Dear Members and Friends:
The cold continues this week, stay safe with cold weather safety tips, and these important winter phone numbers. How long will the cold last? Find out on Groundhog Day, when Punxsutawney Phil pops out to predict an early or late spring.
Monday is Truck Day for the Red Sox heading south for training. And next Sunday the Patriots play in Superbow LX!
Fenway Park Announces the 2026 Concert Season. A few years ago, the City made a deal with the Sox granting the option to host up to 12 concerts per year, requesting they keep at least one weekend per month event-free for the neighborhood. Last week, the Red Sox submitted an application to host up to 13 concerts. Stay tuned!
THE WEEK AHEAD
Sunday, Feb 1, 4:00 pm, Bean Celebration Setsubun- Mamemaki at Kaji Aso Studio, 40 St Stephen Street.
A purifying ceremony for the new year, 2026 Year of the Horse, “to hurl beans and oust the bad spirits!” followed by sweet Japanese pastry and sencha green tea (see flyer). Please RSVP to administrator@kajiasostudio.com Suggested Donations: $10 per person / $8 students/seniors /Children under 12yr $4
Monday, Feb 2, 7am-noon, Spring Training Truck Day at Fenway Park. Since 2003, Truck Day signals the unofficial start of Spring Training. Loading begins at 7am. The truck departs from Gate D between 11:00 am-noon. Wally, Tessie, and Fenway Ambassadors will celebrate the send-off with fans. Van Ness St. closes at 6:00 am.
Monday, Feb 2, 7 am livestream, Groundhog Day- Punxsutawney Phil
Our favorite prognosticating whistle-pig (with his own non-profit) will predict an early spring or six more weeks of winter simply by spotting his shadow, or not!
Wednesday, Feb 4, 6-7:30 pm, Housing Justice Dinner with Delegates, The Guild House, 20 Charlesgate West. Join Fenway Forward for a panel discussion with state legislators to talk about housing policy needed for an affordable community. Dinner provided. Open to all.
Sunday, Feb 8, 6:30 pm, Patriots at Superbowl LX
Possible traffic interruptions near Lansdowne Street at Super Bowl 2026: Fenway All Access Block Party 4 -11:30 pm.
Sunday, Feb 8, 2 pm, Puppy Bowl XXII Lesser known, but no less loved, featuring 150 rescue puppies from 72 shelters across the U.S., the event spotlights adoptable dogs.
UPCOMING
Tues, Feb 10, 12:15-12:45 pm, 2026 Pipes on the Plaza Organ Concert Series at The Mother Church Extension at the Christian Science Plaza, 250 Massachusetts Ave – free, lunchtime series.
Experience the glorious sounds of one of the world’s largest pipe organs, featuring celebrated organists from around the world. The series kicks off with Mark Dwyer, Organist and Choirmaster performing works spanning a century of organ repertoire, from Mendelssohn’s dramatic fusion of Baroque and Romantic, through Peeters’s tender lyricism, to Sowerby’s expansive American style. For details visit: Pipes on the Plaza concert series.
Wed, Feb 11, 6 pm, Community Preservation Committee Hearing (virtual)
Members of the public may participate by using the Zoom meeting link or by calling 1-312-626-6799 and entering the following details:
Meeting ID: 858 3175 8819 Passcode: 651471
The Committee will review and vote on the full slate of affordable housing, historic preservation, open space, and recreation applications submitted for the 2026 funding round. If you have any questions, please contact Thadine Brown at 617-635-0545 or via email thadine.brown@boston.gov. The public can offer testimony. Read the most recent 2025 update of the plan here: Community Preservation Action Plan 2023-2027. This Plan outlines the funding allocations throughout the city.
Kaji Aso Studio – 2026 International Haiku Contest – Submissions due April 6th.
Please Note: This is a different deadline date from previous years. Offering cash prizes, and a complimentary Certificate of Commendation for first prize from the Consulate General of Japan in Boston. Vist the website for full details on how to participate. Click here to read some of last year’s winning haikus.
USA- 250TH ANNIVERSARY – July 4th, 2026 – Revolution never gets old!
Boston events: https://www.boston.gov/boston-250
BPL art exhibit: Revolution! 250 Years of Art & Activism in Boston
Statewide events: https://massachusetts250.org/events/
GOVERNMENT NEWS
Partial Federal Government Shutdown in effect as of midnight Friday, Jan 30
Congress failed to meet their deadline to prevent funding from running out across multiple federal departments. The Senate approved legislation to fund each of these remaining government agencies through the end of the fiscal year in September, and a two-week stopgap bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security to allow lawmakers to negotiate reforms at the agency after federal immigration officers in Minnesota killed two U.S. citizens this month.
The City of Boston’s Participatory Budgeting initiative is open until February 15th. Residents can vote on how to spend a portion of the City’s budget. You don’t have to be a registered voter – or even an adult – if you live in Boston and are at least 11 years old or in 6th grade, you can participate! Link to the voting page here: https://www.boston.gov/departments/participatory-budgeting/ideas-action
Massachusetts could see a record number of ballot questions in 2026. On January 5, the Elections Division of MA announced eleven ballot question petitions will proceed to the next step in qualifying for the ballot. The “Initiative Petitions” include laws relative to: All-Party State Primaries, Limiting Rent Increases, Election Day Registration, Reducing State Personal Income Tax Rate from 5% to 4%, Regulating Marijuana, Improve Access to Public Records, Reform and Regulate Legislative Stipends, Labor Relations Policies for Committee for Public Counsel Services Employees, Limiting State Tax Collection Growth and Returning Surpluses to Taxpayers, Protect Water & Nature, Allow Single-Family Homes on Small Lots in Areas with Adequate Infrastructure. The MA Legislature has until May 5, 2026 to consider and act on the proposals. If the Legislature chooses not to pass a proposed law, the petitioners will be permitted to gather additional signatures to place the question on the ballot.
Council Adopts Resolution Supporting 2026 Rent Stabilization Ballot Question Jan 30, The Boston City Council voted 9–3 to adopt a resolution urging support for the proposed statewide ballot question on rent stabilization.
TRANSPORTATION & DEVELOPMENT
City of Boston – Curb Use Survey: the Public Curb Map project aims to learn how people use curb space, how they understand curb rules, how the City communicates curb-related information, and how residents share feedback. Please take this short survey to contribute to the study: Boston Public Curb Map — Community Survey
MBTA: Visit https://www.mbta.com/alerts/subway for info on service disruptions.
Bowker Overpass project: follow progress on the project page.
DEVELOPMENT NEWS by status: “Under Review”: “Board Approved”:
HEALTH & SAFETY
FENWAY CARES Every other Wednesday, 3:30 pm ‘til done – Next date Feb 11
Fenway Cares Food Distribution at 2 locations:
West Fenway – Fenway Community Center, 1282 Boylston (enter-Jersey)
East Fenway – Symphony Community Park, 39 Edgerly Road
Volunteers are welcome to sign up for all dates and both locations!
The MGH/MBG Community Care Health Clinic 1-5 pm on Fenway Cares dates. Rotates between the West and East Fenway locations (see above). Offerings may include blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar testing, COVID-19 and flu vaccines.
on 2/11 at Morville House, 100 Norway St. and 2/25 at Fenway Community Center.
Boston Police D4 Community News eMail Add your email to the list
See you around!
Promoting a vital and sustainable neighborhood
Fenway Civic Association 