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Category Archives: Needham

Children design bouncy balls at Library

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By Peter Kougias Hometown Weekly Intern The Needham Library hosted parents and children for a fun activity last week. On June 22, librarian Veronica McCarthy demonstrated how to make bouncy balls. Nearly 30 children mixed water, Borax detergent, cornstarch, and glue. In roughly 10 minutes, the children were whipping the balls off the wall, bouncing...
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Needham, Wellesley celebrate Race Amity Day

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By Kumari Devarajan Hometown Weekly Correspondent On Sunday, June 11, Sumner McClain addressed a small crowd at the First Annual Needham-Wellesley Race Amity Day. He told a story about a white passenger on the T who deliberately moved away from him to the other end of the car. He described his first thoughts after it...
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Karizel Chapman is ACE award winner

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The Needham Exchange Club's Accepting the Challenge of Excellence (ACE) award is given to a Needham High School student who perseveres and attains high goals while overcoming difficult and challenging circumstances. These hardships can be physical, health related, financial, familial issues and others. This year’s Needham Exchange Club recipient for the ACE award...
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Library hosting Simple Machines Workshop

On Tuesday, June 27 at 4:30 p.m., the Needham Free Public Library Children’s Department will host a Simple Machines Workshop led by David Hyde Costello, author and illustrator of popular children’s books. Costello will give an introduction to the four simple machines: the lever, the pulley, the wheel, and the axle. Participants will have the...
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Needham seniors graduate

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By Ethan Lee Hometown Weekly Correspondent On Monday, June 5, Needham High School graduated its Class of 2017 at Conte Forum at Boston College. Despite the change of location from Memorial Field due to rainy conditions, the graduation ceremony was successfully held in an upbeat fashion.   The event began with performances by the High School Band,...
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Bonvouloir is Youth of the Year

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The Needham Exchange Club recognizes four graduating high school seniors in its Youth of the Month and Youth of the Year programs. Additionally, its scholarship program provides recognition and financial assistance for graduating seniors. This year’s Youth of the Year was awarded to Elizabeth Bonvouloir, Daughter of Christine and John Bonvouloir of Fuller...
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Needham seniors take piano lessons with Bruce

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter Every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bruce Claflin offers piano lessons at the Center at the Heights. Having played piano for 60 years, Claflin has been offering lessons for the past four or five years. By his measure, he is not only teaching, but learning how to...
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Needham Street Fair celebrates local non-profits

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter Needham Center is often bustling on the weekends these days, filled with families and children enjoying a bit of sunshine and fresh air in the newly emerging spring. However the normal buzz of Needham Center is nothing compared to the crowd that turned up for the Needham Business Association...
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St. Joseph students donating hair

Students at St. Joseph Elementary School (SJES), located in Needham, MA, are giving back in support of children with cancer. This June, for the fifth year, a record number of more than thirty SJES girls, and a Monsignor Haddad Middle School student, will donate their hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths to help girls and women...
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Hillside students learn about water

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter For the past three years, the Needham Center at the Heights has invited Hillside students in the Water Project to give a presentation on the current state of water in the world, as well as their findings and new learnings about water. Amy Cicala’s fourth grade class and George...
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VFW holds annual banquet

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The Lieutenant Manson H. Carter Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2498 in Needham held its Annual Banquet at the Post’s facility on Junction Street Thursday, June 1. The banquet is held each year to honor the past commanders of the Post, install new officers for the year, and award prizes to the Needham...
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Hillside takes Nutrition honor

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The national, non-profit School Nutrition Association has awarded Christina Hartman the Northeast regional Employee of the Year Award, which recognizes the valuable contribution of school nutrition employees who exhibit a remarkable commitment to the school meal program and the students they serve. Hartman works at Hillside Elementary School in Needham. Christina Hartman does all...
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Great weather greets Great Bear Run

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Over 1000 runners and walkers from 66 towns from age 11 months old to 92 years young gathered on Sunday, May 21 for the 27th annual running of the Needham Youth Track Club’s Great Bear Run at Pollard School. Dan Vassallo of Peabody repeated his 2016 win in the 5K run in 15:24...
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NEF grant brings Spheros to Needham

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter Maria DeCicco has been a classroom teacher for the past 20 years, which has allowed her to fully understand how financial limitations can impact the curriculum, resources, and technology in schools. DeCicco recently applied for, and received, a $10,000 grant from the Needham Education Foundation, a generous foundation which...
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Mattleman, Needham’s consummate listener, talks

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By Stephen Press Hometown Weekly Staff The first feeling one receives upon walking into Jon Mattleman's Town Hall office in Needham is one of comfort and ease. The warmth of the Needham Youth Services (NYS) staff, the physical arrangement of the space itself, and especially Mattleman's inquisitive, amiable tone all contribute to an overwhelming sense that...
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Relay for Life comes alive

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter Relay for Life has is a year-round operation, but all of the hard work that goes into its planning and execution cumulate at the main event. This year, Relay for Life was held from May 20 to the 21st. Kick-off was at 4 p.m., with speakers, activities, a Survivor’s...
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Rosemary Complex funding approved

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter Rosemary Pool is a staple in the Needham summer experience. Even those without pool passes were taken along by friends and experienced the relief of a body of water during the unrelenting summer heat. For the past couple years, the Park and Recreation Department has been working towards a...
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Playing for charities for thirty years

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In 1987, Joe Gillen and Don MacIntyre, active members of the Needham Exchange Club, had an idea to partner their love of golf with the charitable focus of the Club. They decided to start a golf tournament, with proceeds to benefit local non-profits. Thirty years later, and the tournament is still going strong,...
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COA celebrates St. Patrick’s in May

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter St. Patrick’s day is the biggest holiday in the month of March. Green shamrocks and “kiss me I’m Irish” t-shirts are ubiquitous. For those who enjoy Celtic culture, there is an abundance of musical and artistic performances. One of these performers is Davis Bates, a storyteller and singer. Bates...
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Open Studios art opens eyes

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter Once a year, the art community of Needham opens up its doors to let anyone and everyone take a peek inside. Needham Open Studios features over 30 artists who exhibit their work. Some are full-time professional artists, while others work at art part-time, but every single one has a...
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