HSHA - Highlight, October 2004

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The Newsletter of the High Street Hill Association

October 2004

The Tradition Continues...	Annual Neighborhood Barn Dance!
Saturday October 16th	(No experience necessary)	Live Music with Caller Cindy Green
At the Gadsby Barn behind 92 High Street	(No experience necessary)	6-7 PM Potluck Dinner 7-8 PM Family Dancing 8 PM Dessert 8:30-10:30 PM Adult Dancing
Bring a Family-Friendly Main Course and a Dessert to Share

Discover Your Neighborhood at Our New Website

Over the summer, the HSHA's website (http://www.highstreethill.org) received a complete overhaul. Thanks to Tom Elwertowski, a neighborhood resident who volunteered his considerable time and skill, our site helps to define what it means to be part of our High Street Hill neighborhood. The site can also be reached from a link on the Town's website.

Recent additions include:

News and documents showing the work of the association as an advocate for neighborhood issues.
Photos of the HSHA events such as the June picnic and September volunteer day at Allerton Overlook.
Neighborhood reminiscences from the Brookline Historical Society that describe firsthand accounts of life on High Street Hill in 19th to mid-20th century.
Photos all neighborhood houses along with date constructed and architect.
Eight historic maps showing the growth of Brookline from the 17th to the 19th century. There is also an aerial image from 1995.
Census data showing how our precinct compares with the town, county, region, state and country.

As always, the site continues to provide information about the Friends of Leverett Pond, a list of tradespeople recommended by neighbors and an archive of Highlights. Be sure to check the site again in the months to come since new items will be added from time to time. Send your ideas and comments to Tom at webmaster@highstreethill.org

Did You Know...?

That Walnut Street was called Sherborn Road in 1637?
That in 1931 an overpass over Boylston Street was proposed that would have wrapped around the bank and the fire station?
That Brookline Village was called "Punch Bowl Village"?
That 50% of the residents in our neighborhood are under 35 years old?
That there are 22 acres of public open space in Precinct 5?

Transportation Board to meet with HSHA to discuss signs

After many months of trying, the HSHA Board has finally succeeded in getting the attention of the Transportation Board to hear our complaints about the overuse of signs on historic Walnut Street. A petition letter signed by dozens of residents at the June Picnic helped to put the issue onto this past week's Transportation Board agenda and comments at the meeting by several HSHA Board members, Town Meeting members and a representative of the Preservation Commission hammered home our frustrations with the way the traffic calming project has been handled.

At the meeting, the Transportation Board voted to reduce the number of signs by a small number, still leaving approximately 100 (See the HSHA website for the text of the recommendation and a map showing each of the 115 signs). Also, as we have been requesting since the project's completion, the Board promised to provide a thorough analysis of the effectiveness of the traffic calming measures. But there is significant resistance from the Town's Transportation Division to any further reduction in signage and there is some question how thorough and independent the investigation will be.

The Transportation Board, however, seems sympathetic to our complaints. After listening to our descriptions of other towns' less obtrusive traffic calming solutions, Fred Levitan, the Chair of the T Board, has kindly agreed to meet with HSHA members to walk Walnut Street and discuss each sign and traffic calming device.

The walk is scheduled for 10AM Saturday, October 16th. It will start at the intersection of Walnut and High Streets.

I hope you'll be able to join us for this important onsite discussion. We have also invited the Selectmen, Town Meeeting Members and members of the Preservation Commission. We feel that the Walnut Street project, as one of the first traffic calming ventures in town, was somewhat experimental. A full understanding of its impact is necessary before money is spent on any other traffic calming projects.

Planting at Allerton Overlook

About 29 volunteers from Wentworth Institute along with Friends of Leverett Pond and High Street Hill Association neighbors planted beds at Allerton Overlook and opposite Brook House on September 3, 2004. Facilitated by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and coordinated by Gabrielle Stebbins, Brookline Park Ranger, about 200 shrubs were planted. Varieties included Potentilla (Shrubby cinquefoil), Oakleaf Hydrangea, Clethra (Summersweet), Snowberry and Viburnum. Beds were weeded, tilled, planted and fertilized. The Allerton Overlook is irrigated, so there is a high likelihood of survival. See the HSHA website for photos.

Dues Due?

Since 1958 the HSHA has worked to support your neighborhood, Your annual dues payment of just $10 goes a long way. We contribute to local causes and we don't charge for our annual barn dance, picnic or musicale. If you haven't done so already, please send your dues to our treasurer, Jean Peteet, at 100 High Street.

Looking for Local Talent

Every March, the HSHA Musicale brings a welcome respite from winter doldrums by offering a Sunday afternoon of music. If you live in the neughborhood and would like to perform, or if you know of someone we should ask, please call Lucy Aptekar at 617-731-8005.

The Highlight is printed several times a year and is distributed on foot or by bicycle by HSHA Board members and their usually willing family members. If you have a comment or contribution contact the editor, Rob Daves, at 617-566-7334 or robdaves@rcn.com.