Maine news

• Eversource reaches 500,000 smart meter milestone

  25-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Eversource has reached a major milestone in its statewide smart meter rollout, installing its 500,000th smart meter in Massachusetts as the energy company continues bringing the technology and its benefits to customers across the state. The energy company is approximately one-third of the way through its statewide smart meter rollout.
  Smart meters are a key part of Eversource’s ongoing work to give customers greater visibility into their energy use and modernize the electric system. Throug
  
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• End of Season Celebration

  25-09-2026 15:22 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Courtesy photo
  In the photo above, (left to right) Ramsay Fretz, Elisabeth Fretz, Elizabeth Fegreus and Michael Broderick recently held their annual End of Season lobster roll party for their friends. The lobster roll was six feet long, and took more than 32 lobsters after boiling and cracking the shells to fill. Jeremy Bell provided music at the event with his bagpipes. Attendees agreed that nothing is better than the Boston Harbor lobster.
  
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• Dinner Under the Stars pivots to ‘Dinner Under Your Roof’ This Saturday

  25-09-2026 15:20 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Mother Nature might be trying to crash the party this weekend, but she certainly can’t dampen the spirit of the Beacon Hill community.Due to the National Weather Service’s forecast of heavy rain and strong winds this Saturday, the Beacon Hill Civic Association (BHCA) has made the thoughtful decision to modify its beloved annual Dinner Under the Stars. While neighbors won’t be able to safely gather around the traditional long table outdoors this year, the celebration is far from
  
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• Wu announces up to $35 million in low-cost financing to accelerate housing construction

  25-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Mayor Michelle Wu recently announced that the City’s Housing Accelerator Fund will competitively award up to $35 million in low-cost construction loans or equity investments to housing developments in Boston that are ready to begin construction and include an affordable component.
  This announcement builds on the Mayor’s recent proposal of targeted tax abatements for four previously approved market-rate housing developments. Together, those projects could help jumpstart construction o
  
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• Wu announces new partnership with umass Boston that gives students hands-on training to deliver public health education to high school students

  25-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), and University of Massachusetts Boston announced a groundbreaking partnership that will provide college students with hands-on training and experience in urban public health. The students will then deliver public health education in high schools across the city.
  The partnership between UMass Boston’s Urban Public Health department and BPHC will offer internships this fall to the first class of seniors in the three-year-old degree p
  
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• State health officials announce season’s eighth human case of West Nile virus

  25-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced the eighth human case of West Nile virus (WNV) this year. A woman in her 30s was exposed to WNV in an area of Middlesex County where other exposures have occurred this season.
  Seven of the eight cases have been exposed in areas of Middlesex and Suffolk counties that are at high risk for WNV. Risk levels for WNV are currently high in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Newton, Revere, Somerville, Watertown, and Wint
  
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• Pantry treats

  25-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  For us, a stockpile of pantry treats began with our introduction to the Freshé line of tuna and salmon meals, which combined legumes, vegetables, fish, and a promise of high quality and sustainability. Each tin provides a complete, high-protein meal that is as easy to enjoy as opening the can.
  The founders of Freshé expanded their offerings with lines of “Henry and Lisa” tinned and frozen fish. We expanded our stock of pantry treats with offerings from Patagonia Provisi
  
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• City of Boston kicks off Free Fall Fitness Series

  25-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Boston Parks and Recreation Department and Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) announced the 2026 Boston Parks Fall Fitness Series, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. The series will offer free weekly classes in City of Boston parks from now through October 17.
  This fall, residents can enjoy a variety of healthy activities in the parks, including Walking Group, Yoga, Tai Chi, ZUMBA®, Dance Hall Bootcamp, and more. Classes are designed for all skill levels and ages,
  
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• City of Boston adopts small clean energy infrastructure zoning

  25-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The City of Boston Zoning Commission this week adopted new zoning for Small Clean Energy Infrastructure to comply with the Massachusetts State Climate Act. This new zoning establishes a ‘Consolidated Local Permitting process’ in line with State law and Boston’s own climate resiliency goals. The new zoning and permitting process is an effort to decarbonize and transition our energy sources to be fully electric in the coming years. The new zoning also introduces regulations on di
  
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• Boston residents to participate in the 38th annual Jimmy Fund Walk

  25-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  333 residents from Boston will participate in the 2026 Jimmy Fund Walk for Dana-Farber presented by Hyundai on Sunday, October 4.
  Zoe Bosenberg, Peter Martino, and Marek Michalak, along with hundreds of Boston residents and thousands of other walkers, will participate in the annual event that will unite the community to raise funds to support all forms of adult and pediatric care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Last year marked a historic milestone, with the Walk raising more than
  
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• Boston Public Health Commission ensures access to free flu and covid-19 vaccines

