This year, the City’s Arts & Culture Department will again launch Newton’s well-regarded Artful Pianos program with five or seven decorated pianos. Why five or seven? So far this year, all but two of the pianos have teams of volunteer Piano Pals ready to care for their pianos, rain or…
Posts published in “News”
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 4, during his swearing-in ceremony at City Hall, Newton’s new Police Chief Timothy V. Cohoon observed with a wry tone that “after 30 years in this profession, I’m the new guy again.” Before the event began, his daughter Isabella (Bella) said, “I’m very proud of my dad and…
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…
A humble piece of luggage, timeworn travel chests, and a slightly crumpled cardboard box on display at the Jackson Homestead and Museum are poignant reminders of immigrants’ journeys to the United States, some of which led to settling in Newton. “Suitcase Stories” highlights the artifacts and stories of five families…
Emily Craven — Newton North HS ’22, now studying at University of Vermont — was the primary fundraiser for last year’s Fig City News summer internship program, and she’s back with a higher goal. On April 20, Emily will once again run the Boston Marathon to raise $8,500 for the Fig…
On March 2, the School Committee, including Mayor Marc Laredo, met with Superintendent Anna Nolin and NPS Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Liam Hurley in a public but unrecorded budget meeting at the Education Center. The meeting was also attended by Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Ayesha Farag and observed…
The West Newton Cinema continued its run of dynamic, creative programming with a film screening and panel discussion on March 1. In time for basketball tournament season, the Cinema presented the memorable 1986 film Hoosiers. Hoosiers, starring the late Gene Hackman, was inspired by the “Milan Miracle of 1954,” when…
While each Newton village has its own personality and quirks, city residents attending Mayor Marc Laredo’s listening sessions across the city voiced many of the same concerns no matter where they lived. During recent meetings at Day Middle School and the new Cooper Center, attendees echoed worries expressed earlier during…
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…
A large snow mound left over from clearing the road from the February 23 snowstorm was blocking the Commonwealth Avenue carriage road at Bristol Street late Friday afternoon, forcing pedestrians and runners to either pick their way through the mound or venture out into Commonwealth Avenue traffic on one of…
Someday you’ll hear someone ask, “Do you have any photos from that storm back in ’26?” Fig City News managed to get out and around in Newton Center to take some photos during that historic February 2026 storm. For future reference, here’s what it looked like. See these photos and…