Betsy Shure Gross was a tireless environmental and social justice advocate—a “rebel with a cause,” as she said in a 2001 interview with the Jewish Women’s Archive. When Shure Gross moved to Brookline in 1971, she grew enchanted by the Emerald Necklace, one of the many Frederick Law Olmsted-designed parks where she felt “democracy was… Continue reading Family, colleagues remember Betsy Shure Gross, activist and Olmsted advocate who helped revitalize Brookline’s parks
Category: Environment
Town moves to quickly install Driscoll School solar project as Trump slashes clean energy tax credits
The town is moving forward with a plan to purchase solar panels for the Driscoll School, despite uncertainty over federal tax incentives in the Trump administration. The Select Board on Tuesday signed off on the $343,155 purchase of 272 panels for the K-8 school’s roof, which is funded as part of the budget for the… Continue reading Town moves to quickly install Driscoll School solar project as Trump slashes clean energy tax credits
Trash piles up at some Brookline businesses and apartment buildings after two weeks of Republic Services strike
Dumpsters outside some of Brookline’s restaurants and apartment complexes are piling high with trash as contract talks between waste management company Republic Services and its workers drag on. Republic has 160 commercial customers in Brookline, Commissioner of Public Works Erin Chute told the Boston Globe. Roughly 30 of those customers are restaurants, and another 20 are… Continue reading Trash piles up at some Brookline businesses and apartment buildings after two weeks of Republic Services strike
News in brief: Public health director departs, community fridge to reopen, a new tree manager
Sigalle Reiss, Brookline’s public health director, will step down on July 1 after more than three years in the role. She will join the consulting firm BME Strategies as Director of Public Health to support local health departments across the state. Reiss told Brookline.News that the departure was “bittersweet.” “I joined Brookline during a challenging… Continue reading News in brief: Public health director departs, community fridge to reopen, a new tree manager
MBTA Green Line C Branch construction to begin this fall, bringing ADA upgrades and major disruptions to Beacon Street
The MBTA is slated to start construction on the Green Line C Branch as early as September. The Green Line accessibility project will elevate and widen platforms to ensure that street-level stations comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Town officials are warning of disruption to traffic, limited sidewalk access along a large stretch… Continue reading MBTA Green Line C Branch construction to begin this fall, bringing ADA upgrades and major disruptions to Beacon Street
A 40-year-old nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Muddy River is shutting down. Is its mission complete?
Nearly half a century ago, a single mother living on Bowker Street strolled down to the nearby Muddy River and was horrified at what she saw: A murky waterway whose banks were littered with auto parts, refrigerator doors and old tires. Some taxi drivers made a habit of changing their oil by the river. That… Continue reading A 40-year-old nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Muddy River is shutting down. Is its mission complete?
Town Meeting calls on state legislature to allow real estate transfer fee
Brookline will ask the state legislature to allow the town to enact a real estate transfer fee, after Town Meeting voted this week in favor of a home rule petition. The vote aligns with growing statewide momentum for such a policy, which would place a new one-time tax on the sale of property, to be… Continue reading Town Meeting calls on state legislature to allow real estate transfer fee
Town will install on-street EV charging stations thanks to new grant
Brookline has received a state grant of up to $500,000 to install on-street electric vehicle charging stations. The town is among 15 municipalities getting funds from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center for on-street charging stations. The grant will cover design, procurement, equipment and installation, with no cost to Brookline. The Brookline Department of Public Works… Continue reading Town will install on-street EV charging stations thanks to new grant
Town Meeting preview: A trash fight, broker fees, democracy and foie gras
Brookline’s Annual Town Meeting starts on Tuesday, with the town’s fiscal challenges front and center. As with every spring session of Town Meeting, the budget is the biggest item on the agenda. This year, Town Meeting members will vote on whether to approve a $456.6 million budget that maintains town services, but includes millions of… Continue reading Town Meeting preview: A trash fight, broker fees, democracy and foie gras
