Column: Newton’s climate is changing, and our plants are changing with it
Newton has been bursting into color the past few weeks as plants come into flower. Cherry and magnolia trees are covered in pink flowers, and [...]
Column: On native plants and winter rabbit damage
The plants in my May garden, mostly New England natives, have emerged through the autumn leaves that still cover several of the beds. The buds [...]
Column: It’s working according to plan, but that doesn’t mean it feels good
Washington Street in Newtonville is perfect for development. With a new accessible MBTA station on the horizon, the hope for regional rail, multiple bus routes, [...]
Column: The cure for ‘senioritis’ starts with putting down the phone
I’ve never been one to procrastinate. Upon being given a task, I am quick to complete it. I rarely, if ever, fall behind. Then I [...]
Column: How to stitch Newton Corner back together
Efforts are underway to reimagine Newton Corner and replace its dreaded “Circle of Death” rotary. If done right, these efforts will look back at the [...]
Column: We need a shared vision to build a Cultural Newton
We are fortunate that Newton is rich with arts and cultural activities. Now it’s time for a vision that can bring them together and make [...]
Column: When vegetable gardens were a patriotic duty
As spring arrives, many of us prepare our gardens for tomatoes, cucumbers and other crops to supplement our summer menus. Yet more than 100 years [...]
Column: Southeast Asia, then and now. A new upbeat mood contrasts with that in America.
As I waited in Tokyo’s Narita Airport recently for the red-eye flight that would take me back to the United States—and, ultimately, back to my [...]
Column: ‘Little old ladies’ step into the fray
Much has been going on in my life these past few weeks—mostly good things from which I harvest joy and connection. Some are small and [...]
Column: No Kings fits squarely in a 250-year tradition of ‘sacred rebellion’
On the day after Easter, just over a week after I’d spoken at the “No Kings” rally in Newton Centre, I took up an invitation [...]
Column: War’s violence and destruction can seem far away to Newton high schoolers
A few years ago, at Newton North’s commencement, I ran into a former student who’d come to see a younger sibling walk across the stage. [...]
Column: When it comes to social media, parents may be the ‘anxious generation’
Beacon readers: A Newton parent sent this question in response to my first parenting column last month, and I shared my advice below. Please email [...]
Column: Newton’s Webster Woods teaches us the value of forests
If you’ve taken a stroll through Newton’s Webster Woods or Houghton Garden over the past few years, you might have noticed subtle signs of technology [...]
Column: Hello hardy hellebores and other signs of spring
Nothing makes a gardener smile more than seeing signs of new growth. After all the snow, and now amid the mud, the cold wind, and [...]
Column: Everyone wants to be a specialist. But there are benefits to casting a wider net.
Last winter, inspired by online garment-making tutorials, I bought myself a sewing machine. I envisioned instant success. I would make perfectly tailored dresses out of [...]