At its meeting on October 11, the board of the Beacon Hill Civic Association voted to "encourage strict enforcement of posted street cleaning signs in the neighborhood, including as much towing as possible of cars that violate the no parking regulations."
The clear message from the board was that in order for street cleaning to be effective, cars must be moved on street cleaning days-either by their owners or by the city.
"We need to do something to get our streets clean," said President John Achatz. Since taking office Achatz said the complaint he hears the most from residents is that the neighborhood isn't clean.
But waking up to find your car missing is not how a lot of residents want to start their days. "This has the potential to alienate a lot of our members," said Mark Kiefer, board member.
Chair of the traffic and parking committee Steve Young agreed. "Towing is a radical solution for a cleanliness issue," said Young.
But the residents who forget or refuse to move their cars cripple the success of the street cleaning program. "If the cars are there, it is a wasted effort," said Ross Levanto, chair of the neighborhood affairs committee. And it is an expensive effort- $13.07 million dollars has been allocated for street sweeping in the FY 06 budget.
According to a Beacon Hill Times Flashlight Team report which documented street cleaning last year at several locations, cars move only 50 percent of the time. "You can't cancel street sweeping because someone didn't move their car," said Levanto. "You are wasting that money."
The board also committed to educating the neighborhood on the importance of moving cars on street cleaning days. "We just want the place to be clean," said Levanto. "[Street cleaning] works well, it is just a matter of letting it."

We complain about crime. We complain about not having enough of a police presence. We complain about trash, parking problems and annoying neighbors.
What if we had REAL problems?
Since the World Trade Center collapse in 2001, it has felt as if there are real problems in the world-a series of dramatic tragedies that affect vast numbers of people.
The latest is an earthquake in Pakistan that killed thousands of people, with the most sorrowful stories those of children buried in their classrooms by the concrete buildings in which they were schooled.
But Iran was also recently rocked by an earthquake that took thousands of lives. Just before that, of course, were the hurricanes, Katrina and Rita. While the loss of life in the Gulf of Mexico wasn't as great as feared, the loss of hope, jobs, financial stability and community life is staggering. Before that was the tsunami that ripped through the Indian Ocean. There may be disasters of somewhat lesser magnitude, in particular the war in Iraq, that have gone forgotten in the more dramatic displays of human suffering.
Most people who hear about such events eventually get around to thinking: What if something happened here?
The likely candidates for disaster in Boston would be a hurricane, an earthquake or an LNG tanker explosion.
The worst hurricane here was in 1938 when 600 New Englanders lost their lives in 17-foot storm surges and winds that reached 186 miles per hour in at least one gust. If such a storm were predicted to hit Boston again, would we need to take refuge? Get out of town? Leaving, as Houston city officials told residents to do, doesn't seem like a good idea. Any driver who has ever sat in traffic could have predicted the outcome of that recommendation: a massive jam. What were they thinking?
Earthquakes are a possibility for disaster here. If houses built on fill have trouble with groundwater levels, think of the problems that could occur if a quake liquefies the ground itself. Since European settlers arrived in Massachusetts, 19 earthquakes have occurred that are estimated to have measured over 5 on the modified Mercalli Scale. (At 5, everyone feels movement, pictures fall off walls and furniture moves, but there is little structural damage.) The strongest quake was in 1755. Geologists estimate it reached approximately 8 on the modified Mercalli Scale, making about as strong as the 1989 quake that hit the Bay Area in California.
Since 2001, most Bostonian's fears have been sparked by the threat of fire from one of the LNG tankers that pull up at the gas storage facilities in Everett every 10 days or so. The Boston Fire Department has said it probably couldn't put out such a fire before it devastated downtown Boston and other communities around Boston Harbor.
There are other disasters that could hit us that we can't imagine or that once did, but now we have forgotten. For example, Dark Days began on May 19, 1780, during the Revolutionary War. It appeared as if the sun never rose. The morning was dark with a kind of yellow or red cast. By noon it was so dark that chickens began roosting and frogs started singing as if it were dusk. Naturally, some people thought it was Judgment Day. Others of a more scientific bent theorized that it could be vast forests around the Great Lakes burning and sending the ash into the air.
We now learn that we could have another disaster approaching: Governor Romney, criticized for paying little attention to the floods in Western Massachusetts, is apparently making up for it by gearing up for an assault on the flu, which he predicts could be a pandemic.
We're glad he's paying attention. With all the possibilities for disaster, ones that we've seen on television and ones that we cannot even imagine, it seems prudent to have a plan, and we encourage all our public officials, building owners and industry moguls to create those plans and practice them.
