https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefsThe daily local brief for Brookline, MA.en-ushttps://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-09-02https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-09-02Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000The Moderator's Committee on Exterior Lighting meets remotely tonight at 7 p.m. to review the draft bylaw amendments it voted on Aug. 11, consider changes, and vote final versions for submission to the Select Board. The committee is also set to approve the article explanations. Anything headed to the Special Town Meeting warrant must be submitted by noon Thursday, the day after the meeting.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-09-01https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-09-01Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000Precincts across town are open today, Tuesday, September 1, for the State Primary Election. Polls close at 8 p.m.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-31https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-31Mon, 31 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000Starting Tuesday, Sept. 1, riders can make unlimited transfers between bus, subway and ferry within a two-hour window and pay only the highest fare of any single leg, provided they use the same form of payment for every trip. The MBTA is also eliminating express bus fares, bringing all bus routes to $1.70 full fare and $0.85 reduced, though Silver Line routes are unaffected. Two Commuter Rail discounts continue this fall: 50% off monthly passes and $1 companion rides on weekends.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-30https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-30Sun, 30 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000Postponed from its original rain date, Swedish Car Day runs today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lawn at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, 15 Newton Street. The show gathers classic and modern Saabs, Volvos and other Swedish marques. Day-of vehicle registration is available, starting at $40 for a driver alone and including museum admission.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-29https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-29Sat, 29 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000Allston-based City Realty has acquired the nine-building "Coolidge Corner Collection" from Ramon Realty for $23.15 million in a deal closed Aug. 25 and brokered by Colliers. The 65,262-square-foot portfolio holds 49 residential units and three commercial spaces at 223 and 229-231 St. Paul Street, 26-28 Browne Street, 395-397 Harvard Street, 7 Naples Road and 1343 Beacon Street, and was 96% occupied at the time of sale. Colliers said 12% of the residential units are fully renovated and another 57% partially upgraded, and that the offering drew local, regional and national investor interest amid uncertainty over a proposed statewide rent-control ballot initiative.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-28https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-28Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000At the Select Board's Aug. 26 meeting, Town Clerk Ben Kaufman said scheduling a board meeting for Tuesday, Sept. 1 creates an "unacceptable conflict" for residents who might have to choose between voting in the state primary and attending. He said he raised the concern privately with the town administrator and the board first and was dismissed. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 1; guidance from the Secretary of State's office recommends against holding public meetings on Election Day, though most are not formally prohibited.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-27https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-27Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000Massachusetts voters go to the polls Tuesday, Sept. 1, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and contested races for U.S. Senate and House, governor, state legislative seats and district attorney depending on party and district. In Brookline's 4th Congressional District, Rep. Jake Auchincloss faces a primary challenge from Jason Poulos. In the Democratic Senate primary, Sen. Ed Markey, 80, is seeking a third full term against Rep. Seth Moulton, 47, with the winner facing unopposed Republican John Deaton in November.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-26https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-26Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000Residents in Brookline Village near Linden Park say a severe rat infestation has disrupted daily life in the neighborhood. Their complaints have prompted town officials to reconsider Brookline's approach to rodent control.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-25https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-25Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000Massachusetts health officials on Aug. 24 reported the season's second human case of West Nile virus. The announcement raised Brookline and six other communities to high-risk status for the mosquito-borne illness.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-24https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-24Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee meets tonight at 7 p.m. to continue its discussion of large parcel designations and the thematic map, followed at 8 p.m. by continued discussion of plan actions. The agenda opens with public comment at 7 p.m. and runs to a 9 p.m. adjournment. The meeting is fully remote over Zoom, with no in-person session at Town Hall; registration and a dial-in number are listed on the agenda.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-23https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-23Sun, 23 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000The Department of Public Works will waive overflow trash fees the week of Monday, Aug. 31 through Friday, Sept. 4, timed to the Sept. 1 move-in date. During that week, residents on town trash collection may set out extra bags of household waste alongside their town-issued cart on their scheduled pickup day, instead of using the purple overflow bags required the rest of the year. Bulky items such as sofas, mattresses, TVs and appliances are not covered and must still be paid for and scheduled online at least a week in advance.