Massachusetts news

• Beacon Hill Architectural Commission 10-9-26

  09-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Beacon Hill Architectural Commission will hold a virtual public hearing on October 15, 2026, at 5 p.m.. The hearing will be held entirely online via Zoom.
  Written comments and questions can be directed to [email protected] before the meeting. The projected adjournment time is 9 p.m.
  The agenda begins with the ratification of public hearing minutes from August 20, 2026, and September 17, 2026, followed by the annual vote for the commission’s Chair and Vice Chair. The commission wi
  
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• Upstairs Downstairs hosts ‘An American Portrait’ fundraising event

  09-10-2026 07:05 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The antique and collectibles store Upstairs Downstairs on Charles Street hosted an art exhibition fundraiser to benefit Home Base, a locally headquartered veteran and family care healthcare services organization. The store was at capacity, with locally catered hors d’oeuvres and beverages and donated art for sale, as well as an opportunity to learn more about Home Base.
  The beautifully framed art was donated by the artists and centered around Beacon Hill sites and historical homes, one of
  
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• Harbor Towers cuts ribbon on $20M flood-barrier project

  09-10-2026 07:04 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Mayor Michelle Wu joined residents of Harbor Towers Condominiums on Wednesday by cutting the ribbon on the downtown waterfront property’s $20 million flood-resistance project that includes deployable barriers.
  The ribbon-cutting was part of Deployables Day, a citywide gathering that highlights publicly and privately owned deployable flood barriers.
  In recent years, the high-rise condominiums have experienced their share of damage because of flooding and severe storms. In 2018, floodwaters
  
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• Make the most of the long weekend

  09-10-2026 07:02 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The arrival of the long holiday weekend means that the fall season is squarely upon us, the time of year that has special meaning for all of us in New England.
  With the weatherman (as of this writing) forecasting a near-perfect weekend weather-wise, we urge as many of our readers as possible to partake of the simple pleasure of getting outdoors to enjoy the crisp, clean air and the autumn colors before the colder temperatures arrive.
  A nice hike, whether along the shore of the Cape, or in the Be
  
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• What a 32-hour workweek means to Boston residents

  09-10-2026 07:01 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Boston residents seem enthusiastic about the idea of a national 32-hour workweek reintroduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Mark Takano of California, but expressed concern about how it would be implemented.
  Residents from Fenway, downtown and Jamaica Plain interviewed cited more opportunities for income, a better work-life balance and less stress as reasons for supporting the proposed bill. But they expressed skepticism about the economic impact it would have on supporting their fa
  
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• WLP’s annual Spaghetti Dinner returns Oct. 29 to Fairmont Copley Plaza

  09-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  WLP’s annual Spaghetti Dinner returns Oct. 29 to Fairmont Copley Plaza
  The Women’s Lunch Place’s annual Spaghetti Dinner takes place on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 6 p.m. at the Fairmont Copley Plaza hotel.
  WLP Advocate Bonnie Zamparelli will be the event’s featured speaker.
  Visit https://womenslunchplace.org/event/sponsors?utm_source=Women to purchase tickets or for more information on the event.
  Beacon Hill Baptist Church meets every Sunday
  Beacon Hill Baptist Church, which i
  
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• Moonlight Gala on the Esplanade

  09-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Esplanade Association celebrated its 25th anniversary on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 3, with its annual Moonlight Gala.
  At this year’s gala, Alexi Conine, who joined the EA board in 2016 and has served as its chair since 2017, was awarded the Serena Hatch Impact Award.
  Bob Doran, one of the greatest champions of EA’s Charlesbank project who died last fall, posthumously received the Charles Eliot Vision Award, alongside Wellington Management, the company he co-founded.
  This year
  
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• MBTA continues to successfully advance Green Line modernization investments, makes significant improvements in Green Line reliability

