Maine news

• Pope Francis

  24-04-2025 21:24 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The passing this week of Pope Francis will leave a deep void in the conscience of our world.Pope Francis, a native of Argentina who became the first Jesuit and Latin American pope, fought for a more inclusive Roman Catholic Church, much to the chagrin of the conservative members of the church.Pope Francis also was a forceful voice on the world stage on issues ranging from his support of migrants to his warnings about climate change.Pope Francis will be missed, not only by his fellow Catholics, b
  
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• 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.
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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.&
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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.
  
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• 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
  
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• 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.
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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
  
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