On Sunday, March 12, the New Philharmonia Orchestra, led by Principal Conductor Jorge Soto, will perform at Brown Middle School, featuring Ukrainian-born soprano Olga Lisovska. In another of the Orchestra’s World Reflections series, the concert is making the French/American/Ukrainian connection. Mme. Lisovska will sing Juliet’s Waltz, from Romeo and Juliet…
Fig City News
The School Committee meeting on March 1 began with Superintendent Kathy Smith’s regular update, during which she talked about the decision not to declare a snow day on February 28, and reported on ongoing NPS lobbying efforts in the community regarding the vote on the proposed override on March 14.…
The Finance Committee recently discussed how the City deals with delinquent property taxes and what State/City laws dictate when the City can put a lien on a property (see 2/27/2023 Finance Report and NewTV video). Prompted in part by the 91 Newtonville Avenue situation (which has a tax delinquency more than…
The proposals for an operating override and two debt exclusions — to be decided by voters in the March 14 Special Election — are designed to address a broad range of services and capital improvements. Operating Override The operating override, if approved, represents a permanent increase in the tax levy…
The proposals for an operating override and two debt exclusions, to be decided by voters in the March 14 special election, would each add to property-tax bills. The illustration in this article is based on the City’s example of the median home value in Newton, $1.2 million. The tax bill…
Several nonprofit organizations have publicly stated their views on three tax increases proposed by Mayor Ruthanne Fuller that will be decided by the three ballot questions in the March 14 election. One proposal is for an operating override to increase the amount the City can collect in property taxes next…
What is a structural deficit? A structural deficit occurs when recurring expenses increase faster than recurring revenues. Although State law requires every city and town, except Boston, to prepare balanced budgets, there is no requirement that those budgets are “sustainable” or structurally balanced (i.e., where recurring revenues are equal to…
Our report on the Newton Police Department’s “Make a Senior Your Sweetheart” campaign highlighted the kindness of 11-year old Highlands resident Nate Sorrell, who runs errands for seniors and neighbors unable to do so themselves. Of course, Nate’s kindness did not escape the attention of the kindest man in Newton…
According to an email from Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development has contacted Mark Development about the possible use of the former Hotel Indigo as a temporary shelter for homeless families. The hotel, part of the Riverside Development Project, had been slated for demolition, with…
You can still find statement earrings, intricately crafted necklaces and shiny rings at The Silver Woman, a jewelry shop at 49 Union Street in Newton Centre, but not for long. Ellen Gorowitz, owner of the venerable Union Street store, has decided to retire and will shutter the 20-year-old business by…