Dear Members and Friends:
With great pride, we honor the memory of Edward James Burke, who passed away on April 30, 2023. Ed was a driving force of the Fenway Civic Association, a passionate advocate who worked tirelessly to improve the safety, beauty and vibrancy of our neighborhood. Ed’s genuine love of community was evident to all who knew him; his willingness to find solutions and do the hard work of consensus building benefited us in so many ways. We are proud to celebrate his legacy and will not forget our friend, neighbor and champion for all things Fenway. Rest in Peace, dear friend.
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EDWARD JAMES BURKE, of Boston’s Fenway, formerly of Mission Hill, passed away on April 30. Raised by his mother, aunts, and uncles, in the closeness of the Irish Catholic Mission Hill neighborhood, he attended Mission Grammar, and Mission High while supporting his family with various after school jobs, opening up all the neighborhoods of Boston to him. Following three years of the Army in Germany, from age 19, he returned to Boston, helping to set up the first data processing computer system for the City. He was named Assistant Clerk of the Boston Municipal Court in 1966, later becoming a Harvard Medical School animal research technician, and a Clinical Lab Technician at the Boston V.A. Medical Center. Living in the Fenway neighborhood in 1985, Ed resurrected the Fenway Civic Association to help fix the safety and beauty of the Fenway’s neighborhood, and especially its surrounding Back Bay Fens park that had become sorely neglected. Ed’s effectiveness and passion as a civic activist became realized when he assumed Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) leadership under newly elected Mayor Raymond Flynn, who trusted him for his love for the City, and understanding of residents’ concerns. While advancing the Mayor’s progress in a growing Boston, Ed worked under BRA director, Stephen Coyle. Ed was highly respected at City Hall, and in the neighborhoods under his oversight. He loved his job, walking each morning to City Hall, working all day, and going to meetings at night with his beeper and constantly on call. “I worked really hard, but didn’t mind doing it because you knew you were making a difference.” He would say. He was bolstered by the entrance of Fredericka Veikley, his new love, and later wife, into his life in 1986. They easily became dedicated lifelong partners.
In 1995, newly elected Mayor Menino revamped the ONS and purged the liaisons who had gained expertise and connections that complicated the new Mayor’s idea of how to run the City. Back to the “other side,” Ed resumed his neighborhood advocacy, keeping many of his City Hall connections, and training new activists in the Fenway Civic Association. He was proud of them and their commitment of personal time, energy, and lost sleep for the betterment of the Fenway and the City. To those who said, ”you can’t fight City Hall,” Ed would say, ”Yes you can, the City would fall apart without all the activists.”
Ed brought new life to the City’s Back Bay Fens parks, and sought for decades the restoration of its Muddy River, now coming to fruition. Together, he and Freddie galvanized forces to create Ramler Park in 2004, an amazing feat uniting the Ramler family donors with the City of Boston to create a perpetually protected gem in the heart of the Fenway. Ed strongly believed that parks support people, and people must support parks. If you wish to make a gift in Ed’s honor, please consider helping sustain the park that sustains you, by contributing to friendsoframlerpark.org.
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Spring unfolds in the Fenway – things are looking good thanks to recent neighborhood clean ups and the generosity of volunteers. All around us, classes are winding down, graduation season is here, as well as the ‘boys of summer’ and more summer concerts at Fenway Park. Developments abound, get up to speed through links below. Outdoor events are being announced for these warmer months; so much more to come.
For this and more, read on:
THE WEEK AHEAD
1. Sunday, May 7 – 2023 Cultural afternoon: Haiku Winners Announcement and Japanese Calligraphy Demonstration – 3:00- 5:00 p.m. at Kaji Aso Studio 40 St Stephen St, Boston, MA 02115, or join the livestream on facebook click here. Free and open to the public. See flyer below.
