by Ralph Ranalli | May 12, 2014 | Newton
Since reading this in the NYT, I have been fantasizing about the super-energy-efficient garage conversion I might do at the homestead to live the dream of micr0-living (always wanted a Murphy bed). But a quick assessment of Newton’s rules around accessory...
by Ralph Ranalli | May 6, 2014 | STEM, Teens |
Yarn-stormed, that is: I noticed this addition to the bike-rack bench and this… …late last week. I’ve since been watching other sign posts for evidence of yarn, but been disappointed. Today, I finally called Ellen Meyers, the library’s... by Ralph Ranalli | May 5, 2014 | Newton |
Some often-debated issues come up for a vote at Monday’s (tonight’s) Board of Aldermen: The chartered Austin Street proposal The Capital Improvement Plan Tree Preservation Ordinance amendments Water and Sewer Rates All the documents are linked here. I... by Ralph Ranalli | Apr 21, 2014 | Auburndale, Budget, development, parks, Waban, Zervas |
Now that the Marathon/Opening Day is behind us, the real fun begins with the Board of Aldermen: Budget Time. The budget officially opens Tuesday with the Mayor’s presentation to the BoA in full session. Then the Aldermen review sections in committee. In the... by Ralph Ranalli | Apr 18, 2014 | Newton |
The Marathon route will be littered with spots for runners to get oranges, cups of water and other hydration (and you’ll find the cups and rinds the next day…) But spectators don’t get those goodies. To quench the thirst of the cheering crowds, the... by Ralph Ranalli | Feb 21, 2014 | Newton |
So which school building do you figure costs the most to heat? Well, to be fair, by square foot? The impatient can have a look in the Aldermen’s Friday Packet this week–just scroll down to documents, and then scroll to the bottom of the Fiscal Report.... by Ralph Ranalli | Feb 16, 2014 | Newton |
Why can’t we stop all this development? That seems to be the main question Aldermen will face Tuesday night as they vote on a proposal to down-load an oddly-shaped piece of Newton Centre and consider the proposal to halt the Austin Street development later on.... by Ralph Ranalli | Feb 7, 2014 | Newton |
Parking, Zoning, Development. Those three items are probably the most reliably hot-button issues at the municipal level (OK, dog parks). So forgive me if I think it’s great news that Newton is trying to manage one of them, parking, in a more comprehensive and... by Ralph Ranalli | Feb 1, 2014 | Newton
Angier, Carr, Zervas and Cabot all come in for discussion this week, and there’s good reading on two fire stations also up for rebuilding. You can also learn about energy-efficiency improvements in the Senior Center and Police HQ’s HVAC systems, the Brown... by Ralph Ranalli | Jan 25, 2014 | Newton |
A local attorney has asked the aldermen in Land Use to consider whether Newton should continue to urbanize with additional high-rise apartment/condo buildings. Peter Harrington’s memo touches on the perennial debate on whether Newton is a suburb or a city (in...
by Ralph Ranalli | Jan 17, 2014 | Newton |
Brookline’s done it, Marblehead is on it, now Newton is considering banning the plastic bag. Until last week, Newton’s Public Facilities Committee thought about adding a fee on plastic bags, after being pushed by Green Decade and a vocal environmentalist... by Ralph Ranalli | Jan 10, 2014 | Newton |
This week’s agendas are full of how Newton uses its money, and how Newton residents want to use the land. There are heartening reports of the fitness of Newton’s balance sheets and financial procedures, although the emergency replacement of a boiler at...