Maine news

• ZBA votes to uphold permit issued for Jordan Mansion proposed redevelopment 

  06-03-2026 15:55 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Zoning Board of Appeal voted unanimously during its Feb. 24 virtual hearing to uphold a permit previously issued by the city related to the proposed redevelopment of the Eben Jordan Mansion.The determination came in response to a citizens’ appeal filed by two abutters from Spruce Court that maintained the Inspectional Services Department had erred in judgment when it issued a permit to change the occupancy of 46-47 Beacon St. from the approved 11 luxury condominiums to eight units and
  
  Read more

• Chef Girshman ushers in new chapter for nine

  06-03-2026 15:55 via beaconhilltimes.com
  nine – the restaurant which opened last summer at 9 Park St., in the space previously occupied by No. 9 Park, just across from the Boston Common, embarked on a new chapter Tuesday, March 3, when  Chicago native Kevin Girshman came on board as its new Chef de Cuisine.“We’re doing a total menu rework,” Chef Girshman said by phone last week from Chicago, just ahead of his move to Boston. “We’re going to implement a new tasting menu. We don’t want to pi
  
  Read more

• Our brave soldiers once again are defending freedom

  06-03-2026 15:53 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Regardless of whether one agrees with the undertaking of an undeclared war with Iran that ignited over the weekend, these hostilities once again have placed the lives of American soldiers at immediate risk on the front line.However, as our men and women in uniform have done throughout our history, they are answering the call to perform their duty with the utmost skill and bravery.The news that three of our soldiers died and five more were seriously injured in an Iranian missile attack on a U.S.
  
  Read more

• Wu announces Boston Public Schools All-Star Marching Band 

  06-03-2026 15:52 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesMayor Michelle Wu and Boston Public Schools (BPS) announced the launch of the inaugural Boston Public Schools All-Star Marching Band. This new band consists of 75 students representing 10 BPS schools. The marching band will represent the City at various major events, highlighting the talent of Boston’s young people. The inaugural band was formed by the Mayor’s Office of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment (TSE) in partnership with Boston Legacy Football Club (&ldquo
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Some residents raise concerns about anti-drone effort

  06-03-2026 15:52 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Dylan ShobeWith millions expected to descend onto the World Cup this spring, some Boston residents voiced concerns about the implementation of anti-drone technology that might be deployed to monitor the games.They said they are suspicious about what would happen to the technology when the matches are over and who will have access to it, given preexisting surveillance devices in Boston. They also recall this month’s spectacle in El Paso, Texas, when US Customs and Border Protection
  
  Read more

• Save the Harbor’s Annual JetBlue Shamrock Splash set for March 8 

  06-03-2026 15:52 via beaconhilltimes.com
  On Sunday, March 8, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and JetBlue will be hosting the 16th Annual Shamrock Splash on Constitution Beach, 199 Coleridge St, East Boston from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.  Participants or “splashers” will go into the freezing water as well as enjoy Boston’s best winter beach party with drinks and food from Sam Adams, Downeast Cider, Dogfish Head, Vitamin Water, Topo Chico, and The Daily Catch. Splashers are also encouraged to participate in an aquatic-th
  
  Read more

• Boston Lyric Opera announces landmark 50th anniversary season

  06-03-2026 15:52 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Boston Lyric Opera (BLO), New England’s largest and most enduring opera company, celebrates its 50th anniversary with an expansive 18-month observance that spans calendar year 2026 (its 50th year) and the 2026/27 programming season (its 50th Season). Collectively, the anniversary includes the company’s most extensive year-round onstage and community programming in its history, a deepened commitment to community engagement throughout the city, and a reimagined creative space in one of
  
  Read more

• The Blizzard of ’26

  26-02-2026 12:19 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Photo Courtesy of Rob of Whitney
  Shown (above)contractor working on Garden Street between Phillips and Cambridge streets removed all of the accumulated snow and hauled it away in just a few hours on Wednesday, Feb. 18 – just a few days ahead of the Blizzard of ’26.
  The snow and the wind added a hat to the garden statue.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Remembering Rose Brigade founder China Altman

