We are so grateful for the opportunity to work with this year’s Fig City News summer interns! It’s been a season of fun, challenges, learning – and well reported, well written articles.
We had planned to hire just two or three interns this year, but when Bella Ishanyan became available, we expanded our plans a lot. Bella was a Fig City News intern in the summer of 2023, before becoming Co-Managing Editor of the Newton South HS Lion’s Roar – and being named Massachusetts State High School Journalist of the Year. When we asked Bella to supervise this year’s program, we were able to hire and manage twice as many of the very promising students who had applied. It’s a bet that has paid off for the Newton community.
Our summer intern program was funded by Tami Gambiza’s Boston Marathon Fundraiser and a grant from the Newton Rotary Club – with supplemental funds from your donations to Fig City News. We are grateful to all who have donated.
Here is where you can find our six student interns of 2024 this fall:
- Bella Ishanyan will be a freshman at UMass Amherst.
- Noa Kelmer-Racin will be a sophomore at Princeton.
- Chloe Yu will be a sophomore at Emerson College.
- Theo Younkin will be a junior at Newton South HS – and Co-Managing Editor of the Lion’s Roar.
- Janie Blumenthal will be a senior at Newton North HS.
- Grace Yang will be a sophomore at Newton South HS.
Our interns’ availability varied over the summer due to their previous commitments to short-term summer programs, other employment, and travel plans. Nevertheless, together they produced these 32 articles, including some of our best work this summer. More will be published in the coming weeks.
Arts & Culture
- Nancy Schön — Sculpting her own path — Noa Kelmer-Racin
- NNHS and NSHS students will tour Europe with Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, performing in top concert halls — Chloe Yu
- Newton Theatre Company welcomes Paige Perkinson as its new Director of Development — Chloe Yu
- Preserving heritage and family through St. Mary of Carmen Women’s Society — Grace Yang
- Newton high-school students return, awed, from European tour with Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra — Chloe Yu
- Newton residents host choreo-poem Origami Night at Boston Center for the Arts — Chloe Yu
- Newton chorus director Ling Guo to direct Asian American Day Festival music on Boston Common, Sept. 7 — Chloe Yu
Business and Real Estate
- Pettee Square construction to offer benefits, but Little Luke’s Cafe owner expresses interim concerns — Chloe Yu
- Northland proposes changes to Needham Street project — Theo Younkin
- Northland meets with Liaison Committee about revisions removing shuttle service and office space — Theo Younkin (and Martina Jackson)
- Stop & Shop to close its Needham Street ‘bfresh’ concept store on Aug. 29 — Theo Younkin
- The Walnut Market – Highlands’ source for specialty foods from afar — Chloe Yu
- Newton-Wellesley Hospital named among best in cancer and neurology care — Chloe Yu
Diversity
- Empathy Now: The first of a 3-part series to bring community together — Noa Kelmer-Racin
- Bomb threat at New Art Center: Newton Police and Fire respond; Missy Steak reflects — Chloe Yu
- Panel discussion to celebrate Disability Pride month in Newton community — Grace Yang
- City to use DEI survey results to better understand and address community needs — Janie Blumenthal
Elections
- Chamber Debate: Democratic Candidates for 11th Middlesex State Representative — Bella Ishanyan
- Also on the Sept. 3 ballot: The Massachusetts Governor’s Council — Bella Ishanyan
Environment
- Newton’s tree canopy over the years — Chloe Yu
- Deadline extended! Recruit 5 neighbors by July 7 to host the planting of 8 or more City trees this fall — Noa Kelmer-Racin
Helping Others
- Hunger in Newton — Grace Yang
Government
- High water bills due to “catchup” readings after long periods of estimated billing — Bella Ishanyan
- In second summer working session, School Committee meets with new leaders — Theo Younkin
- City replaces NewMo transportation service with more flexible, 24/7 GoGo Newton — Grace Yang
- Gath Pools reopen & Mayor Fuller makes a splash — Bella Ishanyan
- Gath Pool hosts ribbon cutting ceremony — Bella Ishanyan
Police
- Operation Safe Sidewalks — Bella Ishanyan
- Six new officers join the Newton Police force — Chloe Yu
Sports
- Historic season for Newton South East Little League: 10U Williamsport Team advances to State semifinals — Theo Younkin
- Newton North Boys Volleyball wins D1 state championship for the first time in program history — Bella Ishanyan
- High school sports: Spring wrap-up — Chloe Yu
Ed. Note: We revised this article to include additional articles published more recently.
