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Category Archives: Needham

School Committee holds virtual open house

While this tent was great for social distancing, because it can’t handle snow, it’s not going to be much help in the near future.

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

Now three months into the hybrid system of learning, on Saturday, the Needham School Committee...

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Needham Lights will continue, albeit altered

Holiday traditions will be different this year as the pandemic continues. This year's celebration of the Needham Blue Tree lighting and accompanying lights will take place this year, without the usual celebration.

As a result, residents of Needham are urged to bring some of the festivities to their own neighborhoods....

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Jeff Sneider scoops Hollywood in Needham

Despite remaining in Needham during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sneider has been able to keep in contact with his sources.

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

Needham doesn’t have many connections to the bright lights of Hollywood. Last year, a Chris Evans movie was filmed in...

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Vote dropbox locked overnight during weekend

As voting continues and citizens take the time to participate in early voting and drop off their ballots, Needham residents are urged to take advantage of the red ballot box.

Mailed ballots may be dropped off in person to the big red dropbox or mailed back to the town...

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Town hosts drive-through pumpkin display

A family points out which of the carved pumpkins is their favorite from the safety of their car.

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

They say that in the 1950s, people fell so in love with the idea of having a car and were so...

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Needham BOH presents Halloween guidelines

The Needham Board of Health has provided some recommendations for celebrating Halloween this year. Using CDC guidelines, these recommendations have been carefully designed to help ensure everyone has a happy and healthy Halloween. 

Those handing out candy should try to implement a one-way system, such as leaving a candy bucket...

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Foliage brings crowds to Echo Bridge

While too dangerous for my tastes, a couple did find a very interesting spot to relax near Echo Bridge.

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

You know when you watch the Masters, and right before Tiger is about to win the green jacket with a...

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The pandemic perils of high school

By Maddie Gerber
Hometown Weekly Intern

“I really missed school” admitted senior Lauren Biedron, laughing. “Wow, I never thought I would say that.” 

While this may have been an unheard-of sentiment last fall, this year, many students have been itching to get back to some sense of normalcy....

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Needham extends free meter through 2020

The Needham Select Board has voted to extend the free parking meter program throughout town during the remainder of 2020. This program provides free parking throughout town so that patrons can enjoy local businesses and shop, without worrying about the cost of a parking meter.

"It is our hope...

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Tricky Dog Show wows virtual audience

By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff

How often do we get to enjoy a dog show from the comfort of our own homes? When I was little, I used to sit for hours watching the countless Animal Planet dog programs. Occasionally sprinkled among them was a program in which the dogs...

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Greis presents lecture on women’s suffrage

A newspaper clipping from the now-discontinued Needham Chronicle that covered the first days of women registering for voting. Women had a higher turnout then men did during that first year.

By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff

On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment giving women...

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Reservoir shows signs of normalcy

It wasn’t a huge fish, but this family did successfully catch one.

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

Last week, people across three New Jersey counties were convinced that they had seen a UFO. Videos were taken, tweets were sent out, and amateur UFO hunters...

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Needham rallies behind teachers and staff

By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff

It’s no shock that teachers will be facing an enormous number of challenges during this upcoming school year. In adapting to teaching virtual classes, changing their classroom organization and protocol to support social distancing, and even ensuring the safety of their students, teachers are...

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Public Health announces flu vaccine clinics

Needham Public Health will be hosting flu clinics in September and October. Those wishing to get their flu vaccine can come to the Center at the Heights on Wednesday, September 23, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m., and Saturday, October 3, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The first hour of each clinic...

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Enviously hiking the Charles River Peninsula

Almost all of the boats opted to head away from, rather than towards the South Street Bridge.

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

You know when you take young children to the beach, and you play with them in the creek or along the waterline...

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Greene’s Field playground hosts story walk

A family enjoys reading 'New Shoes for Silvia,' the second book on the story walk.

By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter

Story walks are a newly-popular way to get kids outside, get kids exercise, and get kids to read, all at once. Essentially, pages from...

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2021 college applicants face uncertain future

By Maddie Gerber
Hometown Weekly Intern

August is typically the sunset of the summer, one final hurrah before the fall chill seeps in and life returns to normal, conjuring up images of relaxing days spent soaking up the sun and lounging poolside. However, for rising high school seniors, August is anything...

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Precincts E, H voting location changed

On August 6, the Needham Select Board voted to change the location of one of the five polling places available for the September 1 and November 3 election. Voters in precincts E and H are now set to vote at the Needham Golf Course, located at 49 Green Street; the regular location, the...

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Needham FD moves into new building

The Needham Fire Department has moved into its new department building at 88 Chestnut Street. The building has been under construction since early 2019.

In 2018, officials established that the then-current police and fire headquarters buildings were too small to meet needed safety standards, among myriad other concerns.

Special Town Meeting to be held outside

On August 6, the Needham Select Board voted to hold the Fall Special Town Meeting on Sunday, October 4, outside. The meeting will now be held at the Memorial Field parking lot, and will resemble the Spring Town Meeting that took place earlier this year. The rain date for the meeting has...

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