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Category Archives: Needham

Spring Carnival delights Hillside kids, parents

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By Stephen Press Hometown Weekly Staff The American flag flapped in a crisp brisk breeze over Hillside Elementary's full parking lot. In the distance, from the direction of the schoolyard, sounds echoed of children laughing and chattering. Were it not for the intoxicating smell of popcorn that lingered in the air, one might be convinced...
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Needham High School holds Class Day

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By Ethan Lee Hometown Weekly Correspondent Organized by Senior Class Advisor Mr. Michael Hirsh, Class Day is a day for acknowledging the accomplishments and achievements of NHS seniors, as well as the awarding of numerous scholarships and prizes. Class Day 2016 hosted around 200 seniors in the NHS gym. After opening remarks by Master...
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Needham High class of 2016 graduates

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By Ethan Lee Hometown Weekly Correspondent On Monday, June 6, Needham High School graduated over 400 seniors on a gorgeously sunny day. Opening remarks were made by vice-principal Aaron Sicotte and principal Dr. Joseph Barnes. Both emphasized the significance of the accomplishments of the Class of 2016, as well as the talent and potential gathered...
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The beautiful game

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By Stephen Press Hometown Weekly Staff Lily stands next to three girls in red shirts. She smiles and clutches a trophy as parents and children huddle under the Memorial Park gazebo. For the moment, all eyes are on her and her buddies - that is, the red-shirts flanking her. Lily is a participant in Needham’s...
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NBA Street Fair delights residents

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By Stephen Press Hometown Weekly Staff Walking up Dedham Street towards Great Plain Avenue, a full trolley rumbles by. A breeze carries the unmistakable, tantalizing waft of carnival food - smells of popcorn, hot dogs and cotton candy seduce the senses. The American flag flaps over Needham Common, and there is nary a cloud in...
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Pollard performs ‘Hound’

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By Ethan Lee Hometown Weekly Contributor From Friday, June 3, to Saturday, June 4, the Pollard and High Rock Drama Clubs captivated audiences with excellent performances of “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” Presented in the Pollard Auditorium, the middle school actors and actresses delivered their very own student-run version of the Sherlock Holmes classic. The...
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Home of the brave

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By Stephen Press Hometown Weekly Staff It looked as though it could have been a scene from a Hollywood funeral. The weather was cool and clammy, with rain alternately spitting and pouring down. Attendees labored to stay dry and comfortable, shielding one another from the elements with umbrellas, raincoats and open arms. A somber feeling...
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Farmers Market opens for season

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By Stephen Press Hometown Weekly Staff Just a few steps over the train tracks at Needham Center station, there is a welcome oasis waiting for passers-by. Children and their parents bounce from tent to tent, examining assorted goods and food items. Live music entertains the crowd. Friends converse and laugh. Summer is upon us, and so...
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Relay for Life raises funds

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By Lisa Moore Hometown Weekly Correspondent On May 21 and 22, residents from Dedham, Needham and Wellesley participated in the annual Relay for Life, the signature fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. This year, participants raised over $158,000 to support the efforts of the American Cancer Society, surpassing last year’s total by over $10,000....
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Sky rockets in flight

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By Cameron Small Hometown Weekly Intern “Whoa!” “It went so high!” “Heads up!” These were only a few of the phrases repeatedly yelled at the Needham Cub Scout Pack 8’s annual Rocket Day this past Saturday, May 21, at Olin College. “It’s a lot of fun,” said Jayson Layne, 9, who has attended Rocket Day...
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Tourney still strong at 40

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By Stephen Press Hometown Weekly Staff This Memorial Day weekend, Needhamites will partake in a number of traditions that wouldn't strike you as being especially out of the ordinary. There will be backyard barbecues, of course. Parades and homages to our servicemen and women. Families brought together to relax and laugh. There's another tradition, though...
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Needhamites ‘kick it up a notch’

By Cameron Small Hometown Weekly Intern Chef Emeril Lagasse is famous for coining the phrase “Kick it up a notch—BAM” in reference to food, but several Needham residents now can kick it up a notch, too, after attending the Herb Walk workshop hosted by the Needham Community Farm. On a visit from Scotland, former Farm Manager at...
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Annual Great Bear Run brings delight

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by Stephen Press Hometown Weekly Staff As the runners, some as young as five or six, come down Harris Avenue, spectators line the side of the road. An announcer calls out names and words of encouragement over a PA system. Spectators cheer and shout from the sides of the street. "Come on, come on!" "Let's go!"...
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Mitchell-Broadmeadow game a slam-dunk

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by Stephen Press Hometown Weekly Staff The annual Mitchell-Broadmeadow basketball game was held on Friday, May 6, in front of a rapturous audience at the Needham High School gym. The game, which pits parents, staff and teachers from Mitchell School against their Broadmeadow counterparts, is a fundraiser for each school's parent-teacher council - not to...
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Mullen wins Melick scholarship

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The Melick Foundation was created in 1997 to honor Dick Melick, who served as Needham's Town Moderator for thirty-five years. In 2010, the Melick Foundation established an annual scholarship for a Needham High School senior who is an active community volunteer and has helped further the tradition of civic and neighborly service in...
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Needham student goes to NHD Nationals

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by Stephen Press Hometown Weekly Staff Sam Wolfield, a sophomore at Needham High School, exhibits the calm, studious demeanor of a scientist as he attempts to sum up his achievement. "It's a proud accomplishment," he says dryly, barely cracking a smile. Surely, he's just playing it cool. After all, Sam has recently learned he's been...
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NHS student named Presidential Scholar

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by Stephen Press Hometown Weekly Staff When Needham High School senior Dianne Lee called her family in the middle of the school day, it was difficult for her to contain herself. "I called home pretty much right after I found out and we screamed (quietly, because school was still in session)," she said. It would have...
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Needham students put on ‘Fortinbras’

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by Caroline Ahearn Hometown Weekly Correspondent This past weekend, the Needham High School Fine and Performing Arts Department presented its spring production of the play "Fortinbras" by Lee Blessing. The witty play picks up where William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" left off, and centers around Young Fortinbras (Matthew Lorence), a modern man of action, who enters during the...
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Byrd, Sockol win Melick Award

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Needham residents Cathy Byrd and Aaron “Ron” Sockol have been awarded 2016’s Melick Award on Monday, May 9. The Melick Award celebrates individuals whose generous spirit of volunteerism has contributed to the quality of life in the Needham community. In addition to Byrd and Sockol, the Foundation honored Town Meeting members who had served...
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Needham Rotary in Arbor Day partnership

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The Rotary Club of Needham partnered with Fourth Grade Foresters in celebration of Arbor Day, giving each fourth grade student in the Needham a Norway Spruce sapling to plant. A total of 547 trees were given out. Together these trees make up a unique forest - a forest planted by Needham fourth graders....
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