caption:Vicki Morte and Shanna Atherton are BC students who volunteer often at the Women's Lunch Place.

There’s a steady stream of women heading down the little stairs at the side of the Church of the Covenant at 67 Newbury Street on a bitter Monday afternoon.

The hidden doorway at the foot of the stairwell leads to a refuge in the basement of the church, one that has provided a warm sanctuary for women of all ages for the past 25 years; the Women’s Lunch Place.

Founded in 1982 by two local women as a daytime shelter from the cold and a place for a hot lunch, today it offers more than just a warm meal. The shelter has developed into a comprehensive center that provides women with a variety of services.

“We’ve expanded our services in relation to what women need,” said Clare Reilly, the shelter’s executive director. “We’ve been here for 25 years and the need is not abating. I’d say the need is much greater.”

The doors open at 8 a.m. for breakfast, and lunch, the main meal, is served at noon. Women are allowed to stay until 2 p.m. In addition to lunch, which Reilly calls the shelter’s “central program” and consists of a daily meat and vegetarian option served with some kind of starch, fruit and dessert, The Women’s Lunch Place has a shower, bathrooms, a washer and dryer, a room with seven beds, a reading room and a resource center with computers, a fax machine and a phone. The center also acts as an address for many women who are homeless but need a place to receive mail, and each week it distributes donated clothes to its guests. A physician or nurse is on duty five days a week as are two full-time bilingual social workers, one who speaks Spanish, the other Haitian Creole.

Other services include classes in art, knitting and yoga. The shelter also sponsors regular outings like trips to the movies or a museum, and each month the staff and volunteers make a point of celebrating birthdays with a cake, balloons and a present.

Reilly said many guests tell her “it’s the only time anyone celebrates their birthday.”

While many of the women are homeless, some have housing but are simply in search of a meal, companionship or someone to talk to. What makes The Women’s Lunch Place different from some other shelters, said Reilly, is that it doesn’t ask its guests any questions before they are allowed in. Women from age 15 to 80 are welcomed unconditionally.

“Our mission is to treat people with dignity and respect and humanity,” said Reilly. “We just meet each woman where she is.
“Some women won’t accept the help but they still need a warm meal and a sympathetic ear and a safe place to come.”

The atmosphere is a welcoming one on a recent afternoon. On the walls are vivid paintings done by guests of the shelter. One work simply has the word “laugh” painted in pastel colors. Lively conversation and tasty smells of the day’s hearty meal of turkey stroganoff fill the air, and all the tables are set with bright tablecloths and a vase of flowers.

“I feel safe here,” said Rochelle Janey, 45, a homeless woman who visits the shelter regularly. “It’s a place where you can actually bond with other women.

“They want to help you but they wait for you to ask for the help because a lot of us have a lot of pride.”

The center has 18 staff and 200 active volunteers and operates on an annual budget of $1.7 million, ninety-nine percent of which is from private donations.

Reilly said the Back Bay neighborhood has been supportive of their work but that many people in the area are completely unaware of the shelter. “I meet people who live in the neighborhood who have no idea we are here [or of] the extent of services that we offer here on Newbury Street across from Louis Boston.”

But she acknowledged, “This is a very generous neighborhood, once they know we are here.”
In honor of its 25th year, the shelter is planning a major fundraiser for November 1.

credit: D. Harney


Three-year-old Maxwell Amedeo of Commonwealth Avenue turned piles of ice into a playground on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall this week.

On February 7, City Councilors Felix Arroyo, Michael Ross and Charles Yancey filed an ordinance with the Boston City Council to increase the penalties for failure to remove snow and ice. One aide remembered that the councilors had worried about their timing, since the winter had yet to see snow and ice.

Little did they know that two weeks later conditions that hadn’t been seen in years would ice the city — and accentuate the problem.

