Bethany Union is seeking a responsible, dynamic, self-motivated woman (single or married) to live in and manage its “home away from home,” a residence of 3 adjoining brownstones on Boston’s upscale Newbury Street, providing subsidized housing for young women of diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds who are pursuing their educational and professional goals. Knowledge of a foreign language is desirable.

Benefits:  Salary; free meals, apartment and parking space; medical and retirement benefits.

To apply:  by June 1^st, email a cover letter, with “RD POSITION” in subject line, describing why you are interested in the job and the experience, skills and personal attributes you would bring to it, along with your resume and 3 references to: Carolyn@bethanyunion.org.

Bethany Union is a non-profit organization founded 120 years ago.  For more information visit www.bethanyunion.org.

Bethany Union, located at 256 Newbury St., is looking to lease 1 tandem parking space in the alleyway between Fairfield St. and Gloucester St. at a cost of $250 a month. Please contact Carolyn if you are interested at 617-236-0727 or via e-mail at info@bethanyunion.org. If you know someone who may be interested and is not a part of the BBA, please feel free to pass on the information.

Thank you!

Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey provided an update on local issues at the Back Bay Association’s Back Bay Update.

Transparency will be key for the future of the Department of Transportation, Secretary Richard Davey said during the Back Bay Update breakfast at the Hilton on Thursday.

Davey spoke about the approved MBTA service cuts and fare increases, the study of Massachusetts Turnpike ramps between the Back Bay and South Boston, and development plans for the Turnpike Air Rights parcels 12, 13 and 15 by Mass Ave. and Dartmouth Street.

But overall, he stressed that the state plans to be open about what’s doing well – and what’s not.

“Why would we tell the public what we’re not doing well?” Davey said. “Because they know already.”

The first step is admitting there’s a problem, he said, and the practice of ‘we’ve always done it this way’ will be replaced with creative ideas for better spending and ways to reduce revenue – along with employee incentives for those who come up with good ideas that are chosen.

As for the approved service cuts and fare increases, he spoke to the severity of the MBTA deficit.

“Unless something gives, we will be back here next year having the same conversation,” he said.

But a major problem is that the department hasn’t spent enough in general upgrades and maintenance, keeping, for instance, red line cars from 1969 on the tracks.

“The state,” he said, “has not invested the kind of capital it should have in maintenance.” And that’s something he vowed to change.

There’s been a crackdown on fare invasion as well, especially on the green line. During non rush-hour, for instance, conductors no longer open the middle doors of the train, and expect to see more undercover officers making sure people pay.

In addition, Davey said he’s working with corporations and colleges to establish prepaid passes that could include a Charlie Card chip embedded in student ID’s.

He also spoke to plans for an eastbound ramp from the Mass Pike into Back Bay. A study group reconvened last fall and is plugging away at the issue.

The future of Storrow Drive, on the other hand, is still up in the air.

We’ve been thinking about Storrow in a very piece mail way,” he said, mentioning the Esplanade 2020 Vision. “If we want to get serious about it, we need to build a consensus.”

Development plans for the air rights parcels – the space above the turnpike by the Hynes T stop – also garnered a lot of attention.  With four proposals on the table, Davey said he’s excited, but also wants to make sure they’re good developments for the neighborhood.

The proposals include a mix of office, residential, retail and hotel developments from Trinity, Carpenter, Chiofaro and Weiner/Samuels.

Via BackBay.Patch.com

Boston, MA (PRWEB) April 05, 2012

The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers today announces a four-year partnership that recognizes the property as the official hotel of The Boston Red Sox.

Visit Boston Park Plaza Hotel Website >

The new relationship brings together 3 of Boston’s most cherished icons; the beloved Boston Red Sox, the landmark Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, andFenway Park, America’s oldest baseball stadium and home to the Red Sox since 1912.

“We are thrilled to be the official hotel of The Boston Red Sox, especially as we mark Fenway Park’s centennial in 2012,” said Mark Anderson, General Manager of The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers. “For Boston fans, it’s going be the ultimate Red Sox experience, the perfect double-header – a great season of baseball paired with nights of classic elegance at Boston’s most charismatic hotel.”

To celebrate, The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers will offer baseball fans an exceptional value saving of 20% off the Best Available Rate for overnight stays, and overnight stay packages including tickets for select dates throughout the season.

