On November 18, the Newton City Council voted to shift more of Newton’s 2025 tax levy to the commercial/industrial/personal property owners to pay for the Mayor’s FY2025 budget approved last Spring. Since the amount of increase to last year’s budget allowed by law is 2.5%, the dollar amount is $10,521,712…
Posts published in November 2024
As the inaugural Newton Children’s Book Festival approaches, it’s a fitting coincidence that participating author Elly Swartz’s upcoming novel, Same Page, focuses on “the freedom to read and the power of kids to change the world.” Swartz is one of more than 60 Newton-area authors and illustrators who will be…
The Newton Fire Department received a Group Citation for Meritorious Conduct at the 35th annual Massachusett Firefighter of the Year Awards ceremony. The award cited Captain Karl “Gus” Svartstrom, Lieutenant Joseph DeLuca, and Firefighters Richard Busa, Ryan Doherty, Michael Pohlman, Lawrence Quinn, Andrew Sbordone, and Joseph Yerardi for their service in an…
Across the Commonwealth and the nation, election turnout was lower in 2024 than in 2020. Notwithstanding the many options for voting available, nearly 3,000 fewer voters cast ballots in Newton this year compared with 2020. According to John Doyle, Newton’s Election Supervisor, 47,344 voted on in the November 2024 election,…
City Council will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, November 18 at 7PM. See Reports Docket and New Docket. Finance Committee will hold a special in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, November 18 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following: Land…
Standing proudly in the heart of Newton Highlands, Highland Opticians has been selling eyewear to the Greater Boston community for over forty-five years. The business, founded by Jefferey Mann in 1976, has since been passed down to his daughters, Emilie Brassil and Julie Mann. “[We make] sure that people get…
Highlights this week… City Council City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on the following requests (see Reports Docket): The New Docket includes the following: Finance will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on the FY2025 Property tax levy distribution percentages among residential, open space, commercial, and…
The First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton (FUUSN) invites people of all faiths and identities to its annual vigil in memory of all those around the world whose lives were lost to violence due to their transgender identity. The ritual includes a litany of the names of those who were…
School Committee will meet in person (Education Center, Room 304) in Executive Session on Monday, November 18 at 5:15PM to conduct a strategy session in preparation for negotiations regarding the Superintendent of Schools Contract as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on thebargaining (see agenda). School Committee will…
Commission on Disability will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, November 18 at 6PM. The agenda includes the following: Newton Cultural Council will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, November 18 at 6PM. The agenda includes the following: Election Commission will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, November 18 at…
Development Review Team (DRT) is scheduled to meet this week regarding these potential projects/proposals (see DRT Snapshot):
The Zoning & Planning Committee approved the following (see report and watch the meeting video): The Zoning & Planning Committee denied: The Zoning & Planning Committee held the following: