Editor’s note: Newsmakers is a regular feature spotlighting accomplishments of Newton community members, businesses and organizations.

Chestnut Hill’s Billy Scanlon is bowling to help the Special Olympics

Billy Scanlon of Chestnut Hill is one of the members of the Revolution’s Unified Soccer Team set to play in New England Revolution’s annual Bowl for a Goal this week, presented by Arbella Insurance.

Bowl for a Goal is the Revolution’s premier fundraising event, where the entire team and coaching staff will join together with the Revolution’s Special Olympics Massachusetts Unified Soccer team for a night of bowling, food, music, and loads of prizes.

To date, Bowl for a Goal has raised more than $600,000 for Special Olympics Massachusetts. Last year alone, $100,000 was raised to help support Unified Sports^® and other programs.

Scanlon is a Special Olympics Massachusetts athlete and is joined on the team by fellow Special Olympics athletes as well as volunteer partners.

Funds will be also raised during the event through a silent auction, where fans will get a chance to win an autographed Drake Maye helmet, a Boston Bruins team signed jersey, two tickets to Morgan Wallen at Gillette Stadium, and more. Fans can donate and purchase tickets for the event here.

UMass Amherst Mt. Ida Campus celebrates the Wells Avenue Path with Chancellor Javier Reyes and President Marty Meehan, Newton, Massachusetts,  July 17, 2025. Photo by Faith Ninivag

New pedestrian path connects UMass Mt. Ida Campus with Wells Avenue businesses

UMass Amherst, the West Suburban YMCA and the city of Newton are celebrating the completion of the Wells Avenue Path, a new ADA-accessible pedestrian link between the Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst and the Wells Avenue Business Park.

The concrete path, which is 350 feet long and has safety features including lighting and handrails, connects UMass Amherst’s Greater Boston campus with Newton’s largest business park and the Wells Avenue YMCA.

The path also improves access to abutting DCR-managed trails and conservation land for students, faculty, staff and Oak Hill residents, while providing employees and customers of Wells Avenue businesses access to outdoor recreation, amenities, dining and programs on the Mount Ida Campus.

Representing UMass at a ribbon-cutting on July 17  were UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes, UMass President Marty Meehan, Chair of the UMass Building Authority Mary Burns, UMass Amherst Provost Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, UMass Amherst Vice Chancellor for Administration & Finance Andy Mangels, UMass Building Authority Executive Director Barbara Kroncke, UMass Building Authority Deputy Director and General Counsel Dave Mullen, UMass Amherst Executive Director for Administration & Finance Operations Steve Reynolds, UMass Amherst Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities & Campus Services Shane Conklin, and UMass Amherst Assistant Chancellor for Greater Boston Strategic Initiatives Jeff Cournoyer.