THE BEACON HILL TIMES THE BEACON HILL TIMES (PDF)

T H E R E A R E N O T I M E S L I K E T H E S E T I M E S The Beacon hill Times The Beacon hill Times J u n e 3 0 , 2 0 2 2 BOOK YOUR POST IT Call Your Advertising Rep (781)485-0588 Beacon Hill Civic Association Community Corner 781-485-0588 385 Broadway, Revere MA | Citizens Bank Building TheBeaconHillTime sisOpenforYour Convenience! TheBeaconHillTime sisOpenforYour Convenience! SUMMER OFFICEE HOURS Monday thru Wednesday 9:30 am — 5 pm Thursday 9:30 am — 4 pm Friday 9am — noon advertising – [email protected] editorial – [email protected] By Dan Murphy The city is soliciting the public’s feedback on “near-term” solutions for adding protected bike lanes to Cambridge Street, which comes with the caveat that these poten- tial short-term changes would be limited by “design constraints.” City officials will be holding in-person "pop-up" sessions at the intersection of Cambridge and Joy streets on Wednesday, July 6, from 7:45 to 9 a.m.; on Tuesday, July 12, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.; and on Saturday, July 23, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., where constituents can view project materials, share their comments, and ask questions. Otherwise, constituents can talk with a member of the proj- ect team one-on-one during office hours from 3 to 7 p.m. every other Wednesday, including on July 6. Sign up for a 15-minute phone call or a virtual meeting at https:// calendly.com/active-transporta- tion/connect-downtown-appoint- ments?month=2022-07. A city spokesperson wrote in an email: “City officials are still working on a design plan for Connect Downtown. To ensure a transparent, community-driven process, the City is hosting office hours for constituents to have one-on-one time with project team members. Community members will be able to voice concerns for any portion of the project, includ- ing Cambridge Street, and get questions answered.” Connect Downtown is the city’s plan to redesign downtown streets to provide better access for pedes- trians and bicyclists, including enhancing the pedestrian experi- ence at the Boston Common and the Public Garden. Besides being a “critical link” in BHCA Committee Work Each year, the Beacon Hill Civic Association publishes its Annual Report covering commit- tee accomplishments during the past year. We’ll be sharing the committees’ reports here over the next weeks. Parks & Public Spaces Committee The Parks & Public Spaces Committee is charged with mon- itoring the condition of our neigh- borhood’s greenspaces, primarily the Common, the Public Garden and the Esplanade. We also pro- vide support to the friends groups at the Myrtle Street Playground and the Phillips Street Park. This includes attention to mainte- nance and environmental con- cerns, including trash and waste removal, as well as public safety and homelessness. Prominent again in this year’s activities was the effort to reduce the impact of the so-called “Freedom Rally” (a/k/a “Hempfest”) on the Com- mon, and working with a coali- tion of other concerned parties, we succeeded in keeping the Park Department’s permit to 1 day. The hope is that this will become the norm for this event. The com- mittee’s initiatives also include addressing the rise of homeless individuals establishing camps in the parks (particularly in and around the Esplanade), monitor- ing and attempting to reduce the impact of all large events on the parks, which includes monitoring and reporting noise and harm to turf and trees, and encouraging organizers to repair the harm they cause. We continue to work with the Friends of the Public Garden and the City on the development and implementation of the new master plan for Boston Common, and the King Boston memorial, for dogs to run off-leash on the Common, and to ensure that the interests of all stakeholders are taken into account, to improve the quality of life for all on Bea- con Hill. Save the Dates for a BHCA Centennial Celebration Weekend! Make plans to join your friends and neighbors for a special week- end! We will be celebrating our Centennial on Saturday, Septem- ber 17th, 6-9pm, with an outdoor dinner on the flat of Mt. Vernon Street. Tickets will go on sale later in the summer. On Sunday, Sep- tember 18th, we will celebrate with our annual Fall HillFest, open to all, with games and food for children and their families, the MARIANNE SALZA PHOTO The Beacon Hill Network held a mixer at The Old Nest’s Beer Garden on the Esplanade. See Pages 6 and 7 for more photos. BEACON HILL NETWORK MIXER COURTESY OF THE CITY OF BOSTON A protected bike lane on South Charles and Boylston Streets (above) installed using "quick-build" materials including flexible bollards and roadway striping. City to look at ‘near-term’ solutions for bike lanes on Cambridge Street Page 4 T H E R EV E R E J O U R N A L Wednesday, July 3, 2019 Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July! (BHCA Pg. 3) (Bike LAnes Pg. 4)  PA G E 2 J unE 30, 2022 T H E B E A C ON HIL L T I M E S e d i t o r i a l THE BEACON HILL TIMES PrESIdENT/EdITOr: STEPHEN QuIgLEy MArkETINg dIrECTOr: dEBrA dIgrEgOrIO ([email protected]) ArT dIrECTOr: SCOTT yATES FOuNdINg PuBLISHEr: kArEN COrd TAyLOr © 2007 Independent newspaper Group phone: 617-523-9490 • Fax: 781-485-1403 emaIl: [email protected] web sIte: www.beaconhilltimes.com FOURTH OF JULY MEMORIES This weekend brings the Fourth of July, the celebration of the birth of our nation and an opportunity for all of us to partake in summertime fun with friends and family. The Fourth of July brings back fond recollections from our youth, when we celebrated the Fourth with cookouts at our grandmother’s house at Yirrell Beach on Pt. Shirley in Winthrop. Those happy summer memories of sparklers, smores, and