At the final City Council meeting of the year and the term, six Newton City Councilors – Alan Lobovits, Bill Humphrey, Andreae Downs, Vicki Danberg, Rick Lipof, and Mayor-elect Marc Laredo – reflected on their time in office. Councilor Lenny Gentile, who was not in attendance, will also retire after…
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Although Sydney, Australia is more than 10,000 miles away from Massachusetts, the December 14, mass shooting on Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration was top of mind for crowd members gathered at the Newton Centre Green to mark the Jewish Festival of Lights. The holiday event, coordinated by the local…
Every week, staff members at Good Shepherd Community Care competed for the privilege of driving Theresa Nicolazzo home. The elderly woman lived with physical challenges and ongoing health needs. For her to volunteer at the Newton-based hospice’s offices, someone had to pick her up at her house, work carefully with…
Over the course of this fall, Newton Public Schools (NPS) presented its first comprehensive long-range facilities plan since 2019. This follows a Demographic Study and ten-year projection completed by Cropper GIS McKibben in late 2024, following the dissolution of the Underwood-Ward Task Force, which had been created by the previous…
On December 9, the Community Preservation Commission voted unanimously to recommend a $600,000 grant to the Suzuki School of Music toward building an accessible rear addition at 1615 Beacon Street. Approval depends on votes by the Zoning and Planning and Finance Committees and the full City Council in 2026. “When…
At the end of two decades of rapid growth in enrollment after World War II, Newton Public Schools (NPS) was led by a pioneering Superintendent who oversaw major changes in curriculum that drew nationwide attention. Back then, the NPS had more power in determining its budget allocation, and the budget…
Three crashes involving electric bicycles and turning vehicles this year have prompted Newton Police to emphasize traffic safety as use of e-bikes surges in the city. “We’ve had three accidents this year specifically that involved e-bikes,” said Newton Police Lt. Amanda Henrickson. “And in all three of those crashes, it…
The MBTA gave an update on the Newtonville Commuter Rail Accessibility Project on December 11 at City Hall. The new station’s $50 million funding is fully committed, including $7 million from the Federal Government thanks to Congressman Auchincloss. The project is anticipated to be completed by early 2029. The project…
Hundreds of Newton seniors have joined protests and lobbied state legislators over the past 18 months, organizing in local nonprofits to oppose policies of the Trump administration as well as state and local issues. Meg Holland, 72, who has been a member of the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton…
Moviegoers packed West Newton Cinema to watch Hamnet, a reimagining of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes as they confront the love and loss that inspired Hamlet. Shakespeare scholar Michelle Ephraim sat down with historian, writer, and Newton native Stephen Greenblatt to unpack the film and its place within modern…