Mayor Marc Laredo marked his first 100 days in office on April 11, citing progress on his promises to expand housing, improve basic City services, and strengthen community connections. His administration is advancing those priorities, though many initiatives remain in early stages, as residents raise questions about school funding, federal…
Posts published by “Charlie Johnson”
Across the country, coworking spaces are reshaping the traditional office model. In Newton, centers like Ware Street Workspaces in Auburndale, Labshares in Nonantum, and the UMass Innovation Institute in Oak Hill are prominent examples of that trend, offering different services. According to a report by Statista in November 2025, the…
Newton residents support young people in several communities in Africa through health programs, education, and career development managed by longstanding nonprofits with close ties to Newton. These efforts face growing uncertainty as federal funding for international aid has been cut. Fig City News has explored the situation with three nonprofits…
Hundreds turned out to sample dishes from 42 local restaurants at the Charles River Regional Chamber’s annual Spring Seasonings event on Monday, April 13. It’s a regional culinary showcase that now includes Brookline alongside Needham, Newton, Watertown, and Wellesley. Twenty-six of the participating restaurants are based in Newton. Trevor Smith,…
In the children’s room of the Auburndale Community Library on a February afternoon, artist Mia Cross worked on a mural honoring Kirby Green Grochal, a beloved community member, daughter, and mother who died in May 2023. On Sunday, April 12, the community will gather for the grand opening of this…
For the third event in the “No Kings” series of demonstrations condemning President Donald J. Trump’s administration, at least 2,500 gathered in Newton Centre as millions protested across the country amid heightened tensions over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions, a government shutdown, and the war with Iran. The turnout…
In the Public Safety and Transportation Committee meeting on March 18, City Councilors discussed how the City should respond to federal immigration enforcement, as officials outlined limits to local authority and some Councilors called for clearer guidance. City Solicitor Alissa Giuliani, the City’s chief legal advisor, began by outlining Newton’s…
Wonder, a new mix-and-match food hall offering delivery and in-person ordering, opened Thursday, March 19, on Needham Street. Customers streamed in to explore its wide range of culinary options, though the sheer number of choices proved overwhelming for some. Patrick Cartier, market operations director for Wonder’s New England locations, said…
A new citywide map identifying 43 vacant storefronts across Newton — many in the city’s village centers — is giving officials and prospective business owners a clearer look at where new businesses could take root. When Economic Development Director Lauren Berman and Deputy Director Cheryl Lappin joined the department earlier…
Helen Garity, a Newtonville resident with years of experience in the corporate world, has taken on the role of Executive Director at the nonprofit Hyde Community Center in Newton Highlands. Garity says she hopes to build on the Hyde’s strong foundation rather than to reinvent it. She succeeds John Rice,…
On March 2, the Newton City Council approved rezoning 148 California Street from Manufacturing to Business Use 2, a change that supporters said would ease leasing for businesses, while opponents warned it could undermine planning for the California Street corridor. The parcel contains about half of a shopping center that straddles…
Daniel Mola discovered Brazilian jiu jitsu at 12, and it never let go. He now owns and operates Atom Jiu Jitsu & Science at 118 Needham Street, where he teaches multiple classes a day – demonstrating positions, watching as students work through them, and stepping in with small corrections or…