bay village newsletter - dec. 2012

December 2012 Volume 23, Issue 4 www.bayvillage.net

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

THE BAY VILLAGE NEWS

‘Tis the Bay Village holiday season! Turn to Page 7.

BVNA WINTER 2013 SOCIAL EVENTS

PLEASE SAVE THESE DATES!

ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

Sunday January 27, 4 to 7 p.m.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar

Raffle Prizes and Silent Auction!

A great way to brighten a snowy winter afternoon

while raising money for worthy BNVA initiatives!

Advance tickets are $40 for individuals

($55 at door, if available),

and $85 for families with children under 21

($100 at door, if available).

GREATER BOSTON FOOD

BANK BVNA VOLUNTEER PROJECT

Wednesday, March 27, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

We're looking for forty Bay Villagers

(16 years and older) to help sort and package food at

the Greater Boston Food Bank for those in need.

It’s a great way to spend time together

while giving back to the community!

2 President’s Letter

3 Membership

4 Block Party

5 Annual Meeting/Community Relations

6 Cleaning Up Bay Village

7 Holiday Decorating and Party

8 Beautification/Gucci Says

9 70th Anniversary Cocoanut Grove Fire

10 Safety Committee/Friends of BV Parks

11-13 Three Pages of Tasty Tidbits!

14-15 Urban Hero

16 Bay Village’s Barney Frank

17 City Services

18 Planning

19 Membership Signup

20-24 Support Our Advertisers

WINTER IS UPON US:

PLEASE SHOVEL YOUR SIDEWALK!

Residents are responsible for

clearing snow and ice promptly after

a storm. Not only will the City ticket

you if your sidewalk is not cleared, you can be

liable if someone trips or falls in front of your

property. Guidelines:

http://www.cityofboston.gov/snow/. We invite

you to be a great neighbor and consider

shoveling out fire hydrants, elderly or vacationing

neighbors, or any spot near your house that needs it. Your neighbors will appreciate it.


2

As this is my first letter as President of the Bay Village Neighborhood Association, I would like

to begin by extending my sincere thanks to my predecessor Ken Ham. Ken’s southern

charm and gentlemanly demeanor made the job appear effortless – which, just only a

month into it, I can honestly say it’s not! I’m also very thankful for the continued service of

the multi-talented members of the BVNA Executive Committee, as well as our band of

regular neighborhood volunteers who remain steadfast in their commitment to our little slice

of Boston that we call home.

Our fall social season got off to a fantastic start with our annual block party--our largest to

date. The weather finally cooperated and Melrose Street was turned into a magical

outdoor café where neighbors dined al fresco on food generously donated by Maggiano’s.

On November 1, BVNA held its annual meeting, again graciously hosted by the Revere

Hotel (which also hosted an incredible cocktail party for us afterwards. GM Simon Mais goes above and beyond

for us and we are so grateful for his kindness and generosity). Residents were joined by State Representative

Aaron Michlewitz and Boston City Councilors Bill Linehan and Felix Arroyo. I’d like to thank them sincerely for their

tireless work on behalf of Bay Village. Hilani Morales, our (relatively) new and fantastic liaison to the Mayors office

also attended. Hilani will be on maternity leave shortly and we wish her best of luck on her impending delivery.

Our fall cleanup was actually held on the first day of December this year to ensure that all the leaves would be off

the trees and could be swept up. Thankfully it was cold and snowy! However, that didn’t put a damper on

anyone’s spirits and we had a great turnout. Thank you, once again, to the Revere Hotel for allowing us to park

our cars in their garage. Moving the cars off the streets allows us to sweep up all the leaves from the curbs and

makes for an easier time for the street sweepers. A big thank you to Frank O’Brien and all the hard-working folks in

the Mayor’s office for their efficient work. And lastly, many thanks to all the volunteers who regularly participate

(you know who you are!), as well as to all of the new faces we saw. Would love to see more of you helping to

keep our neighborhood tidy and clean.

Because our cleanup was so late this year, it coincided with the wreath hanging and tree lighting, which only

added to the holiday feel in the air. As

Rocque Dion would say, our neighborhood

trees are AWESOME!! This busy weekend

culminated with the holiday party, held this

year at Geoffrey’s Café, and a rousing

success.

In closing, despite being part of the BVNA,

both on and off the EC, for nearly a

decade, this last month has been

illuminating for me in just how indebted we

are to so many of our long-time residents.

These trailblazers have fought fights for the

betterment of this neighborhood that most

of us could never fathom, much less

tolerate. It is because of their selflessness for

the “collective rights” of the neighborhood

that Bay Village is what it is today. It is my

genuine hope that we can continue their

efforts by empowering more neighbors to

get involved with the BVNA on a steadier

basis.

Happy Holidays to you and yours and may

the New Year be a healthy and happy one.

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

2012-2013 BVNA OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS

President: Nancy Morrisroe

Treasurer: Tim Kacich

Finance: Eric Cordes

Registrar/Membership: Lora Shea, Judy Komarow, Mary-Beth

Carney

Recorder: Jean Quintal

Community Relations and Beautification : Jo Campbell

Beautification: Mark Bocash, Keith Gnoza, Priscilla Collins,

Brett Collins, Jo Campbell

Traffic/City Services: Aoife Austin, Jim McCormick,

Chris Goddu

Communications: Kathleen McDermott

Social Directors: Nan Rubin, Caitlyn Bransfield, Eric Cordes

Safety: Mary Teeven, Dan Relihan

Licensing: Len Phillips, Ken Ham

Planning: Sarah Herlihy, Ben Beck

Advertising and Archives: Nancy Ham

School Liaison: Daniel Krulewitch

Webmaster: Aquil Abdullah

At Large: Brian Boisvert, John Shope, Mark Slater.

Nancy Morrisroe,

BVNA President.


3

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

By Lora Shea, BVNA Registrar

[email protected]

Mary-Beth Carney, Judy Komarow

and I make up BVNA’s membership

committee.

BVNA is 190 members strong as of

December 2012.

If you haven’t yet joined BVNA

please consider these top ten

reasons:

1. Politicians more likely to

support our causes if our

membership is large.

2. You are an important part of

the Bay Village community

and your input matters.

