Life in Newton

Great Harvest Bread Co Pays it Forward

2010-09-25T21:49:00Z

Next time you come through Newtonville, stop by the Great Harvest Bread Co and try a complementary slice of bread. You will learn that different breads come out on different days. If you want to plan ahead, go to the website and read the schedule wickedgoodbread.com . My personal favorite is the apple pie which comes out on Saturday- yum! Last week when I stopped in for a loaf of the Multi-grain (had to have a slice while I was there) the store was busy with hungry patrons. A polite bunch of middle...(read more)

The Ying and Yang of Home Buying

2010-09-19T20:45:00Z

The Ying and Yang of Home Buying Buying the right home is an important financial and emotional decision. This class will give you MORE than the fundamentals. Find the home that keeps you happy by gaining insight to your personal home buying psychology. Learn to pay attention to the important elements of a home before you make your first offer. With better insight you will be able to understand how to learn the process with educated confidence. Balance your dreams against your practical realities....(read more)

Staging Newton Centre Home Helps Buyers Get a Better Sense of the Space

2010-09-19T17:06:00Z

Staging Newton Centre Home Helps Buyers Get a Better Sense of the Space Not everyone watches the HGTV and even if you do, that doesn't mean you know how to prepare a home for the market. Not everyone understands the purpose of staging a home to sell. Barbara says, "The way you live in a home is different than the way you sell a house." "Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to make a home appealing...(read more)

Newton Community Education Says Welcome to Fall

2010-09-07T19:14:00Z

Newton Community Education Says Welcome to Fall The Newton Community Education Fall programs are full of exciting opportunities to learn and broaden your horizons. Newton Community Education is a separate and self sustaining arm of the Newton Public Schools. Their classes are excellent taught by talented and experienced instructors. Mindfulness: the Foundation for Inner Peace and True Happiness is a four part speaker series. Four dynamic speakers will tell the story of their journey in light of their...(read more)

Digging Clams on Pleasant Bay Cape Cod

2010-09-06T13:51:00Z

Digging Clams on Pleasant Bay Cape Cod Pleasant Bay, Cape Cod is a beautiful spot on the east side of Harwich also bordering Chatham and Orleans. See map below from mass.gov. During low tide, shell fishing is fairly abundant but only by permit with regulations that are strictly enforced. Permits can be purchased form the Harbor Master see ThreeHarbors.com . One day permits may be purchased for non-residents prior to "digging." Even if you don't want to dig for clams, it is worth the...(read more)

Chestnut Street Teen Center in Upper Falls Gains Outstanding Role Model

2010-08-18T21:58:00Z

Chestnut Street Teen Center in Upper Falls Gains Outstanding Role Model Meet Chanda Gunn, new Director of the Chestnut Street Teen Center in Upper Falls. She is pouring her great talents and focus to revitalize the Center as a clean, safe, and inviting environment for teens. She is full of ideas and has the energy of an Olympic champion. Oh, strike that last part, she IS an Olympic champion. Did I mention she played on the U.S. woman's national ice hockey team for 10 years? How about that she...(read more)

Newton Real Estate Update - How's the Market?

2010-08-12T19:13:00Z

Newton Real Estate Update - How's the market? As soon as anyone finds out I am in real estate, the first question that pops up is, "How's the market?" "Unbelievable," I will often reply. Sometimes it is hard to give a more exact answer without asking more questions. There are many ways to elaborate by going in various directions, say for example, national v. local or spring v. summer. Let's look at the Newton market for 2010 to date (specifically to July 31, 2010)...(read more)

Before you make your next move be sure to visit City Hall

2010-08-02T17:45:00Z

Before you make your next move be sure to visit City Hall One of the things your REALTOR® should tell you before you buy or sell a home is to look up your property's jacket at City Hall. I stopped into the Inspectional Services Department at Newton City Hall and was greeted, as always, with friendly courtesy. I gave my address to Jennifer Garvin and she promptly returned with the folder of permits and applications for my Newton home. I already knew my house was built in 1927 but it was kind...(read more)

Bill's Pizza is a Newton Centre Icon

2010-07-29T13:14:00Z

Bill's Pizza is a Newton Centre Icon I just had the best Mediterranean Wrap at Bill's Pizza . It was the perfect summer sandwich, light and crunchy with the famous salad dressing. Emillo's dressing is delicious. We were told that people come from all over to buy it and that they have been making for over 30 years. Honestly, my favorite lunch, is a slice of the wheat pizza but it was all sold out. Oh, well, maybe tomorrow. 753 Beacon Street Newton Center MA 02459 617-964-1116...(read more)

Newton Real Estate 6 Month Review

2010-07-26T13:49:00Z

Newton Real Estate 6 Month Review Looking at the sales for the past 6 months, I are happy to see an increase in number of sales as well as average sale price. This is good news. Of course, much of this can be attributed to the spring market and the Federal tax incentive program. We may see some wavering in the recovery when summer sales are reflected. Still let's take the optimistic route and visualize an chart with the lines climbing up. Newton Single Families Number of Properties Average Price...(read more)

Elissa's Creative Warehouse 20 Year Celebration With July Designer Events

2010-07-19T22:32:00Z

Elissa's Creative Warehouse 20 Year Celebration With July Designer Events 220 Reservoir St. Riverbend Office Park Needham, MA 02494 781-444-9341 www.weloveyarn.com email info@weloveyarn.com These days I spend my down time on knitting. I am determined to learn how to knit the perfect sweater. Please understand, wWhen I was a kid, my favorite activity in summer camp was arts and crafts. As a woman of mature years, I stay in touch with my inner child with various needle craft projects. When I need...(read more)

Newton Ranks Number Three by CNN Money Magazine

2010-07-14T01:07:00Z

Newton Ranks Number Three by CNN Money Magazine "These terrific small cities -- even now -- boast plenty of jobs, great schools, safe streets, low crime, lots to do, charm, and other features that make a town great for raising a family." Read more at http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2010/snapshots/PL2545560.html Newton is ranked 3 out of 100 for America's best small cities. Most residents of Newton would agree. I moved to Newton from Cambridge over 20 years ago. At the...(read more)

Celebrating What Makes This Country Great

2010-07-03T21:17:00Z

Celebrating What Makes This Country Great The Past Our Great History Ponder the development of our urban and rural landscape over the years. Cities are born across the nation. Then the railroad comes in allowing for more affordable housing further out from the city. This is the beginning of the commuter rail. Our forefathers planned beautiful cities and their systems. During the 19th century, Frederick Law Olmsted, the first landscape architect, was one of the first members of a "planning committee."...(read more)

Harvard Housing Report Delivers Facts and Figures

2010-06-28T13:44:00Z

Harvard Housing Report Delivers Facts and Figures The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University released " The State of the Nation's Housing " report on June 14, 2010. The report is broken into 6 sections. Section 2 - HOUSING MARKETS. Are we in a recovery period? There is no crystal ball. History has shown the link to a robust and consistent housing recovery is an increase in jobs. Although the number of home sales increased in 2009, on the down side we have increased number...(read more)

National Housing Report released from Harvard University

2010-06-20T17:16:00Z

The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University announced the release " The State of the Nation's Housing " report on June 14, 2010. The 44 page report (not including Appendix Tables) is broken into 6 major sections beginning with the Executive Summary . The over-riding conclusion is that in order to achieve a strong recovery in the housing market, it is key that unemployment levels decline. In the Executive Summary , many factors are addressed that become a consistent theme...(read more)