Champagne & Chocolate In Needham to Warm a Winter Evening and Benefit the Needham Historical Society Join the Historical Society for a tasting of tempting, locally-made chocolates and desserts, accompanied by an assortment of fine wines. is there a more delicious way to dispel the late-winter blah? Silent Auction/ Music Saturday, January 29, from 7:30 --10:00 pm at the Needham Historical Society, 1147 Central Tickets Before January 21:  $30 NHS Members/$35 Non-Members After January 21:  $35 NHS Members/$40 Non-Members To make a Reservation, visit or send payment (Checks only) to the Needham Historical Society, 1147 Central Avenue, Needham, MA, or call 781-455-8860   Thanks to Event Sponsor Roche Bros. 01/17/2011

Needham Market Report For 2010 vs 2009 In December of 2010 there were 22 single family homes closed in Needham, MA. There were 306 single family homes that sold in 2010 There was an increase of 33 units sold in 2010 over the homes that closed in 2009 totaling 273.  2009.  Not much of a difference in days on market:  2009 = 89 Days while 2010 = 90 days. There are some significant differences all around. The Average list price for the homes that closed in Needham for 2010 was $840,063 The Average list price for the homes that closed in Needham for 2009 was $810,307 The Average sale price for the homes that closed in Needham 2010 was $805,643 The Average sale price for the homes that closed in Needham for 2009 was $775,293 Properties in 2010 Lowest Price: $244,800 Median Price: $665,000  ... 01/16/2011

Living Green In Needham, Massachusetts Is About $aving $Money$   If you Live In Massachusett$...Call Mass $ave 800-638-8300 and make an appointment for an Energy Audit - No co$t audit.  Everyone I know who has had one is so glad they did.  $ome of things below might even be done by them without co$t. (Check and $ee)* Use Natural Cleaning Product$ - Use Concentrated, Biodegradable Cleaning product$ immediate payback Use Natural Laundry Product$ - Biodegradable and concentrated -$ave right away Programmable Thermo$tat -         Payback in 8 months* Use Energy $aving Light Bulb$ -    Payback in 10 months* Efficient Showers & Faucet$ -         Payback in 11 months* Toxic Free Paint -                        Payback in 2.8 years On Demand Hot Water Heater -    Payback in 3.8 years Thermal Win... 01/15/2011

Needham, MA Blizzard of 2011/1978 In 1978 I left for Florida February 1st.  It was my first trip to Florida.  My mother-in-law gave me 2 tickets for my son and I to visit my parents who had just moved there.  Little did I know that I would miss The Blizzard of 1978.  When people speak of it I feel like I missed something really wonderful.  It seems everyone I know has fond memories of that time.  One friend from Needham had people come and stay with her because they were stranded on Route 128 now more known as Route 95. It was so cold in Florida for those 10 days that I wore my winter coat every day but the last day.  It was windy and cloudy a good deal of the time.  That did not keep me from Florida after that because we must have gone 25 times since then and love it.  In fact I am dre... 01/13/2011

                                                 Needham Heights, MA  Has A Lot To Offer There are 2 great schools in Needham Heights: Eliot Elementary School and Hillside School. Needham Heights has beautiful luxury neighborhoods and million dollar plus homes, wonderful schools, it's own fire department.  The restaurants in Needham are great but  here are some that are in Needham Heights: Blue on Highland, Bickford's, Panera Bread, Spiga Ristorante Italiana, Mandarin Cuisine, Acapulcos , Mighty Sub just to name a few. There is a quick market on Central Avenue called Panella's Market.  In the little Needham Heights Village you will find Starbucks, Cafe Bagel, Town House of Pizza, Trader Joe's, CVS, Mayfair Cleaners, Koko Fit Club,US Post Office, and several New Condo complexes closeby t... 01/07/2011

    Needham Market Report December 2010   In December of 2010 there were 22 single family homes closed in Needham, MA. This was an increase of 1 unit sold over the 21 homes that closed in December of 2009.  There was definitely an increase in list and sale price over 2009 and less days over last year 79 versus 94. 22 homes sold in December 2010- list of $$986,649 79 days to sell)* 1 home sold - listed at $359,000 1 home sold – listed at $385,000 1 home sold - listed of $519,000 6 homes sold- average list $558,983 3 homes sold – average list at $672,633 1 home sold listed $699,000 (sold for $705,000 in 4 days) 3 homes sold - listed at $978,158 3 homes sold – listed at $1,396,333 1 home sold – listed at $2,145,000 1 home sold – listed at $2,279,000 1 home sold – listed at $2,825,000 The A... 01/06/2011

Yesterday St. Sebastian's school in Needham announced that it has received a $10 million tax-exempt bond that will allow the school to build new math and science buildings.  The loan will be used by the school to add a 23,000-square-foot science building and an 8,000-square-foot math building with five classrooms and an expanded library.  The school is an independent day boys school serving grades 7 to 12 and is the only such school in Needham. 01/05/2011

