Last week, Fig City News reported that State Representative Ruth Balser’s nearly quarter-of-a-century effort to protect public lands came to fruition when the Legislature voted in favor of her Public Lands Preservation Act. Governor Charlie Baker has signed the bill and made it the law of the Commonwealth. Under the…
Posts published by “Martina Jackson”
Just after the 2022 midterm elections, Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D, MA-CD4) hosted a climate summit at Needham’s Olin College of Engineering with experts in climate and energy. (See video.) Opening the summit, Olin College President Gilda Barabino highlighted the current climate emergency and noted that Olin students are taught to…
On November 10th, the Massachusetts Legislature voted to pass the Public Lands Preservation Act (PLPA, H.5381), designed to preserve open space in the Commonwealth. For Rep. Ruth Balser (D, Newton) it was the successful culmination of a twenty-four-year legislative journey, with roots in her service on the Newton Board of…
On November 4th, Jenn Adams marked her 20th anniversary as News Director at NewTV, Newton’s Community Media Channel (now celebrating 30 years serving the Newton community since 1992). She and her staff of interns have covered local elections, community events, Newton School Committee meetings, Newton City Council meetings (when she…
Jayne Colino, departing Director of Newton’s Department of Senior Services, began her career in Newton in 1990 as Director of Senior Services in the basement of Newtonville’s branch library at 345 Walnut Street. At that time, Senior Services facilities consisted of the children’s reading room, bathroom and two closets —…
Newton’s Auxiliary Police have been a familiar, integrated part of large community events since the 1950s, when they were organized to serve as Civil Defense officers. Under the leadership of Deputy Chief of Auxiliary Police Jeff Silton, this all-volunteer force has assisted Newton Police in traffic and crowd control, monitoring…
Since 1930, the Waban Library — now Waban Library Center — has been “a place to browse books and browse ideas,” says Chris Pitts, President of the Waban Improvement Society, which oversees the Waban Library Center. The land and building were donated as one of Newton’s branch libraries by generous…
“We’ve waited a lifetime for this day,“ Annawon Weedon, master of ceremonies, told the crowd of approximately 800 people gathered on October 10 at Albemarle Park for Newton’s Second Indigenous Peoples Day event. Weedon noted that there are holidays celebrating Italian, Jewish, and other cultures, but until now, there had…
Robert “Coyokiztil” Quesada According to his bio on the IDPNewton.org website, “Robert is of Nahua/Chichimeca Zacatecati ancestry, and born and raised in Huchiun, occupied Ohlone Lisjan (Oakland, California),” and with his wife, Mayeta “Yaxochitl” Quesda, founded the “Calpulli Coyoxochitl dance group. Robert, who was the lead dancer and keeper of…
Newton’s share of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)is $63,000,000. How is Mayor Fuller allocating the money? Along with expenditures for the Newton Police Department’s HVAC improvements for $1,400,000; $2,000,000 in Household Assistance for low-income residents and those negatively affected by the pandemic; $50,000 for a Newton Centre Outdoor…