February 27 Planet Southie Meeting: Let's listen and act on what matters most

Planet Southie members created this brainstorm last year

Please join us for our next monthly meeting:

Meeting will focus on opportunity for neighborhood engagement in partnership with Greenovate Boston.

Thursday, February 27, 2014
6:30 - 7:30 pm
The Distillery Building
516 E 2nd St.

As always, all are welcome at Planet Southie!

Wanna talk about neighborhood issues? Help plan a Greenovate Meet-Up!

Neighborhood Meet-Ups are
popping up all over the City!

Focus of February 27 Meeting:
This Spring, Planet Southie will participate in an opportunity to bring together neighbors to discuss a question about "sustainability" in our community.  For example, "How should Boston address parking demands?" or "How best can we balance budgetary constraints with the need to maintain street trees in the City?" What's the question? That's up to you!

Background
Based on feedback from the Climate Action Plan Community Leadership meeting in December, and the new Mayor's Transition Team’s Environment Public Hearing in January, the City of Boston is launching the Greenovate Ambassador program to help facilitate communication between Bostonians and the City around sustainability.

Ambassadors (including Planet Southie) will work between the City and the community to help solicit ideas, facilitate discussion, and understand objectively what the collective community wants to see in Boston. They will be the glue between the community and City Hall.

Our role
Brian, Patrick and Stefanie had a productive call with the City regarding the Greenovate process.

See you at the February 27th Meeting

Update from January Strategic Planning Meeting:
Thanks to those who braved the cold to attend and share their top neighborhood concerns, we've been able to define this year's strategy:
In 2014, Planet Southie members will advocate with long-term and new residents for alternative transportation, fixed gas leaks, and for balanced development. We value diversity, local climate action, green space, trees, gardens, safety, affordability for families, and working across neighborhoods. 

Read the boston.com article about the meeting: Planet Southie lays out its agenda for 2014

Please join us for our next monthly meeting:

Thursday, February 27, 2014
6:30 - 7:30 pm
The Distillery Building
516 E 2nd St.

As always, all are welcome at Planet Southie!

We will follow up on community engagement and other priorities identified at the January 23 Strategy Meeting.

At the 1/23 mtg, we analyzed priorities, what's working, and what to do better.

See you Next Year! Next Planet Southie Monthly Meeting is January 23, 2014

Hello Southie!

We ended this year's meeting cycle with a big party last month. That was fun!

As you know, we meet regularly on the 4th Thursday of the month. October's meeting is cancelled (10/24) due to schedule conflicts. November and December meetings fall on holidays.  Soooo.....

We will see you on Thursday, January 23, 2014! 

Stay tuned for a strategic planning survey and an online walk report form. Feel free to contact us in the meantime with questions, comments and inspirations.

Thanks and Happy Halloween, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Climate Change Focus at July 25 Planet Southie Meeting

Please join us on Thursday, July 25 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm at the Distillery Building. 

Why 350ppm? Find out here!

The meeting will open with a brief presentation by 350MA about the current state of climate change and its impact on human health.

For the remainder of the meeting, we will break out into small groups based on interest (ex: climate, bike, transit, walking, etc.).

As always, all are welcome at Planet Southie!




Meeting Details:

What: Montly Planet Southie Meeting: Focus on Climate Change
When: Thursday, July 25, 2013 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Where: The Distillery Building, 516 E 2nd Street, South Boston

I want a livable planet for my kid: One Southie mom's thoughts on climate change

Hey there residents of Planet Southie, it's Stefanie.

Some of you know me from Planet Southie meetings (I usually facilitate). This is a very different kind of blog post. 

Olivia and me

We usually blog about boring (but important) stuff, like meetings. Ultimately, the topic of climate change is a personal one, so this is a very personal post. It's also very long (sorry) and kinda intense (yikes). While climate change evokes images of far away polar bears and icecaps, the reality of it literally hits home when we start to think practically about what it means for our community and our families (more extreme weather, power outages, disease, stress, scarcity, etc.). Because my background is in public health and human rights, I tend to focus on how climate impacts people (not that I don’t love polar bears too).

