JUNE WWW.FENWAYNEWS.ORG 2020

FREE

COVERING THE FENWAY, AUDUBON CIRCLE, KENMORE SQUARE, UPPER BACK BAY, PRUDENTIAL, LONGWOOD, AND MISSION HILL SINCE 1974 • VOLUME 46, NUMBER 6 • MAY 29, 2020 - JULY 3, 2020 City Reinforces Mass. Ave. Bike Lane HOUSING KEEPS CHANGING HANDS IN MISSION HILL, DESPITE CORONAVIRUS BY ALISON PULTINAS Appeal in March. CAMH voted 12-11 in favor of parking, and he pandemic hasn’t stopped real estate sales the ZBA also approved it. in Mission Hill. Larger transactions in the 97B Calumet St. sits cheek by jowl with three other past 12 months include two six-family, 19th- properties that all have backlot houses, an unusual century buildings. Mission Hill native Eric Alden cluster near Calumet Square. The former owner David purchased 775 Parker PHOTO: PULTINAS ALISON Julier had also owned 99 Calumet St. at the corner of Alleghany St. for several decades. He retains

PHOTO: TWITTERPHOTO: @COPLEYSCOTT17 USER T and will potentially develop two other student rentals, 91 the adjacent parking lot. The Hillside St. and 33 Calumet St. vacant six-family at the dead Public listings of real estate end of South Whitney Street transactions come from the sold in March to Anthony A. A. Warren Group, which publishes McGuiness for $2 million. The the weekly Banker & Tradesman. previous owner of 3-5 South Another resource is the Boston Whitney had obtained approval Globe’s website, realestate. for a demolition without a public boston.com, and the Sunday hearing from the Landmarks Gobe listings. Mission Hill is not Commission and had plans for a its own neighborhood in either nine-unit, six-story building. source—some sales appear under At the end of April, real Roxbury and occasionally, by estate investors Michael and mistake, under Jamaica Plain or Janice Ye purchased a three- the Fenway. Not all transactions family at 97B Calumet St.—a are reported publicly. hidden house behind 99 Calumet More $1 million-plus sales St. near the corner of Calumet in 2019 and 2020 included 6 and St. Alphonsus—for $1.24 Bucknam St.; 8 Cherokee St., million. Less familiar to neighbors sold to Ellie Li of Keystone With its concentration of restaurants than some other landlords, Management; 24-26 Lawn St., and coffee shops, the bike lane on Janice Ye came to the Community sold to Aihui Zhu of Lexington; the west side of Mass. Ave. between Alliance of Mission Hill (CAMH) a 32 Fisher Ave and 724 Parker St., Haviland Street and Church Park has few months ago seeking support sold to Fenway’s Lee Guzovsky long drawn double-parking delivery for variances to pave the back doing business as ABW Rentals. drivers and other motorists. The City yard at 17-19 Sunset St. before Alison Pultinas lives in recently added concrete curbing to going to the Zoning Board of Mission Hill. create a barrier alongside the lane, 3-5 South Whitney St. sold for $2 million. which should keep the lane clear. The Power of Dual-Language Programs in Boston’s Schools at a scrimmage debate for the Boston Debate to implement no later than March 1, 2019. students to function in the classroom setting EDITOR’S NOTE: Boston Public League—all in Spanish. It is with people like A new system to help students who learn if they continue to preach the separate nature Schools closed on March 17 Gomez in mind, that McDonough works so English in the classroom is necessary in order of the two languages, both academically and and won’t reopen this school diligently to educate Boston Public School for these students to have successful academic socially? (BPS) districts on legislation that will propel careers. I myself grew up in a Hispanic McDonough and others within BPS year. Many educators, parents, English learners forward academically. household, where everything I learned in my believe that bilingual students and ELLs and experts are thinking about English language learners (ELL), or mother tongue was only useful in a social deserve the opportunity to thrive in the what schools will need to look students who are unable to communicate setting. The older I got, the more I longed for classroom. Under the LOOK Act, people like like when they do reopen and fluently or learn effectively in English, are an education system that could bring me up to Gomez can thrive, starting from the early among the most diverse of all students in speed with my age-counterparts in my parent’s ages of Pre-Kindergarten all the way through envisioning how they could Massachusetts. In Boston alone they make country of origin. elementary, middle, and high school. be transformed. This article, up 30 percent of all students. According to Graduate Professor of Urban Education “We were really excited that the LOOK about English language the Center for English Language Learners at the City University of New York, Ofelia Act was passed in 2017, because it brings at American Institutes for Research, Garcia says that bilingual people are back bilingual and biliterate opportunities learners and bilingual approximately 12 percent of the students constantly reverting back and forth between for our students,” McDonough said, “I know education was written last who began as ELL did not achieve English their native and learned languages throughout particularly for the office of English Language year. proficiency statewide by the end of the study the course of their lives. Learners we’re really excited about that period. The Boston public-school system When she spoke at the Multilingualism because it takes away the mandate that all throws bilingual students into a classroom & Diversity Lectures in 2017, Garcia recalls students have to learn sheltered English in BY LAURA RODRIGUEZ with the hope that they figure out the nuances when she started to truly understand the immersion environments.” eady to start her day, Genevieve of academic language eventually. But in benefits of bilingual education. A student McDonough turns the corner reality, it takes up to seven years to pick up the brought it to light in her classroom, back when From sheltered immersion to of the Boston Public School academic language, and even then, their brains she taught in a bilingual school. ‘translanguaging’ district office to the Dudley don’t process language the same way a native “When I asked one child one day, ‘What he goal of Sheltered English Immersion Cafe, and orders an Americano. speaker does. is happening here?’ he said to me, ‘well programs is to provide English learners RShe sips her coffee with a smile as she sifts In November 2017, Massachusetts even though Spanish runs through my heart, Twith a comprehensive curriculum in all through the paperwork she’s brought, clips it passed the Language Opportunity for Our English rules my veins,’” Garcia said. content areas, as well as develop a student’s all into the clipboard in her hand, and adjusts Kids (LOOK) Act, which aimed to provide The issue is really multifaceted—how English language skills. Students come out of a name tag that reads “Boston Public Schools districts with more flexibility in their language can we incorporate both languages into a the classroom having mastered how to speak, Instructional Specialist.” Her smile widens acquisition programs. The Massachusetts child’s academic life and disprove the myth of read and write in English. as she recounts the story of Willie Gomez, a Department of Elementary & Secondary separateness? The way that Diana Weiner, a bilingual high school graduate of the Margarita Muñiz Education was supposed to establish Considering that two-thirds of the teacher from Long Island, New York, Academy. McDonough recently saw him benchmarks, guidelines, and English learner English language is similar to Spanish, how describes English immersion programs is that articulate the benefits of bilingual education success templates by Sept. 1, 2018, for districts can teachers in the public school system expect “a new kid comes from a different country, they’re thrown into a classroom and are • The Fenway News continues publishing continue to offer takeout service expected to figure out the academic language online only this month. even though the state’s phasing plan eventually,” she says, “but they’re basically CORONAVIRUS • A doesn’t let them reopen until later in not learning anything from ages five to seven statewide ban on eviction cases and foreclosure proceedings remains June. Visit www.fenwaycdc.org/ and because they’re still trying to pick up both in effect until 45 days after the state click the “We are Open” tile for a list. social and academic cues in each language.” & THE FENWAY According to Garcia, there are two of emergency is lifted, or mid-August, • Lifeboat Food Bank continues at the perspectives—one is the external societal whichever comes first. We’ve got more Seventh Day Adventist Church, at the perspective, which states that there are two information on page 6. corner of Jersey & Peterborough streets. main languages that can be connected back • Many restaurants in the Fenway Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3-5pm. DUAL LANGUAGE on page 2 > 2 | FENWAY NEWS | JUNE 2020

