Adopt-A-Block Kathleen Alexander is heading up

this program, working with neighbors to simply take responsibility for their own blocks. Several people can co-adopt a block or two together. We will show Adopters how to remove small graffiti, stickers, and expired signage, and report large-scale graffiti for removal by the City’s Graffiti Busters. Most of our blocks have already been cleaned by the Graffiti Busters and should require perhaps only one or two hours per month of very light maintenance. The key to deterring taggers is to remove new vandalism immediately!

cleAn to the curB JoAnne Leinwand and NABB’s

City Services committee initiated this program on Newbury Street last spring, and the business community was very cooperative. However, the problem with sticker and graffiti vandalism persists. This spring the Graffiti NABBers hope the program will expand its success to Boylston Street and that cleaning to the curb will include graffiti and sticker removal as well. All residents and businesses are welcome to pitch in.

upper-Story GrAffiti removAlAnne Swanson will continue to work with Erik

Barry of E. J. Clean to get permission from property owners to remove upper-story and rooftop graffiti. E. J. Clean removes graffiti from elevations the City is not equipped to reach, therefore the work must be done at the owner’s expense. However, many owners are happy to participate because they regard Mr. Barry’s prices as affordable, and the transformation is dramatic! We urge all property owners to cooperate with us in getting the job done this spring.

GrAffiti BuSterS ServiceSLast fall the City’s Graffiti Busters finished

initial cleaning of all 42 core alleys in the Back Bay Historic District. We will continue to work with them to schedule periodic maintenance cleanings. In

NABB NE WSW i n t e r 2 0 0 9

inSide: A highlight of nABB’s Annual meeting was the announcement by the community Service Awards committee, chaired by Susan Ashbrook, of this year’s honorees. the paul prindle leadership Award was presented to Shirley kressel. Brenda Adams received the mary natale citizenship Award. | pAGe 2

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Graffiti nABBers’ Spring to-do listBy ANNE SWANSoN & KATHLEEN ALExANDEr

A very peaceful transiton of power for NABB’s top leadership was accomplished at the Annual Meeting in September with the election of Ann Gleason (far left) as chairman and Angela Lanoue as president. The new administration was introduced to attendees by outgoing chair Jackie Yessian and president Manya Chylinksi (far right) at the conculsion of their outstanding two-year term. Both teams flank guest speaker, television journalist Emily Rooney. Also elected were Kelli O’Brien, vice chair; Steve Wintermeier, vice president; Steven Sayers, treasurer; and Susan Baker, secretary. For more about Rooney’s keynote address and the Paul Prindle Leadership Award and the Mary Natale Citizenship Award, please turn to page 2.

continued on page 3

By ANN GLEASoN

the serious damage to old south Church represents the second instance when a national landmark has fallen victim to the mBta’s construction project to provide improved access to Copley square station. the first case was damage to the Boston public library. Both were preventable.

naBB and the Boston preservation alliance pursued the mBta, urging it to study prudent and feasible options that would provide the same level of access while posing less peril to these

historic structures. the mBta never seriously considered these options. now, further delays and additional costs loom.

in a joint statement published in the NABB News summer 2006 issue, naBB and the preservation alliance summarized their con-cerns. one in particular was: “…engineering studies indicate that the integrity of the foundation of old south Church could be jeop-ardized by this construction.”

naBB, the Boston preserva-tion alliance, elected officials, and other concerned parties tried hard to avert this exact problem

at old south Church. the course of action to address this problem should commence immediately, be fully transparent, and open to all affected parties.

naBB believes that inde-pendent consultants must now be retained to: (1) confirm the cause of the failure; (2) review the means proposed (or in place) to immediately stabilize the structure; (3) identify permanent structural solutions and ensure that all repairs to, and restoration of the historic fabric are consis-tent with department of interior historic preservation criteria; (4)

monitor for continued structural integrity; and (5) determine the prudence of continued construc-tion in this location.

it is of utmost importance that Copley station be made fully acces-sible and that national landmarks be preserved. the most prudent and feasible solution is to relocate the elevator to the opposite side of dartmouth street in one of several locations proposed as part of the mBta’s

original studies. naBB asks that the study of these options be undertaken without delay under

the oversight of an indepen-dent consultant directed to eval-uate the best solution to both preserve old south Church and provide access.

Ann Gleason is NABB’s chairman. Versions of this article appeared in the Boston Courant and the Boston globe Letters to the Editor.

