Although the City received approximately 565 storm-related calls as of 3:30PM on December 18, Deputy DPW Commissioner Shawna Sullivan said, “Assuming the heavy rain has moved out of the area, flooding should not be an issue during the evening commute,” according to Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s office. In addition, “Newton Police…
Posts published by “Julie M. Cohen”
Newton’s independent store owners know their customers, and that connection is hard to find at “big box” stores. When you shop at one of the city’s small retailers, you’ll find items that were carefully curated by owners who have detailed knowledge about the products they sell. These are just a…
Patrick and Jacki Rohan have been honoring the lives of transgender people even before their own loved one came out. The couple, who are members of the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton (FUUSN), on November 19 attended the group’s Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil. The ceremony included music and…
At only 200 square feet, Newton Centre shop Dear Duchess gives new meaning to the saying, “Good things come in small packages.” “It can get tight with five people shopping … [but] it’s kind of fun,” said owner Rachel Sciaba. The Union Street clothing and accessories store recently opened at…
Struggling to get up a short but steep incline on Langley Road, a group of City officials being pushed in wheelchairs recently took a tour around Newton Centre with disability advocates to learn more about the barriers faced by those with mobility challenges. Led by resident Robert Solomon, a longtime…
Dancers from Newton North and South High Schools and beyond entertained a crowd gathered at City Hall on November 13 to celebrate Diwali, a national holiday in India known as the Festival of Lights. The five-day celebration, which this year began on November 12, “symbolizes new beginnings and the triumph…
As tensions and security concerns rise at college campuses around the country in response to the war in Israel, among other world events, officials recently detailed the safety plans used by Newton Public Schools (NPS) for emergencies closer to home. “We’re seeing that some things that are occurring overseas [are…
The Newton Police Department announced on Facebook on Thursday evening that Capt. William L. Spalding died suddenly on November 1. He was described by Mayor Ruthanne Fuller as a loving man with a “broad smile.” The 25-year Newton Police veteran, who began his career in the city on April 13,…
If you look closely at Lennon Hernandez Wolcott’s dollhouse-sized ofrenda, or altar, you’ll see a tiny serving of chips and salsa. The miniature version of her grandfather’s favorite crunchy snack sits on a shelf inside the detailed space to honor his memory – one of many personal details. Wolcott made…
Traits like eye and hair color often run in the family, but for the Klapes clan, public service does, too. Rita and her sons Peter and Alex for years have all worked at the Oak Hill Middle School polling location to help voters during elections and will do so again…
During the Covid pandemic, when many people were isolating, the saying, “There’s no place like home,” took on a more complex meaning. Artist Peggy Coulson Graceffa’s upcoming art show, Pushing the Envelope, delves into the significance of home during that difficult period. The exhibit will run through November at the…
In an email sent out to the Newton Public Schools community on Thursday, October 12, Superintendent Anna Nolin said that “Out of an abundance of caution, the Newton Public Schools will have a significantly increased police presence at school buildings, as well as increased local patrols across the city on…