  25-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  To ensure that residents are protected from serious respiratory illness, Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is hosting free vaccine clinics offering flu and COVID-19 vaccinations throughout the city. Getting vaccinated every year for flu and COVID-19 as part of back-to-school and fall routines is an important tool to protect ourselves and our communities from serious illness.
  BPHC is making it easy for residents to get vaccinated as part of their regular routines. By partnering with Boston P
  
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• Boston Harbor City Cruises sets sail into fall with seasonal experiences

  25-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Summer may be winding down, but the season on Boston Harbor is far from over. Boston Harbor City Cruises (BHCC) is welcoming fall with a lineup of experiences that give locals and visitors new reasons to get out on the water, from crisp-weather whale watching and an easy ride to the heart of Salem’s fall festivities to sightseeing and year-round brunch, lunch and dinner cruises showcasing Boston’s iconic skyline.
  Adding even more reason to savor the season, City Cruises is offering 3
  
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• Virtual meeting on 222 Friend St. project set for Sept. 22

  18-09-2026 07:04 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The city’s Planning Department will hold joint-Impact Advisory Group (IAG) and -public meeting virtually on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m., to discuss a residential development with ground-floor retail project proposed for 222 Friend St. in the West End.
  KS Partners intends to raze an existing three-story commercial building and adjacent 32-space surface parking lot to make way for a 15-story (plus mechanicals), mixed-use building comprising 216 residential units, along with more than 4,800
  
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• Women’s Lunch Place welcomes Dr. Laura Davis to board

  18-09-2026 07:03 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Women’s Lunch Place has welcomed Dr. Laura Davis to its board of directors, according to the local nonprofit.
  Building on career success as a scientific researcher, Laura turned her attention to mentoring upcoming biotech leaders through Golden Seeds, an angel investor group providing early stage and growth capital to women entrepreneurs.
  Women’s Lunch Place CEO Jennifer Hanlon Wigon remarked, “Laura has been a dedicated supporter for many years, and we are thrilled that she h
  
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• Upcoming at the West End Library

  18-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Origami Club at the West End Library:
  Join librarian Wes Fiorentino for a weekly origami club! Learn how to fold paper animals and other fun shapes or drop by to share your own paper arts projects with the group.
  Tuesdays, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM – starting September 15th
  No registration required. Email Wesley Fiorentino at [email protected] with any questions.
  From Clues to Conclusions: Practical Genealogy for Beginning Researchers
  Have you begun researching your family history but feel un
  
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• Partial closure of Boylston Street and Charlesgate intersection this weekend

  18-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing a partial closure of the Boylston Street and Charlesgate intersection to complete roadway reconstruction operations. This work has been scheduled as a partial closure over one weekend to minimize the impact on the neighborhood and traveling public.
  The partial closure will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 18, and conclude at 5:00 a.m. on Monday, September 21.
  One lane of travel will be maintained in each direction goi
  
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• Now casting: The next voice of Boston Logan International Airport

  18-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Boston Logan International Airport welcomes 43 million travelers a year and soon, each one will be greeted by a voice that captures the spirit of Massachusetts and New England. The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced the launch of Voice of Logan, a public competition inviting Massachusetts residents to audition for the opportunity to become the official overhead announcement voice of Boston Logan International Airport.
  The Voice of Logan is a search for something distinctly Boston
  
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• Mayor Wu, Lt. Governor Driscoll, St. Francis House, and the Planning Office For Urban Affairs celebrate opening of 126 affordable homes at 41 LaGrange Street

  18-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Mayor Michelle Wu joined Lt. Governor Driscoll, St. Francis House, the Planning Office for Urban Affairs (POUA), MassHousing, state and local elected officials, residents, and community partners to celebrate the grand opening of 41 LaGrange Street, a new 19-story affordable housing development in downtown Boston. The development creates 126 income-restricted rental homes, advancing the City’s work to provide Boston residents with safe, stable, and affordable housing.
  “Congratulations
  
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• Healey-Driscoll Administration announces $2 million in fire safety funding

  18-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Healey-Driscoll Administration is making nearly $2 million available to local fire departments in support of fire and life safety efforts that protect Massachusetts’ most vulnerable residents.
  The annual Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) and Senior SAFE grants fund trained firefighter-educators who deliver age-appropriate safety education to school-aged children and older adults, as well as the associated costs of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, teaching equipment, and other
  
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• Boston Weekly Neighborhood Infrastructure Projects

  18-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The City of Boston Construction Management team is providing this weekly update on infrastructure improvements taking place in the Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Charlestown, East Boston, Jamaica Plain, neighborhoods. The work is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to maintain and improve Boston’s streets and sidewalks, enhance accessibility, upgrade street lighting fixtures, support bridge improvements, and invest in safer, more reliable neighborhood infrastructure.
  This Week’s Constru
  
