Maine news

• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• Area A-1 Sees 4-percent drop in Part One Crime in ’25 from Previous Year

  22-01-2026 15:39 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Dan MurphyAs 2025 was drawing to a close, Part One crime in Area A-1 was down 4 percent from the previous year.According to Boston Police, 2,174 incidents of Part One crime were reported in the district, which includes Beacon Hill, Chinatown, Downtown, and the North End, between Jan. 1 and Dec. 28, 2025, compared with 2,258 incidents during the same timeframe the previous year. 2025 marked a slight increase from the district’s five-year average of 2,121 Part One crime incidents, however
  
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• RMV Unveils Redesigned Disability Placard to Improve Efficiency  

  22-01-2026 15:38 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) announced the introduction of a newly redesigned Disability Placard, created to improve security, curb fraud, and expedite delivery. Current placards will remain valid until their expiration date.  The updated placard features several key improvements: · A modern design incorporating the widely accepted universal accessibility logo · Durable material embedded with security
  
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• Boston Public Market welcomes Marzae Cellar + Provisions, Opening Spring 2026

  22-01-2026 15:38 via beaconhilltimes.com
   Special to the TimesBoston Public Market is proud to announce a new partnership with Marzae, the first and only natural winery in Massachusetts, which will open Marzae Cellar + Provisions in the Market’s largest retail space in Spring 2026. The addition represents a significant expansion of the Market’s offerings and reflects its continued commitment to supporting New England producers through innovative, mission-aligned concepts.Founded in 2023 by husband-and-wife team Eliot M
  
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• BHAC Votes by Majority to Dismiss Violation for Unapproved Window decals at Proposed Charles Street Cosmetics Shop

  22-01-2026 15:37 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Dan MurphyThe Beacon Hill Architectural Commission voted by a majority to dismiss a violation for the unapproved temporary window decals now adorning the proposed future home of a Charles Street shop that will sell luxury skin-care products and cosmetics at the commission’s first monthly public hearing of 2026, which was held virtually on Thursday, Jan. 15.Sisley Paris Boutique intends to open a retail store in a street-level retail space at 31-33 Charles St. last occupied by Benefit Co
  
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• North Atlantic Right Whales Return to Southern New England Waters

  22-01-2026 15:36 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesNorth Atlantic right whales have returned to the waters south of Massachusetts, prompting federal authorities to designate a voluntary slow zone.Scientists from the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life were flying an aerial survey on Jan. 5 when they sighted an aggregation of eight right whales 37 miles south of Nantucket. A second survey on Jan. 8 found over 20 right whales. Between both surveys, at least 23 unique whales have been identified so
  
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• Historic New England  announces 2026 Medal Recipients  

  22-01-2026 15:36 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Historic New England has announced the 2026 recipients of the 2026 Historic New England Medal: Nancy R. Coolidge and Stephen S. Lash, two visionary leaders whose decades-long dedication to preservation, culture, education, and the arts have strengthened communities across the region and shaped national conversations about stewardship and heritage.   These distinguished honorees will be celebrated at the Historic New England Medal Gala on Saturday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m., hosted at the
  
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• Building Boston 250: Momentum Grows for the city’s semiquincentennial

  22-01-2026 15:36 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesBoston is preparing to mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution—honoring the people, ideas, and places that sparked independence. Led by the City’s Commemoration Commission, planning for Boston 250 is building toward an inclusive, citywide celebration that highlights Boston’s leadership in shaping a new nation.On March 19, 2025, the Boston City Council voted to amend the ordinance establishing the Commemoration Commission as first discussed in J
  
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• Wu Announces Voting Stage of Participatory Budgeting Initiative, “Ideas in Action”

  22-01-2026 15:35 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesMayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston’s Office of Participatory Budgeting announced the voting phase for Ideas in Action, the City’s participatory budgeting initiative. Over 1,200 ideas were submitted earlier this year, recommending how $2.2 million could be invested. Until February 15, 2026, Boston residents can vote to select their top five projects to help guide how $2.2 million of the City’s budget will be spent on community-driven projects across the
  
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• Beloved Service Dog Rescue to be Honored at Celebration of Life Event at Copley Square BPL

  22-01-2026 15:35 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to TimesThe Greater Boston community is invited to gather at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square on Saturday, Feb. 7,, from 3 to 4 p.m., for a Celebration of Life honoring Rescue, an extraordinary NEADS Service Dog and local hero, whose impact will reach far beyond his years. The family-friendly event is free and open to all ages.Participants can register at: https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events.NEADS Service Dogs, headquartered in Princeton, Mass., will be onsite to reflect on Re
  
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• Meet Boston Announces Exciting Winter Activities

  22-01-2026 15:34 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Frostival Lodge furnished by Wayfair at Copley Square and a spectacular Ferris Wheel on the GreenwaySpecial to the TimesThe inaugural Boston Frostival swings back into gear this February with two signature activations – the Frostival Lodge furnished by Wayfair at Copley Square opening February 6, and the 75-foot Frostival Ferris Wheel on the Greenway operating throughout the entire month of February. Following the scintillating drone shows that captivated thousands in December, this winter
  
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• Let’s Go Patriots!

  22-01-2026 15:33 via beaconhilltimes.com
  For those of us who are longtime fans of the New England Patriots, it seems like it was only yesterday that the Pats of Brady and Belichick were the dominant team in the NFL.We were around in the early days of the AFL when the Boston Patriots were run (and eventually run into the ground) by the Sullivan family and their immediate successors, culminating with the depressing late ‘80s and early ‘90s before Bob Kraft bought the team.But time flies (even when you’re NOT having fun)
  
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