Five Things You Need to Know This Week: Dec. 3-9

1. Board of Aldermen meeting & tax classification hearing.

The Newton Board of Aldermen will meet on Monday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. for the annual tax classification hearing. During this meeting, the board will debate how much the residential and commercial property tax rates should increase in 2013. Check out this article for more information on how Newton sets its tax rate. For more information on the tax classification, check out the .pdf to the right.

Following the classification hearing, the Board of Aldermen will hold its regularly scheduled meeting. During this meeting, the board will likely vote on whether to place the proposed override on a March 12, 2013 special election ballot. In addition, the board will consider an item to build a three-story residential property on Cherry Street (the former teen center location). To view tonight's full reports docket, check out the .pdf to the right.

Both meetings will be held in the Aldermanic Chamber at City Hall.

2. Planning & Development Board continue Riverside discussion.

The Newton Planning & Development Board will continue its public hearing Monday night on the proposed zoning change at Riverside Station on Grove Street. If this zoning change is passed, it will allow a mixed-use development on the site (such as the one proposed by BH Normandy). The meeting will be held Monday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. in room 209 at City Hall.

3. City Hall tree lighting and holiday sing-a-long.

Newton will hold its annual tree lighting and holiday sing-a-long at City Hall on Thursday, Dec. 6. Starting at 4 p.m., the Stacey Peasley Band will kick off a sing-a-long in the War Memorial Auditorium. Then, at 5 p.m., Mayor Setti Warren will hit the switch at City Hall to turn on the holiday lights. 

Admission is one non-perishable item for the Centre Street Food Pantry.

4. Early release day Thursday.

The Newton Public Schools will have an early release day on Thursday, Dec. 6. This means the preschool students will get out at noon, elementary students out at 12:30 p.m., middle school students out at 11:30 a.m. and high school students out at 11 a.m.

5. Hanukkah starts Dec. 8.

Hanukkah begins at sundown on Saturday, Dec. 8. Chabad of Newton Centre will host the annual Menorah lighting at the Newton Centre Green on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 4 p.m. [Updated 8 p.m.]

Stay tuned to Patch for service schedules and special Hanukkah recipes!