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Laura O’Brien, CPA, MST, Named Chair Of Massachusetts Society Of CPAs’ Board Of Directors

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Brookline.com
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The Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants (MassCPAs) today announced that Laura O’Brien, CPA, MST, was elected to serve its Board of Directors as chair for its 2023-2024 fiscal year, which began May 01, 2023.

O’Brien, a Brookline resident, is a partner at LGA, LLP in Woburn with over 25 years of public accounting experience servicing the accounting and tax needs of individuals and privately held businesses. LGA, LLP is a CPA and business advisory firm that focuses on developing deep relationships with clients to provide strategic insight, straightforward advice and value-added services, including business consulting and valuations, outsourced accounting services, tax planning and assurance.

MassCPAs Board of Directors is a group of 19 elected members that sets policies, manages programs and oversees activities that benefit the 11,500-member organization and accounting profession in Massachusetts.

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“MassCPAs Board of Directors is an exceptional and diverse group of individuals that will have a profound impact on defining the Society’s priorities and propelling the accounting profession forward in Massachusetts,” said Amy Pitter, MassCPAs president and CEO. “I am thrilled to have Laura on the board and know that her valuable contributions and leadership will benefit the Society, our community and the profession in the coming year.”

With a strong focus on clients’ wealth management, O’Brien has assumed a significant role in providing expert guidance to businesses spanning a wide range of industries, including service, medicine, education, investment and real estate. Demonstrating her commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders within the firm, she actively engages in mentoring younger staff members while advocating on their behalf to firm management. O’Brien’s dedication extends to the development and leadership of professional training programs for the staff, notably her involvement in piloting the Learning Paths Program and co-chairing the training committee. Committed to fostering inclusivity and diversity, she actively participates in several MassCPAs committees, including the Women in Accounting Committee, Taxation Committee and the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee. Recognizing her exceptional contributions, she was honored as a MassCPAs 2019 Woman to Watch in the Experienced Leaders category.

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About the Massachusetts Society of CPAs

The Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants, Inc. is the state professional association of certified public accountants, representing over 11,500 members in public accounting practice, industry and business, government and education. The Society works to develop and maintain high professional standards and offers a wide array of legislative, technical and referral services to its members.

To learn more, please visit here.

Town Of Brookline To Hold Community Preservation Plan Engagement Opportunities

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Town Administrator Chas Carey is pleased to announce that the Town of Brookline will hold engagement opportunities for residents to get involved in the drafting of its Community Preservation Plan (CPP).

After voting to adopt the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in 2021, Brookline is currently developing its first Community Preservation Plan (CPP). The Community Preservation Committee (CPC), per the state statute, is tasked with studying the needs, possibilities, and resources of the Town regarding community preservation. The CPC is working with consultants at JM Goldson on the first CPP draft.

The plan will include overall policies and goals, as well as identify needs, goals, and eligible activities for each of the four project categories: Community Housing, Historic Preservation, Open Space, and Outdoor Recreation. The CPC will use this plan as a framework and guide for prioritizing funding applications.

As a part of the CPP drafting process, the Town will be offering opportunities for Brookline community members to get involved and help create the plan.

A Community Charrette will be held on Wednesday, June 05, 2023 from 06:30 p.m. – 08:00 p.m. at Brookline High School, 22 Tappan Street, Brooklin, MA 02445. This open house event will offer light refreshments and activities for all ages. The Town’s project consultants will discuss some of their initial findings and provide collaborative activities for participants to workshop their ideas.

Residents are encouraged to take a short survey, which can be found here, and share their ideas on how the CPC should prioritize spending its funds.

Those looking for more information should contact Community Preservation Planner Tina McCarthy at 617-730-2612, or by e-mail at tmccarthy@brooklinema.gov.

Public Library Of Brookline Recognizes High School Student With Creative Writing Award

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Brookline.com
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Library Director Amanda Hirst is pleased to share that Brookline High School student Pascal Srinivasan has been awarded the Edith Pearlman Creative Writing Award.

Srinivasan, who just completed his first year in the Alternative Choices for Education (ACE) program at BHS, was awarded the Pearlman Prize for his exemplary creative writing ability at the school’s annual awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 02, 2023

Srinivasan is described as a close and supportive reader of his classmates’ work and is willing to share his dilemmas and suggestions about writing.

BHS faculty member Brendan O’Connell spoke of Srinivasan’s collaborative orientation toward the writing process which allowed him to write, “a compelling short story, a fun personal narrative, and multiple snappy poems that engage readers with rhyme and symbolism.”

The Pearlman Prize was established in 2016 in honor of Edith Pearlman, an acclaimed fiction and travel writer and a beloved longtime resident of Brookline. Pearlman, who passed away last New Year’s Eve, was once described as “our greatest living short story writer” by the Boston Globe, demonstrating the impact her work had on the residents of Brookline and beyond.

The award is presented annually to a student who has demonstrated exceptional ability and achievement in the area of creative writing.

“Pascal is a brilliant young writer,” said Hirst. “To be awarded the Pearlman Prize is a testament to Pascal’s hard work and dedication and this honor is well-deserved.”

Town Of Brookline To Partner With Northeastern University’s iSUPER In Air Quality Study

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Commissioner of Public Works Erin Chute Gallentine is pleased to announce that the Town of Brookline has partnered with Northeastern University’s Intelligent Solutions to Urban Pollution for Equity and Resilience (iSUPER) to take part in an air quality testing study to deploy cost-effective, climate-smart technology aimed at trying to understand and model air pollution.

The multi-year project will provide opportunities to learn from and leverage data, particularly related to transportation and transit systems, open space, and a diverse range of neighborhood densities and types. The Town also sees potential for the installation of sensor networks as a tool to better understand existing conditions and to identify and evaluate possible opportunities to mitigate air pollution in the future.

iSUPER, one of Northeastern University’s newest Impact Engines, will install a suite of air quality sensors in Brookline this summer that are focused on understanding air quality conditions and changes over time in several types of areas, including parks, heavily trafficked transportation routes, and key pedestrian-used roads.

The sensors will remain in Brookline for several years to track changes over time and will help Northeastern create models to best track air quality with the smallest number of sensors possible, which will help work toward providing affordable recommendations for towns nationwide.

In addition, a lab-in-a-van will be used to make research-grade measurements around streets and neighborhoods to complement stationary sensors to map the air pollution and greenhouse gas distribution in Brookline.

iSUPER and its diverse team of researchers and partners build digital, cost-effective, climate-smart infrastructure to create real-time hyperlocal air pollution measurement data and model predictions for cities and towns. These data and tools position towns and cities to take actionable metric-driven steps to reduce air pollution, improve health, and continuously work toward greater equity.

To learn more about Northeastern University’s iSUPER and its work pairing low-cost, adaptable sensing technologies with pollution prediction models, please visit here. The Town and Northeastern are partnering with the Brookline GreenSpace Alliance to share information with the public as the project moves forward.

Residents are also encouraged to meet the team of iSUPER researchers at Spring Fest on Saturday May 20, 2023, from 11:00 – 02:00 p.m., at Allerton Overlook in Olmsted Park, 203 Pond Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445.

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Brookline Department Of Public Health Shares CoViD-19 Update

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Health Commissioner Sigalle Reiss and the Brookline Department of Public Health and Human Services share that, in alignment with the end of the federal public health emergency, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced that the Massachusetts CoViD-19 public health emergency was lifted on May 11, 2023.

While the public health emergency has concluded, Brookline health officials are continuing to monitor the impact of the virus in the community and take steps to support prevention and treatment.

VaxinateRX, in combination with the Brookline Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Brookline Senior Center, will host two CoViD-19 vaccine clinics for residents ages 65+ to receive their additional bivalent mRNA vaccine dose. The clinics will be hosted on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Town Hall, 333 Washington Street, Brookline, MA 02445, from 04:00 – 06:00 p.m., and on Monday, June 05, 2023, at the Brookline Senior Center Ballroom, 93 Winchester Street, Brookline, MA 02446, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Please bring your CoViD-19 and medical insurance cards to your appointment. Registration is required. To register for the clinic at Town Hall, click here. To register for the clinic at the Senior Center, click here.

