10/12/2026
Dear Members and Friends:
This Monday, Oct. 12 is Indigenous Peoples Day (Boston), Columbus Day (state) and the 25th Opening Our Doors celebration with cultural events all throughout the Fenway, there is something for everyone! Check the website for offerings, and make your day plan. Want to open your doors and hearts to welcome our international student neighbors? Find out how you can participate in the “Home Away From Home” program, share you love of Fenway and Boston with a visiting scholar.(see ongoing below). https://offcampus.housing.northeastern.edu/advising-and-support-resources/home-away-from-home/
ELECTIONS: are in-progress.
Voter Registration Deadline: October 24
Vote by Mail Application Deadline: 5 p.m., October 27
Early Voting Period: October 17-30 (by location) https://www.boston.gov/departments/elections/early-voting-boston --1434151 (by date) https://www.boston.gov/departments/elections/early-voting-boston
Closest early voting to Fenway:
Early Voting: Boston Architectural College
951 Boylston Street, Back Bay, MA 02116
Saturday, October 17, 11am-7pm; Sunday, October 18, 11am-7pm
Early Voting: Boston Public Library Central Branch
700 Boylston Street, Back Bay, MA 02116
Saturday, October 24, 11am-7pm; Sunday, October 25, 11am-7pm
Election Day Polling Hours: Nov 3, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Where do I Vote in MA https://www.sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVoteMA/WhereDoIVote
For information on when/where how - check these links:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/recent-updates/upcoming-elections.htm
Upcoming Election Dates & Info https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/recent-updates/upcoming-elections.htm
League of Women Voters 411 site https://www.vote411.org/massachusetts
The Red Book details the Nine Ballot questions, with arguments pro and con for each question. The Voter Checklist page is for you to note your decisions, tear out and bring to the voting booth as a handy guide while voting. https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/research-and-statistics/information-for-voters-2026.htm
The importance of your vote. Over the past three weeks we listed 15 milestones from 1776 to 2014; this week we pick up the story from 2018. https://carnegie.org/article/voting-rights-timeline/
2018: A record turnout despite efforts to restrict voting https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/07/12/voter-turnout-2018-2022/
Officials closed thousands of polling places, mostly impacting communities of color. Despite this, 2018 had the highest turnout (over 50%) in a midterm election since 1914.https://www.nonprofitvote.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/america-goes-polls-2018.pdf
2020: Philanthropy works to support accurate census count https://carnegie.org/article/who-counts-what-counts-2020-census-and-beyond/
Philanthropy played a major role in the 2020 Census by raising and pooling resources to support outreach for historically undercounted communities.
2020: Voters show up in record numbers despite COVID pandemic
https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/04/record-high-turnout-in-2020-general-election.html
States took unprecedented action to make it easier and safer to vote in the November election via mail-in ballots, drop boxes, expanded early voting, and other strategies. Voter turnout hit 66.8%: the highest for any national election since 1900.
https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/04/record-high-turnout-in-2020-general-election.html
2021: January 6 assault on Capitol shows dangers of disinformation
https://www.npr.org/2021/03/01/971436680/from-the-u-s-capitol-to-local-governments-disinformation-disrupts
The January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol was sparked by false claims of fraud in the 2020 election. Subsequent investigations, and more than 60 court cases found no evidence of widespread voter fraud.
2023: Post-census, battles over redistricting continue
https://electionlawblog.org/2023/here-are-the-redistricting-disputes-shaping-the-battle-for-house-control/
Following the 2020 census, community groups, funders, litigators, and other partners joined in efforts to ensure that redistricting maps would fairly represent their populations.
2024: Election conducted smoothly despite polarization
https://www.naacpldf.org/2024-election-report-democracy-defended/
In 2024, 10 states enacted restrictive voting laws, and 40 states considered more than 300 bills aimed at making it harder to vote. 21 states enacted expansive voting laws, including expanding absentee voting, increasing opportunities to register, and re-enfranchising people returning from incarceration. Voter turnout was 63.7%. https://ballotpedia.org/Election_results,_2024:_Analysis_of_voter_turnout_in_the_2024_general_election
What’s at stake in the 2026 national midterm elections?
The composition of congress is decided. Congress is literally on the ballot. All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, plus one-third of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate are up for a vote. The partisan composition of congress can have a major influence on what the President can do during the final 2 years of this term in office.
Exercise your right to vote.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday, October 12, 2026 - Indigenous Peoples Day (official city holiday).
