Boston Morning Brief, Oct. 29: Zoning reform eases restaurant openings

From Boston News

• Disability board reviews SNAP cuts and stalled elevator Boston's Disability Commission Advisory Board reviewed new federal SNAP work requirements expanding to older adults and parents, and took up the case of a Seaport pedestrian route where a developer's promised elevator was never built.Boston News
• PIC weighs Charlestown duct bank for battery project Boston's Public Improvement Commission considered a Charlestown duct bank route tied to a 700-megawatt Everett battery project that a company vice president said could power roughly half a million homes, alongside a Longwood cancer hospital proposal citing regional bed shortages.Boston News
• City lists affordable rental on Massachusetts Ave The City of Boston posted a listing for unit #72 at the 1648-1654 Massachusetts Ave development, a rental priced at $2,321 a month for households at or below 50 percent of area median income.Boston News

Happening Thu, Oct 29

• City details ballot processing for Nov 3 election Boston posted a notice outlining procedures for advance processing and removal of early voted ballots ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026 state election, the city said.City of Boston
• Council cancels education hearing on docket 1333 Boston's City Council Committee on Education canceled a hearing on Docket #1333 scheduled for Oct. 29, according to a city public notice; no new date was given.City of Boston
• 1:00 PM: City holds webinar on disability employment pathways Boston hosted a "Pathways to City Employment" webinar at 1 p.m. Thursday marking National Disability Employment Awareness Month.City of Boston
• 3:00 PM: Copp's Hill Burying Ground tour offered A guided tour of Copp's Hill Burying Ground in the North End ran at 3 p.m. Thursday, exploring the historic colonial-era cemetery.City of Boston
• 3:00 PM: City offers Next Level Business workshop The city held a "Your Next Level Business" workshop at 3 p.m. Thursday for entrepreneurs looking to grow their companies.City of Boston
• 6:00 PM: North End abutters meeting on Commercial Street An abutters meeting for a proposed project at 328 Commercial Street in the North End was held at 6 p.m. Thursday.City of Boston
• 6:00 PM: Supplier Diversity hosts networking mixer The city's Supplier Diversity office hosted a business networking mixer at 6 p.m. Thursday for local vendors and contractors.City of Boston
• 6:00 PM: Dorchester abutters meeting on Dudley Street An abutters meeting on a proposed development at 554 Dudley Street in Dorchester was held at 6 p.m. Thursday.City of Boston
• 6:00 PM: Immersive sound event with Marlene Boyette Marlene Boyette led an immersive sound experience called "Self-Mastery" at 6 p.m. Thursday.City of Boston
• Licensing Board holds virtual voting session Boston's Licensing Board held a virtual voting session Thursday to act on pending license applications.City of Boston
• Council planning committee holds hearing on docket 1337 The City Council's Planning, Development and Transportation Committee held a hearing Thursday on Docket #1337.City of Boston
• Reparations Task Force holds public meeting Boston's Reparations Task Force held a public meeting Thursday to continue work on reparations policy recommendations.City of Boston
• 7:00 PM: Dorchester abutters meeting on Bowdoin Street An abutters meeting on a proposed project at 186 Bowdoin Street in Dorchester was held at 7 p.m. Thursday.City of Boston

Yesterday in Boston (Wed, Oct 28)

• Zoning reforms aim to ease restaurant openings Mayor Michelle Wu announced zoning reforms intended to make it easier to open and run a restaurant in Boston, part of the city's push to streamline permitting for small businesses.City of Boston
• Bruins owner passes torch to son Charlie Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs is handing over leadership of the franchise to his son, Charlie Jacobs, the Boston Herald reported.Boston Herald
• Tatum's buzzer beater lifts Celtics over Nets The Boston Celtics topped the Brooklyn Nets on a late basket from Jayson Tatum, Sports Illustrated reported, highlighting five takeaways from the win.Sports Illustrated
• State plans to contact residents with unclaimed funds The Massachusetts state treasury plans to begin directly contacting residents, including those in Boston, who have unclaimed property on file, Boston.com reported.Boston.com
• Holocaust museum receives $2 million donation The Boston Holocaust Museum received a $2 million gift described as one of its largest philanthropic commitments, Patch reported, citing the Davis Foundation's largest donation to date.Boston Patch
• Sandwich chain closes Downtown Crossing location A sandwich chain closed its Downtown Crossing restaurant, Patch reported, noting the company shuttered a Porter Square location in Cambridge in 2018 after nearly five years there.Boston Patch
• Former Boston news anchor dies at 84 A former Boston television news anchor who helped launch WCVB's early broadcasts died at 84, Patch reported, citing his decades-long role at the station.Boston Patch
• Boston Irish Honors celebrates four leaders Boston Irish Honors recognized four community leaders at an event at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Boston Irish reported.Boston Irish
• Comhaltas Boston marks 50 years The Comhaltas Boston branch celebrated its 50th anniversary, Boston Irish reported, marking five decades of Irish traditional music programming in the city.Boston Irish

Coming up

• Sat, Oct 31: Pirate-themed Halloween party planned at Night Shift Night Shift Brewing plans a pirate-themed Halloween party called "Nauti(cal)" on Oct. 31, according to Patch's Boston events calendar.Boston Patch
• Sat, Oct 31: Debo Ray headlines Rock and Soul Halloween show Musician Debo Ray headlines a Rock & Soul Halloween show on Oct. 31, according to Patch's Boston events calendar.Boston Patch
• Sun, Nov 1: Sports card and autograph show set for Nov 1 A Boston-Dedham sports card and autograph show is scheduled for Nov. 1, according to Patch's Boston events calendar.Boston Patch
• Sun, Nov 1: Scholar talk on Palestine-Israel set for Nov 1 Scholar Irus Braverman gives a talk titled "Multispecies Warfare in Palestine-Israel" on Nov. 1, according to Patch's Boston events calendar.Boston Patch
• Tue, Nov 3: Massachusetts voters head to polls Nov 3 Voters go to the polls Nov. 3 for the Massachusetts state election, with the city continuing to process early and mail ballots beforehand.City of Boston
• Wed, Nov 11: Boston Public Schools closed for Veterans Day Boston Public Schools will be closed Nov. 11 for Veterans Day, with no classes held, according to the district's calendar.Boston Public Schools
• Thu, Nov 19, 6:00 PM: Special education family resource fair set for Nov 19 Boston Public Schools will hold a Special Education Family Resource Fair from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 19 for families of students with disabilities.Boston Public Schools

More events and things to do →

Browse this week: Government & development · Events & things to do · Schools · Openings, closings & business
Every past edition

Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.