Massachusetts news

• Juneteenth is more
significant than ever

  19-06-2026 15:22 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Juneteenth, which has been a national holiday since 2021, marks the day when the Union Army entered the city of Galveston on June 19, 1865, and formally freed those who still were being enslaved in Texas.
  As the Union Army advanced through the South in the final months of the Civil War, Confederate slave-owners in states such as Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas forced tens of thousands of slaves to go to Texas, which was the only Southern state where the Union Army had not taken full control
  
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• Statue of Jack Connors unveiled outside old Hancock Tower


  19-06-2026 15:23 via beaconhilltimes.com
  A bronze statue of the late Boston business titan and philanthropist, JackConnors Jr., seated on a bench in the front courtyard of the old John Hancock Tower was unveiled on Tuesday, June 9, at a gathering of around 250 of his family members and friends.

  For many years, Connors, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2024 at the age of 82, helmed the Hill Holliday advertising agency from his office inside the former Hancock Tower (now called 200 Clarendon) and later on the building’s top
  
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• Beacon Hill Civic Association Community Corner


  19-06-2026 15:23 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Upcoming Events

  Groundwater & Wood Piles Walking Tour – Saturday, June 20th, 11am (meet outside Starbucks at Beacon and Charles Streets)

  Founders Reception – Wednesday, June 24th, 6pm (by invitation only)

  Young Friends Social – Wednesday, June 24th, 7pm, Liberty Hotel

  Meet & Greet – Monday, July 6th, 6pm, 75 Chestnut

  

  Upcoming Meetings

  Zoning & Licensing Committee – Wednesday, July 1st, 6pm, via Zoom

  
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• Wu, secretary Phil Eng announce extension of fare-free transit program


  19-06-2026 15:22 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Mayor Michelle Wu and MassDOT Interim Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng today announced that the City of Boston has extended its successful fare-free transit program through the end of 2026. During the pilot, ridership has grown faster on Routes 23, 28, and 29 than anywhere else in the MBTA system, while saving families money and improving bus speed and reliability. 

  “Fare-free buses are delivering results for residents—saving commuters money, easing traffic, and gro
  
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• Tick bites surge to a 10-year high as Sawyer offers expert guidance for peak season


  19-06-2026 15:22 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Tick bites are sending Americans to emergency rooms at rates not seen in a decade, according to a CDC statement released in April 2026. With Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal syndrome all on the rise, outdoor protection brand Sawyer is urging families to take simple, proven steps to stay safe this season.

  The scale of this season’s surge is striking: during the fourth week of April 2026, approximately 114 out of every 100,000 emergency department visits in th
  
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• Related Beal signs lease agreement with Brick Street Bagels


  19-06-2026 15:22 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Related Beal announced that it will welcome Brick Street Bagels at 144 Charles Street in Beacon Hill this fall. The Charles Street location marks Brick Street Bagels’ third permanent shop in Boston, bringing its signature handmade bagels to one of Boston’s most beloved corridors.

  Founded in 2022, Brick Street Bagels is a Boston-based bagel shop that began as a pop-up and bike delivery operation and eventually settled at The Buttery in the South End before opening its first per
  
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• Neighborhood Roundup 6-19-26

  19-06-2026 15:22 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Boston Groundwater Trust to offer June 20 walking tour of Flat of the Hill

  The Boston Groundwater Trust will offer a free walking tour of the Flat of Beacon Hill on Saturday June 20, from 11 a.m. to noon.The meeting location is the Starbucks on the corner of Beacon and Charles streets at 65-66 Beacon St.

  The tour will be led by Christian Simonelli, the Trust’s executive director, who will talk about the critically important work of the Trust looking out for the Flat of Beacon
  
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• FBI Boston Warns Drone Operators of Temporary Flight Restrictions During FIFA World Cup 2026


  19-06-2026 15:22 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Planning to fly your drone in Massachusetts or Rhode Island during the FIFA World Cup 2026? Be aware that the government will establish temporary flight restrictions around FIFA World Cup 2026 stadiums, fan festivals, and other event locations. Flying a drone in a restricted zone is not only dangerous, but it is also a federal crime and can result in criminal fines up to $100,000, up to a year in federal prison, and seizure of the drone.

  Temporary flight restrictions define a certain area
  
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• Boston Common Frog Pond spray pool opens June 23


  19-06-2026 15:22 via beaconhilltimes.com
  

  Mayor Michelle Wu, Chief Climate Officer Brian Swett, Commissioner of Boston Parks and Recreation Diana Fernandez Bibeau, and The Skating Club of Boston are pleased to welcome children and their caregivers to kick off the 2026 summer wading season as the Boston Common Frog Pond spray pool reopens on Tuesday, June 23.

