Dear Members and Friends:
Last Monday the FCA held a public discussion on the question: How will the City of Boston protect its parks? There was a large turnout and robust discussion, however many questions were left unanswered. Later in the week, Mayor Wu announced the appointment of Kairos Shen as the City’s new Chief of Planning. We hope Mr. Shen will respect and protect our valuable parkland assets, and work to fulfill the campaign promises made by Mayor Wu for a greener, more efficient, more equitable city for generations to come.
A positive model of environmental action: The Muddy River has gone through major renovation and enhancement work. Last year, the CRWA started a community-led visioning process to find a way to clean it up. They’ve been hard at work understanding the watershed conditions, the major sources of pollution, and how the watershed may experience climate change. This October 1st, attend the webinar Muddy River: Heart of Fenway to hear what’s been learned and what you can do to impact the future of the Muddy River watershed.
Fall in Fenway is a thing of beauty. Trees put on a colorful performance, the weather is good for a walk in the park, a flea-market, a farmer’s market, al-fresco dining, and on Monday, October 14, enjoy the annual Opening Our Doors celebration of the Fenway Cultural District – with art exhibits, performances, nature and historical walks, art activities, open houses and more. For ongoing cultural events, check the ArtsBoston calendar.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Tuesday, October 1, 7pm (virtual meeting), Muddy River: The Heart of Fenway
The Muddy River watershed reaches across Boston, Brookline, and Newton, and contributes significant amounts of pollution to the Charles River. You probably don’t realize this, but much of the water making it’s way into the Muddy is coming from storm water run-off and illicit and leaky sewage pipes all throughout the watershed. We can clean it up, but we need widespread public support. That’s where you come in! Last year, the Charles River Watershed Association started a community-led visioning process with several meetings and webinars to date. The purpose of the meetings is to educate, inform and discuss what can be done, and to formulate a plan of action. All concerned members of the public are invited to help envision how to move forward. Watch the Sept 26 webinar recording here. And/or follow this link to register for the October 1 meeting. Do you think we can ever swim in the Charles? Well, we’d need to fix the Muddy first! Let’s fully restore the Muddy. If you like this idea – help spread the word and attend the webinar. Is it too big a task? Is it too expensive to fix? “When there are enough people who care, the money materializes.” –Emily Norton CRWA
ONGOING
Sundays through October 13, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Charlesgate Farmer’s Market
Under the Bowker Overpass at Comm Ave between Charlesgate East and West.
Every Other Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.until done, Fenway Cares Food Distribution
Next date: 10/9 – 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! Volunteer
MGH/MBG Community Care Health Clinic – 2-5 p.m. on Fenway Cares dates, East Fenway, in Morville House, 100 Norway Street. Offerings may include blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar testing, COVID-19, flu, and pneumonia vaccines.
UPCOMING
A few updates on the Back Bay Fens Pathways project from
City of Boston | Parks & Recreation Department
Geotechnical Borings – starting Sept. 30, to take approximately 1 week to complete.
SAVE THE DATE Wednesday, October 9, 6:00pm – 7:30 pm, community zoom meeting, to share progress on the Evans Way Bridge portion of the project.
FYI – The Emerald Necklace Conservancy will be inventorying trees in the Back Bay Fens and Charlesgate the week of Sept. 30
October 9, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay is sponsoring a free educational forum Ensuring Everyone Has a Home in MA: Bold City and State Initiativesat the Copley Boston Public Library,
There will be a Q&A after the presentations/discussion and the audience is welcome to take part. Register here for the event: https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/66e47f5379c37d9f5da6e2fa
(see flyer below).
Voter Registration Deadline: October 26, 2024 register to vote- click here
MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE
NOVEMBER 5, 2024 ELECTION
Massachusetts Voter Guide | BallotReady
Offices on Ballot:
- Electors of President and Vice President
- U.S. Senator
- U.S. Representative
- Governor’s Councillor
- State Senator
- State Representative
- Register of Deeds
- Clerk of Courts
- County Commissioner (certain counties only)
- Additional local offices (certain cities & towns)
Voter Registration Deadline: October 26, 2024
Vote by Mail Application Deadline: October 29, 2024
Nov. 5 Polling Hours: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
DEVELOPMENTS
Article 80 development review process. What is it, how is it changing? Have questions? Visit the City of Boston website which presents Mayor Wu’s vision and how the Planning Department is working to modernize the development review process.
DEVELOPMENTS BY STATUS:
409 Huntington Avenue, 262 St. Botolph St., 20 Charlesgate West, 142-146 St. Mary’s Street
Kenmore Hotel, Fenway Corners (West), Fenway Corners (North), Fenway Center, Boston University – Warren Towers Renovation, 819 Beacon Street,
601 Newbury Street, 2 Charlesgate West, 165 Park Drive, 1400 Boylston Street,
1241 Boylston Street, 112-114 Queensberry St, 109 Brookline Avenue
See you around!
Fenway Civic Association 