You Ask, Patch Answers

Update: Who Has Pulled Papers for the 2013 Newton Municipal Election?

Three dozen residents pulled nomination papers as of May 8.

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 ward alderman and Ward 5 alderman-at-large. Here is the updated list of who has pulled papers as of 4 p.m., May 8: (I) = incumbent Ward 1 Note: …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

You Ask, Patch Answers

Who Pulled Papers for the 2013 Newton Municipal Election?

Yesterday was the first day nomination papers were available for the fall municipal election.

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: Nomination papers must be signed by the required number of voters and returned to the Election Commission by Tuesday, July 30. The city's charter states that candidates running for alderman-at-large and School Committee must collect 150 signatures before the nomination papers are certified. Aldermen-at-large…

• Photos (2)

What's Going on at the Pond in Front of Newton City Hall?

The construction should be done soon, city officials say.

You Ask, Patch Answers

What's Going on at the Pond in Front of Newton City Hall?

The construction should be done soon, city officials say.

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 standpoint, the ponds also catch sediment from the water that flows from the culverts near the library, before it drains into nearby Bullough's Pond…

• Videos (1)

You Ask, Patch Answers

What's Happening with The Cheesecake Factory in Chestnut Hill?

You ask, Patch answers.

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 plans at the Atrium or elsewhere in Chestnut Hill, The Cheesecake Factory Senior Director of Public Relations Alethea Rowe sent the following statement…

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

You Ask, Patch Answers

How Much Did Newton Spend on Snow Removal This Winter?

The largest amount of the city's snow/ice budget went toward contractors hired to help clear the streets.

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. Each storm, the snow removal crews in Newton are split almost 50/50 between contractors and the city's own, in-house workers, Rooney said.  Another large…

• Photos (1)

You Ask, Patch Answers

Where is Newton's Closest Electric Car Charging Station?

NSTAR and crowd-sourced websites offer tips and locations for charging electric cars.

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 user interaction in the form of comments, updates and user generated content." There are also more official sites providing electric car charging …

• Photos (1)

You Ask, Patch Answers

When is the Deadline to License My Dog in Newton?

It's that time of year again. Make sure you get your dog license paperwork in before the deadline.

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: Forms are available online and in the City Clerk's Office at City Hall. They can be returned in person or mailed to the Clerk's Office at City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Ave., Newton MA 02459.  Dog owners should note that a rabies vaccination certificate must be turned in along with the 2013 license form.  Once the form is…

• Photos (2)
• Documents (1)

You Ask, Patch Answers

When Will Bernard's Reopen in Chestnut Hill?

The Asian restaurant was formerly located in the Mall at Chestnut Hill.

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. Bernard's joins a slew of other new tenants planning to open at The Street (formerly the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center), which is currently undergoing a …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

You Ask, Patch Answers

How Will Newton Fill Alderman Carleton Merrill's Seat?

Newton Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large Carleton Merrill passed away on Jan. 23, 2013.

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 Interim Election Commission Executive Secretary Peter Koutoujian Sr. told Newton Patch this week that the Election Commission will be meeting tomorrow…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)