City offices, Boston Public Libraries, and BCYF Community Centers are closed. Parking meters are free with no time limit. Daytime street cleaning is canceled, but overnight street cleaning is on a normal schedule. Trash and recycling pickups are delayed in some neighborhoods during the holiday week. To check your schedule, use the Trash Day app. https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/trash-and-recycling-day-schedule-and-search
Indigenous Peoples Day (official city holiday)
The city of Boston officially observes Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day on the second Monday of October, following an executive order signed by Acting Mayor Kim Janey in October 2021.
The Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag https://massachusetttribe.org/
Indigenous Peoples Day Massachusetts https://www.mcnaa.org/indigenous-peoples-day
Boston Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend Events 2026
https://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/boston-indigenous-peoples-day.html
Columbus Day ( Official MA state holiday). https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/cis/holiday-info.htm
Columbus Day The myth and reality don’t match up - thus many cities, states and municipalities now celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day and encourage the celebration of native peoples and their history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Day
Monday, October 12, day-long, Opening Our Doors - throughout the Fenway Cultural District, www. fenwayculture.org/ood-2026-schedule A yearly event showcasing Fenway’s cultural institutions with special events and performances throughout the day. Find what calls out to you. Check the site to make the best use of your time!
UPCOMING
Saturday, November 21, 8:30am–12pm, Zero Waste Day Drop-Off (Rescheduled) | Boston.gov. https://www.boston.gov/calendar/zero-waste-day-drop-rescheduled 400 Frontage Road, Drop off your hazardous household waste for proper disposal by the city. For a list of accepted items: https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/zero-waste-day -materials FREE
ONGOING
Northeastern University invites you to Participate in Home Away From Home
Do you live near Northeastern University or in greater Boston? You can play a meaningful role in welcoming new international graduate students through the Home Away from Home (HAFH) program. The program connects Boston residents, alumni, and faculty with international students for casual, friendly connections throughout the semester.
You don’t need to host students in your home or make a big, time commitment — just a few meetups over coffee, a neighborhood walk, or a visit to a local event can make a huge difference in helping students feel welcomed and rooted in our city.
Is there a deadline? We encourage participants to sign up by November 1st, 2026 to be invited to our annual kick-off in mid-November. However, students and community members may continue to sign-up throughout the year. Questions? Please email Mallory Pernaa at [email protected] or follow this link for more info and testimonials. https://offcampus.housing.northeastern.edu/advising-and-support-resources/home-away-from-home/
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
165 Park Drive | Bostonplans.org Project Site, adjacent to the existing Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral. https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/165-park-drive The Notice of Project Change proposes to reduce the overall size of the Project to a single 6-story residential building containing 112 rental apartments, 20% of which will qualify as Inclusionary Housing Units in accordance with current City of Boston regulations. The Project included landscape features designed to solidify and reestablish the prominence of the existing cathedral in the neighborhood for future generations. Note, the 2 separate building proposal with one building of affordable condos has been dropped, due to funding constraints. Comments on this project are open until October 13, and can be submitted on the City’s web page: scroll to the bottom of this page to see the comments input area: https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/165-park-drive
MBTA & TRANSPORTATION
Alerts | MBTA disruptions - check the site for details, https://www.mbta.com/alerts/subway
Symphony Station is closed until summer 2029. https://www.mbta.com/projects/symphony-station-accessibility-improvements
Commuter Rail Promotions fare discounts extended through November) https://www.mbta.com/fares/commuter-rail-summer-promotions
Bowker Overpass - visit the site for current notices. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/bowker-overpass-traffic-and-construction-updates
Roadwork at Mass Ave near Symphony Station through November
Peterborough Street Street Excavation for sewer, water main and utility line replacement causes daytime road closures. As of Oct 3, project is 40% complete. https://www.bwsc.org/projects/fenway-kenmore/21265
HEALTH & SAFETY
EVENTS — Charles River Watershed Association events include: arts, exercise, advocacy, education, and more. Lend your voice to the current advocacy event by Oct 30 to ‘cut the crap!’ getting into our watershed!! https://www.crwa.org/events
FENWAY CARES Every other Wednesday, 3:30 pm ‘til done - Next date Oct 21. https://fenwaycommunitycenter.org/food-distributions/
Upcoming Food Distribution Dates (3:30 pm, while supplies last)
WEST FENWAY Fenway Community Center: & EAST FENWAY* Symphony Park
* Presence of Mass General Brigham Community Care Van 1-5pm Morville Househttps://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/content/dam/unified-xwalk/documents/en/community-care-van-schedule.pdf
See you around!
Fenway Civic Association
Promoting a vital and sustainable neighborhood
