Four days after the death of a 40-year-old woman in Brookline police custody, the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office, which is leading the investigation, has yet to make public the woman’s identity or share information about why and how long she was in custody. Brookline police have also started their own Internal Affairs investigation, according to… Continue reading Explainer: How and why are people kept in custody at the Brookline police station after being arrested?
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Recreation Department set to take over BACE programming
The Recreation Department is finalizing a plan to take over public education programming for Brookline adults, children and seniors, previously offered through the nonprofit Brookline Adult and Community Education. Tim Davis, the town’s recreation director, gave the update at a Park and Recreation Commission meeting on Tuesday. Discussions between BACE, the School Committee and the… Continue reading Recreation Department set to take over BACE programming
Looking back: In the 1980s, a quirky, award-winning animation studio operated out of a trolley barn in Brookline
The home garages of Silicon Valley are known as the birthplaces of tech giants Apple and Microsoft, but on the other side of the country, in Brookline Village, a popular animation studio also began operating out of a garage. Olive Jar Animation was established in 1984 by Bill Jarcho and Mark D’Oliveira, two Emerson College graduates… Continue reading Looking back: In the 1980s, a quirky, award-winning animation studio operated out of a trolley barn in Brookline
Pennsylvania musician tracks down the headstone of America’s first female hit songwriter – in a Brookline shed
Zach King was on an unusual mission when he came to Brookline in January. The Pennsylvania musician was looking for traces of an oft-forgotten American music legend. There were no Billboard Top 100 lists or streaming services to propel music artists fame in the 1800s. But Marion Dix Sullivan managed to become the first female… Continue reading Pennsylvania musician tracks down the headstone of America’s first female hit songwriter – in a Brookline shed
Town Meeting emails: June 2 to June 30
Brookline.News is publishing the latest emails from the Town Meeting Members Association listserv, which were obtained as part of an ongoing public records request. In these messages sent between June 2 and June 30, Town Meeting members discuss a variety of local government issues. Mobile users: Click the link to view the emails in a new… Continue reading Town Meeting emails: June 2 to June 30
Woman died in Brookline police custody on Saturday, District Attorney says
A 40-year-old woman died on Saturday while being held in custody at the Brookline Police Department station, according to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office. In a statement, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said that the woman was found unresponsive but breathing by a Brookline police officer while in custody at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The statement… Continue reading Woman died in Brookline police custody on Saturday, District Attorney says
RE: Developer of key Chestnut Hill site weighs residential 40B if commercial project talks falter
For the record: I am not an abutter. Our home is at the corner of Heath Street and Woodland Road —about 500’ from the site. Personally, I support allowing greater height in the redevelopment. I don’t support 12 stories— a height higher than any nearby building. This height needs to be located along Route 9… Continue reading RE: Developer of key Chestnut Hill site weighs residential 40B if commercial project talks falter
RE: New York man charged with calling in bomb threats to Brookline hotel after it raised Palestinian flag
It is a sad indictment of our community that not one of our elected officials has made a statement condemning the bomb threat made against the Iris Hotel for raising a Palestinian flag. The silence in the face of this threat compared to the loud outcry and condemnations over the vandalism at The Butcherie makes… Continue reading RE: New York man charged with calling in bomb threats to Brookline hotel after it raised Palestinian flag
Meet the 91-year-old Brookline philanthropist and scientist on a quest to develop artificial blood
André Danesh came to the U.S. in 1956 with $67, a Persian carpet and the words of a family friend in his ear: “Gold is everywhere. The people are rich. One day you’re washing windows and the next you’ll be driving a Cadillac.” When Danesh, an Iranian Jew and a transfer student from the University… Continue reading Meet the 91-year-old Brookline philanthropist and scientist on a quest to develop artificial blood
The town just got $100,000 for two new Bluebikes stations. Where should they go?
Tucked into a budget bill recently passed by the state legislature and signed by Governor Maura Healey was a $100,000 earmark for the town of Brookline to install two new Bluebikes stations. There are already 13 of the bikeshare stations in Brookline, but the two new stations will bring more opportunities for commuters or recreational… Continue reading The town just got $100,000 for two new Bluebikes stations. Where should they go?
