Bird flu is on the rise – read this posting and refrain from feeding, touching, or removing birds from parks.
Want to weigh in on the city’s participatory budgeting process? Read about and vote for your favorite allocation here.
Winter pruning comes to the Back Bay Fens – with over 900 trees getting care, thanks to the Emerald Necklace Conservancy.It’s not too early to start planning your February vacation week – check the city’s list of activities here.And Lunar New Year is here with a host of events – Happy Year of the Snake!
THE HALF WEEK AHEAD
Thursday, January 30, 5:30PM – 7:30PM Town Hall on Affordable Housing and Community Programs at Simmons University (300 The Fenway).
Fenway CDC will host the first of three town hall-style meetings Share your thoughts on affordable housing development, community organizing, and other programs.
Tuesday, March 11, 6:00 PM, Making History Gala, Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston. The year 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The Mass Historical Society is kicking off the celebration with a gala in March. Learn more at www.masshist.org/gala.
ONGOING
Community Survey – Your input welcome: Where does it flood in Boston? The City of Boston wants to hear from you about flood issues! Use this survey link to report past, current, and ongoing flooding problems across the City. The information you share will help Boston plan and prioritize projects to reduce flooding: Community-Based Flood Resilience and Green Infrastructure
BOSTON FAMILY DAYS – FREE ADMISSION TO MUSEUMS (AND MORE) Boston Family Days take place on the first two Sundays of each month from January 2025 to December 2026. REGISTER HERE.
Boston Parks and Recreation Fitness Series
Check this site for a wide variety of free offerings! Get Fit, Enjoy your parks!
Volunteers are welcome to sign up for all dates and both locations! Volunteer
MGH/MBG Community Care Health Clinic – 1-5 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.
At the January 8 Boston City Council Meeting, Councilors Flynn, Fitzgerald and Murphy voted in favor of establishing an ethics committee at the Boston City Council. (The discussion starts at the 3:49:32 timestamp on the video recording.) With 8 votes opposed, the measure failed. Some councilors suggested the state ethics committee has jurisdiction. In December, Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson was arrested on federal public corruption charges, plead not-guilty and is due in court on Jan. 29.
Here we are, in the midst of a New England winter, both beautiful and fierce. Be prepared, and take care during the upcoming freeze!
Feeling a bit housebound? Need some exercise? Check out some virtual offers from Boston Parks and Recreation’s fitness series or the Age Strong Chair Yoga.
Boston Parks and Recreation has joined Bluesky, a new social media platform. Follow for updates on park events, programs, and initiatives. Join the conversation and get connected with community at: https://bsky.app/profile/parks.boston.gov
THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday, January 20 – Is both Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Inauguration Day.
Boston is a special place to celebrate Dr. King’s life and legacy. Dr. King considered the city his second home, as it was in Boston that he met his wife, Coretta Scott King, and earned his Ph.D. in Theology from Boston University while living on Mass Ave.
The Roxbury Love Story mural, created by local artists @problak and @gofive, was unveiled in the fall of 2020. Roxbury is where Dr. King was an assistant minister at the Twelfth Baptist Church and where he and Coretta met. In 1965, Roxbury marked the starting point for the Northeast’s first Civil Rights March, a procession that culminated on Boston Common, where Dr. King delivered an inspiring and iconic speech, and where The Embrace monument is located. Designed by Hank Willis Thomas, an internationally acclaimed African-American conceptual artist, the memorial commemorates the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, and the many civil rights leaders who worked alongside them in Boston.
Inauguration Day: Since 1901, and in accordance with the 20th Amendment of the United States Constitution, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) has been responsible for the planning and execution of the Inaugural Ceremonies of the President-elect and Vice President-elect of the United States at the Capitol. For a listing of the inauguration events, check this site.
Tuesday, January 21, 5:00 – 7:00 PM; Boston Civic Design Commission [BCDC] Design Committee Meeting (virtual)
BCDC meeting to discuss the public realm impacts of major projects currently under review. Committee meetings are open to the public. Two major projects being discussed are at
The Project is anticipated to involve the demolition of the existing Joslin Diabetes Center Building and the construction of a new approximately 14-story building containing approximately 300 inpatient beds and 20 observation beds for Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), together with clinical support space on lower floors for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a below-grade inpatient imaging department for DFCI and a below-grade garage containing approximately 250 accessory vehicle parking spaces.
