Pictured, left to right, are Steve Young, chair of the Beacon Hill Civic Association board of directors; John Corey, Civic Association director and co-chair of the Joint Charles Street Committee; and Ania Camargo, Civic Association director and past president, at the Civic Association’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new tree-guards and planting on Charles Street.
On Jan. 7, City Councilor at-Large Stephen Murphy was unanimously nominated by the council to serve another two-year term as its president and appointed District 1 City Councilor Sal LaMattina to serve as its vice president for the same duration.
On Jan. 31, the popular Mexican eatery Villa Mexico Café closed its location at Grampy’s gas station.
In mid-February, Marty Walz stepped down from her post as 8th Suffolk District state representative to assume the role of president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.
On April 15, two pressure-cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the 117th annual Boston Marathon on Boylston Street, killing three and injuring more than 260 others.
On May 16, the Beacon Hill Garden Club hosted its 84th annual tour of the Hidden Gardens and its inaugural President’s Luncheon at Hampshire House. At that time, the group also celebrated the launch of its newest book, “The Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill: Creating Green Spaces in Urban Places.”
On May 20, the Beacon Hill Civic Association held its 91st annual meeting at the Union Club, where the organization awarded the 17th annual Beacon Award to Mark Duffield and Jennifer Hill, proprietors of Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill, for their philanthropic contributions to the neighborhood.
On June 2, the annual Beacon Hill Art Walk again transformed the neighborhood’s gardens, alleyways and courtyards into outdoor gallery space.
On June 25, Beacon Hill attorney Jay Livingstone won a special election to succeed Marty Walz as the 8th Suffolk District state representative.
On June 25, Beacon Hill voters supported seasoned Democrat Edward Markey in his special–election victory over GOP newcomer Gabriel Gomez in the race for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by John Kerry.
In July, “Outside the Box,” a nine-day performing arts festival, took place on the Boston Common and at other city sites.
In July, construction began on a $225 million rehabilitation of the Longfellow Bridge, which aims to better accommodate bicycles and pedestrians, and to otherwise bring the 107-year-old crossing up to modern code.
On Sept. 4, Beacon Hill Civic Association held a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside of 26 Charles St. for new tree-guards and plantings that the group donated to the community to commemorate its 90th anniversary.
On Sept. 8, the Charles Street Market closed.
On Sept. 10, The Esplanade Association and the Department of Conservation and Recreation held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Charles Eliot Memorial, located adjacent to the Community Boating Docks on the Charles River Esplanade.
In October, James Hasson, a 25-year veteran of the Boston Police Department (BPD), assumed the captain’s post of Area A-1, replacing Tom Lee, who now serves as chief of police for Portsmouth, R.I.
On Nov. 5, State Rep. Marty Walsh beat City Councilor John Connolly in the election to succeed Thomas M. Menino as the 54th mayor of Boston.
On Nov. 14, Suffolk University broke ground on a new academic building at 20 Somerset St.
On Dec. 5, the 72nd annual tree lighting took place on the Boston Common.
On Dec. 12, the Charles Street First Annual Holiday Storefront Decorating Contest took place during the annual Holiday Stroll Tree Lighting Ceremony.
On Dec. 19, the Beacon Hill Architectural Commission voted to reject a proposal from the Public Works Department to construct ADA-accessible ramps with brick-red, composite tactile strips at various brick and concrete sidewalks within the Historic Beacon Hill District. At that time, the commission voted to approve another PWD plan for modifications to Joy Street as part of the first phase of Connect Historic Boston – an initiative between the National Park Service and the Boston Transportation Department to facilitate accessibility to sites citywide via walking, biking and public transportation.