Talk:Newton, Massachusetts

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Use of exceptional[edit]

To me, at least, this quote raises questions:

"It is known for its exceptional public schools and other public services."

  1. The use of exceptional, to describe anything, other than when used in a quotation, seems very out of place in an Encyclopedia
  2. "...known for..." Known for? By whom? I'm not disputing this, but I believe more than that is needed.

I'll be editing that bit. If anyone would like to elaborate and/or prove that POV, I think it'd be a good idea if they posted their reasoning here. Picaroon9288 23:11, 17 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

As a newton resident, with family members who are teachers, over the years I have heard anecdotes to the effect that Newton has long been known for its excellent public schools; will try to look into the 24.60.137.141 00:23, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Newton's recent $160 mil. investment in education via the new Newton North High School, plus both (Newton North and Newton South High Schools), particularly Newton South High School, have outstanding college matriculation. I cannot post the matriculation here due to privacy concerns (they include names) and the fact that the list is not digitized, but I can assure you that "exceptional" is a fair epithet for Newton's public schools. 12.189.152.42 (talk) 22:38, 31 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Aquinas College[edit]

Aquinas College doesn't exist anymore, so I'm deleting it. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.91.194.224 (talk • contribs) .

"Local legend"[edit]

Calling the bilious anti-semitic line about Newton's naming origins a "local legend" and footnoting it raises a dumb joke to the level of academic fact. Look closely at the reference and you'll notice even the original author acknowledges this is as a "quip" and nothing more. Surely it beggars reason that the nickname "Garden City" would have any origin other than the region's natural abundance of green space. --Stirlazy 10:55, 27 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Uh, what? It's not anti-semitic. Newton has a fairly high percentage of Jews (not as high as Brookline, I suspect, but still quite high), and many people do make that joke. FYI, you might find this interesting: http://www.newtoncitizens.com/worsh_denom.shtml
Would "local joke" be acceptable? Ladlergo 12:39, 27 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
The original wording of the "local legend" entry clearly identified the pun linking Rosenbloom to Garden City as nonserious language; i.e., nothing more than a local legend or local joke. But a funny, and well documented, local legend nonetheless. I think it's worth including, and don't see how it's "bilious" or "anti-semitic" — and the editors of American Jewish History would seem by their actions to agree. --ScottMainwaring 02:58, 28 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I wouldn't characterize it as anti-semitic or a legend. It may be tasteless and crass, but it was a fact of life. We pretty much shut classes down on Jewish High Holidays. I count that multi-cultural exposure as on of the most valuable things in my life. I grew up in Newton in the '50s and it was a common joke among high-schoolers that Newton was the Garden City because there was a Rosenbloom on every corner. Wake 03:13, 28 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Why anyone would want to add this "joke" of suspicious tone in the opening paragraph to an otherwise encyclopedic entry is beyond me. Why not call New York City "Hymietown" in its opening paragraph and footnote it to Jesse Jackson? Stirlazy 05:48, 28 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
-> The "hymietown" reference would be appropriate if it were in wide use, or its origins were referred to frequently. In fact a section on the ethnic history of Newton might resolve this -- anyone up for it? I don't think simply deleting the entry and its reference is the healthy way to go and I deplore someone's simply using a red pen this way.-RICH July 28 5:40 pm — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.64.5.126 (talk) 21:43, 28 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Mr. Stirlazy...are you from Newton or the greater Boston area? Because if you were you would realize this is not anti-semitic in the least. I wouldnt say its tasteless or crass as numerous jewish newtonians like myself are certainly proud of the fact that we essentially dominate the "safest city in america". Therefore the reference, as it was, was very tastefully stated and explained why the saying is what it is. Encyclopedia articles are supposed to let you know information about things, and explaining the origin to people reading this article (again, it is EXTREMELY common to hear this quip around Boston, the area where most of the people reading this article will be from anyways) is very important to educate people about something they may hear so they aren't surprised to hear something so common. Besides, like I said, Us Newtonian Jews are most proud of our accomplishments in Newton — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.134.127.44 (talk) 06:20, 31 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Call to talk to contributors[edit]

