180 years and still on a mission

Eliot Church is celebrating its 180th anniversary this weekend with a spotlight on its social justice mission. Family Aid, which provides solutions to family homelessness in Greater Boston, is the Newton nonprofit selected to receive a special collection, and the church is inviting past and present members to contribute items or make financial gifts. The church’s Leadership Council has also voted to give the organization a $30,000 donation, which will be presented on Sunday.

Located at 474 Centre St. and named after Puritan minister John Eliot, the church was founded 1845 by a group of abolitionists who incorporated social progress into the church’s mission. And 25 years ago, the church announced it would be an Open and Affirming Church, welcoming and including LGBTQ people in its ministry.

Staying out of it

There’s a lot of talk about endorsements in this year’s local election. Several city councilors have released lists of candidates they support for both City Council and School Committee races. But City Councilor Andrea Kelley is bucking that trend in part, staying out of the School Committee races.

“Due to the polarity, dissension, anger, accusations and assumptions that are going around about the School Committee races, I’m staying out of endorsing candidates as a group in those contests,” Kelley wrote in an email to her followers and campaign update subscribers.

She did, however, endorse a set of City Council candidates.

“Over the summer and early fall, I talked with candidates and came to my own personal decisions about who to vote for, and assure you I was no part of any other candidate’s or organization’s slate, agenda or motive. I didn’t coordinate my list with anyone else; it’s all me.”

Voters cast their ballot at Cabot School in Newton.

Let the voting begin

If you want to get this local election behind you sooner than Nov. 4, you’re in luck. Early voting starts this weekend at City Hall.

• Saturday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 26 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 27, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 28, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 29, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Also, Saturday at 5 p.m. is the deadline to register to vote, and the last day to request a mail ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Help wanted

The city has posted a job opening for a new director of Parks and Open Space.

Not to be confused with the Parks, Recreation & Culture commissioner, the Parks and Open Space director “leads the City’s mission to provide quality active and passive recreation opportunities through thoughtful design and construction methods with a focus on diverse needs, abilities, and uses,” according to the ad posting on MassterList.

“The Director of Parks and Open Space will work with many stakeholder groups, government agencies, elected officials, and City employees to lead Newton’s open spaces into the future. Work will include capital projects, needs assessments, feasibility studies, master planning, and guiding the long and short-term direction for key components of the City’s green infrastructure.”

Farmers’ finale

The weather is getting cooler, and the crops are harvested and ready to go.

This is the last Saturday of the year to visit the Saturday Farmers Market at Newton North High School. And Tuesday’s Farmer’s Market at Cold Spring Park is the last of the Tuesday markets for the year.

The Saturday market runs from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and the Tuesday market runs from 1:30 to 6 p.m.

You can see a list of vendors here.