  26-02-2026 12:16 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Dan MurphyCourtesy of Friends of The Public Garden
  China Altman, founder of the Rose Brigade (at right), with Henry Lee,
  late president emeritus of the Friends of the Public Garden, inside the
  Public Garden.
  China Altman, a longtime Back Village resident who died Feb. 2 at age 93 in hospice care at Massachusetts General Hos­pital, could never have imagined the Rose Brigade she established nearly four decades ago to tend to the rose beds in the Public Garden would grow into what is reporte
  
  Read more

• Vikings End Regular Season on Winning Note; Begin Tourney

  26-02-2026 12:12 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Winthrop High boys hockey team was scheduled to meet Rockport in the opening round of the MIAA Division 4 state tournament last night (Wednesday) at Larsen Rink as the Sun-Transcript was going to press.The Vikings entered the tourney as the #5 seed in D-4 with a 12-6-2 record. Rockport is the 28th seed with a record of 11-8-1.Coach Dale Dunbar’s squad ended its regular season on a winning note with a 5-4 victory over a strong non-league opponent, Essex Tech, which is the ninth seed in
  
  Read more

• BHAC Makes Design Progress on Project Proposed for Charles and Cambridge Streets

  26-02-2026 12:10 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Dan MurphyThe Beacon Hill Architectural Commission unanimously denied without prejudice an ambitious redevelopment project planned for the site at the intersection of Charles and Cambridge streets, which is now home to CVS Pharmacy, during the commission’s monthly public hearing held virtually on Thursday, Feb. 19.The revised project proposes razing the existing-single story structure to make way for a five-story, mixed-use building, with a “stepped-back” sixth-floor penthou
  
  Read more

• The Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy Announces its 2026 Winter Programming Lineup

  26-02-2026 12:09 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy announced its 2026 winter programmatic lineup, featuring interactive light displays, seasonal attractions, and new family-friendly experiences designed to bring energy, wonder, and community to Downtown Boston throughout the cold-weather months.Continuing the Conservancy’s commitment to vibrant placemaking year-round, this winter’s programming transforms The Greenway into a playful, illuminated landscape where residents and vi
  
  Read more

• Downtown Boston Records Region’s Fastest Office-market Recovery Rate

  26-02-2026 12:09 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Times staffDowntown Boston is currently experiencing the fastest post-pandemic office market recovery of all primary office districts in the region, according to a new report released last week by the Downtown Boston Alliance (DBA).The DBA service area, which comprises Downtown Crossing and much of the Financial District, recorded its sixth consecutive quarter of declining vacancy, according to the Newmark Q4 2025 Office Report. Since reaching its pandemic-era peak, the district’s vacan
  
  Read more

• Chef Girshman joins Nine

  26-02-2026 12:09 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe nine restaurant is thrilled to welcome Kevin Girshman as the new Chef de Cuisine.  Girshman will be joining the staff on March 3, from Chicago’s renowned culinary scene. Girshman credits Marcos Campos as a pivotal mentor, having worked alongside him during openings and transformations at celebrated concepts such as Mama Delia—which rebranded from Black Bull—and the one-Michelin-starred Porto. His résumé also includes time at Michelin-s
  
  Read more

• Winning Proposals of the Participatory Budgeting Initiative Announced

  26-02-2026 12:08 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesMayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Participatory Budgeting (OPB) announced the winning projects of the second cycle of the Participatory Budgeting Initiative, “Ideas in Action.” The eight winning proposals reflect priorities identified and selected by Boston residents and will direct $2.2 million in community-driven investments across the City.The winning proposals include: Immigrant Legal Defense Fund, Neighborhood Fresh Food Access Initiative, Bridging the Gap:
  
  Read more

• Licensing Board Approves Five Liquor License Upgrades for Beer and Wine Applicants

  26-02-2026 12:08 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe Boston Licensing Board recently approved five applications from beer and wine licensees upgrading to non-transferable all alcoholic beverages licenses. The approved applicants include Life Time and Trident Booksellers in the Back Bay, Mi Pueblito Orient Heights in East Boston, and Little Sage and Pappare Ristorante in the North End. The Licensing Board will send the five applications to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission for investigation and final approval.&ldquo
  
