CAPTION: The Longfellow Bridge.

Residents invited to a meeting at the Boston Public Library (BPL) were able to air their concerns about pedestrian and bike access that will be disrupted during a major overhaul of area bridges.
Part of Gov. Deval Patrick's $3 billion Accelerated Bridge program, designed to create jobs and stimulate the economy by fast-tracking long-overdue bridge repair projects, the BPL meeting provided an overview of 29 bridges that need replacing or major repairs, and maintenance work on another 50 bridges. However, most attending the event were interested in Charles River basin bridge projects.
"A great number of people are concerned with bicycle and pedestrian issues regarding the bridges," said Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) spokesperson Wendy Fox. "DCR is in the process of hiring a consultant in the next couple of months whose sole responsibility will be looking at the whole Charles River basin and planning bike and pedestrian access and safety issues."
The DCR will also hold public meetings to address individual bridge projects, the first project which will target repairs and rehabilitation work on the BU Bridge and Craigie Dam and drawbridges, both of which cross over the Charles River between Boston and Cambridge.
On January 27, from 6 to 8 p.m., the DCR will hold a meeting on these projects, to be held at MIT's Stata Center, 32 Vassar St., Cambridge
"It's an exciting project," said DCR Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr. "It shows great leadership and vision, and in the long run it will bring construction in cheaper over the next decade, so we can take advantage of cheaper pricing now and beat inflation."
The "accelerated" portion of the project means that a lot of projects will be happening all over the state in a short period of time. But Sullivan said they are working with the Executive Office for Transportation and other agencies on the least disruptive sequencing of the project. "We are focused on the public process and getting public input, and we are committed to looking at pedestrian and biking access," Sullivan said.
Other Charles River Basin projects planned for 2009 include the Magazine Beach pedestrian bridge in Cambridge and the Mystic Valley Parkway over Alewife Brook in Somerville.
The DCR is working with Mass Highway and Boston Transportation Department officials to minimize traffic that will impact residents. For this summer's projects, the Craigie and BU bridge repairs will impact traffic around the Back Bay, West and North ends, and Beacon Hill. "This agency will do everything it can to minimize traffic problems," said Fox.
"We know the traffic patterns in Boston, and we want them to hear our opinions," said BTD Deputy Commissioner Jim Gillooly. "We try to work out a traffic plan to try to minimize traffic."
Gillooly cautioned that while public comments are welcome, he hoped the project would occur as soon as possible to make the project go faster. "Nobody should forget … the quicker the work gets done, the quicker it goes away. Being overly cautious extends the process forever. When you do an enormous amount of work, you'll have hiccups," he said.
One attendee at the hearing was concerned about more than “hiccups”. In fact, she felt that the larger picture isn't being considered, she said.
"The devil is in the sequencing," said Jeannette Herrmann, who is active in transportation issues for the Beacon Hill Civic Association. "These projects need to happen. However, it's extremely unclear how they all happen in short order. All of the Charles River Basin projects have an effect on the downtown neighborhoods. We really wish the state would look at the regional state transportation issues as we enter the design phases for these projects -- the role of the Mass Pike ramps is critical. Whether you do the Craigie or the BU bridge first, there's more to this."
Herrmann believes the DCR and state and area traffic departments are all working hard on communicating with each other, but she thought this wasn't translated in the BPL meeting. "I wish we were hearing more about transportation planning rather than simply construction sequencing. Residential life in the downtown neighborhoods is a fragile balance that we need to maintain, that respects issues of accessibility for businesses and residences. If we become a vehicle congested neighborhood surrounded by highways, we will have lost something really, really precious," she said.
The $7.2 million Craigie Dam bridge construction is slated to occur soon, with a summer 2010 completion; the $44 million Craigie drawbridge also will begin soon, with a summer 2011 completion. The $26 million BU bridge deck replacement also begins soon, and will finish up in the summer of 2011. The $2.3 million pedestrian walkway is currently in the works, with only one side open to pedestrian and bike traffic at a time. It is slated to be completed this summer.
Meanwhile, the $5.6 milion Bowker overpass over Storrow Drive is slated for a summer 2010 completion, while repairs to the Storrow Drive Tunnel has no end date scheduled yet.