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• Aquarium now offering discounted tickets for homeschooling families

  18-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The New England Aquarium is offering discounted admission this fall for homeschooling families to experience its educational programs and exhibits.
  Every Tuesday through December 22, 2026, homeschool families have access to special ticket prices: $12 for children and $21 for adults. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Aquarium’s Reservations Department at 617-973-5206 daily between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. More information is available on neaq.org.
  Included in admission, th
  
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• Violinist Rachel Barton Pine to perform Sept. 13 at Calderwood Hall

  11-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Violinist Rachel Barton Pine to perform Sept. 13 at Calderwood Hall
  Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum presents violinist Rachel Barton Pine in concert on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Calderwood Hall at 25 Evans Way.
  Tickets each cost $70 to $99, while students and children, age 5-17, are admitted for $25, and seniors are admitted for $63-89.
  Visit https://www.gardnermuseum.org/calendar/rachel-barton-pine-20260913 to purchase tickets and for more information on this performance.
  West
  
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• Kori bustard chick hatches at Franklin Park Zoo

  11-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Throughout the day, the dedicated team at Franklin Park Zoo takes turns visiting a small fluffy, striped kori bustard to make sure the month-old chick is getting enough exercise and reaching important developmental milestones.
  Hatched on August 1, the female kori bustard chick is being raised by the Animal Care team to ensure it has the best opportunity to thrive. This is a significant hatch for this species, and marks the first successful hatch at Franklin Park Zoo since 2003.
  The chick has bee
  
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• Jury acquits Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins of extortion charges

  11-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  A federal jury acquitted Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins of extortion charges Wednesday, September 2, following a trial in the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse in Boston.
  Tompkins had been charged with two counts of extortion related to an investment in a cannabis company.
  Tompkins was appointed Sheriff of Suffolk County in 2013. He won a special election in 2014 and two general elections for six-year terms in 2016 and 2022. His current term ends on January 3, 2029.
  During
  
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• Healey invests $4.2 million to grow offshore wind workforce and research

  11-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Governor Healey and the Mass Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) announced $4.2 million in funding to 20 projects that will prepare workers for offshore wind and maritime careers, and support research on fisheries, wildlife, and the marine environment. The funding is awarded through two MassCEC programs: $1.7 million through the Offshore Wind Works program and $2.4 million through the Offshore Wind Science, Research and Analysis program. These awards are part of Massachusetts’ continued investme
  
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• Freedom Trail hosts after dark experiences

  11-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesDiscover the Freedom Trail in a new light – after dark – on the official Freedom Trail Lantern Tours. Freedom Trail Foundation announces the return of the unique Lantern Tours, offering visitors and residents the opportunity to experience the sinister history and mystery of the Freedom Trail by lantern-light! The annual Lantern Tours will be offered on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 6 p.m. from September 17 until October 30, and Wednesday, October 28. Offici
  
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• City of Boston releases request for proposals for new Street Furniture Program

  11-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The City of Boston announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) procurement process to identify a business partner to upgrade and expand its network of bus shelters, wayfinding kiosks, and other street furniture elements in the City’s rights-of-way. These amenities serve transit riders, active transportation users and pedestrians. The City’s vision for its new Street Furniture Program is to influence how people travel and improve public spaces through functional, well-designed amenities t
  
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• Boston Arts Festival returns for 23rd year with more than 50 local artists

  11-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Boston Arts Festival is back with more than 50 artists who will be taking over Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park from September 12 + 13, 2026. The annual celebration of all things art was first launched in 2003. Over the years, it has grown to become Boston’s biggest art celebration of the summer, giving dozens of local artists and musicians a platform. The family-friendly event runs from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. each day and is free. Blankets, chairs, and picnics are encouraged; dog
  
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• Author Jenny Jackson celebrates latest book with Sept. 17 event at Beacon Hill Books

  11-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Things are always hopping at Beacon Hill Books, but the energy will amp up on Thursday, Sept.17, at 6 p.m., when New York Times-bestselling author Jenny Jackson signs copies of her latest book, ‘The Shampoo Effect.’
  Jenny is a publishing industry heavyweight as a vice president and executive editor at Alfred A. Knopf and the author of two bestsellers, ‘The Shampoo Effect,’ and before that, ‘Pineapple Street.’
  Jenny will be joined by her longtime friend, Alexa
  
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• AG Campbell releases annual Labor Day report spotlighting actions to protect workers

  11-09-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell released the Attorney General’s Office (AGO)’s annual Labor Day Report, spotlighting the AGO’s dedicated efforts to protect the rights of Massachusetts workers and ensure access to fair pay, benefits, and safe working conditions for all.
  “While decisions by the federal government create new uncertainty for workers and families, my office continues to do what it’s always done: protect working people,” said AG C
  
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