After almost five years of work and despite requests to return to the drawing board, Newton City Councilors approved the new design for the City Seal on February 18, in a vote of 13-10, with one absent. While even those who voted in favor of the change agreed that not…
Posts published in February 2025
New Memorial-Spaulding Principal hired. Ultimate Frisbee becomes an official sport. The February 10 School Committee meeting began with a full slate of public commenters, filling the 30 minutes allowed for comment and addressing varied topics such as: Notably, multiple students, staff members, and parents addressed the playground accessibility issue, particularly…
Since 1988, the Newton-San Juan del Sur Sister City Project – founded by former City Councilor and School Board member Rodney Barker, with other Newtonians – has worked to establish a meaningful connection through activism with the city of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. The nonprofit organization has built and renovated over…
The City of Newton broke ground February 13 on a multi-use synthetic turf field at Albemarle Field — part of a $9.5 million park renovation aimed at improving recreational facilities while addressing longstanding concerns about flooding. Synthetic turf improves field usability during and after bad weather but has also raised…
On Friday, February 7, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that it would allow only 15% of “indirect costs” associated with the wide range of scientific research projects it funds at universities, medical facilities, and other science institutions. The change in funding, originally set to begin on Monday, February…
After much deliberation, I am deciding that I’m not running for re-election this year. Being a city councilor is a great job—one I’m honored to be allowed to do. Much of the good government can do is done here, at the local level—help people, protect public schools and civil rights,…
The Zoning & Planning Committee approved the following (see Report and watch the meeting video): The committee voted to hold the following: Present: Councilors Baker (Chair), Oliver, Albright, Wright, Krintzman, Getz, Danberg, and KalisAlso Present: Councilors Malakie, Lucas, Block, Farrell, Leary, Kelley, and GreenbergCity Staff: Jennifer Caira, Deputy Director of…
The City Council’s Committee of the Whole approved the following (see the report and watch the meeting video; see also Fig City News report of the meeting): Present: Councilors Humphrey, Lucas, Malakie, Albright, Leary, Downs, Laredo, Lipof, Greenberg, Kelley, Grossman, Bixby, Krintzman, Danberg, Wright, Baker, Farrell, and BlockAbsent: Councilors Gentile,…
The Programs & Services Committee voted to approve the following (see the report and the meeting video): The committee voted to hold the following: Present: Councilors Krintzman (Chair), Oliver, Micley, Malakie, Humphrey, Lobovits, and FarrellAbsent: Councilor BakerAlso Present: Councilors Greenberg, Wright, Leary, and Lucas City Staff: Anthony Ciccariello, Commissioner of…
The Public Facilities Committee voted to hold the following (see the report and watch the meeting video): The Public Facilities Committee voted no action necessary on the following: Present: Councilors Albright (Chair), Getz, Kelley, Leary, Danberg, and KalisAbsent: Councilors Gentile and LaredoAlso Present: Councilors Lucas and WrightCity Staff: Commissioner of…