Five Things You Need to Know This Week: Oct. 15-21

1. Mayor's CIP presentation.

 Mayor Setti Warren will present his five-year capital improvement plan tonight at the Board of Aldermen's meeting. The CIP will address infrastructure needs throughout the city, including the district's aging and overcrowded schools, roads and a water/sewer system that is deteriorating over time.

The meeting is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber at Newton City Hall.

2. Public hearing for the Riverside Station development project. 

The Board of Aldermen's Land Use Committee will hold a public hearing for two items tonight related to a proposed mixed-use development at the Riverside Station site on Grove Street. One of those items is the special permit to allow construction of the project. 

The development, which is being proposed jointly by developers BH Normandy and the MBTA, includes a five-story, 331,000-square-foot residential building (290 units), a 225,000-square-foot office building, 20,000 square feet of retail space and 8,000 square feet of community space. 

The public hearing will take place this Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber at City Hall. 

For more details on this project, check out the .pdf from the Planning Department to the right.

3. Economic Development Commission Business Excellence Awards.

The Economic Development Commission and Mayor Warren will present the first-ever Business Excellence Awards this Thursday, Oct. 18 in the War Memorial at Newton City Hall.

The awards aim to recognize those who have helped contribute to the vitality of Newton's village centers as well as improve the commercial community in the Garden City.

The event will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

4. Adult Flu Clinic.

The city will host an adult flu clinic today from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Newton Senior Center. 

There is no charge, but residents should bring their Medicare and health insurance cards. Residents should also download the community flu clinic form, print it, fill it out and bring it to the clinic along with any health insurance and Medicare cards.

This clinic is run by the City of Newton Health and Human Services Department. For more information, call 617-796-1426.

5. Homestead Hayfest.

Historic Newton will host its annual Homestead Hayfest this Saturday, Oct. 20, from noon - 5 p.m. at the Jackson Homestead & Museum.

The Hayfest "celebrates 19th century family life and lets you try your hand at living the way families did 200 years ago." Kids and families can learn to press cider, dip candles, use a loom, dye your own cloth and make butter.