  Read more

• For 60 Years, Hill House Remains a Hub of Beacon Hill

  19-02-2026 16:58 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Ryan OwensSeveral families engage their children in athletic programs, such as
  indoor tennis, during the winter.
  Photos By Ryan Owens
  Children at Hill House are encouraged to engage their artistic abilities,
  working on sketching, painting, and crafting.
  Little footsteps patter across the hardwood floor, while instructors and volunteers attempt to get everyone in line. Toddlers yell with excitement, interrupted by the occasional anxious cry-turned-laughter.This is the regular symphony at Hill
  
  Read more

• Flynn Files Legislation to Improve Pedestrian Safety

  19-02-2026 16:58 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Dan MurphyDistrict 2 City Councilor Ed Flynn filed four pieces of legislation last week that intend to improve pedestrian safety in Boston.Councilor Flynn’s filings included an amended ordinance to effectively ban mopeds and e-bikes from third-party food delivery services, as well as a new ordinance regulating all e-bikes in the city. He also re-filed a hearing order to advocate for traffic-calming infrastructure on main streets and in areas of high foot traffic. Additionally, he joined
  
  Read more

• Wu and OYEA Announce 2026 Mayor’s Youth Summit

  19-02-2026 16:55 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesMayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston’s Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement (OYEA) have announced free tickets are now available for the 2026 Mayor’s Youth Summit (MYS), an annual citywide celebration of the contributions of young people to Boston’s culture. The 2026 Summit will be held on Saturday, February 21 from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Artists For Humanity EpiCenter, a vibrant arts center for youth, located in South Boston. This event is
  
  Read more

• Massachusetts RMV Announces Special MA250 Low Number Plate Lottery

  19-02-2026 16:55 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is celebrating President’s Day by announcing a special low number lottery featuring the state’s new 250th Anniversary Plate. Residents can apply starting today, February 16, at 9:00 a.m. and have until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026. Further information is available at Mass.Gov/MA250Plate.The “Massachusetts 250 Years of Independence” plate is emblematic red, white, and blue
  
  Read more

• DCR Kicks off Recruitment Efforts for Lifeguards and Seasonal Staff for Summer 2026

  19-02-2026 16:55 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) kicked off recruitment for lifeguards, pool and waterfront staff, and water safety instructors for the upcoming summer 2026 season. Positions are available at DCR’s 32 guarded beaches, 24 swimming pools, and two wading pools across the state and offer competitive hourly wages ranging from $22 to $27, as well as bonuses of up to $1,000 for qualified applicants who sign on early and work the entire season.&
  
  Read more

• The Friends of the Charlestown Branch Library Present Two Free Events, Celebrating Irish History

  19-02-2026 16:54 via beaconhilltimes.com
   Special to the TimesIn anticipation of Saint Patrick’s Day, the Friends of the Charlestown Branch Library will present two free events, celebrating Irish history, literature, and music.The series begins on Thursday, March 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the Charlestown Branch Library, 179 Main Street, with an illustrated lecture titled “Who Was St. Patrick, and Should Brigid of Kildare Regain Her Saintly Status?” by Professor Richard Kearney, a widely respected philosopher, author, an
  
  Read more

• Boston, Wentworth Institute of Technology Announce New Five-year Pilot Agreement

  19-02-2026 15:37 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe City of Boston and Wentworth Institute of Technology recently announced major agreements on Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT) and an amendment to their Institutional Master Plan (IMP). The new PILOT agreement includes a commitment of more than $5.6 million in cash and community benefits over the next five years. The agreement is the first written PILOT agreement between the City and Wentworth in more than 20 years, creating a predictable and reliable schedule of valuable p
  
  Read more

• Social media must be off-limits for children

  19-02-2026 15:36 via beaconhilltimes.com
  After about 20 years of social media platforms operating without any legal or moral constraints, the evidence is overwhelmingly clear that social media is toxic for our children.Much like the tobacco companies 75 years ago (Big Tobacco was fully aware of the health dangers of their products, but concealed their findings for decades), today’s tech conglomerates have hidden the truth of the addictive nature of their algorithms upon our children.The recent release of internal emails and studi
  
  Read more

• Ramadan begins this week

  19-02-2026 15:36 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Ramadan, which will begin this week following the sighting of the crescent moon, is the holiest month of the year for members of the Muslim faith. For 2026, Ramadan is projected to start as early as Tuesday, February 17, and extend through Thursday, March 19, or Friday, March 20, upon the sighting of the next crescent moon.Muslims believe this is the month in which the Quran’s first verses were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Ramadan is observed worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), da
  
  Read more

• Rugg Road Paper Co. settles into new home at 130 Charles St.

