Click to visit Historic Newton's site.

I visited the opening reception of Historic Newton’s city maps exhibit last week. Wow. On your next trip through Newtonville, swing by and take a look for yourself.

“Mapping a New Town: 1714-1874″ gives museum visitors a glimpse into how our city looked more than a century ago. One of the most striking scenes is an oil painting of pastoral fields and the railroad running along the Charles River — an area of the city known today for the village of Lower Falls, the Riverside MBTA station, Route 128, and a golf course.

If you like maps, don’t miss the museum’s collection of bird’s eye maps from the 1890s, which are displayed along the museum’s central staircase.

As reported in an earlier post, looking at the history of our land use and village center development is a good starting point for discussions about our city’s future. You may view many Newton maps in the city’s online Map Library.

Clint Schuckel, associate City Engineer, will present proposed signage improvement plans around the Newton Corner Rotary (Exit 17) and West Newton Square (Exit 16) at 6:30pm on Wednesday, November 17, in Room 202 at City Hall.

Residents and merchants — and anyone who utilizes these rotary-style interchanges — are invited to comment. If you have questions ahead of the meeting, please contact David Koses, (617) 796-1133, dkoses@newtonma.gov.
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The quality of life in our village centers relies on these business districts being pedestrian-friendly. But it’s also vital for residents to be able to walk to the village centers.

While the cold of winter may drive some of us into our cars, it’s really snow and ice on sidewalks that make people less likely to amble down to their village center. To date, the City of Newton has been unable or reluctant to require residents to clear their sidewalks of snow. But that could change next week.
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If you share an interest in planning for the future of Newton’s village centers, please consider voicing your thoughts at one of Mayor Setti Warren’s upcoming town hall meetings.

After presenting a capital improvement plan presentation and budget forecast to the Board of Alderman last month, the mayor is holding a series public meetings around town to solicit feedback directly from residents.

Specifically, the mayor and his staff want to hear about infrastructure issues residents that concern residents. These meetings are open to all residents and merchants. Schedule:

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As we plan for the future of Newton’s village centers, the best place to start may be our past. Our city has a rich history that dates back to its separation from Cambridge in the late 1600s.

We are lucky to have Historic Newton, which has organized an exhibit — Mapping a New Town: 1714-1874 — to illustrate how our city looked more than a century ago.

In this new exhibit, “Newton takes shape on rare maps and is seen in prints, photographs, and a fine landscape painting, the Great Curve on the Boston and Worcester Railroad at Newton Lower Falls, on loan from a private collection.”

Come to the opening reception of the exhibit at 6pm on Tuesday, November 9 at Historic Newton, 527 Washington Street. Admission is free that night.

On Sunday, Nov. 7, the Newton Cultural Alliance will host an evening event with entertainment and discussions of culture and the arts — and how they contribute to a vibrant local economy and a sense of community.

If you would be interested in attending the free event, the NCA is asking people to RSVP today. Apologies for the late notice.

The event will be held at the Meetinghouse on the Andover Newton Theological School campus, 210 Herrick Road, Newton Centre. That’s Building 12 on this map.

As consortium of Newton-based non-profit arts and cultural organizations, the NCA lists among its goals “economic stimulus and development for the City of Newton through cultural tourism and development of arts and cultural partnerships with the business community of the area.”