Take advantage of meeting with the Mayor directly
Mark the day, Tuesday, June 4 when Boston Mayor Martin Walsh will hold his annual Neighborhood Coffee Hour in the North End at Paul Revere Mall.
This is a great opportunity for residents and the local business community to meet directly with the Mayor to discuss neighborhood issues and make suggestions at the same time.
Many City Hall departments will also be available to answer questions and listen to any recommendations.
Hopefully, the community will take advantage of this annual event to express what’s needed in the North End.
Be a part of The Greenway celebration fundraiser
The gem of the North End, Waterfront and Downtown area, the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway is celebrating its 10th year of providing thousands of programs, activities and events many of them free to the public.
In order to continue these entertaining, educational events and activities for children, teens, adults and elderly, the Greenway Conservancy needs to fund raise.
Those that take advantage of the many, many offerings provided on The Greenway should participate in the fund-raising effort that will bolster the plans to create a bigger and better Greenway, if that’s possible.
A celebration event will be held in the park on Thursday, June 6 at 6 PM. Be a part of the crowd!
Keeping the Bath House open for seniors an uphill battle
North End residents push to have the City of Boston keep the Bath House first-floor open for senior citizens after a new Boston Center Youth and Families (BCYF) Neighborhood Center is relocated to another site appears to be a major endeavor but not one that can become a reality.
Residents told the City that the proposed Mirabella Pool location was too far for seniors to get to, especially in bad weather situations and crossing a major street is a major problem for seniors.
These are solid facts that really need to be addressed before any site is designated.
However, the problem is that once a new site has been selected and fully developed, the Bath House building becomes surplus property and based on Request for Proposals (RFP), it’s currently anyone’s guess what will be housed in the 100+ year old community facility.
Based on advice offered by the City, the community’s best chance to accomplish their goal is to support a non-profit agency to develop the building and build in a senior center into their proposal. But don’t rule out a private firm doing the same.
This major community endeavor is going to have the full support of neighborhood agencies, organizations, residents and total assistance from the community’s elected officials.
It is also important that the neighbors be directly involved when the RFP is drafted and before it is released for bids.
The BCYF will no longer manage the Bath House once a new center is built and operational because of staffing problems. That obviously rules one organization out.
Can this endeavor become a reality? No one can foresee until the ball starts rolling.
RUFF spring fundraiser needs community support
Responsible Urbanites for Fido (RUFF) is currently holding it spring campaign in order to reach their goal and needs the community’s help to fund the ongoing upkeep of the dog park located in the DeFilippo Playground on the second and third levels.
An all-volunteer non-profit organization, RUFF was founded in June 2012 with a core message, from day one, has been to foster a community of responsible dog owners who take pride in the North End.
RUFF still organizes frequent cleanups of public parks and other community open spaces. They also put together many educational, health and civic events throughout the year.
RUFF has become a major player in the community and it would be great if the neighborhood and the business community would totally support this very active group of residents that help make the area clean and healthy.
Please give RUFFly what you can.