-By Penny Cherubino In another rite of spring, readers have returned to benches and lawns in the parks. Neighbors stop to say hello and ask, “What are you reading?” Conversations follow, books are reviewed, and recommendations made. Book Gatherings Anne Drazen, chair of the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay’s Friends & Neighbors Activities,...
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A Week of Rain is Forecast
The weekend was about gray skies and rain. Monday came up gray and rainy. The weathermen and women on Boston’s major television stations are all predicting a week of gray and rain at a time when all of us want to be wearing short sleeve shirts and shorts, and taking long walks by the...
Police Briefs 05-17-2011
Motor Vehicle Recovered in Boston 05/01/11 – At about 2:41 a.m., an individual walked into Area D-4 headquarters at 650 Harrison Ave. to report his car was stolen. The individual said he parked and locked his motor vehicle at Exeter and Beacon streets at around 1 a.m. When he returned at about 2:30 a.m.,...
What do You Call that Long Bridge across the Charles?
-By Penny Cherubino Whether you call it the Harvard Bridge or the Mass Ave Bridge, it’s a handy part of life for Bostonians. Early on it was dubbed the “Xylophone Bridge” for the sounds emitted as vehicles crossed its wooden deck. When a head-on collision closed this vital link during rush hour last December,...
Collecting Our National Pastime
-By Kenneth Gloss Since the incredible World Series win of 2004 by the Boston Red Sox, interest in all sports has increased and over the past 25 years, interest in sports collectibles has continued to skyrocket. Baseball has been particularly popular – it is the epitome of America. There is a little bit of...
Henry Lee’s Example
Henry Lee has stepped down as the Chairman of the Friends of the Public Garden. He has become its president emeritus. His departure after 41 years leaves a void as Mr. Lee came to personify the idea that example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing. In every...
The Mayor is Right about Cable Charges
Mayor Thomas Menino believes Boston’s cable viewers are being ripped off by Comcast, Boston’s major supplier of cable. Cable costs for those with Comcast in the city have doubled in price in the past two years, a situation the mayor does not wish to condone. He wants the city to be able to set...
Police Briefs 05-10-2011
Investigate Person 04/25/11 – At about 12:03 p.m., an officer responded to Casa Romero restaurant at 30 Gloucester St. for a report of an attempted larceny. Upon arrival, the officer spoke to the victim, who stated that an unknown male entered the business and attempted to steal the victim’s wallet from inside his office....
What’s Happening on Hereford Street?
A landscape restoration demonstration project has begun on this block of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. Crews are “Air Spading”– a process that safely breaks up compacted soil, gets more oxygen to the roots of trees and turf, and increases the absorption of nutrients and water.
Vandals are Picking Your Pocket
-By Penny Cherubino With the warm weather comes another season of the Graffiti NABBers battle against the chronic graffiti vandalism in the Back Bay. Recently, chairperson Anne Swanson crunched some numbers and prepared a financial impact statement that the Attorney General’s office can use when prosecuting vandalism cases. Out of Pocket Expense “A typical...
A Sunday to Remember
By all accounts, Sunday was a lovely spring day. A bit cool with a sea breeze all day – but a fabulous day to be alive and, it turns out, to be an American. Boston was resonant with colors bursting everywhere and gardens coming to life with the color green appearing extremely brilliant in...
Police Briefs 05-03-2011
Motor Vehicle Accident Involving Bicycle 04/21/11 – At about 8:28 a.m., an officer responded to a radio call for a motor vehicle accident with a bicycle at Beacon and Hereford streets. Upon arrival, officer met up with the victim, who stated he was driving his 2010 Toyota Prius on Gloucester Street in the direction...
Blue Bell
“The sun does arise,And make happy the skies.The merry bells ringTo welcome the spring.”- William Blake(Eenglish poet 1757-1827)
Neighborhood Round Up
TONIGHT: ‘Retirement and Income Planning Strategies’ lecture Hertel & Konish Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors invites you and your spouse or guest to attend “Retirement and Income Planning Strategies for the Road Ahead” at the Court Yard Restaurant at the Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St., on Tuesday, April 26, at 6:30...
Board of Election Commissioners brings Voter Registration to Graduating Seniors
Boston’s Board of Election Commissioners is bringing voter registration to the city’s high schools – public, parochial and private – in an effort to add graduating seniors to the voter rolls. “Today’s seniors have so much to do, from finalizing college plans, studying for those last few exams, turning in textbooks, and getting ready...
New Willows Coming to the Esplanade on Arbor Day
The Esplanade Association (TEA), in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), will be planting 10 Golden Weeping Willow (Salix alba “Tristis”) at the Otis Grove area of the Charles River Esplanade on Arbor Day, Friday, April 29. The weeping willows will be planted according to Landscape Architect Arthur Shurcliff’s original design....
A Jazz Lesson — with a Distinct Boston Accent
-By Penny Cherubino Boston has played an important role in the history of jazz in Boston. The neighborhood is currently home to two of the area’s important jazz institutions– Berklee College of Music and JazzBoston, the organizing force behind the annual Jazz Week celebration. This year, the music will be in the air April...
Increased Payments from Nonprofits makes Sense
The mayor and the city government are absolutely correct in asking the city’s many nonprofits to increase the payments they make in lieu of taxes. For more than a century, the argument about tax exempts being totally exempted from taxes has not been questioned enough to make a difference. The exemptions began with church...
The Royal Wedding
When Prince William and his bride to be Kate Middleton tie the knot Friday morning, a lot of us will be watching. Americans, and especially Bostonians, have very special feelings about people who are born in castles to become kings and queens versus those of us born in common hospitals to become whomever we...
A Place to Pause
“What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn’t have any doubt – it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn’t want to go anywhere else.”
Fabulous Back Bay Picnics
-By Penny Cherubino If you think picnics are something reserved for lazy Sunday afternoons in the country, think again. Surrounded by beautiful green spaces, you can take a quick picnic break any day your senses lure you outside to enjoy Boston’s fleeting moments of perfect weather. Breakfast on a Bench With the first warm...
Patriots Day 2011
The commemoration of the battles of Lexington and Concord continues another year and frankly the world should be grateful for that. We remain the world’s great shining light of freedom and democracy, even if our national government can’t agree on virtually anything at this point in time. Since April, 1775 and throughout our national...
Police Briefs 04-18-2011
Willful and Malicious Destruction of Property 04/08/11 – At about 2:13 a.m., officers responded to a radio call for an incident at 409 Marlborough St. On arrival, police observed four individuals fighting at the corner of Marlborough Street and Massachusetts Avenue. Officers also observed that the glass front door at 409 Marlborough St. was...