• City Offering Incentives for Landlords Who Rent to Individuals Transitioning Out of Homelessness

    By Dan MurphyThe city is now offering two programs that give significant incentives for landlords of Boston properties who rent to individuals transitioning out of homelessness.The city’s Home for the Holidays campaign is seeking to support landlords who rent to individuals moving out of homelessness by matching households who have rental assistance vouchers with available units.The program provides landlords with signing bonuses, up to two-months’ rent, and also offers stability to
  • Two pedestrian bridges designed by Hill resident Miguel Rosales receive total of three awards

    Three prestigious bridge design awards were recently awarded to a pair of pedestrian bridges designed by longtime Beacon Hill resident Miguel Rosales.​The Marion Street Bridge in Seattle, Wash., was named the grand prize winner in the discipline of Architecture and subcategory of Infrastructure in the 18th edition of Grands Prix Du Design awards ceremony held in Montreal, Canada.​Additionally, the Hickory Rivewalk Bridge in Hickory, N.C., was recognized in the category of Architectur
  • Remember those in need on your holiday shopping list

    Americans already have been spending a record amount of money thus far this holiday season, spurred on by the extended “Black Friday” (we are using quotes because Black Friday sales began in early November), Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday shopping days.However, amidst our zeal to find the “perfect” gifts for our family members and friends, we hope that our readers make the effort, no matter how small, to remember those in need this holiday season.Homelessness i
  • Neighborhood Roundup 12-5-25

    Nichols House Museum offers holiday eventsThe Nichols House Museum, located at 55 Mt. Vernon St., offers Candlelight Tours on Dec. 9 and 17 at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.Experience the Nichols House by (electric) candlelight on one of our evening tours. Each room is bedecked with seasonal trimming inspired by Nichols family traditions and turn-of-the-20th-century styles.The museum will then sponsor an Author Visit with Matt Tavares on Dec. 6 at 3 p.m.In partnership with Beacon Hill Books & Café
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  • Mass. House passes Supplemental Budget to close Fiscal Year 2025

    The Massachusetts House of Representatives have passed a supplemental budget to address deficiencies, to make new necessary investments, and to  close the books on Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). The legislation appropriates $2.25 billion in gross spending, at a net cost to the state of $750 million, representing a reduction of almost $200  million from the Governor’s original proposal.  “This supplemental budget closes the books on FY25, and aims to fortify the Commonwealth&
  • Wu announces youth job applications open for 2025-2026 school year

    Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Youth Employment and Opportunity (YEO) have announced that youth job applications are now open for the 2025-2026 School Year.The program currently has over 2,000 employment opportunities available for Boston youth and young adults ages 14-24.Program HighlightsApplication: Youth can apply online at futureBOS, the centralized hub for all City employment opportunities, including the flagship SuccessLink program.Funding: The City provided $23.3 million in its FY26
  • Boston Parks Department brings Forever Young Program indoors for winter

    Special to the TimesThe Boston Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF), is excited to announce the return of the Forever Young Program for older adults.To keep seniors active, social, and warm all season, the free program is moving indoors to the Carter Playground Bubble.Program DetailsWhat: The program provides a welcoming indoor space for fun and fitness, featuring activities such as bocce, cornhole, walking, and weekly special events
  • Boston Parks and Recreation opensregistration for free youth flag football league

    The Boston Parks and Recreation Department has announced that registration is now open for the 2026 Boston Youth Flag Football League (BYFFL), a free co-ed sports program.The league provides an inclusive environment for young athletes and runs from January 3 to February 7, 2026.League DetailsLocation: Carter Playground Bubble, 709 Columbus Avenue, South End.Schedule: Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m..Divisions: Co-ed categories for 8U, 10U, and 12U, as well as a High School Girls division.
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  • Revolutionary Spaces announces December Events, featuring free admission and Boston Tea Party commemoration

    Revolutionary Spaces, the organization stewarding the iconic Freedom Trail landmarks the Old State House and Old South Meeting House, invites visitors to experience a schedule of special events throughout December. Revolutionary Spaces was formed in 2020 by the merger of the Bostonian Society and the Old South Association.Family-Friendly EventsFree Admission for Boston Families: In partnership with Mayor Wu’s Boston Family Days, Revolutionary Spaces offers free admission on Sunday, Decembe
  • 2026 Mini-Grant opportunities supportingmental health and violence prevention for youth

    $100,000 in total funding is available through the Mayor’s Office of Women’s AdvancementSpecial to the TimesThe Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement (MOWA) today announced the launch of two 2026 mini-grant opportunities totaling $100,000 to support community-based organizations working to strengthen mental health, prevent violence, and promote the well-being of Boston’s youth.The Women and Girls Mental Health Mini-Grant and the Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Vi
  • Part One Crime in Area A-1 Down Negligibly