  The wading pool opening is made possible by presenting sponsors H.P. Hood LLC and the New England Dairy Council. The event will include an exciting celebration at 11
  
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• Boston celebrates Guinness World Records title for 


  19-06-2026 15:22 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) joined Mayor Michelle Wu, elected officials, and Guinness World Records North America, Inc., at Piers Park II to celebrate a record-breaking achievement on Boston’s waterfront and the start of FIFA World Cup festivities across the region. A towering 47.9-foot soccer ball displayed at Piers Park II in East Boston has officially earned the Guinness World Records title for the World’s Largest Soccer Ball, giving Boston a larger-than-life symbo
  
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• Community Boating marks 80-years with 24-hour Sail-a-thon on the Charles


  12-06-2026 16:50 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The oldest public sailing organization in the U.S., Community Boating, Inc., will celebrate its 80th birthday beginning Saturday, June 20, with a 24-hour Sail-a-thon on the Charles River to support CBI’s continuing mission of providing equitable access to sailing for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

  ​For the Sail-a-thon, participants assigned to a specific boat will sail around the Charles River for a full 24 hours beginning at 10 a.m. on June 20, completing as
  
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• Boston Police searching for suspect in arson at Museum of African American History


  12-06-2026 16:49 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Boston Police are still searching for a suspect wanted in connection with an act of arson on the morning of Wednesday, June 3, targeting a package containing Juneteenth decorations found behind the Museum of African American History on Joy Street.

  ​The incident, which is being investigated as a possible hate crime, occurred at about 8:07 a.m, when the male suspect was caught on security camera opening an Amazon package containing the decorations and attempting to light it on fire be
  
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• Wu highlights City’s readiness for summer events
and announces coordinated preparation efforts across Boston


  12-06-2026 16:48 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Mayor Michelle Wu joined City leaders and public safety officials at the Boston Summer Events Command Center (BSECC) to provide an update on the extensive planning and coordination efforts underway to prepare for a summer that will bring millions of residents and visitors together for major events across Boston.

  This summer, Boston will host multiple major events: FIFA World Cup, Sail Boston and Boston 250. With the World Cup set to begin in a few days and Tall Ships arriving in Boston Ha
  
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• Opioid-related overdose deaths in state fall under 1,000 for the first time in over a decade


  12-06-2026 16:48 via beaconhilltimes.com
  For the first time in over a decade, total annual opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts fell below 1,000, according to Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) preliminary 2025 data recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

  There were 978 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths among Massachusetts residents last year – marking the first time since 2013 (992 deaths) that Massachusetts recorded fewer than 1,000 annual o
  
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• Massachusetts House passes landmark data privacy
legislation with strong consumer protections


  12-06-2026 16:48 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The Massachusetts House of Representatives has passed comprehensive legislation establishing essential consumer data privacy rights for residents of the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts Consumer Data Privacy Act provides consumers with greater control over their own data. The bill increases accountability for companies and grants user data privacy protections to residents of and those present in Massachusetts. Highlights include strong privacy protections for minors and a blanket ban on the sale
  
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• MAAM announces summer 2026 outdoor programming


  12-06-2026 16:48 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The MassArt Art Museum (MAAM) announces its Summer 2026 season, featuring a dynamic lineup of free, outdoor programs and community-centered events that celebrate creativity in unexpected places.

  While MAAM hits pause on indoor programming this summer as it transitions and prepares its spaces for the fall season, the museum will continue to offer a robust schedule of outdoor experiences that center the people, natural beauty, and cultural vitality of the neighborhood. Visitors are invited
  
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• June programming at The West End Museum continues


  12-06-2026 16:48 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The West End Museum celebrates Pride and learn about the LGBTQIA+ history of the neighborhood at the Queer History West End Exhibition Opening on June 17 at 6 p.m. This exhibition was made in partnership with Queer History Boston and is exclusively sponsored by Massachusetts 250th and Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce. 

  On June 19 at 5 p.m., The West End Museum’s Scotland Versus Morocco Watch Party will take place at The Pennyweight Hotel. This event is hosted by founder of Bos
  
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• Commonwealth Shakespeare Company names
Victoria Townsend producing director 


  12-06-2026 16:48 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) has named Victoria Townsend as its new producing director.

  From her early years with CSC as an Artistic/Management Intern (2011–2012) and Artistic Associate/Management Assistant (2013–2015), to joining the organization full-time as Artistic Programs Coordinator (2016–2018) and later serving as Artistic Programs Manager (2018–present), Townshend has built a remarkable career as an empathetic and decisive arts administrator, edu
  
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• Beacon Hill Garden Club holds its Spring Soiree

  05-06-2026 17:20 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Photos by Marianne SalzaThe Beacon Hill Garden Club, founded in 1928, held its Annual Spring Soireé on May 20 in anticipation of its 97th Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Annual Tour, held the following day. Attendees enjoyed cocktails in the King’s Chapel Parish House garden, and a sample of the tour. Proceeds from the Soireé benefit the organization’s education and conservation projects, urban landscape improvements, and grant program. 
  
