CAPTION: 69 Hancock St.

The Beacon Hill Civic Association (BHCA) board of directors voted unanimously last week not to oppose a proposal to convert a five-unit building located across from the State House at 69 Hancock St. into a single-family home, supporting an earlier recommendation from its Zoning and Licensing Committee.
According to Tom Clemens, chairman of the committee, the building owners plan to use their single-family home next door at 71 Hancock St. that they converted from a multi-unit building as the template for the new development project. The proposed renovations include the construction of a roof deck on the existing ell at the rear of the building, as well as the additions of a historically accurate front balcony and useable floor space within the structure.
The applicant has already received the approval of the Beacon Hill Architectural Commission for these changes, but the project still requires three variances from the city’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD), including a setback variance for the extension of the proposed deck atop the rear ell.
At a Jan. 6 Zoning and Licensing Committee hearing, about 10 neighbors and abutters hearing voiced their support for the project, commending the applicant’s intention of improving the property to attract young families to the neighborhood. Three parties in attendance objected to the proposal, citing lighting, noise and privacy concerns.
In response, the building owners agreed to submit new plans for the roof deck and lighting for neighbors’ approval and to consider reducing the length of the deck as requested. The applicant also agreed to disconnect the existing lighting system at the rear of 71 Hancock St., which was cited by neighbors on Joy Street as an ongoing issue.
The matter is scheduled to go before the city’s Board of Appeal in Room 801 of City Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 26.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of the Department of Conservation and Recreation

PHOTO CAPTION: The Charles River Esplanade.

With this year marking the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Charles River Esplanade, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is inviting the public to participate in planning the Centennial Celebration of the historic landmark.
“We welcome people to join the planning committees and to e-mail us with they’re thoughts, opinions and comments on how to recognize the 100th birthday of the Esplanade,” DCR spokesperson Wendy Fox said. “It’s a great time to get involved, and there are already a lot of great ideas being floated around. We’re really excited about this.”
To plan for the Centennial Season, which kicks off April 1 and extends through Nov. 1, four committee were established – Educational Programs, Special Events, Partnerships and, lastly, Marketing, Media and Community Outreach. Committee members are volunteers who work with DCR staff to engage the public’s interest in the festivities. The committees began meeting once a month in December and have each attracted about a dozen members to date.
In total, 100 individuals have already expressed interest in helping to organize the Centennial Celebration, including representatives from a wide spectrum of partnering organizations, such as the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay, the Beacon Hill Civic Association, West End Community Center, Hill House, the Red Sox Foundation, the Landmarks Orchestra, Children’s Hospital Boston, the Children’s Museum, Boston Duck Tours, Boston Harbor Association, the Callahan & Klein pr firm, Charles River Watershed Association, Charles River Conservancy, the Esplanade Association and Community Boating.
Given the current economic climate, DCR is also using existing events, programs and resources to promote the Centennial Celebration to save the taxpayers’ money.
“DCR isn’t spending any money on this,” Fox said, “and we don’t want anyone else to spend anything extra on this birthday party.”
To join a committee or the Centennial Celebration mailing list, e-mail William Hickey at william.hickey@state.ma.us. Public comments and ideas are also welcome.

At Kingsley Montessori School, one of the main goals is to inspire a lifelong love of learning in our students and to understand the importance of sharing this love of learning with parents and the greater Boston community. To this end, the Community Speaker Series at Kingsley was established to provide an educational forum where parents, faculty, colleagues and neighbors could interact with and learn from respected experts in a variety of fields. Focusing on education, parenting and child development issues, the series offers six to eight programs each year, which are free of charge and open to the public.
The distinguished speakers come from many diverse fields and backgrounds. From the legendary Harvard professor and thinker Dr. Howard Gardner to thought-provoking authors, psychologists, learning specialists and Kingsley educators, the series serves as a resource for parents and the community to obtain and share information, and, most importantly, learn from each other.
As Head of School Renee Duchainey-Farkes noted, “With the Speaker Series, our objective is to offer meaningful presentations on a range of topics that inform, educate, and support our families. As the mother of four, I know parenthood and navigating through your child’s first educational experience is not easy. But the more knowledge gained through various sources, the more confident we become as parents. My hope is that our Speaker Series empowers our families and friends.”
Kingsley kicked off its 2009-2010 series with a presentation and book-signing by Ashley Merryman, co-author with Po Bronson of the just released New York Times bestseller “Nurtureshock: New Thinking About Children.” Merryman discussed the latest scientific research challenging common parenting practices.
Other series topics scheduled this year include “Growing Strong Girls” with clinical psychologist Catherine Steiner-Adair, “Negotiation Generation” presented by nationally recognized family expert Lynne Griffin and “Coming to Grips with Boys and their Achievement,” with best-selling author Michael Thompson, Ph.D. and more.
Upcoming programming includes: “Growing Strong Girls” with Catherine Steiner-Adair on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 6:30 p.m.; “Negotiation Generation: Take Back Your Authority without Punishment” with Lynne Griffin on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 6:30 p.m.; “Executive Function” with Dr. Margaret Sheridan on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 3:15 p.m.; “Negotiation Generation: Raising Children in Challenging Times” with Lynne Griffin on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m.; “Standardized Testing” with Jane Clark on Thursday, April 8, at 8:30 a.m.; and “Coming to Grips with Boys and their Achievement” with Michael Thompson, Ph.D., on Wednesday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m.
To reserve a seat at one of Kingsley’s upcoming events, R.S.V.P. to karen_d@ kingsley.org.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Beacon Hill Times and Back Bay Times publisher Stephen Quigley had the opportunity to play squash with three of the finest world ranked squash players during the weekend. He admits he couldn’t have been on the same court as the professionals in any other venue – and he thought that they would have agreed. The following is his story.

