We are very excited that this month John Rice is giving us a "tour" of Newton Highlands. A former City Councilor and the director of the Hyde Community Center, John is the force that makes so many wonderful things about Newton Highlands possible. We hope you get to meet him at an upcoming Hyde Center concert or Newton Highlands day!
Favorite thing about your village: The Highlands is a vibrant village with many gathering spots to spend time with friends and neighbors. There are busy shops, restaurants and other businesses along Lincoln and Walnut Streets. In addition, the Highlands village life and sense of community is supported by local organizations. The Hyde Community Center on Lincoln St. is the only nonprofit community center in Newton and home to many events, activities, and a lovely garden. In 2013, the Hyde Center built the only permanent outdoor bandstand in the City of Newton. The Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council runs Highlands Village Day and other annual events. The Brigham House on Hartford St., formerly the Highlands branch library, is a Queen Anne style house built in 1886. This historic building was restored in 2008 for use as a community center. Woman’s Club of Newton Highlands on Columbus St. is another community resource and offers an annual scholarship to local high school students.
Your favorite place to get coffee or a snack: Lincoln street is home to many great snack shops. Indulge candy store is a Newton Highlands institution, Walnut Market, a gourmet food store that also specializes in wine & craft beers has a wide selection of snacks, and two new businesses that opened 2020 add to the sweet treat lineup in the village: Cacao, a nut and chocolate shop and Lakon Paris Patisserie specializing in baked goodies such as croissants, dark chocolate mousse and lemon tarts!
Your favorite restaurant: O’Hara’s for pub food, Anna’s Taqueria for burritos, Grape Leaf for Greek food, Walnut Grille for vegetarian and vegan dishes, Buttonwood for rustic American food, Otake Sushi Bistro for authentic Japanese cuisine, Sichuan Gourmet House for Chinese food.
Your favorite personal care: Salon Capri, Davis Salon, Station Row, Angelo’s Barbershop, Joie De Vie.
A fun playground or park: Crystal Lake on Lake Ave, Hyde Playground on Lincoln Street next to the Hyde Community Center and Newton Highlands Playground on Dedham Street which was recently renovated by the City of Newton.
Annual village events to watch for: Summer in the Highlands at Hyde Bandstand on Friday nights-free concerts, movies and plays. Newton Taiwan Day, a festival celebrating Taiwan culture, and includes a dragon dance down Lincoln Street-first Saturday in May. Highlands Village Day, the oldest street fair in Newton-second Sunday in June.
Insider village tips: Check out Newton Highlands events at the Hyde Community Center www.hydecenter.org, at Crystal Lake www.crystallakeconservancy.org, and at Woman’s Club of Newton Highlands at www.newtonwomansclub.com.
Year you moved to the village: 1987
You can find previous Welcoming Newton village guides here:https://www.welcomingnewton.org/village-guides
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Candlelight Remembrance Hosted by the Mayor’s Office
Tuesday, April 6th, 7:30 PM on the steps of Newton City Hall
Bring a candle / Wear a mask / Physically distance
Newton Community Farm’s 2021 Seedling Sale
Wednesday, April 7 at NOON – Seedling Sale online store opens to the public through the ordering link which will be posted HERE at noon on April 7.
Friday, May 14 – Monday, May 17 – Customers pickup their orders at the Farm in the afternoon by pre-scheduled appointments.
For all the details including our plants list, volunteer signup, and additional information, go to our Seedling Sale page. This Weekend - Food Drive for Newton's Food Pantries
April 11 10 AM - 2 PM at Memorial Hall Circle, Newton City Hall Help Newton Food Pantries put food on our neighbors' tables - donate soup, tuna, cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter, jelly (those are the only items accepted at this drive). No expired items, please! Thank you for not bringing other items - the food pantries are not currently set up to handle them.
EveryBody Signs Upcoming Class Schedule
Our friends at Everybody Signs offer American Sign Language classes to children and adults. Email everybodysigns@gmail.com for more information.
City news:
Newton Al Fresco has launched!
Newton Al Fresco is an initiative to provide more outdoor dining opportunities throughout the City. More details from the City’s website here and this BC Heights article here.
If you are able, visit your favorite restaurant for outdoor dining or takeout soon!
Newton has a Free Community Fridge (Freedge)
Newton has an outdoor “Freedge”, which is a combination outdoor refrigerator and pantry in the parking lot of Central Drapery and Dry Cleaning. The Freedge is being organized by the Newton Food Pantry and other local organizations, including our partner project Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors. To see what the Freedge has or needs follow along in their Facebook group and theirInstagram account. “Take what you need, leave what you can!” Newton Out Doors is Coming Soon! Our wonderful fiscal sponsor Newton Community Pride just announced the artist winners of the Newton Out Doors community art project. Learn more about the project at newtonoutdoors.org and keep your eyes open for this creative project throughout the city's village centers, May - November of this year.
Neighbor to Neighbor - tips:
Green Cart Chronicle
Are you subscribed to the Green Cart Chronicle email? https://www.newtonma.gov/government/public-works/sustainable-materials-management
Newton DPW’s monthly email has important info about trash and recycling. If you’ve ever wondered what goes in what bin, how to get rid of large items, and more, subscribe here:
Yard waste pick up started last week!
Find local events & learn more about what’s happening in town:
It can be tough to keep on top of everything that’s happening in Newton, especially during COVID social distancing.
We’ve created a landing page for those new to town, featuring important apps to download and helpful email lists to sign up for, including Mayor Fuller’s newsletter. Check it out here: https://www.welcomingnewton.org/new-to-newton
In addition, visit the following web pages and subscribe to these newsletters to find out more info about what’s happening in town - events, important city discussion and decisions, and more.
Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors is Welcoming Newton’s partner project focused on community support. Join the Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/newtonneighborshelping/
OurNewton.org has local events and information https://www.ournewton.org/
Local media: New TV is Newton’s local cable access TV station: https://newtv.org/, the Newton TAB is our weekly newspaper, the Newton Patch is online, and the Boston Globe has a “Newton Report”.
Village 14: https://village14.com/ They aim to be “the “go to” place for discussion of any issue in Newton, but there’s also plenty of room for humor and a bit of fun too. We welcome you all to join the conversation – the more voices, the better the conversation.”
Newton Arts Calendar: http://newtonartscalendar.org/
Newton’s City Calendars: https://www.newtonma.gov/government/public-buildings/calendar
Newton Free Library’s Calendar of events: https://newtonfreelibrary.libcal.com/calendar
Newton Community Pride: https://newtoncommunitypride.org/
Amy Sangiolo’s Community Newsletter covers local government: https://amysangiolo.com/
All Over Newton has local shopping and restaurant information and guides: https://www.allovernewton.com/
Mayor Fuller’s newsletter: https://www.newtonma.gov/government/mayor-fuller/updates
Need support?
Food assistance: information on the three food pantries, grab and go, and more available on the city's website here.
The Horace Cousens Industrial Fund is a charitable trust, established in 1930, which gives financial help to Newton residents who are faced with a temporary but severe financial problem. Grants are for one-time specific needs.https://www.newtonma.gov/home/showpublisheddocument?id=41413
Welcome Home, Inc is a home goods pantry based at Trinity Church in Newton. Want to shop? Email welcomehomemass@gmail.com to schedule an appointment. www.welcomehomemass.org
Support the work of Newton Neighbors
You can now make tax-deductible contributions to us by mailing a check! Payable to: Newton Community Pride (our fiscal sponsor). Please write Newton Neighbors in the memo line. Mail to: 1294 Centre Street, Newton 02459