    By Dan MurphyHeading into this Thanksgiving, the rate of Part One crime in Area A-1 was negligibly less than last year.According to Boston Police, 1,971 incidents of Part One crime were reported in the district, which includes Beacon Hill, Chinatown, Downtown, and the North End, between Jan. 1 and Nov. 9, 2025, compared with 1,977 incidents during the same timeframe last year.This year marked a nearly 7-percent increase from the five-year average of 1,846 Part One crime incidents in the district
  • Wu Joins in the Annual Holiday Tree for Boston Cutting Ceremony in Nova Scotia

    Special to the TimesMayor’s office Photos By Paul Bologna
    This marks the 54th year of the annual tree donation, celebrating 108 years of friendship between Boston and Nova Scotia. The tradition honors the
    people of Boston for their emergency assistance following the devastating 1917 munitions explosion in Halifax Harbor. .Mayor Michelle Wu takes part
    in the cutting of the 45-foot white spruce
    Waddie Long, Natural Resources Environmental Technology instructor at Nova Scotia Community Colleg
  • Transparency Still Needed Despite MWRA Tabling Board Vote on CSO Plan

    By Times staffAlthough the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) ultimately didn’t vote on the recently proposed Combined Sewer Overflows plan at its Nov. 19 board meeting, transparency is still being urged in the decision-making process going forward to allow the public  to participate in the process.A few weeks ago, the MWRA and the cities of Cambridge and Somerville unveiled sewage control proposals that raised serious concerns regarding what public health and the Clean Wa
  • Swearing in Ceremony for Mayor Wu and the Boston City Council Set for January 5 

    Special to the TimesThe 2026 Boston Inauguration Committee announced that the City of Boston will host Mayor Michelle Wu’s swearing in ceremony for her second term as mayor on the first Monday of the year in accordance with the City Charter, on January 5, 2026 at 10 a.m. The inauguration ceremony for Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston City Council will take place at the historic Boston Symphony Hall. Following the ceremony, Mayor Michelle Wu will host a series of events and activations throu
  • Individual Shot on Bowdoin Street, Hospitalized with Life-threatening Injuries

    By Times staffAn individual was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being shot on Bowdoin Street on the morning of Friday, Nov. 14, boston.com reported.At about 9:15 a.m., Boston Police responded to a report of a person shot at 39 Bowdoin St., described as a lodging house, where they located a victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was then transported to an area hospital.The victim’s name hasn’t been released, and no further information on the incident was a
  • An Appetite for Art – the Future of Art in Boston 

    By Arielle ApplebyDoors to the stately brick-walled SoWa Power Station opened to a maze of contemporary art booths on a nippy Thursday night in October. The smell of fresh paint lingered, ambient jazz cushioned a buzz of voices and laughter, while the signature sound of cocktail shakers prepped drinks for an edgy young crowd. Many members of Boston’s new generation say they are hungry for art, and perhaps for the first time, their appetite was satiated at the Affordable Art Fair held
  • Wu Celebrates Progress of Greater Boston Collaborative Food Access Hub Amid National Snap Emergency

    Special to the TimesMayor Michelle Wu gathered with partners of the Greater Boston Collaborative Food Access Hub for a one-year progress update on the Hub’s operations as partners work to address food insecurity exacerbated by the federal government shutdown and delay in SNAP benefits. In its first year of operations, the Food Access Hub served an average of 20,000 individuals every month, distributing almost 62,000 pounds of produce, on average, every single week. In one year, organizatio
  • Boston Harbor Now Bolsters Resilient, Welcoming Harborwalk

    Special to the TimesBuilding on its nearly 10 years of work to create a vibrant, welcoming, and resilient Boston Harborwalk, Boston Harbor Now has appointed its first-ever Senior Manager for Harborwalk, Access and Resilience overseeing the 43-mile coastline public trail.The recruitment of Jason Rundle, a coastal access and environmental advocate who also holds a graduate degree in public health, puts a dedicated lead and champion in charge of all aspects of implementing Boston Har
  • Water Authority Board Tables Vote on Proposal to Dump Sewage in Charles River Forever

    Special to the TimesFollowing a wave of public outrage over the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s (MWRA) recently-proposed plan to allow for sewage to continue to be dumped into the Charles River forever, the MWRA Board of Directors has tabled a scheduled vote on the proposal at its November 19 meeting.“The public has responded loud and clear. No amount of sewage is acceptable to be dumped in our beloved Charles River,” said CRWA Executive Director Emily Norton. “
  • New England Aquarium Invites Families to Special Screening of Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo

    The New England Aquarium is hosting a family movie night during Thanksgiving weekend with a special screening of Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo on the Simons Theatre’s five-story giant screen.This family-friendly evening offers audiences the chance to revisit the ocean adventure that introduced millions to the wonders of marine life, from clownfish and blue tangs to sea turtles and white sharks. The screening provides an opportunity to connect beloved animated characters with the re
  • City of Boston and Northeastern Announce New Five-year Pilot Agreement and 10-Year

    institutional master plan, including historic commitments on housing and community benefitsSpecial to the TimesThe City of Boston and Northeastern University announced landmark agreements on an Institutional Master Plan (IMP) and Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT), which include unprecedented housing commitments and community benefits for the City and neighborhoods around Northeastern. The IMP includes approximately $62.5 million in community benefits over the next 10 years, as well as $16.5 milli
  • SoWa: the Creative Enclave Thriving Just Off Boston’s Grid

    By Arielle ApplebyAn artist takes the long way to her studio, passing through a tranquil park bathed in morning light. She is alone, save a few squirrels and a grandmotherly figure thumbing pages of an old book on a nearby bench. She stops to admire a grand fountain and the crystalline droplets dancing in the morning light.She may have slept through her alarm this morning, and a considerable queue of emails is waiting at the office, but there is no firm timeline in her work routine. She lives th
  • More Than Words Shifts to Thrift as it Meets Changing Consumer Needs

    Special to the TimesMore Than Words, the Boston-based nonprofit social enterprise that empowers system-involved youth through paid work experience and leadership development, announced a major evolution of its retail business model. Beginning this month, the organization’s flagship Boston bookstore at 242 East Berkeley Street will evolve to include a curated thrift shopping experience featuring pre-loved clothing, home goods, and small furniture, in addition to its longstanding book offeri
  • Coastal Climate Resiliency Issues at the Center of the Massachusetts MBC Annual Hearing

    Special to the TimesThe Metropolitan Beaches Commission (MBC) and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay hosted their annual hearing at the Massachusetts State House on the condition of the 15 metropolitan beaches stewarded by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). DCR’s new Commissioner, Nicole LaChapelle, testified on the agency’s ongoing work to ensure the beaches are welcoming to all and strengthen the resiliency of DCR properties along the Boston coastline.“Our coastli
  • Annual Veterans Day Parade

    Mayor’s Office Photo by Mike Mejia
    The city held its annual Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 8, to honor the service and sacrifices of all
    who have served and those who continue to serve. This year’s parade featured 40 veteran-supporting organizations from across the state and over 1,100 participants.
  • Restored Madonna and Child Tiffany Window Returns Home

    By Dan MurphyCourtesy of Serpentino Studio
    A close-up of the Madonna and Child detail after conservation.
    After undergoing an approximately year-long, off-site conservation process, The Madonna and Child Window has returned home to the sanctuary of Church of the Covenant in the Back Bay.Between 1894 and 1897, the sanctuary at the church, located at 67 Newbury St., was completely redecorated by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co., including the installation of “glass mosaic at the front, the h
  • Minds Matter Boston Named Community Captain by Bank of America and Patriots Foundation, Receives Grant Toward Mission of Prepping Students for Success

     Special to the TimesBank of America and the New England Patriots Foundation recently awarded $50,000 grants to several charitable organizations, including Minds Matter Boston, a non-profit that helps students from low-income families prepare for educational success. Minds Matter Boston will use the grant to expand their program, which has traditionally focused on high school students, to include college students as well. Bank of America Massachusetts President Miceal Chamberlain greet
  • Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $1 Million for Guild House Retrofit

    By Dan MurphyVia the fourth round of funding allocated through its Climate Ready Housing program, the Healey-Driscoll administration has awarded $1 million to the Planning Office for Urban Affairs for the ‘deep energy retrofit’ of The Guild House in Kenmore Square.The proposed 100-percent affordable project at 20 Charlesgate West, made possible via a partnership between the city’s Planning Office for Urban Affairs and the nonprofit Fenway Forward (formerly the Fenway CDC [Commu
  • With Cold Weather on the Way, State Fire Marshal Urges Heating Fire Safety

    Special to the TimesWith temperatures falling into the 30s this week, Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine is reminding residents protect themselves and their loved ones from some of the most common home heating hazards.“Most of Massachusetts will see some of the coldest weather since last winter over the next few days,” said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. “Heating equipment is the leading cause of carbon monoxide at home and the second leading cause of residential
  • Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $1.1 Million for Public Safety Initiatives

    The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $1,155,240 in public safety grants through the Commonwealth Project Safe Neighborhood (CPSN) Initiative and the Human Trafficking Enforcement and Training Grant Program. These awards strengthen partnerships between state and local law enforcement, enhance prosecution of violent crime and human trafficking, and expand community-based prevention and intervention services.For the Commonwealth Project Safe Neighborhood Grant, Suffolk County District Attor
05 Dec 2025

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