The University Club of Boston hosted its annual Professional/Amateur Doubles Squash Tournament last weekend. The venue provided a great opportunity not only to see some of the top players in the world of Doubles Squash, but also for amateurs to be teamed up with these professional players.
Let’s just say in my case, participation was not based primarily on my playing ability.
To play squash really well, one needs not only to be in great physical shape, but also to read where the ball is going as it leaves your opponent’s racquet and to re-act quickly to make a proper placement.
If a player does the preceding steps correctly, then the pace of the ball or this case speed, is essential to set up the winning point.
After playing in the tournament, there is still a lot of work that I need to do in my game.
For the amateur tournament, I was paired with Ben Gould, who is ranked Number Three in the world.
Our first match was on Friday night. We played against the Number Two player in the world, Viktor Berg and amateur player Marty Stocklan.
Marty, who billed himself as the second oldest player in the tournament has a very solid cross corner drop.
I was on the right wall against Marty and the two pros were on the left.
The strategy was to keep the ball away from the pro and try to make the amateur do most of the work and mistakes.
And the amateurs did a lot of the work.
Marty and I battled it out. There were rails, and lobs and drop shots and the respective pros were telling us to move up and get that drop before in my case I even knew it was going to be a drop.
Sometimes, I would try to drop or hit to the professional who would usually return what I thought was a difficult shot or a winner in my usual game.
I blasted a shot to Berg that was going over his head. The shot took him by surprise. He started running back and put up his racquet and just at the right second hit then ball that landed perfectly on the front wall. There is no wonder why he is Number Two in the World.
Long and short, Marty returned an incredible rail shot in the fifth game that won the match.
Our second match, was against Pro John Russell and Amateur Joel Kozol. Again it was more of the same where the two amateurs battled it out while also hitting to the pro with a lob or drop shot.
In one point, the pro dropped a shot in the right corner, my corner -- I ran up and blasted the ball to the left wall right at the pro; he quickly put his racquet out and dropped the shot to the front wall -- the point was not mine. However, in almost a repeat drop, I ran up to the corner did a drop, the pro did a drop, then I did a second drop, he did a drop and then I blasted it past him for the point. I actually bested a pro for one point out of more than 100 played.
Again, this match came down to the fifth game. We were tied 14 to 14. The pro served to me, I returned the serve to the left wall, Russell hit it harder, again I returned the ball to the left wall and he hit it again a little harder and I stuck up my racquet and somehow the racquet ended up in the right position to return a perfect rail shot down the right wall.
We advanced to our third match.
In this match we played against pro Joe Pentland and amateur Jamie Fagan. A player will always serve to the weaker side, in this case for me, it was unclear who was on the weaker side.
We lost the first two games.
During the second game, I thought that Ben should have been tired since he had just played his semi-final match for the Tournament. There was a ball that came down the middle, I moved and got it. Returned it to the Pentland, who put it away. Ben looked at my direction and I said, “I thought that you might have been tired since you have been playing straight for almost two hours.” Well he was not and in the third game, I quickly discovered what real squash doubles was all about.
Ben took more control and thanks to a generous handicap that was earned by losing the first two games we started up with a six-point lead.
In that third game, the ball was moving. Ben was basically covering most of the court reacting with incredible speed and what could only be described as rocket shots.
Ben is known for putting incredible pace on the ball and Jamie found this out. Jaime was able to return and keep in play most of the blasts except the one that flew down the rail. As Jamie said afterwards, “the ball was behind me before I had moved my racquet.”
Well, we won the third game -- so no shut out.
The opening point of the fourth game was perhaps the indication of what was in store.
Ben served. He did what is called a Philadelphia where the ball comes from a corner in the front wall and reverses itself, crosses the service box and sails quickly into the opposite service box. In the process of coming across the service box, the ball hit me squarely on the back and we lost that point.
Ben was stunned -- I do not think he ever lost a serve in doubles by having the ball hit his teammate. Well, there is a first time for everything.
We went down in the fourth game and ended our tourney quest.
Being on the court as opposed to seeing the action behind the glass, the true speed of the ball is unbelievable. Then the pros being able to read where the ball is heading and reacting to the shot regardless of where they are on the court is truly an awesome experience that requires great dexterity from all players.
The lesson or in my case lessons that need to be focused on are: playing the right wall closer, getting a better serve and above all watching the ball.
As Ben kept saying in our matches, “Trust me, I can get to the ball wherever it is, even if I seem out of position.”
The last lesson learned is that I and several other weekend warriors had a lot of aches and pains after our matches. We are not in the shape that we may think that we are.
In reviewing my three matches, I paraphrase Shakespeare, “The fault, dear Brutus lies not in the stars, but in myself.”
In the Professional part of the Tournament, Ben and his teammate Paul Price won the final match in five games and as well as the Tourney cup and purse.

