The City’s Transportation Network Improvement Plan (TNI) was discussed at the April 2 Public Facilities Committee. The TNI, formerly known as the Accelerated Road Program, was designed by Mayor Setti Warren. Its goal was to improve the condition of Newton’s roads by increasing road repair spending $9 million a year…
Fig City News
The School Committee has statutory authority for determining the allocation of funds provided to it. Given the recent public consternation about the FY26 Newton Public Schools (“NPS“) budget (for year ended June 30, 2026), with a $3.4 million unfunded balance, you might have sighed relief at Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s announcement…
Established as a part of the 2025 legislative budget, sponsored by State Senator John C. Velis, the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism is holding hearings throughout Massachusetts to explore expanding incidents of antisemitism and to give Jewish community leaders and residents an opportunity to share concerns and recommendations. Senator Velis…
Over 40 local food-and-beverage businesses showcased their diverse refreshments at the Charles River Regional Chamber’s (CRRC) annual ‘Spring Seasonings: A Taste of Our Towns’ event at the Newton Marriott Grand Ballroom on April 7. In its 27th year, the event highlights restaurants from the Chamber’s four communities: Newton, Needham, Watertown,…
On Thursday, April 3, the West Newton Cinema held a screening of the documentary Made in Ethiopia, followed by a panel discussion. Part of the Cinema’s “Behind the Screen” series, the event was organized by the West Newton Cinema Foundation, a nonprofit organization raising funds to restore and renovate the…
On April 5, Friends of the Newton Library gathered in the Library’s lobby to celebrate its 150th anniversary and the beginning of National Library Week. They gave out candy bars to a steady stream of people passing through, and balloons to children. The occasion marked the presentation of a check…
Did you miss the 157th anniversary of The Great International Walking Match? What sets this event apart in literary and local history is the participation of the iconic English novelist, Charles Dickens, while in Newton, Massachusetts! This is the little known story of the brief visit in 1868 of Charles Dickens to the…
Avi Attar, a senior at Princeton, is one of two students receiving this year’s Moses Taylor Pyne Honor Prize — the University’s highest general distinction for undergraduates, awarded to “the senior who has most clearly manifested excellent scholarship, strength of character and effective leadership.” Rep. John Lawn has been named…
Hummingbird Books and Hadassah Boston will host an author talk — Writing Jewisth Novels — with Tova Mirvis and Elizabeth Graver on May 6 at 7PM at Hummingbird Books at The Street in Chestnut Hill. Doors will open at 6:30PM. Tova Mirvis is the author of We Would Never, and Elizabeth…
The Newton Council on Aging is facilitating transportation for attendance at Older Adult Lobby Day on May 13, 10:30AM-2:30PM. Attendees will visit the State House and meet with legislators regarding funding and support for quality, effective, and cost-efficient home and community-based services. This trip is free. Space is limited, and…
The Charles River Regional Chamber of Commerce concluded Women’s History Month on March 31 with guest speaker Governor Maura Healey, and Congressman Jake Auchincloss was a late addition to the much anticipated program. A lively audience of 259 business leaders and elected officials from Needham, Newton, Watertown, and Wellesley filled the…
The Newton Public Schools School Committee will experience significant turnover on January 1, 2026, with at least five of its nine members being new. Committee Members Emily Prenner (Ward 5) and Barry Greenstein (Ward 8) have confirmed to Fig City News, after recently sharing the news with colleagues and friends, that…