Category Archive for "Needham"

NFPL hosts Women in World Jazz

By Alana DiPlacido Hometown Weekly Reporter On March 30th, as Women’s History Month was nearing its end, the Women in World Jazz led the audience at Needham Free Public Library (NFPL) on a musical tour through the history of women’s contributions to jazz worldwide. The Women in World Jazz, a Newton-based jazz group, state that the goal...

By Julia Beauregard Hometown Weekly Editor The Needham Free Public Library (NFPL) hosted an evening discussion featuring a panel of local authors. These novelists discussed their experiences with writing and publishing their works. The panel featured two Needham High School alumnae, Janis Robinson Daly and Julia Corbett Davis, alongside Needham High School history teacher Jenn Bouchard. This...

Daley discusses mass murders in Massachusetts

By Audrey Anderson Hometown Weekly Reporter Christoper Daley returned to the NFPL Community Room with his True Crime series. For the second talk in the series, Daley focused on Mass Murderers: Massachusetts’ Most Infamous Murder Cases. Daley’s first story was about Jesse Pomeroy, who first stripped, beat, and tortured the boys in an outhouse at Powderhorn Hill in...

By Paul Vozzella Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter Winter was lingering on Sunday morning, but that did not stop citizens from rocketing around town. The 4th annual Needham Boosters Club Rocket Run was a success as close to 200 Needhamites made their way through the streets to participate in the 5 kilometer run and 1 mile walk. The Needham...

Sunita Williams returns to Earth after 9 months

By Julia Beauregard Hometown Weekly Editor After being stuck in space for the last nine months, NASA astronaut and Needham native Sunita Williams safely returned back to earth on Tuesday, March 18. Williams mission was originally only supposed to take eight to ten days. Williams set off for space on June 5, 2024 heading to the International Space...

By Julia Beauregard Hometown Weekly Editor 2025 is the 16th year of Needham’s Art in Bloom. This exhibit was molded after the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston’s annual spring Art in Bloom presentation. Inspired by garden club members Sue Kaplan and Allison Shapiro, the Beth Shalom Garden Club aimed to create a community event that brought together...

Dr. Landsmark’s role in race relations in Boston

By Audrey Anderson Hometown Weekly Reporter A large crowd assembled as Dr. Theordore Landsmark visited the Needham Free Public Library to talk about his lifetime of experience in public policy and urban affairs in Boston working to uplift the lives of minorities. Dr. Landsmark’s visit was intended to take place earlier in Black History Month, but, because...

By Lenny Strauss Hometown Weekly Reporter The Eephus is one of the rarest pitches thrown in baseball, known for its exceptionally low speed and ability to catch a hitter off guard. Former Pittsburg Pirate Maurice Van Robays, who coined the name, stated that the "Eephus ain't nothing, and that's a nothing pitch." In Hebrew, the word "efes"...

By Alana DiPlacido Hometown Weekly Reporter A group of interested audience members gathered in Needham Free Public Library’s (NFPL) Community Room to hear author Paul Fisher speak. Fisher, a Wellesley College professor of American Studies and an author of multiple books, had come to speak about the James’ family and their relationship with the popular movement of...

High Rock teacher arrested on child pornography charges

By Julia Beauregard Hometown Weekly Editor Needham Public Schools Superintendent Daniel E. Gutekanst informed families on Friday, March 7 that Michael Ciccolella, a 46 year old teacher at High Rock Middle School, has been charged with possession and distribution of child pornography. Ciccolella has been employed by Needham Public Schools since 2008, but has been immediately placed on...

Needham’s First Poet Laureate previews new book

By Audrey Anderson Hometown Weekly Reporter Needham’s first Poet Laureate, Anne E. G. Nydam, discussed the goals of her town position and previewed her new book, “Bitter-Sweetness and Light: A Collection of Stories, Poems, and Art,” at the Needham Free Public Library. Nydam was appointed in December 2024 as Poet Laureate of the Town of Needham, after submitting...

by Audrey Anderson Hometown Weekly Reporter The Needham Free Public Library and the Needham Public School Library hosted the 3rd Annual K-12 Needham Community Writing Contest reception and awards ceremony on Thursday, February 27, at NFPL. Student writers, their parents, and their siblings packed into the Community Room to celebrate the winners and recognize everyone who had...

By Audrey Anderson Hometown Weekly Reporter Since the movie “Bonnie and Clyde” was released in 1967 with Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty in the lead roles, the public has been fascinated by the story of the two young outlaws and their exploits. The movie painted a glamorized and simplified version of their story; however, their real lives...

By Audrey Anderson Hometown Weekly Reporter The first public reading of the play “If the Walls Could Talk” was presented in in an exciting joint venture of the Needham Community Theatre and the Needham Diversity Initiative to present a program combining local significance, the arts, and social justice. “If These Walls Could Talk,” written by Dawn Carroll and...

By Audrey Anderson Hometown Weekly Reporter A talented and friendly group of Needham High School students performed an intimate evening concert of eclectic music in the Needham Public Library’s Community Room. The enthusiasm of the musicians was infectious, as they set up decorations and a snack table in the room, warmed up their instruments, and introduced and...

By Julia Beauregard Hometown Weekly Editor The Needham Diversity Initiative in cooperation with Needham Human Rights Committee, Needham Interfaith Clergy Association, and The Needham Public Schools and it’s METCO Program sponsored the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration at Needham High School on Monday, January 20. The event began as Odessa Jackson, the host of the event,...

Needham votes no on MBTA zoning plan

By Lenny Strauss Hometown Weekly Reporter On Tuesday, January 14th, Needham residents voted in a special election to decide whether to enact a zoning plan that if implemented, would see the town as “in compliance” with the MBTA Communities Act, a controversial bill that has become a major point of discussion across the state. This vote represents...

Pulitzer Prize-Winning author visits NFPL

By Audrey Anderson Hometown Weekly Reporter Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Sebastian Smee was warmly welcomed at the Needham Free Public Library (NFPL) by a large crowd in the Community Room. Registration for this event filled up quickly, as eager fans of art criticism and journalism looked forward to hearing from the celebrated Smee, who is known as a...

By Avital and Joel Skolnick Community Contributors The art show "Reflections" kicked off Needham’s 2025 cultural calendar with an opening reception on Sunday, January 5, at the historic Gorse Mill Gallery, located at 31 Thorpe St. The exhibit features a range of paintings, from beautiful local landscapes to abstract works, and will remain open for visitors through...

By Riley Fontana Hometown Weekly Reporter Needham embraces and celebrates all religions and traditions within its community. In honor of Hanukkah, the Chabad Jewish Center hosted a menorah lighting outside Needham Town Hall, inviting residents to come together in celebration. Rabbi Mendy Krinsky led the program, introducing speakers, including Needham resident Boaz Arbel. Arbel shared reflections on his...

Category Archives: Needham

NFPL hosts Women in World Jazz

Needham authors discuss Publishing 101

Daley discusses mass murders in Massachusetts

Rocket Run blasts past $14K goal

Sunita Williams returns to Earth after 9 months

16th annual Needham Art in Bloom

Dr. Landsmark’s role in race relations in Boston

Needham native stars in “Eephus”

Discussions on spirituality at NFPL

High Rock teacher arrested on child pornography charges

Needham’s First Poet Laureate previews new book

Celebrating writers at NFPL

The Real Bonnie and Clyde

Social justice reading at Powers Hall

NHS students present TRI-M Concert

Needhamites celebrate MLK Day

Needham votes no on MBTA zoning plan

Pulitzer Prize-Winning author visits NFPL

“Reflections” debuts at Gorse Mill

Needham celebrates Hanukkah

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