MAY WWW.FENWAYNEWS.oRg 2011 FREE SERVING THE FENWAY, KENMORE SQUARE, UPPER BACK BAY, PRUDENTIAL, LONGWOOD AREA & MISSION HILL SINCE 1974 VOLUME 37, NUMBER 5 APRIL 29-MAY 26, 2011 Seniors Making Noise, Onstage and Off VIDEO SERIES AIMS TO SHOW WHAT : LOIS JOHNSTON O PHOT NEIGHBORHOOD MEANS TO RESIDENTS Seniors Raise the Roof at Berklee Awards BY LAURA NEWTON he Fenway Community Development Corporation has kick-started a video initiative, “Fenway Stories: Voices from the Urban Village,” to provide insight into the lives of Fenway residents. T Callie Watkins, community planning associate at the CDC, set in motion the video project. The first video is set to debut May 3 at the group’s annual meeting. “The Fenway is a very activist community. I feel like the minute you come in here, you feel this energy,” Watkins said, noting that the neighborhood “is a diverse residential community, made up of different personalities and experiences.” The video project aims to increase participation and support from residents for the further development of the community. “There were a lot of misperceptions about the Fenway,” said Watkins, who has a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Cornell University. BY STEphEN BROphY Elderly Commission; the only Senior Center She said the neighborhood tends to be defined by cultural institutions such as the in the Fenway neighborhood; and a home erklee College of Music definitely Museum of Fine Arts and the Christian Science Church. Many people don’t realize the away from home for seniors in Boston. knows how to stage an awards extent of the neighborhood, which also encompasses 18 colleges and 10 major medical “We are asking neighbors, friends, ceremony. On April 16 it gathered institutions, Watkins said. relatives and local businesses to sponsor us faculty, students, administrators and The idea for the video project came about in late November. In cooperation with B as we walk, with any and all amounts. We are neighbors for a lively ceremony recognizing Fenway resident Sonia Weinhaus, who had previously worked producing documentaries also asking people to join us on the walk.” folks who have done extra-good work within for PBS’s “Nova” series, Watkins reached out to interview people from a demographic The following is a partial list of the school and out in the world. Fenwickians and geographic cross-section of the neighborhood Weinhaus and Watkins looked for businesses that have contributed support from the Peterborough Senior Center, in pho- people who were actively engaged in the community. for the Walk for the Peterborough Senior to, gave a rousing performance of La Bamba “Fortunately, there’s a whole lot of people who care,” Watkins said. Center: Wingate Management; Berklee and Twist and Shout. They have benefited Among the residents interviewed was Gloria Platt, who has lived in the Fenway College of Music; Fenway CDC; Bon-Bon; from weekly visits by students from Berklee’s since the 1960s. Her children, who have since started their own families, chose to J’s Tomodachi Sushi; Floyd’s Barbershop; Music Therapy Department, which received remain in the community; they too are featured in the video, Watkins said. Supreme Pizza; Whole Foods Market; an award for its work. The goal is to release a video a month on the CDC’s website. Each video is planned Trader Joe’s; Hemenway Variety; Milu’s Berklee is also a major sponsor of the to deal with one person. That might change, depending on whether a decision is made Hair Salon; Shaw’s Supermarket; Marshall’s Walk for the Senior Center scheduled for at the corporation’s annual meeting to orient the videos toward specific issues in the Farmer’s Market; Baseball Tavern; Operation May 5 (rain date May 6). Looking for ways community or the residents themselves, Watkins said. P.E.A.C.E.; Jersey Liquors; Hidyan Café; to increase the funding, members decided to Through the video project, Watkins aims to show what the Fenway means to its Trattoria Toscana; Thaitation Restaurant; organize a pledge walk. Berklee musicians residents and why they consider it their home. By engaging in a dialogue with those Salon 54; The Ramrod; Cappy’s Pizza; will serenade them along their way. The walk interviewed about memorable moments in the community and about how it has changed, Cappy’s Corner starts at noon at Jersey and Boylston streets she hopes to understand what they would like to see in the future. “I want to make sure I Boston Aurobindo Yoga Center; Rite- and will proceed east to Hemenway Street. give the community a voice,” Watkins said. Aid; Dorothy’s Boutique; College Pizza; Then the walkers will go on to Agassiz Road She said the videos are only part of a larger strategy to make the community’s Fenway ZPizza; Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar and return to the Center for a potluck lunch planning process more involved. and Grill; Bradley Liquors; Crossfit Fenway; and a gala concert called “Women of the “There’s people who have invested