City Councilor At-Large Annissa Essaibi-George set up a mask-making operation out of her business Stitch House, a local yarn and crafting store in Dorchester, at the beginning of the City’s lockdown due to COVID-19. Word about the masks spread, and one of the sewing teachers at StitchHouse organized a grassroots mask-making effort—Boston Area Mask Initiative. Read More…
City officials met with restaurant and bar owners to discuss the idea of a liquor license purchase/leasing program that would offer immediate financial relief to struggling businesses during a virtual hearing on Wednesday afternoon. The proposal, filed by Councilor Lydia Edwards (District 1), would allow the City of Boston to buy (and leaseback) liquor licenses Read More…
From the office of Senator Joseph Boncore: The Massachusetts Legislature passed a bill on Thursday May 21, 2020, that will provide additional Unemployment Insurance (UI) relief to low-income families, non-profit institutions and employers. An Act Providing Additional Support to Those Affected by the Novel Coronavirus Through the Unemployment Insurance System builds on UI legislation already Read More…
The Reopen Boston Fund will provide $6 million in new debt-free grants to help qualified small businesses implement the necessary public health measures required to reopen safely as the City continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. This new funding is aimed at supporting small businesses with under 15 employees and with a majority of employees Read More…
North End Waterfront Health (NEW Health) has announced an infusion of $50,000 in emergency grant funding from the medical aid organization Direct Relief, in partnership with the National Association of Community Health Centers. NEW Health was among 518 federally qualified health centers to receive funding this week through Direct Relief’s $25 million COVID-19 Fund for Read More…
Nearly half, 47%, of COVID-19 patients have recovered in the City of Boston. Boston’s total reported number of cases stands at 12,306. According to the most recent data, there were 779 newly reported positive cases citywide, a 7% increase from last week. The North End, Downtown, Back Bay, and Beacon Hill have had a total of 434 positive Read More…
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Peace and All-Good! It is with joy and some caution that I share the news that we will soon be opening again with restrictions. Given COVID-19 has not gone away, we are using this week to prepare how to safely worship together with all the social distancing regulations Read More…
Stressing the need for a slow and cautious approach to reopening the City, Mayor Walsh opened his discussion with the Wharf District Council at their May meeting by referencing the latest COVID-19 numbers, which as of Wednesday, May 20, stood at 588 deaths and over 12,000 reported cases in Boston. Watch the full meeting video Read More…
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, a non-profit public interest harbor advocacy group, shares this video above to encourage social distancing at beaches this summer. As part of the Massachusetts phased re-opening, beaches are permitted to open as early as May 25—Memorial Day. Beach goers and managers must adhere to strict guidelines to ensure public safety. Read More…
The Wharf District Council (WDC) held its May meeting on Tuesday evening. The following reports and community updates were presented as part of a full agenda. The WDC welcomed the new North End & West End Liaison John Romano and recognized Councilor Ed Flynn’s volunteer initiative that helped arrange 5,000 phone calls to seniors and Read More…
As we move through the surreal days created by the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be comforting and inspiring to learn the stories of those who survived similar challenges which, at the time, were unprecedented. These stories can lead us to acknowledge our human fragility but also our ability to persevere and prevail when our physical, Read More…
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker presented details on the state’s four-step phased reopening in response to the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this week. Phase 1, titled “Start,” began Monday, May 18. On this date, manufacturing and construction businesses, as well as places of worship, could open with restrictions and capacity limitations. Also part of Phase 1, on Read More…