No trash delay for Indigenous Peoples’ Day

There will be no trash delay this coming week, despite the federal holiday on Monday.

The city has always had trash delays on holidays, but as of July 1, there are no trash delays after Veterans Day, Martin Luther King Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

So make sure your trash, recycling and yard waste are set out next week, because if you miss pickup, you’ll have to keep your trash another week, and that’s unpleasant.

The city is working hard to get the word out because collection crews will not be able to return the same week if carts are not set out by 7 a.m. on a resident’s regular trash day during these holiday weeks.

“In the past, Newton delayed trash and recycling pickup for all federal holidays, a practice that started when City staff performed collection and had those holidays off,” Waneta Trabert, director of sustainable materials management, said in a statement announcing the change. “But in recent years we have found that delaying pickup creates more challenges than benefits.”

Those challenges include scheduling contracted staff to work Saturdays and clearing up confusion among residents.

“In fact, these weeks consistently generate the highest call volume to Customer Service,” Trabert continued. “Delays have also made it harder to respond during storms and other disruptions.”

So, going forward, the only holidays with a trash delay in Newton are: New Year’s Day, Patriot’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Cyanobacteria bloom. Public domain photo

Charles River cyanobacteria bloom is expanding

The cyanobacteria bloom discovered in the Charles River has gotten bigger, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced on Monday.

The bloom, which is now 10 weeks old, has expanded to all areas downstream of the bridge that connects River Street in Cambridge to Cambridge Street in Allston.

Cyanobacteria, commonly referred to as blue-green algae, flourish in dry, hot conditions when water goes stagnant, phosphorus levels in the water rise,  and there isn’t enough rain to wash it away and replenish the fresh water faster than the blooms grow.

A cyanobacteria bloom was discovered in Crystal Lake this summer, and the city closed the lake to swimming until the bloom diminished and bacteria levels returned to a safe range.

The state has more information on cyanobacteria.

The Nathaniel Allen Center. Photo by Christian Maitre

Historic Newton’s ‘An Uncommon Education’ showing about Allen School at West Newton Cinema

On Tuesday at West Newton Cinema, Historic Newton—in collaboration with the cinema and Newton Cultural Alliance—will present a showing and discussion panel of “An Uncommon Education: the Allen School,” a 2023 original documentary examining the pioneering educational experiment in West Newton, spearheaded by Nathaniel Topliff Allen.

The film starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at westnewtoncinema.com.

Founded in 1845, the West Newton English and Classical School (often called “the Allen School”) pioneered a forward-thinking education program and admitted Black students, immigrant students and female students. The school focused on helping students develop their talents while moving society decisively toward gender and racial equality through education and was the first school to include physical education in its programming.

There will be a panel discussion after the movie including co-producers Joe Hunter of Remember Productions and Sara Goldberg, along with School Committee member Anping Shen.

Historic Newton’s exhibit about the school is on display at West Newton Cinema from now through November.

Editor’s Note: Joe Hunter is a member of the Newton Beacon Board of Directors.

Archery. Public domain photo

Registration opening for 2026 Camp Frank A. Day

Summer 2024 just ended, but it’s almost time to think about Summer 2026 if your kids are into summer camp.

YMCA Camp Frank A. Day, a co-ed summer overnight camp in East Brookfield, is opening registration for Summer 2026 on Tuesday.

The camp teaches kids ages 7-16 self-reliance as well as group work as they build character and leadership skills outdoors with campfires, bugle calls, canoeing, soccer matches, archery and talent shows.

You can sign your kids up online starting Tuesday. Hurry, as spots tend to fill up fast.

A child paints a window in Newton Highlands as part of the Halloween Window Painting Program on Saturday, Oct. 26. Photo by Howard Sholkin

Halloween Windows Painting sign-up has begun

As Mayor Ruthanne Fuller mentioned in an email earlier this week, registration is open for Halloween Window Painting, a program organized by Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture to help kids realize their artistic talent while making storefronts festive for the spooky season.

The program is for kids in grades 3 through 8. Each artist gets a space to paint a window outside of a participating business throughout Auburndale, West Newton, Newton Highlands, Newtonville, Newton Centre, Nonantum and Waban on Saturday, Oct. 25. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the event will be the following day.

You can register the kids online.