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• Beacon Hill Art Walk returns this Sunday

  05-06-2026 17:11 via beaconhilltimes.com
  50+ artists will transform Beacon Hill into Boston’s most unique art show One of Boston’s most unique celebrations of the arts returns June 7, when the Beacon Hill Art Walk takes over the quiet streets and alleys of the beautiful, cobblestoned neighborhood. The one-of-a-kind Boston tradition serves as an unofficial start to the summer for many artists in and around Boston as Beacon Hill transforms into a fantastical art gallery where walls and gardens are adorned with beautiful
  
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• Wu cuts ribbon on restored Copley Square Park at Neighborhood Coffee Hour

  05-06-2026 17:10 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Mayor Michelle Wu joined elected and city officials and other stakeholders to cut the ribbon the newly renovated Copley Square Park on Wednesday, May 27, during her annual Neighborhood Coffee Hour for the Back Bay and Beacon Hill​“Situated between the Copley Library and Trinity Church as well as the home to events such as First Night, the Boston Marathon and the Copley Farmers Market — Copley Square is a treasured part of our city,” said Mayor Wu. “The restoration o
  
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• From Heartbreak to Hope: A morning blessing for the Esplanade’s newest swan family

  05-06-2026 17:08 via beaconhilltimes.com
  For anyone who loves the wildlife that graces our local waters, the memory of our 2022 swan family carries a deep, lingering ache. As a photographer, I spent hours capturing their tragically short journey. My camera lens didn’t just document their lives; it bound my heart to them. When their story ended in heartbreak, it left a wound that made me deeply hesitant to open my heart to the river’s swans again.So, when a friend messaged me with the news—”There is a nest, and h
  
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• Wu announces World Cup community watch parties 

  05-06-2026 17:05 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Mayor Michelle Wu has announced that the City of Boston will host six community watch parties for residents, families, and visitors this summer. Together with the FIFA Fan Festival hosted by Boston 26, these neighborhood celebrations will bring the excitement, energy, and spirit of the World Cup directly into communities across Boston.“Boston is proud to welcome the world this summer, and these watch parties will help bring the excitement and spirit of the World Cup directly into our commu
  
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• Congratulations, Class of 2026

  05-06-2026 17:04 via beaconhilltimes.com
  High school graduation season is upon us, the time of year when communities across America celebrate the accomplishments of young people receiving their high school diplomas.Graduation is a bittersweet occasion, marking both an ending and a beginning. For the grads, they will realize that the past four years, which they began as adolescents, are now culminating as they step into adulthood. They will be saying goodbye to their friends, teachers, and mentors who guided them through their formative
  
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• The Liberty Hotel kicks off summer Yappier Hour with ‘Dog Days of Summer’ party

  05-06-2026 17:03 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Located at 215 Charles St. at the foot of Beacon Hill, The Liberty Hotel has officially kicked off the summer season by inviting guests and their four-legged friends to a “Dog Days of Summer” party on Wednesday, June 3. The event marked the seasonal return of the hotel’s popular Yappier Hour series.The kickoff gathering brought guests and their dogs together in The Yard for a relaxed summer social experience. Attendees enjoyed several event highlights, including:• Refreshi
  
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• USS Constitution Museum launches Boston’s most revolutionary mini golf course

  05-06-2026 17:02 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The USS Constitution Museum has launched USS Constitution Mini Golf, a new free 9-hole course on the Charlestown Navy Yard designed to give residents and visitors a fun, accessible way to engage Boston’s role in the story of American independence.Celebrated with a ceremonial First Putt event, the new course opened with a ribbon cutting by sword before civic leaders took the first putt. The newly designed course offers a fresh summer activity on Boston Harbor while inviting players to exper
  
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• Bphc encourages Mpoxvaccinations in light of uptick in cases nationally and in Boston 

  05-06-2026 17:01 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) and partners at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health are monitoring an uptick in mpox cases in Boston and are encouraging at-risk individuals to get vaccinated. There is no widespread public health threat from mpox at this time, but at-risk residents, including gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men are encouraged to protect themselves and their communities by getting vaccinated. The mpox vaccine is two doses given 28 days apart.&
  
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• Gov. Healey Announces New State Funding for Fenway Forward’s Hancock Street Project

  29-05-2026 07:16 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Courtesy of Office of governor Maura T. Healey
  Rep. Jay Livingstone thanks supporters of the 27/29 Hancock St. project.
  
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• Memorial Day Flag Garden Returns To Common

  29-05-2026 07:14 via beaconhilltimes.com
  D. Murphy Photo Volunteers again planted more than 37,000 American flags – one in honor of each of the Commonwealth’s fallen veterans – at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Boston Common to commemorate Memorial Day. Every year since 2010, the Massachusetts Military Heroes
  Fund has led the effort behind the annual Memorial Day Flag Garden.
  
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• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Encourages Visitors to Make Water Safety a Priority this Summer

  29-05-2026 07:12 via beaconhilltimes.com
  USACE manages more than 400 lake and river projects nationwide and welcomes millions of visitors each year. While those visits create opportunities for recreation and family memories, preventable tragedies still occur on public waters annually, many involving people not wearing life jackets.Statistics from the last five years regarding public recreation fatalities at USACE lake and river projects show that 91% of victims were not wearing a life jacket, 92% were male, 88% were age 18 or older, an
  
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