bonfires on the beach with family members, many of whom are no longer with us, are etched indelibly in our mind’s eye and always bring a smile to our face as if they were just yesterday, though they occurred decades ago. However, the Fourth of July also brings back a sad memory of a friend, an athletic young man in his 20s who was one of our basketball buddies, who became intoxicated at a backyard barbecue. He fell off a small porch when he missed a step and fractured some vertebrae, leaving him a paraplegic and wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life That tragic event happened almost 30 years ago, but the shock of hearing of our friend’s accident, and then seeing him for the first time in a wheelchair, is something we never will forget. All of us should make it a priority to do what we can to ensure that our loved ones and others with whom we’ll be spending the holiday do so in a safe and reasonable manner. That is doubly true if any of our activities are water-related or if driv- ing is involved. We should keep in mind that over-imbibing in alcohol always is an invitation for a tragic situation, even in our backyards. In addition, the illegal use of dangerous fireworks will result in many trips to the emergency room by those who suffered eye injuries, severed fingers, and burns. In the 1800s and early 1900s, the Fourth of July served as a conve- nient excuse for young men to go on a rampage throughout their com- munities, vandalizing public and private property. The term “a safe and sane Fourth” was introduced at the start of the last century to discourage such wanton acts of rowdyism. Although we no longer celebrate the Fourth as recklessly as our ancestors did, nonetheless we all must do our part to make sure that we observe the Fourth’s festivities safely and sanely, both for ourselves and our loved ones. We wish all of our readers a happy, fun-filled, and safe Fourth of July. MBTA crisis is an emergency for our region By Joe Gravellese When I ran for office two years ago, I did so because I was deeply concerned about the decaying of our transportation system. This crisis impacts the entire Greater Boston region, but is especially challenging to residents of Revere, Chelsea, East Boston, and other nearby communities. Two years later, these problems have only gotten worse - and in the case of the MBTA, it’s reached a boiling point, with a series of ser- vice disruptions and safety failures that have damaged the revival of Boston’s downtown, contributed to the return of gridlock traffic to Greater Boston, and deeply incon- venienced people who rely on the T to get to work. This year, I am not running for anything - I’m not asking for any- one’s vote. I’m just pleading, as a resident, for our region’s elected officials to make addressing this an urgent priority. The state of the T threatens the future of our economy and con- tributes to our housing cost crisis. People who never set foot on the T - which includes an overwhelming majority of elected officials - need to understand how the state of the T greatly impacts *everyone’s* future - not just people who ride it. Even with reduced ridership post-COVID, hundreds of thou- sands of trips are taken on the T every day. Imagine even just 30% of those trips being replaced by additional cars on the road. How much worse would that make traf- fic gridlock? The ecosystem of research insti- tutions, hospitals, biotech facilities, entertainment and cultural venues, financial services, and other indus- tries that have made Boston an eco- nomic success, and make the qual- ity of life in Greater Boston so high and in-demand, is supported by hundreds of thousands of service workers, many of whom take the T to work every day - and many of whom are our neighbors. Nearly one in four Boston households do not have a car, including nearly half of low-in- come households. A fraction of these house- holds shifting to commuting by car makes the already-congested roads worse for everyone. For oth- ers, saving on the $5,000+ a year in expenses of car ownership are what allow them to stay here in the first place. The cascading effect of T failures will price even more working people out of the area and contribute to worse sprawl and traffic, not to mention worse quality of life for people forced into ever-longer commutes - and an even greater challenge for employ- ers looking to hire workers or start small businesses. The economic success of our region is based largely on legacy investments in public infrastruc- ture and public services. People don’t come to Boston for the nice weather or for the low taxes. They come for the vibrant local econo- my, public services, and culture - something that simply can’t exist in its current form without the T. The warning signs on the future of the T have been flashing red for a long time. In 2009, the D’Ales- sandro Report on the T said in its opening pages that “the outlook is bleak” and warned about the T’s deferred maintenance and struc- tural deficits. Problems like these don’t magically go away with the passage of time - they only get worse. The good news is that it is not too late to reverse course and address these problems. Already, there are promising signs that state legislative leadership is noticing this crisis. Last week investments to address the safety concerns cited by the federal investigation into the T were included in a bond bill, and House and Senate leadership have promised oversight hearings. This is a good start. But it’s only just that - a start. What the T needs most is not funding for future capital expens- es, but day-to-day operating funds for critical ongoing maintenance work. It needs to have its structural deficit addressed, and it needs to be unshackled from the Big Dig debt it was