It appears Newton will have to wait a bit longer to scratch the Wegmans shopping itch. A spokeswoman for the grocery chain said that the opening of its Chestnut Hill store has been delayed until spring 2014, though the original timeline anticipated an opening in fall 2013. "Some construction delays and demands of other projects that we're building forced us to move it back just a little," said Jo Natale, director of media relations for Wegmans. She said a typical pace of opening is two to three stores per year. Natale said that work on the Chestnut Hill location is going well and that the …

Progress continues to be made on updating the security systems at 19 Newton elementary and middle schools, as well as for preschool and after-school programs at the Newton Education Center and Newton South High School. The district announced its plans for the security systems in early January, just weeks after a gunman in Newtown, Conn. walked into an elementary school and killed 20 students and six adults. Since then, the district has been working to implement new systems at multiple schools and to update the buzzer system already in place at Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School. The new security…

Just seven days into Newton's official election season, potential races for both School Committee and the Board of Aldermen have started to form.  As of 4 p.m. yesterday, three dozen potential candidates had pulled nomination papers for the Nov. 5, 2013 municipal election, according to the list at the Election Commission office.  Nomination forms were officially made available last Wednesday, May 1, and 12 residents made it down to City Hall to pull papers on the first day. So far, a few possible races have formed: Ward 1 ward alderman, Ward 1 alderman-at-large,Ward 2 School Committee, Ward 2…

Election day in Newton is still five months away, but the (potential) races have begun.  Yesterday was the first day candidates could officially take out nomination papers for the November 5, 2013 municipal election. So, how many people pulled papers on the first day? As of 3:30 p.m. on May 1, a dozen potential candidates took out nomination papers at the Election Commission office at City Hall. The residents who pulled papers include: Allan Ciccone Sr. for Ward 1 alderman Jack Leader for Ward 2 alderman Ruth Goldman for Ward 6 School Committee seat Ellen Gibson for Ward 1 School Committee …

Although the cool weather this week has made it feel like winter again, Newton school officials are hoping the snow days are done for this school year. The Newton School Committee voted Monday night to approve June 26, 2013 as the last day of school for Newton students, according to School Committee Secretary Dede Reade. The last day of school, a Wednesday, will be a half day for students. Newton teachers' last day has not been officially set, Reade said. The 2012-2013 Newton Public School calendar initially set the last day for June 25, which accounts for five snow days. However, with six …

If you've tried to park or walk around Newton City Hall in the last few months, you've likely been met with construction vehicles and lots of orange fencing. So what exactly is going on at the pond in front of City Hall? And when will it be finished? Chief Operating Officer Bob Rooney told Newton Patch this week that crews have been working on dredging the pond and removing sediment that has built up over time.  Rooney explained that the City Hall ponds were designed by the famous Olmsted Brothers in the 1930s and were intended to serve as reflecting pools for the building. From a functional …

It is easily the question readers ask us the most: What's happening with The Cheesecake Factory at the former Atrium Mall in Chestnut Hill? Last summer, Simon Properties sold the ailing Atrium Mall to Needham-based Bulfinch Cos. In July, Bulfinch announced it would convert the mall into the Atrium Center at Chestnut Hill, a medical and office building.  Once the sale went through, the already half-empty mall started losing stores one by one, with the last few moving out in January 2013.  But as the mall emptied, one Atrium tenant remained: The Cheesecake Factory. When asked about its future …

With temperatures forecasted to be in the 50s this weekend, it seems as though the city is out of the woods when it comes to snow/ice removal for this fiscal year -- knock on wood. So, how much did the city spend for the winter of 2012-2013? According to Chief Operating Officer Bob Rooney, Newton spent $3.975 million on snow and ice removal this winter.  Roughly 46 percent of that amount was spent on contractors hired to help clear streets and sidewalks in the city, Rooney said. While the city owns around 75 trucks and plows, contractors are needed to help supplement the city crews' work. …

Although there is snow on the ground and a chill in the air, it's time to start thinking about spring cleaning.  If you have yard work on that list of spring chores, you will probably want to know when and where you can get rid of it. Well, you ask, Patch answers.  Weekly yard waste collection in Newton resumes the week of April 1, according to the city's website. Collections will run until the week of December 9, weather permitting. To dispose of yard waste, residents must place the waste in paper yard waste bags or barrels labeled "yard waste only" and place the bags/barrels on the curb no …

Drivers who are considering a switch to electric vehicles or current vehicle owners looking for a place nearby to charge their rides have a couple of places to find their outlet. In Newton, the closest charging stations are at Newton City Hall, Hotel Indigo or Clay Nissan of Newton on Washington Street, according to crowd-sourced website carstations.com. Carstations.com allows users to upload new car charging locations to a Google map and (when applicable) provides details on the station. According to the site's About section, "This website is designed to encourage participation and welcomes …

