| High Street Hill Association |  |
advocacy friends of leverett pond history maps
| ||
|
home
coming events
newsletters
houses
precinct 5
tradesmen
about us
links
advocacy friends of leverett pond history maps |
| The Newsletter of the High Street Hill Association | December 2008 |
On December 2 at about 3:30 in the afternoon, the screech of tires and subsequent crunch of metal could be heard coming from the intersection of Allerton and High Streets. And again, as he did on September 8, November 3 and many times before, Frank Casey of High Street arrived minutes later to document the wreckage with his camera. Then he emailed the photos to the Transportation Department and the Police Department pleading for action.
For years Pill Hill neighbors have been lobbying for a solution and lately the Town has responded in a positive fashion by increasing enforcement and ordering a traffic study but this last accident proved to be the tipping point. Within hours Captain Michael Gropman of the Police Department made a request to Transportation Administrator Todd Kirrane stating that the "location is in need of immediate assistance to alleviate the obvious public safety situation." He asked that "a 4-way stop sign be installed immediately pending Transportation Board approval."
Earlier this year the Transportation Board, after receiving a formal request from the HSHA, initiated a Safety Improvement Process with the goals of "slowing the rate of speed on High Street, providing a safe crossing for pedestrians at the intersection of High Street and Allerton Latest Accident Brings 4-way Stop Signs Road, and stopping cut through traffic on Allerton and Cumberland." The Town hired consultants from the Beta Group and a report which will identify solutions available under state and federal regulations is due early this spring.
It turns out, however, that the option to lower the speed limit currently set at 30 MPH on High Street may not be available. According to Noel Roycroft, aide to our State Rep Jeffrey Sánchez, two bills which would have allowed towns to set their own speed limits died in committee at the State House. The HSHA is following this issue closely and, pending the outcome of the High Street traffic study, is considering sponsoring a resolution at the next Town Meeting to support a change in state law.
On January 22, the Transportation Board will consider whether to make the 4-way stop permanent. Please plan to attend and give your comments.
Join your neighbors
Christmas Eve
Caroling on the Green
led by
Cornelia McMurtrie
December 24 at 5:45PM
Please bring family and friends
and a wind-protected candle
Climate Change Action Brookline (CCAB) is hosting first-time, introductory sessions following ideas outlined in the book Low Carbon Diet. First piloted in Oregon, this effective, focused program has helped thousands make significant energy cuts to reduce costs and cut tons of carbon emissions. Please join one of the upcoming sessions:
Sunday, Dec 14, 2-4pm
12 Davis Court, Brookline Village
Coordinators: Jim Lockwood and David Pantalone.
rsvp: lcci.construction@verizon.net
Thursday, Dec 17, 10-11:30am
Brookline Senior Center, 93 Winchester Street
Coordinators: Paul Harris and Mary Dewart.
rsvp: marydewart@aol.com
Sunday, Jan 11, 6-8pm
50 Naples Road, optional potluck
and Thursday, Jan 15, 7-9pm
Coordinators: Marcia Hnatowich, Ed Loechler.
rsvp: hnatowich@rcn.com
Thirty years ago foresighted people in this neighborhood worked hard to create the Pill Hill Local Historic District. They held neighborhood input meetings and, in the end, residents overwhelmingly supported adoption of the protections, benefits and restrictions that have helped to preserve our High Street Hill neighborhood.
Today, most of the homes in our neighborhood are owned by different families and the reasons for and the responsibilities of living in a Local Historic District (LHD) are perhaps not as fresh in the minds of our residents.
We on the board of the High Street Hill Association have always been strongly in support of the mission of the Preservation Commission (PC) but we feel it is time to make an effort to gauge how well the system is meeting its goals and to see if improvements could be made.
On Thursday, November 13, we made a formal presentation to the Preservation Commission to ask that they partner with us to survey the residents in our Local Historic Districts. About 30 people attended the session and, after some discussion, the PC voted to "appoint a subcommittee of two commissioners and one staff member. This committee will then work with representatives of Brookline's LHDs (at least one representative from each district). [This partnership] will consider a variety of ways to improve communication, including to create, distribute, collect, and analyze a survey of Brookline residents with the goal of identifying areas of concern in matters of preservation and implementing improvements."
We feel that a public agency/neighborhood partnership of this type will bring many positive returns on both sides. Stay tuned.
In October, at its annual award ceremony, the Brookline Preservation Commission presented the HSHA with a 2008 Preservation Award "for the restoration of the park benches in Philbrick Green furthering the goal of historic preservation in the Town of Brookline."
Are strains of Brahms or Coltrane wafting from your neighbor's window, or your own? We're looking for neighborhood performers for our annual spring Musicale. Past concerts showcased an amazing variety of local talent -- violinists, a children's choir, a marimba player and folk musicians. Who's next? Please call Rob Daves if you would like to perform or would like to nominate a neighbor.
Landscapes of Brookline: An Enduring Legacy, just published
by Brookline GreenSpace Alliance, is the story in pictures of
the exceptional legacy of public and private open space in
Brookline and the beauty of our nature sanctuaries and our
historic designed landscapes. The book also includes a short
history of the tradition of stewardship, philanthropy and
volunteerism that has allowed our historic Town to grow and
thrive over more than 350 years while still retaining a legacy
of green. Our own Olmsted Park and many Pill Hill residents
are featured in the book, which includes over 200
contemporary color photographs by local photographers and a
sampling of historic photographs, all of which combine to
present a green profile of a lively and enduring community.
Neighbor Frances Shedd Fisher wrote and edited the book;
neighbor Arlene Mattison is President of the BSGA.
The 138 page book ($29.95) may be ordered by contacting Edward Hsieh at info@brooklinegreenspace.org or calling 617 277-4777.
Lincoln School PTO & PTO Arts Committee are bringing famed civil rights icon Ruby Bridges to give two presentations, one for grades 6 to 8 and one for grades 3 to 5. Ruby Bridges, the first African American child to attend an all white school in the South, will be promoting her "message of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all differences." Her performance will include a brief video, an oral presentation, a slide show, and a significant amount of time devoted to student discussion.
Despite 25% cuts to their PTO programs, the Lincoln School community has raised $5500 to bring Ruby Bridges for these two sessions but there is still a need for books about Ruby Bridges and for the funding of a special session geared to second graders. If you wish to support their fundraising efforts please contact, Heidi Krantz at 617-731-2434.
The new pedestrian-activated traffic light on Walnut Street near Lincoln School is finally operational. It's been more than five years since parents began working to make that intersection safer. Thanks to Susan Silberberg, Faith Michaels and Town Meeting Members Lenore von Krusenstiern and Neil Wishinsky for their hard work.
The Planning Board will review Children's Hospital's latest proposal to construct an eight-story building at 2-4 Brookline Place. Thursday, Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m., Main Library, 2nd floor. A full set of preliminary plans are available on the Town website.
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.