State Rep. Marty Walz recently joined with more than 100 policymakers, national experts, educators, law enforcement and court officials, students, parents and other stakeholders committed to improving school disciplinary policies. The diverse, bipartisan national group, convened by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, commenced work on recommendations for approaches to school discipline...
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Voting on Question 2
Beacon Hill residents voting on November 6 will have the option to vote for or against a ballot measure regarding physician prescribed and assisted suicide. It is, obviously, an important ballot question as it goes to the core of how we view life and what we are prepared to do to stop unnecessary suffering...
A Safe Neighborhood
A recent reading of the statistical analysis of crimes committed in Boston by the Boston Police Department reveals that overall crime on Beacon Hill has again dropped, and dramatically. Violent crimes and property crimes declined by 15-percent compared with the same timeframe last year. There were no homicides and one rape. Residential burglaries were...
Police Briefs 10-16-2012
Assault and Battery 10/06/12 – A Charles Street liquor store reported an unknown intoxicated male suspect entered the store at around 8:58 p.m. and requested that the clerk open a bottle of wine for him. The clerk recognized that the bottle was stolen from another local store, and a brief struggle ensued; the suspect...
St. Cecilia’s Parish Honored with Preservation Achievement Award
St. Cecilia’s Parish received an award for Rehabilitation/Restoration of a Religious Property during the October 3rd, 2012 Preservation Achievement Awards. Pastor Reverend John Unni proudly accepted the certificate from the Boston Preservation Alliance at the Paramount Center, Boston. During the rehabilitation, the Parish House was demolished, but the original foundation was preserved. The interior...
Collections Inventory Commences at the Nichols House Museum
An important part of a museum’s mission is to preserve its collection, whether it be of fine art or dinosaur bones, for future generations’ study and enjoyment. This month, the Nichols House Museum began an important part of the ongoing preservation process—the collection inventory. Led by Assistant to the Director Ashley Jahrling and Boston-area...
Greening Your Historic Home
For many people, “going green” sounds like a tedious chore which requires plenty of out-of-pocket expenses. Fortunately, it’s a lot easier than it sounds and every small effort makes a difference. One of the first steps towards a cleaner, safer planet starts at home. If you’ve ever wished to maintain your historic Beacon Hill...
Meet Local Police at the Firehouse Next Week
Beacon Hill residents are again invited to make the acquaintance of local law enforcement at another informal “meet and greet” sponsored by the Beacon Hill Civic Association (BHCA) Safety Committee. “It’s a chance to get to know everyone in the neighborhood,” Captain Tom Lee. “I’m sure they’ll have concerns, and that’s why I’m doing...
Of Canines and Things
A few months ago, the state enacted a new law to modernize animal-control laws, which includes the first statewide rules for tethering canines. The bill signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick is especially aimed at those who are convicted of cruelty to animals. The law also bans a person from keeping a dog...
Police Briefs 09-10-2012
Larceny in a Building 09/26/12 – A male suspect was arrested in a River Street building at around 10:30 a.m. for larceny in a building of a bicycle. Breaking and Entering – Residence 09/26/12 – A Joy Street resident reported unknown person(s) entered his apartment and removed clothing and the apartment key sometime between...
Moon Dance Gala
More than 400 people attended The Esplanade Association’s Moon Dance Gala on Saturday night. The event took place under a tent on the Esplanade.
Plans Underway for BHCA Winter Dance
It was early afternoon on Mt. Vernon St., following an early snowstorm. The leaves had not yet shivered off the branches and onto the quiet road, which was covered in mountains of snow. In front of Suffolk Law School was a puddle that pooled into a dip in the cobblestones. This seldom publicized image...
Beacon Hill Sees Drop in Crime
Beacon Hill has seen a 15-percent decrease in violent and property crimes to date in 2012, compared with the same timeframe last year, according to Boston Police. Between January and August of this year, 143 incidents of Part One crime were reported in the neighborhood as opposed to 179 in 2011. No homicides were...
Improvements Planned for Storrow Drive
The Department of Conser-vation and Recreation (DCR) unveiled plans for its approximately $3.1 million roadway and tunnel improvements project to Storrow Drive last week. According to DCR officials, construction will commence next month and is slated for completion in April, depending on the weather. Work hours will be from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.,...
New Director at Beacon Hill Village Brings Experience to Helping Seniors
When older adults and seniors live by themselves, it’s easy to become complacent and set in their schedules. Maybe they wake at a specific time to watch their morning program on TV, with a cup of tea in one hand and a newspaper on the kitchen table. Laura Connors, Executive Director at Beacon Hill...
Columbus Day
Monday the 8this the annual celebration of Columbus Day – which commemorates the achievements of Christopher Columbus, chief among them, the discovery of America. No 15thCentury explorer matched the heroism and daring that Christopher Çolumbus brought onto the world stage at a time when most people believed the world was flat. He was, according...
Register to Vote
Massachusetts voters have until October 13, to register to vote. The presidential election coming up in November is among the most important in decades. In order to vote, one must be registered to make themselves heard and felt – as a single vote has great value in our society. We urge all those who...
‘Ducklings’ Sculptor to Preside over 25th-birthday Celebration in Public Garden on Saturday
The sculptor who brought Mrs. Mallard and her family of aquatic birds from Robert McCloskey’s “Make Way for Ducklings” to life in the Public Garden will preside over a 25th-birthday celebration for the Boston landmark this Saturday. “It’s unbelievable what an important part of Boston has become, Nancy Schön said. “I can’t...
Neighborhood Favors Helping Charles St. Mkt.
A plan that would enable the Charles Street Market to stay in its current location met with a favorable public response at the Firehouse Wednesday during an informal meeting sponsored by the Beacon Hill Civic Association (BHCA). Market proprietor Tracy Hollander and Joel Kadis, a partner at Burlington-based Linear Retail Properties, which owns the...
Color is issue on curb cuts
When city officials sought public input on the materials used to construct pedestrian ramps within Boston’s historical districts Wednesday, the conversation at City Hall quickly turned to the most appropriate color for the tactile strips in the curb cuts. The Public Works Department is currently repaving streets citywide and required under federal law to...
BHCA Campaign Drawing to a Close
At its annual meeting on May 21st, the BHCA Board of Directors announced that it was launching a 90th Anniversary capital campaign to enhance Charles Street. The goal of the campaign was to celebrate the organization’s anniversary by raising funds to install uniform tree guards and planting for the 53 trees on Charles Street,...
A Great Time Was Had by All
Last week’s Beacon Hill Civic Association annual block party was a tremendous success. Hundreds of Beacon Hill residents attended the affair which featured multiple venues that appealed in one way or another to nearly all those who came out for the event. The weather was fabulous, so warm and sunny – a quintessential pre-fall...
The Day of Atonement
Wednesday will mark the Jewish High Holiday of Yom Kippur. For Jews this is the most sacred holy day of the year, when God closes the Book of Life after deciding whose names get written into it. The Day of Atonement is indeed the moment all Jews are asked to atone for the sins...
EAC Fails to Address New School : Downtown Grammar School Not on Agenda
While many applauded the efforts to date of the External Advisory Committee (EAC) on Improving School Choice and School Assignment at Wednesday’s community meeting, a resounding concern among those in attendance was that their work doesn’t address the need for a new grammar school to serve downtown neighborhoods. “We very frustrated again in this...