Welfare Reform Bill Introduced on Beacon Hill

The bill, aimed at curbing abuse and fraud, will be debated by the Senate Thursday.

  State Senate Democrats have introduced a new bill this week intended at reforming the Massachusetts welfare system, including forcing applicants to prove they have searched for employment through a state program. According to Boston.com, the bill is aimed at shaking up what Senate President Therese Murray called a "stagnant" system. And the Senate expects to act quickly with a vote coming Thursday. Boston.com reported the bill would also force adult welfare recipients to use EBT cards with "photographic identity." Penalties of perjury could be imposed on recipients who use a false identity. In a statement, Republican Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said the bill "reflects a comprehensive approach that seeks to transition recipients …

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See Price Tag For Meeting House Condo

The Boston Herald reports the condo in the historic Charles Street Meeting House is on the market.

An historic Beacon Hill landmark has been converted into a very unique living space with a condo now available for $4.9 million, according to the Boston Herald. The Herald reported the 1807 Charles Street Meeting House at 125 Mount Vernon St. was converted to offices, retail and a condo in the 1980s. That condo has four levels, four bedrooms, 4,000 square feet and the seller hoping to fetch the nearly $5 million price tag. The meeting house is on the National Register of Historic Places and the Herald reported the restorations to the interior for the condo only took place after approval from five different preservation groups. For more on the condo, read the rest of the Herald's story here.

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Crowds Swarm Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Tour

Annual tour showcases the hill's finest gardens.

Dozens of garden enthusiasts turnout out Thursday for the 84th Annual Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Tour from the Beacon Hill Garden Club. Twelve gardens from garden club members were selected for the tour, as well as four "ribbon" gardens in the neighborhood from non-club members. Long lines wrapped around several streets where onlookers hoped to grab a glimpse of the fine neighborhood gardens. Check out our brief video clip from the Annie Fields Garden and pictures from the day above.

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Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Tour Tomorrow

Annual Beacon Hill Garden Club event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday.

The 2013 annual Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill tour will be held tomorrow throughout the private gardens of the Beacon Hill neighborhood. As always, the Hidden Gardens tour is being put on by the Beacon Hill Garden Club. The tour will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. Today is the final day to purchase advance tickets for the tour for $35. You can purchase those tickets here. Note that if you purchase tickets online you'll be required to show your receipt to obtain an entry program and map for the tour. Tickets can be purchased tomorrow for $40 at Hostess Booths on Charles Street. New this year will be the President's Luncheon at Hampshire House, the first seating at 11 a.m. and the second at 1 p.m. These seatings have sold out. …

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LETTER: Welcome From Your New Patch Editor

Jake O'Donnell has taken over local editor duties for Beacon Hill and Back Bay Patch.

Dear Patch readers, You've probably noticed a new name adorning many of the articles you've seen here on Beacon Hill Patch. That name is mine, Jake O'Donnell, and I could not be more excited to be your new local editor. I come to you as I approach my two-year anniversary with Patch. I was originally hired in May 2011 to launch our site in Salem, N.H., where I lived and worked for the next year and a half. Feeling the desire to experience something new after spending my entire life in New Hampshire, I moved to Cambridge on Jan. 1 and took over as local editor of Medford Patch. My wish had long been to work in the city, and when the opportunity arrived to become the editor of both Beacon Hill Patch and Back Bay Patch, it was a chance I could…

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Judge: Charges Against Dookhan Stand

Ex-state chemist Annie Dookhan faces 27 charges in six Massachusetts counties related to falsifying test results in drug cases.

    A Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that all 27 charges against ex-state drug lab chemist Annie Dookhan will stand despite attempts by her lawyer to get two thrown out. The Boston Herald reports Dookhan’s lawyer Nicolas Gordon argued to try to get two counts of witness intimidation dismissed, but Judge Jeffrey Locke denied Gordon’s attempt. Dookhan, who is accused of falsifying drug case evidence in thousands of cases during her tenure at a Jamaica Plain lab, pleaded not guilty Dec. 19, 2012 to four counts of obstruction of justice, eight counts of tampering with evidence and one count of falsely pretending to hold a degree from a college or university.

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Police Seek Public Help in Beacon Hill Sexual Assault Case

Boston police have released an image of the man they believe sexually assaulted a woman Saturday near Joy and Myrtle streets on Beacon Hill.

Boston police are asking the public for their help in a home break-in and sexual assault on Beacon Hill. Officers posted the image of a suspect on BPDnews.com and asked anyone who recognizes the man to come forward. According to police, officers got their first call about the assault at 3:15 a.m. Saturday morning. When they arrived to the home near Joy and Myrtle streets, the victim told officers a man broke into her home, flashed what looked like a knife, then robbed and sexually assaulted her. "The suspect is described as a black male with braided hair, 5’8” in height, late twenties to early thirties in age, medium complexion, wearing a du-rag type cap, a tan colored ¾ length construction type jacket, dark jeans and dark sneakers. …

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5 Ways to Stay Warm on Beacon Hill

The temperature is about to plunge, but that doesn't mean you have to shiver.

Boston has had a gloriously warm fall and early winter, but that ends Tuesday as the region’s first certifiable cold snap blows into the area. What's a hardy New Englander to do? Sure, you can stay inside until May, but between event venues, stores, pubs and coffee shops, there are plenty of places to stay warm during the coldest days of the year. Listed above are five suggestions, but we want to know what you think. Do you have your own favorite way to keep warm in Beacon Hill? Share them with us in the comments below!

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Newly Restored African Meeting House on Beacon Hill Opens

After six years of restorations, the African Meeting House at 46 Joy St. opened to the public Friday.

After closing its doors six years ago, the African Meeting House on Beacon Hill, America’s oldest surviving black church, reopened last week to showing off its $9 million transformation. The Museum of African American History (MAAH), which acquired the meeting house in 1972, was able to complete the project after a $4 million stimulus grant was given to the project, which had been place hold because of the bad economy. That donation allowed improvements that bring both the past and present into the house.  “When [visitors] walk in now they can really be in the moment. They can imagine when Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison spoke there and had meetings there to talk about the end of slavery,” said Diane Parcon, Director of …

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Antique Street

Goblets Galore in Newly Opened Devonia Antiques

A potentially affordable splurge for your nightly glass of wine... or whatever you drink.

Antique Goblets, $55 to $450 Devonia Antiques owner Lori Hedtler tells us she's just stocked her recently re-opened Charles Street shop with some fantastic goblets. "These can be purchased seperately for nightly wine or for collecting," she said. "They also make great, user-friendly gifts." The goblets come from a variety of far-away places: there are multiple varieties of Venetian glass from Italy as well as some Bohemian crystal, which is manufactured in the Czech Republic. Hedtler also has lovely choices from companies such as Baccarat (France) and Steuben, a domestic operation well-known for its figurines.  "The dates of production range from 1880 to 1950," she said. "Most often these were hand blown and cut, then hand-enameled and …

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