Dear Members and Friends:
OCTOBER 1st, and the government has been funded for another 45 days. As the nation gets its house in order, it’s important to reflect upon the importance of voting: we are ultimately responsible for who governs—your vote shapes the business of society. The next local election is November 7th, please ensure your voice is heard – voter registration deadline is Oct. 28. As Tip O’Neill was known to say…All politics is local.
Local impact survey – 2023 Fenway Park concert series
We urge all our members to comment on Fenway Park concert impacts – this is to gage how the 2023 series went, with the goal to influence next year’s concert series. The survey asks about 4 areas of mitigation which Fenway Park was to manage: Sound / Transportation / Trash & Sanitation / Impacts on Public Parks and Pathways; and provides an opportunity for you to give additional comments.
Please take this survey, sponsored by the Fenway Park Concert Neighborhood Committee – results will be shared at the Red Sox community meeting in October. To take the survey, click this link: https://forms.gle/i3RJseyHk7Y4rwNf8
October 7th – Opening night at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, will be all the more fabulous thanks to the BSO for their generous gift of free tickets to FCA members, who responded by 9/29. An exciting start to their musical season.
Safety First!
Berklee Community and Government Relations invites you to opt in to receive messages from the Berklee Emergency Notifications System (BENS) a mass notification system. When an immediate threat or emergency occurs, or is about to occur, BENS will be used to communicate to those who may be negatively affected by the incident so people can take the necessary actions to protect themselves.To opt in for BENS notifications, emailcommunityrelations@berklee.edu and provide your preferred name, email and/or the cell phone number to receive notifications. Send any questions on this process to the same email.
Wednesday, October 4, Nationwide Emergency Alert Test.
Test Messages will be Sent to All TVs, Radios and Cell Phones (FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
CITY OF BOSTON – INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY
Monday, October 9th is Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
The Boston City Council, in honor of the histories and cultures of Indigenous Peoples, adopted a resolution recognizing October 9th, 2023 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In recognition of the day, the Council ordered to raise the flag of the Massachusetts Tribe at Ponkapoag over City Hall Plaza on October 6th. Flags from nation states around the world have flown at Boston City Hall, but Boston has never before flown the flag of an Indigenous nation.
The Iroquois Confederacy, a group of indigenous tribes living in northeastern North America, had a participatory democracy government with executive, legislative, and judicial branches which provided a framework for forming a new nation, the USA.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Wednesday, October 4, Councilor Durkan’s first seasonal office hours for the Fenway neighborhood, at Cornwall’s – 644 Beacon Street
The Councilor is excited to welcome you to the fall round of office hours. Whether you have never met the Councilor or have an urgent matter you would like to discuss, the Councilor is eager to meet with you. Sign up here for the Fenway meeting. If time slots are full, please request an alternative time-slot via virtual office hours.
Thursday, October 5, 3 p.m. CineFest Latino Boston – City Hall Plaza
A double-feature: two Latin films- movie night celebrating Latinx culture.
The Latinx Heritage month celebration runs thru October 15; The City will be providing a variety of programming and events in honor of Latinx cultures and communities that contribute to the vibrancy of Boston, listed at the city’s website: https://www.boston.gov/news/mayor-michelle-wu-kicks-latinx-heritage-month.
Thursday, October 5, Free First Thursdays each month – Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum 3-9 p.m. registration required – RESERVE your free ticket online https://www.gardnermuseum.org/experience/thursday-nights
Monday, October 9 – Fenway Alliance’s flagship festival Opening Our Doors – a celebration of the Fenway Cultural District –
The festival line up is live on this website – https://www.fenwayculture.org/ood-2023-schedule. New this year is a main stage at The Station at 1400 Boylston performances from 12pm – 4pm. A fun day full of free events.
Monday, October 9 at 12:30 and 1:30 p.m., Free Concert by Mikiko Sato at Kaji Aso Studio, 40 St. Stephen Street. Mikiko is a Japanese Singer-songwriter/composer & Concert Series Director of Kaji Also Studio. Part of the Opening our Doors festival.
ONGOING & UPCOMING
Wednesday, October 11: Fenway Cares Food Distribution 2 locations Symphony Community Park & Fenway Community Center 3:30 p.m.- info here.
October 12 & 13: 10 a.m – 11:30 a.m, CITY HALL ON THE GO TRUCK: KENMORE-FENWAY – bringing essential municipal services to you
Oct 12: Kenmore Square, 623 Commonwealth Ave
Oct 13: Fenway Victory Gardens, across from 1200 Boylston Street.
The City Hall On The Go truck has scheduled 2 stops in the neighborhood, bringing essential municipal services right to you – get your business done on a wide range of services – check the web for a full list.
Please note, no cash payments on the truck.
Wednesday, October 18, 6 p.m-8 p.m 1400 Boylston Street Public Meeting | Virtual Meeting
The BPDA is hosting a Public Meeting for the 1400 Boylston Street project located in the Fenway. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Draft Project Impact Report. The meeting will include a presentation followed by Q&A and comments from the public.
How to Participate Please register in advance for this meeting through the following link: bit.ly/3RvAc01
Meeting ID: 160 342 2795
Toll-free call-in number: 833 568 8864
NEXT Voter Registration Deadline: October 28, 2023
The Municipal Election will be on November 7, 2023
December 1st deadline to apply for the Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant Berklee established the Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to support community-based projects and initiatives that contribute to the vibrancy and quality of life in the Fenway neighborhood. The application deadline is December 1st, and you can find more information, including eligibility requirements, here. If you are a neighborhood nonprofit, please consider applying!
City of Boston neighborhood liaison Maggie Van Scoy to contact Maggie, visit her web page here.
MBTA OCTOBER SERVICE CHANGES here
BPDA Design Vision Survey Take the survey to share your vision for design in Boston. Community Engagement taken through Oct. For survey info click :http://www.bostonplans.org/planning/urban-design/boston-design-vision . To take the survey, click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y6HL5YS
Curbside food waste collection is here! (for smaller buildings) and
If you live in a big building, you can use Project Oscar community compost drop-offs located throughout the City to compost food scraps! Closest to Fenway is the Tobin Community Center at 1481 Tremont Street.
In case you’ve forgotten… there is a LOT of upcoming development:
BPDA – PROJECTS follow each of the links for more info:
Visit BPDA’s website to see details on development projects. You can search by neighborhood, and by Project/Plan Status.
“Letters of Intent” 645 Beacon Street; 142-146 St. Mary’s Street
“Under Review”: 409 Huntington Avenue, 2 Charlesgate West, 165 Park Drive, 1400 Boylston Street, and in neighboring Back Bay: Belvidere Student Housing (converting Sheraton Hotel south tower into student dormitory)
“Board Approved” are clear to proceed.
See you around!
Promoting a vital and sustainable neighborhood
Fenway Civic Association 