But we can't live fearing disaster. The best way to handle it is to help out one another here and now, help victims when it becomes necessary and live life to the fullest. If disaster befalls us, then at least we won't have wasted our time here on earth.

It might be hard to imagine a time when public hangings drew crowds on Boston Common and when coffins floated up from the earth when there was too much rain. But the folks at The Ghosts & Graveyards Tour have no trouble recalling Boston's darkest days, and they're ready to share their stories just in time for Halloween.
The black trolley cars seen skulking through Boston streets after dark are most likely part of the Old Town Trolley-sponsored Ghosts & Graveyards Tour. Departing every evening at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. from Old Atlantic Ave. at the New England Aquarium, this tour promises to cover some of Boston's scariest ground including a few frightening tales about the Beacon Hill area. The trip also includes walking tours through Copps Hill and Granary Burying Grounds in conjunction with the Boston Parks and Recreation Department.
During the two-hour trip, riders hear both old-time and modern-day tales such as the background on Boston's own Edgar Allen Poe and the unsolved mystery of the Boston Strangler. Other stories include the Phantom Ships that have been spotted sailing on Boston Harbor, the chilling events that have occurred at the Omni Parker House Hotel and the story behind a book bound in human skin that still sits on the shelf at a Boston library.
Tours are led by actors dressed as back-from-the-dead gravediggers who wear period coats and hats that have been ripped and smudged with dirt in "the afterlife." During the walking portions of the tour through some of Boston's oldest burying grounds, the actors light the way with wax-splattered lanterns.
"I love ghost stories, and I love the idea of whether things are true," said Mike Manship, one of the tour supervisors who goes by the name Stephen O'Normal when playing a ghost. "I get excited about learning these things."
Manship and the other tour leaders offer a blend of humor and fright from a beat-up wing backed chair at the front of the trolley car. The trolleys are painted black and have purple neon lights along their bottom edge that make it appear as if they're floating. Inside, the cars are draped with Victorian lace curtains.
The tour takes a trip down Charles Street during its segment on Mary Sullivan whose unsolved murder occurred in an apartment above The Paramount restaurant. Riders also hear about grave robbing, witchcraft's role in the city and floating corpses in Boston Harbor.
But, there is one supernatural story that won't get told on The Ghost and Graveyard Tour because, well, it no longer haunts our fair city-the curse of the Bambino.
Tickets for The Ghost and Graveyards Tour cost $32 for adults and $19 for children with a portion of proceeds benefiting The Historic Burying Grounds Initiative. For reservations, which the tour company recommends, call 617-269-3626.

Dottie Ryan of Jobi Liquors thinks crime and vandalism on Cambridge Street has reached an all time high since 1975 when her family started the business at 170 Cambridge Street and wants to put a stop to this crime by increasing police presence on the street.
Ryan and other small business owners appeared at the Area A-1 Boston Police Department Advisory Committee meeting last Tuesday to speak about Cambridge Street shops that have been vandalized, such as Paris Creperie, American Cleaners, Simmons Liquors, Café Podima and Ma Soba. She said she does not see police regularly patrolling Cambridge Street and thinks their response time when summoned is so slow it renders them ineffective.
Jobi Liquors has been broken into three times during the last year, and on one occasion Ryan herself was assaulted. The break-ins occurred after the store closed, and usually a few bottles of liquor were taken. The cost of replacing broken windows and doors is far more expensive for the store owners; some damage may never be fixed, such as that caused when an ice pick or other sharp tool was used to scratch the front windows of all stores from Joy to Hancock streets.
Ryan believes the problem is caused for the most part by aggressive panhandlers on Cambridge Street and is concerned they might be retaliating because liquor store operators cannot sell liquor to intoxicated individuals. "I refuse to sell them booze and then they break my window to get it," she said.
Simmons Liquors, also on Cambridge Street, has had similar occurrences. "Panhandlers hang around the street," said owner Alex Marder. "People give them quarters and they come in here." Marder said he tries to explain that he can't break the law by serving them and asks them to leave.
City Councilor Michael Ross attended the police advisory committee meeting to support the Cambridge Street businesses. "There is no such thing as community policing without community involvement," he said. "New people experiencing problems need to come to these meetings to raise the issues."
According to Ross, Cambridge Street has had historic problems with crime, and it isn't getting any better. "A few bad characters are causing the problems," he said. "Hopefully we can help with that. Surely the new developments and retail stores coming on the street will help."
Area A-1 Captain Bernard O'Rourke said he would meet with Ryan to come up with a better plan to protect the businesses on Cambridge Street.

