Basra-Boston Connections: World Premier This Saturday

Basra-Boston Connections: An Iraq-US Collaboration in Theater, Poetry Art and Music is part of the Basra-Boston Project, which explores common and uncommon experiences through art. Join the Fort Point Theatre Channel for this free multi media premier performance on:

Saturday, October 1, 2016
8 pm
Atlantic Wharf
290 Congress St
Reservations Required
This performance is part of Artweek Boston. A second performance will be held November 4 at Arts at the Armory in Somerville.

Accompanying the show is an art exhibit on display
October 1 - October 3 at Atlantic Wharf
October 7 - October 30 at Midway Artist Studios.
Midway Artist Studios is located at 15 Channel Center St.

No Parking Summer Street Underpass Saturday

On Saturday, October 1, 2016 there will be No Parking on A Street under the Summer Street bridge from 7am - 4pm in order to perform maintenance to Starry Night art installation by artists Lisa Greenfield and Danny van Ackere

If you usually park in that location, check the posted signs and car flyers, and make alternate parking plans to avoid being towed.

FPNA September Gathering: Fort Point Streets & New Dining

Fort Point Neighborhood Association
September Gathering for the Neighborhood

Tuesday, September 27, 2016
6 pm
Factory 63
63 Melcher St.

special guest

Chris Osgood
City of Boston Chief of Streets
(Transportation & Public Works Departments)

introducing

STK Rebel Restaurant
a national high end steak house
One Seaport Square
seeking 7 day full liquor license

plus

Neighborhood Highlights & Neighborly Discussions

***featured restaurant: Squeeze Juice Company***

now open at 15 Channel Center Street

originally published 9.19.16

Boston City Council Looks At Appointments, Urban Renewal, Charlestown Bridge & More

City Council President Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. The Boston City Council considered these items and more at their September 21, 2016 meeting:

Appointments and Confirmations

• BRA/EDIC: The Council voted to confirm Priscilla Rojas’ reappointment for a term expiring September 2021
• Zoning Commission: The Council voted to confirm the reappointment of Jane Cooper Brayton for a term expiring May 2019
• Boston Industrial Development Finance Authority: The Council voted to confirm the appointment of Quoc Tran for a term expiring April 2020

Urban Renewal: City Council President Wu filed a hearing order to create a docket for the upcoming Urban Renewal progress update hearings with the Boston Redevelopment Authority, which were part of the Council’s approval for a six-year extension of Urban Renewal Authority. This was a procedural technicality, but because the Council voted on the original Urban Renewal filing, the docket was placed on file and we need a new docket number to publicly notice the progress updates. The first hearing will take place September 30 at 10AM.

New Washington Street (Charlestown) Bridge: The Council voted to approve the discontinuance by MassDOT of a portion of a state highway to allow the City of Boston to perform construction work on the North Washington Street Bridge. Councilor LaMattina reported back on yesterday’s hearing, where Public Works Department Engineer Para Jayasinghe testified that this was more of a formality, as the City has always maintained the bridge; a title search revealed that a sliver of the bridge had not been officially transferred to City ownership, so a Council vote and four Councilor signatures are needed to finalize the transfer. Mr. Jayasinghe mentioned that there have been over 30 public meetings on the design, with the next one on October 4^th. The proposed design includes cycle tracks and pedestrian space, along with vehicular traffic lanes. They are working to narrow some of the car lanes to allow for a dedicated bus rapid transit lane in the design, with a goal of construction in 2017.

Upcoming Hearings (Watch live at www.boston.gov/citycouncil/live.asp)

• Thurs, 9/29 at 3PM: Protections Against Unlawful Credit Discrimination in Employment (Government Operations)
• Fri, 9/30 at 10AM: 1^st Urban Renewal Progress Update with BRA (Planning & Development)

For complete notes on this meeting and prior Boston City Council meeting notes, visit MichelleForBoston.com or sign up to receive these notes automatically each week by email. 

Check out next week's City Council Meeting agenda available here on Monday, September 26th. 

Free Small Business Resource Fair

MA Office of Business Development and the City of Boston's Mayor's Office of Economic Development are hosting a free Small Business Resource Fair on: 

September 28, 2016

10 am – 3 pm

Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury

1350 Tremont St.

Register

The Small Business Resource Fair features keynote speaker Roger Berkowitz, CEO of Legal Sea Foods and includes two workshops. If you are interested in starting, growing or expanding your business, learning about resources available through the City of Boston & Commonwealth of MA, and networking with small business owners, register to attend today! Space is limited.

