From a historic mayoral transition to school budget battles, from Bachelor watch parties to weekly protests, 2025 was a year that reminded Newton residents why local news matters. Fig City News published 433 news articles in 2025 tracking the stories that shaped our community. Here’s a look back at the year’s most significant coverage.
A New Mayor for Newton
The November 4 municipal election marked the end of an era. After eight years of Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s leadership, Newton voters chose City Council President Marc Laredo as their next mayor, over Republican Al Cecchinelli. The down-ballot races for City Council and School Committee drew intense interest, and Fig City’s Voter’s Guide was the year’s most-read article.
As Laredo told Fig City News in December, his unique experience — having served as both School Committee Chair and City Council President — will be an asset. “Especially with a brand-new School Committee with just two returning members, the fact that I’ve been on the Committee is going to be enormously helpful,” he said. All School Committee candidates endorsed by Laredo and outgoing School Committee Chair Chris Brezski won their races, along with all but one endorsed City Council candidate.
The year saw significant turnover on the School Committee, with Chair Brezski announcing he would not seek re-election. John Oliver was elected City Council president in a caucus in December. Laredo announced members of his City Hall leadership team in November, featuring familiar faces in some new roles.
Police Chief George McMains, who was appointed permanent chief in late 2024 and sworn in in January, announced his retirement effective January 8, 2026, after 29 years with the Newton Police Department (see Fig City’s State of the City photo gallery).
Schools at a Crossroads
Newton Public Schools faced significant budget challenges in 2025. In March, Superintendent Anna Nolin unveiled a draft FY2026 budget with a projected $6 million deficit. “NPS at a precipice,” read one headline as Nolin and Brezski urged the community to help avoid cuts.
The budget battle consumed months of School Committee workshops and public hearings. Mayor Fuller presented her FY2026 budget as “responsible, realistic” while prioritizing NPS funding. Ultimately, the most drastic cuts were avoided, though the budget debate highlighted ongoing structural challenges facing the district.
Federal policy cast a shadow over local schools as well. In February, President Trump’s Department of Education sent letters threatening to withhold funding from districts with DEI programs, prompting Fig City News to examine how Newton Public Schools might respond. The district’s Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, established in 2020, found itself at the center of a nationwide debate.
Special education also drew attention, with an in-depth interview with departing School Committee member Barry Greenstein examining NPS’s approach. And a teacher training mishap in October required the Superintendent and union leader to navigate changing federal requirements together.
Housing: Building Newton’s Future
Newton’s housing debate continued in 2025, with major projects advancing and some community tensions surfacing. The longest-running story involved a property at 386-390 Watertown Street in Nonantum, where a proposed zoning change sparked months of debate — from the initial Land Use Committee rejection to revelations about property sales and ultimately a withdrawal of the application.
In June, the West Newton Armory groundbreaking marked the start of transforming the historic building, purchased from the state for $1, into 43 affordable housing units. The Newton Food Pantry also announced plans for its first stand-alone building, to open in 2026 on donated land in Auburndale.
Newton for Everyone hosted discussions, featuring developer Jason Korb, on what it would take to build 100% affordable housing, while the City Council approved both the Northland and Riverside projects — major developments that had been years in the making. The Riverside project went through significant revisions before its year-end approval. A court decision invalidating deed restrictions on Webster Woods had major implications for property valuation across the city.
Civic Engagement
Newton residents took to the streets in 2025. In March, a group calling themselves “Octogenarians on the March“– mostly residents of Lasell Village — gathered in Newton Centre to express concerns about national policy. The oldest participant was 95, and 93-year-old Nelly Murstein told Fig City News, “I cannot just sit and let this come about. Yes, I will stand up for democracy.”
Weekly protests continued throughout the year, with “Resist the coup” standouts becoming a regular Saturday noon-time presence in Newton Centre. June saw “No Kings” protests drawing crowds (photo gallery), and by October, “No Kings” demonstrators were again packing Newton Centre Green.
In May, an ICE arrest on Lexington Street drew significant attention, as did another arrest at the Newton/Watertown border that sparked debate about immigration enforcement in the community.
The winter parking ban appeared on the ballot after advocates gathered more than 10,000 signatures to put the question to voters. Op-eds argued both sides, but voters narrowly chose to keep the ban in place.
The new City Seal design — approved after five years of work — became official, replacing imagery that had been criticized as problematic.
Newton’s Business Beat
The year’s most-read feature was a deep dive into Down Under Yoga, tracing founder Justine Cohen’s journey from a cramped garret on Lincoln Street in Newton Highlands to six studios across the Boston area. “What started as modest yoga practice has blossomed into a leading presence in the Boston yoga scene,” Fig City News reported. In Newton Centre, BMBI Fitness Studio marked five years on Union Street in June.
