Select Board sets date for Tree Summit
The town’s long-awaited tree summit has been scheduled for Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at Powers Hall.
The Select Board announced the date at its Jan. 9 meeting but has yet to determine a format for the summit. Iit tacitly acknowledged that the meeting will likely raise more issues than it resolves.
“People keep saying to me, ‘Why hasn’t Needham already done a tree bylaw?’ And I keep saying, ‘It’s actually way more complicated than people think.’ I have yet to meet the town that’s satisfied with how their bylaw is working,” said Select Board Chair Marianne Cooley.
“We do get a lot of mail,” said Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick. “The feedback is often conflicting.”
“That’s because there are people who would like us to keep trees and there are people who want no trees and no leaves anywhere on their property,” added Cooley.
“There’s a lot of angst about trees,” agreed member Kevin Keane. “But with what’s happening in town, this will be a great opportunity.”
“Mark your calendars now for must-see TV,” said Cooley.
Town honors Martin Luther King, Jr.
With the theme “Let’s build bridges, not walls,” Needham’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration and Observance will take place on Monday, Jan. 15, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Needham High School Auditorium.
The event will feature a keynote speech by Olin College President Dr. Gilda Barabino, and excerpts from Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech spoken by Valine Valbrun-Paul, chair of the METCO Needham Parents Council. There will be music performances by the Eliot School Chorus, Plugged In Band Program and Brother Dennis Slaughter and his band.
The free event is co-sponsored by the Needham Diversity Initiative, Needham Human Rights Committee, Needham Interfaith Clergy Association, Needham Public Schools and the NPS METCO program.
For more information, visit www.needhamdiversity.org.
Save as PDF