parties, Students |
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March 20, 2013
Car owners suspect a city of Boston plow was responsible for damage to twenty vehicles along Commonwealth Avenue near BC. The cars were hit Tuesday night.
Posted in Brighton |
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March 11, 2013
Boston.com is featuring two sets of photos, one of Brighton that compares the same sites today and in years past, and another of Cleveland Circle that illustrates past photography and future plans.
Kudos to Charlie Vasiliades of the BAHS for putting together the Brighton series.
Posted in Brighton, Cleveland Circle, Neighborhood history |
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March 10, 2013
A visit by the BPD on March 1 to the City Side bar turned up 35 more patrons on the second level than the 95 allowed, along with a very drunk guy who was using someone else’s canceled Mexican passport as an ID. Violations issued, expect a hearing at the Licensing Board in the future.
Posted in Brighton, Cleveland Circle, Liquor Licensing |
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March 9, 2013
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Sutherland Pharmacy has been hit again by an armed thief. About a year ago the same thing happened, and the store, located at 1690 Commonwealth Avenue, was broken into within the past year. Wearing a mask according to the BPD report, the gunman entered the premises around 1PM on Tuesday, March 3 and ordered everyone to get on the floor, then demanded the drugs Xanax and Klonopin. He fled in the direction of Wilson Park, located behind the block of commercial buildings. Police were unable to locate the suspect when they arrived soon thereafter, and ask anyone with information to contact Station 14 at 617-343-4256.
Posted in Brighton, Crime |
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March 7, 2013
A woman had her purse snatched as she entered her apartment building at 50 Englewood Road on last Thursday at 5:30PM. As she chased the thief down Strathmore Road, hollering “Give me back my bag, I’ll give you all my cash,” he stopped, turned and pointed a handgun at her, demanding “Give me all your cash or I will shoot you.” At that point an unknown man shouted to leave her alone, causing the thief to drop the bag and flee in his car, which was parked on Strathmore. Despite a call to area police vehicles they were not able to apprehend the suspect. Information obtained from BPD report.
Posted in Brighton, Cleveland Circle, Crime |
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March 5, 2013
People who made a difference, past and present, are the subject of the new book “Legendary Locals”. The profiles include the Winships and their support for soldiers of George Washington, Olympic gold medal winner Harold Connolly, and present-day state representative Kevin Honan. Bill Marchione, author of “The Bull in the Garden” and a key founder of the BAHS, wrote the foreword.
The author, Linda Mishkin, will have a book signing on April 6th from 1:00 to 3:00PM at the BAHS Heritage Museum/Veronica Smith Center, 20 Chestnut Hill Avenue. She will do a repeat embossing on May 7th from 6:30-8:00PM at the Faneuil Branch Library, 419 Faneuil Street in Oak Square.
Posted in Allston, Brighton, Neighborhood Heroes, Neighborhood history |
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March 3, 2013
Apple MacBooks are at the top of the list for burglars. Three MacBooks were lifted from 90 Easton Street, two from 28 Quint Avenue, and one each disappeared from two different apartments at 29 Cummings Road. Another vanished at 6 Camelot Court. Plus three at 115 Glenville Avenue. Activate that tracking application on your laptop, kids, it’s there for a reason.
The perennial party scene in the Ashford Street/Wadsworth Street area brought the attention of police to 34 Ashford, 66 Ashford, 8 Wadsworth and 85 Linden. All locations were found with underage drinking and upwards of 100 people in the basement.
“Uncle Crummies,” an underground drinking and performance spot in an apartment at 30 Penniman Road in Allston, was put out of business when police paid a visit. There was a $7 donation to enter, about 75 people listening to one of four bands on the night’s lineup and a bar manned by two bartenders.
Posted in Allston, Brighton, Crime |
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March 3, 2013
The developers of a mixed hotel and residential development for Cleveland Circle will give an update on their plans this Thursday, March 7 at the BAIA meeting. Also on the agenda are 103 units for 75 Brainerd Road in Allston and a proposed food pantry for 575 Washington Street in Brighton. The full agenda is here.
Posted in Allston, Brighton, Cleveland Circle, New Construction |
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March 2, 2013
An accident on Soldiers Field Road on February 21 around 8:30AM erupted into road rage when the one driver chased another into the nearby McDonald’s. The perpetrator smashed the window shades of the victim’s truck and kicked it repeatedly, trying to get him out of the vehicle. He, no fool, called the police instead. The perpetrator, a bit of a fool, admitted to officers he had done all of the above, and was arrested.
Posted in Brighton, Crime |
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