Newton Board Approves Walmart Fulfillment Center Under New Variance Law
NEWTON — Newton's board approved a 20,000-square-foot Walmart fulfillment facility under the state's new variance law and the city named a new leader for its Planning and Development department, according to Patch reporting Thursday.
TOWN HALL
Newton is welcoming a new director of Planning and Development, according to a Patch report; the incoming director comes to Newton from a similar post in another municipality, though the outlet's preview did not name the appointee. The move comes as the city separately cleared a variance for a 20,000-square-foot Walmart fulfillment center that will store and process online orders, per Patch.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Newton Free Library has a full slate running Friday, July 17, and into the weekend. Friday's calendar includes the all-day "Winnie-the-Pooh Escape Room" for kids, a Maker Morning Storytime at 10:30 a.m., two Tech Time drop-in sessions for adults at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and English Language Learning conversation programs, including "Let's Talk About Food" (already full) and afternoon sessions on sharing opinions. The escape room continues Saturday, July 18, alongside Family Bingo at 10:30 a.m., a Crochet for Our Community tween program at 1 p.m., an all-afternoon Board Game Club, and a Sing & Play session with Newton Folk Music from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The library will be closed Sunday, July 19, for its summer Sunday closure, part of its reduced summer hours schedule that runs through Labor Day. The library's 2026 Summer Reading Program continues through September 4 for all ages.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Newton Board Approves Walmart Fulfillment Facility Under New Variance Law" — Newton's board signed off on a 20,000-square-foot center to store and process online orders under a newly enacted state variance law, according to Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/newton/newton-board-approves-walmart-fulfillment-facility-under-new-variance-law).
"Newton Finds Next Leader Of Planning And Development" — The city has selected a new department director who previously held a comparable position elsewhere, Patch reports. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/newton/newton-finds-next-leader-planning-and-development).
"Newton Private School Receives Large Endowment To Fund New Dining Center" — A private school in Newton is using a major gift to replace a century-old dining facility with a new 19,700-square-foot center, according to Patch. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/newton/newton-private-school-receives-large-endowment-fund-new-dining-center).
"Housing Lottery Now Open For Newton Affordable Apartment Complex" — More than 70 affordable units at a new Newton residential development are now available through a public lottery run by SEB Housing on behalf of Garden Communities, Patch reports. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/newton/housing-lottery-now-open-newton-affordable-apartment-complex).
"Newton Chiropractic Practice Adds New Red-Light Therapy Booth" — A local chiropractic business, an expansion of a practice first opened in 2020, has installed new red-light therapy equipment, according to Patch. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/newton/newton-chiropractic-practice-adds-new-red-light-therapy-booth).
"91st Annual Festa Returns To Newton This Week" — One of the city's longest-running summer traditions, the St. Mary of Carmen Society's annual Italian festival, kicked off this week, Patch reports. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/newton/91st-annual-festa-returns-newton-week).
COMING UP
The Newton Free Library hosts "Kidsweek, summer-week-full-of-fun" beginning Monday, July 20, per its Patch community calendar listing. Fall course registration through the Newton-based LLAIC also opens July 20 at www.LLAIC.ORG. The library's Winnie-the-Pooh Escape Room and Tech Time drop-ins continue through the weekend of July 17-18, with the library closed Sunday, July 19, for its summer Sunday schedule.