The Department continues to maintain a small supply of home antigen CoViD-19 test kits with an extended expiration date of September 28, 2023, and will continue to work with the Brookline Public Libraries and other community partners to distribute these kits throughout the summer.

On March 10, 2020, former Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency which gave the Administration more flexibility to respond to the outbreak. The emergency status, which was updated on May 28, 2021, allowed the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner to take actions that promoted CoViD-19 testing and vaccination sites, maintained surveillance, and worked to protect vulnerable populations at higher risk of severe disease.

“It is amazing to look back over these three years and understand the knowledge gained and resources acquired to combat this virus. We have a highly effective vaccine, improved knowledge of the virus and a better understanding of who is at higher risk and how we can protect those at risk,” said Commissioner Reiss. “I want to thank the staff at the Brookline Department of Public Health and Human Services for their continued dedication and hard work to protect our community.”

Throughout the pandemic, the Brookline Department of Public Health and Human Services took many actions to ensure the health and safety of the community. Between February 2021 and April 2023, the Department organized more than 60 CoViD-19 vaccine clinics for the community.

The Health Department worked with numerous community partners in an effort to reach all corners of Brookline and provide equitable access to vaccines. To improve access to vaccines, clinics were held in a variety of locations throughout Brookline, including many public schools, Brookline Housing Authority facilities, the Senior Center, the Public Safety Building, Town Hall, and the Public Health Building. Additionally, the Health Department administered 102 doses of the CoViD-19 vaccine to homebound residents through the support of MRC volunteers.

Other actions taken included:

  • Consulting with the Advisory Council on Public Health and Expert Advisory Panel 4 to implement mask mandates.
  • Prioritizing contact tracing and CoViD-19 case investigation by providing isolation and quarantine guidance to confirmed and probable CoViD-19 cases in Brookline.
  • Scheduling PCR testing sites in collaboration with Coastal Emergency Medical Services.
  • Creating a CoViD-19 data dashboard to provide weekly updates regarding case counts, deaths, vaccination rates, and testing.
  • Opening and staffing an Emergency Call Center in coordination with the Office of Emergency Management.
  • Facilitating distribution of over 65,000 home antigen CoViD-19 test kits to community partners and individuals including PSB, the Brookline Senior Center, the Brookline Housing Authority, Brookline Public Libraries, Brookline Police, Fire, and Town Hall employees, Brookline businesses and childcare centers.

While the state of emergency is ending, it remains crucial to protect yourself and those most vulnerable to severe disease from CoViD-19. The best way to do this is by remaining up to date on vaccines.

Vaccination recommendations were recently simplified as of April 18, 2023. The older monovalent vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States and those at higher risk may need additional doses. Please consult your medical provider to determine if additional doses of the bivalent vaccine are needed. People ages six years and older who are unvaccinated or previously received only monovalent vaccine doses are recommended to receive one bivalent mRNA vaccine dose, and people ages 65 years and older may receive one additional bivalent mRNA vaccine dose (second booster).

Brookline Department Of Public Works Invites Community To Attend Open House

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Commissioner Erin Chute Gallentine announces that the Brookline Department of Public Works is marking National Public Works Week by hosting an open house next week.

The open house will take place on Thursday, May 25, 2023, from 12:30 p.m. – 05:00 p.m. at the Municipal Service Center, 870 Hammond Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. On-site parking will be available, and the event will be held rain or shine.

National Public Works Week is an opportunity to recognize the dedicated and talented public works employees who design, build, operate, and maintain the transportation systems, water supply, sanitary sewer, fleet, refuse disposal systems, parks and open space, urban forest, and other critical infrastructure while preserving and protecting our environment.

The family-friendly event will have a variety of exhibits and shows, including a recycling-themed magic show and a stormwater model.

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the sign and street light shop and the welding shop. DPW staff will demonstrate the wide range of responsibilities they fulfill throughout the community, including tree trimming, water pipe inspection and catch basin cleaning.

“Brookline DPW provides the foundation for a sustainable, inclusive, connected, vibrant, safe and livable community,” Commissioner Gallentine said. “The men and women of this Department proudly provide the core services that help the Town run every day and we are all excited to share this work with Brookline residents of all ages.”

For more information about the open house, contact Julie Piacentini at jpiacentini@brooklinema.gov or 617-730-2166.

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Brookline Advisory Council On Public Health Member To Be Honored For Life’s Work

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Health Commissioner Sigalle Reiss and the Brookline Department of Public Health & Human Services are pleased to share that a member of Brookline’s Advisory Council on Public Health will be honored statewide next month.

Adrienne (Andy) Epstein, RN, MPH, will receive the Lemuel Shattuck Award from the Massachusetts Public Health Association during a June 02, 2023 ceremony. The award is presented to a person who has made a significant contribution to the field of public health.

Epstein has been a registered nurse and a public health advocate for 45 years, evolving over that time from patient-based to community-based care.

“We’re pleased to see Andy honored for her tireless work to support the community’s health and wellbeing,” said Commissioner Reiss. “She has spent her life on the front lines of the fights against some of the gravest threats to public health over the last 40 years, including HIV/AIDS and opioid dependence, and has had a positive impact on the lives of countless people in Massachusetts and beyond.”

Epstein has played significant roles in the expansion of AIDS patient care in Massachusetts, the state’s ground-breaking needle exchange program, and later the commonwealth’s rollout of medical marijuana.

She worked for many years as a nurse at Boston City Hospital, the Cambridge VNA and the Cambridge Health Alliance. She began her career as a clinician in Mozambique, providing care to patients and mentorship to developing providers, as well as organizing vaccination and occupational health programming and preventive care.

Later in her career, Epstein expanded her focus through her work with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, working to support access to treatment and prevention efforts related to AIDS. She built on that work in the early 2000s in multiple African countries, where she consulted on HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment programming. Also in Africa, she worked to support community access to health resources in the areas within and around Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique.

“Andy mentored scores of public health professionals, who… saw in her commitment to nursing, public health, economic equity, and racial justice a paragon of leadership and creative responsiveness,” wrote Kevin Cranston, assistant commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, in nominating Epstein for the award.

Epstein’s work has also included time spent advising the Boston Public Health Commission on responses to West Nile Virus and the opioid epidemic, in addition to supporting the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s work to combat opioid addiction while overseeing its HIV/AIDS, Infectious Disease and Substance Abuse Bureaus.

Epstein “understood the importance of healthy communities and the activism needed to create them long before policy, systems and environment became commonplace public health strategies,” wrote Stewart Landers, director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association, in also nominating Epstein.

Epstein’s work with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health included helping to expand access to the overdose reversal drug naloxone

“I am honored to receive this award,” Epstein said. “My life’s work has been doing what I can to reduce health inequities in our communities. Communities with healthy residents are healthy communities.”

The award is named in honor of Lemuel Shattuck, an early advocate for public health in Massachusetts whose work was the foundation for the state’s initial efforts in that realm. It is presented annually to someone who has made significant contributions to the field of public health.

Brookline Department Of Public Works Invites Community Members To Attend Spring Fest

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Commissioner Erin Chute Gallentine and Division of Parks and Open Space Director Alexandra Vecchio would like to invite community members to attend the Brookline Department of Public Works’ Spring Fest: Fight for Nature, Act for All.

Spring Fest, an event that celebrates the Town’s conservation efforts and offers an opportunity for individuals and families to learn ways they can actively protect and promote nature and our environment, will take place at Allerton Overlook in Olmsted Park, 203 Pond Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445 on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. – 02:00 p.m.

The family-friendly event will feature a tree identification walk at 11:30 a.m., nature trivia for all ages at 12:00 p.m., and a community spring planting at 01:00 p.m. There will also be live music, environmental educational activities, exploration stations from different town departments and community organizations, food, games, arts and crafts, and much more. The event is free and open to the public.