3. Help support and improve

the quality of life in the

neighborhood.

4. Become part of the

community.

5. Get discounts at local

businesses.

6. Bring your concerns to the

Executive Committee

monthly meeting and vote at

the Annual Meeting.

7. Reduced rates at Bay Village

events.

8. Email updates of

neighborhood happenings

and events.

9. Membership funds support

beautification throughout

the neighborhood.

10. Keep informed about

development projects that

affect the neighborhood.

LOCAL MERCHANT DISCOUNTS

FOR BVNA MEMBERS

Thanks to these local shops and cultural organizations:

Bay Village Cleaners: 10% off on orders of $30 or

more (can be combined between cleaning and

alterations).

Lyric Stage: $10 off any ticket any time.

Bacco's Wine and Cheese: between 5 and 10% off

purchases other than beer and wine during

scheduled periods.

Amaci Salon: discount on first visit and products (with

coupon).

SCAN OR TEXT FOR BVNA MEMBERSHIP!

Here’s one way we attract new BVNA members: a QR code

for smart phones or a text signup to our email lists.

We post this notice in the community bulletin board, at Bay

Village Cleaners, Mike & Patty's, the CSA drop off, and

distribute it at BVNA events or whenever we flyer cars.

CHECK OUR COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD!

Notices of important community issues and meetings are

always posted on the bulletin board at the Bay Village

Garden (corner of Melrose and Church Streets).


4

BOSTON CITIZENS CONNECT APP

Tired of seeing graffiti in the neighborhood? Shaken by potholes

on your drive to work? Well, there's an app for that:

http://www.cityofboston.gov/doit/apps/citizensconnect.asp.

The Boston Citizens Connect cell phone app enables residents to take

photos of graffiti, potholes, streetlights and other neighborhood problems

and send them directly to the city using your phone.

It’s a great way to have a better day!

GREAT NIGHT OUT AT

BAY VILLAGE BLOCK PARTY!

By BVNA Social Directors Nan Rubin,

Caitlyn Bransfield, and Eric Cordes.

Our annual BVNA Block Party on

September 13 was a fabulous success.

More than 115 people attended! The

beautiful weather allowed us to hold the

party outside for the first time in three

years! The Block Party was well-attended

by police and elected officials. From left in

top row of photos, Boston Police Captain

Tom Lee, Sergeant Tom Lema, State

Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Boston

City Councilor Felix Arroyo,

Boston City Councilor Bill Linehan, and

State Senator Anthony Petruccelli.

Erbaluce's, MJ O'Connor’s, and the Revere

Hotel generously donated raffle prizes.

Donations were collected for the Animal

Rescue League and our neighborhood cat

rescue. Thanks to all who made this party

such a great success!

We look forward to seeing you at our

annual winter fundraiser at Fleming's on

January 27, 2013.

Thanks to Rocque Dion for

thes

e

gre

at

pho

tos!

http://www.cityofboston.gov/doit/apps/citizensconnect.asp.


5

2012 BVNA ANNUAL MEETING

WELCOMES THE NEW!

BVNA

greeted

new

President

Nancy

Morrisroe,

Melrose

Street.

State

Representative

Aaron

Michlewitz

spoke at the

meeting.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS by Jo Campbell,

mailto:[email protected].

1. The construction going on in Bay

Village has inconvenienced many

residents, particularly on Piedmont Street.

Our City Services committee has been

working hard to keep us informed about

parking and street closures. When this

construction is complete, Bay Village will

be even better.

2. Holidays are a time for sharing and I’d

like to bring cookies to our firemen at the

Columbus Avenue station, “Ladder #17.”

I know we have some outstanding cooks

in Bay Village and I'd ask you to whip up a

batch of brownies, cookies, or cupcakes.

Please let me know what you'd like to

bake, drop it off to me on Monday,

December 17, wrapped in bright holiday

paper with a note explaining what is in

your package and your name. It's fun

and appreciated at the firehouse.

3. Nasty cold weather and slick sidewalks

will arrive soon. Please be aware of our

elderly neighbors and persons who have

trouble walking even in the best of times,

as well as others recovering from surgery.

They would appreciate your help to walk

their dog or do a little grocery shopping.

How about making a little extra soup,

dropping it off, and spending a few

moments catching up on the latest.

Remember: we are the best

neighborhood in Boston!

Happy Holidays to all!

Outgoing

President

Ken Ham

reviewed

the year.

CHECK OUR COMMUNITY

BULLETIN BOARD!

Notices regarding all important

community issues and meetings are

always posted on the bulletin board at

the Bay Village Garden (corner of

Melrose and Church Streets).

This year’s Annual Meeting took

place October 26 at the Radisson

Hotel. Lots of neighbors showed up

to take care of business and have

some fun.

Each committee presented a short

summary of recent

accomplishments and

current plans. BVNA members also

voted in the new Executive

Committee for the coming year

(see roster, Page 2).

Thanks to Radisson’s General

Manager Simon Mais for hosting

the event, and a special thank you

to Director of Catering Paul Landry

and staff for the wonderful food

and desserts.

We have a strong core of

dedicated volunteers covering all

aspects of the neighborhood,

including Beautification, Crime,

Licensing, Planning, City Services,

Community Relations, and Social

Events. These individuals are

working to improve life for all

residents of Bay Village. Thank you

to all who help out!

If you’d like to help make Bay

Village a better place to live,

contact any Executive Committee

member to volunteer.

Everyone would be happy to see

some new faces! Remember: we

are the smallest neighborhood in

Boston, yet we are right in the

middle of downtown. Bay Village is

a great place to live, but it’s up to

all of us to preserve and enhance

our neighborhood.

Boston City

Councilor Bill

Linehan, with

Caitlyn Bransfield,

Melrose Street,

and Boston Police

Superintendant

Bernie O’Rourke.

mailto:[email protected]


6

MANY HANDS MAKE A FUN WINTER CLEAN-UP!

V By City Services Committee: Aoife Austin, Jim McCormick,

Chris Goddu.

BVNA hosted another fantastic Clean-Up on a snowy December

1. More than 65 neighbors came together to sweep leaves and

trash from the streets and sidewalks. Bay Village sparkled

following the Clean-Up and looks fabulous as we prepared to

hang wreaths and decorate the neighborhood for the holidays.