The Longfellow Bridge repairs to steel beams under the road bend are also finishing up, with the next project to complete the pedestrian path, said Fox. However, the more major $256 million Longfellow renovation, which has already had some advance work, begins in 2011 and is scheduled to finish in 2015.
"They're working to make sure things don't fall in," said Rep. Marty Walz, who is monitoring the Craigie Bridge projects to make sure bike lanes are included. "It's a very contentious issue," said Walz. "The bridges should be designed to include bike lanes."
As for the BU Bridge project, Walz is concerned about the pedestrian section of the bridge, on both the Cambridge and Boston sides.
"Those sidewalks are a high priority," reassured DCR's Fox.
The Accelerated Bridge Program by DCR and Mass Highway is a huge investment in state bridges over the next eight years. Not only will this fix a number of structurally deficient bridges, but it also creates jobs in this dire economy.
"DCR is probably going to be adding another 50 or 75 engineers," said Fox, who heard that statewide, the Accelerated Bridge projects will also generate thousands of construction jobs.

The Hill House Boston youth baseball program will be bigger and better, and all players will take the field wearing brand new uniforms in 2009.
Ian Moorhouse, associate director of Hill House of Boston on Mount Vernon Street, has announced ambitious plans for a restructured and expanded Hill House youth baseball program for the 2009 season.
“We’re revamping our youth baseball program to make it a better experience for all players involved,” said Moorhouse. “Anyone living in the city of Boston can be a part of this baseball league.”
In a letter to families of prospective players explaining the changes in the program, Moorhouse wrote, “Our main goal is to have a baseball program that helps children progress smoothly and confidently through each stage and league. Each year, players will learn new skills and techniques to ensure they have a fun, rewarding experience at every level of the program.”
One area of expansion will be a new T-ball program for 5-year-old boys and girls, where players hit a baseball off a tee. Another change dictates that coaches in all levels of the Hill House program will attend a training course focusing on sportsmanship “and really making sure that kids are getting the best out of the experience,” said Moorhouse.
Throughout the season, Moorhouse said, players will be instructed on the fundamentals of baseball in each age division (ages 3-12), but also the importance of teamwork and being part of a team.
“By making these changes, it makes it an age-appropriate league for each of the age groups which will mean that in terms of the overall experience for the kids, they will be getting the coaching and the skills that they need for that age group,” said Moorhouse. “By the time they reach the Major League (ages 10-12) division, they’ll be ready to be successful for the top division in our program.”
Moorhouse expects the league will grow to 32 teams, making it the largest youth baseball program in the city. There were 24 teams and 350 players in the league last season. An increase to 450 players is being forecast. The teams will be named after professional Major League franchises.
“We need additional coaches, and anyone interested should contact me directly at Hill House [imoorhouse@hillhouseboston.org],” said Moorhouse.
A native of England, Moorhouse played soccer as a boy, but he’s become enamored with baseball.
“I grew up playing soccer, but with the popularity of the Boston Red Sox and working at Hill House, I have a whole appreciation for the game of baseball,” he said.
Signups for the Hill House youth baseball program will take place Thursday, January 29, at 10 a.m.. Scholarships are available to help defray a player’s expenses for the season.
Moorhouse said the league’s Opening Day Parade is set for April 17.

Suffolk students are learning firsthand about American politics, especially about how the system works when it comes to getting inauguration tickets.
Matthew Chamberlin, a sophomore American policy major at Suffolk University, was able to score tickets to the inauguration by writing his congressman last fall. He didn't know who the winner would be, although he was hoping for Obama. "I was very lucky," said Chamberlin.
"The environment is absolutely incredible," Chamberlin said over the weekend. "Basically, we're seeing people visiting here who never expressed any interest in politics … It's a generally good feeling in the area."
He's one of 90 Suffolk University students and five faculty leaders who traveled to Washington last week for a 12-day presidential inauguration seminar entitled "Media and the Presidency".
"The seminar offers Suffolk students a rare opportunity to experience the historic transition of power from one administration and party to another and the key role the media play in shaping and describing the inaugural process," said Assistant Professor of Government Brian Conley. "The small-group discussions, guest lectures and site visits will give students a hands-on introduction to official Washington, the inauguration and the operations of the fourth estate."
Additional faculty leaders who are leading the daily small-group sessions are professors Teri Fair and Roberto Dominguez, Meri Power and Erin Cheuvront.