Goodbye, Tony C’s. Hello, SOJUba. With the sole exception of Domino’s Pizza,

PHOTO: STEVE CHASE commercial tenants in the first block of Boylston Street in the West Fens have emptied out in preparation for the site’s redevelopment. Built as automobile showrooms in the early 20th century, the block at one time housed two landmarks of Boston’s gay community, the Ramrod and the 1270. SOJUba, formerly located at 1260 Boylston (the old Sweet Caroline’s) has found a larger home just across the street in the old Tony C’s space at 1265 Boylston. As its name suggests, the restaurant features the Korean spirit soju and Korean food.

> DUAL LANGUAGE from previous page tary. This meant that ELL students could be and biliterate will really open yourself to nation-states and physical territories. This A history of policy in Boston denied equal opportunities in the classroom, to be competitive in the global market,” method is the primary way that students are he LOOK Act requires school districts and so the Equal Education Opportunities McDonough said. taught and tested in the United States today to create an evaluation plan for the Act was swept into the conversation because Regardless of strides within the bilingual and places the greatest level of distinction Teffectiveness of current programs for the solution to the language barriers students education debate, opponents of the Act still between different languages. It refers to a ELL students, which would include ways to encountered could be solved with competent adamantly believe that the English-only dominant language that academic material help a student achieve English proficiency in instructional programs. education model was implemented for a is taught in, or L1, which would be English an academic setting and a description of the Controversy around the proposed reason, and that it is a mistake to bring back in many BPS districts, and less important steps that the district would take in the event legislation included questions of whether the the bilingual education system. subsequent languages, L2 and L3, such as that a student starts to fall behind his/her federal or local governments would control “I would encourage them to see it in Spanish or Haitian Creole that form a type of native English-speaking peers. education in the long run. Should schools person and talk to actual students who have hierarchical relationship in the classroom. I remember entering the New York teach exclusively English or allow the native gone through dual-language programs,” The second perspective, plurilingualism, City and State public school systems as an language to be used? This question rang in McDonough said, addressing opposition. Take deals with students switching between ELL student. I was temporarily held back on the ears of many, and in 2002, Massachusetts Willie Gomez and his job as MC of the Boston multiple languages in the classroom, reading levels at times due to a lack of proper passed Question 2, which eliminated the Debate League scrimmage in Spanish. depending on the situation and for the sole program implementation for students like me. state’s existing bilingual education programs “I was a debater Spanish, and English, purpose of facilitating communication. While I had to bear the brunt of this resource absence and required ELL students to be enrolled in one, because of my ability to speak both the plurilingual concept is more fluid with in my small Westchester County town, where sheltered English-immersion programs for one fluently, my experience going to Margarita language, it still limits the confidence that a the Hispanic population makes up 11 percent year. This ballot initiative lowered instruction Muñiz Academy. which is a bilingual school,” student has in a second, third or even fourth of the population. I was on my own when it rate for about 40 percent of all English Gomez said. “BPS one gave me comfort in language, and so the hierarchy of the first came to catching up to my peers, whether learners in the U.S. both languages and then gave me exposure to perspective remains, where English is the it meant reading more outside of class, or professional Spanish.” dominant language in the classroom, and seeking out teachers to give me additional Back in the classroom Gomez and other bilingual students like power is still only present in the language work. Not everyone has this privilege, due here is little evidence to support the idea him tend to flourish more in environments that itself, and not the speaker. From this, Garcia to a lack of resources and funds in some that English learners can learn English can represent their lives outside of school. For introduces the idea of ‘translanguaging.’ BPS districts, and cannot be expected to find Tin one year, as the 2002 Massachusetts Gomez, that meant adequate representation in “We all have an idiolect that is ours, success in the academic system alone. education reform required. The proponents of the demographic makeup of the teachers and and this, of course, is also surrounded by this This is not the first time an act like this an English classroom model believed that this staff at the Muñiz Academy. communicative repertoire,” Garcia says, “So has been passed—The Bilingual Education initiative would help bridge the gap between “I had classes in English, classes in it’s not only our linguistic repertoire, which Act of 1968 is noted as the first official federal the English learners who were falling well Spanish. Basically, all the teachers I had were is related to our idiolect, but also how we recognition for students with limited English behind their native English-speaking peers. all bilingual or Latino,” Gomez said. “I feel surround it by gestures, by contexts, and how speaking ability, later changed to students with Getting rid of the bilingual model would like I didn’t have an experience where I felt we bring that forth as hints, so that you, the limited English proficiency and now simply also reduce costs by taking away specialized isolated culturally, and I feel like that’s a thing hearer, can construct a message.” called English learners. instruction for English learners. that needs to be present at BPS.” What Garcia brings up is a concept that The recommendations of the bill On top of this, finding qualified bilingual Gomez grew up in a Spanish-only could revolutionize teaching in classroom set- included teaching Spanish as a primary teachers in Massachusetts became a struggle household with parents who immigrated from tings across the United States—translanguag- learning language, teaching English as a following the implementation of the English- Ecuador. But he and I knew very different ing lets a student use their entire language second language, and designing programs only education law. Framingham and a few academic settings growing up, as with the memory without facing the consequences that would give Spanish-speaking students an other districts still had permission to keep Rafael Hernandez school all the way up of code-switching in front of academics. No appreciation of cultural heritage and language. teaching students math, science and other through the Muñiz Academy, Gomez knew a dominant, no hierarchy of learning languages, Though it targeted Spanish-speaking students, subjects in their native languages, but a job level of Spanish that transcended the confines they’re all on equal levels and can be sub- the Bilingual Education Act, also known as posting for a classroom teacher that would of an immigrant household. stituted without oversimplification of terms Title VII, laid the foundation to believe that, normally attract about 100 applicants only “My high school was majority Latino, or meanings lost in translation. Students can as opposed to their native English-speaking brought in around five when it came to and I feel like in a sense that can be something research and gain knowledge in their native peers, all ELL students have specific needs, teachers instructing students in Spanish or that’s not good,” Gomez said, “But in the sense language and transfer it to English in the and that in the interest of equal educational Portuguese. of having students who at least have a seal of classroom, thereby improving their academic opportunity, bilingual programs should be With growing numbers of first-generation biliteracy, that is always good to have. The knowledge in both languages. federally funded. immigrants, districts must be equipped to students at my school at least felt that that’s “It’s important to remember that all The act provided funds in the form handle an influx of ELL students. Despite the something they’ll carry with them for the rest bilingual communities translanguage,” Garcia of competitive grants, used to suppoprt challenges, a bilingual model remains a strong of their journey.” said, stressing the social aspect of a language educational programs, train teachers and contender as a substitute teaching method in Across the scope of the education field, over its linguistic value. “It is the norm in teacher aides, develop and disseminate the public-school system. teachers and advocates are promoting the bilingual communities to do this.” materials and for parent involvement projects. According to Aspen (SIS), English benefits of legislation like the LOOK Act. Garcia believes that it is a disservice to While the act did not explicitly require learners in Boston collectively speak more “People throw terms like ‘50-50,’ or ELL students not to provide the necessary bilingual instruction or the use of the students’ than 70 different languages. The LOOK Act ‘90-10’ but not really knowing there’s the avenues in an academic setting. native language in the academic setting, it provides districts the flexibility to choose the population of students 50-50 English and “When translanguaging is not taken encouraged new programs and ways to teach English learner program that best fits each Spanish,” McDonough said. into account, you are doing injustice to students English. It prioritized low-income individual population. The key lies with the future of bilingual the children, to the language-minoritized families, but non-English-speaking students New York recently announced the education—the children themselves, like children,” Garcia said, “You are only from families with moderate income levels opening of 47 Pre-Kindergarten programs for Gomez. We, as children of first-generation mobilizing less than half of their repertoire. were not included. dual languages in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, immigrants, know the struggle it took our You’re leaving another big part out, and when In 1978, the act was amended to address and Haitian Creole. parents to get us here. We want to learn and you assess them, you are testing them in less the vague nature of the 1968 guidelines and At its September 2014 meeting, the be successful and we care more than the than half of their repertoire.” make participation by school districts volun- New York State Board of Regents amended 70 percent of our peers, because we have part 154 of the Commissioner’s Regulations the privilege of seeing the world through regarding Bilingual Education and English multiple lenses and want to live to give back DUCK, DUCK as a New Language (ENL) programs. The half of what our parents gave us in academic (NO] GOOSE amendment would require school districts opportunities. These reasons alone spark to achieve the same educational goals and debate and let the innovative learning system PHOTO: STEVE WOLF From the start of the stay-at- home advisory in March, many standards established for all students. prevail in the academic community. Fenwickians relied on walking “He stood up there and spoke about the in the Back Bay Fens as one of The future of bilingual education benefits of being bilingual and my colleague the few approved ways to get s the daughter of Colombian Renae, who has known him since he was in K-1 exercise while maintaining immigrants, and someone who at the Hernandez, was literally goosebumps physical distance (and stave Alearned English as a second language, and crying,” McDonough said, speaking about off cabin fever). It looks I find progress in the field of bilingual Gomez, “Because everything he stood up there like some folks also started education astounding, and starkly different and said about the benefits of being bilingual, feeding the waterfowl, as this from the late 1990s, when I went through are all the things we talk to the kids about, and mother duck eagerly brought a Pre-Kindergarten English-only model to hear him on his own, as an influential figure her ten-chick brood six inches of education. Mastery of both a native and to his peers a few years younger than them, was of visitors in search of a snack learned tongue is a skill widely desired in just so meaningful to hear.” last month. many competitive fields of work. Laura Rodriquez is a journalism student “We know economically being bilingual at Northeastern University. FENWAY NEWS | JUNE 2020 | 3