A huge thank you goes out to the Revere Hotel for allowing us to

park our cars there. Without that ability, many fewer cars would

be moved and the neighborhood would not be as clean as it is.

And another big thank you to the Mayor’s Representative Hilani

Morales, along with Frank O’Brien and Frank Ciampa from Public

Works. Thanks to the employees of the Boston Transportation

Department and the Public Works Department who were

responsible for putting up “No Parking” signs, providing

equipment, and operating the street sweepers. Thank you from

BVNA!

Thank you neighbors: Nathanael and Carl-Isaak Krulewitch, Jean

and John Quintal, Tom Kauycheck, Judy Komarow, Shawn Witt,

Tom Simard, Ben Beck, Mark Stacy, Mark DeCristoforo, Ian

Johnson, Prilla Smith Brackett, Paul and Pia Miller, Len Phillips,

Keith Gnoza, Mark Bocash, Jim McCormick, Mary Teeven, Rob

Lashway, Jeremy Steiger, Mara Elich, Jake Coucci, Sarah Daniel,

Barry Doyle, Ken Thornby, Barb and Andy Wiltshire, Victor Lam,

Aoife Austin, Francine Pilgrim, Beth Keane, Nate, Charlotte, and

Chris Goddu, Lisa Pirozzolo, Paul Buta, Aquil Abdullah, Ernie

Jacob, Gerald Garrett, Ben Marte, Jorge Russell, Rob Stinson, Julie

Shulman, Sheila Geoghegan, Bill Nigreen, Leslie Colburn, Nancy

Morrisroe, Emilia Pastore, Kevin Feldman, Kathy Hull, David Wright,

Nathan Felde, Garrett Larivee, Jo Campbell, Maria Winthrop,

Aphro Rahilly, Shun Huang, Artie Rice, Alice Fitzgerald, Rocque

Dion, Diane Rooney, Barry Doyle, George Klauber, Hugo

Cunningham, Alex Bok, Marcia Wetherbee.

DOG PARK CLEAN-UP A GREAT SUCCESS! by Leslie Colburn.

Wood chips were flying as the snow fell.

The Bay Village Dog Park got a clean-up on

December 1 along with the rest of the

neighborhood. Thanks to everyone who stopped

by, whether for fifteen minutes or two hours. All

those dogs really know how to kick around the

wood chips and their owners get to move them

back into place.

Thanks to Erhan Altinoglu, Boomer Bieri and his dad, Leslie

Colburn, Barbara Gaffney, Sarah Knupp, Jim McCormick,

Marcia Wetherbee.


7

CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS

IN BAY VILLAGE

Bay Village celebrated the 2012 Holiday season with a

weekend of neighborly fun.

We met on Saturday, December 1, to hang wreaths at

the Bay Village Garden, then spread out across the

neighborhood. We hung almost 200 wreaths, decorating

every gas lamppost in the Village! Later we trimmed our

outdoor trees, first in the Bay Village Garden and then

the Bay Village Neighborhood Park. Thanks to Keith

Gnoza and Mark Bocash for leading the charge on the

wreaths and the tree in the Bay Village Garden and

thanks to Tom Kauycheck, Domenic

Mastrototaro, and Francine Pellegrino for

decorating the tree in Bay Village

Neighborhood Park. Thank you all holiday 2012

wreath-hangers and tree trimmers!

Late in the afternoon the next

day, we lit the holiday trees and

caroled around the

neighborhood. From there it was

on to Geoffrey’s for the annual

BVNA Holiday party. In

the spirit of the evening,

we collected food and

monetary donations for

the Greater Boston Food

Bank. Many thanks to the

staff at Geoffrey's for a

festive evening.

More than 70

neighbors

celebrated at

Geoffrey’s; many

smiling faces are

captured in this

page of terrific photos taken by

our talented Bay Village

photographer

Rocque Dion.


8

“POE RETURNING TO

BOSTON” UPDATE

By Dan Currie.

Last August, the Boston Art

Commission approved sculptor’s

Stefanie Rocknack’s design

submission entitled “Poe

Returning to Boston.” The statue

would grace Poe Square, the

tree-lined brick plaza at the southeast corner of the intersection of Boylston and Charles streets.

Edgar Allen Poe was born two blocks away in 1809 on the site of today’s parking lot for the electric

power plant on Charles Street South.

The nonprofit Edgar Allan Poe Foundation of Boston, chaired by Boston College Professor Paul Lewis,

must now satisfy the project’s $167,000 fundraising goal in order to complete engineering studies

necessary to finalize the design before it can be installed at the location in spring 2014. The proponents

hope to meet this funding goal with roughly equal measures of support from the city, foundations and

other organizations that traditionally support cultural tourism and the arts in Boston, and from individuals

in the public, private business, and our communities. An update will be presented at a free public

event, “The 204th Birthday Celebration of Edgar Allan Poe, A Bostonian,” at the Boston Public Library in

Copley Square at 3 p.m., Saturday, January 19, 2013. www.poeboston.org

BVNA BEAUTIFICATION REPORT by Mark Bocash and Keith Gnoza.

Hello neighbors!

1. Bay Village is a hidden gem and we’d like to show it at

its best. Neighborhood beautification goes beyond the

parks looking great, the spring and fall cleanup, and

wreath hanging. With just a few of us on the committee,

it really helps that all neighbors try to keep the streets

and stoops clean and beautiful. Many of you already

sweep, plant, and help maintain beauty and cleanliness

in the neighborhood week in and week out. If everyone

can do this small part, we all benefit.

2. ‘Tis the season and it’s always nice to see festively

decorated homes and entryways! Exceptionally

decorated homes might get a photo and mention in the

next newsletter. Enjoy the winter season and the

holidays!

3. We welcome Priscilla and Brett Collins, Isabella Street,

to the Beautification Committee. They’ve been working

wonders in Isabella Street Park and would be happy to

have your help.

We look forward to working together and making Bay

Village ever more beautiful!

GUCCI SAYS:

“I BAY

VILLAGE!”

I’m Gucci, a happy

Church Street

poodle.

