Five Things

Five Things: MBTA Meeting, Cooking Demo and Poe's Birthday

Today is Thursday, Jan. 19. Here are five things you need to know today:

1. There is a chance of snow for tonight. Forecasters are predicting that the flakes will start falling around 6 p.m. Only 1 to 2 inches is expected to accumulate. Temperatures will be in the low 30s during the day and fall to the high 20s at night. 2. With two MBTA proposals on the table that would both raise T fares and cut services, the MBTA is holding a series of public meetings over the next couple of months, one of which is Thursday, Jan. 19, in the Roxbury Community College Auditorium. Thursday’s meeting goes from 6 to 8 p.m. in the auditorium at 1234 Columbus Ave. None of the MBTA’s 20 meetings will be held in the South End. However, five, including the one in Roxbury, are close by. Also, check out how Boston’s T fares compare to …

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Five Things

Five Things: Hamersley at Williams-Sonoma Thursday

Today is Wednesday, Jan. 18. Here are five things you need to know today:

1. The sun should be shining today. Temperatures are expected to reach 36 degrees during the day and drop to 15 degrees overnight. 2. Hamersley’s Bistro’s Gordon Hamersley will be putting his culinary talents on display from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at the Williams-Sonoma at Copley Place. Hamersley is taking part in the store’s “January South End All-Star Celebrity Chef Series,” which allows the public to watch cooking demonstrations from the neighborhood’s top chefs. Jamie Bissonette, from Coppa and Toro, already took part, as did Aquitaine’s Matthew Gaudet. Next Thursday, Jan. 26, Jay Hajj, of Mike’s City Diner, will round out the series. 3. The South End’s Flour was recently highlighted as one of Boston’s best independent doughnut…

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What's Your Opinion On 'Occupy The T?'

In the wake of the Occupy Boston movement and the MBTA's announcement of service cuts and fare increases, "Occupy The T" has emerged to add to the discussion. Do you agree with their assessment of things?

Recently the group "Occupy The T" held its first meeting, and, according to an article in The Boston Occupier, activists, organizers, and community members there painted a picture of the options the MBTA has to eliminate its debt different from the two scenarios the MBTA has presented.    At the meeting, "Attendees stressed the importance of rejecting the state’s claim that there is no alternative to the two proposed regimes of cuts and fare hikes," writer Doug Greene said.  He added, "Instead of deciding between the MBTA’s two proposed plans, 'Occupy the T' hopes to expose the role of for-profit financial institutions in creating and perpetuating the MBTA’s budget crisis. Several present argued that the banks should cancel the T’s debt …

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Five Things

Five Things: MBTA Meeting Thursday

Today is Monday, Jan. 16. Here are five things you need to know today:

1. There is a chance of snow tonight, starting around 9 p.m. and continuing into Tuesday. During the day, it should be sunny with temperatures just below freezing. 2. With two MBTA proposals on the table that would both raise T fares and cut services, the MBTA is holding a series of public meetings over the next couple of months, one of which is this Thursday, Jan. 19, in the Roxbury Community College Auditorium. Thursday’s meeting goes from 6 to 8 p.m. in the auditorium at 1234 Columbus Ave. None of the MBTA’s 20 meetings will be held in the South End. However, five, including the one in Roxbury, are close by. Also, check out how Boston’s T fares compare to other United States cities. 3. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock will be donning a No. …

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Man Who Fell Into Tracks Was Vision Impaired and On Cell Phone

The 49-year-old landed on his feet and was helped to safety.

A 49-year-old man with impaired vision was talking on his cell phone when he fell down onto commuter rail tracks at Back Bay Station shortly after 9:30 a.m. He landed on his feet with no serious injuries, but said his back and hand hurt and was taken to Tufts Medical Center to be evaluated, MBTA Spokesman Joe Pesaturo said. The incident occured on the commuter rail side of Back Bay Station, where there is no third rail. "There was no train in the vicinity," Pesaturo said. "Within a minute, he was helped back to the platform by some people waiting for an Amtrak train. There was no apparent sign of injury, and the man was standing on his own a minute or two later." According to Jessica Keener, @JessicaKeener4, on Twitter, Keener's husband …

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Are the Fares Fair? T Fares vs. Other Cities

A look at how the proposed MBTA fare increases compare to other cities.

Last week, the MBTA released two proposals that would raise fares on the MBTA by either 35 percent or 43 percent, in addition to some service eliminations. But how does that stack up to New York, Philadelphia or Atlanta? According to a document put together by the MBTA, Boston's proposed fare increases will push the cost of a single subway ride to be more in line with most major cities in the U.S. Some Boston fares, including a proposed $2.40 for a single subway ride on a Charlie Card, will be higher than the average. The average bus fare, though, will fall below most of what is charged around the country.  To view the full chart comparing the Boston fares to other cities, click the .pdf to the right. Other comparisons: Information for …

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Sound Off: T Fare Hikes Expected; What Do You Think?

The current $1.70 subway Charlie Card could go to $2.25 or $2.40.

The MBTA’s struggles with a growing budget gap will probably mean significantly higher fares for South End riders come July. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) released two MBTA service proposals Tuesday. Both proposals would not only raise rates but also include some service reductions and eliminations. [How to make your voice heard] According to information from a Mass.gov blog, one scenario (Scenario 1) proposes an overall fare increase of 43 percent, while the other scenario (Scenario 2) relies more heavily on service reductions and eliminations and only suggests a 35 percent fare increase. Each proposal looks to close a projected $161 million budget gap for fiscal year 2013 (July 2012 to June 2013), the statement…

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MBTA Proposes Fare Increases, Service Cuts

Fares would increase by 43 percent in one of two proposals unveiled Tuesday.