BFSNA will be voting for the Blackstone Franklin Square board positions at the Sept. 16 business meeting at 7 p.m. at the D4 Police Station. All current board members are up for reelection as well as the offices of president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and three advisory board members.

Positions will take effect immediately. Terms will run until the next general election in September 2015. Nominations are open between now and the September meeting, however a person nominated must be present in September to accept their nomination. Email nominations to BFSNA@blackstonefranklin.org

Eyes and Ears on the Squares

There has been an large increase in illegal activity in Franklin Square over the last three or four weeks. BFSNA has learned from the Boston Police Department (BPD) that a fair amount of those who are now using the park are in there all day, and with this they have brought increased drug activity, bathing in the fountains, using the fountains and park as a latrine, and trash that blows all over the neighborhood.

In conversations with Sergeant Lucas Taxter, Community Relations Officer and Captain Paul Ivens, both of Area D4 BPD, we have been directed to "let all your neighbors know that we need everybody to be our eyes and ears and to call 911 whenever they see any illegal activity."

The group that has taken over the park recently, according to BPD, are bused in from the Long Island Shelter. Many, although not all, are selling and taking drugs, drinking, smoking, bathing in the fountain and using the park and fountain as a bathroom. Unfortunately, they have driven out the elderly Franklin House population, children and toddlers with parents and caregivers, office workers from local businesses that sit in park during lunch, dogs with their owners, and neighbors who just want to enjoy a peaceful summer day in the park. The Worcester Square Neighborhood Association has already been overrun with folks sitting on their stoops smoking and depositing used needles in their yards and on their streets. Sgt. Taxter says "My hope is that a greater police presence will make it a little less comfortable for anyone who is up to no good".

So PLEASE call 911 when you see illegal activity, public health related issues, and those posing creating a public nuisance.

A reminder that all dogs must be leashed while in Blackstone and Franklin Squares. When the City begins to enforce leash laws in these parks, they will issue citations. Finally, please remind everybody that the fountains not for human or animal bathing.