The class, offered in conjunction with The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, focuses on the 2008 presidential election, the media's impact on the election process and the transition to a new administration, as part of its requirements for a course offered by the Government Department. They were among many Suffolk students who were able to travel to D.C. to witness history firsthand.
“This city has been energized since we got here on the 10th,” said Conley, one of the faculty leaders for the seminar. “Even then, we could sense people were quite excited, and each day it gets recognizably more intense. Just the scope of it, like at the mall - you look at the infrastructure put in place and it’s just breathtaking.”
Five million are predicted to flood D.C., a crush that will shut down many Metro stations, halt pedestrian travel on many bridges, ban auto traffic throughout the city, and otherwise make travel difficult, said Conley. He wasn't sure over the weekend how he'd try to negotiate the crush, but was discussing it with his students to make sure they'd have the best opportunity to view the historic event. He warned students holding tickets to the inauguration that there was a predicted 10-hour line, which meant standing in line overnight, in freezing temperatures, without benefit of the not-allowed camping gear. Most of the students don't live far, but they're not that close, either, staying in nearby Virginia and Maryland.
Some of the students may pay the $175 to $300 to go to one of the dozens of inaugural balls – that is, if they can gather up some Black Tie or formalwear. One student won a ticket, but was disheartened by a $180 tux rental. A handful of students also secured tickets to the actual inauguration back in the fall, when it wasn’t clear who would be sworn in. But those students are facing a 10-hour wait that would have started overnight, in the freezing cold, just to go through security. “Having a ticket means having to be there at 7 a.m. and an overnight wait,” said Professor Brian Conley, who requested but didn’t get a ticket. “You can’t bring any kind of camping gear. It was 2 degrees recently.”
The sheer logistics also worried the group. “Imagine two-plus million people are showing up at the Boston Common,” said Conley. “Imagine what the subways will look like.”
Most of the students are staying in Bethesda, Md., while the faculty is in Arlington, Va., all within Metro access of D.C. There’s a lot of walking ahead of them today - that is, if they can move at all.
Only Lyndon Johnson received such high attendance figures, and that was about a half-million, said Conley. “In the local news they said this will be the biggest event in the history of Washington DC. They don’t really know how many are coming. The feeling of this is intense. The scale is intense. They plan to close off areas to foot traffic. They’re going to shut down the entire Washington Downtown area – no cars, just police vehicles. I just asked a cab driver what he planned to do, and he said, ‘I have absolutely no idea.’ I plan to concentrate on Lincoln Memorial. Traveling with 90 students is challenging, because the logistics are heightened. There are some coordination issues, but students are highly motivated.”
Chamberlin scored tickets to the inauguration, but he knows he’s facing long lines. "I guess my strategy is to leave my apartment very early, at 5-6 a.m., and be prepared to walk," said Chamberlin, who has a few friends who decided at the last minute to come down, only to face $700 plane and train tickets, one-way, and hotels far from D.C. with jacked-up prices. When the student group first arrived, the excitement was only beginning. "I went out [Saturday]. There are police everywhere, streets are blocked off, it's already hard to move around. People are generally happy. It's been truly incredible this weekend talking to Republicans who believe in Obama and finding common ground with Obama."
Chamberlin voted for Obama, and is a self-described "political junkie" who has been following politics since sixth grade. "I watched both Bush inaugurations," he said, so he’s intent on witnessing history.
"It's definitely gone through my head about being a little concerned with these large crowds, but 50 years from now I can tell my kids I was at the Obama inauguration," said Chamberlin. "It's the opportunity of a lifetime. It's incredible."
That’s the sort of feeling also represented in the Suffolk group – Republican or Democrat, Conservative or Liberal. Everyone has Obama fever.
“We have a whole range of political philosophy in our group, with both parties well represented,” said Conley. “I know a number of the college Republicans who have come who are excited. They aren’t debating his policies at all at this point. They are learning the complex issues and the nuances of the process.”
Together, his students are noticing bipartisan support and the politicians’ willingness to work on the economic crisis together.
