Newton, MA
12:07 pm, October 30, 2026
Education
Memorial Spaulding Elementary in Newton Centre earned the highest ranking among Newton's 15 elementary schools in the 2027 U.S. News Best Elementary Schools list, placing 21st statewide out of 956 ranked schools.
Elections
Newton's early voting period closes at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at City Hall, with the city reporting a record 62,000 registered voters and City Clerk Drew Willison urging mail-ballot holders to drop off ballots rather than rely on the postal service.
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Local Government
Newton's Backyard Blueprints competition, funded by an AARP grant, has closed its submission window for detached accessory dwelling unit designs and is preparing for a public vote that will award $5,000, $4,000 and $3,000 prizes to the top three plans.
Local Government
Newton's Traffic Council voted unanimously to hold the Langley Road Municipal Parking Lot trial for further evaluation at its Oct. 22 meeting, while approving an accessible parking space, a resident-permit parking exception and a south-side parking ban on Ellis Road.
Local Government
Local Government
Local Government
Education
Memorial Spaulding Elementary in Newton Centre earned the highest ranking among Newton's 15 elementary schools in the 2027 U.S. News Best Elementary Schools list, placing 21st statewide out of 956 ranked schools.
Education
Two members of the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism presented K-12 recommendations at Newton's Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School on Oct. 22, citing escalating school incidents since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, while the local group Sawa distributed flyers arguing the report conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism.
Education
Green Newton is recruiting volunteers for a recycling and composting pilot at Newton South High School on Nov. 3, when roughly 2,000 district staff gather for a professional development day, in what the group says would demonstrate what's possible for a district where no school currently composts.
Education
The Newton School Committee's Negotiations Subcommittee holds its second executive session in October on Thursday, Oct. 22, to discuss bargaining strategy with the Newton Teachers Association, and the city's posting board shows two more closed sessions scheduled the following week.
Education
Newton Teachers Association President Mike Zilles instructed members to boycott focus groups run by special education consultant NSK12, prompting Newton Public Schools to pause the sessions, and has proposed that the consultant share all findings exclusively with the union.
Education
The Newton School Committee meets Wednesday to vote on Superintendent Anna Nolin's goals and preview building-level School Improvement Plans for the first time this year, with a closed session on NTA contract bargaining strategy beforehand.
Community
The 38th Boston Jewish Film Festival brings five screenings to Newton's JCC Riemer-Goldstein Theater and West Newton Cinema from Nov. 4–15, including a live Boston Tango Orchestra performance before the Nov. 10 showing.
Community
The Newton Senior Fund, a little-known nonprofit, provides emergency grants of up to $1,000 to older residents facing urgent needs like roof repairs, rent and heating costs, and its board is pushing for greater visibility as winter approaches.
Business
Newton Centre data engineer Ryan Volpi launched Farro, a $15 website cataloging vegan dishes at more than 6,000 Boston-area restaurants, with several Newton spots among the highlights.
Business
Newton's Development Review Team will evaluate a proposed 20-unit residential development with 20 parking spaces at 723-727 Washington Street on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
Business
Newton's Economic Development Commission will review a report showing the city's arts and culture sector generates $19.3 million in economic activity and supports 651 jobs when it meets Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Business
Newton's fifth annual Bakery Crawl brings more than 20 bakeries across the city's village centers together on Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26, with free samples, specials and no registration required.
News Producer
Cameron is a Rhode Island native and graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in News Media in 2026. He previously worked as a beat writer for Alabama volleyball and baseball for "The Crimson White" and a pro sports writer for Ball Exclusives.
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