I'm a reporter for Boston Globe writing a story about Wiki entries for local cities and towns. Interested to talk to contributors to this article. On deadline. Please contact me at thomascaywood@yahoo.com by Sunday, Sept. 17. Thanks! Thomas — Preceding unsigned comment added by Thomascaywood (talk • contribs) 20:33, 13 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

This guy left a note on my talk page and I talked to him this afternoon, blabbing away all over the place. He's writing a piece for the West Suburban Globe next Thursday. He was interested in the editing process and I explained how a watchlist worked, also history and talk page. He wanted to know if any politicians had tried to influence the page. I pointed to the list of notable dwellers, no politician listed.
He seemed pretty straight-arrow to me, interested in Wikipedia. I told him he should find his favorite band and edit something. He said he liked rockabilly, so I suggested Sleepy LaBeef. Ortolan88 02:37, 15 September 2006 (UTC) PS -- Having been a reporter myself, I will be interested to see how this ends up looking in print. Tom P.[reply]
I see Joe DeNucci, a legitimate newsmaker, is in there, and a little bit of ax-grinding about the Needham taxes and Newton traffic, a bit POV, but that's not a lot of politics for an article about a decent-sized city. Ortolan88 02:44, 15 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yikes, Globe took my picture today. I hope to hell I'm not the only one they talked to. Ortolan88 23:48, 16 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
No article after two West sections. I think he wanted a story about politicians busting in, but it wasn't there. Ortolan88 20:58, 25 September 2006 (UTC) Later: Scheduled for Sept. 28. Developing . . . as the big boys say. Ortolan88 15:38, 26 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Here it is: "Answering Wikipedia's Call to Fill In the Blanks". I don't think I sound as much of an idiot as I feared. No pix online, but only in print, limiting collateral damage. Ortolan88 14:32, 28 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Poor Quality of life due to High Housing Costs[edit]

Newton is an example of a phenomenon that has occured in many areas of the US since the 90s: rapidly rising housing prices have had very profound effects on the community. For instance, the price of housing in Newton now is such that school teachers, police and fire officers, etc, can no longer live in the town, and that "well paid" proffessionals have what is, in efffect, a greatly reduced standard of living. Perhpas this is a harbrigner of a change in what is consdiered standard in American middle class housing, as we move to standards more typicall of , say, Japan.24.60.137.141 00:23, 1 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Why is this here? This isn't a forum for your political opinions. This for discussion of the encyclopedia entry. And there are still plenty of working class people living in Newton. I am one of them. We don't all live in those mansions on Comm Ave....Newtonville, Nonantum, and West Newton are hardly "rich." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.6.127.37 (talk) 20:59, 10 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Can a mod please delete this blatant POV. First of all, a city does not need middle class to have a high standard of living. Second, as stated above, Newton has plenty of working-class residents, just drive through Nonantum or Newtonville. No, we're not poor, but we're working class, hardly the "'well paid' professionals" you spoke of, and, you know what, we have a pretty damn high standard of living. 12.189.152.42 (talk) 22:44, 31 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Map of Newton[edit]

We need a map! I changed the "picture request" tag to a "map request". Yuletide 19:27, 22 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Notable residents[edit]

Don't know about dividing up this list by categories; I mean, shouldn't Alex McNeil be under "Authors" instead of "Television"? F.N. Wombat 05:36, 14 August 2007 (UTC)F.N. Wombat[reply]

The list has grown so long that it should probably be split into its own article. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 06:06, 14 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Before Ajd again removes Richard Martin Jarrell from the list, couldn't she at least Google him? That entry at EMPTY WORDS by John Cage, where Cage credits Jarrell with Cage's beginning to make bread, counts for nothing? I think Sidewalk Sam might have something to say about this geographer's penchant for deleting notables she finds no evidence for.24.218.167.161 08:40, 6 September 2007 (UTC)F.N. Wombat[reply]