in what the Fenway is today. If we’re not putting Boston Cab Association; Amazing Video; World,” performed by Berklee voice students people at the center, we might risk pushing them away,” Watkins said. Rutman’s Violins; Symphony Mart; Oasis and alumnae. Laura Newton is an undergraduate student in the Northeastern University School Guest House; Subway Subs; King of Records; Penina Adelman, the Senior Center’s of Journalism. director, explains that “The purpose of the Canastero’s; Choice Liquors; Phillipo Style walk is twofold. One, we need more resources Hair Studio; Bombay Café; Pizza Pie-er; to be able to keep programming concerts, Woody’s Grill; Burtons Grill; Boston Fire trips, celebrations, art shows, classes in yoga, Department House Fund. PILOT Stunt Stings Some Big Fenway Names exercise, haiku, reiki and dance. We also need Many more individuals and businesses Looking for more revenue from tax-exempt institutions, the City of Boston last month funds for the daily costs of running the Center contributed, more than we could possibly reminded prominent nonprofits that it wants them to ante up for its Payment in Lieu of Taxes and paying staff. Two, we are walking to list. In many cases managers and staff of (PILOT) program. Sixteen of the institutions that received faux tax bills are in the Fenway, show the world who we are: ‘An Outstanding local businesses contributed out of their including the MFA, the BSO, Northeastern, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Senior Service Center in the City of Boston, own pockets. A more complete list will be Collectively, they now pay about $6.1 million in PILOT donations (80% of that figure comes 2008,’ as named by the Mayor’s Office and the available at www.fenwaycdc.org. from BU). The City wants to see those payments nearly quadruple to $22 million. Conservancy Throws Out A Big Welcome Mat With Visitor Center’s Grand Opening BY AMANDA DEVANEY decommissioned in the 1970s and appreciate nature by the Fens so that they can lead program. The Fenway Garden he Emerald Necklace as a result of vandalism and walking, running or biking along tours through the park. Society has scheduled a series Conservancy holds a general lack of interest, by the park trails. “I think this will be a of coordinated events in the grand opening April 30 establishing in its place the “It is a linear park system, jumping-off point for younger Victory Gardens and May 1 for its a new inaugural Visitor and Volunteer which means you can walk from people and everyone else in this “We have had a couple Visitor and Volunteer Center Center. the Back Bay Fens, through the community who hasn’t seen the little open houses, but this is a in the Back Bay Fens in hopes “It was a neglected Riverway, and all the way down parks to go out and explore and big one. We thought we would of bringing Boston together as area,” said Emily Muldoon, to Franklin Park,” Muldoon said. realize that there is this resource wait for the nice weather,” Knox a community in celebration of a communications and “It is all connected, and it is in their community, and they said. “It will begin with a ribbon nature in the city. public relations intern for something that a lot of people, should use it,” Muldoon said. cutting with Mayor Thomas “In cities, it is particularly the Conservancy. “I am a especially college students, do The conservancy’s grand- M. Menino and some local important to create naturalistic Northeastern student, and last not realize exists.” opening weekend will be a representatives and legislators environments to help people year I was living in Melvin Hall The Emerald Necklace combination of indoor and and people from the community. deal with their everyday [about a half block away] and I Conservancy has a number of outdoor events, including It is open for the public. stresses,” said Jeanine Knox, would always see this building events planned for the grand outdoor yoga, bike rides, fun “I want to see it really director of external affairs and have no idea what it was.” opening weekend A docent runs, film showings, walking well-loved and well-used and and spokeswoman for the Frederick Law Olmsted, training program will begin for tours, and kids’ activities, led by to be a destination as well as a conservancy. “We wanted a who designed Central Park and volunteers to learn more about members of a youth leadership starting-off point,” Knox said. place where all people from all other famous parks (and whose “As we face many environmental walks of life can come enjoy the birthday was just celebrated challenges today, public parks outdoors.” on April 26), began working APRIL 30 MAY 1 and urban parks become even The Conservancy on the Emerald Necklace park Following a ribbon-cutting by Mayor Menino at noon on Saturday, the more important because they opened the center in early system in 1878 to establish a conservancy visitor center will host free activities for two days, from fun provide trees; they are the lungs January.