Baker square NEWS

Cobblestone Newsletter Summer 2024

by | Jun 22, 2024 | News
In this issue

In the community

  • Important information from the Board of Trustees
  • Committee reports
  • Project updates
  • Being a good neighbor – patio etiquette
  • A few more things

In the neighborhood

  • Events and more
Your contacts
In the community
Important information from the Board of Trustees

Annual Meeting and reception
Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 6:30 p.m.

Called by the Board of Trustees in accordance with Baker Square Condominium governing documents, the Annual Meeting will be held in the Park Mill Function Room with registration of owners beginning at 6:00 p.m. The agenda includes a business meeting and the election of two members to the Board of Trustees for three-year terms (see Meet and Greet below for more information on the candidates).

A quorum, which is 51 percent of the beneficial interest in the Condominium, must be met to elect the Trustees. There are three ways you can vote – at the meeting, by emailing your ballot to [email protected], or by placing the ballot in the secure box outside of the management office. Proxies count toward the quorum, so please submit a proxy ballot if you can’t attend the meeting.

Following the meeting, the Community Engagement Committee (CEC) will host a gathering with beer, wine, and light refreshments. Weather permitting, it will be on the patio. In the event of inclement weather, it will be held in the Park Mill Function Room.

Meet and Greet candidates
Monday, June 24, 6:30 p.m.

Hosted by the Community Engagement Committee (CEC), a Meet and Greet will take place in the Park Mill Function Room. This is an opportunity to ask questions and hear from the three owners who are seeking election to the Board of Trustees. The candidates are Kyle Birchall (B508), Don Foxworthy (B603), and Michael Ouellet (F108).

Committee reports  

Community Engagement Committee (CEC)

In addition to the social gathering following the Annual Meeting and the Meet and Greet, the CEC is planning a return of the Conscious Reggae Band on the patio on Saturday, September 7 (Rain date September 14). Be sure to mark your calendar – the performance was a huge success last May with local merchant Bobin Nicholson (owner of Eye & Eye Optics) on bass.

As part of its commitment to fostering engagement, the CEC is working on identifying speakers with topics of interest to the community. Watch for dates on the Baker Square website calendar.

Many thanks to Dagmar Pollex for arranging the performance of the Willie J. Laws Blues Band and to Vargas & Vargas Insurance for generously sponsoring the event, which was enjoyed by all.

Photos by Dagmar Pollack, Tom Tanury, and Mary Weafer.

– submitted by Sarah Brooks

Landscape Committee

Keep an eye on the landscape as summer progresses! Can you spot anything new? The Landscape Committee has been busy ordering and putting in new plants and shrubs that will bring splashes of late summer and autumn color to our gardens.
–Submitted by Heidi Lyne

Editor’s note: Both committees are doing outstanding work to improve life at Baker Square. When you see a member, take the time to thank them.
  

Project updates

Forbes fire panel
The Forbes fire panel project is currently on schedule to meet the target completion date of January 2025. Nardone Electric has completed the in-unit fire alarm device installations and carpentry repairs have been done. Work on the alarm devices in the common areas is nearing completion.

A consultant has been hired to determine the required upgrades to the safety exhaust fans to ensure that they are seamlessly integrated with the fire alarm system. Work that remains includes connecting cables in conduits, upgrading the safety exhaust fans, and installing the fire alarm control panel (FACP), which is the central hub that monitors and controls the various components of the fire safety system. Once these are completed, the system will be thoroughly tested, and then inspected by the city. The existing fire system will remain in place until the new system passes inspection.

Baker Mill elevator
During the city’s annual elevator inspection, the inspector found a scratch on a cable in one of the elevators and advised that it should be taken out of service. It’s anticipated that the cable will be replaced in two to three weeks. Once it is replaced, Boston Inspectional Services must reinspect the elevator before it is operational. There is a significant backlog in this department and management is working to expedite the process.

Park Mill elevator
The Board has selected Atlantic Elevator to complete the Park Mill elevator modernization, which includes replacing all mechanical components. The company is researching the time needed to secure all the components. Once a timeline is finalized, a meeting will be scheduled with the community to discuss the project.

Window washing
Due to the complexity of the fire panel project that is ongoing in the Forbes building, a group window washing effort that is typically scheduled in the spring will take place in the fall. While the individual owner is responsible for the cost, the group effort helps to reduce the expense, which will be determined in the fall. Unit owners are also welcome to schedule individual window washing.

Carpet cleaning
The 2024 budget includes carpet steam cleaning for two of the four buildings at Baker Square. Bids are currently being solicited.
Being a good neighbor – patio etiquette

Few developments have an outdoor space as appealing as the riverside patio. Whether it’s watching the goose or duck family enjoy a swim up the river, spotting a heron, cooking dinner on the grill, or socializing with friends and neighbors, it’s a spectacular amenity. It’s also a shared space for all residents to enjoy and everyone who uses the patio has a responsibility to abide by the same rules, including:

  • Return furniture to its original place
  • Abide by the grill policy 
  • Cover the fire pit after cool-down
  • Close umbrellas after use
  • Dispose of trash and other debris
  • Keep the surface areas of the grills, counters, and dining tables clean after use (cleaning supplies are in each grill cabinet)
  • Report any damage or equipment issues to management
  • Remember no pets are allowed on the patio
  • Be considerate of others on the patio and to the residents of the units that abut the patio

By working together we can keep the patio a safe and welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.
A few more things

Don’t let strangers into your building

While everyone knows the importance of building security, it’s easy to let our guard down. This is a reminder that warrants repeating – do not let strangers into the building. The possible downsides of letting someone into the building far outweigh the discomfort of denying access or the inconvenience to the person waiting a few more minutes to be buzzed in properly.