“A park-based, environmentally focused community engagement event is a perfect way to kick off National Public Works week,” said Commissioner Gallentine. “I would like to thank our generous co-sponsors for their support, the Brookline Green Space Alliance, Mothers Out Front, and Brookline Rotary, all of which are our proud partners in promoting the importance of local, grassroots conservation efforts and the value of public open space.”

The closest public transit stations are Brookline Village T Station, Riverway T station, or High Street at Cumberland Avenue on bus route 60. The DPW is striving to make the event as close to zero-waste as possible. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottle.

The Senior Center will be partnering with the DPW to offer rides to the event for the first 20 sign-ups. The van will depart from the Senior Center at 10:45 a.m. and will depart from Spring Fest at 01:30 p.m. to return to the Senior Center. Seniors can sign up for a ride by calling the Senior Center at 617-730-2770.

“We are thrilled to host Spring Fest for the second year in an effort to promote environmental action and awareness,” said Division of Parks and Open Space Director Vecchio. “This event is an excellent opportunity to celebrate our parks and open spaces and learn how we can take action to protect our planet through the conservation and care for nature.”

To learn more about the event, please visit here.

Those with questions regarding the event should contact Alexandra Vecchio at avecchio@brooklinema.gov.

Jennifer M. Paster Sworn In As Brookline’s Police Chief

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Town Administrator Chas Carey is pleased to announce that Jennifer M. Paster has officially begun her new role as Chief of Police.

Chief Paster, a 23-year veteran of the Brookline Police Department, was sworn in during a public ceremony at the Brookline Public Library’s Hunneman Hall on Wednesday morning.

“It is truly an honor for me to step into the role of Chief,” said Chief Paster. “I am grateful for the overwhelming support from my department and the Brookline community.”

Chief Paster began her career with the Brookline Police Department as a patrol officer in 2000. In 2005, she began working in the detective division serving as an intelligence investigator. During this time, she served as the department’s liaison to multiple agencies including Boston Regional Intelligence Center, Commonwealth Fusion Center, New England State Police Information Network, FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program.

In 2011, she was promoted to patrol sergeant where she supervised officers in the patrol division, assisted with performance and professional development and acted as the shift’s commanding officer, as needed. She later took on the role of administrative sergeant, where she served for four years.

Chief Paster was appointed to the role of Lieutenant in 2017, where she coordinated crisis intervention team (CIT) efforts across all department shifts/divisions. During this time, she taught six 40‐hour CIT courses for sworn law enforcement officers in the greater Boston area. She also served as assistant court prosecutor for the Brookline District Court in the absence of a full‐time prosecutor.

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While serving the role of Deputy Superintendent in 2021, she oversaw operations of the Community Service Division, the Emergency Management Coordinator, Youth and Family Resource Officers, Elder Affairs Officers, and the Crime Analysis Unit. Additionally, she was responsible for training and accreditation compliance, managing the department’s social media platforms and maintaining union and management relations.

Since last summer, she has served as the department’s acting chief. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing command staff and all levels of the department to ensure sustained day-to-day operations and deliver efficient public safety services to the community. Additionally, she worked to develop collaborative relationships with town officials, community agencies, government officials, and residents to maintain awareness and address issues of public safety.

“Chief Paster has been a stalwart member of the Brookline Police Department for over two decades, and has had a hand in nearly all of the agency’s work on behalf of our community during that time,” Town Administrator Carey said. “She’s a proven leader who has built strong relationships with countless stakeholders, and I am confident that she is the ideal person to serve as Brookline’s chief of police.”

Chief Paster is a member of the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE), the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Women Thriving Inc, and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). She is also a member of the Brookline Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and a board member of the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement (MAWLE).

Chief Paster holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Union College, a master’s degree in criminal justice from Western New England College and is currently working towards a master’s degree in social work from Boston College.

From left: Chas Carey, Town Clerk Ben Kaufman, Select Board Member Mike Sandman, Chief Paster, Select Board Members Paul Warren and John VanScoyoc.

Chief Paster has officially begun her new role as Chief of Police.

Brookline Early Education Program Celebrating 50th Anniversary

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The Brookline Eary Education Program (BEEP) is celebrating 50 years in the community with an art show showcasing student work.

The BEEP community, public and press are invited to the opening reception and exhibition at Brookline Public Library’s Hunneman Hall. The exhibition runs from May 18 through June 26, 2023, with an opening reception scheduled for Sunday, June 04, 2023, between the hours of 03:00 p.m. and 04:30 p.m.

“This exhibit spotlights what’s creatively possible for children as young as 2-5 years old in an inclusive early education environment – artistically, cognitively, socially and emotionally,” Principal Margaret Eberhardt said. “These high-quality art experiences with a local artist in the classroom and with the support of our teachers can serve as a model. We are making this rich collaboration visible to the community at large.”

These artworks, chosen and curated with teacher and student input, stem from art processes designed and led in the classroom by artist Erin Palazzolo Loparo. The works incorporate traditional and non-traditional mindful materials exploration and experimentation based on the works of artists Yayoi Kusama, Barnett Newman, Pablo Picasso, and Imagine.

The program also offered a unique opportunity to share connections between a working artist and the work of students and teachers. This innovative early education art program begins by sharing a story and a presentation and is followed by artmaking. Featured authors included Sarah Suzuki, Mo Willems, Nina Laden, Anne Rockwell, Katherine Ayres and Christie Matheson.

Made possible by a generous grant from the Brookline Education Foundation, the exhibition showcases original artwork and documents the mindful, discovery-driven process behind it. It features over 250 students’ art, ages 2-5 years old, across 23 classrooms.

According to Palazzolo Loparo, “Collaborating with BEEP in this way is entirely joy-filled. We’ve created a transformative model for arts in early education where every child is experimenting, making choices and finding meaning.”

To view selected high-resolution images, please visit here.

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About BEEP

The Brookline Early Education Program (BEEP) is a research-based, innovative “inclusive environment where all children… can learn social competency, develop cognitive motor and language skills and expand their understanding of themselves and the world in which they live.” BEEP offers 23 classes across 6 sites throughout the town and serves children with a range of developmental levels and from diverse cultural backgrounds. BEEP Preschool programs are one-year models that serve children ages 2.9- 3.2 and BEEP Pre-kindergarten programs are two-year programs and serve children ages 3-5. All classrooms are supervised by the Principal for Early Education and two Early Childhood Program Coordinators. Small class size, highly qualified teaching staff, and small pupil-teacher ratios and multi-disciplinary teams combine to support children in the early years of their education.

To learn more, please visit here.

About BEEP Artist, Erin Palazzolo Loparo

Erin Palazzolo Loparo MS-ATR is a former BEEP parent, local artist/teacher and registered art therapist who has scientific artwork on permanent display at Harvard Medical School.

To view Erin’s artwork and commissions please visit here.

About Brookline Education Foundation

This art grant, administered by BEF, has been generously funded by an anonymous donor family to support BEEP’s inclusive programming.

The Friends Of Brookline Public Health Invite Community To Participate In Walk For Hunger, Support Brookline Thrives

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The Friends of Brookline Public Health invite members of the community to join them and the Brookline Food Pantry in supporting Brookline Thrives by walking in the 2023 Walk for Hunger, hosted by Project Bread.

The Walk for Hunger, a fun-filled three-mile walk, will take place on Sunday, May 07, 2023, at 09:00 a.m. at the Boston Common. Participants will meet at the “Embrace” sculpture at 08:45 a.m.

The Friends of Brookline Public Health are walking in partnership with the Brookline Food Pantry to support Brookline Thrives, a weekend food program that offers free food bags to local families who could benefit from additional food options for their children. Each child’s bag contains two breakfast items, two lunch items, milk, fruit, and snacks for the weekend. Nearly 500 Brookline school children receive these food bags weekly.

The team hopes to raise a total of $4,000, and 60 percent of all funds raised will go directly to Brookline Thrives.

To join the Brookline team or support the walk with a donation, please visit here.

To learn more about Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger, please visit here.