(1) I'm male. (2) I did Google him. (3) Yes, that counts for nothing. Otherwise we would have entries for, like, "John Updike's sister" and people like that What's notable about Richard Martin Jarrell? AJD 12:37, 6 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Twenty-five of my forty-five volumes of calligraphed quotations are in the John Cage Archives; I introduced Bob Marley to binaural recording; I gave the President of New College a heart attack; I did six weeks in Bridgewater for again having turned myself in for possession of marijuana hoping to get a test case to overturn prohibition, etc. As the Caterpillar said to Alice, "Who are you?" Residentteen 15:51, 7 September 2007 (UTC)Richard Martin Jarrell[reply]
Okay, I've simmered down somewhat. But I've never been so insulted in a barroom brawl!
I guess instead of doing up this Noble Weed I see here before me, I shall once more unto the Polizei to end 70 years' of cannabinoid outlawry.
Mayhaps this will make me minorly notable. 71.174.224.204 16:12, 7 September 2007 (UTC)RMJ[reply]
Since there was no objection, and since the list keeps growing, I've split it off into People from Newton, Massachusetts. I didn't make any other changes to it. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 17:17, 7 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Additional Church of Historical Importance[edit]

Myrtle Baptist Church should be added to the list of churches. it is the one congregation with a substantial black population, many of whom can trace their ancestry to some of Newton's earliest residents. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.223.243.6 (talk) 18:24, 2 February 2010 (UTC)[reply]

misc[edit]

events - the halloween painting contests for kids is done with greasepaint on store windows; i don't know about the canvas thing

trivia - many years ago, there was a large commercial baker in Cambridge MA that had a series of products named for MA cities - I think there was a "braintree biscuit" a "fig newton' etc; I think the fig newton is the only one that survives. the building is now condos or apts, near the MIT science park; there are terra cotta plaques on the outside representative of the various products.

this school is now moved or closed; the address is a private residence
Clearway School 61 Chestnut Street. Clearway is a small, private school specializing in educating gifted children suffering from learning disabilities — Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.180.163.125 (talk) 16:22, 12 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Boundary history details[edit]

A manual for the use of the General Court By Massachusetts. 1900 

p.138 MIDDLESEX COUNTY
NEWTON
Date of Establishment Dec. 15, 1691
From what Established or Incorporated, Change of Boundary...
The town of Cambridge Village, sometimes called Little Cambridge.
June 21, 1803 an island in Charles River annexed. April 23, 1838
part annexed to Roxbury. April 16, 1849 part annexed to Waltham.
June 2, 1873 Newton incorporated as a city. Oct. 13, 1873 act of
incorporation accepted by the town. May 29, 1874 bounds between
Newton and Boston established. May 5, 1875 part of Boston annexed.
June 23, 1875 the act accepted by Newton. July 1, 1875 the act took
effect. Mar. 29, 1898 bounds between Newton and Boston established.
May 13, 1898 bounds between Newton and Boston established.

-96.237.8.174 (talk) 18:47, 3 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Lead[edit]

Will the person who keeps reverting me read WP:LEAD for what a lead should do and how long it should be? A lead should not be 2 sentences, and leave out mention about 95% of the article. It's supposed to summarize the entire article. Compare the size of the lead I wrote with the lead in the featured articles Boston, Chetwynd, British Columbia, Hillsboro, Oregon, Peterborough, Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Waterfall Gully, South Australia. These articles show you what a lead should look like in articles about cities. Three short paragraphs is not "too much detail". According to WP:LEAD, an article of this length (more than 30,000 characters) should have 3 to 4 paragraphs. FurrySings (talk) 19:32, 18 September 2012 (UTC)[reply]

It is usual to wait for a response here before proceeding, per WP:BRD—especially after more than one revert. As indicated previously, my main concern was not with length as such. Per WP:LEAD, "The lead should... define the topic, establish context, explain why the topic is notable, and summarize the most important points". What led me to revert was that you appeared to be repeating sections of text from below, rather than summarizing their contents. Some rephrasing (or further rephrasing) would be beneficial. Hertz1888 (talk) 20:06, 18 September 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Cabot Woods[edit]