Recently a Verizon sales rep was allowed into a building and began soliciting. In the past, we’ve had package thefts. When entering or exiting the building, be sure the door has closed completely. If you notice a door is not closing completely or is not latching properly, please contact management.

Welcome Juan back

Juan, our cleaning contractor, has returned from paternity leave. When you see him, be sure to welcome him back and congratulate him on the birth of his son.

Open to all residents, the book club meets in person and virtually with monthly selections alternating between fiction and non-fiction. Next month’s selection is Going Zero, an action-packed thriller by screen writer, Anthony McCarten. The American government secretly partners with a firm called Fusion to develop a ground-breaking piece of spyware and carefully selects ten people to beta test it. While the book follows each of the ten, an unassuming Boston librarian does more than hide. All are welcome. Sunday, July 14, 7:00 p.m. hosted by Sarah Brooks and Ann Seligsohn, F613.

In the neighborhood
Events and more

Milton Music Fest and Fireworks
Saturday, June 22 at 5:00 p.m. the fest will feature live music, food, activities for all ages, and amazing fireworks. Sunday, June 23 at 1:00 p.m. enjoy an afternoon of Celtic music, food, and your favorite beverage. Governor Hutchinson’s Field, Milton. For details.

Reading Frederick Douglass Together – Forbes Museum

Presented in partnership with Courageous Conversations Toward Racial Justice, a Public Reading and Discussion of Frederick Douglass’ famous 1852 address, What, to the Slave, Is the Fourth of July? will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2024, 6:30 p.m., at the Forbes House Museum, 215 Adams Street, Milton.  For more information or to register to read.

Ashmont Hill Chamber Music 
The Ashmont Hill Chamber Music, which presents concerts of world-class chamber music recently announced the 2024-2025 programs. The artistic director of this marvelous program is our neighbor, Mary Beth Alger.

Interested in supporting the organization? Join them for a summer fundraiser featuring pianist Julian Jacobson, on Sunday, June 30, 4:00 p.m. at the home of Chris Walter & Mary Beth Alger, WM 303. Donation $100. Weather permitting, the concert will be followed by a reception on the riverside patio. Tickets.

Summertime Jazz
For all you jazz lovers, Forbes resident Mary Carbonara reports another summer of jazz is happening again as Mandorla Music partners with Historic New England to bring the best local jazz musicians to the Eustis Estate in Milton. Of note is the second annual David Chestnut Jazz Festival on Saturday, August 19, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Stay in the know by subscribing to the newsletter on the Contact page of Mandorla’s website. Watch for the Dot Jazz series at Peabody Hall, All Saints Church at Ashmont, to resume in the autumn!

Support our local businesses
Remember to support the local merchants and restaurants that are just a short walk away. They are an essential part of the vitality, convenience, and strength of our neighborhood. Let’s help them thrive!

There’s a new gift shop on the Milton side of Lower Mills – William James Gifts, 32 Central Ave. In addition to gifts, it offers a collection of gluten-free foods. Stop in and say hello to owner Calli McPherson.

The graphic is just a small representation of the many wonderful merchants in Lower Mills.

Milton Farmers Market
The Farmers Market at Wharf Park, Milton Village, just off Adams Street, opened June 6 and will be open every Thursday from 1-6 pm. until October. More information.

Dorchester Food Cooperative
Located at the corner of Bowdoin Street and Topliff Street, the Dorchester Food Coop (DFC) is a worker-owned grocery store that promotes community, makes healthy food accessible, and advances economic opportunity through neighborhood engagement. Recently, the DFC received one of the largest grants from the Cummings Foundation 2024 grants program. A ten-year grant totaling $750,000 is a testimony to the value and strength of this initiative.

There are many organic food choices and now catering options. Watch for details of the annual meeting, which is scheduled for June 27, 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m., in person or Zoom.

Neponset River update
In 2023, EPA completed the initial sampling phase of its remedial investigation. Phase II sampling was scheduled to begin in the spring and will primarily take place from the T&H Dam downstream to the Walter Baker Dam.

The data validation report from the Phase I sampling is anticipated in August 2024 and will tell us where and what contamination is in the first mile of the river. The Draft Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) should be available by the end of September 2024. There will be a public comment period before it becomes final. More information.
Your Contacts

Trustees
Laura Gleason, Chair, F609, [email protected] 
Leslie Giddings, Secretary, F111, [email protected]
Mary Beth Alger, WM303, [email protected]
Matthew Booth, B306, [email protected]
Sherry Catlin, F603, [email protected]
Tom Tanury, WM301, [email protected] 
Perry Yeldham, B108, [email protected]

Condo Management Office 
Park Mill, to right of the entrance
Meghan Grzybinski, Baker Square Condo Association, 617-296-2287, [email protected]
https://barkancompanies.securecafe.com/residentservices/baker-square/userlogin.aspx
After Hours Barkan Emergency Contact Number : 1-800-570-9145
Boston Police C-11 617-343-4330 (Emergency –  911)
State Police 617-698-5840 (for state property: park, boat ramp, bike path)

If you have information you would like included in future newsletters please contact Mary Weafer, [email protected]
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