It is of utmost importance that

Copley Station be fully accessible and that

National Landmarks be preserved.

old south, Boston public library: delayed access and avoidable damageC o M M E N T A r y

New Officers for NABBThe Graffiti NABBers continue to focus on our

mission of spreading responsibility for the cleanliness of our neighborhood among all those who share the joy of living, working, and studying here. If you embrace the idea of renewing America one community at a time, please think of joining us. If you care about preserving our fragile natural global environment, please also consider caring for the historic built environment we share right here. If we all become stewards of some small part of the whole, we will control and even solve the problem of the steady degradation of the Back Bay, and make it a model for the rest of our fair city. This beautiful place belongs to all of us and is our legacy for the future.

city improves Sidewalk SafetyBy SuE PrINDLE

As you may have noticed in your travels, the brick sidewalks on Marlborough Street between Dartmouth and Berkeley streets have become much easier to navigate

recently—at least in good weather!Last year, Commissioner royer of the

Department of Public Works instituted a block-by-block process for addressing the sidewalk problems

In the upper photo, graffiti mars the alley façade of 327 Newbury Street. In the lower photo, a crew member from the City’s Graffiti Busters power washes the same wall. Graffiti NABBers worked with more than 300 property owners and Mayor Menino’s Wipe It Clean program to coordinate the cleaning of 42 alleys in the historic district during fall 2008. continued on page 3

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(Above, left to right) State Representative Marty Walz and Martin and Jo-Ann Leinwand. At left, Co-chairs Roberta Orlandino and James Hill.

PAGE 2 winter 2009 NABB NEWS

wiNNers All AT The wiNe AucTioN the Great Hall of the Harvard Club on Commonwealth Avenue provided the perfect setting for NAbb’s Festive Fall Party and wine Auction on November 6. Fine wines to accompany the delicious hors d’ouevres and desserts were generously donated by bauer wines and best Cellars. marie Keep from Skinner Auctioneers conducted the live auction with able assistance from guest auctioneer Jay Cashman. the highlight of

the live auction was a “fresh” painting by eli Cedrone of the Copley Society of Art who captured the evening in oils. A portion of the evening’s proceeds was donated to the max warburg Courage Curriculum (www.maxcourage.com).

Congratulations on another successful event to Co-chairs James Hill and roberta orlandino and their organizing committee: Jamie barth,

Gayle bordeaux, Jay essegian, Jennifer Hill, Joanna Cook-Kjellman, rosanne Kumins, Angela lanoue, lynda mcNally, molly mosier, Janine mudge-mullen, Carolyn Vandam, linda Zukowski and lois Harvey.

(Above, left to right) NABB President

Angela Lanoue and YF&N Co-chair Mary

Ann Hill. At right, Susan and Kurt Baker.

looks and comments of opponents, and state one’s case firmly. Shirley does this unflinchingly. Some people at city Hall deride her frequent opposition to city and board decisions. this only proves that Shirley has iden-

tified practices that do not serve the public interest, thereby antagonizing the practitioners.

as a NaBB Board member, Shirley has tried to spur the Board to look beyond the confines of Back Bay and to engage in citywide issues. She may rub some people the wrong way in the process, but she always acts with conscience and a deter-mination not to just let things slide because an issue is uncomfortable. She is an outstanding example of an informed, educated citizen engag-ing in the public arena to encour-age reform and better government, using just her brains, education, and advocacy skills. Shirley’s uncompro-mising values make her a respected leader in our organization and the

city, and a worthy recipient of the Prindle award. (Presented by Patti Quinn from the nomination of Ms. Kressel by Fred Mauet.)

Shirley kressel has exhibited the characteristics of leadership, advocacy, and bravery in the public arena that richly merit this recognition by NaBB.

Shirley was for many years president of the alliance of Boston Neighborhoods, as she tried to build a cross-Boston organization that would increase public debate on issues and help neigh-borhoods work together for their common inter-ests. Shirley’s signature issue as a citizen-activist has been reform of the Boston redevelopment authority. She believes that the city needs a separate planning agency, like almost all other large american cities, so that the economic development part of the Bra’s mission does not overwhelm its planning function.