  09-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The MBTA announced the successful advancement of work on the Green Line, including critical work to replace and upgrade the 120-year-old signal system within the central tunnel and much more.
  “The latest phase of work to replace our 120+-year-old signal system within the central Green Line tunnel is critical to building the modernized transit system that our riders deserve and can count on. Know that we maximized productivity by continuing to upgrade tracks, stations, and other essential c
  
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• Eversource Founder/CEO Monica Kachru guest speaker at Beacon Hill Women’s Forum

  09-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Environmental leader and educational advocate, Monica Kachru, did not follow a planned path to her career as the Director of Energy Supply at Eversource Energy and Founder/CEO of Anaya Scholars. Instead, Kachru perused the “scenic route” to what mattered to her and is now transforming lives and impacting communities with her development of renewable energy and non-profit work.
  “A lesson I learned early on is you don’t always have to know where a decision will lead you,&rd
  
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• Boston Senior Home Care pays tribute to leaders for outstanding public service and community advocacy at 2026 Legacy of Leading Gala

  09-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Boston Senior Home Care (BSHC), a private nonprofit Aging Services Access Point that helps older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers access home- and community-based services and supports, has honored Former State Representative Brian Dempsey, President, Dempsey Associates, and Michael Curry, Esq., President and CEO, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, at its 2026 Legacy of Leading Luncheon Gala: Transforming Communities through Service celebration on October 1 at the
  
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• Wu officially launches the annual Legacy Business Award nominations

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Mayor Michelle Wu announced the launch of the nomination period for the fifth annual Legacy Business Awards. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, October 30, 2026. Residents are encouraged to nominate long standing businesses that have been located within the city of Boston for at least 10 years and contribute to the cultural, historical, and societal fabric of their community or neighborhood.
  “Boston’s long-standing businesses are more than economic drivers–they are co
  
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• Trinity Church Boston launches new program year with community celebration

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Trinity Church Boston launched its 2026-27 program year on Sunday, September 13, welcoming parishioners and community members back for a new season of worship, formation, fellowship, and service. The program year marks the beginning of Trinity’s busiest congregational season from the Sunday after Labor Day through early June. This year, this special period of reflection and celebration will encompass the 150th anniversary of the consecration of Trinity Church’s historic building on F
  
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• ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: A Musical Reading’ coming Oct. 9 to Old North Church

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  On Oct. 9, Old North Church in the North End is blending history and literature with ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: A Musical Reading’ – and it carries a distinct connection that should pique the interest of Beacon Hill residents. While Washington Irving’s classic gothic tale is famously set in New York’s Hudson Valley, its revival in Boston hits incredibly close to home.
  The adaptation features an original musical score by composer Josiah Reibstein and script read b
  
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• The 2026 “Boston Blooms with Daffodils” bulb giveaway announced

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced that the Boston Parks and Recreation Department will distribute over 15,000 daffodil bulbs for planting on public ways citywide through the “Boston Blooms with Daffodils” beautification initiative started in 2011.
  Individuals, civic associations, faith-based organizations, sports leagues, scout troops, open space advocates, and park friends are encouraged to participate. Last year, over 100 community groups planted bulbs in neighborhoods citywide..
  
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• New proposal before Boston City Council would expand protections for tenants of 2- and 3-family buildings undergoing condo conversion, bringing city ordinance up to date

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  A proposal before the Boston City Council (docket #1711 – An Ordinance Amending and Extending Protections for Tenants Facing Displacement by Condominium or Cooperative Conversion) would update Boston’s Condominium and Cooperative Conversion Ordinance in accordance with changes made to Massachusetts’ statewide condominium conversion law, thus expanding protections to additional rental units, including units in two- and three- family properties, and separately improving accountab
  
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• National Rodent Summit comes to Boston

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The City of Boston hosted the second-ever National Urban Rat Summit on Sept. 23 and 24, bringing together leading experts, academics, researchers, public health professionals, and municipal officials from across the U.S. and the world to discuss urban rodent-prevention strategies.
  “Boston is a home for everyone—except rats. We’re proud to host the second-ever National Urban Rat Summit this September, where we will share our progress, hear directly from residents, and learn from
  