Brookline Department Of Public Works To Offer Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Program For Residents

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Commissioner Erin Chute Gallentine would like to announce that the Brookline Department of Public Works will offer a Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Program to residents again this year.

As part of the program, residents can safely dispose of hazardous and universal waste items at Brookline’s Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Facility, 815 Newton Street, every Tuesday from 07:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., from May 02, 2023 through October 31, 2023.

The program is free to all Brookline residents. Proof of residency is required.

The Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Facility accepts a wide variety of materials, including lightbulbs / CFLs, batteries, oil-based paint, mercury-containing products, fuels, garden fertilizers, and more. Items such as latex/water-based paint, asbestos, infectious / biological wastes, prescription medicines, and commercial hazardous waste are not accepted.

Tires, electronics, and small appliances are the only bulk items that residents may drop-off at the Hazardous Waste Facility. Residents who utilize the municipal trash service can call 617-730-2156 to schedule a curbside pickup for all other bulk items, including furniture, mattresses, and large appliances such as refrigerators or washing machines.

A complete list of materials that are and are not accepted at the Hazardous Waste Facility can be viewed here.

The Department of Public Works requests that all visitors adhere to the following guidelines to ensure the health and safety of residents and DPW staff while utilizing the disposal service:

  • Keep products in their original containers, which have important safety and disposal information on the label. Products in non-original containers will not be accepted.
  • Never mix hazardous or toxic products. Mixing products could cause a violent or sometimes explosive reaction.
  • Transport items in the trunk of a car or bed of a truck. Materials should be packed carefully so nothing will spill during transportation.
  • Residents must stay in their vehicles at all times upon arriving at the Hazardous Waste Facility. DPW staff will safely remove materials from the vehicle.
  • Smoking and vaping are prohibited at the Hazardous Waste Facility.

Additional universal waste disposal locations will be located at:

  • Brookline Senior Center, 93 Winchester Street, open Monday through Friday from 08:30 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. This location will only accept single-use/rechargeable batteries, filled aerosol cans, and lightbulbs that are a maximum length of 50 inches.
  • Brookline Public Works Town Hall Office, 333 Washington Street, open Monday through Thursday from 08:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m., and Friday from 08:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This location will only accept single-use / rechargeable batteries.
  • Brookline Public Works Municipal Service Center, 870 Hammond Street, open Mondays from 12:30 p.m. to 03:00 p.m., Wednesdays from 07:00 a.m. to 03:00 p.m., and Fridays from 07:00 a.m. to 03:00 p.m. by appointment only. This location will only accept single-use / rechargeable batteries and lightbulbs.

To make an appointment, please contact Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator, Patrick O’Neill, at poneill@brooklinema.gov.

“The Department of Public Works is thrilled to be able to offer this program to Brookline residents again this year,” said Commissioner Gallentine. “Our Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Program provides a terrific opportunity for all residents to protect the environment and responsibly dispose of household hazardous materials at no cost.”

For more information on hazardous waste collection programs, please visit here.

Brookline Farmers’ Market Coupon Program For Eligible Residents Returning In 2023

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Health Commissioner Sigalle Reiss and the Brookline Department of Public Health and Human Services announce that the Department’s free food coupon program for income-eligible families will return this summer at the Brookline Farmers’ Market.

The free food coupon program offers eligible Brookline families the opportunity to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables utilizing vouchers. Over 600 Brookline households enrolled in the program last year and spent nearly $34,000 shopping among 22 vendors who offer fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, and other food items.

Eligibility is extended to individuals and families who reside in Brookline Housing Authority (BHA) properties, residents whose household income meets federal poverty level guidelines, and residents whose children attend a Brookline school through programs such as METCO who meet eligibility guidelines.

Coupons will be valid at the Farmers’ Market starting Thursday, June 1 through the end of the season in November. Individuals and families of two will receive $50 in coupons while households of three or more will receive $100 in coupons. Families will receive the coupons once during the season.

Staff from the Public Health Department will be at locations throughout Brookline for registration. Coupon books for the Farmers’ Market will be distributed at that time.

Public registration sites will be located at:
Brookline Senior Center, 93 Winchester Street, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Brookline Farmers’ Market, Thursday, June 01, 2023, from 01:30 p.m. – 06:00 p.m. Registration also will take place at BHA housing sites.

Additional information will be available here.

Those with questions should contact Lynne Karsten, Director of Community Health, at 617-730-2336 or by e-mail at lkarsten@brooklinema.gov.

Attention Hospital CEO’s: Please “Share The Wealth” To Support Bedside Nurses

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Nurses have been long overdue for better salaries and the accommodation of on-site call rooms. Hospitals generate billions of dollars in revenue annually.  Hospital CEO’s receive salaries that range from $1 to $7 million annually. Is sitting in an executive suite of a hospital behind a mahogany desk, floors away from the frenetic patient care taking place 24/7 really worth a salary of $1 to $7 million dollars per year? How much would a safe on-site overnight suite for nurses including beds and shower facilities cost? Could those million-dollar CEO salaries instead go toward significantly increasing bedside nursing salaries? Could hospital CEO’s find it in them to “share the wealth“ to improve the working conditions and life of the bedside nurse?

Nurses are leaving bedside nursing in hospitals at alarming rates. Bedside nursing work is stressful both physically and mentally. Staffing and scheduling challenges plague the nursing profession.

Hospitals need to make improvements to the poor work environment that often leads to nursing burnout and turnover. Due to continual understaffing, nurses feel like they are constantly on call, even if they are not. In order to attract more nurses to working in hospital settings, hospital environments are going to have to become more attractive for nurses. This means incentives such as increase in salaries and providing on-site nurse call rooms. If hospitals want to recruit and retain the nursing workforce needed to provide optimal patient care, they must offer nurses more than a pat on the back and the occasional 10 boxes of pizza lunches.

Many nurses travel to large Boston hospitals from Cape Cod, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and they sometimes work double and triple shifts. Nurses often resign from their positions at hospitals for a variety of reasons such as understaffing, stressful conditions and lousy pay scales. However, many nurses resign due to costly parking fees and commuting long hours for their 12 hour shifts. Many younger new nurses have mounds of student loan debt and are unable to afford hotels for overnite stays due to a long commute. They instead, sometimes sleep overnight in their cars in order to make the next early morning 12 hour grueling shift.

Hospitals have always provided residents and MD’s overnight on call rooms within the hospital, rightly so, given their busy schedules and overnight on call duties. However, nurses are not provided with safe, overnight on-call rooms within hospitals. If anything proved there is a need for this it was the CoViD-19 pandemic. In order to recruit, retain and accommodate nurses for unexpected double and triple shifts, they should be generously compensated and be provided with safe, on-site overnite nursing call rooms within the hospital at no cost.

Nurses are the lifeblood of any hospital. MD’s and nurses work hand and hand and hospitals cannot function effectively without both. Therefore, hospital CEO’s should be making efforts to support the bedside nurse with what they need and deserve to perform their jobs well. Providing a significant increase in salary and on call overnight accommodations would help in the short term and long term to recruit and retain highly skilled nurses. Nurses do not need more pizza or “Cookie Appreciation Days” in appreciation for their work.  Bedside nurses need and deserve to be paid well for the backbreaking, exhausting, physical, mental and emotional work they perform on a daily basis. So hospital CEO’s, how about “sharing the wealth” to support bedside nurses?

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About Mary Beth Muckian, BSN, RN

Mary Beth Muckian, BSN, RN is a graduate of Boston College and Regis College. She has been a nurse for 17 years  and currently works as a Utilization Review Manager. She has worked over her nursing career in the areas of bedside nursing,  Nursing Research and Occupational Health Nursing.

Town Of Brookline Invites Residents To Second Hazard Mitigation Plan Forum

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The Town of Brookline is developing a Hazard Mitigation Plan that identifies and prioritizes actions the town can take to mitigate the impacts of natural hazards and climate change. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), hazard mitigation planning reduces loss of life and property by minimizing the impact of disasters.

Community members will have an opportunity to contribute ideas for making the town more resilient to natural hazards such as flooding, snowstorms, high winds and extreme temperatures.

