Marlborough Street resident Ferdinand Charles Mauet, a lawyer and longtime Back Bay community activist, died on April 19, 2008 of complications from leukemia.
“Mr. Mauet cared deeply about his neighborhood and this city, and for that I am truly grateful. He will be missed,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino.
Mauet was vice president of the Friends of the Public Garden, Inc., the non-profit dedicated to the preservation of three downtown historic parks: the Public Garden, the Boston Common and the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. He was director of the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay, Inc. for 25 years and served in many posts, and as chairman of NABB from 1996 to 1998. Mauet received NABB’s Paul Prindle Award for Community Leadership in 2005. “I am honored by Mr. Mauet’s long and active service to neighborhood issues as a 20-year member of the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay and as a board member for the Friends of the Public Garden,” said Menino.
Mauet was also for many years a member of the Ward 5 Democratic Committee and was active in local political campaigns. “Fred was one of my closest friends and an inspiration and role model to me as I grew into my role as president of NABB and then later as state representative,” said Representative Marty Walz, Commonwealth Avenue.
In 1997, Mauet was a founder and chairman of Citizens for Reasonable Turnpike Development, a coalition of community groups and elected officials formed to fight a proposal for a 59-story tower over the Massachusetts Turnpike. In 2000, the skyscraper proposal was shelved by its proponents. Mauet was a mayoral appointee to three citizen advisory groups convened to provide community input on various Massachusetts Turnpike Extension air rights development proposals from 1998 to 2004.
Some of Fred’s friends were recently walking on the Mall, admiring the beauty of Commonwealth Avenue in spring when Mike George observed, “It’s because of people like Fred, that we are standing in sunlight.” Patti Quinn agreed, adding, “Fred was proud to be part of a community of citizen activists. He was dedicated to working in concert with others to preserve the history and beauty of the Back Bay. Fred was a skilled and tireless advocate for our downtown neighborhoods and parks. His passing is both a personal and civic loss.
Mauet was involved in numerous preservation issues in the Back Bay. He was an adjunct instructor in the graduate program in public history at Northeastern University, teaching a course in historic preservation. He was also a member of the board of visitors of the Learning Project Elementary School.
“He was such an unbelievably generous neighbor, providing sage, often brilliant legal advice pro bono to many of us on boards of neighborhood organizations,” said Friends of the Public Garden board member Karin Dumbaugh. “He had an incisive but gentle way of putting things right.”
Mauet had a true love of the outdoors and while his illness made him feel weak, it did nothing to change his positive attitude toward life around him, said Dumbaugh.
Mauet was born in Schenectady, New York on January 2, 1953, the youngest son of his parents Rudolf Bernhard Mauet, M.D. and Fernetta Hansen Mauet.
After education in the public schools of Burnt Hills, New York, Mauet received an A.B. degree from Dartmouth College in 1974, graduating magna cum laude with Highest Distinction in History. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a Rufus Choate Scholar and received the Class of 1859 History Prize for the best history honors thesis presented by a member of the graduating class. In 1978 Mauet received a master’s degree in public affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and a J. D. degree from the Columbia School of Law.
Mauet began practicing law at Powers & Hall and in 1984 was a founding partner of Taylor Anderson & Travers, a litigation firm.
He is survived by his partner, Gregory Hanselman of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, his sister Anette Mauet Oberle of Tuebingen, Germany, his brother Thomas Anton Mauet of Tucson, Arizona, by four nieces and one nephew, and one great-niece.
A memorial service will be held in the Bigelow Chapel at Mount Auburn Cemetery on Wednesday, May 21, at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 1856, Merrifield, VA 22116, or the Commonwealth Avenue Tree Fund c/o Friends of the Public Garden, 87 Mt. Vernon St. Boston, MA 02108.

