A construction package needs to be completed and approved by the Board for any projects over $10,000. The number one cause for delays in project approval is that the contractor does not meet the insurance requirements. Before hiring a contractor, please verify that they have the required insurance.  Further, the package must be submitted in one single pdf file or hard copy. Projects submitted in several different emails or files will not be accepted.

A group of Baker Square households contracts independently with Bootstrap Compost for weekly pick-up of our food waste, plant waste, and other compostable items such as take-out containers, paper towels, and cardboard egg cartons. Each household pays an annual fee of $88, which is subject to change.

Want to join?  Call Sarah at 781-367-4135 for more information.

Getting to know our neighbors 
Dr. Bill Braun and Dr. Linda Braun
A lifelong commitment to improving lives through education

Bill and Linda Braun joined the Baker Square community about seven years ago when they purchased a unit on the sixth floor of Baker Mill. Though their condo has an impressive staircase, they moved here from a condo in Cambridge because of “rickety” stairs and Bill’s “rickety” hip (which required a hip replacement).

When you meet Bill and Linda, you are immediately impressed by their gracious and mild manner. Dig a little further into their backgrounds and you learn they were powerful innovators in the field of education, with a passion for bringing out the best in people.

Raised in New Jersey in a family of six children, Bill joined three of his brothers and a sister in the military as World War II was ending. After completing his undergraduate degree at Niagara University, he began graduate studies in philosophy at Catholic University in Washington, DC. The savagery of war and the Nazi atrocities drew him to the life of a religious community and at 31, he became a priest. He earned his PhD and taught at numerous colleges, where he was recognized for his inspirational lectures, quick wit, and dedication to students.

In the late 1960’s when he was director of a seminary on the campus of Stonehill College, he embarked on what was then a radical experiment. The seminary was exclusively for seminarians, but Stonehill College was facing a shortage of housing for students. Under his direction, an integrated living and learning community began, where men and women agreed to participate in a collaborative decision-making process. The program focused on communication skills that would enhance the living environment, such as finding one’s voice and conflict resolution. Bill oversaw this great experiment until 1980 and assisted other colleges in emulating his model.

This began his segue to a new career and life path. He left the seminary and after leaving collegiate work, he became certified as an Organizational Development (OD) consultant. Years later in 1996, he joined the UMass Instructional Design Program faculty and taught Communications Theory for Organizations. Although he only expected to stay for a few years, he inspired students for another 15 years.

Raised in Fall River, Linda shares Bill’s passion for learning and has an equally impressive resume. After receiving a Master’s Degree from Boston University and a PhD from UMass Boston in Urban Leadership, she founded, developed, and taught at the Brockton Adult Learning Center, which became a model for others around the state. When she began, the center was little more than a literacy and GED program with fewer than 100 students. Thirty-five years later when she retired, more than 750 students passed through the program each year and over 1,000 were on a waiting list. She was quoted as saying, “Working in the program is like watching people reach the American dream.”

While many of the students were immigrants with no or limited English speaking skills, the program was much more than ESL (English as a second language). Classes ranged from basic adult literacy and preparation for high school equivalency diplomas to citizenship, math, family learning, and computers. Counselors were available for assistance with education and career, health and housing, family, and immigration.

While Bill and Linda’s careers were astounding, they say their greatest joy has been raising two wonderful sons who now are married to two wonderful women. And they are the proud grandparents of young Bernie. They raised their family in Easton for over 25 years, where not surprisingly, Linda referred to Bill as “Mr. Easton,” because of his many community activities, including serving on and chairing the School Committee.

Say hello to Bill and Linda – you’ll be amazed at what you can learn.

Interview by Ann Seligsohn