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Category Archives: Needham

High school hosts GBML

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By Ethan Lee Hometown Weekly Correspondent On Wednesday, December 7, Needham High School hosted the Greater Boston Mathematics League (GBML), a mathematics competition involving schools across the state. The GBML, carried out over the span of the school year, consists of five different meets, of which the Needham High School edition was the third. Held...
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Historical Society hosts Pop-Up Exhibit

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter On any given day, the Needham Historical Society is a fascinating place to be. However, this past Sunday, it got just a little bit more fascinating with the addition of a Pop-Up Exhibit. From 2:30 to 4:00, local Needhamites and those in the surrounding area could drop by to see...
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COA brings ancient Chinese culture to light

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter Most of us learn extensively about the history of the United States, as well as the history of Europe. However, many of the cultures to the East remain a mystery. There may be a smattering of information here and there, but many of us are not afforded the same...
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Needham to light ice-carved Menorah

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The Chabad Jewish Center has welcomed the entire community to celebrate the Festival of Lights at the annual public Menorah lighting ceremony. The Chanukah celebration will take place on Sunday, December 25 (the 2nd night of Chanukah), starting at 4:30 p.m. on the Needham Town Common. Following the kindling, the program will feature music,...
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Clerk encourages prompt census reply

The Town Clerk’s Office will be sending out the 2017 Annual Census by mail during the first part of the New Year. This census package also includes a dog license application for those dog owners who sometimes forget to license their pooches. The Board of Registrars is required by state statute to verify and update the...
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Blue Tree illuminates Needham’s holiday spirit

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In a continuation of a beloved Needham tradition, the town illuminated its Blue Tree over the weekend. Needham Lights, which began in 1954, started when Clarke Wertheim, president of The Board of Trade and Needham Rotary, proposed placing a maple tree in front of Town Hall and adorning it with blue lights. The tree...
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TOPSoccer participants get their kicks

The Needham TOPS program recently celebrated the completion of its fall session. TOPS - The Outreach Program for Soccer - is a youth soccer training and placement program for athletes with disabilities. The program is focused on bringing soccer to members of the community with physical or mental disabilities. It is an extension of US Youth...
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Generations meet through pen pal program

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter The divide between generations can be hard to bridge, especially when it comes to the very young and the older. However, the brilliant minds at Mitchell Elementary School and the Needham Council on Aging have come up with a plan to help bridge this gap and facilitate the transfer...
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Vintage Voices soar at COA

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter They say people don’t change. Whether that’s true or not, there is ample evidence to suggest that at least passions don’t wither. Every Tuesday, a group of 25 to 30 seniors gather at the Center at the Heights to sing. No experience or musical background is required, simply a...
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Conductorless Orchestra to play Powers Hall

The Olin Conductorless Orchestra, the nation’s only collegiate ensemble to perform without a conductor, will offer a free public concert in Needham Saturday, December 17, from 8 – 10 p.m. The concert will take place in Powers Hall in Needham Town Hall, 1471 Highland Ave.   The orchestra will perform music for the theater by Mozart, Gershwin...
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Ogbebor named RAY of Hope

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Erika Ogbebor is a junior at Needham High School. She was nominated by her supervisor at Charles River Center for her volunteer work with kids. She originally volunteered at the Charles River Center with her brother, but later began to work there on her own two days a week. She is a recreational...
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N.C. Wyeth’s legacy explored

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter Many modern Needhamites probably think that the only important person to come out of our suburban Boston town is Aly Raisman. While the gymnast is certainly impressive, there is a former star whose fame at the time eclipsed even that of an Olympic athlete. N.C. Wyeth was born in...
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Terrific Toddlers thrive at Needham Library

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter The Needham Public Library is a popular destination for a wide demographic. High schoolers pile in after school to socialize with their friends while doing homework or to meet with tutors and adults come in to find their next book or to have a quiet place to read. But...
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A Thanksgiving Story: My Brother, The Patriot

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By Carol Stento Hometown Weekly Correspondent The year was 1969 and the draft was in full force, calling up men to fight in Vietnam. While most young men were praying not to have to go to war, my brother, George Hasenfus, known by all as Gigi, went to the doctor for a letter. The doc...
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Borromeo String Quartet enchants and wows

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter Music always has been, and continues to be, a great equalizer. It doesn’t matter your age, background, education or socioeconomic status - liking a piece of music can bring people together. This was illustrated perfectly at the performance given by the Borromeo String Quartet in Needham Town Hall last...
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Local voting civil amidst heated election

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter The recent Presidential election has been one of the most heated in history. Opinions and emotions were flying high, as issues beyond just party differences were brought to the surface. The nation as a whole bubbled with anticipation as the votes rolled in, watching diligently as each state was...
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Needham’s Highland Avenue bridge demolition

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By Katrina Margolis Hometown Weekly Reporter Greater Bostonians are no strangers to highway construction. Despite living a few miles outside of the city, projects such as the Big Dig did not exactly escape Needhamites’ attention or distress. While not as big as that monster of a project, this past weekend, the construction came a little...
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Unmask the Future raises cancer funds

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One of Needham’s largest fundraising galas, the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham (BID–Needham) 18th Annual Gala was held on October 29 at the Westin Copley Place, Boston. This year’s celebration, “Unmask the Future: Masquerade Ball,” brought together nearly 800 community members for a night of bidding, dancing and excitement all in support of the...
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Exchange Club marks Day of Service

The Needham Exchange Club marked its Annual Day of Service by focusing on the students of Needham, On Saturday, October 15, teams visited Hillside School and Pollard School to clean up, remove excess vegetation, limbs and trees and generally improve the usability of the courtyards and lots at the schools. pollard... 			
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‘Art & Soul’ comes to Needham

At a time of deep social division within this country, the Sanctuaries/Washington DC will conduct a special arts workshop entitled “Art & Soul” from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 12, at First Parish in Needham. The workshop will use different art forms (poetry, music, visual) to help participants deepen their creative and spiritual...
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