On Monday April 21 — Patriots Day — key north-south traffic routes across Newton will be closed across the five miles of the Boston Marathon course that run through the city. The road closures will be in place from Lower Falls along Washington Street/Route 16 and then turning onto Commonwealth…
Fig City News
At the Newton City Hall War Memorial on April 15, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller received the 2025 Sheila Mondshein Award for Outstanding Leadership in Promoting Fair Housing. The award is granted annually by the Newton’s Fair Housing Committee. The group’s mission is to create diverse housing accommodations free of discrimination. “This…
A sure sign of spring: On April 14, Mass Wildlife delivered about 400 rainbow trout to their new home in Crystal Lake. With only about a half-hour notice of the event, City Councilors Martha Bixby and Alan Lobovits were on hand to welcome the new residents. Newton Recreation Manager Carol…
Bringing to a head prior budget discussions, on April 2 the School Committee approved by a 6-3 vote the “Level Services Plus” version of the FY26 budget for Newton Public Schools (NPS), even though this budget exceeds the allocation from the City by $2-3 million. NPS leaders will present this…
Secret Mall Apartment is a marvelous documentary about a band of eight artists who made a secret home for years in a Providence, Rhode Island shopping mall. To mark the film’s opening, the West Newton Cinema (WNC) hosted a post-film discussion on Sunday, April 13, with director Jeremy Workman, subject…
In its continuing exploration of ways to update Newton’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance and build more “affordable” units, the Zoning and Planning Committee met on April 14 to hear recommendations by the consultant, RKG Associates. The meeting was in response to requests from several City Council members to consider adding an…
“I’ll be in and out – it’ll take less than five minutes.” “Who will notice?” “Why do they need so many spaces anyway?” To some drivers, a few moments blocking a curb cut or taking an accessible parking space to do a quick errand does not seem like a big…
The next span of Newton school history was marked by the growth of private schools; issues of governance, equity and curriculum; and the beginnings of teachers organizing. By 1763, Newton had two full-time school masters and four one-room, 14 ft x 16 ft schoolhouses for a population of 1,306. The…
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…
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,…