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• Mike’s Pastry ribbon-cutting and grand opening event

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  MarketPlace Logan, which manages the concessions program at Boston Logan International Airport, and the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) celebrated the official arrival of Mike’s Pastry in Terminal C on Wednesday, September 23.
  Rich Davey, Chief Executive Officer, Massport, spoke to passengers about the excitement surrounding Mike’s Pastry’s arrival, alongside Michael DiCosola, President, MarketPlace Development; Seth Merin, Vice President of Operations, Air Ventures, Mi
  
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• Healey-Driscoll Administration announces Violence Against Women Act grants

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Healey Driscoll Administration invites qualifying nonprofits and public agencies to apply for $3.4 million in federal grant funding to support victim services and efforts to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
  The funding is available through the FFY26 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Grant Program, administered through the Massachusetts by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR). The competitive grant process is held once every four years, and organizatio
  
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• Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10, focuses on lithium-ion battery charging safety

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Many of the devices we use in our daily lives—phones, tablets, laptops, tools, toys, e-bikes, and scooters, to name a few—run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which store high amounts of energy in a small space. If the batteries are damaged or charged incorrectly, they can overheat, start a fire, or even explode. With these concerns in mind, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®)—the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 100 years&mdash
  
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• Final boarding call for Voice of Logan

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The search for the Voice of Logan is entering its final stretch. Since being announced two weeks ago, the Voice of Logan contest has taken Massachusetts by storm. As of today, over 3,225 Bay Staters have submitted auditions, from Pittsfield to Boston and Methuen to Edgartown. But time is running out if you want to submit—the deadline is Sunday, October 4 at midnight.
  Following the close of submissions, a selection committee and the public will help determine who becomes the next Voice of L
  
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• Elevate Cities launch in Boston, inviting residents to gather, discover and create

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Importing formatted text via WPCode…
  
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• Details unveiled for revised Friend Street redevelopment project

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The latest details for the revised redevelopment proposal for 222 Friend St. in the West End were unveiled on Tuesday, Sept. 22, during a city-sponsored joint Impact Advisory Group (IAG) and public meeting for the project.
  KS Partners intends to raze an existing three-story commercial building and adjacent 32-space surface parking lot to make way for a 155-foot (plus 4-6 feet of mechanicals), mixed-use building comprising 212 residential units, along with at-grade retail space. No parking accomm
  
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• Councilor Flynn files resolution in support of a commission to hire and retain Boston Police officers

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  City Councilor Ed Flynn filed a resolution last week calling for the establishment of a Commission focused on recruiting and retaining Boston Police officers and strengthening the Department’s workforce for the future.
  The longstanding challenges of understaffing, overstretched resources, mandatory overtime, and looming retirements at the Boston Police Department remain a serious public safety and public health concern. These pressures not only impact the Department’s ability to effe
  
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• Boston Public Health Commission celebrates 40 years of workforce development programs supporting residents experiencing homelessness

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) celebrated the graduation of 78 clients from BPHC’s Homeless Services Bureau’s workforce development program. The Serving Ourselves (SOS) Program, a partnership between BPHC and Friends of Boston’s Homeless (FOBH), is an essential aspect of the City’s efforts to make homelessness in Boston rare, brief, and one-time by giving residents experiencing homelessness the skills and opportunities for gainful employment
  
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• Bank of America gives $200K Neighborhood Builder Grants to Camp Harbor View, Urban Edge

  02-10-2026 07:00 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Two Boston non-profits, Camp Harbor View and Urban Edge, were each awarded $200,000 over a two year period through Bank of America’s 2026 Neighborhood Builders program. Bank of America provided the grants to support year-round operations and leadership development initiatives, recognizing those organizations’ impact on the community.
  The grant will help Camp Harbor View — which offers a unique summer camp for thousands of city youth on Long Island in Boston Harbor and provides
  
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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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