  13-02-2026 15:43 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Since relocating just across the street in November, Rugg Road Paper Co. is now firmly ensconced in its new home at 130 Charles St.The neighborhood stationery shop left its former home at 105 Charles St. at the end of last July before settling into the street-level space, which was previously home to Marika’s Antique Shop.Geraldine O’Hagan, managing owner of Rugg Road Paper Co., is seen outside the business’s new home at 130 Charles St.“It’s been amazing,” sai
  
  Read more

• Registration open for Charles River Earth Day Cleanup 

  13-02-2026 15:42 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The 27th  annual Charles River Earth Day Cleanup will take place on Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, and volunteer registration is now open at CharlesRiverCleanup.org. This much-loved event brings together over 3,500 community volunteers each year to rejuvenate the parks, forests, playgrounds, paths, and shoreline that surround the Charles River and its tributaries, ensuring the areas remain clean, safe, and beautiful for everyone to enjoy.“The Charles River Earth Day Cl
  
  Read more

• Ten park projects awarded $47,000 in grants by Friends of the Public Garden

  13-02-2026 15:41 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Friends of the Public Garden is awarding a total of $47,000 to 10 park projects via its 2026 Henry Lee Fund for Boston Parks Awardees.This year’s recipients include Saint Marks Area Civic Association, which is receiving $5,000 to upgrade an existing pollinator garden at Adams-King Playground in Dorchester by adding improved fencing, educational signage, and more native plants; Roslindale Village Main Street, which is receiving $5,000 to introduce picnic tables, including ADA-accessible
  
  Read more

• Boston Athenaeum announces exhibition exploring America’s 250 Years of history and memory

  13-02-2026 15:41 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Boston Athenaeum, located at 10½ Beacon St.,  will mark the nation’s 250th anniversary with a sweeping, year-long exhibition, Imagined Nation, on view now through Nov. 14. Drawing from the institution’s renowned collections, the exhibition invites visitors to explore how Americans have envisioned and challenged the meaning of the nation itself from its very beginnings.Presented through a dynamic series of installations unfolding across 2026, Imagined Nation traces ide
  
  Read more

• Wu and Age Strong Commission to host cost-saving clinics across Boston neighborhoods to help older residents make ends meet

  13-02-2026 15:40 via beaconhilltimes.com
   Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston’s Age Strong Commission today launched a series of in-person cost-savings clinics for Boston’s older adult residents ages 55 and up. Age Strong advocates and partners will meet with and screen older residents for eligibility on potential cost-savings opportunities including SNAP, fuel assistance, Medicare Savings Program, Water/Sewer Discount, Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit, property tax savings and deferrals, and more. “As the cost of
  
  Read more

• Launch of ‘Reclaiming History’ permanent exhibit at Josiah Quincy Upper School set for Feb. 25

  13-02-2026 15:40 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Reclaiming History Collective will launch a permanent oral history exhibition, ‘Reclaiming History – A Journey Through Three Neighborhoods,’ at Josiah Quincy Upper School on Wednesday, Feb. 25, with the program beginning at 6 p.m. The exhibition examines the legacy of urban renewal in three Boston neighborhoods—Chinatown, the New York Streets, and Little Syria (Syriantown)—while celebrating the stories and resilience of the communities who once lived there.
  
  Read more

• Boston Parks Department hosts February School Vacation Week activities

  13-02-2026 15:39 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Children, parents, and caregivers are invited to join the Boston Parks and Recreation Department for February school vacation week. From sports clinics, to our annual Children’s Festival, and nature exploration with the Park Rangers, these activities are FREE and open to all. To learn more and register, visit boston.gov/parks. Softball Hitting and Fielding ClinicsTuesday, February 17 and Wednesday, February 18, 20262:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The Bubble at Carter Field, 709
  
  Read more

• BHCA’s Fundraiser Set for March 5 at The Liberty Hotel

  05-02-2026 16:39 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Photo Courtesy of the Liberty Hotel
  A look inside The Liberty Hotel, which will be the venue for the Beacon Hill Civic Association’s annual fundraiser, ‘Bricks & Bubbles: A Celebration of Preservation’ on Thursday, March 5.
  
