In March 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, four Newton residents – Martha Bixby, Ranjani Paradise, Shalini Tendulkar, and Shreeda Vyas – saw an opportunity to help locals in need. They started the Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors mutual aid network, which, in 2021, became incorporated as the non-profit…
Posts published in “interns-freelance”
This fall, Newton South High School won prestigious recognition as a National Banner Unified Champion School by the Special Olympics of North America, marking the second time the school has earned the designation, which is awarded to select schools every four years. In a newsletter to the community, Newton South…
A controversial City plan to remove a beaver dam and hut from the Wells Avenue culvert has incentivized some to speak out. Since 2022, increased beaver activity in the area has sparked widespread flooding, resulting in devastating consequences for residents and local businesses. Mike Landau, Chairman of the 210 Nahanton…
Instances of urban blight have been reported across several State-owned properties in Newton by a concerned citizen, Bill McEvoy. He notes that the blight ranges from large amounts of litter and trash found next to railroad tracks, to deterioration of pedestrian infrastructure, including a flight of stairs in West Newton.…
A Ukrainian Newton North High School student is playing a key role in building a network of volunteers to help Ukrainian refugees learn English. Andrey Sarkanich, a senior at Newton North High School, is the Head of Chapter Management of EDUkraine, a nonprofit that has been established recently to teach…
Coach Alex Kushkov established the Dynamo Fencing Center in Newton Center 11 years ago. Since then, he has shaped hundreds of talented young people into world-class fencers, giving back to his homeland of Ukraine all the while. Three of Kushkov’s students — Oleksandr Shirpal, Andrii Slastin, and Kushkov’s son, Daniel…
Celebrations are in order as Newton North High School wraps up its stellar winter season. Wrestling Helmed by veteran coach John Staulo — inductee to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame and recently the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame — NNHS wrestling finished off…
Beginning March 1, a new ordinance will require that single-use restaurant accessory items – such as straws, utensils, and condiments – be available only upon request and that food establishments must use reusable, compostable, or recyclable containers and compostable coffee cups. Councilor Vicki Danberg, who sponsored the Sustainable Food &…
On January 26 at 10AM, supporters of the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) gathered at City Hall on the sixth day of the Teachers Strike for the Newton Students Speak Out rally, an event organized by students to openly support the NTA. Although it was promoted as a student rally, about…
I don’t think I would know anything about the NPS/NTA contract negotiations if it weren’t for The Lion’s Roar newspaper. As young(ish) students, we are privileged enough to believe that “ignorance is bliss” when we see our teachers “coincidentally” wear blue shirts on Tuesdays, or rally outside of the building…
For many years, it’s been the same story – less than 50% of Newton low income, Black, and Latinx students would meet or exceed expectations on the MCAS, and college graduation rates for the same students would be markedly low. A new organization led by parent volunteers, the Newton Youth…
The nearly 90-year old Mount Alvernia High School campus, owned by the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (MFIC), was purchased by Boston College for $40.5 million on September 25, according to Mass Land Records. The twenty-three-acre campus is located across Centre Street from the BC Newton campus and…