Salt on the street and

sidewalks can burn

the paw-pads of

small puppies and dogs. Please keep a

bowl of warm, soapy water and clean

towel inside your entrance door. Give

our paws a quick dip, dry us off, and

we’re good to go!

It's that time of year and I'll be sporting

my red jinglebell collar. You’ll hear me

long before you see me. Let’s all get

decked out for the holidays!

You all know that I love Bay Village, from

its red brick sidewalks to its dog park. I

have only one problem. There are

people in Bay Village who do not pick up

after their dogs! It’s unlawful and it’s

gross to foul our sidewalks and it gives

well-trained, eager-to-please, law-

abiding dogs like me a bad image.

Sometimes, when I walk around the

neighborhood, I get looks from

passersby. I know what they are

thinking—but it’s not me!

GUCCI SAYS:

“CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG!”

http://www.poeboston.org/


9

Above, views of the club and Piedmont Street

after the fire. Most of the images on this page

are selected from 77 photos in the Boston Public

Library’s on-line collection on the Cocoanut

Grove fire, taken two days after the fire by a

U.S. Army photographer. The images are used

here pursuant to license granted by the BPL.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_lib

rary/sets/72157631071090782/. Other BPL on-line

resources available at this site include the

Boston Fire Commissioner’s report and three

volumes of witness statements.

Relatives

of the

victims

lined up

outside

the City

morgue.

SOMBER ANNIVERSARY: COCOANUT GROVE FIRE 70 YEARS AGO

Many

soldiers

on leave

died in

the fire.

70 years

later,

memorials

are still left

at the

Piedmont

Street site.

Exterior and interior,

Cocoanut Grove

matchbook cover.

More than 1,000 people are

estimated to have crowded

into the glamorous

Cocoanut Grove nightclub

the night of November 28,

1942. The large, one-and-a-

half story space at 17

Piedmont Street contained a

dining room, bar, and

lounges. In the evening of

November 28, an artificial

palm tree caught fire and

within five minutes the entire

nightclub became an

inferno. The club’s owner,

connected to organized

crime and the political

machine, operated in

violation of existing safety

codes. 492 people died.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/sets/72157631071090782/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/sets/72157631071090782/


10

SAFETY COMMITTEE

REPORT

Safety Committee (formerly

Crime Committee) meetings

are every third Monday of the

month. We meet with Boston

Police Captain Lee and

Sergeant Lema at the South

Cove apartments, 230 Stuart

at the corner of Church, at 7

p.m.

1. CRIME IS DOWN. Due to

the dedicated work of the

Boston Police Department

and the vigilance of our

neighbors, crime in Bay

Village continues to be down.

2. GRAFFITI. The rash of

graffiti seems to have

subsided but if you see graffiti

in public property—signs or mailboxes, email us at:

[email protected]. If the graffiti is on private property,

the property owner needs to contact the City of Boston’s

Graffiti Busters: 617-635-4100.

3. OUTSIDE LIGHTS ON. With the end of daylight savings

time, it is important for the safety of the whole

neighborhood that property owners keep their outside

lights on from dusk to dawn and post No Trespassing signs

on their property.

4. LARCENY FROM A MOTOR VEHICLE. From October 14

to November 19, four reported incidents of the totally

preventable crime of larceny from a motor vehicle

occurred. All were resident vehicles. As the poster above

left states, “Don’t be a victim. Please remove your

personal property in plain view.” Doing so will reduce this

crime of opportunity and save vehicle owners the time

and hassle of reporting to the policy and insurance

companies.

5. 911 CALLS. Did you know if you call 911 from your cell

phone it is routed through the State Police dispatcher?

For a direct line to the Boston Police 911 operators when

using a cell phone, you must call 617-343-4911. Program it

into your cell phone. In an emergency, if you can’t

remember this number or find it on your phone, don’t

waste time – just call 911!

Please email BVNA Safety Committee Co-Chairs Dan Relihan

and Mary Teeven with any questions or concerns:

[email protected].

FRIENDS OF BAY VILLAGE PARKS

FRIENDS OF ELLIOT NORTON PARK

By Bill Nigreen, President, [email protected]

Our gardens in Bay Village are dormant at

this time of year, but not so the hardy souls

who care for them! A big thank-you to all

those who planted 1,500 daffodil bulbs all

around Bay Village: Mary MacVey, Gary

Sloper, Mark Bocash, Aoife Austin, Priscilla

and Brett Collins, Dominic Mastrototaro, Dick

Junghans, Jo Campbell, Tom Kauycheck,

and Daniel Krulewitch. Thanks as well to

Ryan Woods and the Boston Parks

Department for providing the bulbs as part

of the Boston Blooms program.

The design process for improvements to Elliot

Norton Park is scheduled for January

through April. The primary

focus at this stage will be the

Tot Lot and related

infrastructure improvements.

You’ll hear more about this as

the process is open to all of us

along with Chinatown and

other nearby neighborhoods.

I’m sure you noticed all the

festive holiday wreaths

festooned all around Bay

Village. They are a gift from

the Friends of Bay Village Parks

in gratitude for the strong

relationship with BVNA. Thanks

to Ti at GT Florist for making it

easy for us.

Please join us for the next

meeting of the Friends of Bay

Village Parks at 7 p.m. on

January 28, 2013, at 7 Fayette

Street. As extra inducement,

we will have a Chianti wine tasting, along

with tasty homemade hors d’oeurves! There

will be much to discuss as we set up for

spring and we’ll distribute an agenda in

advance.

If anyone would like to become a member

or get more deeply involved, please don’t

hesitate to contact me.





11

TASTY TIDBITS: FUN, SMALL BITS OF NEWS

Dancing

Western-style

after the

Episcopalian

ceremony.

Turner will

be featured

on the TLC

show "I

Found the

Gown."

Read about

their Belize

honeymoon

On October 7, Winchester Street’s

Pia Thakore and Paul Miller married

twice—first in a Hindu/Vedic

ceremony conducted in Sanskrit by

a Hindu priest and followed by an

Episcopalian service led by Sam

Lloyd from Trinity Church. At left, Pia

dressed in the wedding garments

and jewelry in the tradition of her

family’s native region of Gujrat.

At right, Paul and Pia before a

statue of Ganesh, worshipped at the

beginning of all auspicious events.