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Brookline developed a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) plan in 2017 that also identified possible actions to mitigate risks to natural hazards and climate change. The 2023 Brookline Hazard Mitigation Plan will include all identified actions that are still relevant today.

The plan is being developed by the Office of Emergency Management and members of Brookline’s Emergency Management Team. Jamie Caplan Consulting, LLC, a Northampton-based firm, is supporting the effort via the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA approval and town adoption of the Hazard Mitigation Plan allows the town to apply for pre- and post-disaster hazard mitigation grant funds.

“We encourage residents to attend this important public forum and help us to create a mitigation plan that could directly impact them and the town they live in,” Chief Sullivan said.

The event will take place on Thursday, May 04, 2023, between the hours of 02:00 p.m. – 03:00 p.m. and will be held virtually. Community members can access the meeting via Zoom.

To register, please visit here.

For questions regarding this project, please contact Cheryl Anne Snyder, Emergency Management Coordinator, Town of Brookline, at 617-730-2656 or via e-mail at csnyder@brooklinema.gov.

Town Of Brookline Announces Street Closures For Boston Marathon

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Town Administrator Chas Carey and Acting Police Chief Jennifer Paster announce that several roads will be closed on Monday, April 17, 2023 to accommodate the 127th running of the Boston Marathon.

Beacon Street will be closed to inbound traffic.

Additionally, the following areas will be closed to traffic:
Chestnut Hill Ave at Clinton Road and Dean Road Washington Street at Park Street Harvard Street at Longwood Ave and Sewall Ave Saint Paul Street at Longwood Ave and Sewall Ave Sewall Ave at Marshall Street Roads will close starting at 09:00 a.m. on the day of the race and are expected to reopen around 05:30 p.m. Vehicles parked on Beacon Street will be towed beginning on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at 04:00 p.m.

Residents are advised to plan ahead and seek alternative routes.

During the event, pedestrian crossing is only permitted on Beacon Street at Tappan, Webster and Hawes Streets. Crossing is permitted only if it is not a danger or obstruction to runners. Crossing is not permitted from approximately 01:00 p.m. to 03:00 p.m.

Additionally, no traffic hearings will be held on Saturday or Monday.

Brookline Department Of Public Health Invites Community To Attend Open House

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Health Commissioner Sigalle Reiss and the Brookline Department of Public Health and Human Services invite members of the community to attend an open house as part of National Public Health Week 2023.

The open house will be held on Monday, April 03, 2023, between the hours of 03:00 p.m. and 06:00 p.m., at the Department of Public Health, 11 Pierce Street, Brookline, MA 02445.

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Attendees will have the opportunity to network with staff, learn about the programs and services the Department provides, and discover careers in public health. Attendees will also be able to register for trainings, such as the NARCAN and STOP the Bleed trainings.

Visitors to the open house also will be eligible to win one of three giveaway prizes. The prizes include a pool pass for 16 drop-in lap swims at the Evelyn Kirrane Aquatic Center in Brookline, one yearly adult swim pass that can be used for a full year of drop-in lap swims, or a round of golf for four players with golf carts at the Brookline Golf Course. Snacks will also be provided at the event.

The open house is being hosted as part of the American Public Health Association’s National Public Health Week (NPHW), held on April 03-09, 2023. Each year, NPHW is held to educate the public, policymakers, and practitioners about issues related to each year’s theme. This year’s theme is “Centering and Celebrating Cultures in Health.” The message aims to ensure that everyone, in all cultural communities, has a chance at a long and healthy life.

Those looking for more information should contact Lynne Karsten at 617-730-2336 or by e-mail at lkarsten@brooklinema.gov.

Brookline Select Board To Consider Ballot Questions For Upcoming Town Election

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The Select Board invites community members to attend a meeting on March 21, 2023 to share their thoughts and opinions about ballot questions proposed for the May 02, 2023 town election ballot.

The Select Board meeting begins at 05:00 p.m. in Town Hall. Residents may attend in person, or register in advance to attend via Zoom by visiting here. Attendees will be sent a confirmation e-mail.

Proposals under consideration are:

  • A Proposition 2 ½ debt exclusion to build a new Grades PreK-8 school, which includes renovations/addition to the existing historic Pierce School and other site improvements including reconstruction, and repair of the Town Hall and Pierce School garages, which are beneath the new school and the Town Park across School Street. A Proposition 2 ½ debt exclusion allows the town to increase its levy limit temporarily to pay for bonds related to a specified capital project and purchase.
  • A Proposition 2 ½ override, raising the tax levy limit to fund the Brookline Public Schools and municipal services. This question will enable the town to enact its Comprehensive Plan and zoning reform, and better position the town to seek grants for preservation, housing, economic development, and sustainability. A Proposition 2 ½ override allows the town to increase its levy limit for general use.
  • Capping the number of marijuana retail licenses the Select Board may issue.

The Select Board plans to vote on the questions and final cost amounts.

If approved by voters at the May 02, 2023 election, Town Meeting would then take up the questions when it convenes beginning May 23, 2023.

Residents may learn more about the override and debt exclusion questions on the town override information page by visiting here. The town also will develop arguments for and against the questions that will be included in a townwide mailer. Those interested in proposing arguments are asked to call 617-730-2190 or e-mail jcallanan@brooklinema.gov.

Town Of Brookline Invites Residents To Attend Community Visioning Kick-Off For Harvard Street Zoning

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The Department of Planning and Community Development would like to invite residents to attend the Community Visioning Kick-off for Harvard Street Zoning, hosted by the Brookline Planning Board.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at 07:30 pm via Zoom, and will focus on Section 5.3 of a study conducted by the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) on regulatory barriers to and recommendations for facilitating multifamily and mixed-use development in Brookline.

The first installment of the study is Harvard Street, an urban mixed-use neighborhood celebrated as a focal point for neighborhood retail, services, entertainment, and housing.

A core component of the study is a block-by-block analysis of the Harvard Street neighborhood’s physical characteristics. The logic behind this approach is to identify positive and appealing characteristics to inform design standards in the updated zoning. The findings will be shared at the Community Visioning Kick-off to get feedback on if these characteristics represent the walkable urban environment preferred by community stakeholders.

The full DPCD study is posted here.

Register in advance for this meeting by visiting here.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The MBTA Communities Act (MBTACA), passed in 2022, requires municipalities like Brookline to create a zoning district that allows multi-family development without special permits. More information about the MBTACA can be found here.

Because of the Harvard Street study’s foundational work, staff recognized an opportunity to both remedy Harvard Street zoning and comply with the MBTACA using sound planning principles.

Those that need reasonable accommodations or modifications related to this notice should contact Sarah E. Kaplan, ADA Compliance Officer at skaplan@brooklinema.gov or call 617-730-2329. Town ADA information can be found here.

Senior Planner Maria Morelli is also hosting Zoom Office Hours on Mondays, 12:00 – 05:00 p.m., and Tuesdays 08:30 a.m. – 01:00 p.m. throughout March, which can be accessed here. Those with questions should contact her at 617-730-2670 or by e-mail at mmorelli@brooklinema.gov.

Brookline Police Arrest Former Town Employee For Alleged Misuse Of Public Funds

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Town Administrator Chas Carey, Commissioner of Public Works Erin Chute Gallentine, and Acting Chief of Police Jennifer Paster report that the Brookline Police Department has arrested a former town employee after an investigation into the suspected purchase of automotive supplies for personal use with town funds.

Allan McIntosh, 60, of Natick, MA, was taken into custody without incident Friday morning by Brookline Police detectives following an extensive investigation. McIintosh is charged with larceny over $1,200 by false pretense.

On Friday, February 03, 2023, Brookline Department of Public Works personnel were made aware that McIntosh had allegedly used the town’s purchase order to acquire numerous items from an auto parts store in Framingham. DPW staff immediately notified the Brookline Police Department, which began an investigation.

McIntosh had been an employee of the Department of Public Works for approximately nine years and formally departed his role on December 04, 2022. He last worked on October 26, 2022 before being placed on leave for an unrelated policy violation.

