A Year of Changes, A Year of Moving Forward

January 1, 2026
• The Needham Channel News takes a look back at a tumultuous and eventful year that marks the start of a new era and sets the stage for 2026.

How much can change in a year? As the town sets out to take on the challenges of 2026, we take a look back at some of the stories that captured our attention over the past 12 months.

Representation was a recurring theme throughout Needham News this year. On the state level, new Representative Josh Tarsky kicked off his tenure on Beacon Hill, and the Select Board wrestled with the arduous task of choosing the successor to Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick after she chose to move to her next chapter this past summer.

Housing and town growth also were major areas of discussion, as the town continued to debate how to best comply with Massachusetts MBTA Communities requirements ahead of the ultimate decision to take a minimalist approach, while leaving room for changes down the line. Complying with state law also caused upheaval when the town’s Assessing Department implemented changes to the valuation of commercial and residential properties, leading to a dramatic increase to abatement applications last spring. Schools were also challenged on the choice of a new literacy program and started finalizing the approach for building a new middle school.

Perhaps one of the most vocal efforts from the business community this past year was the demand to take more time and listen to their needs regarding the Envision Needham Center project, which sought to reconfigure Great Plain Avenue as it crosses the center of town. The plan for a pilot project was delayed as the project continues to be studied in multiple potential layouts. Also ongoing is work on zoning bylaws which can affect the size and scope of residential construction in the town.

The town also made advances on several environmental initiatives, including establishing guidelines on the use of plastic utensils in take-out orders, and starting work on efforts aimed toward managing stormwater.

In leisure hours, there were a lot of activities and programs in Needham entertained. From poetry to Shakespeare, sports and the occasional movie. The Needham Channel News crew kept up with them all, and featured their highlights in two videos released over the holiday break.

The Needham Channel News is a weekly newscast airing on The Needham Channel every Thursday at 7:30pm. The Needham Channel News can be found on the Community Channel: Comcast 9, Astound 15 and Verizon 29. Most Thursdays it also can be viewed on our HD Channel on Verizon 2129, Astound 613 and streaming on this site.