Shirley’s leadership qualities are exemplified by her dogged attendance at Bra, ZBa, Zoning commission, Boston civic Design commission, and city council hearings (among many oth-ers), representing the interests, often alone, of the public. No one else in the entire city fulfills this function on a consistent basis. anyone who has watched her in action cannot but be impressed by her fierce advocacy, her preparation, her command of each issue, and her fearlessness. it is a very difficult thing to stand up at such a hearing, facing the scornful

emily rooney addresses annual meeting; awards Spotlight kressel, adams

Paul Prindle leaderShiP aWard

Shirley Kressel

By Mark yeSSiaN

eMily rooNey, execuTive ediTor ANd hosT

of wgbh-Tv’s nightly news magazine Greater Boston, brought her star power to NAbb’s Annual

Meeting, speaking to an overflow crowd at the Algonquin club on september 11. she shared a number of on-the-ground observations of the democratic and republican conventions, from the emotion generated by senator kennedy’s dramatic appearance to the all-encompassing excitement among delegates responding to sarah Palin as well

as broader assessments of contemporary political news coverage.

rooney acknowledged that the blogosphere often drives the mainstream media to focus on seemingly trivial, personal matters. however, she believes that the voters should decide which facts about a candidate are important and relevant. “My theory is that everything is fair game. we ask the questions. you don’t have to answer. My father (60 Minutes commentator, Andy rooney) taught me the more we know about everyone and everything, the better off we are.”

rooney, a NAbb member and Marlborough street resident, also spoke about her decision to move from Newton to the back bay in the spring of 2006. she occasionally misses the bigger yard and bigger closets she left behind, but not the suburban isolation. rooney relishes city living (even the sirens) and the architecture and charm of the back bay. “when i step on the street in the morning on the way to get my coffee, i feel like i am fully engaged. it’s a move i’m really glad i made.”

her new neighbors are glad as well.

Any volunteer association needs the sustained dedication of individuals who provide unselfish service. NaBB is no exception. to show its appreciation to such

individuals, NaBB created the Mary Natale citizenship award. this year the Special awards Selection committee has chosen to honor Brenda adams for her significant and unheralded contributions to our neighborhood.

Brenda moved to Back Bay from Mckensey, tennessee, in the late 1980s after falling in love with Boston, its history, and architecture. over the years, she has searched through many an historical archive and has not found (as yet) any connection to the family tree of the John adams, and so she humorously refers to herself as “Brenda adams (no relation).”

Professionally, however, Brenda is a founder and president in her own right, of adams Design, an award-winning graphic design company, whose clients have included the Mandarin oriental residences, Devonshire and

residences at the intercontinental. Brenda gives her time and energy to her

community with a delightful, enthusiastic attitude. She has been a board member of both NaBB and

the Back Bay association. Whenever she is asked to share her professional and creative talents, she always says yes. Brenda has designed eye-catching logos and invitations for all of NaBB’s special events for the last decade, including the annual Wine auction and the taste of the Back Bay. other local nonprofits have also relied on her talent and generosity, including the Gibson House Museum, the Garden club of the Back Bay, and the French Library. Her most ambitious contribution to NaBB was a suite of designs for the 2005 50th-anniversary celebration that included a special logo, a poster, and a book commemorating NaBB’s history and accomplishments.

Brenda adams’ creativity and gener-osity never cease to amaze. NaBB thanks

her for all she has done for this organization and our neighborhood. (Presented by Linda Zukowski.)

mary natale citizenShiP aWard

Brenda Adams

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NABB NEWS winter 2009 PAGE 3

caused by settling bricks, invasive tree roots, and inattentive contractors. the DPW was joined in this effort by the Mayor’s office, councilor ross’s office, the Parks Department, and NaBB.

NaBB’s role has been to alert affected abut-ters to the impending project, to gather their reac-tions, and to convey them to the city agencies involved. our focus has been on retaining the existing trees if possible, as well as preserving and reusing the historic sidewalk bricks. the city and the contractor have been responsive, in several cases trimming dangerous roots and branches rath-er than removing entire trees. Where trees needed to be removed, new pits and replacement trees have been installed. existing tree pits have been enlarged to improve tree growth, and the result has been a safer, more accessible, and more attractive sidewalk. residents have been in general pleased with the results, and several have improved their streetscape further by adding tree pit fences pur-chased from the Garden club of the Back Bay.

