There has been a lot of controversy over the data that has been presented regarding the impact that the proposed Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) would have on Newton’s housing production. Different sets of charts and numbers have been offered by the Planning Department, by Councilors Wright and Oliver, and…
Posts published in “News”
The City Council will meet in special session on Wednesday, November 29 to consider last-minute amendments to its zoning plan and whether that plan should be limited to compliance with the state MBTA Communities Law — which calls for higher density housing near the MBTA Green Line and commuter rail…
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…
To allow track work aimed at removing speed restrictions, the MBTA is closing various parts of the Green Line, November 27 through December 10 and has outlined alternative travel routes around those closures. There will be no trains…
Early last summer, 50-year-old Newton resident Pierre Auguste noticed persistent pain radiating from his abdomen. He and his wife, Ruth, anticipated possible gallstones and began preparing for ambulatory surgery. Instead, his physician gravely informed them that his gallbladder was not the culprit, and that a CT scan was necessary to…
On November 18, members of the Newton Public Schools (NPS) METCO team attended the METCO Showcase in Roxbury to meet prospective METCO families. Attending the event from NPS were Newton METCO Director Lisa Gilbert-Smith, METCO Counselor Melissa Wong, and Executive Assistant Stacie Gladden. At the annual Showcase, urban and suburban…
Detailed findings shed light on major NPS deficiencies accumulated over prior years At the November 20th School Committee meeting, new Superintendent Anna Nolin presented a lengthy report of insights she had gained by canvassing the Newton community since March of this year. The Entry Plan Analysis document contains information that…
The City Council began its comprehensive debate of the proposed Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) zoning on November 15. President Albright called for straw votes to get a sense of where Councilors were in supporting the proposal. Straw votes indicated that: For a brief time, a controversial vote to not…
In caucus on November 20, the members-elect of the School Committee elected Chris Brezski (Ward 2) as the School Committee’s next chair and re-elected Emily Prenner (Ward 5) as its vice-chair.
On November 15 the City Council received two letters — and the Mayor received another letter — from federal and state legislators and officials explaining the benefits of Newton’s Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) zoning proposal and specifically mentioning Auburndale. In this letter to the City Council president, Representative Jake…
On November 17, the Newton Affordable Housing Trust voted to fund two projects, seeking to advance its mandate of increasing Newton’s supply of affordable housing. These actions represent the very first housing fundings by the Trust since its inception in December 2021. The Trust awarded $500,000 to Family Aid, which…
On November 18, Newton’s dual-high-school robotics team, the LigerBots, hosted a FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Newton Qualifier tournament — in which teams of elementary and middle schoolers passionate about robotics compete using LEGO robots that they have designed and built. The LigerBots have hosted FLL tournaments since 2008. This event had…