Recent honors, appointments, and arrivals for people who live or work in Newton…
Posts published in “People”
State Representative Kay Khan, who has served the 11th Middlesex District in the Massachusetts House, announced that she is leaving the legislature at the end of 2024. The longest-serving member of Newton’s delegation, Rep. Khan was first elected to office in 1994, succeeding Rep. Susan Schur. Her announcement follows Rep.…
On February 24, Marian F. Davidson Mandell Jacobson celebrated her 90th birthday. Like the hub of an ornately carved wheel, Marian connected many friends with each other for years, always inclusive and welcoming to her culturally active life. She grew up in West Roxbury and Brookline, settling in Newton in…
It is fitting that Newton native Amelia LeClair brings her celebrated tenure as founder and Artistic Director of the vocal ensemble Cappella Clausura to a close by conducting the New England premiere of her orchestral edition of Dame Ethel Smyth’s Mass in D on March 3 at 4pm at the…
I am writing to let you know that I have stepped down from my role leading Fig City News. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a founder and writer for this wonderful community news source that our editor, Bruce Henderson, and Board members and reporters – Martina Jackson, Jack Prior, Alan…
Recent honors, appointments, and arrivals for people who live or work in Newton…
On February 20, in her annual State of the City address to the City Council (text and NewTV video), Mayor Ruthanne Fuller honored the late Audrey Cooper — “a person with a very big heart, a deep commitment to community, a readiness to collaborate, and a dedication to the joy…
On February 16th, Matthew Jefferson celebrated his century birthday — marking a lifetime of public service in opening doors to a more equitable, inclusive city. The Massachusetts Senate and House and the Newton City Council each honored Mr. Jefferson with resolutions and proclamations that documented his unparalleled contribution to the…
Surrounded by shelves of fiction and nonfiction books arranged to look like a well-stocked home library, two well-known, highly acclaimed mystery writers – Hank Phillippi Ryan and Joseph Finder – engaged in an hour-long discussion about the way they create their gripping, widely read novels. About thirty people – some…
Following her announcement that she will retire from the state legislature at the end of this year, Rep. Ruth Balser spoke with Fig City News about her career. A member of House Speaker Ron Mariano’s leadership team, Rep. Balser is the first psychologist elected to the Massachusetts Legislature and has…
Less than a week after State Representative Ruth Balser sent an email to her constituents telling them that she is planning to retire from the Legislature at the end of the current session, Bill Humphrey, Ward 5 Ward Councilor, has announced that he is a candidate for that seat. Now…
On February 9, State Representative Ruth B. Balser announced to her constituents by email that she will not be running for re-election this year. She has represented the 12th Middlesex District — southern Newton and parts of Brookline — in the Massachusetts legislature for 13 consecutive two-year terms, from 1999…












