Dear Members and Friends:
Enjoy the gorgeous fall weather, plenty to do and see outdoors, including this Sunday at 4pm at Ramler Park with live music from Annie and the Fur Trappers! And next Monday, Oct. 12all-throughout the Fenway for the 25th Opening Our Doors celebration! And FYI, New Edgerly Plaza is being spruced up this weekend! Photos to come. And, in Development news, changes have been made to the housing proposal at 165 Park Drive | Bostonplans.org .
ELECTIONS: It’s just a month away from election day. Meanwhile, there is mail-in and early voting available. If you need voting information on when/where how – check these links:
Mid-term election day is Tuesday, November 3rd
Voter Registration Deadline: October 24
Vote by Mail Application Deadline: 5 p.m., October 27
Early Voting Period: October 17-30
Election Day Polling Hours: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Upcoming Election Dates & Info
League of Women Voters 411 site.
With 9 ballot questions, you may want to tackle 2 or 3 questions each week. The last page of the Red Book has a Voter Checklist you can note your decisions, tear out and bring to the voting booth with you.
Ballot questions are listed in full, with arguments pro and con for each, in the MA State official 2026 Information for Voters booklet aka ‘Red Book’.
The importance of your vote. Over the past two weeks we listed 10 milestones from 1776 to 2000; this week we pick up the story from 2002.
2002: Congress passes the Help America Vote Act [HAVA]
After the 2000 election debacle with hanging chads and multiple problems, HAVA mandated replacing outdated voting equipment, created statewide voter registration lists, provided provisional ballots so eligible voters would not be turned away, and made it easier for people with disabilities to cast private, independent ballots.
2006: Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act [VRA]
Extended the bill’s protections for fundamental voting rights another 25 years, instructing the use of updated U.S. Census Bureau and American Community Survey data. Eliminated federal examiners and replaced them with federal observers assigned by the Office of Personnel Management.
2010: Philanthropy embraces need for reform
Carnegie Corporation of New York and other non-profit funders stepped up their support with the State Infrastructure Fund (SIF), a fund to invest in advancing voting rights.
2013: The Supreme Court strikes a blow to the Voting Rights Act of 1965
In its 5-4 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, the U.S. Supreme Court effectively gutted the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act, ruling that states and localities with a history of suppressing voting rights no longer were required to submit changes in their election laws to the U.S. Justice Department for review (or “preclearance”). Almost immediately, states and local governments began to roll back voting rights protections and pass laws that were designed to suppress voting rights.
2014: The voting rights movement coalesces to fight suppression
The State Infrastructure Fund launched the Voting Rights Working Group, a cohort of 11 legal nonprofits using litigation to protect the voting rights of underrepresented populations.
Let’s Center People – Not Parties – When We Talk about Voting Rights
Voting in America continues to be a contentious issue. Exercise your right to vote. Know your options, make a plan.Vist: Elections Division of Massachusetts for more info.
THE WEEK AHEAD
NEW DATE Saturday, October 3, from 7pm, Reception and Gallery Talk: “The Box” works by Kaji Aso from the private collection of Bernard Biales. At Kaji Aso Studio 40 St. Stephen Street. Register by RSVP: administrator@kajiasostudio.com Events are Free and Open to the Public
NEW DATE Sunday, October 4, 4pm, Jazz at Ramler Park with Annie and the Fur Trappers, 130 Peterborough Street. Free and fun for all, come and join us for a light hearted afternoon of old time jazz and blues in Ramler Park on a Sunday afternoon with a lively group of musicians and friends! (flyer below)
Thursday, Oct 8, 6:30pm Virtual Rally: Preview of All 9 Ballot Questions. A coalition of Democratic ward committees hosts a “ballot rally,” a 90-minute online intro to the nine referendum questions on the Nov. 3 ballot. Hear from backers about the issues the questions address. Register at bit.ly/BallotQuestions2026.
UPCOMING
Monday, October 12, day-long, Opening Our Doors – throughout the Fenway Cultural District, www. fenwayculture.org/ood-2026-schedule A yearly event showcasing Fenway’s cultural institutions with special events and performances throughout the day. Find what calls out to you.
Saturday, November 21, 8:30am–12pm, Zero Waste Day Drop-Off (Rescheduled) | Boston.gov. 400 Frontage Road, Drop off your hazardous household waste for proper disposal by the city. Learn more at boston.gov/calendar/ zero-waste-day-drop-2. For a list of accepted items: Zero Waste Days | Boston.gov FREE
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
165 Park Drive | Bostonplans.org Project Site, adjacent to the existing Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral.The Notice of Project Change proposes to reduce the overall size of the Project to a single 6-story residential building containing 112 rental apartments, 20% of which will qualify as Inclusionary Housing Units in accordance with current City of Boston regulations. The Project included landscape features designed to solidify and reestablish the prominence of the existing cathedral in the neighborhood for future generations. Note, the 2 separate building proposal with one building of affordable condos has been dropped, due to funding constraints. Comments on this project are open until October 13, and can be submitted on the City’s web page: scroll to the bottom of this page to see the comments input area: https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/165-park-drive.
MBTA & TRANSPORTATION
Alerts | MBTA Orange Line disruptions – check the site for details, INCLUDES GREEN LINE DISRUPTIONS.
Symphony Station is closed until summer 2029.
Commuter Rail Summer Promotions | Fares Overview | MBTA (new fare options! – extended through the fall)
Bowker Overpass – visit the site for current notices.
Roadwork at Mass Ave near Symphony Station through November
Peterborough Street Street Excavation for sewer, water main and utility line replacement causes daytime road closures. As of Oct 3, project is 40% complete.
HEALTH & SAFETY
EVENTS — Charles River Watershed Association Check this site for ongoing events including a wide array of activity including: arts, exercise, advocacy, education, land many great things going on in the Charles River watershed. Lend your voice to the current advocacy event by Oct 30 to ‘cut the crap!’ getting into our watershed!!
FENWAY CARES Every other Wednesday, 3:30 pm ‘til done – Next date Oct 7.
Upcoming Food Distribution Dates (3:30 pm, while supplies last)
WEST FENWAY* Fenway Community Center: & EAST FENWAY Symphony Park
* Presence of Mass General Brigham Community Care Van 1-5pm
See you around!
Promoting a vital and sustainable neighborhood
