Hey, there! Log in / Register

City kicks in $400,000 for new community center in Oak Square

By adamg on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 9:53pm

The city grant, arranged by Mayor Menino and City Councilor Mark Ciommo, brings supporters of the proposed conversion of the old Presentation School into a multi-use community center oh so close to actual construction. Presentation School Foundation President Tom O'Brien told a packed room at the Y tonight that the foundation is now only $275,000 away from being able to start renovation and construction.

There is just one problem, O'Brien said: Because of conditions on bonds and loans for the project and construction cycles, the foundation has to raise the money by the first week in June or the whole project collapses and the foundation has to start looking for somebody to buy the one-time parochial school.

The Archdiocese of Boston sold the building to the foundation after it shut the school suddenly six years ago. Foundation members have raised $1.1 million from the community, local businesses and non-profit foundations and worked with the state and Wainwright Bank on a $4.5-million financing deal.

O'Brien said that in addition to the new money from the city, St. Elizabeth's Hospital this week agreed to donate $50,000 toward the renovation project. The hospital will be one of the center's first tenants, operating a variety of child and family clinics. Also planned for the building: An early-education and pre-school program, adult-education and immigrant-outreach efforts and space set aside for use by local community groups.

O'Brien said that, assuming the foundation raises the remaining money, work would begin in June and the center would then open by year's end.

Supporters emphasized tonight the center would really only be one leg of a "community campus" that includes the YMCA and the Faneuil branch library - which BPL trustees have voted to shut.

"This is what we do here in Oak Square - we make miracles," organizer Maria Rodrigues said.


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Boston magazine goes that extra mile for advertisers

By adamg on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 4:44pm

Writers now getting tattooed with corporate logos. Don't worry, the tats are temporary - you wouldn't want to have them on display after the ad campaign is over.

Via Allston City Limits.


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Dumbassery recapitulates stupidity: Yet another bank-robbery suspect arrested in Harvard Square T station

By adamg on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 3:26pm

Wicked Local Cambridge reports police nabbed another hapless holdup man too cheap to hire a getaway car in the station today.

Earlier:
Attention passengers, the next bank robber is now arriving.


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

MSPCA worker charged with setting headquarters on fire - with animals and veterinarians inside

By adamg on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 3:22pm

A Plymouth man was indicted yesterday on charges he set a fire in the MSPCA headquarters on South Huntington Avenue on Feb. 19, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports

William Fitzgerald, 52, is expected to be arraigned tomorrow in Suffolk Superior Court on charges of arson of a dwelling, willful and wanton destruction of property, and injury to a firefighter, the DA's office says.

Fitzgerald, a buildings and grounds manager at the MSPCA, set the fire on the fourth floor of 350 S. Huntington, acording to the DA's office. At the time of the fire, more than 200 animals were in the building - which also serves as a residence for several veterinary students. All were evacuated safely from the fire, which did an estimated $400,000 in damage and destroyed records dating to the 1930s.

The DA's office adds the MSPCA has since fired Fitzgerald.

Innocent, etc.


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Even at midnight, you need to look both ways when crossing the street

By adamg on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 3:04pm

A man apparently crossing against the light was struck and killed by a motor vehicle around midnight at Herald Street and Albany Street Exension, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Speed does not appear to be a factor and the driver has not been charged, the DA's office says.


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Banksy comes to Boston

By Kaz on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 2:45pm

Banksy was here.

(via Bostonist)


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Movie to be filmed in North End that doesn't involve thugs or gunfire

By adamg on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 1:16pm

Matt Conti reports two days of filming begins in the neighborhood on May 26 for a romantic comedy.


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

City councilors: Why is city refusing to fix leaky, moldy Jamaica Plain school?

By adamg on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 1:08pm

City Councilors Chuck Turner and John Tobin today blasted the city for not doing anything about poor air quality at the Agassiz School in Jamaica Plain.

Turner said city officials had promised to stop leaks at the school but are now refusing to do anything.

"We've had hearing after hearing after hearing" on the school and yet nothing gets done, Tobin said, adding it's so bad "you can feel the air" when you walk into the school auditorium. He said the school has such a bad reputation for poor air quality that only about 500 of its roughly 900 seats are filled.

The council agreed to schedule a hearing on air quality and water issues at the school.

Formal request for hearing.


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

City councilors: Cabbies, livery drivers causing problems in residential areas

By adamg on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 1:01pm

In Jamaica Plain, livery drivers are parking in resident-only spots. In Hyde Park, cab drivers are running their businesses out of their homes. And in Allston/Brighton, cabbies are leaving their personal cars in parking lots, running their businesses 24/7 in residential areas.

City Councilors John Tobin (Jamaica Plain), Rob Consalvo (Hyde Park) and Mark Ciommo (Allston/Brighton) said the city needs to come up with regulations to keep residential areas from being overrun by businesses.

Consalvo, who said "I love tax drivers," said he knows of at least five drivers in Hyde Park who run their operations out of their houses - and is dreading the first "violent act involving a money transfer at 3 in the morning."

Tobin said that while the city has regulations barring commercial vehicles from resident-only spots, they do not apply to livery vehicles. He said the city doesn't even know how many livery licenses there are in the city.


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

City could enter new fiscal year without knowing how much firefighter contract will cost

By adamg on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 12:48pm

The City Council today took no action on the proposed contract with Boston firefighters. Council President Mike Ross said a 60-day period during which the council has to approve or reject an arbitrator's award doesn't begin until after the mayor formally tells the council how he would pay for the contract - and the mayor has yet to submit a letter on that topic.

The city fiscal year starts July 1.


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Pages