In Boston Pizza Festival Florina Tops ‘People’S Sandoval
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JULY 18, 2019 TTHEHE BBEEACONACON HHILLILL TTIMESIMES THERE ARE NO TIMES LIKE THESE TIMES Purr-fect get-together Back Bay cat celebrates 11 years with a party in the Public Garden By Lauren Bennett in the park wondering what the commotion is all about. Babich Symen the Russian Blue just said there are always a few people celebrated his 11th birthday with in the park with their pets who a party in the Public Garden. His stop by to join the fun. owner Nora Babich, a Back Bay “It’s also a way for me to give resident, has been throwing birth- back to my clients,” she said, as day parties for her cat for five she buys all the food, decora- years. What started as a fun idea tions, and beverages for the party for a party has turned into a tra- each year. All food and beverages dition that gives back. After three are purchased locally as well, she years of being spoiled with toys added. as gifts, Babich decided that she She doesn’t forget about the would ask for donations to the entertainment, either. Party guests Animal Rescue League of Boston participate in a Symen trivia game, in lieu of gifts (but, of course, where they fill out a one-page people still bring Symen toys, too). questionnaire and the winner Cyan “At first it was just to get peo- receives a free pilates class. ple together,” Babich said. As a Babich said that $300 was Magenta pilates instructor, she has lots of raised for the Animal Rescue clients she invites, as well as her League this year, which was col- circle of friends, and asks them lected through Facebook. “Some Yellow Yellow Back, left to right, are Anthony Moccia, Brayan Rodriguez, Víctor Figueroa, Tito Garcia, John Cucinatti, to bring spouses, children, and people donate $5, some donate Barry Proctor, Glendy Sandoval and Carla Sandoval; front, left to right, Sergio Sandoval and Jayden friends. “About 30 to 40 peo- $100,” she said. “A little goes a Sandoval. ple show up,” she said, including long way.” Black her pharmacist and her next-door “It’s a way to get the neighbor- Florina tops ‘People’s Choice’ in Boston Pizza Festival neighbor. “It’s a pretty broad net- hood involved,” she said. “It’s a work of people,” she said. And (PARTY Pg. 12) then there are the curious minds By Dan Murphy years (2018/2019),” wrote Barry often use ‘Food, Family, Friends, Proctor, who co-owns the pizze- Florina.’” For the second year in a row, ria at 16 Derne St. with John Besides three vendors from Veteran real-estate broker Florina Pizzeria and Paninioteca Cucinatti. “More exciting was to Naples, Italy – Bocconcino, was declared the winner of the see all the friendly faces coming Da Peppe e Figli, and Starita a "People's Choice" in the third by to support us - many neighbors Materdei – the festival featured endures changing industry annual Boston Pizza Festival on from Beacon Hill and North End, a selection of Boston pizzerias July 13 and 14 at City Hall Plaza. as well as some commuters. Our including Regina Pizzeria, Cafe By Dan Murphy close friends and family were there, Quattro, Sal’s Pizza, Pasta Beach, “It was such an honor to In the more than three decades enjoying pizza and cheering us on. be voted ‘Best Pizza- People’s years she has worked as a real It felt like the slogan/# hashtag we (FLORINA Pg. 5) Choice’ for two consecutive estate broker in Boston, Ivy A. Turner has seen the industry trans- Beacon Hill Civic Association Community Corner form into what she describes as “very much a service-oriented busi- What we do - Fundraising ness” where her clients expect the and Outreach Committees same level of efficiency and instant results they can find online. Membership Committee “I’ve always had to deal with During fiscal year 2019, clients’ demands, but now they Ivy. A Turner, founder of The the Membership became an expect more and expect it fast- Ivy Team/KW. independent entity rather than er,” said Turner, who established a sub-group of the Events her Charles Street real estate office years ago, around the same time Committee. The Membership The Ivy Team/KW (formerly Ivy she first observed that more of the Committee is comprised of a Associates, Inc.) in 1995 after home-buying process was being few dedicated, off-board vol- spending seven years working conducted online or remotely. unteers along with co-chairs for other Boston firms. “Because “All of the paperwork is done from the Civic Association the Internet is fast, people expect online, their home previewing and Board. everything quickly. They now want research process is done online, As in past years, the drive a customized experience with a even the closing is done partially