Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Got a burning question about the South End neighborhood? Ask it and get your answer.
In this week's column of "You Ask, Patch Answers," a feature where we find the answers to your questions, a reader asked, "When will the restoration of the fountain in Blackstone Square be complete?" The short answer is: Mid-May. The long answer: Due to the amount of snowstorms this winter, the original timeline for excavation and construction had to be pushed back. The plans call to build a seven-foot square vault under the fountain that will house a new pumping system to filter and recycle water through the fountain. The project's cost runs somewhere around $625,000, but the new pump system will save a significant amount of money in the long run, according to Courtney Troutman, president of the Friends of Blackstone and Frankin Square …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Got a question about the neighborhood you want answered? Ask it!
Welcome to "You Ask, Patch Answers," a new feature where we find the answers to your questions. This week, we tackled the question, "When's the last day of school for Boston Public Schools students??" According to the most recent snow days through March 21st, the last day of school for Boston Public Schools students will be held on June 28th. Any further snow days will continue to push school back a day. Got a question about the neighborhood you want answered? Submit it in the comments below. Each week South End Patch will pick a question to research and answer the following week. Add your question today! SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates
Thursday, March 14, 2013
NSTAR and crowd-sourced websites offer tips and locations for charging electric cars.
Drivers who are considering a switch to electric vehicles or current vehicle owners looking for a place nearby to charge their rides have a couple of places to find their outlet. In the South End, the closest charging station is at Boston Medical Center garage, at 710 Albany St., according to crowd-sourced website carstations.com. Carstations allows users to upload new car charging locations to a Google map and (when applicable) provides details on the station. There are also more official sites providing electric car charging information. This week, NSTAR launched a new hotline and website to provide customers with information about electric vehicles, including local options for charging, payment options and details about electric vehicle…
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
It's almost time to spring forward.
You know the old saying "Fall back, spring forward." Well, it's almost time to spring forward. This year we move the clocks overnight on Sunday, March 10. Don't forget to move your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday night (Don't worry, we'll remind you again). Officially Daylight Saving is 2 a.m. on Sunday. Yes, moving the clocks ahead does mean we all lose an hour of sleep, but in return it will be light later in the day. Besides, the lost hour falls on Saturday night, so just sleep in a bit on Sunday before getting up and starting the day with your Patch Newsletter.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Got a burning question about the South End neighborhood? Ask it and get your answer.
Ever wonder why they named the square after that guy you never heard of? Or when that new restaurant is going to open? Let South End Patch find the answer for you. Each week, we will strive to find answers to those nagging questions you have about the neighborhood. You Ask, Patch Answers is a program designed to help you better understand where you live, even if it's just the tiniest details. All you have to do is add your question to the comment section below. We'll pick one of the submitted questions and get to work finding an answer for you, which we'll publish the following week. See some previous questions and answers: It's that easy! Ask away. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates
Monday, February 25, 2013
Some residents say both lanes should not be able to turn in both directions. What do you think?
In a previous, "You Ask, Patch Answers," column, several South End residents brought up the intersection of Clarendon Street at Tremont Street near the Boston Center for the Arts, and the confusion that occurs there on a regular basis about which lane can turn in which direction. Reader Jim Smith said he's concerned about the fact that it is legal for both lanes to turn in both directions onto Tremont. "I think there's a huge amount of confusion when most folks in the left lane on Clarendon are preparing to turn right onto Waltham and sometimes the right lane from Clarendon turning left onto Tremont attempts to go straight toward Berkeley Street causing a near collision," Smith said. "I think that signs and street marking should be …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Ask a question you have about the neighborhood and get an answer in this weekly column. This week? Ice melt.
In this week's column of "You Ask, Patch Answers," a new feature where we find the answers to your questions, reader Robert Rovenolt asked about the ice melt and whether it was a different substance this year in Boston. "[My question] concerns the different snow/ice melt the DPW spread on the streets during the last storm," he wrote. "It seems like a new substance that is now coating everything...cars, buildings and people when it blows in clouds down the street. It stings the eyes and I'm sure it's not good for are 4 pawed friends! What's up DPW?" I reached out to the City of Boston, to the mayor's office and to the Boston Public Works Department. The mayor's spokesperson said there's nothing new or unusual happening with the snow/ice …
Monday, January 28, 2013
Ask a question you have about the neighborhood and get an answer in this weekly column. This week? Crosswalks.
In this week's column of "You Ask, Patch Answers," a new feature where we find the answers to your questions, reader Ruth Goran asked about the process for getting a crosswalk installed in Boston. "On Washington St. in the South End, between Union Park and Berkeley, there is only one crosswalk way down in front of Laconia Lofts. This makes crossing the street near Wilkes Passaage and the Seven Eleven dangerous. How can we get another crosswalk installed?" I reached out to the City of Boston, to the Boston Transportation Department. A represetative from the department said all you'd need to do is call the Mayor's Hotline to make a formal request. That number is: 617-635-4500. You can call anytime, 7 days a week to make the request. The …
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Ask a question you have about the neighborhood and get an answer in this weekly column.
In this week's column of "You Ask, Patch Answers," a new feature where we find the answers to your questions, reader Shawn Witt asked via Facebook, "When will the street lights on Arlington Street be fixed?" "We've had two street lights out on Arlington street for months," he wrote. "Many reported on Citizens Connect...but still not fixed. Instead, someone at Citizens Connect keeps reporting it "closed". Something's not right here! Citizens Connect never fixes problems half of the time, yet reports them fixed." I reached out to the City of Boston, to Matthew Mayrl, chief-of-staff to the director of Public Works. He said the city came out to evaluate the street lights at 136 Arlington Street and fixed what they could for right now. "The …
Monday, January 14, 2013
You Ask, Patch answers finds you answers about questions you have in the neighborhood.
In the inaugural column of "You Ask, Patch Answers," a new feature where we find the answers to your questions, reader Amanda Boudreau asked, "Are there any alternatives to Comcast or RCN in the South End?" Assuming you mean network cable providers, the unfortunate answer (inferred by the tone of your question) is: No. There's only DirectTV an Dish Satellite TV available as other options in the South End. Which cable service provider do you have? Have you tried out satellite TV? Got a question about the neighborhood you want answered? Submit it in the comments below. Each week Patch will pick a question to research and answer the following week. Add your question today! SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates
Sara Jacobi
5:29 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Thanks Nancy! I'll see what I can dig up for an answer on this for you. more ›