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Category Archives: Needham

Tapples take stage at Hard Rock

By Beatrice Beutel
Hometown Weekly Correspondent

After two and a half hours of various musicians performing their 20-minute sets in an epic battle of the bands, The Tapples finally took the stage. They opened with an original song, “Streets in the Evening,” which immediately had the audience...

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Perras tutors through pandemic and beyond

The Needham Community Council had some decisions to make about the English Language Learning program at the onset of the pandemic two years ago. For health and safety reasons, many of the existing tutor pairs did move to online, virtual learning, but many others were forced to take a pause. Today, however, the...

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Ukraine vigil held outside town hall

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

After recounting the now famous story of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky turning down an offer to be evacuated from his country with the declaration “I need ammunition, not a ride,” first generation Ukrainian-American Daniel Pavlotsky told the crowd assembled at Town Hall for Needham’s Vigil...

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Steven Qie, Youth of the Month

The Needham Exchange Club has recognized Steven Qie from Needham High School as its Youth of the Month. Steven is an outstanding student and has also been involved in broad-based community service that has won him a national President’s Volunteer Service Award in each of the last three years. He also earned an...

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Artist Henry exhibiting at Gorse Mill

"When We Are Silent", a new solo exhibition by artist Ruth K. Henry, is on display March 7-26 at Gorse Mill Studios, 31 Thorpe Road, Needham. A gallery opening reception will be held this Saturday, March 12, from 6-9 p.m.; all visitors are welcomed, and there is plenty of free parking available.

Seamus Fox, International Songwriting semifinalist

Seamus Fox, an 18-year-old singer songwriter from Needham, is a semifinalist in the prestigious 2021 International Songwriting Competition (ISC). Seamus wrote and recorded “Road Of Life”, his first original track, which released on all streaming platforms last November. It has been streamed on Spotify more than 13,000 times in the past few months.

COVID causes Community Council adjustments

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

When COVID-19 first hit Massachusetts and caused widespread lockdowns in March 2020, the Needham Community Council (NCC) both took on a greater importance in town and was forced to adjust its processes to accommodate social distancing rules. Nearly two years later,...

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Nikita Patel, Youth of the Month

Photo by John Terry. Shown with Ms Patel Are Club Members Joe Burns (on her right) and Jim Reulbach, President Elect.

Nikita Patel was honored as an Exchange Club Youth of the Month on February 17. She is an excellent student at Needham High and was recently...

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Needham’s Art in Bloom coming soon

Beth Shalom Garden Club will soon be presenting its 14th Needham’s Art in Bloom, virtually. 

Beth Shalom Garden Club and participants from Needham Garden Club and Kalmia Garden Club will interpret artwork by Needham High School students with flower arrangements.

The free virtual presentation will be available...

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Needham Women’s Club donates to DVAC

Left to right: Maureen Callahan, Domestic Violence Action Committee (DVAC) and Needham Women's Club Member; Lt. Belinda Carroll, Needham Police Dept. and co-chair of DVAC; and President Betsy Millane of Needham Women's Club. 

Recently the Needham Women's Club presented a donation of $500 to Needham's Domestic Violence Action Committee (DVAC)...

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Take Back the Night returns live

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

Because of COVID-19, last year, Needham’s Take Back the Night event, which is traditionally held in February, was forced to be a live-streamed, virtual event rather than an in-person one. 

Last Thursday night, it returned to being held as a live event,...

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Needham painter Walton wins Silver Medal

Needham resident Nancy Motley Walton has received the Silver Medal Award for her painting, “Almost There”, in the New England Watercolor Society’s Signature Members Show, judged by internationally-acclaimed artist Keiko Tanabe. 

Bringing together the work of 76 of New England’s finest watercolor painters, the show is on exhibit at the...

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TOPSoccer swells to largest numbers ever

Everyone seemed to be enjoying Jack’s run across the field; a testament to how much TOPSoccer athletes and buddies love the program.

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

Last year, Needham’s TOPSoccer program ran in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic after recognizing a...

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Take Back the Night spotlights abuse

The purple lights stand out on Town Hall's steps, drawing all sorts of attention from people passing by.

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

If you’ve driven by Town Hall and noticed it’s covered in purple lights, you’ve seen the newest iteration of Needham High...

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Harvest Fair returns after year off

Officer Rocket being cute, and not doing much else.

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

After having to be cancelled last year because of COVID-19, on Sunday, the Needham Harvest Fair returned to Town Hall and its surrounding streets. But while perennial favorites like the...

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Needham Open Studios moves outdoors

Although not as many as would have taken place with a traditional setup, there were some live art demonstrations, like this one from Mark Richards.

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

Usually a spring event, COVID-19 cancelled the 2020 and 2021 iterations of Needham Open...

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Jog Your Memory 5K goes live

Mitchell Elementary School’s “Welcome Back” sign could just as well have been talking about the race, which had to go entirely virtual last year because of COVID-19.

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

After Jess Rice’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2007, she...

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ICON celebrates Indian Independence Day

Despite having only thirty minutes, the event was able to include speeches, singing and traditional dances.

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

Sunday afternoon at Needham Town Hall, ICON (Indian Community of Needham) a secular nonprofit organization aimed at “celebrating and preserving the culture and...

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Library hosts ‘Edge of the Street’

Paula Pitman Brown’s work, which includes large pieces on the wall and smaller ones in the library’s display case, is available for purchase.

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

As COVID-19 lockdowns swept across the world, suddenly the internet was flooded with videos of animals...

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Patrons fly in to see raptors

By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff

Have you ever been outside and heard the sound of a hooting owl? Have you spotted the fast flying of a peregrine falcon, or the rusty tail feathers of a red-tailed hawk? If so, you’ve seen some of the birds of prey that call New...

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