Story Ship Lands Saturday: Imagine

Department of Play has made an alien vessel and is showing it off on Saturday, September 17th from 6:00pm to 8:30pm at DRC Carson Beach. 

 Over the summer, Story Ship, a storytelling vessel-turned-recording studio, travelled to different locations in Andrew Square collecting residents’ cherished memories. Initial fuel for the ship came from Portal of Tomorrow, a collaboration with youth in Fields Corner that led to a one-day transformation of a parking lot into Fields Corner from a parallel universe. 

 Now filled with inspiration, Story Ship is bursting at the seams and ready to share its tales. On Saturday, Story Ship will transform into a gigantic inflatable cubic screen to showcase together on film the stories from Andrew Square and the visions from Fields Corner. 

 The film tells the story of city planning in an alternate reality where personal memories and wild imaginations are the points of departure for collective decision-making. Department of Play is a Boston-based collective that creates temporary play zones in public spaces for people to step out of the everyday and play out imagined worlds

 All are welcome to come and see the Story Ship, and join the Department of Play and the Andrew Square Civic Association and Viet Aid for a free evening of food, music and good vibes by the ocean!  Carson Beach is easily accessible from the JFK/UMass and Andrew Square red line stops.

Boston City Council Looks at Hubway, Speed Limits, Marijuana & More

City Council President Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. The Boston City Council considered these items and more at their September 14, 2016 meeting:

Appointments: Mayor Walsh made the following appointments:

• Zoning Commission: Jane Cooper Brayton for a neighborhood representative seat until May 2019, subject to Council confirmation
• Boston Industrial Development Finance Committee: Quoc Tran as a member of the Board of Directors until April 2020, subject to Council confirmation
• Boston Fair Housing Commission: Egobudike Ezidi Jr. for a term expiring July 1, 2017 (does not require Council confirmation)

Hubway: The Council voted to pass an order authorizing the Boston Transportation Department to enter into a 10-year contract for the city’s Hubway program, following Councilor LaMattina’s recommendation as Chair of the Council’s Committee on Parks, Recreation and Transportation. Councilor LaMattina reported back from the hearing that this would be a regional program in partnership with neighboring municipalities. The program’s three goals: 1) Improving user happiness through availability of docks and bikes, 2) Growing the number of trips taken by increasing the number of members and casual users, and 3) Increasing equity of access and use, geographically and demographically. To date, no city funds have been spent on operations or equipment. A longer-term contract will allow greater incentive for sponsorship and neighborhood access. The Council must vote to approve any contract with a term longer than three years.

Speed Limits: Council Baker called for a hearing to discuss the recently passed state legislation, Act Modernizing Municipal Finance and Government, with respect to speed limits in Boston. In April, the Council unanimously passed a home rule petition to reduce the speed limit in densely populated areas from 30 to 20 mph and 15 mph in school zones, which the Mayor signed and forwarded on to the State House. The state law allows for cities and towns to lower the unposted speed limit to 25 mph and 20 mph respectively. The matter was sent to the Committee on City & Neighborhood Services and Veterans Affairs for a hearing.

Equity in Marijuana Dispensary Licensing: Councilor Pressley filed a hearing order to discuss strategies for ensuring equity in marijuana licensing. Should voters approve the ballot question to legalize adult use marijuana this November, regulatory authority will sit with a new Cannabis Commission at the state level. Councilor Pressley noted that the City of Oakland recently passed an ordinance promoting equity in access to opportunities for ownership of medical marijuana dispensaries, and Boston should encourage business ownership and hiring in underemployed populations, especially for communities of color and low-income communities that have been victims of the ‘War on Drugs.’ The matter was sent to the Committee on Jobs, Wages, and Workforce Development for a hearing. 

