Places to Get Free Tax Help in the South End
Need help preparing your taxes, but don’t have money to pay a professional? The Boston Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition offers free tax preparation for Boston residents who worked in 2012 and earned less than $ 50,000. Sites around the city opened in January and will continue serving eligible residents throughout the tax season. The deadline to file federal income tax forms is Monday, April 15. The deadline to file Massachusetts income tax forms is Tuesday, April 16 (Monday is a state holiday, Patriot’s Day). Boston EITC tax prep locations near Charlestown include: ABCD: South End Neighborhood Service Center, 554 Columbus Ave., South End. Call 617-267-7400 ext. 223. Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC), 38 Ash St., Boston. Call 617-635-5129 ext. 0 or email eitc@bcnc.net. By appointment only. Site also offers credit advising. ABCD: East Boston Action Planning Council, 21 Meridian St., East Boston. Call 617-567-8857. Site also offers credit advising. JVS Partnerships for Careers and Learning, 29 Winter St., Boston. Call 617-399-3235. By appointment only. ABCD: Robert M. Coard Building, 178 Tremont St., Boston. Call 617-348-6583. See the flyer above for a complete list of locations and details about what to bring with you for a tax prep meeting. For more information, call Boston EITC Coalition at 617-918-5275 or visit bostontaxhelp.org. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
New Strain of Norovirus – the Winter Vomiting Bug – On the Rise
Although the flu is on everyone’s minds this season, the winter vomiting bug, or the norovirus, is also making its rounds. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the norovirus causes about 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths each year, mostly in young children and the elderly. Some of the virus’ common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pains. The CDC points out that the norovirus is often referred to as the stomach flu, but it is unrelated to influenza. “The norovirus, which many people call the stomach flu, is widespread this year,” said Katinka Podmaniczky, assistant director of communications for the Boston Public Health Commission. “We encourage everyone to take simple precautions to protect themselves and others, like washing hands frequently and staying home if you feel sick.” In Boston, right now about 2.5 percent of all emergency room visits are related to accute gastrointenstinal problems, which may or may not be caused by a norovirus, according to a Health Commission report. This time last year, that number was just over 3 percent. The commission did not have data for the total number of people reporting GI issues outside the ER. This year’s strainWhat’s different this year is the norovirus is mostly a new strain, GII.4 Sydney. It was first detected last year in Australia, then the U.K. and sickened over a million people. It has now reached the United States and this new strain appears to be taking over. Of norovirus cases reported from September to December, 54 percent have been identified as GII.4 Sydney, according to recently released data. The first norovirus outbreak was reported in Ohio in 1968. Today, approximately 21 million illnesses are attributable to norovirus in the U.S. each year, reports the CDC. Of those, approximately 25 percent can be attributed to foodborne transmissions. The norovirus can also spread quickly in closed places like daycare centers, nursing homes, schools, and cruise ships. Avoiding the NorovirusThis hardy virus is extremely contagious. The BBC reports that norovirus is one of the few infections you can catch from a toilet seat. The virus can survive temperatures as high as 140°F, which makes eating raw fish, such as oysters, particularly dangerous. Noroviruses can live in vomit or stool even before a person experiences symptoms, and up to two weeks after symptoms disappear. People are most contagious when they experience symptoms and during the first three days after recovery, reports the CDC. While the noroviruse is on the rise, seasonal influenza—in particular, influenza A—remains the largest health problem in Boston this season, with more than 1,220 cases reported since Oct. 1, according to the Health Commission’s latest […]
Things to Know in the South End today, Jan. 31: Fish Share Starting Next Week