"It's crazy out here -- no matter where you go there are hundreds of street vendors selling everything from pens to T-shirts and hats," said Suffolk junior Rachel Sledge, a philosophy major on an "ethics and public policy" track who is also attending the trip. She didn't vote for Obama, so she's not exactly buying Obama pens or bobble heads, but she is excited about everything she's learning in such a short period of time, including listening to congressional leaders tell firsthand what it's like to work in politics. "My academic pursuits are in hope of ending up in Washington," said Sledge. "I want to hear some of the solutions we have to look forward to, in order to regain the title we lost -- as the greatest nation in the world."
Like many of the Republicans she has encountered on her trip, she intends to be "respectful and supportive of my soon-to-be president,” she said. “I think everyone is extremely excited. I am definitively supportive of his hope to bring us back together and close the partisan gap facing Washington and the nation for the past four-six years."
For everyone, it’s the first inauguration they’ve attended in Washington, but Suffolk has been sending classes to D.C., including during inaugurations, since 1984, and has been working with the Washington Center since 1978.
For this seminar, sessions with the students have been broadcast nationally on C-Span last week. Suffolk and other students asked questions of NPR news analyst Juan Williams, Fox News anchor Brett Baier and others who took part in a session at the University of the District of Columbia that addressed President-Elect Barack Obama's presidential transition. On Wednesday, C-Span broadcast a discussion of the Bush presidency and the media, which featured Suffolk students asking questions.
"That was a real thrill," said Chamberlin.
In the past few days, students have also heard from leading government, political and media figures, such as Ambassador Hussain Haqqani of Pakistan and Sam Donaldson of ABC News. Daily small discussion groups with Suffolk University faculty complement site visits to federal agencies, think tanks, and embassies and attendance at a variety of inaugural events. Sledge and Chamberlin were especially impressed by their visit to the Israeli embassy, where they talked with the ambassador. "While we were waiting outside, there were protesters against what Israel is doing in Gaza," said Sledge. "They were very peaceful, and there was a police presence."

A group of Rugg Road employees and well-wishers donned their superstar sunglasses and attended the Friday opening of “Bride Wars,” anxious to see a certain co-star – their store.
Actress Kate Hudson and the movie crew had filmed a scene from the romantic comedy in the paper store last May, where she’s picking out “Save the Date” cards for her wedding.
“It was probably a minute in the movie,” said Rugg Road owner Cassandra McIntyre, who bought the tickets ahead of time to ensure the group of 15 would see the movie. “There are three different angles shot in the store, one from behind the counter looking at the bride, another one looking at the invitations on the counter, and the groom-to-be at the rubber stamps section. He gets a call from his cell phone, just when Kate says ‘I got the Save the Dates,’ and she gets peeved that he’s taking a call.”
The film did a lot of shooting in Boston, which is supposed to be New York. “It’s cheaper to shoot in Boston, because it’s a higher tax write-off,” said salesperson and film major Natalie Groce, who lives on South Russell Street.
“Rugg Road looked fantastic,” said Groce. “It was nice to see it with everyone, and we were cheering. It’s definitely a wedding movie chick flick. It’s not the next work of cinematic genius, but it’s beautifully done. Anne Hathaway was beautiful.”
McIntyre brought her daughter to watch the shooting last spring, but they had to leave when the film crew’s language grew a bit salty in response to Kate Hudson’s request to take a nap, recalled McIntyre. Her daughter did talk to the director, Gary Winick, about another film of his, “Charlotte’s Web”.
A crowd gathered as the movie was being shot, although the windows were blocked from onlookers during the shoot. They only had to use the shop for a day for what ended up to be a minute in the film. In exchange for shutting down for the day, Rugg Road was compensated for a day’s sales figure. In addition, members of the movie staff had a pile of items they intended to buy, a nice benefit for having a crew cooped up inside a store all day, said McIntyre. Only one item was broken during the filming, for which they compensated her. “They left the store in really good shape,” said McIntyre.
McIntyre is thinking of decorating her storefront window “Bride Wars” style to capitalize on their one minute of fame. “It was a cute movie,” she said.

The city, state and nation’s economic crisis and global financial uncertainty set the tone for what is being called one of Mayor Thomas Menino’s finest State of the City addresses to date.
In his annual address last Tuesday night at the historic Faneuil Hall, Menino highlighted the city’s many achievements over the past year and presented a message of community and perseverance while announcing plans to move Boston forward in the face of the country’s economic downturn.
