Maureen Driscoll, who was killed by a tow truck last week, will be remembered at a memorial service at the Brighton Evangelical Congregational Church, 404 Washington Street at 12 noon. Maureen worked for many years at Johnny D’s Fruit & Produce in Brighton Center.
February 24, 2012
Mice, mold & rats
A visitor to 48 Brighton Ave.
Since the management company refuses to give contact information for the owners to tenants, I thought I would help them out. The Assessing Department lists four owners: Wayne Siegel, Kevin Ryan, Joseph Ciliberti and New Brighton Realty Trust. Based on what I could find in public records, Joseph Ciliberti lives at 12 Marshfield Road, Newton. He is also an owner of Brighton Realty. There is a post office box in Brookline listed on the deed, but that’s not what we’re looking for. That’s all I got, let me know if you have any leads.
February 24, 2012
Somewhere in Allston: Thieves Grotto
“Allston Pudding” covers the local music scene, focusing on discovering and promoting the local bands that don’t get a mainstream mention, never mind a real club to perform in. This review liked the crowd, the high basement ceilings of the literally underground Thieve’s Grotto, and all the bands. The ‘Foxes as Pets’ members are all of 16 and 17 years old, and must have borrowed mom’s car to make the drive all the way from Scituate. Thieve’s Grotto takes place in a seriously undisclosed location, somewhere in Allston.
February 24, 2012
Something old, something new
The Brighton Allston Heritage Museum will hold a celebration of its five years of promoting and preserving local history this Saturday, February 25 from 2 to 3:30PM. The museum is located in the Smith Senior Center, 20 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Brighton Center and is well worth a look.
February 24, 2012
Mystery zoning hearings
The Board of Appeal will have hearings on a number of local properties Tuesday, February 28 at 9:30AM in City Hall. Unfortunately, the city has not sent out any information on what the owners are proposing, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
February 21, 2012
100 Years on Ice
The Skating Club of Boston celebrated one hundred years of ice time by some of the sport’s greatest talents, as well as many thousands of Bostonians who just enjoy the winter exercise. The gala was covered in the Boston Globe (paywall) and there is more information on the club’s website. The money raised will support the construction of a new facility at 176 Lincoln Street, Allston to replace the current rink on Soldier’s Field Road. This initiative is part of a land swap between Harvard and the club.
February 17, 2012
Be careful out there
A girl is mugged, but manages to run to safety, losing only her phone.
A local woman loses her life crossing the street in Brighton Center.
February 17, 2012
St.E’s has some competition
St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, now owned by New York-based Cerberus Capital Management L.P. (also known as Steward Health Care, but let’s stick with the real owners) now has to contend with these Allston street medics.
February 17, 2012
84 Linden Street & the latest “crackdown”
Two mailboxes at what's left of 84 Linden
The house is listed as a single-family with both the Assessing and Inspectional Services Departments. As you can see from the above photo, taken after the fire, its actual use was probably different. Questions about the legal occupancy go back to 1975, according to documents at the Building Division. The previous owner, David Fay, got a permit to expand the living space into the basement, although it looked to me from the permit that he was really adding another apartment. But Mr. Fay did quite well. He bought it for $220,000 in 1998 and sold it in September of last year for $572,000.
Post-fire
This carriage house in the rear, pictured below, appears to have been unused at the time of the fire. The area behind the house was lovely. Completely paved over.
February 16, 2012
A field of dreams and Ultimate Frisbee
New Balance, continuing its march across the community, has now claimed naming rights to the new playing field that BU will build at the corner of Babcock and Gardner Streets in Allston. Games will take place atop a 350 car garage, and there will be room for one thousand spectators in the stands. Ultimate Frisbee will be added to the school’s roster of intramural sports, which will be among the club sports using the field. The women’s varsity field hockey team will get the most turf-time, returning for their first home games after eleven years of off-campus contests and practices.
Kudos to New Balance. They are putting serious money into Allston Brighton, they pay property taxes, and their plans will generate jobs and activity that seem like they will benefit our neighborhood. Maybe we have an alternative to Harvard’s ‘Occupy Allston’ approach: buy it and do nothing.
February 16, 2012
Playing possum
The Animal Rescue League tweeted that a possum managed to wiggle its way into the wheel well of a car in Brighton. Better to find a critter attached to your tire than the Denver Boot. (Image courtesy of Cody Pope)
February 16, 2012
Machete suspect arrested
The machete-wielding man who is accused of a home invasion this morning at 136 Chiswick Road in Brighton has been arrested.
February 16, 2012
Two ways to run
Ward 22 Democrats will be caucusing this Saturday, February 18 to select delegates to the state convention. The twenty-two political junkies who win will get to spend the first Saturday of June in Springfield. Smith Senior Center, 20 Chestnut Hill Avenue, be a registered Democrat and get there no later than 2 PM to be eligible to vote. If you prefer to run on your own two feet, New Balance is giving free stuff and advice on winter running that morning from 9 to 12 near the Hatch Shell, according to Boston.com.
February 16, 2012
When it takes more than a genius
February 15, 2012
Option 1, Option 2, Option 3: which will the MBTA choose?
The wait may get longer. The ride will be more expensive.
The MBTA Advisory Board has proposed an alternative to the MBTA’s two service-slashing, fare-raising plans, according to Universal Hub’s Adam Gaffin. Fares would go up 25% but service would remain the same. To raise even more revenue, there would be fees, including: $10 per year per college student and 50 cents per ticket for sport and entertainment events. So maybe the T can collect some of the lost fares from students who think the B-line is free for undergrads.
Monday, March 12 there will be a hearing in Brighton on the various proposals.. Veronica Smith Senior Center, 20 Chestnut Hill Avenue, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.
February 15, 2012
Adios to Big City, Hola to Patron’s
Big City, the Allston pool hall at the corner of Brighton and Harvard Avenues, is going to become Patron’s Mexican Kitchen & Watering Hole, according to Boston Magazine. No mention in the article if the cue balls will disappear, or if it is just a menu change.
February 15, 2012
That Beauty Factory on the Charles
“Harry, the planning we’ve done led to the approval of Stone Hearth Pizza and Swiss Bakers,” – BRA Chief Planner Kairos Shen
Wow. A dire need has been filled.
Harvard’s presentation Monday night on its plans for the untilled acres it owns in Allston left residents underwhelmed. The lack of a timeline was particularly troubling.
Ah well, if the science center doesn’t work out, they can always fall back on their reputation as that Beauty Factory on the Charles.
UPDATE – A follow-up article in the Crimson cites more dissatisfaction with the university’s plans, this time centered on proposed housing.
February 14, 2012
Lost Puppy
This dog ran away from Ringer Park on Friday, February 10 and was last seen on Harvard Avenue and Cambridge Street. She answers to the name Chloe and is a rescue dog, recently arrived from Puerto Rico. Chloe is eight months old, weighs about 30 pounds and is a Doberman-looking mix. She also has a microchip embedded in her. If you have any information, please contact her owner, Elise, at 908-461-3852.