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-22https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-22Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000In-person early voting for the September 1 state primary opens today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Town Hall, the Coolidge Corner Library, and the Putterham Library, and continues through Friday, August 28. Today is also the final day to register to vote — in person at Town Hall until 5 p.m. or online until 11:59 p.m. Voters who want a mail ballot have until Tuesday, August 25 at 5 p.m. to request one.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-21https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-21Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000Chestnut Hill Avenue has been identified in the Town's Roadway Maintenance Plan for preservation work. The Town proposes adding bicycle improvements to that same project.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-20https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-20Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000Newbery Street Coffee Roasters, founded by three-time U.S. National Brewers Cup finalist Pack Katisomsakul, is converting the former Cremeux space at 240 Harvard St. into a Thai specialty coffee cafe, with a Kickstarter that cleared its $25,000 goal on Aug. 18. Shahs Halal Food, a New York franchise with three existing Boston locations, plans a 25-seat restaurant at 830 Commonwealth Ave. A returning Brookline Village wine market is also among the businesses set to open along Harvard Street and Commonwealth Avenue this summer and fall.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-19https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-19Wed, 19 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000Brookline.News published a candidate guide Aug. 18 covering every race on the Sept. 1 state primary ballot, where 34 candidates — 27 Democrats and seven Republicans — are running. The most competitive contest is the Democratic primary for Norfolk County district attorney, which has drawn nearly a million dollars in fundraising. Key dates come fast: voter registration closes and in-person early voting begins Aug. 22, mail ballot applications are due by 5 p.m. Aug. 25, and polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 1 at 12 locations serving the town's 17 precincts.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-18https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-18Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000Brookline Public Health & Human Services holds a back-to-school immunization clinic today from 10 a.m. to noon in the Denny Room of the Public Health Building at 11 Pierce St. Vaccines for children ages 1 to 18 are given on a first-come, first-served basis; pre-registration is optional and walk-ins are welcome. Every child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and bring a printed copy of their vaccine records. Available vaccines include Hep B, DTaP, TDaP, polio, meningitis ACWY, MMR, MMRV and varicella, and a second clinic is set for Aug. 26 from 1 to 3 p.m.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-17https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-17Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000The Conservation Commission holds a virtual public hearing today at 5 p.m. on a draft outdoor lighting warrant article. The agenda packet includes the draft outdoor lighting language as voted by the Moderators Committee on Aug. 11, along with a proposed exterior lighting zoning amendment dated the same day.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-16https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-16Sun, 16 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000U.S. Sen. Ed Markey sat down Aug. 15 with journalists from Brookline.News, The Belmont Voice, Cambridge Day, the Lexington Observer and The Waltham Times to lay out his re-election plans. Markey, 80, said he wants to defend the local innovation economy from Trump administration budget cuts, continue championing immigrants, establish Medicare for All and promote affordability through programs such as free public transit. He has served 13 years in the Senate after 37 years in the U.S. House and three in the Massachusetts House.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-15https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-15Sat, 15 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000The Brookline Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners approved more than $1.3 million in capital contracts at its Aug. 11 meeting, led by an $807,000 award to Homer Contracting for stairwell railing painting and infill guard work at High Street Veterans. Commissioners also approved a $219,858.91 change order with HJ Russell & Co. for hallway and window renovations at Egmont and Trustman. Two contracts totaling $296,250 — geotechnical and environmental engineering by McPhail Associates and commissioning services from NV5 — move the planned 181-unit Walnut High Apartments redevelopment at 10 Walnut Street in Brookline Village closer to construction.https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-14https://nanopress.net/brookline-ma/briefs/2026-08-14Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000CEO and president Candace Cramer confirmed Aug. 12 that Goddard House, the state's oldest elder-care organization, had to let go a handful of its 140 employees after the end of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants left them unable to document work authorization. The assisted living and memory support provider, which serves about 115 residents, gave affected staff an extra week past the July 27 end of TPS, through Aug. 7, to show other authorization. Cramer declined to give an exact number, citing privacy, and said the departing workers were dedicated caregivers whose well-being now concerns the organization.