saddled with in the 1990s. The T needs more active over- sight from the Legislature to serve as the people’s watchdog. A few days after the Feds released their investigation, the MBTA announced it was starting a hiring blitz to fill unfilled critical public Guest Op-ed (op-ed Pg. 6)  PA GE 3 J u n E 3 0, 2 02 2 T H E B E A C ON HIL L T I M E S BHCA (from pg. 1) By John Lynds At a time when the country needs to unify more than ever, the US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the landmark Roe v Wade decision has only divided the country even further. Protesters supporting wom- en’s reproductive rights immedi- ately took to the streets after the decision was handed down by the country’s consevative leaning highest court. Local elected officials imme- diately condemned the Supreme Court’s ruling, which gave fed- eral constitutional protection for women’s reproductive rights for 50 years. “Like many of you, I am deep- ly saddened and angered by the Supreme Court Dobbs v. Jackson ruling, which overturned 50 years of federal abortion protections,” said Rep. Jay Livingstone. “As we know, this ruling will not prevent abortions from happening, it will only make them more dangerous - especially for our nations most vulnerable residents. This roll- back of our country’s civil rights is outrageous and unprecedented. I have fought for a women’s right to choose during my time in the Massachusetts legislature and I will continue to do so. I will do everything I can to protect abor- tion rights for the people of Mas- sachusetts and urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to do the same.” In response to the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v Wade, Governor Charlie Baker signed an executive order to pro- tect access to reproductive health care services in the Common- wealth. “I am deeply disappointed in today’s decision by the Supreme Court which will have major con- sequences for women across the country who live in states with lim- ited access to reproductive health care services,” said the Governor. “The Commonwealth has long been a leader in protecting a wom- an’s right to choose and access to reproductive health services, while other states have criminalized or otherwise restricted access,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This executive order will further pre- serve that right and protect repro- ductive health care providers who serve out of state residents. In light of the Supreme Court’s rul- ing overturning Roe v Wade, it is especially important to ensure that Massachusetts providers can continue to provide reproductive health care services without con- cern that the laws of other states may be used to interfere with those services or sanction them for pro- viding services that are lawful in the Commonwealth.” The order prohibits any Exec- utive Department agencies from assisting another state’s investi- gation into a person or entity for receiving or delivering reproduc- tive health services that are legal in Massachusetts. The order also protects Massachusetts providers who deliver reproductive health care services from losing their professional licenses or receiving other professional discipline based on potential out-of -state charges. Also under the executive order, the Commonwealth will not coop- erate with extradition requests from other states pursuing crim- inal charges against individuals who received, assisted with, or performed reproductive health services that are legal in Massa- chusetts. Sen. Lydia Edwards said it is now time to ‘divest’ and ‘boycott’ and called on labor leaders to join the fight for reproductive rights. “We need to learn from Divest- ment Movements in South Africa to today’s fossil fuel movement,” said Edwards. “We need to remem- ber the Boycotts of the Civil Rights movement. I don’t want our state or the City of Boston to contract with other states that take away a woman’s right to abortion care.” Edwards called on labor leaders to get on board. “Worker's Rights are Abortion Rights,” she said. “I expect you (union leaders) to make sure all of your union members have access to abortion care where ever they are, this includes health insurance, travel money, or whatever is need- ed. I’ve fought for Union jobs—it's time you step up for gender health- care.” Edwards added any corpora- tions with headquarters or fran- chises in anti-abortion states need to make sure labor workers have access to abortion care. “If you don't, I will not buy your products,” she said. “We need to support companies that will affirm the right to choose and divest from those that won't.” Local officials react to Roe v Wade being overturned Local elected officials join Sen. Elizabeth Warren and representatives from the ACLU of Massachusetts, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts, and Reproductive Equity Now on the steps of the State House last week to protest the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v Wade. famous dog show, live entertain- ment, and much more. upcoming BHCA Meetings & Events Zoning & Licensing, Wednes- day, July 6th, 7pm, via Zoom. Board of Directors - Monday, July 11th, 7pm, via Zoom* Architecture Committee - Mon- day July 18th, 5pm via Zoom* Outdoor Centennial Dinner – Saturday, September 17th, 6:00pm Fall HillFest – Sunday, Septem- ber 18th, 12:00-4:00pm * Contact the office for joining details. Become a BHCA member or renew your membership in our Centennial Year! This is a great time to join the BHCA or renew your member- ship now that we are scheduling outdoor centennial activities for the summer and fall. Go to https:// www.bhcivic.org/become-a-mem- ber.html to sign up or renew today, or call us at 617-227-1922! By Penny & Ed Cherubino Summer has now officially begun. However, this