By Dan Murphy The Beacon Hill Civic Association Zoning and Licensing Committee voted on Wednesday to oppose granting the variances that would allow the homeowners of 12 Byron St. to build a third-floor addition and roof deck. The applicants intend to make substantial renovations to the two-story carriage house presently used as a single-family...
BTD Launches Pilot-Program for Commercial Parking on Cambridge St
By Dan Murphy In an effort to curb frequent problems with commercial vehicles double-parking and blocking vehicle and bicycle traffic, the Boston Transportation Department is s engaging in a two-week pilot for commercial parking on Cambridge Street between Charles Circle and Sudbury Street. The program, which runs from Aug. 1 to 14, standardizes the...
Downtown View:When Should A Building Be Landmarked?
By Karen Cord Taylor Karen is on a break. This subject continues to be important. Recently the Boston Landmarks Commission voted to study whether this commercial artifact should be given landmark status. For some people, it’s only a sign. Others believe it gives Boston a sense of place. In any case, the results of...
Neighborhood Night Out At the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
By Beth Treffeisen On a warm summer night on July 28, people from around the city gathered for the second edition of the free neighborhood nights at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. “It’s a way to get people from the neighboring communities here,” said Sarah Whitling the marketing assistant at the museum. “It certainly...
Environmental Groups Call for Leadership and Water Conservation as Drought Worsens
As northeast and central Massachusetts continue to suffer from severe drought, environmental groups call on the Commonwealth and residents throughout Massachusetts to take steps now to conserve water and to manage our freshwater resources better. In a letter to Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton, a coalition of 45 environmental organizations...
Meetings Scheduled On Longfellow Bridge Rehab Project Update
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has scheduled two Public Information Meetings for the Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Project: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Shriners Hospitals for Children – Auditorium 51 Blossom Street, Boston, MA and Thursday, August 18, 2016 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Multicultural Arts Center 41 Second Street, Cambridge,...
Police Briefs 08-09-2016
BEACON HILL BEAT From Boston Police Area A-1 Breaking and Entering – Residence 07/31/16 – A female victim reported while she was out from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., unknown person(s) broke into her Hancock Street apartment. The suspect(s) apparently climbed the fire escape, removed the screen to the open window and climbed into...
The Olympic Spirit Still Exists
For almost all of us, the Olympics have provided memories that have lasted a lifetime. We can all measure how old we were, or where we were, when we recall Olympic moments both from our youth and through adulthood. For example, who among us (of a certain age) does not remember, as if it...
City of Boston Credit Union is Title Sponsor for Putts & Punches for Parkinson’s Golf Tournament
City of Boston Credit Union has stepped up as the title sponsor for this year’s Putts & Punches for Parkinson’s Golf Tournament. The tournament created and hosted by Shawn Thornton of the Florida Panthers, formerly of the Boston Bruins, was held on Monday, August 8. Now in its seventh year, proceeds are donated to...
For A Good Cause
Under perfect summer skies, Community Boating Inc. held its second annual Dock Party on July 28. Shown above are members of the Gala Committee that put on this great event.
Beacon Hill Nursery School has Interim Executive Director
By Dan Murphy As the newly named interim executive-director of Beacon Hill Nursery School, Chad Small is looking forward to September with great enthusiasm. “New school years are a really cool, wonderful time,” Small said. “September is really when the action starts. When all the kids and teachers get back, that’s when it gets...
Love that Charles River Water Quality:EPA Gives Another B+
The EPA has given a grade of “B+” for water quality in the Charles River during 2015, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s New England regional office. Water quality improved slightly from the 2014 calendar year, but fell just short of an “A-.” This is the 21st year EPA has issued a Charles...
Closures Continuing At Longfellow Bridge
MassDOT’s contractor, White-Skanska-Consigli JV (WSC), will close the Longfellow Bridge to all vehicular traffic as follows: Through Friday, August 5, from 11:00 PM each night to 5:00 AM the following morning The closures are necessary to perform utility work in the downstream roadway and track work from the upstream roadway. Bicycle and pedestrian traffic...
Beacon Street Brownstone Speaks History Through Reclaimed Wood
By Beth Treffeisen A historic brownstone on Beacon Street gave up a hidden secret during a gut-rehab project with the rare discovery of wooden joists made of Heart Pine, uncommon to the late 19th century Boston buildings that are normally built with fir joists. Discovered by Catamount Builders during the buildings demo, the floors...
Fresh & Local:Wasted Food When Dining Out
by Penny Cherubino There are ways for you to cut down on wasted food when you dine out at your favorite restaurants. Too many of us don’t think about wasted food when we push away a restaurant plate with food remaining on it. You’re not only wasting food, you’re also not getting top value...
‘Puppets on the Common’ Returns Aug 16
The Friends of the Public Garden will present the sixth annual presentation of its popular “Puppets on the Common” show featuring Rosalita’s Puppets from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common. Master puppeteer and creative director Charlotte Dore will direct a performance of the marionette show “The Enchanted...
August Happenings At The Boston Public Market
Savor your last month of summer and come see what’s buzzing at the Boston Public Market! Join us in the kitchen to find out why honey is so unBEEleivably sweet. Need inspiration for your next summer dinner? Surprise your guests with an Orange Zest pasta salad. Top this bright dish with fresh tomatoes and...
Downtown View:Donald O’Trump
By Karen Cord Taylor This column was published last fall. Things haven’t changed except that Donald is now the Republican nominee. But only a few weeks ago The New York Times reported he wouldn’t rule out quitting shortly after he was elected, if he did win. So I’m thinking he still is running partly...
Letter to the Editor
Tethering is cruel Dear Editor: The German shepherd in Middleborough who chewed off part of his paw after reportedly being tethered for at least a day and becoming entangled is a reminder of the cruelty and danger of tethering and why it should be banned altogether. Entanglement and neglect are just two of the...
Enjoy The Last Days of Summer
When we glanced at the calendar this week, it seemed hard to believe that August already is here — and that are just four weeks to go until Labor Day weekend. Summer always is fleeting. It goes by way too fast, even if it has been a perfect summer season, as 2016 thus far...
Friends of the Public Garden Summer Party
Friends Dedra Estes, Cathy Iacobo, Patricia McAuley, and Cheri Meckley at The Friends of the Public Garden Summer Party on the Taj Boston rooftop.
City to Remove Dead Trees
Nearly 50 dead trees throughout Beacon Hill are expected to be removed this week and next by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, according to Max Ford-Diamond, Tree Maintenance General Foreman. And he’s let us know which ones by providing a tree maintenance list of the addresses abutting each tree. That list is now...
Mayor Walsh Brings Coffee Hour to Myrtle Street Playground
By Dan Murphy Mayor Martin J. Walsh brought his neighborhood coffee hour to the Myrtle Street Playground on Friday. Walsh told the crowd that the city would hold a meeting in the near future to address moving forward with its commitment to make the neighborhood’s sidewalks handicap accessible. He added that he intends to...
Downtown View:Meeting Over Coffee
Our local elected officials usually schedule coffee hours once a month or so in each neighborhood in case constituents want to come and chat about important public matters. So a couple of weeks ago I sat down with state Rep. Jay Livingstone as he waited in Panificio on Charles Street for people to come...
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