2. Tuesday, May 9 – Wentworth Institute of Technology 2023-2033 Institutional Master Plan Public Meeting, 6-8 p.m. virtual The BPDA is hosting a virtual Public Meeting meeting for the proposed 2023-2033 Institutional Master Plan (“IMP”) for Wentworth Institute of Technology, located in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an overview of the IMP and discuss the potential impacts and mitigation for the IMP. The meeting will include a presentation followed by questions and comments from the Public. To Participate, please register for the meeting using the following Zoom link:
bit.ly/3UhuaQ2
3. Wednesday, May 10 – Fenway Cares food distribution. 3:30 p.m, Need food? Fenway Cares distributes fresh produce, grains, and more at Fenway Community Center and Symphony Community Park. Thanks to the generosity of the Massachusetts General Brigham Community Care Van, free blood pressure screenings and COVID-19 boosters and vaccines are offered at Symphony Park in April and May from 2-5 pm on Fenway Cares dates. For more information, visit: https://fenwaycommunitycenter.org/fenway-cares/. Repeats every-other Wednesday. Volunteers needed! https://forms.gle/mqo5YoxbmhcL9Ckm8
4. Wednesday, May 10 – ACNA Annual Meeting, 7 p.m. at Ruggles Baptist Church, 874 Beacon Street. You are cordially invited to the annual meeting of the Audubon Circle Neighborhood Association (ACNA), which will be a live ‘in person’ event. Please visit www.auduboncircle.org for further details. Or send queries to: contact@auduboncircle.org. (flyer attached)
5. Thursday, May 11 – Park Fitness: Chair Yoga with Michelle – 10:00AM – 11:00AM at Symphony Park, 39 Edgerly Road. Repeats weekly on Thursdays, starting May 11, 2023, until August 31, 2023. Participate in a free fitness class offered by a certified instructor. Classes are sponsored by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and the Boston Public Health Commission.
6. Saturday, May 13 – Annual Flower Share with FCA Members
We are thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with Northeastern University. Current FCA members can sign up by April 24th: https://forms.gle/xrNZ6pYQkJ99RKoC9
Flower Share Map with locations and times here
East Fenway: Fenway Center (68 St. Stephen Street) parking lot, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
West Fenway: Exterior of Fenway Victory Gardens (1200 Boylston Street), 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
7. Sunday, May 14 – Annual Fenway Guided Bird Walk – with Nature Man Mike -7:30 am. Meet at Meet at the Japanese Bell outside the Kelleher Rose Garden (by the footbridge across from the Museum of Fine Arts) Spend a few hours delighting in the array of spring birds gracing the Fenway. For all levels! Bring binocs for best view. Led by: Michael Bryant, aka Nature Man Mike, a professional photographer, instructor, nature lover, and host of bird walks, international bird photography tours and workshops. Through the world of birding, he’s worked with Franklin Park Coalition, Brookline Bird Club, Urban Nature Walk, Mass Audubon and more. www.NatureManMike.com www.instagram.com/naturemanmike
www.facebook.com/naturemanmike (postcard below)
NOTICES
SUMMER IN BOSTON – online guide from the City of Boston
(click here to visit the website) Whether you’re looking to find a place to cool down — or a cool spot to visit — this guide has it covered.
SAVE THE DATES
May 23rd, Hotel Buckminster Landmarking Study Report
The Boston Landmarks Commission has posted a study report on the proposed designation of the Hotel Buckminster as a Landmark under Chapter 772 of the Acts of 1975, as amended. The study report can be accessed here: https://www.boston.gov/news/hotel-buckminster-study-report The study report will be discussed at a public hearing on May 23. No vote will be taken at this time. Members of the public are invited to attend this hearing and provide comments. If you have questions concerning the designation process, please email Commission staff at BLC@boston.gov.
June 13, Mayor Wu’s coffee hour at Symphony Community Park
9:30 a.m – 10:30 a.m., weather permitting. 30 Edgerly Road, Fenway/Kenmore. Mayor Wu’s Neighborhood Coffee Hours are a unique opportunity to speak directly with the Mayor and staff from City departments about open space and their neighborhoods. Through these conversations, and a suggestion box at each site, Mayor Wu looks forward to hearing how the City of Boston can improve upon parks, public areas, and City services.
For details click here.
July 12, Swingin’ in the Fens 2023, at Ramler Park 6:30 p.m. – Featuring Jelani Bauman. Sponsored by Berklee College of Music in partnership with the City of Boston. Rain date Wednesday, July 19.
ONGOING
What’s going on at Fenway Park? View the calendar here.
DEVELOPMENT LINKS – local projects in various stages:
INSTITUTIONAL MASTER PLANS Wentworth Institute of Technology
DESIGN Back Bay Fens Pathways
REVIEW Fenway Corners , 165 Park Drive , 409 Huntington Avenue, 1400 Boylston Street (Fenway Star Market), 2 Charlesgate West
APPROVED Longwood Place 305 Brookline Avenue
See you around!
FenwayCivic Association
Promoting a vital and sustainable neighborhoodDear Members and Friends:
Fenway Civic Association 