This week at FPC

It may be getting colder, but there's so much happening at FPC. First, the Turkey Trot! Wow, almost 500 runners. We thought 50 for a first-time run would be a good turnout. Except for one or two persnickety race people everyone had a ball. There were full body turkey costumes, "Team Joel" - a family of about 20 people running to honor a beloved cousin who died this year, all ages from 7 to 77, and the Richard family that was hurt so badly in the marathon bombing last year. It was a gorgeous sunny day! Kudos to your teammates: Debbie, Quang, Laura, Jeannette, and Jasmine. We have a new FPC tradition.

  

Second, the annual FPC holiday open house is tomorrow evening - Fri, Dec. 6th from 4:30-7pm. We'd love to have all of you local team members with us.

Third, just to tell you a little bit more about our work. Tonight I participated in a community meeting for the re-design of Seaver Street, a wide boulevard adjacent to the park in Grove Hall (on the Dorchester-Roxbury line). The "highway" like feel of Seaver Street means that crossing the road into the park is taking your life into your hands.

So, the city has created a great street scape that narrows the traffic lanes (to slow cars down), put in better traffic and street lights, and add bike infrastructure. There have been several meetings and this last one was much the same. Big conflicts between the pro-bicycle folks and the anti-bicycle folks. Luckily the conflict is not divided by race or geography or even age. We were presented with a design that includes cycle-tracks, separate bike lanes that don't run the risk of car accidents, and traditional bike lanes that are next to traffic and increase the possibility of bicycles being "doored" or hit by a fast or crazy driver.

The meeting ended in an uproar, so we don't know what will happen. As the FPC representative I advocated for the safest design for pedestrians and bicyclists (and runners training for the marathon!) to get into and along the edge of the park.

Last, Derly and I met to come up with a template for a fund appeal letter. I handed off stationary, cards, envelopes, buttons and other things she may want to use in her solicitation. I'd love to do the same for any of you who would like help - just ask!

Enjoy the coming holidays and don't shop too much.

Christine