year, we’ve experienced summer heat in spring. That is just the start of what may be a hot, wet summer. WBUR report- ed, “... In the case of New England, NOAA predicts a 50-60% chance of warmer-than-normal tempera- tures, and for the southern part of the region, a 33-40% chance of higher-than-normal rainfall.” For those of us with dogs, this means making plans to prevent heat emergencies. Part of this is understanding how our animals react to heat and doing what is needed to keep them safe. Remem- ber, heat exhaustion can be a mat- ter of life or death for your furry pal. Tips for Hot Days Arrange your walk schedule so that long walks are in the cooler parts of the day. If you use a dog walker, ask them to adjust how long your dog is out in the heat. This is especially important if your dog is in fragile health, elderly, or one of the flat-faced breeds that are susceptible to brachycephalic syndrome, a condition that makes breathing more difficult. Carry water for your dog. Most pet supply shops sell water bottles with attached caps or covers that serve as a dog cup. There are col- lapsible water dishes that you can fill from a water fountain or your own bottle of water. In a pinch, put a clean pickup bag over your cupped hand and pour in some water. All our dogs have been able to enjoy a drink like this since a kind woman in the Public Garden showed us her trick. Check the heat of the pavement by pressing your hand on it for 10 seconds as a way to determine if it will be uncomfortable or dan- gerous for your dog. On hot days, let your dog walk on grass or dirt as much as possible to give those paws a break. Signs of Overheating It also means knowing the signs of an overheated animal, what steps to take to correct the situa- tion before it becomes an emergen- cy, and what to do on your way to the ER if it does. The American Kennel Club (AKC) writes, “Early signs of heatstroke include: heavy pant- ing and rapid breathing, excessive drooling, dry mucous membranes, bright red gums and tongue, skin hot to the touch, and a higher heart rate. Affected dogs become hyper- active and may have difficulty maintaining balance.” If you notice any of these symp- toms, the AKC recommends that you take steps to lower your ani- Summer Dog Days City paws mal’s body temperature includ- ing, stopping activity, moving to a cool, well-ventilated place, spray- ing or sponging with cool (not cold) water. In the case of cats, the symp- toms are the same including a dangerous temperature point of more than 105F. Since city cats spend most of their time indoors, we noted that falls from open windows with loose or damaged screens are a danger in hot weath- er that their guardians should pre- vent. Do you have a question or topic for City Paws? Send an email to [email protected] with your request.  PA Ge 4 J une 30, 2022 T H E B E A C ON HIL L T I M E S the citywide bicycle network, Cam- bridge Street is in the top 3 percent of streets citywide for injury-caus- ing crashes involving bicyclists, according to the city, while recent transportation plans, including Go Boston 2030 and North Station Area Mobility Action Plan (NSA- MAP), have identified Cambridge Street as a “priority corridor for better bike facilities.” Meanwhile, Cambridge Street is the location of two major devel- opments—the Hurley Building redevelopment and the MGH Clinical Building — now moving forward. The Mass General proj- ect is expected to be built over the course of five to 10 years, and the city is now working with the hospital to ensure that bicycle and pedestrian access can be fully maintained during the course of construction. The MBTA is also undertaking preliminary analysis for its Red- Blue Connector, and if this project comes to pass, much of Cambridge Street would need to be rebuilt after the subway tunnel is finished. “Because of these projects, it does not make sense to make big changes on Cambridge Street now,” states the city’s website on the Cambridge Street design con- straints. “It would not be cost-ef- fective. And, we wouldn’t be able to deliver on the near-term improvements you’ve asked us for.” Instead, the city is now pledging to make short-term improvements without altering the existing curb lines and curb extensions at cross- walks, and without making any changes to the median or to exist- ing trees there. The project will focus on the section of Cambridge Street under the city’s jurisdiction between Court Street (Government Cen- ter) and West Cedar Street (where the Red Line viaduct passes over Cambridge Street). Changes to Charles Circle can’t be made with- out close coordination with the state’s Department of Conserva- tion and Recreation (DCR), which has jurisdiction of Cambridge Street near West Cedar Street and extending westward from there. “We meet regularly with DCR, and they are aware of the project,” according to the city. “We plan to continue conversations in 2022. However, we don’t want to delay any changes we can make on the City-owned portion of Cambridge Street while our conversations with DCR move forward.” The city intends to use “quick- build” materials, like flexible bol- lards, precast concrete curbing, roadway striping, signage, and changes to signal timing, to allow for designing and building the project on a condensed timeline. “Cambridge Street has sev- eral sections where the curb-to- curb width is very constrained,” according to the city. “In those sec- tions, major construction would be needed to make space for pro- tected bike lanes. While we may have an opportunity in the future to take on major construction, we are also looking for what can be done in the near-term.” Since the concept has yet to be finalized, its impact on traffic, as well as its effect on outdoor dining and deliveries to area businesses, is