Coffee will likely remain America’s beverage of choice for the foreseeable future, but tea drinking is increasing in the United States. Tea sales have more than quadrupled since the early 1990s, according to Food and Drink Weekly, and the options for tea lovers are a lot more diverse than simply Earl Grey or English Breakfast. Those who wish to become more educated about their tea drinking can do so by signing up for a tea tasting seminar at Newbury Street’s Timeless Teas.
“The reason that we started the seminars is that a lot of the customers coming in the shop had so many questions about tea, and we just didn’t have time to answer them while doing normal business,” says Afkham Salie, President of Royal Teas.
Salie is certified by the Specialty Tea Institute of America, and he leads the seminars at Timeless Teas with his mother, Haleema, who is also certified. Haleema and her husband, Ysuff Salie, own Timeless Teas, and the family has been in the tea business for more than three decades. They opened their first shop on Newbury Street five years ago, and Timeless Teas has been in its present location at 85 Newbury Street for three years.
It’s easy to understand why Timeless Teas customers have questions, since they are greeted by more than 120 varieties of tea when they enter the shop. The tea is all imported from Sri Lanka, the third-largest tea producing company in the world and where the Salie family has its origins.
Timeless Tea’s two-hour seminars are offered a few times a month on the weekends, and Afkham and Haleema enthusiastically lead participants through a history of tea production, a photographic slideshow of how the teas are produced in Sri Lanka, and sampling and tasting techniques. The Salies also offer tips on brewing and choosing the right teapot. Those interested should register in advance by visiting the Web site or calling the shop, and the Salies also will give private seminars for interested parties.
Afkham says the seminars are not unlike a wine tasting course, and participants leave better-informed and better equipped to enjoy tea.
“By the time they leave, they have a comprehensive idea of what goes on in the production of teas,” he says. “They also have confidence that when they go in a shop they know what they’re looking for.”
The seminar finishes with a traditional Sri Lankan high tea, complemented by sweet and savory tea sandwiches made by Haleema, who has completed the pastry program at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts.
Afkham says that participants are often most surprised to learn about all of the health benefits that come with drinking tea. They are also surprised that Sri Lanka is such a large tea producer. And although many may become even bigger fans of tea drinking as a result of completing the seminar, it is likely that most will not approach the level of affection that Afkham has for his tea.
“I drink eight cups of tea every day, and I’ve been doing it all my life,” he says. “I won’t ever get sick of it.”

Project Bread will kickoff its historic 40th Annual Walk For Hunger on Sunday, May 4 and this walk will give the popular non-profit a chance to look back on what it has accomplished and look forward to the work that still needs to be done to end hunger in the state.
The Walk for Hunger is the oldest continual pledge walk in the country and over the years, it has grown from a spirited protest into a beloved New England tradition. It began in June of 1969 during the social unrest of the Vietnam War — out of an impulse to do something positive for those in need of help. The first Walk attracted 2,000 Walkers and raised $26,000 to help two emergency food programs.
This year’s Walk is expected to draw over 43,000 Walkers who will raise more than $3.4 million to support 400 emergency food programs across the state. These programs served more than 42 million meals to hungry people last year. Where the first Walk attracted followers from two religious organizations and one high school, the current Walk will attract over 1,000 religious organizations of every faith, as well as 1,200 corporate teams, 1,200 schools, and 700 friends and family groups, demonstrating that its appeal is both universal and enduring.
"Four decades later, the Walk has become a tradition for thousands of families — it’s not at all unusual to find three generations in the same family walking together," said Project Bread Executive Director Ellen Parker. "And these families tell us that it’s their special day to unplug and spend time together, talking about their values and introducing their children to the concept of giving back."
There are other signs of hope as well. Project Bread has consistently raised the bar when it comes to finding inventive ways to help the hungry.
"It begins with a focus on the hungry person and with the question, how would it feel to have to ask for food?" said Parker. "This focus has led us to invest in work that brings help right into the low-income neighborhood and feed people respectfully and conveniently before they experience an hunger crisis."
Seven years ago, Project Bread advocated for a universal breakfast program in schools, which rapidly gained bipartisan support. Today, 186,000 low-income children eat breakfast no questions asked.
"Now we’re working hard to improve the quality of food through our Better Breakfast Initiative, developed in partnership with the Harvard School of Public Health," said Parker. "This Initiative, which calls for fresh fruit, low dairy fat, no trans fat, and more fiber, has been successfully implemented in nine pilot schools throughout the state and has now been brought to scale in all 12 schools in the Framingham school district."
Project Bread’s focus on the hungry person has led to integrate help right into the fabric of the community, bringing needed resources to summer food programs in Eastie and beyond, connecting schools with farmers to buy fresh produce, and giving pediatricians the resources to support hungry families with immediate and long-term help.
"So, in addition to providing food through emergency food programs, we’re working to provide food through schools, after-school programs, summer recreation programs, and pediatric practices. And it’s not just any food, it’s good, wholesome, healthy, and delicious food," said Parker. "Our Walkers have consistently told us that they walk so that hungry people can eat. We know that they want hungry people to have access to food that truly nourishes their bodies and helps them thrive. Hunger is a fact of poverty . . . and with poverty comes a thousand small and sometimes invisible barriers to good health."
With 450,000 people in Massachusetts still struggling to put food on the table, the need is still there. Once again, Project Bread is asking as many people as possible to stand up and be counted at this 40th Walk for Hunger.
"Dig out your Walk memorabilia and prepare to celebrate the spirit of giving — which has endured 40 years and accomplished so much — along with 43,000 other committed citizens who will roar forth in the sunshine and remind you that we are indeed part of a community that cares," said Parker. "We promise you it will be one of the most uplifting experiences New England has to offer."