Pandemic Confers New Cachet on Community Gardens PHOTO COURTESY OF BARBARA FAY EDITOR’S NOTE: For years community gardens in Mission Hill and the Fenway have drawn residents looking for a stronger connection to nature. This year, however, gardens have taken on new importance. During the lockdown period, working in a garden was one of the few sanctioned ways to get out of cramped quarters while maintaining distance from others and clearing out mental cobwebs. Nationally, concerns about food-supply disruption have driven new interest in home-grown vegetables. We caught up with local gardeners last month as spring arrived in full. PHOTO: ALISON PULTINAS PHOTO: PHOTO COURTESY OF BARBARA FAY BARBARA OF COURTESY PHOTO

Dakota lends a paw as Maureen Sullivan tends her At Symphony Road Community Garden, Nasreen Latif In Mission Hill, Oscar-Parker gardener Ed turns the earth in the plot plants at the Symphony waters her garden. She specializes in growing vegetables he's tended for more than two decades. Road Community Garden. from her native Bangladesh. PHOTO COURTESY OFSHARI OLANS PHOTO COURTESY OF ALISON PULTINAS ALISON OF COURTESY PHOTO PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIZABETH BERTOLOZZI ELIZABETH OF COURTESY PHOTO

On May 22, Northeastern continued its long tradition of distributing flowers to residents through the Fenway Civic Association. The pandemic altered some of the logistics this year, with distribution to smaller groups in three places—Symphony Road Community Garden, Ramler Park, and the Victory Gardens, where FCA president Tim Horn Cheryl Koh sets up fencing around her and FCA member Brenda Lew helped jalapeño, habanero and sweet pepper Josh, Jess, and Suzy work plots in a garden on Lawn Street owned by distribute geraniums, impatiens and plants in the Fenway Victory Gardens. the Back of the Hill Community Development Corporation. petunias.