currently unknown, according to the city. While the city has pledged to consider a range of configurations including one-way bike lanes on either side of the street or two-way bike lanes, center-running bike lanes have been deemed unfeasible for Cambridge Street due to the large number of vehicles turning at multiple intersections. Center-run- ning bike lanes would also require “major changes to the median and traffic signals, which “would sig- nificantly extend the project time- line,” according to the city. Moreover, the city has commit- ted to not making any changes to existing sidewalk dimensions or using any of the existing sidewalk spaces for bike lanes at this time. “In looking at the possibilities for Cambridge Street, the most important dimension we have to consider is the distance from the sidewalk curb to the medi- an curb,” according to the city. “That’s because we’re not plan- ning to move any of the curbs in order to design and build this proj- ect quickly. Cambridge Street does not have standard dimensions from block to block. The distance between the sidewalk curb and the median can range from 25 feet to 35 feet.” Becca Wolfson, executive direc- tor of the Boston Cyclists Union, expressed concern with the city’s short-term plans for bike lanes on Cambridge Street, especially regarding the perceived “design constraints” of the project. “Based on our interpretation, it’s pretty disappointing to see the report, even the way, it’s put into words – ‘design constraints,’” said Wolfson. “We had hoped this administration would see past these constraints and be more cre- ative when it comes to them to look at the tradeoffs and make them in the name of safety and sus- tainable and equitable mobility.” Wolfson also laments that the city appears to be giving prece- dence to other uses on Cambridge Street over providing safe accom- modations for bicyclists. “Our interpretation is the city expressed the likelihood they can provide separated bike lanes on the majority of the corridor from City Hall towards MGH,” she added. “Traveling in the other direction, our interpretation is that the city is saying there are too many compet- ing interests, primarily car travel and truck loading zones, and there doesn’t seems to be a willingness to give either one of those up in the name of safety and mobility.” Before attempting to tackle the installation of bike lanes on Cam- bridge Street, Wolfson suggests that the city first take a closer look at Charles Street. “And all along, we knew this would be a challenge if they didn’t remove the median, and we’ve been saying it would be much easier to provide bi-directional bike trav- el on Charles Street first and take more time to plan for the median removal, which clearly seems to be needed on Cambridge Street,” said Wolfson. “So in the wake of this report coming out, we either think the city should take away more access onto Cambridge Street to provide safe, two-way bike travel or pivot to add safe, two-way bike access to Charles Street before the end of the construction season.” Moreover, Wolfson said, “Another reason is that the city has invested in and designed a really good network [of bike lanes] downtown with Connect Downtown, and without at least one connection to MGH and the Longfellow Bridge, this network is effectively useless.” In contrast, Rep. Jay Living- stone applauds the city for moving forward to find short-term solu- tion for bike lanes on Cambridge Street. “I’m glad the city is moving to improve bike infrastructure, par- ticularly going from downtown to the Longfellow,” he said, “and I’m pleased the city is doing a thor- ough look at the constraints that exist in our neighborhood streets.” Added Rep. Livingstone, “I look forward to the city moving as fast as possible to implement a plan on Cambridge Street, where I constantly hear concerns about pedestrian safety, bike safety, and traffic from cars.” Unlike Wolfson, Rep. Living- stone believes that bike lanes on Cambridge Street should take pre- cedence over bike lanes on Charles Street for the city. “The city has done more work, engaged the community to a much greater degree, and received more complaints from key stakeholders on Cambridge Street, especially pedestrians and bicyclists,” said Rep. Livingstone, “so I’m glad that the city is focusing on the street about which the city has expressed the most concern.” Underscoring the urgency of making improvements to Cam- bridge Street in a timely manner, Rep. Livingstone also pointed to a hit-and-run accident on May 29 in the vicinity of Cambridge and Blossom streets, which resulted in the death of a West End resident at an area hospital several days later. District 8 City Councilor Ken- zie Bok is similarly pleased to see the city taking more immediate steps to address safety issues for bicyclists on Cambridge Street – the one corridor she said she has heard the most concerns about from her constituents. “I’m excited that they’re not waiting for the big projects on Cambridge Street,” said Councilor Bok, who added that “community outreach is critical” to this project. Meghan Awe, chair of the Bea- con Hill Civic Association board of directors, praised the city for taking this initiative, which she believes will promote more equita- ble bike access throughout the city. “The BHCA is as usual very interested in the process,” Awe wrote in an email. “We are con- fident the city is approaching the matter with a thoughtful lens, con- sidering the unique aspects of the neighborhood and streets, just as it does with the other neighborhoods in the city.” Awe added, “While the con- straints of the report make sense, the city’s own crash data (avail- able at https://apps.boston.gov/ vision-zero/) clearly indicates that the safety of Cambridge Street is an