Newton’s unsung heroes of 2025
This year had it all: Laughter, tears, fighting, joy, politics, drama and an election that included all of that. There were the stories that shaped [...]
City Council rejects plan for parking instead of housing on Nonantum lot
On Dec. 9, the Land Use Committee voted to recommend approval of a non-accessory parking lot and a rebuild of a 10-foot retaining wall at [...]
What a Year: The stories that shaped Newton in 2025
In early January, an article in the Newton Beacon laid out a forecast for the year ahead, as 2025 was the Chinese Zodiac’s Year of [...]
Oliver announces City Council committee assignments
Newton City Council President-elect John Oliver and Vice President David Kalis (who was recently elected to another term in that role) announced their picks for [...]
Chapin Road drain extension saga ends quietly with petition withdrawal
The Chapin Road drainage drama has ended abruptly–and rather anticlimactically–as a proposal to extend drainage for a planned construction on Homer Street is no more, [...]
Curtain Call: Outgoing city councilors bid farewell at last meeting of 2025
Seven Newton city councilors—Rick Lipof, Vicki Danberg, Andreae Downs, Bill Humphrey, Alan Lobovits, Leonard Gentile and Marc Laredo—are ending their tenure when the clock strikes [...]
Laredo picks Lauren Berman to lead economic development in Newton
In these times of economic chaos and uncertainty, local economies can make all the difference. And Mayor-elect Marc Laredo is hoping to give the city [...]
Despite peer review support, committee rejects Newton Centre drain extension request
Betsy Harper plans to build two houses on Homer Street on property she bought two years ago, and as a means of mitigating stormwater runoff, [...]
City Council adopts Code of Conduct, minus a few amendments
In 2023, after former Ward 6 Councilor Brenda Noel received inappropriate text messages from her colleague, Ward 8 Councilor At-Large Rick Lipof, she wrote a [...]
Planning Department’s Barney Heath, Jen Caira leaving City Hall
They've spent years helping the city, residents and businesses plan—new buildings, whole developments, zoning updates and more—and now Planning Department Director Barney Heath and Deputy [...]
Newton Centre Plaza is here to stay another year
Call it a plaza, or call it a parklet. Just don't call it temporary anymore. The Newton Centre Plaza started with controversy, as business owners [...]
Finance Committee unanimously backs 175% tax shift for FY 2026
This story is from The Heights, an independent, nonprofit newspaper run by Boston College students with which the Newton Beacon has a partnership. Newton’s Finance Committee voted [...]
Laredo’s City Hall leadership picks come with a lot of familiarity
Mayor-elect Marc Laredo has announced his incoming leadership team, and it’s filled with familiar faces. The picks hint at a desire to have continuity in [...]
Newton Walk, Roll, and Bike Plan sent back to committee after procedural dispute
A plan prioritizing pedestrian and bike travel hit a roadblock at Monday night's City Council meeting and is headed back to committee for a retry, [...]
Newton Highlands Village Enhancement project gets pushback from area council
After two years of planning, and around half a million dollars invested, the City Council voted to allow a conceptual plan for the Newton Highlands [...]