As groom, Paul led a wedding procession of his

family and friends from his “village” in Bay Village to

the “village” created by Pia’s family at the

Algonquin Club. At left, Paul on a decorated white

horse riding from Winchester Street along the

Commonwealth Avenue mall to the Algonquin

Club. Below, the culmination of the procession with

Pia’s family greeting Paul and his family with

dancing and blessings on the steps of the Club.


12

MORE TASTY TIDBITS!

From David Lapin, Winchester Street: Marcia

Leake Wetherbee, Fayette Street, has created

a scholarship at Community Music Center of

Boston in honor of her friend Leslie Colburn, a

longtime member of CMCB’s board. The

scholarship will fund an entire year of lessons for

a student in financial need at the 102 year-old

institution housed at the Boston Center for the

Arts. Bay Village neighbors are welcome to

contribute. Joan and Chuck Draghi of

Erbaluce just received a spot in Boston

Magazine's “50 Best Restaurants” issue,

following on “Best Italian” in The Improper

Bostonian. They write: “we love Bay Village

and all our neighbors. You have all been so

kind and supportive over the last four years,

and especially during our opening year

struggles. We look forward to continuing the

relationship.” Sarah Herlihy, of Piedmont

Street, reports that “the Bryn Mawr Club of

Boston was delighted to have Kathleen

McDermott lead a tour and discussion of the

"Hats" exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum in

Salem, Massachusetts. As many in the

neighborhood know, Kathleen has a particular

interest in hats, fashion, and their history. After

spending some time in the exhibit, Kathleen

talked about specific hats that interested the

Club members, providing extensive historical

and social context for the particular hat of

interest. Thanks to Kathleen for being such a

great neighbor and volunteering to spend the

morning with a group of Mawrters.” Prilla

Smith Brackett, Church Street, reports that

Artsake, the Massachusetts Cultural Council

blog, reviewed her solo exhibit at Bromfield

Gallery: http://artsake.massculturalcouncil.org

/blog/artsake/index.php/2012/11/02/prilla-

smith-brackett-promises-to-keep/. John

Shope, Fayette Street, reports: “our beloved

dog Rusty, well-known to Bay Villagers from the

neighborhood calendar and frequent walkies

to the dog run, died of a quickly-acting

cancer. Our thanks go to the Animal Rescue

League for sensitive assistance at the end.”

Knox Street’s Sarah, Paul, and Sue

Buta visited Spain this year; at left,

they stand in the Alhambra Palace in

Granada. Says Sue: “It was a first-rate

trip to Madrid, Toledo, Granada,

Seville, and several small towns in

Andalucía.”

Sue also reports that Raising A

Reader‘s "Celebrating Reading -

Family Style" Fall Breakfast raised more

than $13,000; Sue chaired the event

and Paul is on the Raising A Reader

board.

The Boston Globe selected

Simon Mais, General

Manager of the Revere

Hotel, as one of “2012’s 25

Most Stylish Bostonians.”

Rob Stinson, Fayette Street,

introduces Bobbie, a pug he

recently adopted from Angel

MSCP: “he's two years old and so

happy to be in a new home. He

loves other dogs and is enjoying life

in Bay Village! Please stop and say

hi when you see us walking

around.”

Chris Short, Church

Street with Aphro

Rahilly’s daughter

Bonnie, of Melrose

Street, in this 1970

photo. Note that

traffic on Church

Street is running

towards Park Square.

DO YOU LIKE TASTY TIDBITS?

Would you like to see more?

Send us yours for the next issue.

No “bit” too small!

http://artsake.massculturalcouncil.org/blog/artsake/index.php/2012/11/02/prilla-smith-brackett-promises-to-keep/




13

Chelsea Raine and

Jason Hickey, Melrose

Street, were married in

October in Plymouth.

For their honeymoon,

they traveled to

Thailand where they

relaxed and traveled

around Yao Noi and

Phuket.

NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR,

KATHLEEN MCDERMOTT

For twelve years now, I have crafted your

Tidbits and news into a newsletter

celebrating Bay Villagers and our unique

city community. I’ve stayed true to my

original goal: hold a mirror to our

neighborhood to reflect the best of who

we are, to ourselves and the outside

world. We activists, pet lovers, newlyweds,

families, artists, urban heroes, historians,

green-spacers, newcomers, oldtimers —

with our precious eccentricities and worldly

triumphs. In admiration and affection, I invite you

to enjoy our 49th issue together!

Thanks to everyone who contributed articles, photos,

information, and advice for this issue, including Jo Campbell,

Rocque Dion, Judy Komarow, Bill Nigreen, Nancy Morrisroe,

Nan Rubin, Prilla Smith Brackett, China Altman, Daniel

Krulewitch, Len Phillips, Steve Dunwell, Marcia Wetherbee, Judy

Komarow, June McCourt, Lora Shea, Leslie Colburn, Nancy

Ham, David Lapin, Sarah Herlihy, Sue Buta, Paul Buta, Rob

Stinson, Chelsea Raine, John Shope, Terence Janericco, Mark

Bocash, Joan and Chuck Draghi, Paul and Pia Miller, Keith

Gnoza, Chris Short, Jim McCormick, Eric Cordes, Priscilla

Collins, Tim Kacich, Aoife Austin, Chris Goddu, John Haley.

I invite you to use this Newsletter as a forum to tell your Bay Village

story. Photos are welcome, or email me and I’ll come by and take

a snap. [email protected].

EVEN MORE TASTY TIDBITS! Ken and Nancy Ham

traveled to Santa Fe,

where they enjoyed the

New Mexican cuisine,

beautiful scenery and

lots of hiking/biking.

Above, Ken climbs a

ladder at Bandolier

National Monument,

home to the original

Pueblo cliff dwellers.

