At two recent community listening sessions, Mayor Marc Laredo fielded concerns ranging from federal actions affecting Newton to local issues such as schools and road maintenance. Across the exchanges, he repeatedly emphasized accountability while underscoring the limits of what falls within his control. The sessions took place on February 11…
Posts published by “Charlie Johnson”
The Price Center opened its new Kindness Cafe on the morning of February 13, launching an inclusive coffee shop designed to provide hands-on barista training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The cafe is open in the Price Center headquarters three mornings a week, by invitation only. The service…
At a meeting on Monday, February 9, the City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee reviewed the status of potential projects proposed under the Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) zoning ordinance, following a request by Ward 2 City Councilor Susan Albright for twice-yearly updates. Nora Masler Colello, the City’s chief of…
On Monday, February 2, Ward 2 City Councilor Susan Albright raised a charter objection to the Public Safety and Transportation Committee’s recommendation to shorten the Newton Centre Plaza pilot to May 31. This effectively delayed consideration of that recommendation until the next City Council meeting. (The City’s Charter allows any…
After the latest snowfall, Mayor Marc Laredo reminded residents by email of the deadline by which sidewalks must be cleared: Wednesday, January 28 by 8AM. After that, property owners may face fines for leaving sidewalks obstructed by snow or ice. Under City ordinance, residents and businesses are responsible for clearing…
Artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT or Claude are everywhere, accessible to businesses of all sizes. In Newton, a growing number of entrepreneurs, consultants, and organizations are discovering that access is the easy part. The harder question is how to leverage AI in ways that actually change how people work,…
The City Council’s Public Safety and Transportation Committee voted Thursday, January 21 to shorten the trial of the Newton Centre Plaza pilot in the Langley Road parking lot, as officials weighed strong public support for the space against concerns about parking and accessibility. Several Councilors, including Ward 2 City Councilor…
Meryl Kessler is stepping into her new role as director of Newton’s new Arts and Culture Department with a focus on strengthening connections across the city’s arts community. The department – and her position leading it – received final approval in the January 20, 2026 City Council meeting. Kessler told…
In a room where the audience sits just feet from the actors, Newton Theatre Company’s winter production of the classic American play Our Town asks viewers to slow down and consider the routines and relationships that quietly shape a life. This production, playing through January 31, is dedicated to the…
A large crowd of Newton residents gathered on the Newton Centre Green on Saturday, January 10, to protest recent actions by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including a fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. The victim, 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, was shot and…
The Ward Councilor for Ward 2, David Micley, and his wife plan to move from Ward 2 to Ward 6 in mid-January to accommodate their growing family. Under the Newton City Charter, Micley is allowed to remain in office for his elected term (through 2027), and he says he intends…
Newton officially entered a new chapter in City government on January 1 as a packed City Hall gallery gathered for the inauguration of the City’s new administration. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey attended the event to help usher in the new Mayor, City Councilors, and School Committee members. Healey noted that…