By Courtney Wright
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it”. -Mark Twain
As I write this upon waking up to the government being shut down, it felt appropriate to channel Mark Twain. One of America’s greatest humorists, he was also a great voice for social and political commentary, and it felt right to shine a light on him today.
On the bright side, (literally) the sun continues to be relentless, and the temperature is staying pleasant well into Fall. October will be the last month of outdoor dining so I encourage you to make the most of the weather and utilize our outdoor patios around the neighborhood over the next few weeks. If you prefer more of an indoor vibe for your fall activities such as watching football or playoff baseball- Puddingstone Tavern will be showing both throughout the season.
September is always a busy month and as such, flies by. The MH Post’s Annual Golf Tournament was played on Saturday, Sept 20th and unlike last year’s monsoon- they had a perfect sunny and warm day. I thoroughly enjoy hanging with the 327 crew and was sad to have missed the tournament this year due to an injury, but I heard it was a great day. I look forward to seeing the MH Post group in November for Veteran’s Day- another annual event in Brigham Circle that I hope you will join us for. The Mission Hill Road Race took place the following Saturday, the 27th, and also benefitted from fantastic weather. This year was the 20th anniversary of the race and it was a festive time with lots of activities up in the Park in addition to the usual set-up. Congratulations to both MH Post and MHNHS on another September of successful fundraising and community building.
September was also a big month for New England Baptist Hospital who welcomed their new President, Katie Galbraith, MBA, FACHE. Prior to joining the Baptist, Galbraith served as President of Main Line Health Lankenau Medical Center in Pennsylvania, where she oversaw strategy, growth and operations of the medical center. She also was an executive sponsor for the Main Line Health Cardiovascular Service Line and the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research. She previously spent 26 years in a variety of roles at Duke University Health System in North Carolina, including nine years as president of Duke Regional Hospital. Galbraith earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a Master of Business Administration from Elon University. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served on numerous local, regional and national boards and committees.
In true NEBH fashion, Katie has already begun immersing herself in the neighborhood and many of us have had the opportunity to meet her at back-to-school events, community meetings and most recently at the Mission Hill Road Race. Welcome to Mission Hill Katie!
October is here and that means that Halloween on the Hill planning is officially underway. The annual event will be happening on the Friday of Halloween from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. beginning at the Tobin Community Center at 1481 Tremont St. Families can pick up their trick or treat bags and maps of local businesses that will be handing out candy throughout the neighborhood. If you are brave enough, the Tobin youth and staff always put together an awesome haunted house in the basement of the community center. Each year, Halloween on the Hill brings out hundreds of youth and families to Mission Hill and our business district to celebrate and enjoy Halloween safely and with lots of fun activities. Look out for flyers with more information.
The nomination period for the fourth annual Legacy Business Awards is now open! Residents are encouraged to nominate long standing businesses that have been located within the city of Boston for at least 10 years and contribute to the cultural, historical, and societal fabric of their community or neighborhood. To nominate a business, residents can use the online form available at https://www.boston.gov/government/cabinets/economic-opportunity-and-inclusion/legacy-business-program, visit their local Boston Public Library branch, or call the Office of Small Business at 617-635-0355. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, October 31, 2025.
Finally, please join us on Tuesday, October 21st at the Mission Bar and Grill for our annual meeting/fundraiser! We will be celebrating this year’s Legacy Business, among other awards, while sharing and celebrating the work done over the last year. Please purchase a ticket (it is a fundraiser after all!) so that we can plan accordingly for food and capacity given that this year’s event will be indoors. If you want to attend but cannot buy a ticket, please reach out to me at [email protected]
Buy tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bites-and-brews-to-benefit-mission-hill-main-streets-tickets-1708546311009?aff=oddtdtcreator