Both John Chaimanis and Fred Smith are correct. John is correct that Newton cannot build its way to affordability. The rule of supply and demand would need a catastrophic assist. Fred is correct that vertically built, multi-family housing offers the most promise to alleviate the region’s severe housing shortage. The problem is that Newton…
Posts published in October 2025
My name is Analise Castillo, and I live in Newton Upper Falls. I write to you to express my wholehearted support for my neighbor, Garry Miller, in his campaign for Newton City Council, Ward 5. I hope to offer insight as someone who has known him personally for nearly two…
Fourteen-year-old Ted Lahey has turned his family’s front yard on Pine Ridge Road into a Halloween face-off between a life-sized pirate ship and castle. Ted, a freshman at Newton South High School, has been designing and building the elaborate display largely from scratch since last year. The first thing he…
I am the son of an immigrant father and a single working mother who instilled in me the values of looking for good in everyone, giving back, and hard work. Anyone who knows me, knows that I fight for social justice in education, against poverty, and for our common home…
As a Newton resident and parent, I am proud to support Christine Fisher for School Committee. Christine brings deep knowledge of education systems and a truly independent perspective that our schools need right now. Christine has spent years learning how schools work from the inside out. She understands how decisions…
As Zervas moms, we’ve seen how much Ben Schlesinger contributes to our community. He doesn’t just talk about engagement — he lives it. Whether coaching kids, attending school events, or helping parents understand what’s happening in City Hall, Ben shows up, listens, and follows through. As a coach, Ben encourages…
A hundred years after Newton native Jack Lemmon entered the world, the West Newton Cinema celebrated the award-winning actor by screening four of his classic movies and hosting his family over the weekend. West Newton Cinema Foundation president Elizabeth Heilig said the idea originated with Jack’s daughter, Courtney Lemmon, who…
Parks, Recreation & Culture hosted Halloween Window Painting for grades 3 to 8 throughout the villages on Saturday, October 25. See this year’s gallery at https://photos.figcitynews.com/2025/2025-Halloween-Window-Painting. Photos by Tessa Gordon and Bruce Henderson.
Newton will install solar panels on three additional City buildings, bringing its total solar projects to 27, as part of an effort to make the city carbon neutral by 2050. The new rooftop installations at Peirce Elementary School, Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School, and the Cooper Center for Active Living will contribute…
On October 22, Newton North High School celebrated Diwali, the Indian festival of light that symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. No longer just a festival celebrated by Indian Hindus, it has become a truly global event. Newton is known for its multi-ethnic and multicultural fabric, and Newton North…
Garry Miller has my wholehearted vote for Ward 5 City Councilor. He understands the issues before us and has demonstrated his full commitment to making Newton the best it can be. As an affordable housing advocate, I appreciate his support for building more affordable homes, both ownership and rental, including smaller…
Much has been said -claimed- about how we must accept unqualified State housing projections and support whatever the private sector wants in the ‘supply side economics’ promise to provide “affordable housing.” Unfortunately, this is not a very effective nor realistic way to achieve much truly affordable housing. Nor shall it…