As many of you know, Aaron and I became parents last year. You may have met our beautiful daughter Olivia (especially if you ride the #9 bus!). Since Olivia's arrival, we have felt an even greater urgency to confront climate head on. About three years ago, we started Planet Southie with hopes to connect with our neighbors to cultivate homegrown solutions (and it's worked!), but we have shied away from the term “climate change” out of silly worries over controversy. Time to stop worrying what people think and just go for it.

June 27 mtg cancelled. Stay tuned for announcement about walk hazards/gas leaks mapping opportunity!

Hi from the Planet Southie team,

We just wanted to make two quick announcements:

1) Tomorrow's (6/27) monthly Planet Southie meeting is cancelled. 

2) Stay tuned for info about a Summer gas leaks and walk hazard mapping project! We will be needing lots of volunteers to help. Equipment will be provided by the Northeastern scientist doing gas leaks the study. More about gas leaks and why they matter to Southie below. While we are mapping the gas leaks, we might as will also document walking hazards to boost our walk safety advocacy.

Sorry for the short notice about the meeting. We were hoping to confirm the gas leaks/walk mapping date in advance of sending out the newsletter. We will make an exception to our "one email a month" rule and send out an announcement about that mapping date asap.

Many thanks and stay cool,

The Planet Southie Team

PS: South Boston Grows would like to share an announcement about a very important meeting tonight to support open space and organic food growing in our neighborhood. Tonight 6:30 pm at the Condon School. Info about the meeting and how to volunteer in the garden this summer.

Planet Southie Meeting 5/23: It's Time to Fix Gas Leaks in South Boston!

Look what's lost in the pipeline (click image to enlarge)

A high percentage of our pipelines are old or leak-prone, and we pay the cost. 

Natural gas companies collected nearly $40 million in 2010 from customers for gas that never arrived or got consumed. Customers are unwittingly signing big checks back to the gas companies for this polluting “gift.”

And if all that wasted money isn't bad enough: Gas leaks underneath Boston are releasing methane – a very potent greenhouse gas – at an alarming rate. Methane is 20 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2.  Read more here.

At the next Planet Southie meeting, we will strategize a neighborhood gas leak mapping project to find potentially hazardous leaks; advocate for their repair; and keep our hard-earned cash from leaking out the distribution pipelines. Planet Southie Bike, Walk and Transit Teams will meet after this brief discussion.

Please join us at the next Planet Southie Meeting!
Thursday May 23, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: The Distillery Building 516 East 2nd St, South Boston

As always, all are welcome!

On Tuesday, May 25: Share our dream for Southie with Rep. Linda Forry

We have arranged for a meeting with Rep. Linda Forry to share a green healthy vision for South Boston. At the April monthly meeting, neighbors met to imagine and share dreams for our community. This vision will guide our work. Please feel welcome to add your own ideas as well!

Above is some of what was envisioned at the April meeting.
On May 21, we will share this vision with Rep. Forry. Click to enlarge image.

Meeting Details:

Tuesday, May 25, 2013
5:00 - 6:00 pm
At the Distillery

Please RSVP here.

As always, all are welcome at Planet Southie!

Dream Big on Thursday

Please join us for our next Planet Southie Meeting!
This Thursday April 25, 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Location: The Distillery Building 516 East 2nd St, South Boston

Now is a good time to take a step back and look at the big picture. We have all had a challenging week, which was ultimately triumphant as neighbors helped neighbors. The heart of our city was tested and is now stronger than ever. It feels good to come together in a spirit of building community.

Please come and share your hopes and dreams for a greener and healthier South Boston. We will create a positive vision to share with our neighbors, elected officials and others who can work together to improve quality of life for everyone. DREAM BIG!

