After six years as the city’s neighborhood coordinator/district representative to Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Mission Hill and the Fenway, William Onuoha stepped down from the position Friday to join the staff of Northeastern University. Onuoha was scheduled to begin work yesterday in his new role as the community liaison for the college’s Office of...
We are into the second week of January during a season with no snow, no ice, no biting cold and frankly, with no sign of winter. Obviously, most of us don’t feel or believe that we’re missing anything. There is also the mass belief held inside that the remainder of the winter in front...
Assault and Battery 12/31/11 – A Charles Street liquor store reported a male suspect attempted to conceal four bottles of wine in a messenger bag and leave the store at around 5:56 p.m. The manager confronted the suspect, and a struggle ensued inside the store. At this time, the suspect fled on foot, and...
Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill concluded its five-year Mystery Ornament series and the publication of “The Last Shepard and Tales of The Tenth Ornament” with a Christmas Eve celebration at Boston’s Park Plaza Hotel and a dramatic rendezvous at Cambridge Trust Company Bank at 65 Beacon St. for the unveiling of a mystery message and...
Area A-1, which includes Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown and downtown, saw an approximately 13-percent reduction in violent and property crimes by year’s end as compared to 2010, according to Boston Police. Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 26 of 2011, 2,843 incidents of Part One crime were reported, compared with 3,254 during the same timeframe...
New years bring resolutions to live a healthier life. Changes in social attitudes create new ways to improve your health. By converting your building to a smoke-free zone, you can improve both your physical and fiscal health in 2012. The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) has made access to smoke-free housing a priority. A...
The Pop’s was brilliant. The Fireworks were dazzling. The New Year, as usual, came in with a bang instead of a whimper. Hundreds of thousands descended into the city and filled neighborhoods like ours almost without a single negative event except for the sidewalk trash that so many people tend to leave behind or...
The final death knell for Filene’s basement last week is like a stab in the heart for those of us who grew-up with parents who considered Filene’s Basement every bit as good as brand name stores with the most expensive and high quality clothing and accessory items. If you are over 45, most likely...
Beacon Hill Representative Marty Walz has done the right thing in filing legislation that will return all wedding officiating fees derived by the Boston City Clerk’s office to the general fund. In fact, her bill requires all city and town clerks to do the same. She along with City Council President Steven Murphy and...
A new year is always a time of new beginnings and resolutions. Many annual vows have to do with eating better. If we combine that thought with the common desire to spend more time with family and friends, you have the perfect excuse to make 2012 the year when you have more meals at...
Fire 12/22/11 – Police responded to a Beacon Street building fire at around 8:57 a.m. Boston firefighters were on scene, investigating a report of an elevator motor smoking. The estimated cost of damage is $1,000. Vandalism 12/25/11 – A victim reported that he parked his 2001 Toyota Camry on Charles Street at around 12:52...
• In January, the city began taking steps to make public safety improvements to Codman Island at Charles and Beacon streets in response to concerns from the Beacon Hill Civic Association and City Councilor Mike Ross’ office. • On Jan. 16, state Environmental Police killed a coyote that was spotted near the Frog Pond...
It was a turbulent and tumultuous year in some parts of the world. In this nation, it was, above all, a year when we got more of the same rather than the dramatic change needed to alter our course. The economy improved just a bit but millions remain unemployed, businesses refuse to hire new...
Larcency in a Building 12/14/11 – A victim reported unknown person(s) stole her wallet, contained U.S. currency, credit cards and personal papers, from a Temple Place office at around 1 p.m. Larceny/ Shoplifting 12/15/11 – A Charles Street clothing store reported a female suspect stole a pink beaded dress at around 7:30 a.m. Incidents...
A Christmas tradition continued on Saturday afternoon at 75 Chestnut Street Restaurant where residents came to decorate their Gingerbread Houses. In addition to having a fun time, a portion of the proceeds was donated to the local charity, Cheers for Children. In the top photo Jon Lopez helps his daughter Sadie Lopez by putting...
At its monthly member-ship meeting last week, the Downtown North Association welcomed Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) Director Peter Meade, who provided an optimistic outlook on the future of the city. “We want a city where people work, live and enjoy themselves – a city that people are proud of,” Meade said. “I think we...
In celebration of the 180th anniversary of the New England Anti-Slavery Society, Horace Seldon on January 5 at 6 p.m. will lead a discussion on William Lloyd Garrison at the newly reopened African Meeting House where this seminal abolitionist group was formed. Following the program, tour Don West’s magnificent exhibition, Portraits of Purpose, which...
Christmas 2011 is days away. Most of us are busy preparing for the holiday. All of us this year are receiving a great present – the official end of the war in Iraq. Nine Christmas celebrations have come and gone since we invaded Iraq. Thousands of brave Americans died there and tens of thousands...
This Christmas Eve, Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill will conclude its five-year “Mystery Ornament Project,” with a two-day celebration in partnership with Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Smolak Farms, the Wang Theatre and Cambridge Trust Company Bank to benefit cancer research at Mass. General Hospital for Children Cancer Center (MGHCC). Hundreds of people from all over...
With less than two weeks until Christmas, the annual Charles Street Stroll was held on last Thursday night. For three hours Charles Street was turned into a pedestrian mall. In the above photo from left Lisa Osterfeld, Susan Symonds, President of the Beacon Hill Civic Association and Ian Moorhouse, Executive Director of Hill House...
Villa Mexico Café failed to win the support of the Beacon Hill Civic Association (BHCA) Zoning and Licensing Committee last week for the restaurant’s proposed move to a new location at 12 Grove St. The committee decided by a vote of 12-3-3 Wednesday to oppose the applicant’s request for the zoning relief and licenses...
The Esplanade Association’s efforts to significantly improve the landscape of one of Boston’s most treasured parks have been given a big boost. The organization has announced that it has received an award in the amount of $1 million to help revitalize and re-landscape the Eliot Memorial area on the Esplanade, as well as aid...
Attempted Robbery (Knife) 11/29/11 – A male victim reported while walking through the Public Garden on the Charles Street side at around 7:20 p.m., an unknown male suspect placed a knife to his neck and demanded money. At this time, the victim refused and pushed the suspect away without relinquishing any property. The suspect...
Mayor Thomas Menino did the right thing in the end, evicting without incident the remaining numbers of those who will go down in local folklore for many years to come as the Occupiers of Boston. As nearly everyone in Boston knows, the end did not come with a bang, as TS Eliot so brilliantly...