  Read more

• Wu Announces Ailin Sha as Boston’s Next Youth Poet Laureate

  05-02-2026 16:37 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesCourtesy Photo
  Ailin Sha.
  Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture announced that after a competitive search process, 18-year-old poet and writer Ailin Sha has been selected as Boston’s next Youth Poet Laureate. Sha officially started the role on February 1 and will serve until January 2028. Sha is an accomplished young writer whose poetry explores identity, voice, and belonging. “I’m honored to announce Ailin Sha as Boston&rsq
  
  Read more

• Eversource Manhole Fire in West End Causes Power and Traffic Disruptions

  05-02-2026 16:36 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Times staffAn Eversource manhole on Cambridge Street in the West End caught fire on Friday morning, Jan. 30, temporarily interrupting power for several hundred customers and causing traffic disruptions in the immediate area, according to published reports.Around 10:15 a.m., firefighters first responded to a report of a blaze in a manhole at Cambridge and Staniford streets, near the Bowdoin MBTA station, and remained on the scene for an extended time.On the early morning of Jan. 31, Eversource
  
  Read more

• Gibson House Museum to Offer all-ages ‘Victorian Valentines’ Event Feb. 7

  05-02-2026 16:35 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Times StaffJust ahead of Valentine’s Day, the Gibson House Museum, located at 137 Beacon St. in the Back Bay, will be celebrating the occasion with a special all-ages event, ‘Victorian Valentines’ on Saturday, Feb. 7,  from 1-4 p.m.“Centered around the lacy and elaborate Valentine’s Day cards of the Victorian era, with supplies provided so that visitors may craft their own,” the event will also highlight some of the Gibson House’s own love storie
  
  Read more

• Healey takes Action to Keep ICE Out of Schools, Hospitals, Courthouses, and Places of Worship

  05-02-2026 16:34 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the Times Governor Maura Healey took action to protect the people of Massachusetts from abuses by President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She filed legislation to keep ICE out of courthouses, schools, child care programs, hospitals and churches; make it unlawful for another state to deploy its National Guard in Massachusetts without the Governor’s permission; and allow parents to pre-arrange guardianship for their children in case they are detai
  
  Read more

• AFT Massachusetts Stands with State House Efforts to Protect Residents from ICE

  05-02-2026 16:34 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts recently joined Governor Maura Healey as she unveiled an Executive Order to protect Massachusetts residents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who continue to operate with unchecked authority fulfilling the immigration agenda of the White House.“Masked ICE agents have been raiding communities across the Commonwealth for months, ignoring the Constitution and our basic human rights. Immigrant families
  
  Read more

• Turning Bad Weather into Fun

  28-01-2026 20:29 via beaconhilltimes.com
  A major snowstorm arrived in Boston Sunday, blanketing the neighborhood over the course of two days with more than 20 inches of snowSledders enjoying the snow on the Boston Common.
  Kenjiro Kanagy and Lucas Belfanz tube down a hill on the Boston Common.
  
  Read more

• Author Sets Second Novel in her Adopted Beacon Hill Neighborhood

  28-01-2026 20:24 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Dan MurphyCourtesy of Karen Winn
  Karen Winn holding a copy of her
  just-published second novel, ‘The
  Society.’
  While Karen Winn set her first novel in a fictionalized depiction of her New Jersey hometown, ‘The Society,’ her second full-length work of fiction published by Dutton and out now, instead takes place in her adopted neighborhood of Beacon Hill.Winn grew up in Mendham, a small town in Morris County, N.J., about 45 minutes outside of Manhattan. She received an MF
  
  Read more

• Wu Urges Caution as Bitter Cold Weather Remains

  28-01-2026 20:23 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesMayor Michelle Wu has announced a cold weather advisory and shared winter safety tips through Saturday, January 31, due to the extreme cold weather forecasted for this time period. Boston is forecasted to experience wind chills reaching as low as -5 degrees tonight into Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Due to the anticipated frigid cold weather that is following the snowfall, it’s important for residents and property owners to clear snow before it fr
  
  Read more

• Massport Releases Draft 2025 Strategic Plan; Public Input will Help Shape the Authority’s Vision for the Next Decade