As of May 26, the City reported tested; 15.6% of tests were positive. COVID-19 has infected African LOCAL COVID-19 12,521 confirmed cases of COVID-19; 6,019 • In Mission Hill and Roxbury, 3,773 people Americans at a significantly higher rate UPDATES recorded recoveries; and 622 deaths. have been tested; 23.6% of tests were than other racial groups: They account for These numbers may not reflect the full positive. 25% of Boston’s population but 45%of BY MARY ANN BROGAN reach of the virus, as all residents have • In the Back Bay and Beacon Hill, 2,816 COVID-19 cases in the city. A public health advisory remains in place not been tested, but the City is making an people have been tested; 13.6% of tests Mary Ann Brogan lives in the East for Boston: all nonessential workers are effort to expand COVID-19 testing. were positive. Fens. Visit www.boston.gov/news/ urged to stay home between 9pm and 6am, Neighborhood testing numbers: • In the South End, 3,116 people have been coronavirus-disease-covid-19-boston for and residents must wear a mask in public. • In the Fenway, 1,719 people have been tested; 25.5% of tests were positive. udated news and resources. STREET CLEANING & TRASH PICK-UP TRASH & RECYCLING • SECOND FRIDAY We Believe That Everyone > 8:00am–noon: The Fenway from Ave. PICK-UP Deserves Access To Louis Pasteur to Westland (includes • BACK BAY: Monday and Thursday inside lane) + Forsyth Way High-Quality, Affordable • FENWAY: Tuesday and Friday > 12:00–3:00pm: 8 to 54 The Fenway (includes inside lane) + Boylston + • MISSION HILL: Tuesday and Friday Health Care. Charlesgate East + Charlesgate Exten- STREET CLEANING sion • THIRD TUESDAY Has your employment situation recently changed? The CITY OF BOSTON has suspended > 8:00am–noon : Park Drive from Are you currently uninsured? ticketing of cars parked in designated Boylston St. to Holy Trinity Orthodox street-cleaning zones until further notice. If you live in MA, we can help you enroll in insurance. Catheral (includes inside lane) + upper Check the City website for temporary We can also talk to you about our sliding fee schedule. Boylston Street transportation information at https://bit. Call us at 617.927.6000. No one is denied care based > 12:00–3:00pm: Park Drive from Holy ly/2KJ3TXV. on ability to pay. Trinity to The Pierce, then from D Line The DCR cleans state-owned streets along overpass to Beacon Street the Back Bay Fens on this schedule: Visit https://www.mass.gov/doc/fenway/ FENWAY HEALTH | 1340 Boylston Street | Boston, MA 02215 • SECOND THURSDAY download 8:00am–12:00pm: The Riverway 617.267.0900 | fenwayhealth.org COMM-641 4 | FENWAY NEWS | JUNE 2020

Could This Pandemic Have a Silver Lining? BY RUTH KHOWAIS to do a sculpture of a chicken. Most of them didn’t have access to ‘m one of the lucky ones. I have a job that I can do at home, so I sculpting clay or art supplies, so they used whatever they could find still earn an income. But without attending meetings, commuting, in their backyards or homes. Or the teenager who transformed a Little Serving the Fenway, Kenmore Square, Audubon Circle, upper Back Bay, lower and dressing professionally, I have more free time. I’ve been using Library stand into a food pantry. Or the little boy who turned his Roxbury, Prudential, Mission Hill, and lemonade stand into a daily joke stand. Or my own nephew, who is my time to watch art instruction videos and take art classes on Longwood since 1974 IZoom. As a result, I’m doing more painting, exploring new methods using his time at home to learn how to build a computer from scratch. FENWAY NEWS ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS in acrylic and watercolor, and Will we sustain ingenuity and creativity when the used-to-be- Mary Ann Brogan • Steve Chase • Helen Cox feeling more creative. normal returns? Will I? Ruth Khowais • Alison Pultinas • Steve Wolf Guest Opinion And I’m not alone. People I hope so. all over the world are exhibiting ingenuity and creativity. Case in point, Ruth Khowais lives in the West Fens. Beyond new creative outlets EDITOR: Kelsey Bruun the family that spent days constructing an elaborate Rube Goldberg (see page 8), many people think the the pandemic could spur new ways DESIGN/PRODUCTION MANAGER: Steve Wolf device that sent a ball shooting down and upstairs and around their of thinking about larger societal issues. The nonprofit arts-promotion WRITERS: Alison Barnet, Mary Ann Brogan, house. What a great lesson for their kids! group FENSFund, announced a contest to solicit suggestions for new Will Brownsberger, Helen Cox, Tracey Cusick, Or the professor at MassArt who assigned his at-home students ways of doing things in the post-pandemic world. See page 7. Jose da Silva, Taylor Driscoll, John Engstrom, Stan Everett, Lisa Fay, Marie Fukuda, Elizabeth Gillis, Katherine Greenough, Steve Harnish, Parker James, Shraddha Kakade, Ruth Khowais, Shirley Kressel, Kristen Lauerman, In An Anxious Time, Don’t Overlook Mental Health Joanne McKenna, Jiancheng Mo, Letta Neely, BY MARY ANN BROGAN something that’s helped you through hard times in the past. One of the Susan Povak, Michael Prentky, Camille Platt, uring these strange times, staying positive is challenging, easiest ways to access this is through smell, a direct connection in our Alison Pultinas, Mallory Rohrig, Matti Kniva and we are fearful. The thought of getting sick or having brain to memory and emotion. Smell can trigger calming memories. Spencer, Susannah Sudborough, Mat Thall, to watch a loved one suffer can cause each of us to sleep The smell of vanilla or orange might bring back memories of holiday Chris Viveiros, Steve Wolf poorly, isolate more, and fall victim to depression and baking. The smell of pine might bring back memories of walking in the PHOTOGRAPHERS: Steve Chase, Patrick Danxiety. woods. The smell of the ocean’s saltiness may bring back memories of O’Connor, Matti Kniva Spencer, Steve Wolf One of the most important a day at the beach. CALENDAR: Ruth Khowais, Alison Pultinas, Guest Opinion things we can learn is that as So, you might want to spend time in a place that features a Steve Wolf human beings, we all have our positive smell—take a walk in the Fens or by the Charles or on the PROOFREADERS: Steve Chase, Ruth Khowais, own “resilient zone” and can have resources in our community that can ocean. If you aren’t able to leave home, keep a small bottle of your Alison Pultinas help us through hard times. favorite fragrance with you. Maybe a eucalyptus or orange oil—or even BUSINESS MANAGER: Janet Malone Feeling nervous or anxious is just our brain and body telling us vanilla extract. Smell it when you wake up and as you need it during DISTRIBUTION: Della Gelzer, Aqilla Manna, that something is awry. This pandemic certainly fits the bill as a trigger the day. This can help ground you in your day-to-day life. Lauren Dewey Platt, Reggie Wynn