We look forward to the continuation of the program in 2009.

the meantime, for faster service please report new vandalism directly on the www.cityofboston.gov website. although the chemicals used will not work below a certain temperature, the Graffiti Busters continue to remove graffiti on mild days during the winter. they share our concern about keeping the areas they’ve already cleaned in tiptop condition.

mailBoxeSa group of volunteers will compile a monthly

survey of mailboxes needing repainting for our contact at the U.S. Postal Service. the USPS annual maintenance program begins in May, when we plan to schedule a photo opportunity to publicize this cooperative effort. again, this type of initiative would be useful throughout the city. We hope that creating partnerships like this will allow programs to be easily replicated in other neighborhoods.

onGoinG court caSeSour current graffiti vandalism court cases are

long and involved, but we will stay the course as a deterrent for future vandalism. our longtime ally, Boston Police Detective Billy kelley, assures us that

■ Graffiti, continued from page 1 this strategy is working.Become part of the solution! contact us if you

want to help (or get help) with graffiti concerns at any level: graffitinabbers@nabbonline.com. thank you!

■ SideWalkS, continued from page 1

Erik Barry of E.J. Clean removes graffiti from the upper story of 26 Exeter Street in Public Alley 434.

✮✮Back✮Bay✮✮

BAZAARParis? tangiers? brimfield? even better! once again the crowds turned out to

browse, haggle, and buy at NAbb’s Annual Fall Street

Fair held on the Dartmouth Street mall in September.

Terrifyingly Terrific Halloween!Dan Fickes at the controls (photo 2) masterminds his automated spooky show in the Cashman family (grave)yard (3). Many thanks to Dan and the Cashmans, and to all the won-derful, hardworking, creative, and generous volunteers from the Clarendon Street Playground for a magical evening in the neigh-borhood (4). Pretty as a pea-cock, Elise Kjestine Fickes looks on (1). Joe the Plumber and Sarah Palin keep it all bipartisan (5). “You betcha!” 5

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(Top row, left to right) Greg Hanselman and Janet Hurwitz; Helen Fritz; Jack Gregg. (Immediately below) Michelle Duane and Street Fair Chariman John Boreske.

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A Irina Aguirre, Christopher Almond, Stephen & Laura Avalone

B Evelyne Balboni, Allen Bargfrede, Barbara Barros, Jamie J. Barth, David & Diana Beatson, Brandon Beaty & Christopher Nolan, James & Mckey Berkman, Michelle Blain, Travis Blalock, Jeffrey & Jennifer Blecher, Denise Blum, Joe & Angeli Bradley, Michael Brady & Renette Cahill, Nancy Brown, Sonja Broyles, Ken Bryan, Bill & Angiel Bye

C Michael Calabrese, Harry D. Callicotte, Fay Campion, Darlene Carson, Meghan Cashel, Kurt/Mary Cerulli, Patrick & Barbara Chassaigne, Beth Clifford, Rick Johanson & Laura Cohen, Commonwealth School, The Coughlin Family, Donna Culley, Ford & Kamiko Curran

D John & Paula Daher, Donald Dalton, Joshua Dawson, Jerry & Laura DeGennaro, Susan M. Deutsch, Thomas Evan Dimmock, Sandra Drubner, David & Missy Druley, Brad Duncan & Dane Smith, Kirsten Durbin

E–F Alexandra Edwards, Lori Feldberg, Paul W. Finnegan, Anthony Fireman, Morgan First & Tyler Balliet, DeeDee Fisher & Matthew McBrady, Bob & Gina Flynn

G Kate Gallivan, Michael & Linda Gallup, Michelle Gerdoney, Kim/Eric Giler, Micki Gold, Russell & Karen Gray, Roberta Grigg, Zaragoza Guerra & Anthony Giacalone

H Mary Beth Hardy & Neal Merbaum, Maria Harrington, Jaquelin Harris, Susan Harte, Lindsay Hoag, Joanna M. Hochman, Sarah Hodges,

Christine Holland, James R. & Maisie Houghton,

Kathryn Hovis & Joshua

Hildebrand, Cornelius Hurley & Ellen Philbin

I–J–K Tom & Karen Iskra, Tiffany Jacob, Bruce & Debbie Johnston, Anna Kamplain, Mathilde Kaper, Michael Kelley & Elizabeth Tyminski, Bill & Mary Kelly, James & Polly Kemler, Bethany Kenny, Laura Kersey, Kate Kessler, Kathleen King & Ned Macksoud, David & Stephanie Kohn, Alexander & Patricia Krantz, Dana Kraus

L David Lane, Debbi Lawrence, Linda LeNoir, Christine Letzeiser & Rick Gallerani, Ed Lewis, Joel Warren Lidz, Henry Lord

