Be a Beetle Rancher!
Its that time of year again! The Neponset River Watershed Association is looking for Beetle Ranchers. Little beetles (“Galerucella”) are raised in local backyards then released to help control the exotic, invasive Purple loosestrife plants that have spread throughout local wetlands.
The vigorous Purple loosestrife outcompetes local, native wetland plants and changes habitat and food for native wildlife.
Galerucella change this trend. By feeding on Purple loosestrife, these beetles and their larvae can prevent the plants from growing as vigorously. Light is allowed into the wetland once again to nourish native plants, and fewer Purple loosestrife seeds are added to the seedbank.
NepRWA’s goal is to release enough Galerucella beetles in Fowl Meadow to reduce Purple loosestrife over the long-term, enable native plants to grow successfully, improve habitat and food for wildlife, and encourage wildlife to return. Continue Reading »
Ashmont Station/Peabody Square Community Meeting, Feb. 3, 6:30 pm
All are invited to a community meeting on Wednesday, February 3, 6:30 p.m., at All Saints’ Church Hall, 209 Ashmont Street.
Hear updates about Ashmont Station construction and the planned redesign of Peabody Square as part of the Dorchester Avenue Project. Representatives from the MBTA and Boston Transportation Department will be on hand to make presentations and answer questions.
For info: please call 617-825-3846 or email office@smams.org.
Thurs. Jan. 14: help re-design a community garden in Dorchester
On Thursday January 14, 6:30 PM, please attend the Nightingale Community Gardens Community Meeting at the Codman Square Health Center Tech Center, 450 Washington Street (corner of Park Street, across from KFC).
Anyone who is interested in community garden space in Dorchester, especially in the Park Street/Washington Street vicinity, is invited to attend this open community meeting hosted by the Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN) to discuss proposed renovations at the existing community gardens at 512 Park Street.
This is a huge underutilized green space near Codman Square. BNAN expects the following to be included in the plans for the construction phase:
• Removal of soil contamination and soil remediation
• Replace 10-foot tall fence with more inviting 5-foot tall fence
• Install metered water connection and spigots
• Remove or prune many of the trees in the garden
• Re-grade the garden
• Lay out and build new plots, including raised beds, to accommodate many more additional gardeners
• Establish new and level garden paths
• Build a common area for social gathering, meetings and community events
There will be a significant increase in the number of garden plots available.
Questions? please call Pat at 617-542-7696 or email pat@bostonnatural.org
Dorchester Avenue Project Update
November 9, 2009
CONTRACTORS BID ON PLAN TO RECONSTRUCT DORCHESTER AVENUE INTERSECTIONS
American Reinvestment and Recovery Act Funds Boston Project
The overhaul of fifteen intersections along Dorchester
Avenue took a giant step forward recently with the opening of bids
from contractors competing for the much anticipated project. The
reconstruction is being funded with federal stimulus money under the
American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The job is expected to take
two years to complete and will provide jobs for over 100 people.
Continue Reading »
new green spots pop up all over dot
A busy group in the Polish Triangle – the John W. McCormack Civic – dedicated the new “Sharon’s Park” on Columbia Road last September, which they designed and built as a tribute to the late Sharon Yokaitis, a community activist who passed away in 2002 at age 47.
The same busy folks are building a new park this year, the Washburn Howell Green Space – with its rain gardens it will be a new buffed-up spot of green on Dorchester Avenue. There is still lots to get done, and they are asking for help on the project, check out the Dorchester enviro events calendar for dates and times to get your hands dirty.
TONIGHT: Community Meeting on 28X Bus Route!
This was to be the FINAL COMMUNITY MEETING on 28X!
ALL CONCERNED RESIDENTS OF DORCHESTER, MATTAPAN, AND ROXBURY
Monday, September 14th, 6-8PM
Prince Hall, 24 Washington Street, Dorchester
This is the final community meeting to voice your concerns on the 28X Bus Project! All residents, churches and businesses are strongly encouraged to attend!
For more information about plan to improve bus service between Mattapan Square and Dudley Station along Blue Hill Avenue, visit this website.
HOSTED BY: Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, Sen. Jack Hart, Rep. Willie Mae Allen, Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry, Rep. Gloria Fox, Rep. Liz Malia, Rep. Byron Rushing, Rep. Marie St. Fleur, City Councillor Chuck Turner, City Councillor Charles C. Yancey
For more information, Contact Heather Perez in the Office of Representative Willie Mae Allen at 617-722-2460.
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there are others to be scheduled, please check out the calendar.
green Dorchester some more
A project between the Dorchester Historical Society and Earthworks Boston will establish another edible landscape in Dorchester, click here to see some photos of recent volunteer activity. You can also help out on Saturday May 30, 10 a.m. at the William Clapp House, 195 Boston Street, near the big pear sculpture at Edward Everett Square.
Public Hearing re $13 Mil for Dot Ave Improvements – TUES, MAY 19, 7 PM
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING
Project File No. 605625
A Design Public Hearing will be held by MassHighway to discuss the proposed:
Signal and Intersection Improvements Project on Dorchester Avenue
WHERE: Dorchester House
1345 Dorchester Avenue, Boston, MA
WHEN: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
PURPOSE: The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed: Signal and Intersection Improvements Project on Dorchester Avenue. All views and comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.
PROPOSAL: This project seeks to improve the safety of 15 intersections along Dorchester Avenue from the Old Colony Avenue intersection to the Peabody Square Intersection. Continue Reading »
Designing a Liveable City for Families
Common Boston 09 offers a celebration of our built environment—the streets, landscapes, buildings, and neighborhoods that make us distinctive. The Common Boston 09 festival looks like a really interesting opportunity for fresh engagement with what elements make our city liveable.
All events are free and open to the public.
Events are taking place June 17-21 at four “Common Points” around Boston:
* Chinatown
* Fort Point
* Peabody Square (Ashmont) Dorchester
* Jamaica Plain
Of special interest in Dorchester – the design/build challenge that creates design solutions addressing the social, economic and environmental benefits of city life in just 3 days, and the June 20th Bike Ride starting at the clock in Peabody Square.