View Special Offer Details >

“We are pleased to begin a new partnership with a staple Boston landmark like the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers,” said Red Sox EVP/COO Sam Kennedy. “Much like Fenway Park, it’s an institution steeped in the rich history and traditions of this great city, and we look forward to working with them this year and beyond during this milestone year for our ballpark.”

Located in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay, The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers is one of America’s Historic Hotels. This iconic property, originally opened in 1927, conveys class and elegance through its outstanding guest services, showcasing 941 beautifully appointed bedrooms and suites, 65,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space accommodating between 20 and 2,000 guests. The Boston Hotel also features 8 premier restaurants including the famous Statler’s Lounge.

With world renowned Newbury Street, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Theatre Districts, and historic landmarks within easy reach, The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers is the ideal location to experience the best of the city when visiting on business or leisure.

Please visit The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers Website for more details.

Via Yahoo.com

Pret a Manger Plans for Former Back Bay Borders

After opening hundreds of locations worldwide, the international cafe chainPret a Manger has announced plans to come to Boston, and now it knows where it wants to go. The Globe reports that Pret a Manger “is finalizing a lease to open this summer” on Boylston in Back Bay in what was formerly a Borders. That space is now being split in three, with the chain intending to take up residence in a 2,700 square-foot chunk of it. The same space was once considered by Morton’s, and what was another Borders in Downtown Crossing is now slated to become a gigantic Walgreens complete with sushi and a juice bar. Apparently, people like food more than books.

Via Boston.Eater.com

Bay State College recently received the highest federal recognition for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.

Bay State was named to the 2012 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction. This is the second time in the college’s history that they received the award – the first time being in 2009.

“Bay State College is thrilled to be named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for a third consecutive year,” said Craig Pfannenstiehl, President of Bay State College. “Our students dedicate thousands of hours each year to support a number of community-based organizations.”

During the 2010-2011 academic year, nearly half of Bay State College students volunteered in some form of community service. Together, students accumulated 10,560 total service hours and raised more than $36,700 for different causes such as The Boys & Girls Club, The Walk for Hunger, and Rosie’s Place – a Boston sanctuary for poor and homeless women.

Business students served as consultants to budget-strapped nonprofits and businesses, law students volunteered at legal clinics, and dozens of others organized anti-hunger campaigns.

The Honor Roll includes five colleges and universities that are recognized as Presidential Awardees, with an additional 110, including Bay State College, named to the Distinction List and 513 schools named as Honor Roll members.

Via BackBay.Patch.com

It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year again, but we’re gearing up for the annual Charles River Cleanup on April 21st. This event attracts thousands of volunteers each year to help improve the health of the Charles River and its parklands. Although we have reached capacity for general cleanup volunteers, there are still options available to get involved. See below for these volunteer opportunities on the Esplanade. We also will have a volunteer drop-in site at the Hatch Shell on the day of the Cleanup, so if you realize you can help out last minute, come on over!

• Option #1 - Speaking Event/Lunch Volunteers
  Number Needed: 10
  Hours: A) 9:00am – 2:00pm; B) 11:00am – 3:00pm
  Tasks include: Help set-up, run, and breakdown the CRWA Cleanup speaking event and picnic after the Cleanup (the speaking event begins at 12:00).

• Option #2 - Volunteer Leaders
  Number Needed: 9
  Hours: 7:30am – 12:30pm
  Tasks include: Help organize volunteer groups on the day of the Charles River Cleanup.

For detailed descriptions on these options, please visit the website.

Volunteering on the Esplanade: If you are interested in volunteering for one of these tasks, please email Jessica Pederson at jpederson@esplanadeassociation.org with the following information: name, email, phone number and the volunteer option # that you are interested in (see above).

Via BackBay.Patch.com

The new condos slated for 4-6 Newbury Street, where a garage currently stands and where a 10,000-square-foot Chanel store will stand as well, are expected to ask $3.5 million to $6 million each, depending on their sizes and design requests. That would make them among the most expensive listings in Boston when they come online next winter.