M Chris & Elizabeth Madison, Tom & Yasmin McCarthy, Steve/Reggie McCormack, John & Aedie McEvoy, Shawn & Natasha Melley, Ed & Susan Merritt, Stephanie Miles, Sarah Molloy, Caroline (Chloe) Monzani, Amy Morgan, Maria Motamed, Laurice Mulherin, Rosemarie Murphy

N–O–P Lorraine Norwich, Peter O’Connor, T.S. O’Keefe, Karen Oldoni, Patrick Paraggio, Poppy Psinakis Patterson, Jennifer Poveromo

R Ben Ratner, Guiseppe & Emily Raviola, K. Darby Rioux, Joanne Roberts & Brent Godfrey, Devin Roell, Debra P. Rosenbloom

S Joseph Savage, Thomas & Laura Schumacher, Joe Schutt, Jeffrey Schwartz & Nancy Moss, Grace Seretakis, Suzanne Shepard, Karen Shipley, Mini Singh, Kevin & Elizabeth Smith, Michael Smith, Sarah S. Smith, Tracey Ann Smith, Nicholas & Sheila Smithie, Celia M. Sniffin, Joshua & Elizabeth Snyder, Karen Song, Alvan & Marilyn Stahl, Alicia Staley & Steve Mooney, Jeff & Meghan Swenson

T–U–V Cherylanne Thomas, Russell & Martha Tipper, Parker Treacy, Nancy Upton, Alex Valentine

W–Y Rice Wales, Angela Waltuch, Kyle & Susan Weaver, Alexis Brooke Weiner, Robert Weintraub, Andrew & Claire White, Jonathan & Regina Winslow, Harvey & Susan Wolkoff, Beverly A. Woods, Marvin & Constance Wool, Robert & Sheri Wright, Yanni Yannas, Susan Young, William & Janet Younker

Editor’s Note: The list of new members covers NABB’s fiscal year, June 2007 to June 2008. The next issue of NABB NEWS will contain coverage of our 2009 New Member Reception and a list of members who joined after June 2008.

PAGE 4 winter 2009 NABB NEWS

NABB • NEWSThe Neighborhood AssociATioN of The bAck bAy

337 Newbury sTreeT

bosToN, MAssAchuseTTs 02115

Nonprofitu.s. Postage

Paidboston, MA

Permit No. 56517

Volume 48, Number 1 wiNter 2009

NABB CoNtACtshttp://www.nabbonline.com337 Newbury Street, boston 02115617-247-3961info@nabbonline.com

to reACh NABB Newspmq39@aol.comeditor—Patti QuinnDesign—Steve wolf Studio

Whoever you are and whatever you’re looking for,

NABB has something just right for you!

PhoTo

: JAckie yessiAN

Welcome, New Members

mAll GiFtwe are grateful to the

many friends and family members who donated so

generously to the Mall Tree fund in memory of Alexa charles, daughter of longtime Mall supporter cynthia schaumburg. The commonwealth Avenue Mall committee also wishes to thank the schaumburgs for their most recent generous gift, which will be used for the planting of a memorial tree. (NAbb News deeply regrets an error in a previous report of this gift.)

Break The Cycle—Protect Yourself From Car Break-ins

Back Bay criMe coMMittee

Car break-ins are our most common type of crime in the Back Bay: in 2008, there were 411 incidents of larcenies from vehicles. car break-ins occur:• at all times of the day, but 33% occur from 4:00

p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and 26% occur from 8:00 p.m to 12 midnight

• on all days of the week, peaking on Fridays and Saturdays (38%)

• in all months of the year, somewhat more frequently in September and october

• in “hot spots” in the upper and the lower ends of the Back Bay

what attracts the thieves? the items most frequently targeted during 2008 were small electronic devices—iPods, satellite radios, GPS units, laptops—and other portable items such as golf clubs, sunglasses, handbags, briefcases.

what can you do to avoid becoming a victim? theft from cars is a classic example of a crime based on opportunity. they are spur-of-the-moment decisions rather than well-planned events. Here is what the Boston Police Department advises:1. Don’t leave valuables (even GPS cradles) in plain

sight…80% of car breaks are due to items left in plain view.

2. Lock your car.3. take your keys.4. completely close car windows when parked.5. Don’t leave your car running unattended. 6. Don’t hide a second set of keys in your car.7. Use identifiers such as anti-theft system decals .8. Park in well-lit areas/attended lots.

Please report ALL crimes to the police. accurate numbers can impact police resources allocated to the Back Bay

Special thanks to Sergeant Kevin Power, Community Service Supervisor, District D-4, Boston Police Department, for the information and advice in this report.