Originally, we had been planning a candidates forum for this month's meeting. Due to the events of past week, the forum has been cancelled. Instead, we will come together to imagine the kind of neighborhood we want to live in and creative ways to get there. As you know, Planet Southie is an all volunteer organization made up of ordinary neighbors like you and me. Our efforts are determined by the passion and energy of participants. Planet Southie is a platform for neighbors to connect, communicate and collaborate on the issues that matter most to US. We can't do it without you!

As always, all are welcome at Planet Southie! If you can't make it to the meeting, please share your dream here.

Next meeting is Thursday, March 28 at 6:30 pm!

Transit, walking and biking are among
the issues we will discuss at the meeting

Hey there neighbors!

We hope you can join us at the next Planet Southie meeting. South Boston Grows will be on hand to give away free seedlings and talk about how you can get FREE TREES!

Thursday, March 28^th  6:30 - 7:30 pm

The Distillery Building
516 East Second Street, South Boston

As always, all are welcome and 
encouraged to attend!

Learn what we tree huggers are up to in this month's newsletter.





Please mark your calendars: Planet Southie meets the fourth Thursday of every month.

See you there!

Next meeting is Thursday, June 28

Join us June 28 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm for our monthly meeting*. Meet green-minded neighbors and find out how to get involved in various local green projects. We are planning a series of community information sessions and need your help!

*Meeting Location: The Distillery Building, 516 East 2nd Street.: If you walk in the yard, enter the door of the building to your left, a low brick building that says Honeywell on it (across the parking lot from the Distillery residences).  The office is right around the corner and you should be able to see people through a large picture window before you get there. If you get lost, call Fred at 617-821-2429

Plug in Southie! Signs of Spring in this month's newsletter

Click here to check out this month's issue of our e-newsletter, Plug In Southie! 

A sure sign of Spring!
Crocuses are popping up all  over Medicine Wheel's No Man's Land Garden this week.

Read about this weekend's Southie Trees event, how to help pass the Bottle Bill update and more ways to help build a greener and healthier South Boston.

Reminder: Next Planet Southie Monthly meeting is this Thursday from 6:30 - 7:30 pm at the Distillery Building*. As always, all are welcome!

*Meeting Location: The Distillery Building, 516 East 2nd Street.: If you walk in the yard, enter the door of the building to your left, a low brick building that says Honeywell on it (across the parking lot from the Distillery residences).  The office is right around the corner and you should be able to see people through a large picture window before you get there. If you get lost, call Fred at 617-821-2429

Plug In Southie: All the news that's fit to print!

Check out this month's issue of our e-newsletter, Plug In Southie, here. Get the scoop on saving the T, Southie Trees, energy savings, nearby winter farmers markets and more!

January's photo of the month: Castle Island on 1/20/12 by Southie Spots

Next Planet Southie monthly meeting is Thursday, January 26 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm at the Distillery Building (directions are here). All are welcome at Planet Southie!

Subscribe to our e-newsletter, Plug In Southie, here!

Seasons Greetings Southie! Hope to see you at our next montly meeting on January 26, 2012

In the new year, monthly meetings will resume the regular schedule of every 4th Thursday from 6:30-7:30 pm at The Distillery. The next monthly Planet Southie meeting is Thursday, January 26 at the Distillery Building* from 6:30 - 7:30 pm.  All are welcome!

P.S. Check out our ideas for fun ways to green your gift wrapping and our December newsletter!

Winter in South Boston

Let it snow! East Broadway winter scene.

 *Location: The Distillery Building, 516 East 2nd Street.
If you walk in the yard, enter the door of the building to your left, a low brick building that says Honeywell on it (across the parking lot from the Distillery residences).  The office is right around the corner and you should be able to see people through a large picture window before you get there. If you get lost, call Fred at 617-821-2429

Next Planet Southie Meeting is December 8

In the new year, monthly meetings will resume the regular schedule of every 4th Thursday from 6:30-7:30 pm at The Distillery. After December 8, the next monthly Planet Southie meeting is Thursday, January 26 at the Distillery from 6:30 - 7:30 pm.