Israeli Stage, the theatre company of

Fayette Street’s Guy Ben-Aharon, held a

staged reading of Gilad Evron’s “Ulysses on

Bottles” by an all-star cast at the Goethe-

Institut: www.Israelistage.com. A gala

party given by the Friends of the Public

Garden honored China Altman and the

Rose Brigade which she founded 25 years

ago. At the Four Seasons Hotel in

November guests included officials and

gardeners of Boston’s Parks and

Recreation Department as well as

members of the Rose Brigade. Henry Lee,

President Emeritus of the Friends, talked

about the unique spirit and leadership

exemplified by China in the Public Garden

since 1982 when she first led a clean-up

group which morphed in 1988 into the

Brigade. He also announced plans to

have a unique new rose hybridized and

named the China Altman rose. In

addition, a park bench near the Garden's

Tiffany Rose Bed will be named in her

honor. Bill Nigreen of Fayette Street was

featured in the recent Annual Report of

the Boston Foundation as a leader in the

campaign to raise $100 million for the

Permanent Fund for Boston. The Report

and photo may be found at www.tbf.org.

Terence Janericco reports that Mike &

Patty’s will reopen in December for the

Bay Village community and right after New

Year’s to the public. The neighborhood is

invited to join in their celebrations. They

have made physical changes to the

space so plan to drop in for a cup of

coffee or sandwich soon. Sue Buta

welcomes Bret Aarden to Knox Street.

Halloween in Bay Village: Cole Kacich,

Piedmont Street, Isabel Slater, Melrose, Ellen

Beck, Melrose, and Nathanael Krulewitch,

Fayette.

mailto:[email protected].

http://www.israelistage.com/

http://www.tbf.org/


`

URBAN HERO: JUNE McCOURT

(Note: in a July 9, 1995 Boston Globe Magazine cover

article, Larry Harmon identified June McCourt as an

“Urban Hero,” one of those “neighborhood champions

. . . who confront minor injustices . . . take on major

crimes, property blight, or political hypocrisy.” Hence

the name for this issue’s “Heroes” column.

By Bill Nigreen.)

Q: You have lived in Bay Village since 1963! Tell

me where you came from?

A: I was born in Wales, in a village where

everyone knew each other, not unlike Bay Village

in that way. I was studying radiography when I

met my future husband, a psychiatrist. We

worked in several English cities, including London,

and discovered a mutual love for city life.

Eventually we followed his specialty towards the

U.S. and Boston.

Q: How did you get to Bay Village?

A: We were renting in the Fenway and took one

look at this house on Piedmont Street and knew it

had to be ours. It was actually an old film

industrial building that had been gutted by fire.

A tailor in the area named Arthur DuCharme decided to

recycle the building into a home for himself with an open

floor plan and a contemporary (1960s!) but eclectic feel.

Q: What was it like then?

A: Everyone was moving to the suburbs. In the name of

progress, the whole West End of Boston had recently been

plowed under and Bay Village was part of the “South

Cove Urban Renewal” area. It quickly became evident

that we, as residents, had to pull together and reach out

to other neighborhoods if we wanted to preserve our

quality of life. Even the name” Bay Village” was new then.

I understand that Betty Gibson, the realtor from the South

End, said it would help with marketing the reclaimed area.

(Next page.)

Above photo, Boston Herald 1968 article, “From Burned-

Out Warehouse to Town House,” one of several

showcasing June’s Piedmont Street home, a perfectly

preserved jewel of 1960s urban living.

Left, June in Givenchy, 1973.


15

Q: How did you start?

A: BVNA had been formed a few years before and there were about 25

people at the core of it. We worked with the City as new sewer and water

lines were put in and we asked for brick sidewalks and gaslights. In 1973,

we began the famous Bay Village Street Fair, where we welcomed the rest

of Boston to enjoy our neighborhood. Even as the neighborhood was

improving, we had constant problems with bars and development.

Q: What do you mean?

A: With the bars came noise, prostitution, and crime. Many of us spent

countless hours trying to keep things from getting completely out of

control. Some people said, “Don’t talk about it or you’ll hurt real estate

values.” Instead we took our fight public and engaged the media and

government officials.

Q: How did you continue?

A: Barney Frank really worked hard to get responsiveness from Mayor White

and the city departments. (Please see Len Phillips’ article on Barney on the

next page.) Numerous reporters picked up our cause, with many

supportive articles in the Globe, Herald, and Phoenix. I knew we wouldn’t

be successful without broader neighborhood alliances. During this time I became deeply involved with both

the Friends of the Public Garden and the Park Square CAC, both of which made a huge difference in

stemming the tide of urban decline.

Q: Tell me more about yourself.

A: I’ve had a varied career. I was a radiographer when I

moved to the U.S. In Boston, I first worked in the Xray

department of the Lahey Clinic, then located on

Commonwealth Avenue. Later the 1960s, I worked at the

“Pot Shop” on Boylston Street and had fun as Julia Childs

made Boston-style cooking popular. I spent ten years in the

1970s in the marketing department for the Boston Ballet. And

in the 1990s, I enjoyed working in the public affairs and

philanthropy department of New England Financial.

Q: I understand you recently became an American citizen.

A: Yes, on August 31, 2011. I still have a great deal of

emotional attachment to Britain and my family back there,

but after forty years of civic activism, I felt the desire to

express myself as a voting citizen. The timing was not

accidental because I wanted to cast a vote for President

Obama.

Q: What advice do you have?

A: First of all, I love Boston and Bay Village – I’ve put my roots

here. But the character and quality of city life is vulnerable in

so many ways. Henry Lee, from the Friends of the Public

Garden, says Bay Village is like Poland, with alien forces encroaching on it from every direction. I’ve made it

a point to try to preserve the wonderful aspects of what we have here, and I truly hope the next generation

will pick up the mantle. The need for vigilance never ends.

Interview and text by Bill Nigreen.

June’s “Quiche Table” at the

Bay Village Street Fair, c. 1985.

With her U.S. citizenship certificate, 2011.


16

BAY VILLAGE’S BARNEY FRANK

by Len Phillips, Winchester Street.

Shown at left are two photos of the young(er)

Barney Frank, soon-to-be-retired House

Democratic Leader of Congress’ Financial Services

Committee. So . . . what is this picture doing in the

Bay Village Newsletter?

For those who weren’t around in Bay Village’s “Wild

West” period, Barney Frank’s first job in the service

of the public was as Boston’s Mayor Kevin White’s

“little city halls” neighborhood liaison.