“We are confronting a great economic crisis,” said Menino. “Boston did not create it but Boston must deal with it, and together, we will overcome it. The problems are truly global in scale, but they are also very, very real in our city.”
Menino said he has a bold vision for Boston, a city, he said, made up of strong community and unlimited opportunity.
“We have made important gains on that vision by working together, staying focused on our goals and maximizing every resource,” said Menino. “The tough economy may slow our advance, but we will not be stopped.”
In his speech, Menino reflected on some of the achievements Boston accomplished this past year, including a residential property tax reduction for the average single-family homes for the second straight year; the city’s population growing to more than 600,000 people for the first time in 30 years; prevention of nearly 450 foreclosures due to city programs; preservation of $130 million in home values; an 8 percent reduction in crime; the launching of 100 small businesses with the assistance of city financial and technical aid programs; and the $40 million Boston Invests loan program to jumpstart additional construction projects around Boston.
However, despite the growth, Menino forecasted a $140 million budget shortfall next year because of state and federal aid reductions and increasing costs and declining revenues.
In an effort to maintain the city’s strong foundation, Mayor Menino asked municipal union leaders to consider a one-year wage freeze to preserve the city’s core services in light of the very tough economic climate.
“If we can agree to a one-year wage freeze, then I can protect core services for residents and preserve jobs,” said Menino. “I know this will be hard on working families, but the way I see it, a one-year wage freeze beats core service reductions and painful, painful layoffs. We all love our city. We all benefit from a strong Boston. When we work as partners, we weave the fabric of the city together. As we draw this fabric closer, we feel the warmth of human connections that will help us not only weather this storm, but to lead our nation out of it.”
In the final analysis, Menino’s message was one of working together.
“In our neighborhoods, we have decreased foreclosures and increased safety, decreased property taxes and increased opportunity. In our schools, we have decreased the achievement gap and increased learning,” Menino concluded. “But I must remind you, unless we work together and take urgent action, our hard-won gains will be lost. In the worst of economic times, we must show the best of Boston. We have to work together to move our city forward. The state of the city is in our hands, and for that reason I know that the state of our city is strong.”
Immediately following the address, City Council President Michael Ross called Menino’s idea of a city employee pay freeze a good one.
“The mayor’s proposed pay freeze for city employees is a good idea worthy of serious consideration,” said Ross. “The City of Boston needs to take aggressive steps to deal with the budget gap without causing job losses. Even with this proposal, more work will be needed, and I stand by my proposal to convene an economic summit composed of leaders from the economic, nonprofit, and business worlds to hear their ideas on stimulating Boston’s economy.”

The inauguration of Barack Obama

The inauguration of President Barack Obama is the most significant political moment we of this generation have experienced in the United States.
The case can reasonably be made that it is the most significant social and political moment this nation has experienced since the inauguration of our first president, George Washington.
President Obama’s election and inauguration proves to the world that the promise of America is real and compelling.
Even if the United States isn’t the stand-alone superpower in the future that it has been in the recent past, this moment – President Obama’s inauguration – is a moment for all of us living through the American experience to savor and to take deep pride in.
Cynics throughout the world who make a living out of bashing America and who oppose American style democracy didn’t think or believe for a moment we could overcome the stain of racism that has pervaded our society to elect a black man as president.
President Obama’s election and inauguration, with the nation lining up behind him, and the great effort that he is going to make to return the nation to prosperity or to simply stop it from falling apart, gives rise to the belief that there is great hope for this nation.
The new administration brings to the table some of the best selection of brilliant minds and successful people.
Domestically and in foreign policy, the Obama administration will test the old against the new in an attempt to break us out of the economic deadlock we are in.
The nation is in for an exciting year, and a terrifying year at the same time.
There is a tremendous negative pull to everything that will be attempted to do in these future days as a nation.
The tendency is to believe that many things are finished – that there is no hope for a turnaround.
President Obama comes into office as the great hope for a change, for the turnaround we need and desperately want.
His eloquence is unsurpassed, but we need much more than eloquence these days.
We need action and plain honesty in not only laying out the problems but also the solutions to these problems that we as a nation and society must face and accept.
If ever the words inscribed on the mantle from the first occupant of the White House, John Adams seem apt, it is today:
“I pray [to] Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and on all that hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.”
We wish President Obama the best.