1. Weather: The National Weather Service is predicting a cloudy day with a high of 43 degrees a possible thunderstorm in the morning. Winds will be strong, at 22-28 mph, and could reach gusts of 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. 2. Fish share in the South End: Cape Cod Fish Share is starting Feb. 2 with pick-up locations at Sienna Farm Market (Mondays from 4 -7 p.m.) and Snap Top Market (Tuesdays from 4 – 7 p.m.) You can can anticipate the local favorites cod, monk, scallops, skate, grey sole, lobster, plus swordfish and tuna from the Atlantic long line fleet in the coming shares. See their site to sign up. 3. Art for Toddlers: The Children’s Art Centre, (36 Rutland St.) is offering a 50-minute art class for children ages 1.5 to 5 and their parents today and at 3 p.m. for the next six weeks. Participants will explore a variety of visual arts projects and materials to create a take-home portfolio. Projects are suitable for a variety of ages. See here for more information. 4. New Mom Support Group: Join in with other neighborhood new moms for a tea and coffee hour today at 10 a.m. in the Worcester Square area. Hosted at the home of Maria Dolorico of A Mom Is Born, who recommends you arrive just how you are, whether that’s with spit-up in your hair or a fussy baby. The group is for moms with babies that are less than 12 weeks old. See here for more information. 5. Tree Controversy: This week, three large pear trees were removed from the corner of Tremont and W. Brookline Street with no warning, leaving residents guessing and second-guessing their removal. One resident wrote in to share his concerns, and others began a discussion about the issue. Patch reached out to the Parks Dept. and got an answer — the trees were deemed a “public safety hazard.” Read more here. Things you can do every day on South End Patch: Share your news with the rest of the community. Click here to add an announcement. Add your events to our events calendar. Click here to sign up for breaking news updates. Want up-to-the-minute news? Click here to follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Share your thoughts on your community in a blog. Click here to get started. South End Patch
South End Artist Trades Art For Smiles
A mysterious painting left at a New Jersey doctor’s office had the exact effect on its un-expecting recipient that the artist who painted it wanted – it made the doctor who found it smile. When chiropractor Dr. Mike Evangel walked into the waiting room of his Ramsay, NJ office last Friday morning, he found something that had not been there the night before – a painting of a cute white dog looking up at him. “I didn’t know what it was,” he said. Then, he saw the note that was attached to it, which read ‘this painting is yours if you promise to smile at random people more often.’ “Actually, I thought it was kind of cryptic and weird at first,” Evangel said. “But, I looked up the painting’s artist, and I realized it must have been left there on purpose.” Leaving his uplifting paintings in random spots across the globe is what South End-based artist Bren Bataclan does best. “I always wanted to do street art, but I’m definitely not the kind of person who could draw graffiti on a building or anything like that” said Bataclan, who works out of his South End studio at 59 Wareham St. “Ten years ago, I thought painting my characters [on canvases] and leaving them at some random places throughout Boston would be my version of street art.” Bataclan called his idea ‘Project Smile,’ asking the surprised recipients to pay forward the happiness they felt when finding the pieces of art. When Boston Magazine found one of the paintings and wrote a story about Project Smile, Bataclan said it inspired him to grow the simple idea into a bigger endeavor than he’d ever imagined. After Katie Couric featured his story on the CBS Evening News in 2009, the effort became global. Now, the artist and his band of friends and fans have left more than 800 paintings in 30 states and over 50 countries. For his 10th anniversary this year, Bataclan said his goal is to get to all 50 states. Dr. Evangel’s office was his first drop in New Jersey. “My sister-in-law actually lives in the area, so it’s weird that I haven’t left a painting there before,” he said. When he saw his sister-in-law this past Christmas, he gave her a pile of his paintings and asked her to drop them off at random places in the area. Though he’s not positive, Bataclan said he’s pretty sure she’s the one who chose the doc as a lucky artwork recipient. “Finding it was definitely a good experience,” Dr. Evangel told Patch. “You see so many bad things happening in the […]
Lynch Announces U.S. Senate Run on Facebook
While Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) isn’t expected to make a formal announcement until later this afternoon, a new Stephen Lynch for Senate Facebook page popped up this morning with a link to a “Stephen Lynch for US Senate Announcement” YouTube video that announces Lynch’s Senate candidacy. Earlier in the morning, the Stephen Lynch for Congress Facebook page had posted a message directing people to the newly created Senate page for news “on today’s plans and schedule.” Lynch is expected to make an announcement at 4 p.m. this afternoon at the Ironworkers Local 7 Hall in South Boston. Lynch would be the second Democrat running for the unexpired term left vacant by John Kerry’s confirmation to Secretary of State earlier this week. Congressman Edward Markey (D-Malden) announced his intentions to run back in late December. While there is still speculation that former Senator Scott Brown (R-Wrentham) is showing interest in the seat, there is no official word if he will jump into the race. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