News of the project, which its developers, including Irish investor Aidan Brooks, are calling No. 6 Newbury (but that we will henceforth call Chanel No. 6),emerged last week after its approval by the city. The Chanel store will take up the first two floors. Above that will be the six condos: two 2-BR duplexes and four 3-BR and 4-BR units (finally, family-size apartments in Boston, though at a super-premium—sigh). The condos will have floor-to-ceiling windows and buyers can request specific designs, finishes, flooring and cabinetry.

Via Boston.Curbed.com

KEEP IT CLEAN/KEEP IT CLEAR

As the Back Bay Association celebrates the New Year, we challenge our member businesses to sign on to a “New Year’s Resolution.”  Let’s make the Back Bay the cleanest neighborhood in the country.  As we traverse the charming and bucolic streets of Back Bay, while we appreciate the area’s vitality and success, we also see an area for improvement….the Back Bay Association strongly encourages every business with a street front and every property owner to play an important role in Back Bay’s beautification by cleaning the storefront out to the curb.

KEEP IT CLEAN
It is very important to note that City of Boston code REQUIRES businesses to clean the sidewalk to the curb (including the cutter area). The Code states, “business owners or employees should sweep sidewalk and gutters removing any garbage, trash and debris; failure to do so may result in a $25 fine.”  This includes cleaning the tree pits in front of your building.  One way to ensure sweeping gets done is to add this task to the job description of your businesses’ opening crew, to ensure that the sidewalk in front of your business is swept once per day.

KEEP IT CLEAR
The Back Bay Association also supports the swift and efficient removal of snow.  The Back Bay is home to the finest retail stores, restaurants and businesses, but one big snowstorm can grind access to businesses to a halt and impact sales.  The City of Boston suggests that businesses:

• Remove snow, slush and ice from sidewalks and curb ramps abutting your property within three hours of snowfall ending (or 3 hours from sunrise if snow falls overnight).
• Remove snow and slush from the full paved width of the sidewalk and curb ramp or minimum path of 42 includes wide (note from us:   it goes without saying that the paths should line to encourage pedestrian foot traffic in spite of inclement conditions).
• Remove ice to bare pavement or make as level as possible and treat with sand, sawdust or similar material.
• Please clear fire hydrants and catch basins in your area.
• Please don’t shovel snow, under any circumstances in to the street, as violators will be fined

As you traverse the City, the Mayor’s Office strongly encourages business leaders and residents alike to “see it, hear it, report it.”  If you see something that needs to be fixed or reported, please call the Mayor’s hotline at 617-635-4500 or add to report to the City of Boston’s “Citizen’s Connect” program at http://www.cityofboston.gov/doit/apps/citizensconnect.asp.

All businesses located in the Back Bay will benefit from a cleaner neighborhood that is swept, shoveled and ready for business.  Thank you for participating in the daily beautification of the Back Bay.

Best Wishes,

Meg Mainzer-Cohen
President
Back Bay Association

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Boston has partnered with the Ellie Fund in support of its ambitious “Do Good Campaign” to help local families in the fight against breast cancer. This October, book a 60 minute Oriental Essence massage at The Spa and a portion of the proceeds from each treatment will be donated to the Ellie Fund. Facilitating an array of different massage techniques, the Oriental Essence treatment has been designed relax those constantly on the go and relieve those experiencing neck and shoulder tension. Mandarin Oriental’s signature ‘Quintessence’ custom-blended essential oil with warming ginger, uplifting mandarin and sacred frankincense is used to help realign emotions and restore equilibrium. Feel good while doing good this fall at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Boston.

Offer is available Mondays through Thursdays from October 1 through October 31, 2011

At The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Boston located on  776 Boylston Street

The cost is $175 per treatment where $35 of each treatment will be donated to the Ellie Fund

For more information, please visit www.mandarinoriental.com/boston/spa or www.elliefund.org

Or call us for reservations at +1 (617) 535 8820 or email mobos-spa@mohg.com

About the Ellie Fund:

The Ellie Fund is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit founded in 1995 by brothers Jeff and Eliot Popkin to honor their mother’s courageous nine year battle against breast cancer and the giving spirit she exhibited throughout her life. The money raised by the Ellie Fund is used to provide critical support services free of charge to more than 500 breast cancer patients and family members across Massachusetts each year. The “Do Good Campaign” features companies that have pledged a minimum $1,000 donation that will assist the Ellie Fund in providing critical support services free of charge to hundreds of families in Massachusetts, including transportation to medical appointments, childcare, housekeeping, groceries and prepared or delivered meals.





Lets face it – the system of primary care medicine in the United States is broken. Even in Boston, the mecca of medicine, patients struggle hard to find an accessible doctor. And when they finally land an appointment, their well-intentioned internist, pediatrician, or family physician often seems overworked, rushing from patient to patient, with little time to really listen to details. As a primary care family physician for 20 years, I hear my colleagues saying, “I went into medicine to put the whole clinical picture together. I really care and want to know my patient – but the system doesn’t give me the time to do it!”

The basic issue is time.  People really are beautifully complex, more than the sum of their organs.  So patients don’t have isolated problems but present to their family doctor with two or three (maybe as many as six!) problems that are often interconnected problems. They’ve stored up all these issues for their one 15-20 minute doctor’s appointment, which took a month to get. The patient feels rushed, the doctor feels rushed, and telling details are often missed.

When I was an island doctor in Maine for 10 years, I had more time with my patients. I had less technology at my fingertips and discovered something remarkable. Most diagnoses, even rare ones, can be made by asking open-ended questions and having the focus to listen very carefully to the finest details of the patient’s story. The subtle onset and timing of a wheeze, a fever, abdominal cramping –  as symptoms weave and change over time, they leave a trail of diagnostic clues. As most seasoned doctors know, the patient’s story can narrow the diagnosis. Then a precisely chosen test or targeted referral to the best specialist can cinch the diagnosis and point the way toward treatment options.

A dedicated primary care doctor is trained to diagnose and treat up to 90% of patient problems without needing a specialist. But in today’s health care environment, with no time to get a detailed history, the trend is to quickly refer patients on to a specialist, which often starts a cascade of specialty consults focused on one organ at a time. And how does that effect our clinical skills? By referring common health conditions too readily to specialists, both the general doctor and the specialist can diminish their skills — the generalist becomes less expert at caring for common problems, and the specialist, flooded by common issues that could have been addressed by a primary care physician, has less time to devote to the more complicated, rare conditions he/she are specifically trained to diagnose and treat. Ultimately, it costs the patient (and the health care system) more time and money.

From my experience, I believe that urging primary care doctors to spend more time with patients can not only provide better care across the board, but save patients’ time and the health care system money. The primary care doctor is uniquely positioned to put together a patient’s whole health picture by connecting the physical condition with the life stressors that often precipitate disease in the first place. Close follow-up, monitoring for changing symptoms, can make earlier diagnoses possible and help prevent treatment side effects. At your next appointment, help your doctor see your whole health picture and keep him/her informed of ongoing changes. This can (and should) lead to better treatment and prevention of future disease. The system may be broken, but it’s not beyond repair.

Celebrate with The Catered Affair at The Boston Public Library this holiday season

From small dinners to cocktail parties to large gatherings, we would love to entain with you

Visit The Courtyard Restaurant at The Boston Public Library

Receive a FREE Espresso with your luncheon order.

www.thecateredaffair.com/bpl

or “Like” us on FB to view our restaurant and maproom menus and view our events photo gallery

617-859-2282

Come October 22nd from 5-9 pm. Tickets are $45 in advance/$50 at the door and gets you an evening of hairstyling, manicures, make-up, massages, food and drinks. Viselli Santoro Salon will also be holding a silent auction and raffle with exciting prizes. They’ve received donations from The Liberty Hotel, Back Bay Hilton, Zipcar, Boloco, Bostone Pizza, Fluevog, Audrey’s, Kevin Murphy, Smoothie King, Max & Dylan’s, the Brass Heart Inn, Madewell, Moore Massage and more. Raffle tickets are on sale now, and participants do not have to be present to win. 100% of the proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen and Dana-Farber.





Exciting upcoming offers!

Buy One, Get One Free!

Between September 4, 2011 and October 31, 2011 buy any type of massage treatment at the regular price and receive a gift certificate for the same treatment!*

*Offer only good for regular, non-promotion treatments and connot be used with other deals. Please contact Beacon Massage for questions about the promotion.

Student Discount

Welcome to (or back) Boston for another exciting school year! We know the rigors of having to deal with life in school and want to help. For those with student ID’s, we offer the following rates:

- 30 Minute Relaxation Massage for $19.00

- 60 Minute Relaxation Massage for $35.00

- 90 Minute Relaxation Massage for $45.00

Stress from exams can be brutal. Massage can help. book one online today!

Returning Clinet Rewards

Attention Beacon Massage Regulars! We now have a reward program in place for our existing clients that can help save even more on already discounted prices.

In addition to the promotions offered, such as the buy one, get one free, we will also offer reward points for every massage you get, automatically! Simply come in for a treatment, and recieve one point for every minute you are massaged. One hour relaxation massage will yield 60 points. A ninty minute treatment will get you 90 points. 500 points will get you one gift certificate for a 60 Minute Relaxation Treatment. Save up to 750 and get a 90 Minute Relaxation Treatment. 1000 will not only fetch two 60 Minute Relaxation or clinical therapeutic treatments, but will give you a 30% discount on each treatment thereafter for up to one year!*

Whip your body into shape and save along the way!

*Reward points good for one 12 month period. 30% discount for for one 12 month period from date of earning 1000 reward points. Please contact Beacon Massage for details.

Beacon Massage

45 Newbury St  Suite 208

Boston, MA 02116

(617)735-5583

www.beacon-massage.com

The Lansdowne Pub is hosting an Oktoberfest event on Wednesday, September 28^th at 6pm. We are bringing in 6 types of Oktoberfest, in addition there will be other types to sample from these breweries:
• Sam Adams Octoberfest
• Long Trail Harvest Ale
• Paulaner Munchen
• Wolaver’s Pumpkin Ale
• Narragansett Fest Lager
• Otter Creek Oktoberfest

All beers will be available for purchase at the bar after the sample tickets are gone. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased atwww.lansdownepubboston.com .

With The Tent at Boston Fashion Week at Mandarin Oriental, Boston’s
doorstep, celebrate with our exclusive Boston Fashion Week package.
• One night luxurious accommodation
• Two VIP passes to an evening show at The Tent at Boston Fashion Week
• Access to the show’s VIP pre-party and/or after party
• A sweet fashion treat to enjoy upon arrival
• Two tasteful signature cocktails in chic M Bar & Lounge
• A luxurious manicure and pedicure at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Boston
• A wash and blow-out at in-house MIZU Boston hair salon
For reservations, please contact +1 (617) 535 8880.
Terms and conditions apply and is based upon availability.
Valid from September 24 to 30, 2011, with the exception of
September 28, 2011. Rates f or the package start at $695.
Visit www.bostonmagazine.com/thetent
or follow us @theTENTatBFW
to learn more about the week!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston

6:00 p.m. – Oval Room

Don’t miss the debut of Denise Hajjar’s fall collection in a fashion show benefiting Dress for Success Boston. Denise is an award-winning, Boston born and raised designer with an eye for fresh, edgy fashion. Her boutique is located in the lobby of The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in the heart of fashionable Back Bay.

Dress for Success provides women with professional attire, networking opportunities and tools for professional development.

Tickets are available online at http://dfsbfashionshow.eventbrite.com/.

Please visit the site http://cauzoom.com/project/bethany-union to help us raise money to purchase new furniture!

You can help by purchasing gift certificates to Massage Envy, Starbucks and Barnes and Noble or by simply making a donation. We only have until October 1st to reach our goal so please act quickly! Thank you in advance!

As immunizing pharmacists, it is our goal to supply the Flu vaccine to every adult in our community.  In order to meet our goal, we wish to bring our flu vaccine and CVS/Pharmacy Immunizers to your location in order to facilitate flu shots for your valued employees and/or patrons.

Our on-site flu clinics are available in a couple of options.

• ·         Client Pay: Business will agree to pay for their employees flu shot. (Pricing based on number of shots administered)

o   01-25 Shots $29.99

o   26-49 Shots $25.00

o   50-74 Shots $23.00

o   75 and Up    $22.00

(NOTE: Client may opt to cover part of the flu shot cost with employee paying a co pay of the client’s choice.) See contract for details.

• ·         Patient Pay: Business will agree to facilitate a flu clinic and the patrons of the business will pay for their flu shot.

o   Cash Price $29.99

o   Medicare Part B (65 or older) No Charge