The Town is reviewing its overall protocol and processes for the use and approval of purchase orders including a regular review with vendors’ parent companies to identify any unusual activity on town accounts in order to address any suspicious account activity between billing cycles.

“This is a deeply disappointing violation of our community’s trust,” Town Administrator Carey said. “I would like to thank Commissioner Gallentine and the DPW team for their immediate action upon learning of this matter, as well as the Brookline Police Department for its thorough investigation. We are committed to ensuring this does not happen again.”

DPW Commissioner Gallentine added, “Not only is this a total abuse of the Town’s trust by an employee that received gainful employment for over nine years, but it is a grave insult to the honest and hardworking men and women of Public Works that serve this community with integrity every day.”

McIntosh was taken into custody without incident on March 03, 2023 and arraigned in Brookline District Court. He was released on his own recognizance. He will return to court on April 19, 2023 for a pre-trial hearing.

Community Members Invited To Complete Brookline Commission For The Arts’ Engagement Survey

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Town Administrator Chas Carey and the Brookline Commission for the Arts (BCA) invite members of the community to provide their feedback about BCA’s work.

Learn more about the BCA Community Engagement Survey, which gives the community an opportunity to provide input toward identifying grant funding priorities and communication preferences about local cultural events held throughout the year.

Surveys must be completed by Sunday, March 26, 2023.

“This survey is a great opportunity for Brookline residents to voice their preferences about events held within the community,” Town Administrator Carey said. “The survey also allows the community to have input in how events are marketed, so they get more information and can support their arts in their community.”

The BCA is a local cultural council recognized by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), the state agency that promotes the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences.

As authorized by the MCC, the BCA awards grants to individuals, groups, and organizations through an annual statewide application process. In addition, the MCC requires local cultural councils to conduct periodic community surveys to incorporate public views when formulating priorities for grant awards.

Town Of Brookline Releases New Diverse And Inclusive Business Directory

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Town Administrator Chas Carey and Caitlin Starr, Assistant Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations, are pleased to share that the Town of Brookline has released the 2023 Diverse and Inclusive Business Directory.

The complete directory can be found here.

The directory highlights and celebrates Brookline’s diverse, accessible, and inclusive independent business community. Through community canvassing and several online campaigns, Brookline businesses and organizations were invited and encouraged to be included in the new directory.

Ten new businesses were added to the directory this year. The directory features coffee shops, restaurants, shops, art studios, health studios, non-profits and more.

The directory also houses a visual key, allowing users to determine businesses owned by Diverse Business Enterprises as well as those that are fully accessible.

“The Town of Brookline has worked closely with our businesses and community members to ensure that inclusivity remains a priority,” Starr said. “We will continue to update the directory yearly and hope to garner a supportive atmosphere for these businesses.”

Hard copies of the directory are available at Town Hall, the Public Health Building, Brookline Libraries and the Senior Center. An electronic Word document is also available for improved screen reader accessibility.

Any questions about the directory or how to best access it, please reach out to Caitlin Starr, MPH, CDE, Assistant Director in the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations at cstarr@brooklinema.gov or at 617-730-2345.

Best Racing Tracks In Massachusetts

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Do you want to get your adrenaline going? Go no further than the Bay State, which is home to a number of thrilling racetracks.

Massachusetts provides something for everyone, whether you like horse racing, NASCAR-style racing, go-karting, or everything in between. They might not have an event like the TwinSpires Kentucky Derby, but they have plenty to offer to horse racing enthusiasts as well.

So, let’s go through some of the best racing tracks in Massachusetts and find the best place for people that want to experience some thrilling racing.

Horse Racing Tracks in Massachusetts

Suffolk Downs: The Grand Dame of Massachusetts Racing

Located in East Boston, Suffolk Downs is the grand dame of Massachusetts racing. This historic track has been hosting races since 1935 and has seen some of the greatest horses in the sport’s history. 

Although the track is no longer home to live racing, it still hosts simulcast wagering and special events throughout the year. So, head to Suffolk Downs to catch some live horse racing action on the big screen and maybe even place a bet or two!

Plainridge Park Casino: A Racino with Flair

If you are looking for a racino with flair, check out Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville. This casino and harness racing track offers a unique blend of gaming and racing, with over 1,200 slot machines and live harness racing from April through November. 

Plus, their restaurants and bars offer some delicious eats and drinks to keep you fueled up for the races.

Moto-Sport Racing Tracks in Massachusetts

Seekonk Speedway: A Classic New England Racetrack

Seekonk Speedway, located in Seekonk, Massachusetts, is a historic New England racetrack.

The track has a 1/3 mile oval where horses compete in various races such as thoroughbred and harness racing. Seekonk Speedway is a renowned site for horse racing aficionados, hosting events all year.

X1 Boston: Indoor Karting at Its Finest

If you are craving an adrenaline rush that is a bit closer to the ground, then you’ve got to check out X1 Boston in Braintree! This indoor karting facility is the perfect place for a high-speed thrill ride, with two tracks to choose from. 

The first track is built for experienced drivers who want to put the pedal to the metal and test their skills. But if you are a beginner, do not worry – there is a slower track that is perfect for getting your feet wet before you graduate to the big leagues.

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park: A Historic Racing Destination

If you are willing to venture just a bit over the border into Connecticut, then you’ll find one of the most historic racing destinations on the East Coast: Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. Even though this racetrack is not actually in Massachusetts, it is very close to the border so we decided to include it in the list.

This place has it all! The 5/8 mile oval is home to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, which is a true testament to the track’s prestige. 

But wait, there’s more! Thompson Speedway also features a road course and a karting track, which means there’s something for everyone, whether you’re an oval enthusiast or prefer the twists and turns of a road course.

Final Words

It is like the final stretch of a horse race, and we are ready to bring it home. So, let’s recap what we’ve learned, shall we?

Whether you’re a fan of live racing or simulcasting, Massachusetts has got you covered. 

From the grand dame of Suffolk Downs to the classic Seekonk Speedway, there’s no shortage of options for horse racing enthusiasts. But that is not all – we have also got the Great Barrington Fairgrounds, Plainridge Park Casino, and even indoor karting at F1 Boston. 

Who says you cannot have it all?

So, whether you are a seasoned pro or a newbie to the world of horse racing, Massachusetts and its neighboring states have something for everyone. And remember, when it comes to racing, it is not just about the finish line – it is about the thrill of the ride!

Brookline Fire Department Extinguishes House Fire On Beaconsfield Road

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Chief John F. Sullivan reports that the Brookline Fire Department and its mutual aid partners extinguished a three-alarm fire at a residence on Beaconsfield Road on Saturday morning.

Brookline firefighters responded to 911 call on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at about 08:57 a.m. at 52-54 Beaconsfield Road. First-responding companies discovered smoke and heavy fire coming from the roof of a two-story, wood-frame, multi-unit home. The four occupants had evacuated unharmed.

Firefighters launched an aggressive interior attack and vented multiple holes in the roof. A second alarm was declared to bring mutual aid to the scene. A third alarm also was called to bring additional resources to the scene due to the cold weather.

The fire was declared under control by about 10:30 a.m. No injuries were reported.

“The responding crews did an excellent job controlling and knocking the fire down under very cold and windy conditions,” Chief Sullivan said. “Their training and professionalism prevented a far worse outcome.”

The residence sustained heavy fire damage on second and third floors, and water damage on the first floor. A Brookline Building Inspector and the Plumbing and Gas Fitting Inspector are evaluating the structure. The four occupants are making alternate living arrangements with family and friends.

The fire remains under investigation by the Brookline Fire Investigation Unit, but the cause does not appear to be suspicious at this time.

Chief Sullivan and the Brookline Fire Department thank mutual aid partners from the Boston, Cambridge, and Newton Fire Departments for their swift response, and the Brookline Police Department for its assistance at the scene.

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Brookline Green Electricity Sets Rates Through June, Offering Increasingly Renewable Energy Options

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Town Administrator Chas Carey is pleased to share that Brookline Green Electricity’s rates have been set through the end of 2024.

