THE BOSTON GUARDIAN April 17, 2020 Vol. 4 Issue 42 When a "Square" Is Not a Square Trinity Church choir Celebrating Easter By Joe Walsh Rutland are small rectangular What’s in a name? parks. That phenomenon is not Geographically speaking, unique to Greater Boston, but this city might be more generous some of Boston’s most famous with the word “square” than With Virtual Prayers “squares” are anything but almost any other. By Joe Walsh congregants listened intently to another adjusted to working from home, square. Kenmore and Post This trend is no accident, This Sunday morning, pastors Easter Sunday service. but the last week’s Easter and Office look more like cubist experts say. Like many names donned their vestments and scanned But first, they adjusted their webcams Passover services introduced a new paintings than squares, Copley in Greater Boston, the word their sermons, choir singers flipped and pressed play. concept, worshipping from home. was triangular when it earned “square” was pulled directly from through their hymnals, and religious Many downtown residents have Continued on Page 6 its name, and Louisburg and Continued on Page 6 A Sign of the Times Fens Could See Major Facelift By Joe Walsh The Back Bay Fens could see a $7.5 million facelift over the next few years. Mayor Marty Walsh’s administra- tion is pitching an upgrade for the historic but aging footpaths that wind through the Fens, part of this year’s capital budget proposal. The City Council needs to vote on the Mayor’s budget, and a timeline for this work is still unclear. But park advocates are excited that a central part of the Emerald Necklace will eventually earn rebuilt and newly accessible pathways. “There is no one who visits the park and doesn’t use a path,” said Even the ducklings in the Public Garden are following the common Karen Mauney-Brodek, executive sense guidelines about wearing masks. They are having problems, director of the Emerald Necklace however, finding web footed gloves. Continued on Page 4 DOWNTOWN BOSTON THE BOSTON GUARDIAN 2 | April 17, 2020 Convenience Stores Are Not Thriving By Dan Rabb there are few commuters. The Downtown Grocers and convenience stores across the store is also unique in that it does not country have been among the few industries contribute to the chain’s delivery business, to thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. increasingly in demand as residents look to But Downtown, these businesses have seen avoid leaving their homes. Limited loading significant slowdowns, not the surge of zones and a lack of staging areas at the their suburban counterparts. Downtown store mean that even if nearby Even as unemployment has skyrocketed in residents order online from Roche Brothers, the wake of coronavirus related shutdowns, a study by career networking site LinkedIn those deliveries come from Quincy. showed that, nationally, supermarkets and Still, store management says they plan to Photos: Courtesy of the GBCVB convenience stores are hiring a wave of retain all their employees. workers as Americans stock up on essentials. “As a company, we’re doing well because According to the study, supermarket “store our base is in the suburbs, and those stores associate” is now the most in demand job are cranking,” the manager said. “Our store in the country. The company with the most is an anomaly. If we don’t have the working job openings in America is convenience commuter people here and the train traffic, store giant 7-Eleven. it’s real slow.” However, downtown convenience stores While Roche Brothers does not plan on and the neighborhood’s lone grocer have not followed this national trend. Employees any significant cutbacks in staff or services, of Downtown Crossing’s Roche Brothers things don’t look so rosy for the 7-Eleven and 7-Eleven say business has slowed to a at the entrance to the Park Street T station. trickle. Far from the spike in demand seen by other “It’s tough, but we’re keeping our 7-Eleven franchises nationwide, employees head above water,” said a manager at the at the Tremont Street store say business has Downtown Roche Brothers, who asked not been almost nonexistent. to be identified. “We’ve seen a dip in sales “It’s been very slow,” said Jamal, standing here obviously, but we haven’t had to lay behind the cash register on a recent Tuesday. anybody off, which is the most important “There’s almost nobody today.” thing.” While the residential population of The loss of daily commuter traffic out #LoveFromBoston Downtown has exploded in recent years, of Park Street Station and the departure many living in the neighborhood have of Suffolk students have been devastating, departed the city for vacation homes. said the clerk. The 24 hour store also relied Recognizes Heroes The area’s student population, one of the on late-night business, providing essentials By Dan Rabb fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. highest per capita in the city, has also in the wee hours. Now it shutters at eight After dark, Downtown residents may Along the Greenway, the park’s signature departed with the closures of Suffolk and to adhere to the city curfew, not that there “light blades” will glow red throughout other nearby universities. With no parking notice prominent buildings and landmarks was a lot of business anyway. April, as will the dome at the now closed lot, situated in the middle of a pedestrian bathed in red light or adorned with hearts Employees’ hours have been cut back, and Boston Harbor Hotel. Pedestrians walking only area, the Downtown Roche Brothers and inspirational messages. there has been talk that the store may close along the Greenway at night will also be able relies disproportionately on this now The coordinated light displays are part of a to see the Zakim Bridge, International Place depleted population. until restrictions are lifted. For employees citywide initiative called #LoveFromBoston, More than other Roche Brothers, the such a closure would mean no paycheck for organized by the Greater Boston Convention Towers and TD Garden lit with red light. DTX shop also caters to the workaday the immediate future. and Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) as a way to On the other side of the neighborhood, crowd, offering premade food and a café “That’s just how it works,” said the clerk, build civic unity and recognize healthcare City Hall will also be illuminated, with the style checkout near the store entrance. Now with a resigned shrug. workers and others on the front lines of the Continued on Page 6 Keep Dry Overnight monthly parking pass 24/7 access monthly parking $173/month $394/month 200 STUART STREET GARAGE 200 200 Stuart St. Boston, MA 02116 � www .200stuartstreetgarage.com 617-3 77-4174 UP!m� � Apri 17, 2020 | 3 THE BOSTON GUARDIAN ON BEACON HILL Art Classes Are Cards for Seniors Still in Session By Joe Walsh School is not in session, but a nonprofit founded by Hill resident is still bringing art to Boston students. Ever since coronavirus forced Boston Public Schools to close its doors, teachers and administrators have scrambled to salvage this academic year. Art Resource Collaborative for Kids (ARCK) is working to ensure that art classes are not left out of this rush to virtual learning. The nonprofit has moved its elementary and middle school lessons online, allowing hundreds of students to create art and express themselves from home. Beyond teaching students, these lessons offer relief and relaxation in a trying time, explained Executive Director Sara Mraish Demeter, a Beacon Hill resident. “Art, in itself, provides therapeutic support,” said Demeter, who founded ARCK at Josiah Quincy Elementary School in 2012. “The lessons help them take their minds off of fear and anxiety.” ARCK began shifting to online lessons as soon buy pricey art supplies. as public schools were shuttered. The group’s four The classes link with elementary and middle teachers have remained on ARCK’s payroll, creating school curricula, driven by the partnerships ARCK PowerPoint-based lessons and demonstration videos has forged with local schools. But even if students do that are posted online and distributed to several Photos: Courtesy of BHCA not attend schools that partner with ARCK, they can elementary and middle schools. Families on Beacon Hill are last two weeks, the Beacon Hill Civic now participate online. This fills an important need for These virtual classes cover the same territory as their staving off loneliness and keeping the Association has distributed more than homebound families, Demeter said. in person counterparts, but with a few adjustments, neighborhood's seniors company using 30 of these cards to the residents of Demeter noted. For example, the lessons use recycled “It really gives a release,” she said. “Parents are looking colorful, handmade greeting cards and Beacon House, a senior apartment materials that are easily found in most families’ homes, for ways to be creative at home with their kids.” intricately decorated masks. Over the building on Myrtle Street. allowing students to participate even if they cannot Continued on Page 7 HEY BOSTON, STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY Message from Mayor Martin J. Walsh CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS: Fever (100.4F / 38C or higher) Cough Shortness of breath Call ahead before going to your doctor's office or the ER. Call 311 for the Mayor's Health Line. HOW YOU CAN HELP: Stay at least six feet away from others Do not socialize in person Wear a face covering when you are in public Wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, cover your cough and sneezes, and avoid others when sick There is a Public Health Advisory for everyone in Boston except essential workers to stay home from 9 p.m.