Due to the fact that our November Planet Southie meeting was canceled because it fell on Thanksgiving and our December meeting falls too close to Christmas, we've decided to hold a meeting this Thursday (12/8) from 6:30-7:30 pm at The Distillery*. The main topic will be Renew Boston (sign-up deadline is now December 31, so we really need to get the word out). All are welcome -- we hope to see you there!

Some of the participants at Planet Southie's December 8, 2011 meeting.

*Location: The Distillery Building, 516 East 2nd Street.
If you walk in the yard, enter the door of the building to your left, a low brick building that says Honeywell on it.  The office is right around the corner and you should be able to see people through a large picture window before you get there. If you get lost, call Fred at 617-821-2429

Planet Southie Meeting this Week

Planet Southie Monthly Meetings

Every 4th Thursday of the month, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Location: The Distillery Building*, 516 East 2nd Street.


Next Meeting is 10/27.

Everyone is Welcome at Planet Southie!

*If you walk in the yard, enter the door of the building to your left, a low brick building that says Honeywell on it.  The office is right around the corner and you should be able to see people through a large picture window before you get there. If you get lost, call Fred at 617-821-2429

New Planet Southie Meeting Location

Planet Southie Monthly Meetings

Every 4th Thursday of the month, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Location: The Distillery Building*, 516 East 2nd Street.


Next Meeting is 9/22.

Everyone is Welcome at Planet Southie!

*If you walk in the yard, enter the door of the building to your left, a low brick building that says Honeywell on it.  The office is right around the corner and you should be able to see people through a large picture window before you get there. If you get lost, call Fred at 617-821-2429

Plug in Southie: Planet Southie's Update

The Fight to Save Old Colony's Trees:
Help Spread the Word! Southie Trees has teamed up with TechBoston to save many heritage trees in the Old Colony Housing Development that could possibly be cut down due to the ongoing construction. Click here to learn more about what you can do to help!

Don't forget! The South Boston Farmer's Market is Mondays from 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The market features fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs and dairy all from local farmers.

Are you a Southie bicyclist? Join Southie Bikes to help advocate for bike paths and better biking conditions for South Bostonians. Please email paul.ryan@me.com for updates and information about meetings. All are welcome!

Next Planet Southie Meeting:
Monday, August 22 from 6:30-7:30 pm. Location: South Boston Public Library, 646 East Broadway. Everyone is welcome at Planet Southie!

Next Southie Trees Meeting: Monday, September 12 from 6:30-7:30 pm. Location: TBD. All our welcome so branch out and invite your friends!

Plug in Southie: Planet Southie's Update

Join South Boston Grows 7/28 at 7:30 p.m. for the 2011 summer party at The Seapoint (376 E. 8th Street) to learn how to help grow food in our neighborhood. Fresh, local dishes will be featured. Tickets are available at the door for $20, or $15 if you donate a used garden tool. All proceeds from the event help fund youth programming.

Walk/Ride Day is 7/29. The Green Streets Initiative celebrates and promotes the use of sustainable, active transportation. On these days, people everywhere are invited to first, Go Green (walk, bike, use public transit, skate, canoe, etc.) and also Wear Green! South Boston Running Emporium (343 W Broadway) offers 10% off purchases to people who wear green and mention that they are participating in Walk/Ride Day. Blue Tierra Chocolate Cafe (258 West Broadway) is giving away a free piece of handmade gourmet chocolate to walk/ride day participants.

Next Planet Southie Meeting:
Monday, July 25 from 6:30-7:30 pm. Location: South Boston Public Library, 646 East Broadway. Everyone is welcome at Planet Southie!

Next Southie Trees Meeting:
Monday, August 8 from 6:30-7:30 pm. Location: Seapoint Restaurant, 367 East 8th Street. All our welcome so branch out and invite your friends!