To enroll in one of Brookline Green Energy’s programs, please visit here.

Brookline Green Electricity is now offering electricity to Brookline residents at a rate of 16.361 cents per kilowatt hour, which guarantees users savings on electricity through June 2023 compared to Eversource. Eversource’s rate through June has been set at 25.776 cents per kilowatt hour.

For an average Brookline residential customer using 510 kWh per month, participating in Brookline Green will save over $48 per month compared to Eversource Basic Service. Future savings cannot be guaranteed because Eversource Residential Basic Service rates are not known beyond June 2023.

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The Town’s electricity supply program for residents and small businesses, Brookline Green Electricity (BGE), began a new supply contract in December 2022, which will provide fixed prices for the next two years. The Town is proud to announce that under the new contract, the most popular offering in the Program, Brookline Green, will provide 90 percent renewable energy in 2023 and 100 percent renewable energy in 2024.

“BGE offers our community an alternative source for energy that’s increasingly renewable and available at significant savings over Eversource for the next five months,” Carey said. “I encourage all residents to consider making the switch, which contributes to our collective efforts to support our climate through more sustainable energy.”

Since it launched in 2017, BGE users have enjoyed more than $6.3 million in cumulative savings on their electric bills.

BGE is a program offered by the Town of Brookline to provide new electricity supply options and more renewable energy to Brookline residents and businesses. The Program is an important part of Brookline’s Climate Action Plan. Through BGE, Brookline annually purchases more than 42.2 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of voluntary renewable energy from New England.

BGE’s other products — Brookline All Green, offering 100 percent renewable energy today, and Brookline Basic — offer rates of 18.681 cents per kilowatt hour and 14.781 cents per kilowatt hour, respectively.

For questions about BGE, please contact the town’s support line at 1-800-931-6221.

Image caption: The graph above shows the comparison in rates between Brookline Green Energy and Eversource over several years.

Town Of Brookline Launches Informational Videos To Help Seniors Access Transit Options

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The Brookline Council on Aging has developed a series of videos to help seniors learn how to use technology to access transportation resources.

Brookline’s TRIPPS (Transportation, Resources, Information, Planning and Partnership for Seniors) Program developed the videos to educate seniors about the different virtual tools they can use to get where they are going.

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In partnership with the Brookline Interactive Group, the videos showcase how to utilize rideshare apps Uber and Lyft, the Transit app, and Google Maps to request a ride, check transit schedules from the MBTA and get directions to their destinations. All of the videos are available here.

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The videos and materials provided feature local community volunteers and other transportation advocates. They were developed using grant funding from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

“These videos are a great resource for seniors who want to use their smartphones and the internet to access the transportation resources in our community,” said Carey. “With these videos, Brookline community members can educate themselves and get to where they need to go safely and efficiently.”

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The TRIPPS Program also oversees the COA subsidized transportation programs including free medical transportation and low-cost rides on Lyft and GoGo.

For more information, visit here or contact Maria Foster at 617-730-2644 or mfoster@brooklinema.gov.

Brookline’s Medical Reserve Corps Receives $5,000 Readiness Grant

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The Town of Brookline Department of Public Health and Human Services announces that the Brookline Medical Reserve Corps has received a $5,000 grant to help the group develop its emergency response capabilities.

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Operational Readiness Award (ORA) was presented by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR).

The MRC is a community-based group of volunteers who assist local public health departments to promote healthy living as well as to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergency events. During the CoViD-19 pandemic, the MRC was activated to support the Town of Brookline’s CoViD-19 call center, among other operational needs. The MRC also assisted with contact tracing and distribution of masks and CoViD-19 test kits to Brookline residents.

“Our MRC volunteers are an essential community asset and we are grateful to NACCHO and the USDHHS for providing us with this funding to increase MRC readiness and broaden its level of support for residents should the need arise,” Health Commissioner Sigalle Reiss said.

Brookline MRC will use the grant funding to increase its readiness to respond to traumatic injuries, improve engagement, and increase community preparedness by providing multiple sessions of the Stop the Bleed course and giving a Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) to all participants upon completion of the course.

The Brookline Medical Reserve Corps plans to work with the Brookline Police Department, the Office of Emergency Management, Public Schools of Brookline and faith-based organizations to offer the training.

Town Of Brookline Announces Extreme Cold Advisory And Safety Tips

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Emergency Management Director and Fire Chief John F. Sullivan and the Town of Brookline warn residents of incoming arctic blast.

The forecast for Friday and Saturday, February 03-04, 2023, calls for extreme cold in Brookline, with wind chills below zero by mid-afternoon Friday, and wind chills as low as minus 20 degrees overnight into Saturday morning.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cold weather-induced illnesses such as frostbite can occur even in temperatures above 40°F if a person becomes chilled by rain or sweat, or is submerged in cold water.

The Town of Brookline wishes to share the following tips from the CDC to help keep residents safe in cold weather situations and conditions.

  • When going outdoors, adults and children should wear:
    • A hat scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth;
    • Long sleeves that are snug at the wrist mittens (they are warmer than gloves);
    • Water-resistant coat and boots;
    • Residents are also reminded to layer their clothing strategically: when choosing an inner layer, wear fabrics that will hold more body heat and do not absorb moisture.
    • Wool, silk, or polypropylene will hold more body heat than cotton;
    • Wear a layer of clothing for insulation;
    • An insulation layer will help you retain heat by trapping air close to your body;
    • Natural fibers, like wool, goose down, or fleece work best;
    • Select your outer layer carefully;
    • The outermost layer helps protect you from wind, rain, and snow;
    • It should be tightly woven, and preferably water and wind resistant, to reduce loss of body heat.
  • Try to stay dry while outdoors, as wet clothing chills the body quickly.
  • Excess sweating will cause your body to lose more heat, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm.
  • Avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on your skin while deicing and fueling your car or using a snow blower. Getting these on your skin will cause your body to lose a lot more heat.
  • Do not ignore shivering, as it is an important first sign that your body is losing heat. Constant shivering is a sign that it is time to go inside.

It is unsafe to walk over any iced bodies of water, no matter the depth or outdoor temperature.

Places to Keep Warm

The Community Room in the Public Safety Building, 350 Washington Street, will be available as a warming center, as will all three library locations and the Senior Center.

The Senior Center, located at 93 Winchester Street, is open 08:30 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. on Friday. All three libraries will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, and the Public Safety Building lobby is open 24 hours a day.

The library locations are:

  • Main Library, 361 Washington Street, Brookline, MA 02445;
  • Coolidge Corner Branch, 31 Pleasant Street, Brookline, MA 02445;
  • Putterham Branch, 959 West Roxbury Parkway, Brookline, MA 02445;

Residents in rented apartments or condominiums should be aware that their landlords, trustees and designated property management are required to ensure that properties have the capacity for adequate heat — at least 68 degrees during the day and 64 degrees at night. Residents with malfunctioning or underperforming heating systems are encouraged to first contact the property’s responsible parties for inadequate heat issues.

If the heat issue is not addressed you should alert the Brookline Department of Public Health and Human Services Housing Complaint division at 617-730-2300 during normal business hours, or call the non-emergency public safety dispatch line at 617-730-2222, accessible 24/7.

When the temperature is extremely cold, water pipes in your home or business may freeze. To help prevent frozen pipes, take the following precautions:

  • Check for open windows, air vents, and wind drafts near water pipes;
  • Seal leaks in the basement foundation where cold air may enter; stuff holes with insulation; a tiny opening my cause an exposed pipe to freeze;
  • Allow a slow trickle of water to flow through faucets connected to water pipes that run through unheated spaces;
  • Keep sink cabinet doors open during cold spells to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes Insulate pipes in unheated spaces like garages, basements, and crawl spaces;
  • Locate the water shut off valve and know how to shut off water; if a pipe bursts, shutting off the water promptly can help minimize the damage;
  • If your pipes freeze, use a hair dryer to thaw the lines safely; thawing will not be fast, but it will be safe;
  • Never use an open flame or heat guns to thaw pipes.

