Rethinking high school entirely
Newton Parent Jack Cheng wrote a great piece that came out in Commonwealth Magazine over the weekend in which he called on Newton (and other districts) to entirely rethink how we approach high school. He wants us to get creative in our thinking. He offers up some...
Washington Street Changes
A number of changes are underway on Washington Street, primarily, the addition of a single, one-direction, protected bike lane. This is exciting and it’s about time, but there is a bit more to this story. Let’s go back to the Washington Street Vision...Sexism and the MA-04
There’s been a lot of debate about whether what Jake Auchincloss said to Jesse Mermell was, in fact, sexist. Auchincloss’ supporters say this was an attack by Mermell and that Jake was just responding but what he said wasn’t sexist. Mermell’s...
Kate Mason – Story of the week
The Newton Nomadic Theater periodically run an event at Gregorian Rugs called the Nomad Story Slam. They are nights of community story telling. Each event has a theme and anyone can come and throw their name in the hat to tell a five minute story – and they have...The Future of the Newton Police
When it comes to the future of the Newton Police, the only point that everyone seems to agree on is that something must change. That’s what the task force is about, that’s what the budget debate was about, that’s what the Defund movement is about,...What it means to ‘Defund the Police’
There has been some confusion, even on this site, about what is meant by “Defund the Police.” A great explanation comes from John Oliver–who is, in my opinion, among the best commentators working today. This short clip is worth the few seconds...The business cost of COVID-19
A few items from the retail world. When I was in Newtonville on Sunday Rancatore’s was already closed, and it looked like LeDu’s Thai wasn’t doing a brisk business, or nearly any at all. The Cherry Tree in West Newton announced that this is the end...
BU professors take Newton to task
The Boston University professors whose research found that most people who come to public hearings to oppose new housing tend to skew older, whiter, and more conservative than the overall city or town they’re in, took Newton to task in a Boston Globe op-ed this... Voting, Northland and the future of Newton
Over at the Boston Globe, Jon Chesto took a deep dive into the Northland referendum and came up with the basic idea that this vote has grand implications for the future of our city. If you’re like me, you believe that the referendum sends a very strong signal...
Flora’s Wine Bar to open after “one inspection”
It looks like Flora’s Wine Bar in West Newton is about to open its doors. They’re just “one inspection” away from opening, possibly this coming weekend. The restaurant, from the founders of Mei Mei and Beer Mobile, a craft beer food truck, gave...
The cost of “No”
Before there was a fight about Northland and before the battle over Riverside, there was Engine 6. The proposal for the old fire station was as a place where people who were homeless could have a way to rebuild their lives. Its proximity to the Green Line, to the...
Crazy Divers: Men be like...
drivers man be like