With unfortunate timing, it appears we will be hearing once again about the accused Boston Marathon terrorist bomber around the time of the race, as his trial wraps up near this year’s April 20 marathon date. One thing for locals…
Category: Opinion
Hill Happenings
I was reflecting about my childhood friend, Phil Thompson, who passed away last month. My mind traveled to the great English-Latin football game at Harvard Stadium on Thanksgiving Day in 1966. I was among the 35,000 fans and I was…
What’s Happening on Main Street
Spring has finally arrived! Evidence is found in tulip buds bursting forth from their frozen slumber, announcing nature’s annual rebirth. Precipitation by the bucketful is more hospitable than by the shovelful. On March 23 I convened with a group of…
Editorial: Supporting local businesses
The natural disaster that was—and still is—Boston’s recent waves of blizzards has hit small businesses hard. Mission Hill’s local businesses are not only a source of pride, but a linchpin of the local economy. They keep dollars in the neighborhood,…
Editorial: Moving forward on BPS
We welcome the hiring of Dr. Tommy Chang as the new superintendent of Boston Public Schools. And we hope this means BPS finally will move forward with community-based, transparent master planning. For too long, under former Mayor Menino, BPS decision-making…
Hill Happenings
With March upon us, Mission Hill will celebrate the patron saint of Ireland, St.Patrick. Perhaps some of our fine local pouring establishments will entertain us with Irish music to help digest the corned beef and cabbage on March 17. Irish…
What’s Happening on Main Streets
Mayor James Michael Curley’s biblical rejoinder about the annual hullabaloo over municipal snow removal—“The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away!”—would not have received the inevitable smiles from his devoted constituents if he had been in office last month. February 2015…
Editorial: Olympics vs. democracy
A hearty thank you to Mission Hill’s city councilor, Josh Zakim, for boldly proposing ballot questions regarding the Boston Olympics bid. Yes, the questions would be nonbinding, and ballots would be cast after the bid submission deadline. But Zakim’s real…
Hill Happenings
Congrats to local tavern-owner Diarmuid O’Neill and his lovely wife Sara O’Neill on the adoption of their four children. The beautiful children—Bezawit, 10;Selamawit, 8; Rahel, 7; and their “wee boy” Andualem, 5—are from Ethiopia. Diarmuid owns the Squealing Pig in…
What’s Happening on Main Street
Malcolm Butler’s timely interception was matched by an equally impressive one made by Police Commissioner Bill Evans following Boston’s Super Bowl victory. I’m not sure which amazed me more. Super Sunday found me visiting local merchants to gauge the commercial…