Northeastern owns or leases 101 buildings within the City of Boston, totaling approximately 8.8 million square feet. This IMPNF/PNF proposes eight redevelopment sites, six of which were included in Northeastern’s 2013 IMP but were not constructed. These eight redevelopment sites total approximately 2.2 million SF of new construction. In addition to these sites, Northeastern has identified at least nine buildings in need of significant renovations and capital renewal efforts within its existing footprint in Boston.
How to participate: please register in advance to join the meeting
Thursday, January 23, 6:00 – 7:30 pm, 69-81 Kilmarnock Street Public Meeting (virtual) City of Boston Planning will host this virtual meeting. 69 Kilmarnock Street LLC, an affiliate of Samuels & Associates, has requested to make changes to the “West Site” of the previously approved 60 Kilmarnock Street project. The proposed changes will include the removal of 58 parking spaces, increasing the number of IDP units, and creating two residential components that will include multifamily housing and patient-family housing for use by Boston Children’s Hospital. The meeting will include a presentation followed by questions and comments from the public.
How to participate: Use the following link to register for the meeting: http://bit.ly/3C4MdnQ Meeting ID: 161 758 5476 Toll-Free Call-in Number: 833.568.8864
UPCOMING
Thursday, January 30, 5:30PM – 7:30PM Town Hall on Affordable Housing and Community Programs at Simmons University (300 The Fenway).
Fenway CDC will host the first of three town hall-style meetings Share your thoughts on affordable housing development, community organizing, and other programs.
Tuesday, March 11, 6:00 PM, Making History Gala, Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston. The year 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The Mass Historical Society is kicking off the celebration with a gala in March. Learn more at www.masshist.org/gala.
ONGOING
Community Survey – Your input welcome: Where does it flood in Boston? The City of Boston wants to hear from you about flood issues! Use this survey link to report past, current, and ongoing flooding problems across the City. The information you share will help Boston plan and prioritize projects to reduce flooding: Community-Based Flood Resilience and Green Infrastructure
.
BOSTON FAMILY DAYS – FREE ADMISSION TO MUSEUMS (AND MORE) Boston Family Days take place on the first two Sundays of each month from January 2025 to December 2026. REGISTER HERE.
Mondays, 9-10 a.m., Age Strong Chair Yoga (virtual) Join the City of Boston sponsored free virtual class. Repeats weekly through June 16, 2025.
Boston Parks and Recreation Fitness Series
Check this site for a wide variety of free offerings! Get Fit, Enjoy your parks!
Volunteers are welcome to sign up for all dates and both locations! Volunteer
MGH/MBG Community Care Health Clinic – 1-5 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.
At the January 8 Boston City Council Meeting, Councilors Flynn, Fitzgerald and Murphy voted in favor of establishing an ethics committee at the Boston City Council. (The discussion starts at the 3:49:32 timestamp on the video recording.) With 8 votes opposed, the measure failed. Some councilors suggested the state ethics committee has jurisdiction. In December, Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson was arrested on federal public corruption charges, plead not-guilty and is due in court on Jan. 29.
This week, the horrible LA Fires are dominating the news. Sadly, scammers are already taking advantage of people’s goodwill. Before making a donation, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell suggests verifying organizations with websites like Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau. Or start with a trusted charity you have used before.