Back Bay Restaurant Group will be heading to the Zoning Board of Boston on May 6 for approval to re-adapt the space of the former TGIF site at 26 Exeter Street. The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) heard the proposal that calls for the removal of the old greenhouse to be replaced by a smaller and more open type of structure. The BRA approved the request with provisions that included no bar or bar setting in the greenhouse, retain elements of a greenhouse and a 1 p.m. closing. Also, the plans should be resubmitted to the Back Bay Architectural Commission that heard the original plans in January.

Cleanups are
This weekend
Okay, the weather is going to be fine and Boston will shine. On Saturday, April 26, residents and volunteers will be taking part in the annual NABB Alley Rally cleanup that is being held in conjunction with Mayor Thomas Menino’s Boston Shines cleanup campaign. There will be food and refreshments provided for all volunteers. Meeting time will be at Clarendon Street Playground at 8:30 a.m. Chairperson of the event is Ellen Rooney who is being helped by co-chairs Chris Mitchell and Roseanne Colot. Students from Fisher College, Boston Architectural College, MIT fraternities and the Snowden School will be on hand to push the brooms and lift the trash bags. Food and beverages are being donated by Shaw’s, Dunkin Donuts, Jay White from Burger King and Boston Pizza. For more information please contact Ellen Rooney at parnell3@verizon.net or just show up on Saturday morning – you will be welcomed.

Esplanade cleanup
Is also Saturday
The annual Earth Day cleanup of the Charles River will be held on Saturday, April 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. All volunteers will be meeting at the Hatch Shell. For more information on this event contact Jen Roy at jroy@esplanadeassociation.org.

Fundraiser for
The Esplanade
The Boston Design Center (BDC) is teaming up with the Esplanade Association to raise funds for the local parkland. The BDC Dream Home is launching Dream Home Gala Celebration Night festivities on Thursday, May 1 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Boston Design Center in South Boston. The BDC program opens to the public on May 2 and runs through July 31 and will feature plenty of creative ideas for interior spaces. For information and tickets for this night’s festivities please call Lauren Young at 617-338-5072.


The honeymoon
Is over
On Wednesday morning some residents of Fairfield Street found that street cleaning crews were back in action and parked cars being towed. After more than three weeks of gentle reminders by Department of Public Works employees, those residents found hefty tickets as well as no cars. So, pay attention to the posted signs and remember that Monday is the fourth Monday of the month. Also, resident sticker renewals have arrived and are due by May 31.

Cheers
To Tom
Tom Kershaw local owner of the Hampshire House and the “Cheers’ bar was recently lauded in the Boston Globe as being in the top ten most visited sites in Boston. Cheers in Beacon Hill and Faneuil Hall attracted more than 750,000 visitors last year more than USS Constitution and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum combined. Not too bad when one considers that Cheers show went off the air more than 20 years ago.

Taste of Beacon
Hill is set for May 20
Mark your calendars as the annual Taste of Beacon Hill is coming May 20. The event will take place at the Liberty Hotel from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Cambridge Trust, 65 Beacon Street and at the Beacon Hill Business Association Office at 74 Joy Street.
Another event being planned is the Beacon Hill Art Walk on June 1.

Spring is
Definitely here
The last couple of days of warm and sunny temperatures have sent thousands of people outdoors into the parks or just walking down Newbury Street. And what a site the outdoors is after all these months of winter. Everything that grows is coming out of the ground or at the first stages of budding on the trees. Walking along Commonwealth Avenue, the magnolia trees are awesome. The petals are falling, but at a very lesser pace as we have had very little heavy rains to wash them off. So, get outdoors and enjoy the sights. Before too long, summer in the city will be here.

Late afternoon sun, is a favorite source of light for artists. Here, artist. William St. George was working that light into a painting at Commonwealth and Gloucester. His gallery is at 245 Newbury Street.