Four dedicated gardeners took home a big basket of goodies from members of the Beacon Hill Business Association as grand prize winners at last Tuesday's annual Window Box Contest Awards Ceremony.
Tom Kershaw's restaurant at 75 Chestnut St. took the honors in the business category for the profusion of flowering plants in front. The Hancock Street Garden Club, Ron Viger of Brimmer St. and Albert Holman III of Chestnut St. were the grand prize winners among residents. The Hancock Street Garden Club, led by Anne Sheetz and Vivien Gattie, plant and maintain the sidewalk garden along the Hancock St. side of Suffolk's Cambridge St. bookstore. Viger won the prize for his front garden of stepping stones at 4-6 Brimmer. Holman was honored for his beautiful front yard at 29A Chestnut St.
Honorable mention certificates went to Susan Lester of Beacon St.; Fresca on Cambridge St.; Rogina Jeffries, Brimmer St.; Hungry I, J. McLaughlin and The Paramount on Charles St.; John and Cynthia Reed, Robert O'Keeffe and Vivien Hassenfeld of Chestnut St.; Anne Sheetz, Lauren Handler, William Gleason and Dyan Fergus Wirth, all of Hancock St.; John Fitzgerald of Irving St.; Janet Veasey and Colleen Dunbar of Joy St.; Marvin and Ann Collier of Lime St.; Mount Vernon St. residents Sharon & Dennis Dunn, Leah DePrizio Priestley, Candace Kosturko and Dianne Carroll; Myrtle St. residents Elizabeth Leach and John Corey; William L. Alfond of Otis Place; Rabbi Susan Schnur of Phillips St.; Jog Saini of Primo's Convenience at the corner of Joy and Myrtle streets; Mariah R. Daly, Deborah Stewart, Suzanne Newton and the 51 Revere St. Condo Association; Jean Cook, Betsy Peterson, Paul Huang and Buddy Gorman and Cheryl Aldridge of Temple St.; and Paul Findley and Arnie and Sally Wright of Walnut St.
The awards ceremony was held this year in the gymnasium of the newly built Park Street School on Brimmer Street. Whole Foods donated finger food for the reception. Karen Fabbri of Moxie assembled prizes in the the grand prize winners' baskets and Casandra McIntyre of Rugg Road wrapped the baskets and decorated them.
The Window Box Contest began in 1958 as part of an effort by the Beacon Hill Garden Club to beautify the Hill. It is now sponsored by the Beacon Hill Garden Club, the Beacon Hill Business Association, the Beacon Hill Civic Association and The Beacon Hill Times.

CLEANING SERVICES
WE WAX AND BUFF WOOD FLOORS. We buy and arrange fresh flowers for your home. Beacon Hill Housecleaners,18 years on Beacon Hill. Call Dan or Marguerite at 617-739-1306.
HOME SERVICES
HANDYMAN. Painting/tiling/wallpapering. Works evenings and weekends. Call Ernie 617-515-3785.
PERSONAL ORGANIZER
TOO MUCH CLUTTER? Home, offices, mail/filing, closets, basements, kitchens, toys, moves, charity deliveries and fall clean outs. Call Katrina 617-723-8877.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
MADD. Are you or is someone you know the victim of a drunk driving accident? We offer many free services including court-accompaniment, referrals for counseling and literature to help. Call 1-800-633-MADD.
HORIZONS FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN. Volunteers needed to play with children living in homeless shelters in your neighborhood and throughout Greater Boston. A two hour weekly commitment for 6 months is required. Call 617-287-1900 ext 314 or visit www.horizonsfor homelesschildren.org.
BECOME A BIG SISTER. Create "Little Moments and Big Magic" for a girl between the ages of 7 and 15. Call 617-236-8060 or visit www.bigsister.org to attend weekly orientation session.
PARENTS HELPING PARENTS. Needs volunteers with good interpersonal skills and a commitment to strengthening families to facilitate support groups aimed at assisting individuals who are anxious, overwhelmed, frustrated or feeling isolated in their role as a parent or guardian. A commitment of several hours a week for one year is required. Call 1-800-882-1250 or e-mail www.parentshelpingparents.org.
COMMUNITY SERVINGS. Volunteers needed one Saturday per month to deliver meals to homebound individuals with life threatening illnesses. Shifts are from 9am-12pm. Call Jennifer at 617-445-7777 or e-mail JPOCKOSKI@servings.org.
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. Seeks literacy volunteers to tutor adults with limited English writing and reading skills. Two hours a week, compatible with your schedule. One year commitment required, must be 21 years old with a minimum of a GED or high school diploma. Contact Nora 617-859-2446 or VolunteerBPL@yahoo.com.
