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JANUARY 7, 2021 BOOK YOUR POST IT Call Your Advertising Rep TTHEHE BBEEACONACON HHILLILL TTIMESIMES (781)485-0588 THERE ARE NO TIMES LIKE THESE TIMES COVID Grip Tightens Walsh announces city will remain in Step Two, Phase Two of reopening plan for “at least” three more weeks By Lauren Bennett we’ve seen in quite some time.” Walsh said that “this is one of Mayor Martin Walsh the most serious points in the pan- announced on Tuesday that Bos- demic so far,” and if the positive ton will remain in Step Two, Phase cases do not go down, “we will Two of the state’s reopening pro- need to look at more restrictions.” cess for “at least another three Walsh originally announced in weeks,” until January 27. mid-December that the city would Walsh said that as of Monday, “temporarily” revert to Phase Boston had 431 new confirmed Two, Step Two to help slow the Geraldine O’Hagan, proprietor of Rugg Road Paper Company (on right), with her daughter, Maureen, and cases of COVID-19 and two more spread of the virus and ensure hos- their dog, Axel. people had died from the virus. pitals would be able to adequately The current community positivity care for patients. rate is 8.8 percent, which he said Boston will now remain in Rugg Road Paper Company approaches was up from last week. this phase until January 27, after Walsh called the rise in cases which the public health data will a three decade run on Charles Street “concerning,” adding that hospi- be reevaluated. The restrictions tal rates are also rising. He said include a 10 person limit on By Dan Murphy vice website. ees were put on temporary leave, Through positive word of Maureen, Geraldine’s daughter that 93 percent of non-surge adult indoor gatherings and a 25 person Geraldine O’Hagan purchased mouth from customers, Geraldine and a seventh-grader at Newton ICU beds in the city are currently Rugg Road Paper Company in was able to rebuild that side of Country Day who has pitched in occupied, which is the “highest (WALSH, Pg. 5) May of 2018, and less than two the business, she said, and to help at Rugg Road practically since years later, the operation was run- Rugg Road overcome what was the day her mother took over the ning relatively seamlessly. then its biggest obstacle until the business, began making deliver- City Councilor Bok reflects At first, she had to contend with pandemic hit. The public-health ies of jigsaw puzzles, notebooks the shop’s declining orders for cus- crisis then brought the postpone- and other small items around the tom stationary, which had long ment of many weddings, along neighborhood. on her first year in office been one of its most reliable mon- with the cancellation of many It also wasn’t unusual By Dan Murphy ey-makers before falling off due orders for custom invitations to during lockdown, Geraldine said, When she was sworn in as the to the increasing ease of ordering those nuptials. for people walking by to knock on District 8 City Councilor on Jan. those items online, especially since When lockdown went into 6 of last year, Kenzie Bok never Rugg Road doesn’t have a full-ser- effect, and the shop’s employ- (RUGG Pg. 3) could have anticipated the unprec- edented trials ahead during her first year in public office. Beacon Hill Civic Association Community Corner “I came in thinking that I would be very focused on affordable Happy 2021 to our members office for assistance with an issue, importantly, you join a commu- housing,” said Bok, who prior to and Beacon Hill neighbors! you will know that we are a valu- nity of residents and businesses becoming the youngest serving We are all looking forward to a able resource for our neighbors. who want to preserve this special member of the Boston City Coun- better year, and working together Your input in quality of life issues neighborhood. Please visit bhciv- cil at age 30, worked as the Bos- COURTESY OF THE CITY OF BOSTON District 8 Boston City Councilor we will get there. on the Hill is important to us, and ic.org or call the office to become ton Housing Authority’s Senior Kenzie Bok. As we begin this new year, here we rely on you to bring your com- a member. Advisor for Policy and Planning, are a several things to remember: ments and concerns to our atten- 2. Contractor Parking “because that’s what really drove ing-related initiatives we’d end up 1. We need you to join us! tion. By joining our membership, We have heard from many me into running in the first place.” launching later in the year,” she If you haven’t yet become a you strengthen our numbers and neighbors about their continuing In her first month on the job, said, which included one propos- member of the BHCA, we invite add credibility to our purpose as Councilor Bok began “laying (BHCA Pg. 7) you to join. If you have called our advocates for Beacon Hill. Most the policy groundwork for hous- (BOK, Pg. 5) For the latest news in Beacon Hill that you need to know, check www.beaconhilltimes.com PAGE 2 THE BEACON HILL TIMES JANUARY 7, 2021 editorial EMISSIONS BILL IS A BIG STEP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT The approval on Monday by both houses of the Massachusetts legis- lature of a bill that requires the state to reduce its carbon emissions by at least 85% below 1990 levels by 2050 represents a huge step toward the goal of mitigating the effects of climate change in our state. Although the total carbon emissions emanating from Massachusetts obviously is only a small fraction of global emissions, the legislation pro- vides a blueprint for other states and private industry to follow. Some say that the ultimate goal of net-zero by 2050 is unattainable, but in our view, that is understating the reality of what is happening in the world today. Despite the best (or worst) efforts of the Trump administration to per- petuate the use of coal and other fossil fuels, renewable energy actually is cheaper than fossil fuels thanks to the advances in technology of wind and solar energy. Most excitingly, the progress in the development of hydrogen fuel cells, which has been more than two decades in the making, finally is beginning to look like it will become a feasible source of energy within 10 years, making the goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 more than just a dream. We applaud the action by Gov. Charlie Baker and our legislature in bringing to fruition an environmental action plan that recognizes the pressing need to address the issue of climate change. Although the pandemic rightly is in the forefront of government lead- ers’ attention today, that problem will seem like a stroll in the park if we do not take immediate action to avert the looming climate catastrophe that threatens our planet’s very existence. GUEST OP-ED IT WAS A GREAT RUN, PATS’ FANS The 2020 season for the New England Patriots came to a merciful What six dollars can do close this past weekend. The woeful Pats finished with a 7-9 record, their first losing season since 2000, and missed the playoffs for the first time Dr. Glenn Mollette better would never consider. told me in a few seconds that the since 2008. The church grew and we started account did indeed exist and my We have to admit that we feel badly for young Patriots’ fans, those When I was sixteen years old, having 20 to 30 people and often balance was $31,000. Shocked born after 1990, who have become accustomed to the dominance and I was invited to speak at a little more. People literally received would not describe how I felt. I excellence, year-after-year, by Bill Belichick’s crew. This season has been country church in rural Denver Christ, joined the church and were almost had to pick myself off the the equivalent of having an ice bucket thrown over your head, a rude Kentucky, not far from Paintsville. baptized. This was all amazing. floor. If Mr. Rice had made as wake-up call to the reality of the ebb-and-flow of professional sports that The church had all but closed Even more amazing was Mr. many as 12 contributions the total the Patriots alone among all sports franchises in the modern era have its doors but one man, Harold Rice offered me a grand salary invested would have been $72. managed to avoid for an unprecedented two decades. Rice, and his family wanted to see of $60 a month to help buy my Now, years later I was looking at Admittedly, even for those of us who are long-time Pats’ fans who can the church stay open and do well. gasoline. The trip one way from over $31,000. Since that day of recall all of the decades of ignominy, from Braves Field to Fenway Park A church with few to almost no home was over 30 miles so this first inquiring that little $6 account to Harvard Stadium and then to Schaefer Stadium, the relegation of the people typically does not attract was appreciated. He also present- now has over $46,000 and still Patriots to the bottom tier of the NFL this season, in which Foxboro and too many interested ministers. I ed me with paperwork for a perk. growing.

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