Two Places Claim Birth of Telephone
Steps from City Hall, almost hidden in a courtyard between the John F. Kennedy Federal Building and Cambridge Street, a nondescript granite marker reads, BIRTHPLACE OF THE FIRST TELEPHONE..

1/2-Empty Buildings Won’t Get Tax Breaks
Boston’s assessing department appears to have obscured the full extent of the decline through its aggressive pushback against requests for tax abatements from owners of struggling older office buildings, often half or even mostly empty, critics contend.

Let There Be Light
The holidays are nearing with the Back Bay Association being the first to lighten a Boston neighborhood. The busi ness group has paid for the lights on Boylston and Newbury Streets..

Common Pavilion Goes Out for Bid
Stroll through the Boston Public Gardens and on through the Boston Common on your way to start the Freedom Trail and there’s an ideal spot to stop for lunch before beginning the iconic Beantown stroll.

GOING TO THE DOGS
Anyone who thinks that Downtown has gone to the dogs is correct. The Downtown Boston Business Improvement District held its annual Halloween parade for neighborhood canines on October 26..

NO DENTISTS WANTED!
Children (and adults) flocked to Beacon Hill’s annual trick or treat Halloween party. Given the amount of sugar consumed, no dentists were permitted to attend..

Red Sox to Focus On Transportation
Representatives of both organizations presented a series of street redesign projects in the neighborhood at a community meeting on October 29. The projects, known as the Fenway Transportation Action Plan, are slated to begin the design process in 2025.

NO CARS WANTED
The Boston Transportation Department has installed a pedestrian plaza in front of Whole Foods on Edgerly Road. The Fenway Civic Association sponsored an inaugural party on November 1..

Fenway Development at Center of Zoning Conflict
The Boston City Council met last Monday to hear community comments and discuss an amendment to the Parks Frontage Ordinance, restricting the height of buildings near parks.

DINNER WITH FRIENDS
The Ellis Neighborhood Association held a Progressive dinner at local restaurants on October 29..

Cathedral High Has Raised $60,000,000
“Our anonymous donor knew what this school meant to him,” said Cathedral President Dan Carmody. “He knew how he started here. He knew some of the challenges he faced and what this school helped him to overcome. His very simple goal was to make sure that never ends.

Will the Seaport Be Underwater?
As construction continues in such low-lying areas like the Seaport and East Boston, planners and private sector insurance experts are warning developers and insurers to go beyond currently required building standards and consider what climate change will mean for potential flood hazards in future years.

LIFE CAN BE A CIRCUS
The Art Resource Collaborative for Kids (ARCK) which funds arts projects in the Boston public schools held its 13th annual fundraising gala on October 24. The theme was Cirque du Soiree..