BOSTON MINSTREL COMPANY. Needs singers, musicians, and songleaders to facilitate sing-along songfests at Boston-Cambridge homeless shelters. Amateurs welcome. Call 617-787-2122 or e-mail Bostonminstrel@aol.com.
MATCH-UP. Interfaith Volunteers needs people to commit to making a weekly visit to an elder in need of companionship. Call 617-482-1510 see www.matchelder.org.
THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK. Needs volunteers to inspect and sort donated food at the Food Bank's headquarters at 99 Atkinson Street in Boston. Call Laraine Kohler at 617-427-5200, ext. 5030 or visit www.gbfb.org.
AFC MENTORING. Needs volunteers over 18 experienced with adoption/foster care to mentor adopted children. One year commitment desired. Karlee, 617-695-2441 or karlee@afcmentoring.org.
BLIND AND DYSLEXIC in East Cambridge. Needs volunteers with liberal arts, scientific and/or technical backgrounds to record textbooks. Call Peggy at 617-577-1111, ext 17 for more info. www.rfbd.org/bostonhome.htm.
GENERATIONS INCORPORATED. Needs older adults to volunteer as reading coaches and mentors to children in Dorchester, S. Boston and Roxbury. Training provided. Call 617-423-0408 or see www.generationsinc.org.
WGBH. Needs volunteers to assist with computer projects and office support during weekday business hours, Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm. Call Liz Hagyard at 617-300-5715.
LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF MASSACHUSETTS. Help an adult learn English. Call 617-367-1313 for information.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS. The American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program. Work from home or in our Weston office. For further information call 1800-ACS-2345.
SPAULDING REHABILITATION HOSPITAL. Boston. Opportunities for volunteers. We match volunteers' skills and talents with the needs of the hospital's patients and staff. Training provided. For more information contact volunteer services at 617-573-2740 or jburke11@partners.org.
BOSTON PARTNERS IN EDUCATION.Volunteers needed to tutor 4th grade students in math. Training and placement will be provided. Join this proven program and be a vital part of a student's success story. Contact Barbara Harris at 617-451-6145 x 620, or apply online at www.bostonpartners.org.
WALKBOSTON. Volunteers needed for walks, legislation and newsletter/e-news committees. Also occasional office work including membership mailings. Call 617-367-9255,www.walkboston.org.
MASS SUBSTANCE ABUSE HELPLINE. Volunteers needed for phone service to help people affected by alcoholism and substance abuse. Must have computer experience. Call 617-536-0501 ext. 201 or see www.helpline-online.com.
BEACON HOSPICE .Volunteers needed to provide support and companionship to patients and their families. Call Robin Hansen at 617-242-4872.
THE HORIZONS INITIATIVE.Volunteers needed to play with children living in family homeless and domestic violence shelters. Day and evening hours available. Must commit 2 hours per week for 6 months. Training sessions held monthly. 617-287-1900 or www.horizonsinitiative.org.
COMPUTER TUTORS. Volunteers needed for coaching senior and disabled citizens at the Blackstone Apartments. Daytime and evening hours needed. Call Al at 617-557-9121 or email xAlbert3259@aol.com.
BEACON HOUSE. Housing for elderly, needs volunteers for front reception desk, a few flexible hours per week. Training provided. Please apply in person at 19 Myrtle St. to fill out an application.
ANIMAL SHELTER. Donations needed: dog and cat toys and treats, blankets and towels for the cages, paper towels, clay cat litter, postage stamps, animal nail clippers, dog and cat collars and leashes. 617-522-5055.
DR. SOLOMON CARTER FULLER. Mental Health Center in the South End needs volunteers for several committees. Call C. Curtiss Carter at 617-626-8726.
MAB COMMUNITY SERVICES. Volunteers needed to read or shop with a blind neighbor. 2-3 hours per week, flexible hours. Training provided. Call Donna Bailey 800-852-3029 or see www.mabcommunity.org.
SAMARITANS OF BOSTON. Volunteers needed to provide telephone counseling on our 24 hour listening line.Training provided. 617-536-2460.
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION. Cambridge chapter needs volunteers for its telephone Helpline service to answer caregiver calls. Training provided. Call 617-868-6718.
ADBAR ETHIOPIAN WOMEN'S ALLIANCE.Volunteers needed to help with its newsletter, website, grant writing, special events and fund raising. Near Harvard Square. 617-234-8981.
THE BOSTON HOME. Dorchester seeks volunteers of all kinds in this long term care facility for adults with physical disabilities. Pet visits welcome. Call Sally Gorman 617-825-3905 ext. 299 or gormansally@aol.com.