issue, especially when the crash data is observed. The BHCA is confident in the city's thoughtful prioritization of safety matters, and that the data will drive their results, especially given the effort at collecting and relaying accu- rate information. I also applaud the city on their focus and efforts of equitable cycling solutions city- wide.” SERVICE DIRECTORY JOHN J. RECCA PAINTING Interior/Exterior Commercial/Residential Fully Insured Quality Work Reasonable Rates Free Estimates [email protected] 781-241-2454 617-723-3296 M9304 20 Years of Experience on Beacon Hill Window Cleaning Bluee Sky Luis Ramos 617-212-6141 References on request OBITUARIES All obituaries and death notices will be at a cost of $150.00 per paper. Includes photo.No word Limit. Please send to [email protected] or call 781-485-0588 BIkE LANES (from pg. 1)  PA Ge 5 J u n e 3 0, 2 02 2 T H E B E A C ON HIL L T I M E S Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm 82 Charles Street • Boston, MA 02114 617.723.7263 [email protected] www.davepoutrefineframing.com Dave Poutré fine Framing The finest quality silver heirloom frames. —Made in America .999 fine silver. The best of the best! By Mark Duffield Spikeball - a game once intro- duced on Shark Tank - is a new sport that's sweeping the nation and has now found its way to the Boston Common. The first day of summer brings many delights and activities to the Beacon Hill neighborhood. Two main attractions nearby - the Pub- lic Garden and the Boston Com- mon - draw residents and tourists in droves. Two historic pieces of real estate with two different ways to experience the great outdoors. The Public Garden is devoted to a leisurely, shaded walk down quiet paths lined with stately trees, beautiful flower gardens and majestic Swan Boats float- ing peacefully across placid pond waters. Sunbathing, reading a book, snoozing on a bench...ah so peaceful. But the pastoral Boston Com- mon, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. Spinning carou- sels, joyous children splashing around in the Frog Pond, people jogging, exercising themselves and with their dogs chasing sticks and frisbees, the common tennis courts alive with competitive games...and now...SPIKEBALL? Yes, Spikeball! Players Taryn Corey and her friends Kai Sim- mons, Lucas Tejada and Dominick Farino are graduate students at Boston University in the Doctor- ate of Physical Therapy Program (DPT) and their friend Connor Hannemann works in Boston and on occasion in Beacon Hill. Together, they have brought and introduced this new portable sport to the Boston Common. At first glance to the uninitiated, the game takes place on a small piece of ground and resembles a sports hybrid. It is volleyball, tennis, bad- minton, handball and acrobatics, and goodness knows what else all rolled into one. All the equipment you need is packed neatly into a very small bag. It is performed by four players at a frenetic pace cir- cling 360 degrees around a small Hula Hoop sized trampoline net a foot off the ground. It involves spiking a soft yellow softball size ball back and forth ricocheting off the net towards and skillfully escaping the hands of opponents to score points! As explained by participant Connor Hannemann, the game is played two versus two with the small round net placed between the two teams. A player starts a point by serving the ball down on the net so it ricochets up at his opponents. This side has up to three hits between them (just like volleyball) to control the ball and bounce it back off the net to the other side. When they miss, you score a point. There are no bound- aries so players can circle the net anywhere to return the ball. The game can be played to a score of 11, 15, or 21. In case of a tie, you must win by two points. Taryn Corey says, '"I played a lot of sports in my day, but Spike- ball is the best because it is so easy to play and portable. It is a great way to get out, be social, exer- cise and a fantastic way to relieve stress." Spikeball, now called Round- net by some, is less than a decade old but it has definitely caught on, with leagues popping up all over the U.S. There is now a Roundnet National Championship that fea- tures a Pro Division. The game has been featured on ESPN. Thank you to Taryn Corey and her friends for bringing the sport to the Boston Common and edu- cating us all on this new sport that is slowly becoming global. MARK DUFFIELD PHOTO Pictured, left to right, are Lucas Tejada, Connor Hannemann, Taryn Corey, Kai Simmons, and Dominick Farino. Spikeball comes to Boston Common By John Lynds Beacon Hill and the surround- ing area’s weekly COVID positive test rate increased slightly last week after weeks of decline according to the latest data by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC). This week the BPHC announced it is recommending that all Bos- ton children and infants ages six- months and older get vaccinated against COVID-19. BPHC's rec- ommendation follows recent guid- ance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rec- ommending COVID-19 vaccines. "Many parents and caregiv- ers have been anxiously awaiting approval of COVID-19 vaccina- tion for the under 5 age group after two very difficult years of worrying about the health and safety of their children," said Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Direc- tor of the BPHC Dr. Bisola Ojikutu. "Some parents may be uncertain about getting their child vaccinated because there is so much informa- tion to consider. The vaccines are safe and protective against serious illness in this age group. Parents with questions or concerns should talk to their child's pediatrician to get the facts about the vaccine." Last week, 858 Beacon Hill, Back Bay, North End, West End and Downtown residents were