“Snow first, then rain, then slush, then ice — it was the most difficult storm we’ve seen in a while,” said Code Enforcement Captain Michael Mackan, whose job it is to ticket residents and businesses who fail to clean up the sidewalks. “In the 16 years I have been here, we have received the largest number of complaints for a single storm,” he said. During the first six days after the storm, his department recorded more than 960 complaints from residents angered over others’ failure to take care of the sidewalks in front of their property. On one day, 35 properties were cited on Beacon Street alone.

Mackan attributed the failure of so many residents and business owners to shovel their sidewalks to the nature of the storm. “People did not get to it soon enough and then gave up,” he said. “It was a lot of work.”

During last weekend alone, Massachusetts General Hospital had treated about 40 patients for ankle breaks, sprains and other ice related injuries, a spokesman said.

By Wednesday, Code Enforcement officers had given out 2007 tickets, including 175 in the Back Bay. By mid-morning on Wednesday, another 100 complaints had been called in, and Mackan said he would have to extend the working shifts so that his officers could keep up with the calls. “Typically my office is both complaint-driven and pro-active in ticketing properties,” he said. “But during this storm we have been only reactive, and are working hard to meet our constituents’ requests.”

The ordinance filed by the city councilors purports to increase the penalty for failing to remove snow and ice from $15 to $50 for residents, and from $50 to $200 for commercial properties. It also adds a new fine of $100 for buildings containing more than 16 residential units. The councilors were most worried about the impact of the failure to remove snow and ice from the city’s sidewalks on wheelchair users, the elderly and the disabled.

“It’s dangerous,” said Ross. “Whether you’re in a wheelchair or wheeling a baby in a carriage, you are taking your life in your hands [by walking in the middle of the street]. It is difficult enough to navigate our sidewalks as is, but when you add ice and snow you have a real dilemma.”

Ross and the other councilors believe that increasing the fines for failing to shovel sidewalks and abutting curb ramps will alleviate these problems and ensure safe accessibility for everyone.
But Mackan is not so sure. He thinks more education is the key. “The problem is getting people out there to fix the sidewalks,” he said. “The elderly, those in wheelchairs, just can’t get to their churches and their homes. They get locked inside their homes. We have to work hard to educate homeowners on this problem and get them to change their behavior. I think this would be more effective than raising fines.”

To report uncleared sidewalks, call the Mayor’s Hotline 24 hours a day at 617-635-4500.

SIDEBAR

Does less snow means big savings for city?

By Dan Murphy
With only one major snowstorm to date this season, this winter is turning out to be a lot less costly for the city of Boston than last year’s.

From July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006, the city spent $1.28 million on personnel for snow removal, according to Jennifer Mehigan, deputy press secretary for Mayor Thomas M. Menino. So far this year, this expense only adds up to $641,000.

Contract equipment costs were predictably down as well. While this accounted for $6.23 million in expenditures during 2006, the city has only spent $1.39 million in 2007.

And even with the rising cost of salt — $42.50 per ton this fiscal year, compared with last fiscal year’s rate of $39 a ton — the city is saving money. The city bought 50,000 tons of salt during the last fiscal year, 26,000 of which went unused. This fiscal year, the city decreased its order to 33,000 tons and has only used 6,000 tons so far. Leftover salt is save from year to year.
As for where the remaining money goes, Mehigan points out that the city typically dips into its general budget after all the money allotted for snow removal is spent, even during a mild winter. And she adds that despite the scarcity of snow, this winter isn’t necessarily over — yet.

“In the Northeast, we don’t make any assumptions about the weather because a freak storm could hit us in April,” she said.

The 37th Commissioner of the Boston Fire Department Roderick Fraser is young, energetic and the first civilian commissioner appointed to the post in nearly three decades.

The commissioner came to Back Bay recently where he met with the firefighters from Engine 33, Ladder 15 at 941 Boylston St. Over the past few months he's been making the rounds throughout the fire stations in the city, visiting with all the Boston Fire Department and getting to know the men and the infrastructure of what is arguably one of the best departments in the nation.

"I guess there's really no controversy surrounding my appointment," Fraser joked over lunch recently with members of the Back Bay Sun editorial staff. "I don't do drugs, I'm not a political insider, and after my shift is over, I go home to my wife and kids...I guess I'm boring."