For its 38th annual Winter Dance fundraiser, the Beacon Hill Civic Association (BHCA) has chosen “Eastern Elegance” as the theme to showcase this year’s venue – the Mandarin Oriental Boston.
“It’s beautifully decorated, but very minimalist,” event chair Jacqueline Fantuzzi said of the luxury hotel that opened in the Back Bay in October of 2008. “To accent that, we have selected very simple floral arrangements and plan to use a lot of the hotel’s décor.”
The Winter Dance is the BHCA’s biggest event, typically attracting around 300 guests to support the non-profit organization. This year, the black-tie event takes place on Saturday, Jan. 30, and kicks off at 7:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour, including complimentary beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres, as well as a raffle featuring donations from local businesses. At 9 p.m., dessert and dancing follows, with music provided by the Perry Rossi Orchestra, who return for their third Winter Dance performance.
“They don’t take breaks and keep the evening moving along,” Fantuzzi said. “It’s very danceable music.”
Instructors from Boston’s Fred Astaire Dance Studio will kick off the dancing segment of the evening at 9 p.m., performing a 15-minute exhibition and briefly offering one-on-one lessons for guests.
In keeping with the Eastern theme, the event features a calligraphy expert who will translate guests’ names into Japanese characters.
Susan Symonds of Beacon Street-based Infinity Portrait Design will also be on hand to photograph the event and will make prints available for purchase via the company’s Web site.
Following the formation of the Beacon Hill Young Professional last year, Fantuzzi expects the event will attract many of the neighborhood’s younger residents. “There’s a lot of excitement with younger members this year,” she said.
And with members hosting pre-dance dinners in their homes and the hotel for those who have donated $300 or more to the BHCA’s annual appeal, the Winter Dance is great way for Hill residents to get to know each other.
“It gets people out in the dead of winter, and it’s a great way to meet your neighbors,” Fantuzzi said.
The Beacon Hill Civic Association’s 38th Annual Winter Dance, “An Evening of Eastern Elegance,” takes place at Mandarin Oriental Boston, 776 Boylston St., on Saturday, Jan. 30, from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tickets are $125 each. Contact the Beacon Hill Civic Association at 617-227-1922 or www.bhcivic.org to purchase tickets online.
The Mandarin Oriental Boston is also offering discounted rates for Winter Dance guests. For more information, call the hotel at 617-531-0888.

The world as a village and the Haitian tragedy

The Haitian tragedy now ongoing hasn’t even begun to touch the full measure of its scope.
The earthquake was the first calamity.
Now the outside world coming into Haiti with aid is attempting to feed and to give medical care to one of the most impoverished populations in the world.
To do this alone for the next six months to a year, requires a superhuman effort.
Everything following the earthquake is another calamity to deal with. Life, as Haitians have known it, will never be the same. It is destined to be worse.
A nation virtually absent of everything a nation is made up before the earthquake is now without running water, hospitals and a medical system or housing for 3 million of its nearly 9 million inhabitants.
What to do?
Bostonians have flocked to the Internet to make donations to various charities.
The Catholic Church has set-up a special fund, and the cardinal has said he will be shortly heading to Haiti to give aid and comfort to a people almost bereft of everything they owned in their lives except their faith.
Mayor Thomas Menino and other officials have come together and have identified a range of resources and has organized a team of public and private partners to reach out to the victims of this tragedy in Haiti but to also give support to the nearly 80,000 Haitians who live in Massachusetts – many of them in Greater Boston.
One of those resources is the Boston-based Partners in Health organization.
If you are a health care professional interested in volunteering to go to Haiti, please e-mail volunteer@pih.org.
The Mayor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness is coordinating with state and federal authorities to make disaster medical assistance teams available to assist Haiti with search and rescue efforts. Urban search and rescue teams from Boston are also at the ready to assist, and the city has offered to lend $1 million in search and rescue equipment to emergency responders in Haiti.
In addition, the mayor has made available crisis counselors for Boston public school children, and on and on.
The Haitian crisis could just as easily be our own if this city and region were rocked by a 7.0 Richter scale earthquake.
In that realization, it is incumbent on all of us to do what we can to relieve the pain and suffering of the Haitian people.
By helping them, we help ourselves and the community of man.