On June 7, the second evening of Eid al-Adha, the Syrian American Social Club hosted a feast at the Second Church in Newton, bringing together Arab Americans and honored guests from diverse backgrounds to celebrate the Islamic holiday. Eid al-Adha is a holy celebration that honors the Prophet Abraham and…
Fig City News
A Saturday afternoon celebration at 81 Union Street on June 7 marked two milestones: the fifth anniversary of BMBI Fitness and the first birthday of Winnie, the bulldog who has become a recognizable presence in the gym’s front window. Todd Miskell opened the personal training studio, whose acronym stands for…
During May, which was proclaimed Jewish-American Heritage Month by President George W. Bush in 2006, the Newton Public Schools central office building on Walnut Street – the Ed Center – displayed an exhibit created by an English department class at Newton North High School. The exhibit featured large, professional-appearing poster…
For over 20 years, the Newton Schools Foundation (NSF), through its annual Honor Thy Teacher campaign, has enabled friends, families, and alumni of the Newton Public Schools (NPS) to honor specific NPS faculty and staff while supporting NPS programs financially. The campaign has the potential to raise tens of thousands…
On Wednesday morning, June 4, a group of about thirty parents, children, construction staff, teachers, City Councilors, and School Committee member Emily Prenner joined Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and School Superintendent Anna Nolin at the long-awaited groundbreaking for the new addition to the Horace Mann School at 225 Nevada Street. The…
Scott Hayes, who was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in the non-fatal shooting of Caleb Gannon on September 12, 2024, was scheduled to face trial on June 18. ln a pretrial case session on June 4 in Newton District Court, Judge Mary E. Heffernan ruled that he would…
The Hyde Community Center Summer Series will present Matt Heaton’s Family Sing-along! — a free concert on Wednesday, August 20, 10:30AM-11AM at the Hyde Bandstand (90 Lincoln Street, Newton Highlands). Bring the whole family to this fun outdoor concert! Matt makes music for parents and kids alike, from well-known classics…
Vicki Jackson, MD, MPH, has been named Chief and Chair of the Department of Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, beginning September 2, 2025. Completing more than two decades at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Jackson currently serves as the Blum Family Endowed…
Although Hattie Kerwin Derrick doesn’t like being the center of attention, Newton officials praised her dedication to inclusivity when they honored her during Tuesday’s Pride Month flag-raising ceremony. Kerwin Derrick, Newton’s Director of Community Engagement & Inclusion, said she felt humbled and honored by the recognition of her work, adding…
Chris Brezski, the highly active and vocal Chair of the Newton School Committee, has announced that he will not run for re-election this November and will leave the Committee at year-end. In his relatively brief, two-year tenure as the Committee Chair, he oversaw momentous events such as the implementation of…
On May 29, the City of Newton was among 12 Massachusetts cities — along with the Commonwealth and 13 of its 14 counties — named by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as “sanctuary jurisdictions” that DHS said “obstruct the enforcement of Federal immigration laws, …protect dangerous criminal aliens…
On June 2, eight out of the School Committee’s nine members held their regularly scheduled meeting and discussed student cell phone policy, physical education curriculum, policies on gifts and support organizations like PTOs, the five-year strategic plan, and the Superintendent’s evaluation. (Ward 8 Committee Member Barry Greenstein was absent.) The…













