Dear Members and Friends:
March is Women’s History Month! Every day is an opportunity to make history!
History is indeed being made daily since the new presidential administration. Last week brought an onslaught of activity that will impact our city in countless ways. Executive actions calling for funding cuts in health and education, mass firings of federal employees, and a focus on deporting immigrants directly impacts on our local economy.
On March 5, 2025, Mayor Michelle Wu testified before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on Boton’s immigration policies in Washington, D.C., alongside mayors from Denver, Chicago, and New York, read her opening statement here. And later this month is the Mayor’s State of the City Address, 7 pm, Wednesday, March 19, livestreamed here.
On March 6th, our local elected officials held a Town Hall on “What’s Next?” in responding to the new federal administration. Discussions centered on the importance of civic engagement and specific ways citizens can affect change. If you are not already connected to your legislators, start here to find your reps based on your address: Find and contact elected officials | USAGov. Make your voice heard. Our power is in our voice, our vote, and our choices. We encourage you to be informed.
Meanwhile, Mother Nature “Marches” on… Spring has certainly come “in like a lion’… we can only hope it “leaves like a lamb.”
Need a break? Thanks to a generous grant from Berklee College of Music, Fenway Civic Association is partnering with the City of Boston Streets Cabinet to bring spring activation to Edgerly Plaza this March and April! Look for music, arts, and more in the plaza – watch this space: https://www.boston.gov/new-edgerly-plaza
Have ideas about what you’d like to see at the plaza? Take this short survey to share your vision with the City!
Need community? Join us at the Fenway Civic Association Annual Meeting on Thursday, March 27th – 6-8 pm at The 521 Overlook at Fenway Park – details below.
THE WEEK AHEAD
No scheduled events – you get a break!
UPCOMING
Monday, March 17 is City of Boston Holiday! You’re probably thinking, wow, St. Patrick’s Day, yay! Well, actually, it’s for Evacuation Day – celebrating the day in 1776 when Bostonians kicked out (evacuated!) the last loyalists to a king we ever tolerated! Watch a narrated presentation on the historic struggle of Evacuation Day. Great revolutionary leaders and patriots including Knox and Washington made Boston the cradle of democracy. We’re still loud and proud about it.
Thursday, March 20 4:30-6:30 PM, Back Bay Fens Tree Walk (Rain Date March 21) meet at the Shattuck Visitor Center, 125 The Fenway
Join Jack Schleifer, Field Operations Manager for the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, on a guided walk of the Back Bay Fens and learn about the ENC’s pruning work keeping 900+ trees healthy and growing strong! Learn more and register here
Friday, March 21, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Fenway/Kenmore Office Hour
Fenway Community Center 1282 Boylston Street
Join Maccon Bonner’s office hour to receive support connecting with City departments, addressing any concerns or just to say hello.
Wednesday, March 24, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Fenway Transportation Action Plan Meeting, Fenway Community Center (FCC)
This meeting will be a fully in-person meeting at the FCC. Staff will walk through the newly released Fenway Transportation Action Plan interactive StoryMap, discuss the vision for Fenway’s transportation future, and gather feedback to shape the Action Plan. Add your voice to the discussion!
Thursday, March 27th -6-8 p.m., Fenway Civic Association’s Annual Meeting at the 521 Overlook at Fenway Park, 14 Lansdowne Street.
Social time from 6-6:30 p.m. will be followed by a brief business meeting, and then a special presentation by Interim Parks Commissioner Liza Meyer: “Understanding Shadow Impacts on Parkland”
The program will discuss efforts underway by the Boston Parks Department, the Boston Planning Department, and a stakeholder advisory committee to define the sunlight needs of our parks and inform guidelines for sunlight access that support the health of trees and plants and the comfort and enjoyment of people who use the parks.
We look forward to seeing you there! (see flyer)
Friday, March 28, 9 am – Office Hour- Henry Santana, Boston City Councilor At-Large
Union Square Donuts inside TimeOut Market at 401 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02215
RSVP here for the Fenway Office Hour
Taxes due April 15th! Need help? Contact the Boston Tax Help Coalition (BTHC)
ONGOING
The Fenway’s Mass Historical Society is commemorating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution with ongoing exhibitions, programs, educational resources, digital content and more: America’s 250th Anniversay
SURVEYS AND ACTION PLANS
Fenway Transportation Action Plan
City of Boston’s Anti-Displacement Initiative
Community-Based Flood Resilience and Green Infrastructure
Boston Rodent Action Plan (BRAP)
ONGOING ARTS & RECREATION
New England Conservatory – offers free, open to the public performances
Boston Family Pass– Free admission to museums, zoo, aquarium and more!
Boston Parks and Recreation Fitness Series virtual and live events
ArtsBoston calendar a citywide listing of cultural events
FENWAY CARES Every Other Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. ’til done, Next date: 3/12
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!
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.
Councilor Fernandes Anderson federal public corruption case was due in court on March 5. We’re looking for an update on this situation.
DEVELOPMENTS BY STATUS:
69-81 Kilmarnock Street, 409 Huntington Avenue, 262 St. Botolph St., 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, 20 Charlesgate West, 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 