Column: Eating around the world without leaving Newton
Even if your summer plans keep you close to home, you can get a taste of the world by shopping at specialty grocery stores in [...]
Column: Nearly 50 years later, Newton’s student exchange program with a Beijing school endures
In the 16 months since my wife Becky passed away, I’ve done lots of solo traveling in the United States and Asia. Travel is incredibly [...]
Column: Who pays for a cultural Newton? Philanthropy allows the arts to flourish
In my first column, I proposed that Newton needs a shared vision for arts and culture. In my second, I suggested that housing should be [...]
Column: Wonderful rocks of Webster Woods
The most striking feature of the Webster Woods is its abundance of rocks, from sheer cliff faces and rocky slopes to isolated boulders and ancient [...]
Column: Two trips on the road to adulthood
Just days after my high school graduation, I boarded an eight-hour flight to Copenhagen, Denmark. I had purchased the tickets myself and had already booked [...]
Column: From Pride to the Fourth, we must hold America to its highest ideals
June ended the way it always does, with the Pride flags coming down just as the Stars and Stripes went up. On July 4th, America [...]
Column: Traveling along a hopeful Route 88
As I connect with people around Newton, we reflect together on the fraught process of aging. I hear the adage ‘age is just a number.’ [...]
Column: Washington Street then and now… and what does the future hold?
A year after Washington Street was reconfigured in a $2.8 million “pilot” program, the changes have lowered roadway speeds, reduced collisions, boosted bicycle and pedestrian [...]
Column: Creamy summer treats by the scoop and the spoonful
This summer you can find cold comfort in a cone, on a stick, wedged between two cookies, and topped with waffle chips at Newton’s ice [...]
Column: A Newton North alum shows the value of combining skills with humanity
This month’s lovely commencement ceremonies at Newton’s high schools naturally brought out the smiles and tears of many proud parents. And their pride is well-placed. [...]
Column: Why can’t Newton attract big corporate tenants? Part of the answer lies on I-95
Pull out a map and take a look at I-95, then look at the exits. Nearly every exit is packed with commercial property, whether it’s [...]
Column: A self-sustaining garden grows in Newton
Gardens are singular places. They reflect the style and the interests of the gardener. When I arrived at Margaret Primack’s backyard, it was clear that [...]
Column: Amid rising threats, Jewish safety is a community concern
Even though Jews make up only 2 percent of the country’s population, they are the target of more than half of all religious hate crimes [...]
Column: Teacher gift-giving should be about appreciation, not competition
Dear Nanci, Every school year around teacher appreciation time, I find myself in the same uncomfortable position. Newton Public Schools has a clear policy limiting [...]
Column: The bittersweet coming together and pushing apart of graduating seniors
It’s Friday, May 22, and the chilly sands of Nantasket Beach in Hull are dotted with beach towels and spikeball nets. A small grill is [...]