What Sold in the South End: Warren Ave One-Bed Condo Sells for $480K
Realtors and homeowners: Add your photos of recently sold homes to this gallery! It’s easy—just sign into your Patch account (or sign into Patch using your Facebook account). Click the “Upload Photos and Videos” button and follow the directions. The property’s address, sale price, listing agent and other details can be included in the photo’s caption. Here is a sampling of five home sales this week. Look at the photo gallery or the easy-to-scan chart below. Don’t forget to check out our Real Estate section. Neighborhood Address Details Sale Price List Price Listing Agent Charlestown 6 Hill Street #2 Condo, 2 Beds/1.5 Bath, 1135 sq. ft. $ 460,000 $ 435,000 Hammond Residential, Nancy Roth North End 39 Commercial Wharf #8 Condo, 2 Beds/2 Baths, 1835 sq. ft. $ 1,850,000 $ 1,899,000 CL Waterfront Properties, Carmela Laurella Beacon Hill 45 Province Street #907 Condo, 2 Beds/2 Baths, 1609 sq. ft. $ 1,245,000 $ 1,299,000 RESIS, R. Wayne Lopez Back Bay 168 Marlborough Street #3 Condo, 2 Beds/2 Baths, 2107 sq. ft $ 2,000,000 $ 2,100,000 Campion & Company Fine Homes Real Estate, Tracy Campion South End 131 Warren Ave #1 Condo, 1 Beds/1 Bath, 666 sq. ft. $ 480,000 $ 489,000 Boston Realty NET.com, Inc., Frank Carroll “Sold!” is a weekly column featuring the latest real estate sales in and around Boston. Photos and information compiled using MLS data, courtesy of Century 21 North Shore and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. South End Patch
Things to Know in the South End Today, Feb. 1st: National Wear Red Day
1. Weather: The National Weather Service is predicting a partly sunny day with a high of 35 degrees. 2. Wear Red Day: Feb. 1 is the 10th annual National Wear Red Day, part of the national “Go Red For Women” campaign and a kick-off to American Heart Month. You can join the fight against heart disease by supporting the “Go Red For Women” cause (learn more at goredforwomenepk.com). On Feb. 1, help build awareness and inspire action by wearing red. See here for more information. 2. Film Noir: Celebrate the old black and white movies with a free screening each Friday afternoon at the South End Branch Library (685 Tremont St.) This week’s offering is “Thin Man” with Myrna Loy & William Powell. The show goes on at 2 p.m. See here for more information. 4. SOWA Open Market Applications: Ever want to be a vendor at the SOWA Open Market? Applications for the 10th season are now available on their website: http://www.sowaopenmarket.com/ 5. Super Bowl Plans: If you’re looking for something to do for the Super Bowl, Clery’s is holding a Super Bowl Party starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday. $ 15 gets you two drink tickets, and they’ll aslo be hosting a wing-eating contest. See here for more details. Things you can do every day on South End Patch: Share your news with the rest of the community. Click here to add an announcement. Add your events to our events calendar. Click here to sign up for breaking news updates. Want up-to-the-minute news? Click here to follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Share your thoughts on your community in a blog. Click here to get started. South End Patch
Police Disrupt Alleged Drug Deal on Northampton Street
The following information was supplied by the Boston Police Department. Charges listed do not indicate convictions. Boston Police arrested a man for allegedly selling heroin on Northampton Street on Monday. While on patrol in the area of Northampton street, police said they observed a white female wearing a brown winter coat head into 35 Northampton St. and meet up with a white male in the hallway of the building. Officers exited their unmarked car and walked into the building and waited for the elevator with the woman and the suspect. Officers reportedly determined that the suspect had the physical appearance of a drug user. When the elevator arrived, all parties entered. The woman and the suspect got out at the 10th floor, where they were met by a Hispanic male in the hallway. Officers exited the elevator and said they observed a hand-to-hand transaction between the man in the hallway and the woman. The suspect handed the Hispanic man some cash and he handed the suspect a bag of tan powder believed to be heroin. As soon as the transaction took place, the detective knocked the bag out of the suspect’s hands, police said. The detective announced that he was with the police and a brief struggle ensued, according to the report. The suspect went for the bag on the floor while the woman and the Hispanic male fled. The man dropped $ 30 on the floor while fleeing, which the suspect gave him for the bag. Officers arrested Michael McCole of 794 Mass Ave., and charged him with possession of a Class A substance. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Neighbors on Taylor St. House Demolition: Conditions Were Unsafe