for some of these feelings. Remember that there are mental health resources available. Call The Fenway News is published monthly Combat this anxiety by being mindful of your breathing and the the Mental Health Crisis hotline for suicide prevention at 1-800-273- by the Fenway News Association, Inc., sights and sounds around you. Track the sensations in your body—are 8255 if you need assistance. a community-owned corporation dedicated you feeling tight in your chest? Nervous in your stomach? Mary Ann Brogan lives in the East Fens. to community journalism. If you would like to You can also think about what uplifts you or gives you strength— volunteer to write, edit, photograph, lay out, distribute, or sell advertising on commission, please contact us at The Fenway News, PO Box 230277, Astor Station With Museum School Now Part of Tufts, Expanded Boston, MA 02123 [email protected] Task Force Adds Fenway, Mission Hill Representatives www.fenwaynews.org BY ALISON PULTINAS Cornerstone Realty. The deadline for applying for the he recently expanded Tufts The BPDA asks that an institu- community grants was March 13, a Subscriptions $30/year Task Force brings together tion’s community benefits typically few days after the Task Force meeting. ($20 for limited income) ©2019 FENWAY NEWS ASSOCIATION, INC. Chinatown activists and Fenway go to the neighborhoods that feel its Perry promised more notice for Mission and Mission Hill representatives. impacts. Tufts, like other higher educa- Hill and Fenway groups in the future. TBoston Planning and Development tion institutions, has a grant program The 2020 awardees, announced in “Comforting the afflicted and Agency (BPDA) project manager Ed for nonprofits for projects and equip- May, include $1,000 to the Fenway afflicting the comfortable.” Carmody convened a March public ment purchases. It limites eligibility to Community Center for a series of art The founders of The Fenway News adopted meeting with the group. The BPDA organizations that have worked with workshops, several grants associated this motto to express their mission of board has planned a June 11 vote on the at least one Tufts-affiliated volunteer with the Josiah Quincy School, exposing and opposing the dangers the school’s master plan amendment and a (student, staff, or faculty) in the previ- both upper and lower, and various neighborhood faced in the early 1970s— ous year. Individual grants range from Chinatown organizations. rampant arson, predatory landlords, four-year extension of its institutional and a destructive urban renewal plan. If master plan, which expired in October. $250 to $2,000. At the March Task Tufts recently announced a new the original motto no longer fits today’s Since Tufts incorporated the Force meeting, Lydia Lowe, represent- emergency grant to help nonprofits in Fenway, we remain committed to its spirit Museum School properties on St. ing the Chinatown Land Trust, asked if their host communities, including the of identifying problems and making our Alphonsus Street and The Fenway there might be alternative strategies Fenway, mplement services associated neighborhood a better and safer place to live. into its master planning process with for working with recipients—more of a with the COVID-19 pandemic. lease negotiations in 2016, the BPDA partnership model. Applications are open now through June added new members to its existing A future perk mentioned for 26, but organizations are encouraged > FREQUENCY < Tufts Health Sciences Campus Task Mission Hill and Fenway residents will to apply as soon as possible. For Force. The new members include be reduced tuition for auditing art more information, visit https:// We distribute The Fenway News at stores or Richard Giordano, representing the classes. Classes are currently being communityrelations.tufts.edu/ online on the Friday closest to the first of Fenway CDC, Pat Flaherty of Mission offered virtually, so the program has community-programs/emergency- each month. Our next issue will appear Friday, July 3. Hill Neighborhood Housing Services, not been figured out yet, explained response-grants-boston-grafton/. and Mission Hill resident and real Liz Perry, Tufts’ associate director of Alison Pultinas lives in Mission > DEADLINE < estate entrepreneur Adam Sarbaugh of government and community relations. Hill. The deadline for letters, news items, and ads for our next issue is RESIDENTS STILL Friday, June 26. CAN’T BACK KENMORE BPDA Allows More Time To ROADWAY CHANGES Apply for Beautification Money The Public Improvement Commission (PIC) moved its expected vote Responding to disruption caused by the coronavirus When you’re on the Kenmore Hotel project’s shutdown, the Fenway Park Demonstration Project program reconfiguration of area roadways locked out, to June 18. At a virtual hearing held has a new deadline for applications: June 16. In 2013 the on May 21, the proponent’s engineer City allowed Fenway Sports Group to rent air rights above Steve Martorano, requested the Lansdowne Street for the Green Monster seats in exchange call us. delay. During public comments at for $1,000,000, paid over 10 years. (The agrement granted the the hearing several local residents testified in opposition to the new rights for the use in perpetuity.) The money funds temporary Mass Ave Lock plan. In response to a question or permanent beautification projects in the Fenway, and the 125 St. Botolph St. about the PIC’s jurisdiction, BPDA selects the proposals for funding. Up to $100,000 will Chris Osgood, the City’s chief be available in this year’s round. Submissions must include 617-247-9779 of streets, transportation, and a detailed budget and describe how the project—which sanitation, answered that the Family-owned and -operated. commission has responsibility only must be completely accessible to the public—would produce 40 years and counting. for the physical conditions related a measurable benefit for the community. Download the Lockouts  Master Key Systems to the public right of way. Amy application, which has more detailed instructions, at https:// High-Security Key Systems Cording, chief engineer for the owd.boston.gov/funding-opportunities/2020-fenway- commission, stated she had no issue Mailbox Keys Keys Made by Code demonstration-project-community-benefits/. with the proposal. Door Closers  Deadbolts FENWAY NEWS | JUNE 2020 | 5

Unassuming Stretch of Beacon Street Hides History Behind Facades BY ALISON PULTINAS beyond recognition” and of “no style.” warehouse-type buildings with rail access at Its founder, Daniel Berkeley Updike, is con- etween Audubon Circle’s Mountfort The Marist Fathers’ Lourdes Center, at the rear. The building permits used the word sidered one of the finest representatives of the Street and Kenmore Square, Beacon 698 Beacon, and the ornamental façade of 700 “mercantile” to describe the future uses. Arts and Crafts movement in American book Street is, as the late architectural Beacon, former home of the Art Institute of Ad promoting historian Candace Jenkins called it, Boston, face it from across the street. the Posse- “an area of mixed character.” However, there Besides the Buckminster, the Lourdes Nissen School B Center is the only building on the block that is hidden history here, some quite amazing. of Physical Between the loss of buildings demolished in holds an occupancy permit for residential Education. 1961 and 1962 for the Boston extension of the use. The 1962 renovation sponsored by Mass. Turnpike and the obliteration of original Cardinal Cushing put a new veneer over the architectural features and character of the former Gulf Oil Company office—one of the arts. The com- remaining PULTINAS ALISON OF COURTESY IMAGE pany archives streetscape, are stored at the there’s a sad On the north side of the street, proper- Huntington Library in San Marino, California, absence. ties extended to Commonwealth Avenue and and the Boston Athenaeum, and the Provi- Both sides of Blandford Street. The large open-floor struc- dence Public Library has a room named after