Hardly.

Fraser grew up in East Millinocket, Maine. He received his bachelor of science in marine engineering from Maine Maritime Academy and was commissioned in the US Navy in April 1986. Fraser spent the next 20 years serving in the Navy in a variety of assignments, culminating in commanding USS Underwood, a guided missile frigate.

Fraser led the ship and crew through a deployment to the Northern Arabian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was the scene of action commander responsible for protecting the Iraqi offshore oil terminals at Al Basrah and Khor Al Amaya. He was also responsible for training the Iraqi Navy in anti-terrorism, force protection, ship handling and maritime security procedures.

During his Naval career, Fraser was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars, Navy Achievement Medal with one Gold Star and numerous unit awards and commendations.

So why was Fraser on Boston's short list when Mayor Thomas Menino was looking to replace Commissioner Paul Christian who retired last year?

"I was the director of naval firefighting training," said Fraser. "I also specialized in chemical, biological and radiological defense."

Impressed yet?

Fraser served as director of damage control and firefighting training at Surface Warfare Officers School Command, Newport, RI, from 2000 to 2002, and as director of engineering training from 2002 to 2004. During this assignment, he was responsible for directing 12 Navy courses of instruction that trained all US Navy officers, from the position of commanding officer, down to division officer in marine engineering principals and operations, damage control and shipboard firefighting. Additionally, he worked to bring new firefighting technologies into the Navy and established a new course to train Navy combat systems department heads in the maintenance and quality control programs and procedures for all Navy combat systems equipment.

It's this experience that made Fraser an attractive candidate for the post of commissioner.

"I like his ideas of bringing the department forward with more training and better technology," said one district chief, Richard Hartnett.

As the city's lead agency on chemical, biological and radiological defense, Fraser plans to have the Boston Fire Department take a stronger leadership role in developing a long-range training program. The plan includes interagency planning and training. Additionally, Fraser will work to improve the diversity of our fire department to better reflect the communities it serves.

"I am deeply honored to have been appointed the 37th commissioner of the Boston Fire Department by Mayor Thomas Menino," said Fraser. "As we take pride in our heritage, we also look to the future to new challenges. I am proud to lead this department in this new century as we strive to improve the services we provide our community."

credit: Penny Cherubino

Car free #1
With the proper documents, the city will issue temporary resident parking permits for rental cars.

Car free#2
Each Zipcar has a name. This one, Mini Moomaw, is parked on Back Street.




The Back Bay is one of the best places to live free from car ownership. The neighborhood is crisscrossed with public transportation. Taxis and car services are abundant. Flat sidewalks, nearby shopping and a central location make walking conditions ideal.

It’s not surprising that the car-share company Zipcar planted an early foothold here. More than 60 Zipcars, located throughout the neighborhood, are shared by nearly 2000 Back Bay members. Each vehicle is picked up and dropped off at its assigned parking place.

The company estimates that one Zipcar replaces 20 privately-owned vehicles. That means 1200 fewer cars competing for neighborhood parking spaces. “We are always looking to expand in the Back Bay. Finding appropriate parking is our biggest challenge,” said Zipcar Vice-president Dan Curtin.

One of the newest Zipcar spots is perfect for Marlborough Street resident Steve Sayers. A few months into his membership, he discovered that three Zipcars had been added within twenty feet from where his old car had been parked.

Sayers owned a car when he moved to Boston. When the time came to replace it, he opted to rent his parking space and try car sharing. “We are both saving money and we have far fewer responsibilities. It’s a terrific experience so far,” said Sayers.

Commuting to his job on the Cape by bus has increased his productivity and reduced his stress. He finds that walking is not only healthier, but brings him closer to his community. “I know what’s going on. I notice things on buildings. And, I talk to people.”

State Representative Marty Walz agrees that being out of a car increases her communication with constituents and helps her pay attention to the details of the district.