Imagine sitting in your home one morning and feeling the entire floor shake. That’s how Taylor Street resident Louane Hann was notified of the construction happening on her street last Tuesday. “I was working from home, and all of a sudden, I felt the earth move,” she said. “There was a guy with a backhoe and a guy with a hose, and they were ripping the house down.” Hann said neither she nor anyone else in the neighborhood was notified that construction would begin at the wooden house at 8-10 Taylor Street, and that it would involve demolition of the building. “We get notices about someone getting a roof deck you can’t even see half the time, and no one got a notice about this,” she said. “It’s unbelievable.” Couple the lack of notice with the complete surprise that the building, which neighbors thought had been approved for a renovation and addition, was being completely demolished. And the day of demolition left dust everywhere, debris on neighbors’ porches and properties, and even broke a window at a home next door, said nearby residents. “During the demolition I saw two kids standing outside watching, and I remember thinking, ‘Is it safe for those kids to be breathing that?” Hann said. “All of these old homes have lead in the paint,” she said. Neighbors said they called Boston’s Enviornmental Department to complain about the mess and to voice the worry that the old home contained lead paint that was now swirling through the air on their street. Through those calls to the city, the Landmarks Commission learned that an extra wall on the property was demolished that was not included in the project’s original plans, the home’s east wall. A stop work order was posted on Friday, Jan. 25th and the owner was asked to appear at a public meeting of the Landmarks Commission on Tuesday. By Monday, Jan. 28th, the project’s architect Scott Slarsky said the city’s Inspectional Services team had come through the site and determined there was no asbestos or lead paint, and lifted the stop work order due to the environmental concerns. But that still left a stop work order related to the site’s demolition of the property’s east wall. Property owner Ramy Rizkalla said contractors and inspectors found the east wall was bowing in, it was rotting, and there was termite damage, and a structural engineer ruled the wall was unsafe to leave on the property. Rizkalla said the decision to take down the wall was approved by the city’s Inspectional Services department. However, it is the Landmarks Commission that requested the hearing on Tuesday. “Though they aren’t going […]
Categories: Arrests Tags: Conditions, Demolition, house, Neighbors, Taylor, Unsafe, Were
Super Bowl Kickoff Time and Five Fun Facts about the Big Game
Watching the Super Bowl with friends can leave a lot of us feeling like information haves and have-nots. While some of us have been following the teams, their players, strategy, and statistics since the day we were born, others at least know who the quarterbacks are and that they are the ones who throw the ball. Whether you’re looking to impress the sports nerds in the room with a few of your own facts, or you’re simply a true connoisseur of arguably useless knowledge, here’s some fun trivia for you about Super Bowl 2013. Five Fun Facts About the Super Bowl This year, a 30-second commercial costs $ 4 million, up from 3.5 million last year and $ 42,000 in 1967, according to Time. Football fans are anticipated to consume an estimated 79 million pounds of Hass avocados during Big Game gatherings this year, according to the Hass Avocado Board. If you still think the 1983 season finale of M*A*S*H was the most-watched broadcast in the U.S., think again. The 2010 Super Bowl between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts stole that title, only to be beaten exactly one year later when 111 million people tuned in to watch the 2011 Super Bowl between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Nielsen Co. That record was broken again last year when 111.3 million people watched the Giants beat the Patriots, according to ESPN.go.com. Heading into the game, the 49ers are 5-0 in Super Bowls and the Ravens are 1-0 in Super Bowls. Super Bowl XLVII is the first time in professional sports history that siblings will play each other. John Harbaugh coaches the Ravens and Jim Harbaugh coaches the 49ers. So who will come out with the title? Finally, here’s some actual useful knowledge to have heading into Sunday. Who: The Ravens vs. The 49ers Kickoff Time: Sunday, Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. ET Where: New Orleans, LA at Mercedes-Benz Superdome Channel: NBC Places to Watch in the South EndThe South End is not exactly known for its sports bar scene. Your best bet is to head to Clery’s (113 Darmouth St.) for their Super Bowl Party, which starts at 1 p.m. on Sunday. They’ve got a deal where $ 15 gets you two drink tickets and a buffet, and there’s also a wings eating contest you won’t want to miss. Other than that, your own home is a grat place to watch the big game. Enjoy your flat screen, that big comfy couch and the company of loved ones. If you’re looking for an interesting take on Super Bowl fare, check out these recipes provided by the owners of some of your favorite Boston food […]