In this position, the first occasion of the City

creating a position for someone to interface with

the city’s neighborhoods’ residents, Barney served

Bay Village with great distinction, always sharing

our concerns about the quality-of-life problems

that our local licensed establishments perpetrated

on us. He spoke up for us at the many licensing

hearings we suffered, and at City Hall he did his

best to help us with the appropriate agencies that

could do something for us. Barney had the great

habit of returning phone calls and always following

up on anything he said he would do.

For those who weren’t lucky enough to experience

Barney, you’ve got to know that he played a role

in setting Bay Village on the course to “normalcy”,

in terms of being able to walk our streets safely

and without intimidation. Whenever I was in

Barney’s presence, I knew there was something

special going on; he thought on his feet, he

strategized deftly, he spoke effortlessly and to the

point. Ann and I, as well as many others in the

neighborhood, were always hopeful that he would

progress to higher office.

In the picture at left, there I am (far left), Bay

Village’s perennial Street Fair clown, signing

Barney’s nomination papers for his first run for State

Rep. He won the 1972 election (easily, if my

memory is still working) and served our district in his

own extraordinary way, always returning phone

calls and still following up on anything he said he

would, never tiring of acceding to our requests.

Barney was the perfect example of an office-holder knowing that his job was to serve his constituents, and

from the start to the finish of his representing Bay Village, he did that with ferocity and class.

Everybody loved Barney, and I know that those in Bay Village who knew him thank him for his service to us,

and those of us who have followed his political career during the years also thank him for his service to our

country. We wish him well in his future pursuits, and I wonder if we’ll ever know him by another title, just so we

can keep him around and vocal (Senator? Mayor? Governor?). Oh, well . . . we can dream!

1970 reception at June McCourt’s house prior to a BVNA

Executive Committee meeting. From right, Boston Mayor

Kevin White, current Bay Villagers Sheila Geoghagen and

Len Phillips, both Winchester Street, and far left,

Bay Village liaison Barney Frank.


17

Hi Neighbors!

Snow/Ice. Residents are responsible for clearing snow and ice

promptly after a storm. Not only will the City ticket you if your

sidewalk is not cleared, you can be liable if someone trips or

falls in front of your property. Guidelines at

http://www.cityofboston.gov/snow. We invite you to be a

great neighbor and consider shoveling out fire hydrants, elderly

or vacationing neighbors, or any spot near your house that

needs it. Your neighbors will appreciate it.

Trash. This is a good time to remind our new neighbors and

those of us who have lived here a while of the rules for placing

trash on the curb. It is of great importance to all of us for

aesthetic as well as health reasons that we all follow the rules at

right.

Non-Resident Parking. Although it has improved in the last few

months, we still have problems with non-resident cars, as well as

commercial vehicles. Please report all illegally parked cars to

the Mayor’s Hotline: 617-635-4500. (Please don’t use 911 for

these parking calls.)

Sweeping. Please help keep the neighborhood clean by

sweeping in front of your homes. Go one step further and

adopt a neighboring sidewalk and tree bed for clean-up. We

know that many wonderful residents come out for our Spring

and Fall Clean-Ups, but if everyone brought out their brooms

throughout the year,

Bay Village would be a

much cleaner place!

BVNA CITY SERVICES REPORT: YOUR STREET-SMART GUIDE TO URBAN LIVING By City Services/Traffic Committee: Aoife Austin, Jim McCormick, and Chris Goddu.

[email protected].

W

TRASH RULES

Regular trash pick-up for Fayette,

Melrose, Jefferson, Church, Winchester,

South Cedar Way, Piedmont,

Shawmut, Broadway, and Arlington:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday;

Recycling Day is Friday.

Trash pick-up for Cortes and Isabella:

Monday and Thursday; Recycling Day

is Monday.

When possible, put trash out the

morning of pick-up to fight rats and

keep trash-picking to a minimum.

Encourage your neighbors to put trash

out properly, on the morning of,

instead of the night before. Contact

Inspectional Services M-F when people

put their trash out incorrectly or on the

wrong days: 617-635-4896. On

weekends, call the Mayor’s 24-hour

hotline at 617-635-4500.

Don’t leave out items that won’t be

picked up. If you are unsure, check

www.cityofboston.gov.

Separate returnables. Trash pickers are

primarily looking for returnable bottles

and will rip open bags to get at

anything that “feels like” one.

The City of Boston’s clear plastic

recycling bags are on sale at Shaw’s

at Prudential and Foodie’s on

Washington Street. Join your neighbors

and RECYCLE MORE!

Do NOT put household trash into

neighborhood trash barrels.

Sweep up. You followed all the rules

and someone else made a mess of

your trash. Clean it up anyway. Why?

Because the City requires you to and,

more importantly, it’s called being a

good neighbor!

Rodents? Call Pedro

Torres at City Hall at 617-

635-5352. It takes

everyone in the

neighborhood to combat

this city-wide problem.

Despite our success at

rodent control over the

years, continuing

vigilance is needed.

Please observe trash rules.

Vintage Bay Village

poster, c. 1972, from Len

Phillips, Winchester Street.

http://www.cityofboston.gov/snow


http://www.cityofboston.gov/


18

PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT By Sarah Herlihy and Ben Beck.

We are excited to be starting our tenure as co-chairs of Planning for the BVNA. Before we update the neighborhood on

planning issues, we wanted to take a moment to express our thanks to Diane Rooney, our predecessor. It is clear in our

short time as co-chairs that Diane had successfully developed positive relationships with residents and developers during

her tenure as chair of Planning. We know firsthand that she spent a lot of time ensuring that the BVNA provided a forum

for developers and residents alike to discuss potential projects, improvements and changes. A very heartfelt thanks to

Diane for all her hard work.

Now, the update. Our goal is to provide an open and transparent process, so we have included a wide variety of

planning news:

51-53 Church Street. These two buildings, which span between Piedmont and Winchester Streets along Church,

currently include a mix of residential and commercial uses. The owner presented plans at the November Planning

meeting to develop these two buildings into 8 residential units. This presentation was made in advance of an

anticipated January hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals. The proposed plans included the addition of 2-3

stories to these buildings. While the maximum height under current zoning for these parcels is 35’, the proposed

development sought to add height and bring the total height of the buildings to above 50’.