RE: Developer of key Chestnut Hill site weighs residential 40B if commercial project talks falter
To Cliff Kensington, “starting the 40B process as a way for [you] to keep [your] options open” is a smart move! The phrase “what’s past is prologue” certainty applies here, in the Town of Brookline. Understanding Brookline’s past glacial development efforts, or should I say disasters, will better enable you to predict what’s going to happen… Continue reading RE: Developer of key Chestnut Hill site weighs residential 40B if commercial project talks falter
Chabad Center wins legal fight over plans for new South Brookline synagogue, set to start construction
A state Land Court judge has ordered the town to issue a special permit for construction of a new synagogue for the Chabad Center at Chestnut Hill, clearing one of the final hurdles for the Orthodox Jewish group’s controversial plans to build a new house of worship on Bellingham Road. The June 25 ruling comes… Continue reading Chabad Center wins legal fight over plans for new South Brookline synagogue, set to start construction
Colorful games designed by students brighten up asphalt at the Old Lincoln School
A 3,600-square-foot mosaic of blue, green and purple has cemented itself in the asphalt space near the Old Lincoln School, the temporary home for the youngest Pierce School students. As part of a monthslong effort to liven up a drab blacktop, each class of students designed its own game to be played on a single… Continue reading Colorful games designed by students brighten up asphalt at the Old Lincoln School
Why matcha mania is taking over Brookline’s cafés
Walking through Coolidge Corner on a weekend morning, it’s hard not to notice the matching cups. Dozens of people pass by holding the same clear plastic cup — each one filled with a layered, vividly green drink. Some swirl it as they walk. Others pause to take photos before taking a sip. Matcha – the… Continue reading Why matcha mania is taking over Brookline’s cafés
ICE arrested two people in Brookline in May and June, BPD says
Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have arrested two people in Brookline since late May, according to a Brookline police official. Brookline Police Deputy Superintendent Paul Campbell reported the two incidents at a Monday night meeting of the town’s Police Commissioners’ Advisory Committee. One person was detained by ICE in late May after being… Continue reading ICE arrested two people in Brookline in May and June, BPD says
Photos: Reopening ‘Jennifer Coolfridge,’ the community refrigerator on Station Street
A month after being taken down because of health complaints, a community refrigerator has been re-installed on Station Street in Brookline Village. The new version of what volunteers have dubbed “Jennifer Coolfridge” is smaller and includes a built-in pantry. At an event on Sunday, June 29, organizers from groups including Brookline For The Culture, Bowls4Boston… Continue reading Photos: Reopening ‘Jennifer Coolfridge,’ the community refrigerator on Station Street
After developer’s $3m offer, town races to save affordable housing for people with disabilities
The town is up against a September deadline to find an affordable housing sponsor to purchase a lodging house that serves tenants with intellectual and developmental disabilities, after a private developer made a $3 million offer to buy the property at 16 Williams Street. The Barry L. Price Rehabilitation Center has operated the property for… Continue reading After developer’s $3m offer, town races to save affordable housing for people with disabilities
Brookline native Samara Oster’s quinoa beer Meli is making a gluten-free splash
Samara Oster never liked beer. The Brookline native, who grew up near Clark Park and attended the Lincoln School, always found traditional brews too malty or bitter — until she tried a beer made from quinoa while on a family trip to Peru, and everything changed. “We’d just finished a long day of hiking, we… Continue reading Brookline native Samara Oster’s quinoa beer Meli is making a gluten-free splash
Brookline residential real estate sales from June 2 to June 13
Early June remained busy with real estate sales in Brookline, with 41 condominiums and homes sold in the first two weeks of the month. They range from a $475,000 condo on Davis Court to a $4.5 colonial-style single-family on Dean Road. See the full list below, with data from Banker and Tradesman.
Developer of key Chestnut Hill site weighs residential 40B if commercial project talks falter
The developer planning a major commercial redevelopment on Route 9 has floated the possibility of turning the project into a residential development, if the town fails to make progress on a study aimed at rezoning a stretch of the thoroughfare. City Realty, which owns a mostly-vacant office park at 1280-1330 Boylston Street, is in the… Continue reading Developer of key Chestnut Hill site weighs residential 40B if commercial project talks falter