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 [...]
Column: Our city values creativity. But will artists be able to afford to create here?
Newton’s annual Open Studios, held last month, is one of the city’s cultural highlights. More than 100 artists shared their work with the public, inviting [...]
Column: Let’s go to the airport! (But getting there is the hardest part.)
Sooner or later, most of us in Newton will need to go to Boston Logan International Airport. But then there is the dilemma of how [...]
Column: My inside-outside approach to getting rid of pain and cane
I struggle with how much personal stuff to share with Newton readers. It ultimately comes down to whether I’ve had an insight that may benefit [...]
Column: Rethinking ‘peace through strength’ in the afterglow of Memorial Day
Monday marked Memorial Day, with its backyard barbecues, sports and games. It was a bit wet and overcast this year for the important occasion we [...]
Column: Twenty years down on the farm, and many more to come
Before the ground thaws at Newton Community Farm, the growing season begins in a heated greenhouse. There the staff sprinkles seeds into dirt-lined slot trays [...]
Column: Some tough questions on the value of screens in Newton schools
Earlier this spring, Newton teachers received a message from the city’s schools superintendent. We may, wrote Dr. Anna Nolin, “want to think about experiences that [...]
Column: Hosting play dates and reciprocal invites are ways to build community
Beacon readers: A parent from the Facebook group for Newton Parents reached out with this question, and I shared my advice below. Please email me [...]
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, [...]