If you are a dog owner in the city of Newton, now is the time to get your 2013 licensing and off-leash permits squared away.  But when is the deadline to return the license forms? You ask, Patch answers: Forms for a 2013 Newton dog license must be in by Monday, April 1, according to the City Clerk's Office.  Residents can purchase a license or a license/off-leash permit combination from the city.  The pricing is as follows: License only, spayed or neutered dog: $10 License only, not spayed or neutered: $15 License and off-leash permit, spayed/neutered: $60 License and off-leash permit, not …

Although several residents have already declared their candidacy, the races for aldermen, mayor and School Committee will not be official until nomination papers are signed and returned.  You asked when those papers will be available -- and Patch has an answer. According to Newton Election Commission Interim Executive Secretary Peter Koutoujian Sr., the nomination papers for the Nov. 5, 2013 general municipal election will be available starting Wednesday, May 1.  The nomination papers must be signed and returned to the Election Commission by Tuesday, July 30, Koutoujian said.  The city's …

The Board of Aldermen's Land Use Committee approved last week a special permit that would allow 20 outdoor seats at the new "2ovens" restaurant space located at 300 Needham St. in Newton Upper Falls.  The outdoor seating approval comes four months after the Board of Aldermen approved an initial special permit amendment that allows a 100-seat restaurant at the Needham Street location.  So, when will the new Bertucci's-owned restaurant open?  According to a recent email from Bertucci's Vice President of Development James Quackenbush, the Newton 2ovens is aiming to open sometime in late May.  …

  There is just a month left before Newton voters will head to the polls to decide whether to support Mayor Setti Warren's proposed $11.4 million override package.  Voters will consider three questions on Tuesday, March 12, including an $8.4 million operating override and two debt exclusion overrides for the rebuilding of Angier and Cabot elementary schools.  As time ticks down to the special election, so does the time to register to vote. But when is the deadline? According to information provided by the Newton League of Women Voters, residents must register by Wednesday, Feb. 20. The Newton…

Have you been missing the food from Bernard's restaurant in the Mall at Chestnut Hill? Have no fear. The Asian eatery, which recently closed its mall location, will be opening up a new spot at The Street in Chestnut Hill.  So, when can you expect an opening? According to WS Development Field Marketing Manager Allison Yee, Bernard's is aiming for an opening in late March.  The new location will be situated on the lower level of the new building currently being constructed on the former Macy's site, Yee said. It will face Route 9 and sit between the Showcase Super Lux lobby and City Sports. …

It will be a difficult task to replace the kind of dedication and service Alderman Carleton Merrill showed for his consituents, but the city will soon be faced with finding someone to fill the Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat.  So, how does the process work? According to the city's charter [Sec. 2-5 (a)], a special election must be held to fill the Board of Aldermen seat if the vacancy occurs within the first 15 months of the term. The current term started in January 2012.  Since the seat in question is an alderman-at-large position, the special election will have to be held city wide. Newton's …

Earlier this month, we asked readers what they think the city should do with the Health Department building at 1294 Centre Street, as the department was planning to vacate the building and move to a new location. But where is the new office located?  The city's Health & Human Services Department is now located in the Veterans Wing on the main (first) floor of Newton City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Ave. To get to the Veterans Wing, go through the front door of City Hall and walk straight back, down the middle corridor. The Health Department will be located on the left.  The Health Department …

Back in October, parts of Homer Street and Commonwealth Avenue were filled with movie trailers and lighting rigs as the made-for-television movie "The Makeover" filmed at Newton City Hall.  But when will we be able to catch the Garden City scenes? As noted in an Oct. 17 article, we had a rough idea as to when you would be able to catch the movie, but now an official date has been set.  "The Makeover," which stars Julia Stiles, will air on Sunday, Jan. 27 from 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. on ABC.  According to the movie's website, Stiles plays an education consultant, Hannah Higgins, who decides to run …

This week may not feel like prime skating weather, but a few of Newton's ice rinks are set up and just waiting for the temperature to dip below freezing.  The city currently has four areas to skate: Auburndale Cove, Hyde Community Center, Lower Falls Community Center and the Newton Centre Green.  The Lower Falls rink is open, weather permitting. During yesterday's ribbon cutting at the community center, Newton Patch spotted a pair skating on the rink (see photo to the right). Over in Newton Highlands, the Hyde Community Center Rink is also open (weather permitting), according to a post on the…

After a rather dry winter last year, the snow is finally back in New England.  A fast-moving, weekend snowstorm left Newton with at least a half a foot of snow Saturday night -- and perfect sledding conditions. With just two days left to school vacation week, some kids are chomping a the bit to get their sledding in before they head back to class on Wednesday, Jan. 2. One of our Facebook followers posted a question on our wall over the weekend asking where the best sledding spots are in Newton.  So, we took to our Facebook page to ask folks where their favorite spots are. Here's what we've …