tested for the virus last week and 11 percent were positive--this was a 8 percent increase from the 10.2 percent that tested positive between June 13 and June 20. Ninety four additional residents contracted the virus between June 20 and June 27 there have now been 11,342 confirmed cases in the neighborhood since the start of the pandemic. Boston’s citywide weekly posi- tive test rate decreased last week According to the BPHC, 12,787 Boston residents tested citywide and 7.3 percent were positive—a 5 percent decrease from the 7.7 per- cent that tested positive between June 13 and June 20. The statistics released by the BPHC as part of its weekly COVID19 report breaks down the number of cases and infection rates in each neighborhood. It also breaks down the number of cases by age, gender and race. Citywide positive cases of coro- navirus increased 0.67 percent last week and went from 192,591 to 193,870 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic. There were seven additional deaths in Boston from the virus in the past week and the total number of COVID deaths is now at 1,478. Dr. Ojikutu said the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, which consists of three pediatric doses, is avail- able for children ages 6-months to 5-years old. The Moderna mRNA vaccine, consisting of two pediatric doses, is available for those ages 6-months to 5-years old. COVID-19 vaccines are already available to those ages 5 and up. Ensuring your child is up to date on their COVID-19 vacci- nations is the most effective way to keep them safe at summer camps, family outings, and other in person gatherings. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, par- ents will be able to find clinics and make appointments at the state's Vax Finder website. Parents who prefer to have their child vaccinat- ed by their pediatrician should call their provider's office directly. The COVID-19 vaccine is free and no insurance or ID is required. Beacon Hill, surrounding area’s weekly COVID positive test-rate increases  PA G E 6 J unE 30, 2022 T H E B E A C ON HIL L T I M E S Please visit www.beaconhilltimes.com www.bostonpremierdentistry.com Emergencies Welcome Celebrating over 60 years serving the Boston area GOVERNMENT CENTER 617-523-2459 Call us or visit our website for specials Cleaning, whitening, implants, invisalign & more Family, cosmetic & implant dentistry VALET FOR YOUR TOWNHOUSE OR CONDO Condo Association Parking Starting at $590/month 617-546-5444 [email protected] Call or text for your car. Garage spot included. GUEST VALET PARKING AVAILABLE BEACON HILL NETWORK MIXER Photos & Story by Marianne Salza Beacon Hill Network, a com- munity of business professionals, held a mixer on June 15 at The Old Nest’s Beer Garden, on the Esplanade. Members gathered to make new friends, learn from one another, and build a referral net- work while supporting local busi- nesses. Visit www.BeaconHillNet- work.org to learn about upcoming events and business meetings. Ed Podszus, Jessica Drummond, and Darryl Elow. Stacy Sheehan, of Cambridge Trust, and Jessica Thorton, of The Green Room. Beacon Hill Network members enjoying conversation. Jennifer Hill, Adam Whitney, and Mary Beth Kelley. Beacon Hill Network members. safety positions. This is good news, but it could have happened sooner. It’s clear that the existing MBTA board was either unaware of the issue or did not feel it necessary to share this information with the public. The funding and governance of the T also needs to be better inte- grated with the regional transit authorities of the rest of the state. One of the biggest problems we face right now is regions being pit- ted against each other - with resi- dents and elected officials outside of the Boston area not wanting to fund investments in Boston, and vice versa. This is counterproduc- tive: the future of every region in Massachusetts is intertwined, and needs to be addressed with a com- monality of purpose. The crisis at the T is not just about the daily inconvenience and indignity to many of the ser- vice workers who power the local economy - many of whom are our neighbors who live along the Blue Line - though they feel the pinch first and most acutely. It’s about the future of Boston’s economy and quality of life. It demands urgent action and attention, even from people who never ride it. It’s now or never, and the consequenc- es of inaction will be dire. Joe Gravellese is a former can- didate for state representative and former City of Revere staff mem- ber. He currently works at a local non-profit. Op-Ed (from pg. 2)  PA Ge 7 J u n e 3 0, 2 02 2 T H E B E A C ON HIL L T I M E S ADVERTISE IN THE TIMES. CALL 781-485-0588 Boston Antiques & Lampshades Custom paper & fabric shades Affordable silk shades Fine antiques & Jewelry 119 Charles Street - Boston 617-367-9000 [email protected] UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS HOME 69 CHARLES ST., BOSTON MA, 02114 | 617-367-1950 [email protected] upstairsdownstairsantiques 7 ROOMS FILLED WITH NEW AND OLD ART, ANTIQUES & HOME DECOR We buy antiques and pick up! “ “ bostontutoringcenter.com/bps-exam-prep Boston Tutoring Center Boston Exam School Test Prep Classes Fall 2022 in West Roxbury Register now! Brewster & Berkowitz Real Estate 121 Mt. Vernon Street • Boston, Massachusetts 02108 www.brewberk.com 617.367.0505 Ron Berkowitz Mary Dunlavey Sally Brewster Betsey Barrett Sales Rentals BEACON HILL NETWORK MIXER Beacon Hill Network members mingling at the beer garden. Jennifer Hill enjoying the beer garden. Ed Podszus engaging in conversation at the mixer. Emily Claire, Darryl Elow, James Hill, Tiana Celesia, Karen Bunch, and Stephen Gousby.  