The planning meeting included an active discussion of the proposed plans, including the addition of residential units that

do not have parking to the neighborhood and the addition of height to this interior area of Bay Village. A number of

long-term residents were able to share information on previous uses for this property – including a coffee shop.

After an interesting discussion, those in attendance at the planning meeting were uniformly in opposition to the

proposed addition of height to this location, though there was interest in having improvements made to the property

generally.

Given the neighborhood’s uniform opposition, the developer has requested the opportunity to present a modified

proposal prior to any ZBA hearing. We look forward to hearing the developer’s subsequent presentation very shortly.

Jae’s Building – 212 Stuart Street. The long saga of the former Jae’s building at 212 Stuart Street has started another

chapter. This property was recently sold at a foreclosure auction and purchased by the owners of the adjacent Revere

Hotel. The Revere has stated publicly that it has no immediate plans for the building. The neighborhood looks forward to

working with the Revere’s owners regarding their plans for this property, which sits at the entrance to Bay Village.

100 Arlington Street. Construction to transform the former Renaissance Charter School into 100+ apartments with first

floor commercial space and a restaurant is ongoing. The work on 3 of the 4 facades is nearing completion, with the

facade parallel to the South Cove courtyard expected to take additional time to complete.

The most frequently asked question about this project is its impact on parking in the neighborhood. The BVNA spent

significant time ensuring that the residents of these apartments would not have the ability to obtain Bay Village parking

stickers. While we expect enforcement to be an ongoing challenge, the BVNA effectively lobbied the City to include

this restriction in its agreement with the developer.

Parklet. As many of you know by now, the City of Boston is rolling out a pilot program to place “parklets” in City

neighborhoods. A parklet is a small urban park, created by replacing several City-owned parking spots with a patio,

planters, trees, seating, artwork and/or bicycle parking. Parklets are designed to provide a public place for all residents

to enjoy the city around them. While open to all, parklets are typically paired with a nearby business to provide

maintenance and other support. While most parklets are paid for privately, Boston’s pilot program anticipates that the

City will provide the funding for a limited number of pilot parklets.

The BVNA provided a forum for the neighborhood to consider if it was interested in a parklet, what issues would need to

be addressed if the neighborhood was interested in a parklet, and the location of the parklet. At numerous

presentations at multiple planning and executive committee meetings, as well as the formation of an inclusive

subcommittee, Bay Village residents raised a number of issues and discussed ways to address those issues. At the end of

the day, the Executive Committee voted in favor of expressing to the City its interest in a parklet in the neighborhood.

The parklet would be partnered with Mike & Patty’s, and the BVNA identified a location on Church Street, in front of the

former Josiah Quincy school for the parklet. (Continued following page.)


19

BAY VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Name:_________________________________Telephone: (home)_______________(work)______________ E-mail:____________________________

Address:______________________________________Unit/Apartment#:________

Membership runs from July 1 through June 30. Members will be asked to renew every July 1.

Type of Membership:

__ Student $ 15.00 __ Senior $ 25.00 __ Individual $ 35.00 __ Family $ 50.00 __Patron $150.00 __Business $ 200.00

__Sponsor $300.00 __Donation: $______

Family memberships, please list individual family members below: _____________________________________________________

Interests: __ Beautification __ City Services__ Fundraising __ Archives __ Social Activities __ Membership__ Communications

__ Planning/Zoning __ Public Relations __ Licensing __Crime Prevention __ Website

* Mail membership form to Registrar P.O. Box 171066, Back Bay Annex, Boston, MA 02117 or click on

https://www.bayvillage.net/join/visit. We gladly accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover.

The By-laws of the Association limit VOTING membership to residents and/or owners of property within Bay Village.

Anyone can join as a non-voting member!

THREE GREAT WAYS

TO GET INVOLVED AND

HELP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

1. Join BVNA - Your dues help in

many ways, such as dealing with

crime, improving our quality of life,

beautification, social activities

(membership form is below or

www.bayvillage.net/join).

2. Volunteer - Throughout the year

we ask neighbors to help with

clean-up days, wreath hangings,

and caring for our parks. There are

also many things that can be done

from home so you won't need to

attend meetings or come to

events.

3. Write to the Mayor and City

Councilors and attend public

meetings of the Historic District

Commission, the Licensing Board,

and the Zoning Board of Appeal,

to ensure that our neighborhood is

represented.

To get involved,

visit the BVNA website:

http://www.bayvillage.net.

Together we make things better!

PLANNING REPORT, continued from previous page.

Should the City select Bay Village as a site for one of the pilot

parklets, the BVNA will continue to work to provide a forum to

address the issues raised during the initial process, including

replacing the parking spaces used for the parklet, noise, trash,

maintenance and safety issues. If selected, the design process

would be the next step in placing a parklet in Bay Village.

Other Projects. We have many other projects ongoing in the

neighborhood, including the completion (or near completion) of

16 Fayette Street and the development of the old Haynes flute

factory. As the economy continues to improve, we anticipate

that we will see more requests for development of the limited

number of vacant lots in the neighborhood. As always, the

BVNA’s role is to provide a forum for discussion, vote on individual

projects and act as an advocate with the City regarding

proposed development that impacts Bay Village residents.

Development issues are addressed at the monthly Planning

meeting, held on the last Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at

the South Cove Apartments at the corner of Stuart and Church

Streets. Development issues are also addressed at the monthly

Executive Committee meeting.

BVNA WEBSITE

For email and membership management, online dues and

event payment, events calendar, and photo galleries:


https://www.bayvillage.net/join/visit.

http://www.bayvillage.net./

http://www.bayvillage.net/


20


21

THE BAY VILLAGE NEWS

AVAILABLE ON LINE

BVNA publishes

The Bay Village News

four times a year.

Full-color versions of the newsletter

(past issues go back to 1998) are

available at the BVNA website,


BAY VILLAGE T-SHIRTS AT

BAYVILLAGE.NET.

Support your

local florist.

http://www.bayvillage.net./

http://www.bayvillage.net/


22

Thanks to our super saleswoman

Nancy Ham, Church Street,

for rounding up all these ads!


23


24


25

Please support our advertisers

and let them know you saw

their ad in

The Bay Village News.

www.terencejanericcocookingclasses.com

bay village newsletter - dec. 2012

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