Emily Claire, BHCA Director for new members begins at the high level of service that meets their and Membership Committee electronically so that their lawyer Chair and Events Committee schedules.” doesn’t even have to go to the (BHCA Pg. 4) Janet Tiampo, BHCA Director. Chair. Turner noticed the emergence of this trend about four or five (TURNER Pg. 11) 2 PAGE 2 THE BEACON HILL TIMES JULY 18, 2019 editorial YES, DRUGS ARE BAD, BUT ALCOHOL IS STILL THE WORST We've all become aware of the opioid epidemic that has spread throughout the country in recent years and that has been responsible for about 60,000 premature deaths annually in the United States. The dangerous and deadly drug fentanyl, which often is laced into heroin, chiefly has been responsible for the rise in opioid overdoses. However, we should not lose sight of the fact that alcohol abuse still rates as the number one health problem in the country, as it has for decades. Here are a few statistics: It is estimated that excessive drinking is responsible for 88,000 deaths per year in the United States, about one in 10 deaths among working-age adults. The cost in 2010 was almost $250 billion. And drinking is a serious problem among adolescents. More than nine percent of those 12 to 17 years drink alcohol, and almost five percent engaged in binge drinking in the last month. Drinking in the teen years makes a person five times more likely to become an alcoholic than if they had waited to take their first drink after the age of 21. For men, risky drinking is more than four drinks on any day or more Black than 14 drinks in any week, according to the National Institute for Alcohol Abuse. And for women, it’s more than three drinks on any day or more than seven drinks in any week. (The institute defines a drink as Letters to the Editor 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of spirits.) TIME FOR A hood. Then BHCA Traffic and mark on it “Charles Street Cleaning Among people aged 15 to 49, alcohol use is the single most common CHANGE Parking Committee chair Steve Fund”. Currently, Charles Street Young was especially helpful with is cleaned three times a week by a risk factor for death and disability. In 2016, alcohol accounted for 6.8 Dear Beacon Hill Neighbors: this change. This change positively crew from Work, Inc., a non-profit percent of male and 2.2 percent of female deaths. As of June 25, I have resigned from affected the quality of life of nearby helping folks get back on their feet. the Beacon Hill Civic Association Finally, alcoholic beverages are classified by the International Agency residents. A win/win. (BHCA) board after over a decade of for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 carcinogen (carcinogenic to • Founding and co-chairing the • As Tree Committee and Civic volunteer service. In that time peri- Joint Charles Street Committee Beautification co-chair with Miguel humans) -- the same category as asbestos -- with 3.6 percent of all cancer od, I am confident that I contributed (JCSC) with the Beacon Hill Business Rosales, assisted residents with tree cases and 3.5 percent of cancer deaths worldwide being attributable to greatly to the quality of life here in Association. With my initial co-chair related questions in addition to pro- Beacon Hill and would like to touch consumption of alcohol. Susan Symonds, we spearheaded the viding advice and help with brick on a few projects that I helped spear- So here are a few ways to ensure that neither we nor our friends and reworking of parking along Charles tree pits surrounds and historical- head and managed: Street by eliminating all day com- ly appropriate tree guards all while loved ones become one of those statistics this summer: • BHCA’s “90th Anniversary mercial loading "dead zones” and closely collaborating with the City 1) If you are planning on going out for a night, leave the car at home Gift to the City” project installing implementing a comprehensive of Boston Parks and Recreation 57 historically sensitive tree guards and have your cell phone programmed to call an Uber. Drunk-driving redesign of the street with new park- Department staff Tree Warden Greg along Charles Street while working lawyers say their business is way down thanks to Uber use by millennials ing meters and new residential park- Mosman and Arborist Max Ford- closely with the city’s Public Works ing spaces. This improvement was Diamond. I am very grateful to Greg -- so be smart and plan ahead while you're still sober and before you Department and fellow committee aided and supported by then Boston and Max for their strong support and leave your house! members Alyson Lindsay and Bob Transportation Commissioner Tom friendship or over five years.