The Needham Observer

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The Needham Observer

A free, independent, non-profit news service founded and operated by a volunteer community members.

Mission Statement
The Needham Observer is a free, independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) news service founded and operated by a volunteer group of journalists and engaged community members. Our mission is to provide timely information, interesting features and a variety of perspectives that represent the breadth of our community. Our vision is to reflect Needham back to itself in a way that fosters and

expands connections across all segments of town. We are committed to diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging in what we cover, and in how and with whom we work.

28/09/2025

https://needhamobserver.com/scouting-regaining-popularity-in-needham/

by Brian M.B. Keaney - The scent of campfire smoke drifted through the woods last weekend alongside cheers, laughter and the sound of a bugle at the start and end of the day. Throughout the day on Saturday, gangs of Cub Scouts hiked from station to station as they tried their hand at knot tying, fir...

27/09/2025

https://needhamobserver.com/abatements-provide-property-tax-relief-for-some/

by Peter O'Neil - The Board of Assessors has nearly completed its adjudications on the flood of property tax abatement applications it received early this year after a state-required recertification process led to a dramatic shift in townwide property assessments. The board revised the assessments o...

26/09/2025

https://needhamobserver.com/all-quiet-on-the-train-horn-front/

by Peter O'Neil - For the second consecutive Town Meeting cycle, a planned warrant article related to advancing the creation of a Quiet Zone to eliminate mandatory commuter rail train horn use in town has been scrubbed. At its Sept. 18 meeting, the first since March, the Quiet Zone Working Group con...

23/09/2025

https://needhamobserver.com/plenty-of-room-for-opinions-at-large-house-meeting/

by Seth Bauer - Needham’s Large House Review Study Committee hoped for widespread public input at its Monday night meeting and, while the turnout was not large, the range of opinions ran the gamut. Some Needham residents expressed support for introducing lower-priced starter houses and for preserv...

22/09/2025

https://needhamobserver.com/envision-looks-for-happy-medium-with-downtown-designs/

by Julia Schultze - The Envision Needham Center Working Group released a timeline and three proposals for the reconstruction of Great Plain Avenue at its meeting Sept. 10. The project has created fissures between downtown business owners and the working group. Barbara Jones, owner of the interior de...

21/09/2025

https://needhamobserver.com/trees-in-public-spaces-will-give-shade-to-future-generations/

by Bob Baker - According to the Charles River Watershed Association, Needham lost 5.5% of its tree cover between 2014 and 2021. That loss of canopy is largely attributable to clear cutting on private land as new homes have been built. In response to residents’ concerns about protecting older trees...

20/09/2025

https://needhamobserver.com/west-street-project-faces-minimal-public-pushback/

by Peter O'Neil - The plans to demolish the 1950s-era edifice at 100-110 West St. and replace it with a 189-unit, three-story, 188,000-square-foot apartment building were generally well received at a Sept. 16 Planning Board public hearing on the project. Members of the public expressed concerns most...

19/09/2025

https://needhamobserver.com/park-rec-doubles-down-on-nixing-defazio-as-a-pollard-site/

by Peter O'Neil - Despite entreaties from other town entities to hold off on any decision, the Park & Rec commission voted unanimously at its Sept. 15 meeting to tell the Pollard School Building Committee it does not plan to surrender jurisdictional control of DeFazio Park land to facilitate a new P...

09/09/2025

https://needhamobserver.com/needham-womens-club-celebrates-90-years/

by Linda Polach - Their numbers may be small, but their impact is tangible. Members of the Needham Women’s Club have spearheaded many community events and volunteer opportunities in Needham during their nine decades of existence. Currently listing 35 members, the Women’s Club is about to celebra...

08/09/2025

https://needhamobserver.com/remembering-ron-sockol/

by Peter O'Neil - Temple Beth Shalom was filled to near capacity Sept. 2 as family and his many, many friends paid their final respects to Ron Sockol, who passed away peacefully Aug. 25 at the age of 95. Sockol was remembered for his boundless optimism, his prodigious work ethic, his decades of serv...

07/09/2025

https://needhamobserver.com/tragedy-on-the-town-common-5-performances-of-hamlet/

by Seth Bauer - “Who do I stab first?” asked Michael Jay, standing in the back yard of his Needham home holding a sword and a dagger. He looked around and saw about 15 possibilities: the cast and crew of the Yorick Ensemble’s production of Hamlet, which will be staged on the Needham Town Commo...

06/09/2025

https://needhamobserver.com/labor-day-anti-trump-rally-draws-hundreds-to-town-center/

by Peter O'Neil - For the second time in three months, the Town Common was ringed with hundreds of people chanting and carrying signs in opposition to the policies and actions of the Trump administration. The Needham event was one of hundreds held across the nation on Labor Day, many of which were o...

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