Council Business: Councillor Wu gave a quick update on the five Council administrative items that she has been working on as Council President

1. City Council Chamber Accessibility: The Council is awaiting final numbers from a house doctor report examining the costs of lifting the Chamber floor, creating wheelchair-accessible seating in the audience, adding acoustic treatment so that all can hear the proceedings, updating the lights to energy-efficient LED bulbs, etc. The goal is to begin construction next summer.
2. Website: The Council has been working with DOIT to be able to attach documents such as notes, background information, and presentations to calendar items so that residents can access proceedings online. The goal is to enable residents to follow Council business and give feedback before votes/meetings happen. 
3. Events management procedures: As the Council hosts more off-site meetings in the neighborhoods, we need standardized procedures to secure venues, staffing, and coordination between Council offices and Central Staff to ensure everything runs smoothly.
4. & 5. Details 

For complete notes on this meeting and prior Boston City Council meeting notes, visit MichelleForBoston.com or sign up to receive these notes automatically each week by email. 

Power Plant Redevelopment Opens Possibilities for South Boston

Redgate hosts second open house to discuss the re-development of the L Street Power Station in South Boston on:

September 14, 2016 at 6:30 pm

 Tynan School at 650  E. 4th Street.

In partnership with Hilco Global, which specializes in redeveloping industrial sites, Redgate purchased the 18 acre waterfront site of Exelon Corp.’s New Boston Generating Station this spring for $24.25 million, The site is located next to Boston Harbor's Reserved Channel at the corner of First and Summer Streets.  A mixed use development retaining historically significant elements is anticipated. 

The South Boston Arts Association (SBAA) is in active discussions with civic leaders as well as the new owners to specifically look at an Arts and Cultural Community Center on the first level. SBAA envisions a gallery, art workshops for children and seniors, a performance center for plays and concerts and a building which preserves history while shaping the future of South Boston. 

If you missed the summer Open House, share your ideas on Wednesday, September 14th. 

originally published 8.3.16

Lights, Camera, Acton On The Streets of Fort Point & Seaport

A Netflx original action thriller, WHEELMAN, will be shooting on the streets of Fort Point and Seaport on Monday, September 12, 2016 from 7 pm to 5 am. WHEELMAN is a film about a getaway driver for a bank robbery who realizes he has been double crossed and races to find out who betrayed him.

Fort Point Film Route

No streets will be closed during filming. Vehicular access will be allowed on all surrounding streets. However, there will be Intermittent Traffic Control (ITC) while the camera is rolling during the driving routes. Pedestrian Access will be allowed to and from buildings, restaurants, and bars  during filming. Filming will not impede garbage trucks, block any loading zones, valets, docks or parking garage access.

Seaport Film Route

Back-2-School BBQ: Ketchup and relish the good times of summer

Everyone agrees that summer goes by way too fast, so why stop celebrating now! Join the Edgerley Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club this Friday night, September 9th, starting at 6:00 pm, at Coppersmith.   The Club name may have changed recently, but it remains the South Boston Boys & Girls Club standing proudly on the corner of “F” & West Sixth Streets, that has supported children and families for over 75 years.  Here are some details on the event:

·         Chef Jason Heard is serving up his Southern home cookin’:  BBQ pulled pork sliders with cole slaw, smoked BBQ wings, cheeseburgers sliders with house made pickles and sauce, fried macaroni and cheese bites, caprese mozzarella tomato and basil skewers and his famous street corn.  

·         Challenge your friends to a game of corn-hole or giant jenga on the top deck or test your strength and coordination on the mechanical bull.

·         DJ Kupah James will be spinning an array of music including some “old school” dance tunes from his perch above the “catwalk”.  

·          All guests will be eligible to win a fantastic door prize which includes:  four premier box seats to a Red Sox/Orioles game, parking and pre-dinner at Eastern Standard Kitchen.  

·         Tickets are $25.00 each and can be purchased online 

Coppersmith is located at 40 W. Third Street.  Free parking courtesy of the Channel Center Garage, 116 W First Street.  

State Primary Thursday September 8th

The Massachusetts Primary is Thursday, September 8, 2016. Exercise your right to vote for your US Representative, State Senator, State Representative , Governor's Councillor, Sheriff and Register of Deeds. Fort Point polling location is the Condon School located at 200 D Street (behind the Labouré Center). The polls are open from 7 am - 8 pm. 

Take a sneak peak at what your sample ballot will look like. 

My Democratic Ballot

My Republican Ballot

My United Independent Party Ballot

My Green Rainbow Party Ballot

To verify that you are registered to vote, click here. October 19, 2016 is the last day to register for the November presidential election. Register online, by mail or in person.