If your pipes do freeze after the meter (inside your home/business) and you experience no water conditions, please call a licensed plumber. Check different faucets to see if you can isolate the problem inside the home.

If your pipes freeze at the meter or outside the home please call the Water and Sewer Division Emergency line at 617-730-2175.

Residents should be mindful of the contact information for their utility providers, in the event of an outage:

For additional information from the CDC regarding cold weather safety, please visit here.

Pet owners are also reminded to take precautions during cold weather. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), cold tolerance varies from pet to pet, and owners should be aware of their pet’s tolerance and adjust their activities accordingly. No pet should be left outside for long periods of time during below-freezing weather.

Owners should check their dog’s paws frequently for signs of cold-weather injury, such as cracked paw pads or bleeding. Following a walk, owners should also wipe down their pet’s feet, legs and belly to remove chemicals such as deicers or antifreeze.

It is also recommended that you check underneath your car, bang on the hood and honk the horn before starting your car as a warm vehicle engine can be an appealing heat source for outdoor or feral cats. For more tips regarding cold weather and animals, please visit the AVMA website here.

Brookline Recreation Announces New Ski & Snowshoe Program At Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf

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Brookline.com
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Brookline Recreation Director Leigh Jackson and Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course General Manager Justin Lawson are pleased to announce the addition of a snow sports program at the Robert T. Lynch Golf Course.

The new offerings include a Nordic Ski program and a Snowshoe program, complete with groomed trails. Community members will be able to take ski lessons, attend snowshoe outings and rent equipment through the new program.

“We are thrilled to be offering this fun way for residents to spend time enjoying nature during the colder winter months,” said Director Jackson. “We encourage all interested community members to join us on the trails in the coming weeks as we kick off this new and exciting program.”

Operations are expected to begin after the next snowfall of six inches or more. Due to this being the first season of recreation staff learning how to groom trails for snow sports, community members will not be charged trail fees in the first few days of operation. Users will be required to purchase daily or seasonal trail passes at the Golf Shop once officials determine that the trails are groomed to a satisfactory level. That date will be announced through email campaigns, social media networks and AlertBrookline.

The program will feature snowshoe rentals, as well as rental equipment for cross-country skiing from Rossignol, including skis, boots, and poles, which will be available at the Golf Shop. Users may register in advance to ensure they obtain equipment online here. Otherwise, equipment will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.

2023 Fee Information

  • Daily Trail Pass for Brookline residents: $10 per person;
  • Daily Trail Pass for non-residents: $15 per person;
  • Season Pass for Brookline residents: $50 per person;
  • Season Pass for non-residents: $75 per person.

Nordic Ski Instruction Programs

Brookline Recreation has partnered with expert guides from REI Experiences to offer ski instruction programs, which will allow beginners to learn the basics of cross-country skiing in one day.

REI is currently scheduled to offer ski programs to the public on February 06, 11, 17 and March 04, 2023. These programs will be held in Brookline as weather and trail conditions permit. Community members can register on REI’s website here, but please note that lessons may be held at a venue somewhere other than in Brookline as REI does its best to follow the snow.

Snowshoe Outings

To sign up for the snowshoe outing waitlist, please visit here. As weather and trail conditions dictate, those on the waitlist will be contacted with dates and further registration details.

Sign up for AlertBrookline to be Notified of Snow Sports Updates

Residents can receive updates related to the snow sports program by signing up for AlertBrookline’s snow sport-specific group here. Residents should press the blue “click to sign up” button to create an account. Once they have an account, residents will be prompted to sign up for emergency notifications and then will have the option to opt-in for additional non-emergency notification groups, including the snow sports program.

Residents should note that if they choose the “enroll as a guest” option, the system will only allow them to sign up for emergency notifications, not non-emergency notifications. For questions about AlertBrookline, please e-mail AlertBrookline@brooklinema.gov.

Learn more about the snow sports program on the golf course’s website by visiting here.

Town Of Brookline Earns Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

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Brookline.com
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Town Administrator Chas Carey is pleased to announce that the Town of Brookline has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its Fiscal Year 2023 operating budget.

Presented by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), the award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting and represents a significant achievement by the Town of Brookline. This is the 18th year they have won this esteemed award and they were one of only 35 communities to receive the award for the 2022 fiscal year.

“Continuing to develop and evolve the town’s budget is an intricate process that would not be possible without the dedication of our town employees and elected officials,” Administrator Carey said. “I want to congratulate the entire team that made this recognition possible.”

The Town of Brookline maintains an online budget portal — Budget Central — which provides residents with deep insight into the budgeting process, as well as access to myriad documents, including the budget itself. To see the portal, please visit here.

To receive the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, the Town of Brookline had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. The guidelines are designed to assess how well the Town’s budget serves as:

  • a policy document;
  • a financial plan;
  • an operations guide;
  • a communications device.

Budget documents had to be rated proficient in all four categories and in the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories.

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About the GFOA

The Government Finance Officers Association is a professional association servicing the needs of more than 19,000 appointed and elected local, state and provincial-level government officials. The GFOA provides top quality publications, training programs, services and products designed to enhance the skills and performance of those responsible for government finance and policy and management.

Brookline Health Department To Initiate Study On Impacts Of Marijuana In Town

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Brookline.com
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Health Commissioner Sigalle Reiss announces that the Brookline Department of Public Health & Human Services is conducting an exploratory assessment of the landscape and impact of marijuana in the Town of Brookline.

The research team will investigate the impacts of marijuana use across Brookline. They will explore the risks and protective factors for marijuana use, particularly among youth; Brookline-specific issues; and approaches to address health disparities and racial equity.

Results of the assessment will be used by the Brookline Substance Awareness and Violence Prevention Program and partners for future strategic initiatives to address marijuana use among youth and other community members.

The Health Department has contracted an external agency, Health Resources in Action, Inc. (HRiA), to conduct the assessment. HRiA is a Boston-based non-profit public health organization that provides research, evaluation, strategic planning, and program support services around the country. The Department also has established a Steering Committee comprising town residents and stakeholders to advise the research process.

The Department began this project in response to a referral to the Advisory Council on Public Health (ACPH) to establish a community-based study examining the public health impacts of marijuana.

A final report, which is expected to be released this summer, will provide recommendations for educational and prevention efforts and systems and policy change approaches based on a review of best practices in other communities. The report findings and recommendations will be used by the Health Department and other key stakeholders to improve public health services related to marijuana use.

Brookline Teenager Named A Top 300 Scholar In 2023 Regeneron Science Talent Search

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Brookline.com
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Alex Jin, 18, of Brookline, MA, a senior at Boston University Academy, was named a top 300 scholar in the 2023 Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.

A total of 1,949 students around the country entered the competition this year. In recognition of this achievement, each scholar will receive $2,000.

Alex’s project is titled “A SEIRD+V Model for the Effect of Vaccination and Social Distancing on SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Mortality.”

The top 40 finalists will be announced on January 24, 2023.

An abstract of Jin’s project follows.

“Respiratory viral pandemics have occurred repeatedly over recent decades, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1) in 2002 – 2004, H1N1 influenza in 2009, Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the 2012 and again in 2019, and SARS-CoV-2 since 2019.

While attempts at preparedness have been made, public health infrastructure in multiple countries have been inadequate to meet the challenges of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Modeling epidemics allows for quantifiable, anticipatory planning prior to pandemic occurrence and for policy adaptation during a pandemic itself. I created an epidemiological model (SEIRD), including vaccine efficacy, the vaccination rate of the population, degrees of social distancing, and a thresholding metric to understand the stringency required from these parameters to achieve a pre-specified target for peak infection percentage and total mortality in a population.

For example, if policy makers aim to limit peak infection rate in a community to 5%, what goals should they have for vaccination rate, social distancing, etc.?

This study advances knowledge in its representation of multiple public policy tools in an integrated analytic model and in its flexibility to allow modification of critical parameters to achieve utility for future pandemics.”

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