Ten Things You Need to Know This Week: Oct. 8-14

1. Columbus Day Holiday

 Tomorrow, Oct. 8, is Columbus Day. This means the Newton Public Schools will be closed as well as city offices, libraries, banks and post offices. Most retail stores, restaurants, bars and supermarkets will be open, but check with the businesses first before heading out. 

2. Movie filming at City Hall 

 Starting tomorrow, Oct. 8, starring Julia Stiles, at Newton City Hall. Crews will be setting up tomorrow and the actual filming will take place on Tuesday. Crews will be back on Wednesday to clean up the equipment. 

According to city officials, the production will involve as many as 150 cast and crew members, which will come along with number of trailers and vehicles that will affect parking around City Hall. On-street parking on Homer Street, Commonwealth Avenue, Walnut Street and the War Memorial Circle will be occupied for part of Monday and Wednesday and all day Tuesday. 

City Hall employees are asked to refrain from parking in front of City Hall and the library lot to allow for easier access for residents. Alternative parking can be found on the south side of Homer Street, east side of Walnut Street, Lakeview Avenue and the carriage lane on Commonwealth Avenue. There will also be a police detail during the filming.

3. Land Use Committee public hearings

The Land Use Committee will meet Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Aldermanic Camber at Newton City Hall. The committee will hold a public hearing on a new restaurant, , as well as a hearing for some changes proposed to the Hotel Indigo site on Grove Street. Check out the Land Use Committee's agenda in the .pdf section to the right for more details. 

4. Public hearing for Newton Police Chief

The city will hold a public dismissal hearing for Newton Police Chief Matthew Cummings at Newton City Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. The hearing will take place in room 209.

Cummings was placed on administrative leave in late August after an investigation concluded there was "sufficient evidence" Cummings verbally humiliated his secretary and three other women in the department. 

Since Cummings was asked to leave, city officials have read through the full report on the chief and decided to initiate another investigation into behavior at the department. 

5. The race for the Fourth Congressional District

 Republican Sean Bielat and Democrat Joe Kennedy III will face off in another debate this week. The two will appear at the MassINC/CommonWealth Magazine debate at UMass Dartmouth’s Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center, 151 Martine Street, Fall River, Mass. The debate starts at 4 p.m.

Then, on Thursday, Bielat will answer questions in a LIVE text chat on Newton Patch. The chat will start at noon on Thursday and readers are encouraged to submit comments in advance.

6. Celebrating the Newton Farmers' Market

Historic Newton and the Parks and Recreation Department are teaming up tonight to celebrate the 33-year history of the Newton Farmers' Market. The free event will be held at the Jackson Homestead & Museum from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. and will include gift bags with fresh fruits and vegetables. 

7. Work on Newton's Sept. 11 Memorial Starts

According to Newton 9-11 Committee Chair Sande Young, work on Newton's Sept. 11 Memorial is set to start this week, weather permitting. Crews will likely start setting up Thursday morning, Young said. 

8. Ninth Annual Trade and Recycling Day

"Swap 'til you drop" this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the City of Newton Resource Recovery Center. Newton residents can drop off and swap appliances, books, bicycles, sporting goods, household items, reusable building materials, non-upholstered furniture and more.

No computer monitors, TVs, paint or hazardous materials allowed. 

9. Annual Harvest Fair

Newton Community Pride will host the annual Harvest Fair on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 13-14 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Newton Centre Green and parking lot. 

On Saturday, there will be kiddie amusement rides, sand art and face painting. On Sunday, the festivities from Saturday will continue in addition to pumpkin decorating, craft booths, food, live entertainment and a memorial walk of the Circle of Caring Hospice of the Good Shepherd.

10. Music Saturday

Catch some great music on Saturday! From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Newton Jazz & Wine Festival will hold its make-up concert from last month. The show will feature five groups performing in the yard at the Jackson Homestead & Museum. 

Then, Saturday night, head over to Gregorian Oriental Rugs in Lower Falls to check out the New Philharmonia Orchestra's Opening Night and Gala Fundraiser. The fun kicks off at 7:30 p.m.