On a typical workday at RARE Restoration, Seth Barrett would arrive at the shop to see that his four in-house employees already had all the tools and machines up and running. He’d spend the first half of the day interacting with customers and returning projects to them. He’d then go downstairs to his workshop and… Continue reading ‘We’re out of work, and I’m frightened’: An uncertain economy may spell the end for RARE Restoration, a conservation-minded Brookline Village repair shop
Author: Ashley D'Souza
What to know about bird flu in Brookline
Since the beginning of the U.S. outbreak in January 2022, bird flu has been found in approximately 12,000 wild birds nationally, with cases in all 50 states. The virus has also caused outbreaks in poultry and dairy cows, leading to nearly 70 human cases in the U.S., primarily in dairy and poultry workers. Now, birds… Continue reading What to know about bird flu in Brookline
Inside the D. Blakeley Hoar Sanctuary, one of Brookline’s wildest places
Tucked away near Brookline’s southern border next to the Baker School is a lush conservation area teeming with biodiversity — and 600 million year old rocks. The D. Blakeley Hoar Sanctuary is a 25-acre wildlife sanctuary winding through swamps, woods, vernal pools and outcroppings of an ancient rock formation. It is one of three nature… Continue reading Inside the D. Blakeley Hoar Sanctuary, one of Brookline’s wildest places
Brookline’s turkeys, explained
Wild turkeys: They roam sidewalks alongside Brookline residents, graze in backyards and are so ubiquitous that they’ve become the town’s unofficial mascot, recently making a splash as the theme of Brookline’s “I voted” stickers in the presidential election. Despite their abundance today, the native species was once considered extinct in Massachusetts. Habitat loss and overhunting… Continue reading Brookline’s turkeys, explained
A capella pop classics to Chinese indie rock: Porchfest fills Brookline with music
Brookline residents and visitors of all ages strolled, lounged and danced in the streets on Saturday while enjoying the town’s annual Porchfest. The festival featured 96 bands playing music ranging from a cappella pop classics to Chinese indie rock, and music could be heard coming from porches, lawns and driveways on nearly every street between… Continue reading A capella pop classics to Chinese indie rock: Porchfest fills Brookline with music
How Brookline is using new science to try to save its beech trees
As a new disease advances among Brookline’s beloved beech trees, town officials and environmental experts are turning to scientific research to save them — while also leaning into the acceptance that all trees eventually die, and a changing climate will mean changing flora in Brookline. Longwood Mall, a linear park between Beacon Street and the… Continue reading How Brookline is using new science to try to save its beech trees
What to know about the anti-abortion center in Brookline
Town and state officials have ramped up their efforts to inform the public about what they say are the dangers of anti-abortion centers, including one in Brookline. Your Options Medical is located in a medical building at 1180 Beacon Street that contains several OBGYN offices and a family planning clinic. The town and state say… Continue reading What to know about the anti-abortion center in Brookline
Is Brookline’s fight against rats putting other wildlife at risk?
As the town and residents try to combat Brookline’s continued rodent problem — which includes a recent instance of rats coming up through a woman’s toilet — some advocates are pushing for alternatives to rat poison that minimize harm to other wildlife. Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are a common treatment for rat infestations and can… Continue reading Is Brookline’s fight against rats putting other wildlife at risk?
A guide to spring bird watching in Brookline
Spring bird migration is peaking in New England, with tens of thousands of birds passing through Norfolk County each night. Brookline has a rich tradition of bird watching. Want to get in on the action? Brookline.News asked local birding experts how to make the most of this spring’s migration. Where to go Hall’s Pond Sanctuary… Continue reading A guide to spring bird watching in Brookline
Town housing leaders grapple with how to increase diversity in Brookline
A declining Black population, growing economic disparities and a reputation for exclusion: How can Brookline contend with those challenges and welcome more Black and Hispanic households? The town’s Housing Advisory Board discussed that question at a recent meeting, led by Bernard Greene, chair of the town’s Select Board. To Greene, racial imbalances in Brookline are… Continue reading Town housing leaders grapple with how to increase diversity in Brookline
Climate change is coming for Brookline’s parks
Climate change is impacting beloved parks and green spaces throughout Brookline. For evidence, look to the trees, which are becoming more and more vulnerable to weather and disease. Increasingly intense storms and droughts due to climate change have rendered trees like the historic red oaks in Olmsted Park more susceptible to unpredictable damage, according to… Continue reading Climate change is coming for Brookline’s parks