Town Meeting to vote on funding for Community Preservation Act projects including temple dome, ice rink and public housing roof
Town Meeting will vote this week on whether to allocate more than $4.5 million in town taxpayer funds for 18 local projects in the areas of housing, open space and historic preservation. The projects are part of Brookline’s second round of Community Preservation Act funding, which uses an additional 1% tax on property in Brookline… Continue reading Town Meeting to vote on funding for Community Preservation Act projects including temple dome, ice rink and public housing roof
Brookline High school science class creates Climate Change Time Capsule
A chunk of coral, a deck of cards, a children’s book about dinosaur fossils, and a pair of bird watching binoculars. Those seemingly random objects were some of the items that local high schoolers chose to preserve for the next 25 years underneath the playground at Cypress Field on Tappan Street. On Friday, May 9,… Continue reading Brookline High school science class creates Climate Change Time Capsule
News in brief: Next steps on Chestnut Hill Ave bike lanes, Advisory Committee trash drama, and the town’s rebrand
Town wants feedback on next steps for Chestnut Hill Ave redesign The Department of Public Works will hold a public meeting on Thursday to discuss next steps for redesigning Chestnut Hill Avenue. After public criticism of an initial plan that would have created new bike lanes on the street, separated from traffic by flex posts,… Continue reading News in brief: Next steps on Chestnut Hill Ave bike lanes, Advisory Committee trash drama, and the town’s rebrand
News in brief: New rental assistance available, town gets $100k for climate plan, Goddard House plans an upgrade
The local nonprofit Brookline Community Development Corporation has brought back its emergency rental assistance program. For the second round of the program, which first launched in late 2023, BCDC will provide one-time payments of up to $5,000 directly to landlords on behalf of eligible renters who are behind on rent. The goal of the program… Continue reading News in brief: New rental assistance available, town gets $100k for climate plan, Goddard House plans an upgrade
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
Facing worker shortage, town privatizes curbside trash collection
In an effort to stave off a crisis caused by issues with staffing and vehicle maintenance, the town on July 1 will turn over curbside trash collection to a private company, Casella Waste Management, under a five-year, $26.3 million contract that the Select Board unanimously approved at its January 14 meeting. The board also okayed… Continue reading Facing worker shortage, town privatizes curbside trash collection
Muddy River oil spill investigation zeroed in on nearby condo complex, but source remains uncertain
In the hours and days after oil was found seeping into Leverett Pond and the Muddy River on Dec. 8, state and town of Brookline investigators quickly homed in on the Brook House, a condominium complex adjacent to the pond, according to documents obtained by Brookline.News. The investigation is ongoing and responsibility for the leak,… Continue reading Muddy River oil spill investigation zeroed in on nearby condo complex, but source remains uncertain
Cleanup and wildlife rescue efforts continue after Muddy River oil spill
Several state and local environmental and wildlife agencies and nonprofits are continuing their efforts to remediate an oil spill which began on Sunday in the Muddy River and treat affected birds in the area. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection activated its emergency response team on Sunday, and its contractor Clean Harbors put in place… Continue reading Cleanup and wildlife rescue efforts continue after Muddy River oil spill
Muddy River oil spill threatens wildlife
Editor’s note: For the latest information as of Monday, Dec. 9 please see our most recent coverage by clicking here. Cleanup efforts are underway after an oil spill in the Muddy River on Sunday left a sheen on the surface of the river, and left ducks and geese coated in oil on the river’s banks.… Continue reading Muddy River oil spill threatens wildlife
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
News in brief: Tree warden Tom Brady departs after 23 years working for town
Tom Brady, Brookline’s tree warden, arborist and urban forestry manager, has departed after 23 years working for the town. Brady was hired as director of public works in Watertown, according to a news release from the city. Last year, Brookline.News reported on Brady’s role examining and maintaining the town’s 60,000 public trees. Taking a job… Continue reading News in brief: Tree warden Tom Brady departs after 23 years working for town