PA G E 8 J unE 30, 2022 T H E B E A C ON HIL L T I M E S Splashing across 2,500 feet of Prudential Center’s Boylston Street entrance will be Latinx muralist and graphic designer Yenny Her- nandez’s new installation, “Ponle Vuelo A Tus Sueños/Let Your Dreams Take Flight,” a bright- ly-colored vinyl building wrap that will envelop two sides of the building’s exterior on Boylston Street and will delight visitors with vibrant colors, tropical foliage, and nostalgic imagery, according to a press release. The new work, commissioned by Boston Properties (BXP) and curated by Boston’s Now + There public art organization, opens June 30. The opening event will be from 5 to 7 p.m. (Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ mural-opening-with-artist-yen- ny-hernandez-at-prudential-cen- ter-tickets-360836390357.) Hernandez’s “Ponle Vuelo A Tus Sueños/Let Your Dreams Take Flight,” pays homage to the pur- suit of dreams and the Latinx jour- ney to attain them. Using recogniz- able patterns and foliage, Mexican marigolds and tropical leaves, the artwork features a tropical parrot, referencing flight, and traditional coffee maker, a symbol meant to evoke grandmothers and kitchens in Latin America. The joyous, wel- coming message is one of encour- agement and positive reinforce- ment to the Latinx community which she feels can often be a jour- ney of breaking through language, education, and socio-economic barriers. “Yenny’s work explores a core belief that words have the power to transform and reframe our out- look on life, ourselves, and our experiences,” Now + There Exec- utive Director Kate Gilbert said in a press release. “We feel the energy of the City of Boston every day, and there is no better way to celebrate and contribute to our reinvigorated city than through public art,” Bryan Koop, Executive Vice Pres- ident, Boston Region, BXP, said in a press release. “We’re thrilled to build on our long-standing part- nership with Now + There and once again uses Prudential Center as a canvas to showcase diverse, local, emerging artists. Yenny’s inspiring message and vibrant mural will be the perfect addition to the “front door” of the Pruden- tial Center – a warm and welcome sight for all those visiting Boston as well as those that call it home.” In the evening hours, rain- bow-colored lights will offset the bright mural on the outside of Pru- dential Center. Inside, the staircase will also feature additional art with bilingual words of encouragement woven throughout. A social media campaign based on the installation will ask participants to add their dreams and perspective on the American Dream to be compiled into a book. “Encouragement is one of the few forms of exchange that costs nothing yet holds the power to be priceless to others,” Hernandez, who is of Puerto Rican descent and now lives in Dorchester, said in a press release. “From remind- ing us to dream to sparking us to accept ourselves in every shape, gender, life stage, and mental state, uplifting words have the power to reframe our outlook on self, life, and experience.” Yenny Hernandez’s new installation, “Ponle Vuelo A Tus Sueños/Let Your Dreams Take Flight,” at the entrance to the Prudential Center on Boylston Street. Latinx muralist creates 2,500-foot mural for Prudential Center exterior 11 CHARLES ST. BOSTON, MA D E L U C A ' S M A R K E T P R E S E N T S WWW.DELUCASMARKET.COM TASTES OF SUMMER MAST LANDING BREWING CO. JULY TASTINGS FEATURING: LAMPLIGHTER BREWING CO. SATURDAY, JULY 9TH 2-5 PM THURSDAY, JULY 14TH 5-7 PM FREE PRESENTED BY HOMEGROWN DISTRIBUTIONS uSS Constitution to commemorate Independence Day USS Constitution is scheduled to go underway from Charlestown Navy Yard, Massachusetts, on Monday, July 4 at 10:00 a.m. for its annual 4th of July Cruise. 150 lottery winners and their guests are joining Old Ironsides as she cruises in celebration of the United States’ 246th birthday. The Declaration of Indepen- dence will be read outloud to com- memorate its signing in 1776 that began the country’s fight for inde- pendence. USS Constitution is to conduct a 21-gun salute at Fort Independence on Castle Island. USS Constitution will fire an additional 17-gun salute as she passes U.S. Coast Guard Sec- tor Boston, the former site of the Edmund Hartt’s Shipyard, where USS Constitution was built and launched on Oct. 21, 1797. USS Constitution’s 4th of July Turnaround Cruise dates back to the 1950s when the ship was turned around to evenly weather the hull. USS Constitution will reopen for free public visitation, Monday, July 4, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. USS Constitution is open to free public visitation Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The USS Constitution Museum is open to the public every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. USS Constitution, is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855. The active-duty Sailors sta- tioned aboard USS Constitution provide free tours and offer public visitation as they support the ship’s mission of promoting the Navy’s history and maritime heritage and raising awareness of the impor- tance of a sustained naval presence. USS Constitution was undefeat- ed in battle and destroyed or cap- tured 33 opponents. The ship earned the nickname of Old Ironsides during the war of 1812 when British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship’s wooden hull. visit www.beaconhilltimes.com  PA Ge 9 J u n e 3 0, 2 02 2 T H E B E A C ON HIL L T I M E S The hemline in the last clue is on the statue of Josiah Quincy in the Old City Hall courtyard. It is the creation of sculptor Thomas Ball and was dedicated in 1879. Quincy was mayor of Boston and President of Harvard College. Do you have a favorite building or detail you would like featured? Send an email to [email protected] with your suggestion. 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