South End

Filed on Citizens Complaint March 25th from Rutledge Street in the South End:

Dead squirrel on sidewalk

I guess he will be fined $50 for dying in a public place. ...

UPDATE: City says no squirrel on scene when inspector arrived, which is too bad because now Boston won't be able to erect its own mummified-squirrel park.

Somebody on the fourth floor of 7 Yarmouth St. left a candle unwatched long enough this evening for it to start a one-alarm fire that injured two adult residents, two children and a firefighter, the Boston Fire Department reports.

One of the adults had to be hospitalized overnight; the other residents were treated for smoke inhalation and then released, the department says. The firefighter suffered neck burns.

The department estimated damage from the fire, reported around 6:20 p.m., at $200,000.

It might be the one that was reported stolen early this afternoon from Albany and Concord streets. It's a Crown Vic with plates of MB2161.

Mike Mennonno posts photos of their knitty handiwork in the South End stretch of the park.

Boston Police tweet a male body was found this morning in an alley at 333 Massachusetts Ave. Channel 25 reports part of St. Botolph Street is closed for the investigation.

Boston Police report they are looking for a guy in a "baby blue Red Sox hat" for the theft of jewelery from M. Flynn Accessories, 40 Waltham St., on Friday:

He engaged with conversation with an employee. When employee left suspect, he lifted two glass cases and removed several piece of diamond/gold jewelry.

Filed on Citizens Connect today for the playground at 75 W. Rutland Square in the South End:

Very squeaky swings bothering neighbors

Someone should invest in some WD-40.

BosGuy files a video report from last night's culinary event to benefit the AIDS Action Committee.

The Boston Fire Department reports a fire in second-floor trash chute at 474 Tremont St. shortly before 7 p.m. went to two alarms before being extinguished. Damage was estimated at $50,000.

On Tremont Street by Dartmouth this afternoon.

Snowy hat tip to Susan Tran.

CNN ran a story yesterday about a near-forgotten piece of 20th-century African-American history.

Victor Green, a resident of Harlem came up with the idea for a travel book to prevent African-Americans from being "humiliated" (his word) while on the road.

"The Green Book," as it was known, was first published in 1936. Initially, it pointed out friendly restaurants and hotels in New York. It eventually expanded to include everything from lodging and gas stations to tailor shops and doctor's offices across the nation, as well as in Bermuda, Mexico and Canada.

You can find copies of various editions of the book on the Internet. The 1949 edition included shops and restaurants in Boston and other Massachusetts' cities.

Below, names and addresses of several beauty salons, barbers, and "tourist homes" for those visiting the South End. A second column included several Roxbury locales. (Even then, the dividing line between the two neighborhoods was an open question.)

Press Pass Tv is a nonprofit organization that engages youth in advocacy journalism to tell the stories of communities working for change. Jean Grae performed at the 3rd Eye open 11th Hip Hop Festival. Press PassTv was able to catch Jean before her performance. She discussed her record sales and her old school flavor. Jean described how she maintained her own identity and how we all have a responsibilty to ourselves to follow our bliss. Jean advises young and up coming artists to not "worry about what the industry or society thinks or dictates, be yourself and stick to it and it will pay off in the end." Click here to watch the video Press Pass TV Interview with Jean Grae

It was "We can't put this off another day" day in the South End, I guess?

Boston Police report a mother strolling with her infant child on Rutland Street around noon was attacked by a woman who stuck a sharp object - possibly a box cutter - in her side and demanded money.

When the victim refused and fought back, the suspect took off on foot along Shawmut Ave towards W. Concord Street.

Police describe the assailant as white, in her 30s, and wearing a black leather jacket, jeans and a black and red scarf.

Know who she is? Contact D-4 detectives at 617-343-5619 or the anonymous tip line by calling 800-494-TIPS or by texting TIP to CRIME (27463).

The South End News reports Las Ventas on Harrison Avenue has had to remove its tables because ISD says its paperwork isn't in order - but won't tell the owners what they have to do to fix that.

Yesterday, Flatheadjake took a series of photos of the decaying Hotel Alexandra and Ivory Bean buildings on Washington Street by Mass. Ave. - which sparked an emergency response by firefighters, police and building inspectors on Tuesday when one of the Ivory Bean building's walls appeared about to collapse in high winds. He reports the cat is not at all friendly and resisted efforts at rescue.

The Church of Scientology now owns the properties and plans to renovate them for use as its new Boston headquarters. In the meantime, however, they continue to fall apart. The buildings were already marked with a prominent white-on-red X meant to keep firefighters out in case of fire:

A man who lists St. Francis House on Boylston Street as his address was arrested yesterday on charges he began groping a woman he'd been staring at for several stops on a train heading toward Forest Hills.

According to an MBTA Transit Police report, a woman told police Abdulkadir Abbas, 29, started staring at her as soon as she got on the train at Community College. Around Mass. Ave., the woman reported, Abbas got up and sat next to her, put his hand on her right thigh and began rubbing it, moving higher until he was rubbing her genital area.

The Globe reports the Rutland Square beast has become a 50-lb. behemoth feeding on the garbage it uses its razor-sharp claws to gouge out of the cheap plastic or paper bags many South Enders use instead of the required two-ply bags.

The South End News reports residents have been asked to delay putting their trash out until the morning of pickup to help send the raccoon on its way - and that a neighborhood association has also warned residents with small cats and yap dogs to keep an eagle eye on their pets outside because a hawk has taken up residence in the square.

A wall that city inspectors have been warning for years could collapse appears ready to finally do just that. Boston firefighters are at 1769 Washington St., where one brick fell this afternoon from the wall, which fire officials now say is on the verge of imminent collapse.

Johnmcboston photographed this buried hydrant outside the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology in the South End, named for the man who convinced Philadelphia to start a fire department after telling civic leaders there how well prepared for fires Bostonians were.

Copyright Johnmcboston. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Boston Police are investigating the 8:10 a.m. collision that left a 74-year-old man dead.

UPDATED with correct age.

Suzanne LeeSuzanne Lee, former principal at the Josiah Quincy School, said today she's running for the District 2 council seat held by Bill Linehan:

I've dedicated my entire adult life to making things better for the community, by bringing people together to solve problems. As City Councilor I aim to bring my passion for activism, my commitment to public education, and my ability to solve problems to make Boston a place where all working families can have affordable housing, decent jobs, and thriving neighborhoods.

Earlier this year, Lee helped organize an effort to restore a branch library to Chinatown.

The daughter of immigrants, Lee grew up in Grove Hall, went to Girl's Latin (now Boston Latin Academy) and became the first person in her family to attend college. She spent 35 years as an educator in the Boston school system.

Lee said she's already raised $24,000 for her bid to unseat Linehan for the right to represent South Boston, the South End and Chinatown.

At least, until 2 a.m. or so, shortly before police arrived at his 141 W. Newton St. home to investigate a report of a person shot.

The Globe has more.

Boston Restaurant Talk reports the Harrison Avenue Italian restaurant has ceased to be.

Julie C. went for a stroll through the Sound End today.

Jeff Tamagini walked around the Back Bay and stopped to admire the St. Clement Shrine on Boylston Street: