Reaching the 10 year mark is an important milestone in the life of a non-profit organization and a time to celebrate! Mostly I think it is about 10 years of Hyde Park helping Hyde Park to be the best we can be, to improve our neighborhood business district and continually reach for a better future. Main Streets works because it brings residents, businesses, elected officials and the city all together to benefit our "Small Town In The City." Our local Program was one of 5 original district neighborhood programs when Boston Main Streets was created as the first in the country urban citywide Main Street Program by Mayor Menino in 1995. Boston Main Streets will be celebrating the citywide anniversary all this year as well. Here in Hyde Park we hope you will help us plan ways to celebrate our 10 years of service to the community.

Now that Winter is here it is harder to see the ongoing work of HPMS's Storefront Improvement Program, but despite the cold temperatures we have many projects in the pipeline. We recently presented Mohinder Gandhi of J & M $ Discount Store with a matching grant for the installation of electronic surveillance to replace the solid metal pull down grate that was removed from his store windows. This is phase one of an overall project working with both the business owner and the property owner. The next phase will involve new signage for the business as well as a complete renovation of the existing storefront. Removing the pull down grates in the district remains an important goal of Hyde Park Main Streets. Grates are not the best security system according to statistics from the FBI and they also detract from the physical appearance and safety image of a business district. Security remains a legitimate concern of every business and that is why the Storefront Improvement Program supports the installation of electronic surveillance systems that deter crime and if necessary document any problems for the police. If you are interested in removing metal grates and installing alternate security systems please contact us to apply for matching grant funding. Plus your storefront window is your best 24 hour advertising, don't lose it behind grates!

The January 9th edition of the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine had a wonderful feature article, "Cleary Square in Hyde Park: Find small-town charm in Mayor Menino's neighborhood." Of course, our motto for Hyde Park is after all a "Small Town In The City." The article itself also really resonated with this theme by reflecting the advantages of a small town atmosphere in an urban neighborhood. We would like to congratulate the Hyde Park Main Street Business Members that were profiled; Artists-at-Large, Inc. gallery (budding arts), Dottie's Delicatessen (side of nostalgia), Melinda's Taqueria (sunny delights), Riverside Theatre Works (showtime), and Essence of Thyme Café and Gift Shop (The Good Helper) and also Central Paint True Value Hardware (old school hardware).

ER Committee - Mon, 6:00 PM, Feb 7th

Design Committee - Thur, 6:00 PM, Feb 10th

Promotions Committee - Mon, 6:30 PM, Feb 14th,

Board of Director's Meeting - Tues, 6:00 PM, Feb 15th,

Networking Breakfast - Thur, 7:45- 9:00AM, Feb 17th

Missed a meeting? contact us for monthly minutes compiled by volunteer committee members and available by e-mail.