Beacon have ALISON PULTINAS PHOTO: tures later proved well suited for diverse light Updike. Merrymount’s limited-edition books stories to manufacturing and storage businesses and and ephemera are highly valued by collectors. tell—unusual easily retrofitted for future offices, labs, and A recent exhibit of Merrymount Press publica- businesses classrooms. tions at the Rhode Island School of Design and schools, In 1915 and 1916, a single survey compa- included photographs from 712 Beacon. as well as ny, Fuller and Whitney, created almost all the In 1949, Cosmopolitan Manufacturing Boston’s first site plans. Prolific real estate developer Albert purchased the building and needed all the arthouse Geiger, Jr. was involved with most of the lots. floors for its men’s outerwear business, Great movie onnecting Boston to Brookline was the Dane coats. In 1972, owner Fred Monosson theater. goal of a group of men associated with died, and his heirs later sold the facility to Only the West End Railway, the horse-drawn Boston University. three build- streetcarC company that quickly turned electric 718-720 Beacon St. was a three-story ings on the in the early 20th century. Investors associated concrete-and-brick building first occupied block are with future development along the Beacon by automobile battery companies. It became listed on the Street corridor—John C. Ropes (the Ropes & an aviation school in 1940, then the Art Massachusetts Gray founder), James Eldredge, J.Q.Adams II, Chrome Company, and in 1960, the School of Historical Thomas Rothwell, Charles Paine, and Henry Practical Art, predecessor to the Art Institute Commission’s M. Whitney were promoting a fast link to of Boston. In 1971, the Art Institute of Boston Massachu- the Chestnut Hill reservoir with a widened (AIB) moved into 700 Beacon, where it stayed setts Cultural roadway for the West End Railway. The for more than 40 years. When AIB moved The Edison Electric Illuminating transformer station at 693 Beacon Resources company funded a steel bridge over the train to Cambridge to become part of Lesley St. Information tracks in 1886.There were four tracks then; University in 2015, it sold the building to BU. System database: the Buckminster Hotel, the Kenmore Square companies known for their now there are only two. Yet another school was located across the imposing Edison Electric Illuminating Com- brilliant neon signs. In the 1960s, when the turnpike street at 777-779 Beacon—the Posse-Nissen pany transformer station at 693 Beacon St., All these buildings, except the Buckmin- extension’s eight lanes were built, the train Gymnastics School of Education. The school and 677 Beacon St., an anonymous-looking, ster (1897), date from 1915 and 1916, though tracks were moved west. The land takings was founded in 1890 by Baron Nils Posse three-story Boston University facility. there is little trace of their original appear- Jenkins co-authored Boston University’s ance. An adjunct of “Automobile Row” on 2005 Historic Preservation Plan. Her Commonwealth Avenue, the buildings were assignment included documenting university- originally constructed as automobile-related owned buildings not previously included in businesses, showrooms, garages, repair and historic surveys, including 677 Beacon, built supply warehouses. The configuration of in 1916 and labeled in the BU plan as, “altered the lots allowed for construction of large PHOTO AND NEWSPAPER ADS COURTESY OF CINEMATREASURES.ORG OF COURTESY ADS NEWSPAPER AND PHOTO In 1961 the Kenmore Theatre’s marquee announces its closing due to construction of the Mass. Turnpike extension. The theater often hosted regional premieres of European movies, like Federico Fellini’s “La Strada,” which played in October 1956 and Vittoria Da Sica’s “Shoeshine,” which opened on Christmas Day in 1947.

on Mountfort and Beacon streets left behind and Baroness Rose Posse, and was later led an empty landscape. Buildings including the by Norwegian Hartvig Nissen, author of the Kenmore Theatre at 779 Beacon, the six-story 1916 book Practical Massage and Corrective Hotel Regent at 780 Beacon, and entire blocks Exercises. of multifamily residences on Mountfort Street fter the school moved, 779 Beacon were lost. became a movie theater. Louis The long pedestrian corridors along the Richmond opened the theater—which Beacon Street overpass will shorten when the boastedA 685 seats plus a balcony, on Christmas second phase of John Rosenthal’s five-building Day 1938. When it closed in 1961, the Fenway Center gets under way. On May 13 marquee read “Closed on Account of New Toll the Zoning Commission unanimously voted Road.” At the time of the closure, the theater to approve the revised plan for a 22-story, was owned by Esquire Theaters and managed mixed-use commercial, office, and lab space. by George Kraska. In 1963 the same team The complex will include a five-story garage opened the Kenmore Square Cinema, which above the highway and another 12-story office closed in 1977. This second theater was known lab building. for its association with Justin Freed, who Across the street from the future high- revived the Coolidge Corner Theatre. rise, Boston University’s brick science The Beacon Street bridge block is now building has a Commonwealth Avenue primarily owned by a single institution. address and no entry doors on Beacon Street. Rosenthal’s Fenway Center, with pedestrian It is a 1980s reconfiguration of the former connections to Lansdowne Station and a warehouses at 712 and 718-722 Beacon St. The quick walk across the street to the Blandford original buildings had large floorplates and steps, connects transportation infrastructure showrooms on the first floor and were used by with new development just as the West End a variety of businesses. Railway men envisioned more than a century rom 1932 to 1949, The Merrymount ago—although this time, the highway is Press, a world-famous printing com- omnipresent. Fpany, leased the top floor of 712 Beacon. Alison Pultinas lives in Mission Hill. 6 | FENWAY NEWS | JUNE 2020 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT A LOT HAPPENED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SINCE THE LAST ISSUE, INCLUDING... Multiple T Construction Projects Are Up and Running • Track work on the Green Line D branch service resumes in June, with shuttle buses Mayor Walsh made one thing clear last month: he plans to proceed verrrry replacing trains between Kenmore and Newton Highlands on evenings and certain deliberately with reopening the city. To that end, City Hall will issue no permits weekends. The schedule can be found on www.MBTA.com. for festivals or parades through Labor Day. Canceled June events include the • On May 24 North Station became the final stop on the northbound Green Line Haley House Block Party, pretty much all of Pride Week, and the Boston Art & because of work on the Lechmere Viaduct for the line’s extension to Somerville. Buses Music Soul Festival in Franklin Park (which absorbed Berklee will carry passengers beyond North Station for approximately one year. Jazzfest last year). July’s losses include the Boston Pops • At the other end of the line, track repair and installation of new rubber crossings will shut down service between Heath Street and the Prudential Center during August. The concert and fireworks on the Esplanade and the Dudley T will run additional service on bus route 39 to compensate for the absent trains. In an Jazz Festival. a What does the mayor's ban mean for the email to Mission Hill resident Rich Giordano, Angel Pena, head of the MBTA’s Green Line IC MI contentious concert series at Fenway Park? It might not Transformation Project, promised a virtual public meeting several weeks in advance of matter, as the series seems to be imploding on its own. the August construction to share details about what to expect. Riders might ask if this At press time, touring acts had canceled or postponed could be an opportunity for work on Symphony Station. • On the Orange line, more improvements for Ruggles Station are forthcoming. A $20 Y tours affecting six planned concerts. That leaves only two of million contract is expected for Phase 2 of the current reconstruction. The T issued a the original 12 concerts falling after Labor Day: Aerosmith (Sept. 18) and request for qualifications for architectural and engineering service in May. New Kids on the Block (Sept. 19)—but with the marathon, first pushed to City Announces Recipient of Small Business Relief September and now canceled, might those disappear, too? a During a Red Sox community call, Boston Police Capt. Steve Sweeney reported that crime On May 13, Mayor Marty Walsh announced that 561 small businesses in Boston received funding through the Small Business Relief Fund, which kicked off with an initial funding year-to-date in Area D4 had fallen by 27% compared to last year. a On the dedication of $2 million. In the Fenway and Mission Hill, businesses receiving funding 21st a fire at the Huntington Ave. YMCA—which for years has managed include Boston Burger Company, Boston Yoga Union, Laughing Monk Cafe, Love Art Sushi housing for formerly homelss families and adults—displaced 66 residents Boston, nathalie wine bar, Neighborhoods Cafe, Playa Bowls, Poke Bar and Kitchen, and and casued $100,000 worth of damage. a Father John Uni of St. Cecilia’s Woody’s Grill & Tap. Parish on Belvidere Street told WBUR’s “Radio Boston” in mid-May that the Fenway Health Begins Limited COVID-19 Testing parish would take a cautious approach to relaunching services once it could Fenway Health has set up tents behind the Millmore School on Peterborough Street review the State’s reopening guidelines. Uni said he hoped to open doors and is giving COVID-19 tests. Tests are by appointment only, made by calling 617-927- sometime in June. a On a happy note: Pavement’s three Fenway shops 6000. For the time being, the agency will only test Fenway Health patients who show have started to stir after a two-month shutdown. Order and pay for pickup symptoms, but it plans to expand testing in the future. through a new mobile app (Apple and Google). Pickup runs from 7am to West Fens Fire Causes $1 Million in Damage 12pm daily; you can buy bags of house-roasted coffee beans, as well. b Early in the morning of May 17, firefighters responded to a fire at 1191 Boylston St. The crew kept the fire contained to one apartment, but it injured the occupant and caused an Renters And Owners Still Have Housing Protections estimated $1 million in damage. A law signed in April created a statewide a result of coronavirus income or job loss, Dropkick Murphys Perform Live-ish at Fenway Park moratorium on evictions and foreclo- you’ll have to make up those payments On May 29 at 6pm, the Dropkick Murphys opened for Bruce Springsteen at a Fenway Park sures. As Sen. Will Brownsberger wrote in eventually. Landlords and banks should concert. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, they played to an empty stadium. The our May issue, “Landlords cannot initiate be willing to set up a payment plan. concert, “Streaming Outta Fenway,” was free to watch online and raised money for the eviction proceedings, pending eviction The moratorium lasts for 120 days Boston Resiliency Fund, Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston, and Feeding America. proceedings are suspended, and even if (through mid-August) or 45 days after an eviction order was previously granted, the emergency officially ends, whichever Tiffani Faison and Irene Li Win Nominations for Beard Awards a sheriff or constable cannot enforce it.” comes first. The law allows the governor Tiffani Faison, owner of Fool’s Errand, Orfano, Sweet Cheeks Q, and Tiger Mama in The law also freezes any foreclosure pro- to add 90-day extensions if he extends the West Fens received a nomination for Best Chef: Northeast from the James Beard ceeding already in the legal system. the declared emergency. Foundation. With the exception of Cassie Piuma of Sarna in Somerville, her competition Under the moratorium, even if you If you have questions, call Sen. in the category is all based in Maine. Up the road in Audubon Circle, Irene Li of Mei Mei can’t make rent or mortgage payments as Brownsberger at 617-771-8274. received a nomination asf Rising Star Chef. The foundation scrapped its normal spring announcement because of the pandemic; it will announce winners in September.