Newton’s culinary landscape continued to evolve. Scafidi Bros. brought their sandwich shop — and strong family legacy — to Four Corners/Newton Highlands. Lavender Cafe introduced Venezuelan flavors to West Newton but later closed. And in November, Thistle & Leek earned Michelin Guide recognition, putting Newton on the culinary map. Fig City’s restaurant directory tracked what came and went throughout the year — and offers residents suggestions based on village, cuisine, and distance.
The Starbucks in Waban closed — one of hundreds closing across North America. And as the year concluded, multiple businesses faced a January lapse in liquor licenses after failures to renew.
The Newton Centre Plaza proposal drew mixed reactions from businesses and residents alike. After pushback, the City scaled back plans from 51 parking spaces removed to just 8, running the pilot from June through October rather than year-round.
Community Moments
Heroes emerged in July when neighbors saved a resident from a fire on Prescott Street.
West Newton’s Juliana Pasquarosa was added to the list of Newton’s famous residents when she appeared in Season 29 of The Bachelor. Fig City News followed her journey from hometown date — featuring stops at D & A House Of Pizza and Antoine’s Pastry Shop in Nonantum — to her eventual win. “Life is just too serious to take seriously,” Pasquarosa said in the finale.
The 90th annual Festa celebrated Nonantum’s Italian-American heritage — but not before a summer controversy over the neighborhood’s traditional Italian flag-colored street lines. The City’s decision to remove the red, white, and green lines from Adams Street sparked outrage and made national news before residents repainted them in time for the festival.
Meanwhile, Newton Highlands hosted one of its biggest Village Days ever. The Newton Bakery Crawl returned in September, the Harvest Fair drew crowds in October, and a Waban teen built a Halloween Pirate Battle Royale in his front yard.
December brought the grand opening of the Cooper Center for Active Living, a 33,000-square-foot facility replacing the former 8,000-square-foot Senior Center. The “beautiful, accessible” building represented a major investment in not only Newton’s aging population but active living for all ages. The month also featured the annual Newton Centre Holiday Shop & Stroll.
The LigerBots robotics team won accolades at the World Championship.
Newton South Jazz educator Lisa Linde and the Jazz Ensemble each received national recognition, performing at the prestigious Essentially Ellington competition.
Browse our photo galleries from the year’s events including Holi, Memorial Day Parade and Observances, Juneteenth, 4th of July, Rotary Dog Fest, Upper Falls Village Day, Newtonville Village Day, Harvest Fair, Halloween Window Painting and Pumpkin Smash, and Holiday Shop & Stroll.
Athletic Achievements
Newton athletes made headlines in 2025. Harvard women’s basketball — featuring Newton’s Abigail Wright — headed to the NCAA Tournament. Newton South’s Njavan Stewart led Assumption men’s basketball to their best season in 50 years. And a Newton North alum broke a marathon World Record.
Getting Around Newton
Transportation stories dominated spring coverage. The I-90/I-95 bridge construction brought warnings of “upcoming gridlock” on multiple weekends. Boston Marathon road closures affected Newton streets in April, even as a Newton North alum was setting records on the course.
The Washington Street Pilot moved forward with design refinements, drawing a range of opinions from residents. And the year closed with the announcement of Blue Apple Bus service — an express route between Riverside and Logan Airport.
Losses & Remembrances
The community mourned several losses in 2025. Former Mayor Setti Warren died in November at 55. Warren, who served as Newton’s mayor from 2010 to 2017, was remembered for his dedication to public service and his warm connection to residents. Aaron Goldman wrote of his 20-year journey with his friend, mentor, boss, and big brother. “A friend who will be missed,” wrote another contributor.
In June, the community grieved the loss of the Goldstein Family, killed by carbon monoxide poisoning on December 25, 2024. The Newton Theatre Company honored their memory with a special performance.
Newton also remembered Elizabeth Crowe, the dedicated postal letter carrier cherished by Newton Highlands residents.
Looking Ahead
As Marc Laredo takes office on January 1, 2026, he inherits a city grappling with familiar challenges — school funding, housing affordability, and infrastructure needs — while also facing new questions about economic development and community identity.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” Laredo told Fig City News, “but economic development is going to be one of the linchpins of my administration …because it is vital to the economic wellbeing of the City. It is also vital to community building.”
Fig City News will be there to cover it all. Emily Craven (NNHS ’22) completed her first Boston Marathon fundraising run and organized the first Fig City 5K to raise funds for our summer internship program, and she’ll be back again this year for both activities. In the meantime, readers can support our work here to ensure a strong community newspaper in 2026.
Thank you to our readers, donors, and contributors for making community journalism possible in Newton. Here’s to 2026!
Read all of Fig City’s 2025 coverage at figcitynews.com/archives. Was Fig City News coverage of local events valuable to you this year? Want to continue to see local news coverage in 2026? Please set up a monthly reoccurring tax-deductible “subscription” to Fig City News today to support our reporting. It only takes a minute.