In FCA News: we are happy to announce the recent completion of repairs to the Johnson Memorial Gates with the support of the George B. Henderson Foundation, the City of Boston, and local partners. For more details on this project, including historic and current photos, please check out our FaceBook posting at https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Aqj8oq9LD/
Here in the Fenway, we’re experiencing New England winter this week. But as many old-timers will tell you, if you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute. A note of caution, with fluctuating temperatures, please do not assume that ice on the Muddy River is safe to walk on. It takes a minimum of 4-inches of clear ice to support one person. For more details and guidance on ice safety, check this Mass.gov site on ice strength. Ice formed over flowing water and currents is often more dangerous. Please, enjoy winter’s beauty from a safe vantage point.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Wednesday, January 15, 3:30 p.m.until done, Fenway Cares Food Distribution (full details in ONGOING section below)
January Events hosted by the Charles River Watershed Association [CRWA]
Since 1965, the CRWA has advocated for a better Charles River watershed using science, advocacy, and the law in developing science-based strategies to increase resilience, protect public health, and promote environmental equity as we face a changing climate. This week CRWA hosts two informative events relevant to the Fenway. Events are free. Titles below link to the CRWA website with full details.
Boston is a special place to celebrate Dr. King’s life and legacy. Dr. King considered the city his second home, as it was in Boston that he met his wife, Coretta Scott King, and earned his Ph.D. in Theology from Boston University while living on Mass Ave.
The Roxbury Love Story mural, created by local artists @problak and @gofive, was unveiled in the fall of 2020. Roxbury is where Dr. King was an assistant minister at the Twelfth Baptist Church and where he and Coretta met. In 1965, Roxbury marked the starting point for the Northeast’s first Civil Rights March, a procession that culminated on Boston Common, where Dr. King delivered an inspiring and iconic speech, and where The Embrace monument is located. Designed by Hank Willis Thomas, an internationally acclaimed African-American conceptual artist, the memorial commemorates the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, and the many civil rights leaders who worked alongside them in Boston.
Thursday, January 30, 5:30PM – 7:30PM Town Hall on Affordable Housing and Community Programs at Simmons University (300 The Fenway).
Fenway CDC will host the first of three town hall-style meetings Share your thoughts on affordable housing development, community organizing, and other programs.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | 6:00 PM, Making History Gala, Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston. The year 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The Mass Historical Society is kicking off the celebration with a gala in March. Learn more at www.masshist.org/gala.
ONGOING
BOSTON FAMILY DAYS – FREE ADMISSION TO MUSEUMS (AND MORE) Boston Family Days take place on the first two Sundays of each month from January 2025 to December 2026. REGISTER HERE.
Mondays, 9-10 a.m., Age Strong Chair Yoga (virtual) Join the City of Boston sponsored free virtual class. Repeats weekly through June 16, 2025.
Boston Parks and Recreation Fitness Series
Check this site for a wide variety of free offerings! Get Fit, Enjoy your parks!
Arts Offerings – we’re fortunate to live amidst world-class cultural offerings… find your bliss at any one of these events:
New England Conservatory NEC (here’s just one of many of their concerts):
Volunteers are welcome to sign up for all dates and both locations! Volunteer
MGH/MBG Community Care Health Clinic – 1-5 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.
At the January 8 Boston City Council Meeting, Councilors Flynn, Fitzgerald and Murphy voted in favor of establishing an ethics committee at the Boston City Council. (The discussion starts at the 3:49:32 timestamp on the video recording.) With 8 votes opposed, the measure failed. Some councilors suggested the state ethics committee has jurisdiction. In December, Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson was arrested on federal public corruption charges, plead not-guilty and is due in court on Jan. 29.
“With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us. He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe” – President Joe Biden
President Biden has declared January 9 a National Day of Mourning and called on “people of the world who share our grief to join us in this solemn observance.”
“In our democracy, the only title higher and more powerful than that of president is the title of citizen. It is every citizen’s right and duty to help shape the future legacy of our nation.”
Wednesday, January 8, noon Boston City Council Meeting at City Hall (ways to watch or attend)– BOSTON CITY COUNCIL: On Friday, December 6, Tania Fernandes Anderson, City Councilor District 7, was arrested on federal public corruption charges. The Councilor plead not guilty, announced she has no plans to resign, and attended the last council meeting of 2024 on December 11th. Councilors Flynn, Fitzgerald and Murphy offered an order for a hearing to establish an ethics committee at the Boston City Council, the offer was tabled until the next meeting on January 8, 2025 at noon.