Northeastern University Support for Nonprofits and Small Businesses During COVID-19 Pandemic

In response to the challenges our Boston communities face, Northeastern University is offering a variety of resources to help small businesses and nonprofits in our neighborhoods of Mission Hill, Fenway, the South End, and Roxbury respond to real- time needs and build resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you would like to be connected with a Northeastern staff or faculty member with expertise relevant to your organization please complete the form at tinyurl.com/communitysupportform.

Please send any questions to [email protected]. FENWAY NEWS | JUNE 2020 | 7 Silver IMAGINING A POST-PANDEMIC FUTURE LiningsA FENSFund ContesT $250 1ST PRIZE • $150 2ND PRIZE • $100 3RD PRIZE We’re in the middle of a frightening treatment for COVID-19. and tragic pandemic, threatening Will there be a way to support and taking lives and creating an local farms? Can we keep our economic crisis. But during this air clean? Can we make housing strange time, have you seen any truly affordable or design it silver linings, any changes you’d more safely? Will we continue like to keep when the pandemic to work remotely, bike or walk ends? more? Could we re-purpose our We’re asking you to tell us what consumerism? those silver linings might be. What new ways of being in this We’re asking you to imagine what world do we want to see, and what changes could make our lives small or large changes do we need better once we have a vaccine or to make them happen?

ELIGIBILITY • The FENSFund Board to a positive quality of You must have a current or will choose up to 20 life in Boston and/or past Fenway connection: entries to publish in the beyond. working, living, studying, July Fenway News, and • Briefly describe what volunteering, a public readers will choose the things are necessary to official representing the top three to be awarded make the idea work. neighborhood, an artist or prizes in August. • Suggest a first step for gardener. CRITERIA FOR

The Fine Print Fine The making it happen REQUIREMENTS JUDGING Please send entries by • Entries can be up to 150 • Describe something June 20 to fensfund@ words. You can submit that can be created or gmail.com. up to three entries. improved that will add

FENSFund exists to encourage neighborhood-based artists, education, arts, writing and other cultural activities in the Fenway through financial support of arts, educational, cultural, literary, calendar and similar content in The Fenway News and through encouragement and financial support of appropriate activities such as contests, readings, lectures, exhibits and other events that support these values. 8 | FENWAY NEWS | JUNE 2020

CREATIVE WHILE CAPTIVE  Still life of model After the initial shock of a 24/7 lockdown wore off, catboat “Betsy 2” COVID-19 some folks binged Netflix, some cleaned closets... by the artist (oil on panel)—John Storrow, I pray and some found new creative outlets in media both East Fens Not to be prey. familiar and new. Here’s a sample  Handmade jewelry— LISA FAY, WEST FENS of what we found. Diane Sabella, Mission Hill

 Owl (acrylic)—Ruth Khowais, West Fens  Spring Sky (watercolor)—Loretta M. Dixon, Mission Hill

 Wearable art—Nan Hass Feldman, Fenway  Handmade Studios THE SIGN OF SPRING jewelry—  Muddy River Flow— Lydia Pena, Leslie Pond, West Fens Spring announces Mission Hill Itself with the chirping  Tote bags, Of a pair of red finches masks, and Who return each year digitally To remake their nest, printed flour sack towels— Preparing it for their young Ityng Deng, Under the eave of Foxfire Our apartment balcony. Studios, Taking up their Mission Hill Daily occupations –  Hands (graphite Flitting, flying, hopping, and pencil)— Roosting, singing. They live in Isabella parallel with us. Cusick, East Their arrival reminiscent Boston Of that of the celebrated Swallows of Capistrano. DEBBIE WEISS, BACK BAY The world has stopped Heron roosting in tree Sun and moon Stretches its back­— watching splat People bowing— Coronavirus 2020 HAIKUS—BARBARA FAY, EAST FENS