Walz uses traditional car rentals when she needs a car. Like everyone else, she pays the $10 convention center fee for Boston rentals. “It irritates me every time,” she said. There have been attempts to exempt Boston residents from paying the fee. For this to happen, the revenue lost would have to be made up from other sources.

Walz is looking for ways to provide incentives for a car-free lifestyle. She has co-sponsored a bill that would provide a tax credit of $150 to be used against fees and dues for those who join car sharing programs. The state already allows a tax deduction of up to $750 for those who purchase MBTA commuter passes.

Marlborough Street resident Karen Norton will take advantage of that deduction. She's a lifelong Bostonian who has never owned a car. She has subscribed to the T’s pass-by-mail program for as long as she can remember.

Norton grew up in Dorchester and commuted to high school and college via public transit. She continued using the T during her years as a Boston schoolteacher. “I go to a lot of places on the MBTA. I think it’s because I had time to get used to it.”

For those who want to venture on longer excursions with their T-pass, Norton recommends the book “Car-Free® in Boston.” This is both a guide to public transportation systems and a source of detailed trip plans and transit options for cities, towns, and attractions outside the city.

If you prefer web based directions, surf over to MBTA.com and choose their “Trip Planner” under the “Rider Tools” menu. Enter the information requested, set your preferences, and decide what route works best for you.

While longer excursions are possible, these car-free residents spend most of their time and money in the neighborhood. The average Zipcar member saves more than $5000 a year. That money is likely to be spent locally. This makes a car-free lifestyle a plus for Back Bay businesses.

This is part one of a three-part series on cars in the Back Bay. Watch for an article on getting around with pets, when you don’t have a car. And, for car owners, we’ll cover the issues of parking in the neighborhood.

Shoveling

This is the time of year when neighborliness is really tested. It starts with shoveling, sanding and salting. It may be just you who uses the walk from the sidewalk to your front door. But your neighbors get testy if you don’t shovel the sidewalk in front of your house.

Some businesses weren’t neighborly during the last storm. They didn’t shovel either. It is hard to understand a business owner not shoveling. How does he or she expect people to get to his shop?

The most hypocritical act about shoveling in the past year is the city’s green tickets. The city definitely should ticket those homeowners and businesses that do not do their part in making walking safe.

But the city should practice what it preaches. The alleys were a mess. If a city plow went down them at all, it would be a surprise to the neighbors. No one salted. No one sanded. The conditions were dangerous.

Not only did the city neglect the alleys, city agencies couldn’t figure out how to manage other public spaces. It was impossible to get to the front door of City Hall over the plaza for several days after the storm. The public garden was impassible too. Gradually city workers chipped away at the ice and most passageways for which the city is responsible are now open, especially after this week’s thaw. Snowfall may have been scanty this year, but this is snow country, and our public officials should be better at this than they were over the past couple of weeks.

Peeking in windows

Although it is lovely to feel the daytime lengthening and the dark receding, we’ll miss one dead-of-winter pleasure — peeking in neighbors’ windows as we walk home from work. In December and January between five and six in the evening as neighbors arrive home and prepare dinner, they haven’t yet closed their draperies. We can see furniture, lamps, television screens and people moving around. It looks cozy and friendly if you’re headed to your own home. In a world where so many live in war and other kinds of violence, where home is not a refuge, our windows, open to the world, are a reminder of how safe we feel and how lucky we are.

Shop windows

As comforting as home windows can be, it is disappointing to see how boring shop windows can be. Newbury Street is a good example. There is no way Newbury Street will reach “world-class” status without more imagination going into window displays.

Valentino is a good example. Someone has stuck plaster models in the windows and every week or so throws some new garment on them. They have made a dead corner where a lively restaurant used to be. If this is all Valentino, a sophisticated international retailer, can do to attract us, it is disappointing. But many other retailers are no better.

A suggestion: retailers should take a tax-deductible trip to Paris and look at the shops there. The displays are so intriguing that passers-by want to go into the shops even if they didn’t realize they wanted the merchandise the shops have to sell.

Give us entertainment, artistry, surprise. That’s what will make the street successful and compelling.