By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff
There is hope amongst all military members’ families that their loved ones return home unharmed. Unfortunately, that it is not always the case. Like many men, Joseph Finneran joined the army on December 18th, 1941, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Just over a year later, 1st Lt Joseph Finneran...
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Grugan Center celebrates ribbon cutting
By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly
Anyone who has driven past the Charles River Center (CRC) in Needham during the last few months can see exactly how much it has changed. On October 30, invited guests came to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of the Grugan Center. The Center is named for former Charles River Center President and CEO John...
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Broadmeadow kids slice, dice and donate
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By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter
While getting kids to eat vegetables may be difficult, apparently (when it’s for a good cause, at least) getting kids to cut them is not. That was the case on Saturday morning, when kids and parents from Broadmeadow School gathered for Pare and Share, a vegetable-cutting event sponsored...
Needham stays undefeated with Braintree win
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By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The Needham girls volleyball team moved to 15-0 with a four-set victory over Braintree on Thursday afternoon. Though it’s tough not to suspect they could have ended the game in three sets, if they really wanted to.
In the first set, the Rockets jumped out to a 16-10 lead, and...
Toastmasters helps people speak publicly
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By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter
For many people, a public speaking club is just above an underground fight club on a list of groups they’d never want to find themselves a member of. But because even in our digital world, verbal communication is still such an integral part of our work and social...
Sunita Williams returns for school dedication
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By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff
It’s not every day that a town gets to dedicate a school like the new Sunita L. Williams Elementary. With its numerous media centers, its state-of-the-art classrooms, and its creative playground, the school represents a perfect educational haven for both staff and students.
But it’s also not every day...
‘We Did It for You!’ coming soon
The musical "We Did It for You!" is more than just something to entertain people. “It offers a multi-century parade of feminine genius and courage, and does it with humor and fun,” says Paul Williams, the Oscar-winning songwriter. Written by Thea Iberall, "We Did It for You!" is a charming musical that tells of the...
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Space comes to the Needham Library
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By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Staff
On Thursday, September 19, kids had all their questions about space answered during the Needham Library’s Space Adventure program.
Niki Apostolicas, a junior from Needham High School, began the program by having the kids introduce themselves with a few icebreakers. Each kid named their favorite planet, their favorite fruit,...
Keating, Topham address State House
Needham veterans Tom Keating and Bill Topham, both veterans of Vietnam, were recently invited by Representative Denise Garlick and Senator Mike Rush to provide support and comments to the Veterans and Federal Affairs Committee at the Massachusetts State House on H.3206 – An Act relative to providing veteran survivor benefits.
This bill was sponsored by Representative...
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Stacey Peasley teaches yoga class
By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff
On Friday, September 13, on one of the last warm days of fall, Stacey Peasley prepared for a special class at the Needham Public Library. Many frequent visitors of the library know Peasley for the catchy tunes and fun games she often presents to Needham’s youngest citizens. On this day,...
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NHS Boosters Club readies sticker drive
The Needham High School Boosters Club’s annual sticker drive fundraiser begins the weekend of September 21. NHS student athletes will fan out all over Needham’s neighborhoods, knocking on doors, asking residents for a contribution to help support the school’s 75 athletic teams and 10 clubs. With any donation, they will receive a Rockets sticker as...
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APWA recognizes Elliot Street Bridge restoration
By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff
When people drive over bridges, they tend to avoid thinking about their structural safety. But every engineer knows that every bridge needs a tune-up here and there to ensure its safety. The Elliot Street has been driven over by thousands over the last 162 years since its creation, which has made...
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New York Voices playing Great Hall
Needham's Great Hall Concert Series will welcome the New York Voices on September 14 at 8:00 p.m.
The New York Voices (NYV) are Kim Nazarian, Peter Eldridge, Lauren Kinhan, and Darmon Meader. 2019 marks the New York Voices' 31st anniversary, and they show no signs of slowing down. This internationally-acclaimed vocal group has refined its musical...
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What’s in a name – Needham’s schools
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By Shelly Santaniello
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
The Sunita L. Williams Elementary School has opened. This is a significant event for the town. Needhamites probably can’t help but be impressed with the big, beautiful structure as they drive by. They may wonder what it looks like inside, how many lucky students will attend, and how it...
Seven Eagle Scouts recognized in Needham
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On Thursday, August 15, Troop 10 celebrated an Eagle Scout Court of Honor for seven of their recent Eagle Scouts at Powers Hall in the Town Hall. Those Eagle Scouts included Cyrus Kurd, Justin Rocco Ochalla, Andrew McCaffrey Atallah, Kevin Patrick Grady, Andrew Patsios, Daniel Stephen Habermas and Nicholas Peter Savage.
Scoutmaster John Reichard...
COA hosts delectable cooking demonstration
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By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff
They say that there is no better way to get to know someone than by sharing a meal with them.
On Wednesday, August 28, participants who signed up got to chat and follow along with Needham’s Council on Aging Director of Aging Services LaTanya Steele as she made...
Ice cream cools off Needham residents
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By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff
The age-old saying “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream,” seems especially true during the hottest of summer days.
On Wednesday, August 14, visitors at Needham’s Center at the Heights enjoyed a special ice cream social with new and old friends, all while cooling off from the...
Launching Scholars gives kids leg up
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By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Doing math in the summer and staying past the bell to do even more math during the school year, all in hopes of eventually learning calculus, is such a nightmare to most students that when a group of kids from an impoverished LA high school did it, they...
Needham learns about Real ID
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By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Starting in October of 2020, you will no longer be able to fly domestically (or get into federal buildings) using your Massachusetts license. Instead, you will need to either renew your license (or Mass ID) to become a federal Real ID-compliant one, or get a replacement license that...
Needhamites return from STC Lebanon trip