  28-01-2026 20:22 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) has announced the release of its draft Strategic Plan and is seeking public comment to help shape Massport’s path forward. The Plan builds on Massport’s strengths and a decade of progress, assesses current conditions and trends, and identifies future challenges and opportunities. It balances operational excellence with inclusive forward-looking growth, reaffirming the Authority’s commitment to safe, efficient, sust
  
  Read more

• Residents Now able to Apply for Home Heating and Energy Assistance

  28-01-2026 20:20 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe Massachusetts’ home energy assistance program (HEAP) is a free resource to help eligible households pay a portion of winter heating bills.Homeowners and renters, including households whose cost of heat is included in the rent, can apply in person at the agency in their area or through the online application.Eligibility is based on household size and the gross annual income of every household member, 18 years of age or older.Household income cannot exceed 60% of esti
  
  Read more

• City of Boston Conducts 46th Annual Homelessness Census 

  28-01-2026 20:20 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesMayor Michelle Wu, Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon and Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Bisola Ojikutu led more than 300 volunteers, including state and city officials, homelessness service providers, public health representatives, and first responders, in conducting the City of Boston’s 46th annual homelessness census. This comprehensive annual effort is part of Boston’s yearly work to assess and address homelessness by counting individuals and families experienc
  
  Read more

• National Grid Offers Safety Reminders for Clearing Snow at your Home or Business

  28-01-2026 20:19 via beaconhilltimes.com
   Special to the TimesNational Grid reminds its customers to exercise caution near the energy equipment outside of their homes as they clear snow left behind from Winter Storm Fern. Over a foot of snow has fallen across our Massachusetts service area with additional snow forecast throughout the afternoon. National Grid’s top priority is safety, including the safety and well-being of our crews and customers, and we offer the following reminders to assist with removing snow from your pro
  
  Read more

• Boston Food Access Council Awarded Community Power Grant from Project Bread to Advance Food Justice and Systems Change

  28-01-2026 20:19 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesBoston Food Access Council, of Boston, has been named a recipient of Project Bread’s inaugural Community Power Grants program. The funding will help to drive grassroots advocacy and systems change to address the root causes of food insecurity, building capacity for smaller organizations where it would not be otherwise possible. Boston Food Access Council was selected from over 40 proposals for its proven impact, advocacy wins, and strong potential to build power across
  
  Read more

• Office-to-residential Project Proposes Creation of 44 New Apartments in the Back Bay

  28-01-2026 20:18 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Dan MurphyAn office-to-residential conversion project proposed for an existing, eight-story building at 419 Boylston St., located a short distance from the Public Garden between Arlington and Berkeley streets, if approved, could result in the creation of 44 new rental units in the Back Bay.The historic building, also known as the ‘Warren Chambers Building,’ has been “in the same family for a number of years” and used for commercial purposes during that time, said Jeff
  
  Read more

• Owner Makes Difficult Decision to Close Charles Street Liquors

  22-01-2026 15:41 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Dan MurphyD. Murphy Photo
  The now-closed Charles Street Liquors at 143 Charles St.
  The decision to close Charles Street Liquors, the longstanding business at 143 Charles St., didn’t come easily for its owner.“For the past year, my wife and I have wrestled with this difficult decision,” Chris Pedersen told this reporter in an email. “After more than 20 years of following my passion for bringing fine wine and spirits to Beacon Hill, I have decided to close the store.&rdq
  
  Read more

• Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast

  22-01-2026 15:40 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesWith great reverence and pride in our city, Mayor Michelle Wu joined in Boston’s 56th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast.Derek Kouyoumjian Photos
  The Boston Arts Academy Spiritual Ensemble performed Bright Mansions Above.
  Mayor Wu offered these thoughts: Dr. King knew that when fundamental rights come under attack—when hard-won progress must be defended again and again—it becomes difficult to imagine a better future.But he insisted that we are
  
  Read more

• Edwards Advances Legislation to Ensure fairness, due Process, and Access to the Courts for All 

  22-01-2026 15:39 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesSenator Lydia Edwards has filed legislation reaffirming a fundamental promise of our democracy: that everyone has fair and safe access to the courts. At a time when increased immigration enforcement activity has created fear around courthouses, the legislation ensures that all residents can participate in legal proceedings, assert their rights, and seek justice without intimidation or obstruction.This legislation is one of two major initiatives introduced by Senator Edwards t
  
  Read more

Follow @NewslockerMaine on Twitter!