 Calligraphy— Lynda McNally, Fenway Studios Still Dreaming (acrylic  For Warmth and Sakura (work in Pigma Micron progress: egg pen)—Stacey tempura)— Williams, Lisa Graf, Dorchester East Fens  Acrylic Masks for front- painting— line workers— Dae Woody, Iris Tan, Roxbury marketing and (Instagram development dae_core) director, Fenway CDC

 DID WE We expect we’ll hear from more area include you in the sequel. Email Ruth Custom-made bags artists once we release this issue. at [email protected] or send us (upcycled materials)— MISS YOU? Are you one? Let us know, and we’ll a message on Facebook. Walter Pultinas, Mission Hill (pultina.com) FENWAY NEWS | JUNE 2020 | 9

GRANT APPLICATIONS Tanabata: The Art of FOR ARTISTS OF Longing, Connecting COLOR DUE BY JUNE 8 MassArt’s Center for Art and BY KATE FINNEGAN Community Partnerships has n July 7 at 7pm look toward the sky. announced “Radical Imagination for

IMAGE COURTESY OF KAJI ASO STUDIO You may see bright stars come out and Racial Justice” in collaboration with the colorful streamers in the breeze. Are City of Boston. The program invites the weaver princess and her true love Boston artists of color, ages 14 and meeting again after having to be apart up, to imagine a racially just city. The for so long? The celebration of Tanabata is a beloved program will award grants of $1,000, tradition in Japan and one that Kaji Aso Studio has $25,000, and $40,000. The application promoted annually as a theme show. This year’s virtual portal, imaginejusticeboston.org, is presentation of art, music and poetry will creatively open through June 8. translate our own longing, separation and wish for connection into hope and encouragement during these challengingO times. Leading up to the exhibit’s online opening, MFA Turns to Insta to we want to involve the community through awareness Show Artists Adapting about the myth and showing how to display your own wishes at home and decorate with colorful streamers. to Pandemic To find out more details about the myth and upcoming The Museum of Fine Arts recently exhibit, please visitkajiasostudioevents.com. The launched an Instagram series, project is supported in part by the City of Boston’s bringing insights into how local Transformative Public Art Program, and Kaji Aso artists have reinvented their Studio’s programming is supported in part by a grant practices in the midst of the from the Boston Cultural Council and administered by coronavirus pandemic. Every Friday, the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. a different artist takes over the Kate Finnegan is executive director of Kaji Aso Instagram account (@mfaboston) to Studio. share their evolving practices. PHOTO: STEVE WOLF STEVE PHOTO: STICK BY STICK, f TRANSFORMING A CORNER OF FENS Throughout the lockdown—and even as reopening started getting under way— anyone longing to exercise had few options beyond walking and biking. In April, Fenwickians stretching their legs in the Fens noticed a primitive structure beginning to take shape near the footpath along The Fenway edge of the park right across from the MFA’s west parking lot. Last month the structure began, um, branching out, and it got a Facebook page. Through it, we reached the West Fens builders of “StickIt, COVID-19,” Dennis Brown and sons Caden, 8 (correction—“eight-and-a-half”), and Silas, 5. We’ll have more about the StickIt back story in our July issue; in the meantime, watch its progress in person or at www. facebook.com/StickItCovid19/.

CALENDAR artsarts+ENTERTAINMENT + features a sampling of the “Small huntingtontheatre.org/season/ Exhibition. The school hosts a virtual Now  Thu, 6/18 Works” exhibit as well as historical upcoming/huntington-at-home/. reception to celebrate the show on June videos about Kaji Aso Studio. Visit • THE SCHOOL OF THE MUSEUM OF FINE 4. Visit https://smfa.tufts.edu/events- MASSART MFA THESIS: 2020 features www.kajiasostudioevents.com. ARTS AT TUFTS has created a virtual exhibitions/virtual-exhibits. sculptures and paintings by MassArt thesis • The ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER MUSE- art gallery for its Master’s Thesis students. On view at www.massart.edu. UM’S Gardner at Home program, allows Sat, 6/6 audiences to experience the museum’s gardens, art, and music virtually. This TOGETHER WE CARE: A VIRTUAL GALA would have been the closing week for CELEBRATING THE YMCA. The gala combines Boston’s Apollo: Thomas McKeller and a silent auction, live auction, raffle, and an John Singer Sargent, but this fascinat- With the Fenway Community • Wednesdays at 8pm: TRIVIA engaging hour-long program. Donations ing exhibition—which unpacks issues Center closed for the public health NIGHT. Compete in a weekly trivia will support the Y’s work during the of race, class, and wealth hidden within emergency, programming has competition. COVID-19 pandemic, including providing Sargent’s remarkable Boston-area public moved on line activities. Find Zoom • Thursdays at 11am: NAVIGATORS USA. emergency child care centers and two meals art—continues its run online, giving links for all of these activities at The FCC is forming a new chapter of a day throughout Boston. 7pm. Register at audiences a longer chance to learn this fenwaycommunitycenter.org. this contemporary, inclusive scouting e.givesmart.com/events/het/ hidden history. Visit https://www.gard- • Mondays at 8pm: MUDERINO movement right in the neighborhood! Ongoing, Online nermuseum.org/ to view it. MONDAYS. True Crime readers Be part of the first chapter in Boston • Through BSO at Home, the BOSTON and listeners, join the FCC for by joining them online. • Check out the virtual art exhibit SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA is working to KAJI ASO STUDIO conversation and trivia. • Fridays at 1pm: BINGO AND GAMES. at Fenway’s , which build and share a collection of perfor- • Tuesdays at 6:30pm & Fridays at Join the Community Center for weekly mances with fans here and around the 8pm: FIRST FRIDAY FILMS. Our popular games. world. Listen to great performances movie club is now online twice a • Saturdays at 1pm: STUDIO GHIBLI from the archives, selected by BSO Ar- week. WATCH PARTY. Striking, fantastical tistic Administrator Anthony Fogg, look • Wednesdays at 6pm: GUIDED animation captures stories of Weekly Virtual Coffee & Conversation: behind the scenes at orchestra life, and MEDITATION & KIRTAN WEDNESDAYS. friendship, childhood, loss, and Join Operation PEACE’s Peterborough hear from BSO musicians. Visit www. This weekly mediation session is for redemption in films for all ages. Senior Center on Thursdays at 11:30am bso.org/brands/bso/at-home.aspx anyone interested in reducing stress, • Sundays at 1pm: HARRY POTTER to socialize and check in with friends! • With Huntington @ Home, THE improving emotional health, or LEAGUE. Enjoy the wizarding world Email mallory@operationpeaceboston. HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY offers practicing self-compassion. with friends. Listen to chapters of the org for more information on how to visitors special online performances • Wed, 6/3 at 7pm: DEATH CAFE. Enjoy a Harry Potter books and complete fun participate. and messages from artists behind virtual conversation on death. activities. the scenes. Visit https://www.