January 22 marks the start of the Lunar New Year, celebrated by many Asian and Southeast Asian cultures including China, Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, Philippines, and Malaysia. Each lunar year is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig)…
Fig City News
Barely a month into retirement, Shiuchin Chang knew it just was not for her. After decades cooking in restaurants, she wanted to return to the kitchen and whip up savory Taiwanese fare for hungry customers. With her family behind her, she recently opened Grandma’s Kitchen, a Taiwanese restaurant in Newtonville,…
If you are thinking of getting an electric vehicle, now might be the best time. As Leslie Zebrowitz, co-chair of the Newton EV Task Force, explained in an op-ed in Fig City News last week, certain electric cars are eligible for a federal tax credit up to $7500 during January…
The development projects 28 Austin Street and Trio, which opened a few years ago, provide critical case studies by which to evaluate other, forthcoming large developments. One of the presumed benefits of both projects has been that large numbers of their residents would use public transit. That is why the City Council…
The Newton Schools Foundation recently donated $250,000 — its largest donation ever — to the Newton Public Schools. NSF President Amy Werner presented the check at the December 19 meeting of the Newton School Committee. The funds will support new approaches in the classroom, professional development for teachers, and programs…
On Tuesday, January 10, a group of Newton South HS students organized the School MathCounts Competition at Oak Hill Middle School. This annual competition introduces middle-school students to mathematics competitions in a friendly and low-key way. The competition was well attended, with lots of enthusiasm among participants and organizers. The NSHS…
Newton has faced a variety of contentious local civic issues in the past few years – and is about to face another. The Mayor has proposed a tax override ballot measure with the vote scheduled for March 14, 2023. The debate about the override has begun, and if history provides…
“We are a community and we’ve helped each other. We take care of each other,” says Raina Tessler, Events Coordinator at Newton Center’s Union Street Restaurant. Local Newton Center restaurants and businesses have been working together — since March of 2020, when Governor Baker issued an order closing all indoor…
Monday’s Zoning and Planning (ZAP) Committee started off with a lively debate regarding a procedural issue raised by Ward 7 Councilor Baker regarding ZAP Chair Crossley’s decision not to allow participants to present visual materials during their allotted times (watch video on NewTV). Crossley argued that visuals would not be…
As the City Council considers a request for $3,240,000 for the Newton South High School Synthetic Turf Fields and Perimeter Track project, various groups agree and disagree with each other about what should be done. The Climate Crisis Subcommittee of the Newton Democratic City Committee has issued a position statement…
The School Committee convened on Monday January 9 for a busy agenda that began with a Consent Agenda vote on 5 items, including the Interim Superintendent Goals and an approval for NPS to seek a five-year contract for Special Education Transportation Services. The five items passed 7-0, with Ward 6…
It’s time to fix the roof! No homeowner likes to hear that since roofs are expensive and not a particularly fun home improvement. But a well-functioning roof is essential to have a safe, usable home. So every so often we need to tighten our belts and repair or replace the…