I suggest that it should be added to the list of points of interest. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 146.115.137.78 (talk) 13:57, 12 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

External links modified[edit]

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Newton MA list of religious institutions--error[edit]

Congregation Shaarei Teffila is also listed without the word Congregtion. You should remove the second reference — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.187.62.227 (talk) 18:13, 6 October 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Also add Congregation Beit Sasson on Ward Street in Newton (new congregation) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.187.62.227 (talk) 18:15, 6 October 2015 (UTC)[reply]

flag[edit]

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:gb19g1161 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:587:4103:AE00:E5D6:9A52:ADA9:65D9 (talk) 22:31, 2 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Orphaned references in Newton, Massachusetts[edit]

I check pages listed in Category:Pages with incorrect ref formatting to try to fix reference errors. One of the things I do is look for content for orphaned references in wikilinked articles. I have found content for some of Newton, Massachusetts's orphans, the problem is that I found more than one version. I can't determine which (if any) is correct for this article, so I am asking for a sentient editor to look it over and copy the correct ref content into this article.

Reference named "USCensusEst2016":

  • From Nashua, New Hampshire: "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  • From Quincy, Massachusetts: "Counties Population Totals Tables: 2010-2016, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016". Retrieved June 10, 2017.

I apologize if any of the above are effectively identical; I am just a simple computer program, so I can't determine whether minor differences are significant or not. AnomieBOT⚡ 06:53, 24 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

External links modified[edit]

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Patriots Day movie reference[edit]

This seems like something that does not belong in the opening section of this article. What's the process for removing? Cliff bar (talk) 04:21, 3 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]

City seal not explained[edit]

That the Web can answer almost any question seems to be everyone's experience. That the Web consistently fails to answer mine is mine. Yesterday I stopped to admire the kiosk in front of your Newton Lower Falls post office, painted with a handsome historical scene of the area and showing the city seal.

I never knew the Newton seal features the name "Nonantum." Of course it makes one wonder why one of Newton's many individual villages would be singled out for being named on the seal. Mighty interesting. So naturally I came here to find out why. And true to my experience, a text search yields only 2 mentions of "Nonantum," neither of which mentions the seal. I'm getting worried that I'm a jinx. The fact was probably there a moment ago and disappeared when my browser landed here.

Jimlue (talk) 13:29, 12 February 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Orphaned references in Newton, Massachusetts[edit]

I check pages listed in Category:Pages with incorrect ref formatting to try to fix reference errors. One of the things I do is look for content for orphaned references in wikilinked articles. I have found content for some of Newton, Massachusetts's orphans, the problem is that I found more than one version. I can't determine which (if any) is correct for this article, so I am asking for a sentient editor to look it over and copy the correct ref content into this article.

Reference named "USCensusEst2018":

I apologize if any of the above are effectively identical; I am just a simple computer program, so I can't determine whether minor differences are significant or not. AnomieBOT⚡ 16:11, 18 July 2019 (UTC)[reply]

"siu-face"[edit]

What is a "siu-face"? This article and the one on the seven hills of Rome which contains the same quotation seem to be the only places on the internet this term is found. Koro Neil (talk) 01:50, 9 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Looks like an OCR error for "surface". AJD (talk) 03:47, 10 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Gun shop ban[edit]

I've removed a section concerning a ban on gun shops, since it doesn't appear to have received significant non-local coverage, and appears to be a move into WP:NOTNEWS territory. Acroterion (talk) 01:46, 8 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Geological history of nowdays Newton location[edit]

Inserted visual, but could not place it properly into Geography, placed at center currently, but better be aligned to left, if do so, then it shift to not proper location EgorovaSvetlana (talk) 16:36, 3 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Commons files used on this page or its Wikidata item have been nominated for deletion[edit]

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