Official state funeral to be held in Washington D.C. for James Earl Carter, Jr., 39th President of the United States.
Friday, January 10, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., Fenway-Kenmore Liaison Office Hours at Newsfeed Cafe, 700 Boylston Street
Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Mission Hill and Fenway-Kenmore Coffee Hours are hosted by your neighborhood liaison, Maccon Bonner.
LAST CHANCE to dispose of (compost) your Christmas tree – place your tree (without lights, ornaments or tinsel) either curbside or next to your normal trash/dumpster pickup location THIS WEEK. See the city trash schedule here.
UPCOMING
BOSTON FAMILY DAYS – FREE ADMISSION TO MUSEUMS (AND MORE) STARTS JAN 5TH, 2025
Experience the power of art and realize the importance of access for everyone. REGISTER HERE.
Please take a moment to read some essential tips for experiencing Boston Family Days:
On Boston Family Days, all Boston school-aged children and two of their guests will gain free admission to participating institutions.
Boston Family Days take place on the first two Sundays of each month from January 2025 to December 2026.
The first two dates are Sunday, January 5 and Sunday, January 12.
To participate, families must sign up directly with the City of Boston. The City will then send them a Program pass the week before their selected date. Families are encouraged to pre-register and reserve tickets online.
Boston Public Schools or Boston Pre-K students will be automatically enrolled in this program. BPS families will receive their Boston Family Days pass directly via email from BPS.
The year 2025 will mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The Mass Historical Society is kicking off the celebration with a gala in March. Making History Gala, Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | 6:00 PM. Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston. Learn more at www.masshist.org/gala.
ONGOING
Mondays, 9-10 a.m., Age Strong Chair Yoga (virtual) Join the City of Boston sponsored free virtual class. Repeats weekly through June 16, 2025.
Boston Parks and Recreation Fitness Series
Check this site for a wide variety of free offerings! Get Fit, Enjoy your parks!
Arts Offerings – we’re fortunate to live amidst world-class cultural offerings… find your bliss at any one of these events:
New England Conservatory NEC (here’s just one of many of their concerts):
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.
We’ll be back next week with a more local focus, meanwhile, we wish you a very good New Year.
Some traditions focus on letting the past go, or bringing good fortune and luck into the future, exchanging meaningful symbolic gifts, or just making a lot of noise and, of course, fire and fireworks! Here are two hot takes on old traditions:
Panama: Burning away the old year’s grudges
Panamanians bid adieu to the past by setting ablaze effigies representing their year’s grievances. This cathartic ritual symbolizes letting go of negative experiences and embracing the fresh start that the new year brings. The burning of the effigies is a symbolic act of letting go.
Germany: Molten lead predicts the future
Germans turn to molten lead for a glimpse into their future. On New Year’s Eve, they melt lead into various shapes, and the resulting forms are interpreted to predict events in the year ahead.
Best way to get about, take the T! FREE ON NEW YEAR’S EVE
Subway runs on a regular weekday schedule until 3 PM. Service increases after 3 PM and will be extended by one hour, ending around 2:30 AM.
Bus, ferry, and The RIDE run on a regular weekday schedule.
Commuter Rail will run on a regular weekday schedule, with the last trains departing at 12:30 AM. No bikes will be allowed after 8PM.
Note: Starting at 8 PM on December 31, subway, bus, and The RIDE will be fare-free. Commuter Rail service will be free on trains that arrive or depart North/South Station from 8 PM through end of service.
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.
DEVELOPING NEWS – BOSTON CITY COUNCIL: On Friday, December 6, Tania Fernandes Anderson, City Councilor District 7, was arrested on federal public corruption charges. (District 7 consists of East Fenway, Roxbury, Dorchester, and part of the South End.) The second term Councilor pleaded not guilty, announced she has no plans to resign, and attended the last council meeting of 2024 on December 11th. Councilors Flynn, Fitzgerald and Murphy offered an order for a hearing to establish an ethics committee at the Boston City Council, the offer was tabled until the next meeting on January 8, 2025 at noon. City Council terms are two years. The next election is November 2025.
@
Fenway Civic Association 