New Year's Needham 2011 NEW THIS YEAR: Outdoor Laser Light and Music Show! Artists and PerformersThe following performers and groups will be participating in this year's New Year's celebration: Click on performers below for more information. Dance After the performers and schedule keep going for activities for each venue Charles River Ballet Ballroom Dance New England Needham Dance Theatre O'Shea Chaplin Academy of Irish Dance Great Plain Squares Betty Hood Merengue Music Longwood Opera Jerry Wasserman, Chris Pahud and others with the Homegrown Coffee House Needham Concert Society Beth DeSombre Sound Investment West Newton Ceili Band Youth Chamber Ensembles John Kirk Family Plugged In Teen Bands Kirsten & Dave Melodius Funk The Singing Trooper NHS Fermata Nowhere NHS Haydn Trio Arts an... 12/28/2010

Just How Fabulous is Needham Heights, MA?   Needham is Needham, however, there is Birds Hill, Needham Junction, Charles River area, what I call Needham Proper which is those streets that are off Great Plain Avenue between St. Sebastian's School and the center of Needham and there is Needham Heights. So how fabulous is Needham Heights?  Here are few reasons I say that:  Starbucks, Trader Joe's, Blue on Highland Restaurant which is amazing, 4 banks, pharmacy, Finagel a Bagel, Bickfords, the first commuter rail stop, bus stop, the cleaners, the tailors, the Big Picture Store, the post office, the new construction luxury homes both single family and condo/townhouses, terrific homes of all sort of styles, the lovely neighborhoods, close proximity to major highways, close to Boston and shoppi... 12/13/2010

The Carpet Work Room Needham/Newton I am reblogging because the address has changed and the hours too.  The work room is larger too.  Just over the line in Newton Upper Falls in an old Mill. Hours: Monday through Friday from 10 to 6           Saturday from 10 to 2 Come you will not be disappointed.  ONe of the best finds in the Metro/West Boston Area. Recently mentioned again in the Boston Globe this time.  This is the best place for carpet.  He is wonderful. Here is the link to the Boston Globe article online: http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2010/10/03/101_things_every_bostonian_should_know/?page=4 One of my clients just told me that she caught the Channel 5 Chronicle program on bargains last night. In the third segment they had a piece of a local business in Needh... 12/03/2010

Needham Historical Holiday Tour Dec. 5 Presented by Chestnut Children's Center December 5, 2010  1 - 4:30 PM Begins at the Needham Historical Society on Central Avenue Tickets are NOW available for the Needham Women's Club's much-anticipated Needham Historical Holiday House Tour, presented by Chestnut Children's Center.   Tickets may be purchased at Needham's Roche Brothers and Sudbury Farms' Customer Service counters, or here simply by clicking on "Buy Now".  The Needham Women's Club is proud to present six beautifully decorated homes that are of the oldest in town, and will honor Needham's 300th birthday.  The Tour takes place Sunday, December 5, 1-4:30pm and begins at the Needham Historical Society, 1145 Central Avenue.  Tickets are $30 if purchased prior to the day of the event, $35... 12/02/2010

Needham Market Report November 2010 In November of 2010 there were 17 single family homes closed in Needham, MA. This was a decrease of 12 units less than 29 homes that closed in November of 2009. Sale Price to List Price Ratio is 95% //Sale Price to Original Price Ratio was 93% 2 homes sold - average list price was $464,500 3 homes sold - average list price was $489,667 2 homes sold - average list average was $542,500  3 homes sold- average list price was $667,667 2 homes sold - average list price was $774,500  1 home sold listed with a list price of $929,000  2 homes sold - average list price was $1,269,450  1 home sold - with a list price of $2.225.000 *Average days on Market 85 days The Average list price for the homes that closed in Needham for November 2010 was $875,112 The Averag... 12/01/2010

Open House- 1028 Central Ave, Needham, MA You are invited to visit on Sunday November 28 from 11:30 to 12:30 or Accompanied Showings by Appointment                       Wonderful space in this 4 level multi on the Wellesley side of Needham.  The home was built in 1957 with updates since then.  There a 4 bedrooms, including a master with a bath.  The first floor is open with cathedral ceiling, bay window, and fireplace from floor to ceiling. It is deceiving from the street how much space there is, however, there is 2688 square feet of living on 4 levels.  The first floor has the living room with a bay window, floor to ceiling fireplace, and cathedral ceiling.  The dining room has an almost full wall window with a built in glass cabinet which leads to the kitchen. The second floor has 3 ... 11/24/2010

Most nights we only have one light on after dinner for the evening.  I have been able to save on my electric bill and it works.  I unplug everything I am not using until I need it, i.e., the toaster, the radio, the microwave, the coffee pot, etc. I wash full loads of laundry and full dishwasher only and that really helps.  It amazes me how little things really make a difference. Our town has a challenge for anyone who would like take he 10% Energy Challenge and many in my office have taken the challenge.  The website for Needham residents is www.greenneedham.org  It only takes about 10 minutes to take the challeng. I think the hardest one for me is lowering the thermostats.  I seem to react to the really cold and really hot days.  I do my best to keep the thermostat lower and not use a/... 11/23/2010

Needham, MA Norfolk County Open House 1028 Central Ave.   Come join me for an Open House between 12 - 1 Sunday, 11/21/2010 From the exterior you cannot tell just how spacious this 9-room multi-level with 3 full baths and total living space of 2668 square feet, a great room and recreation room. There are actually 4 levels of living and a really nice open entry level with a loft-like appearance leading to 3 of the bedrooms on the top level and a bonus room continguous to one of the bedrooms.  The lot size is a bonus too with 14,375 square feet. It is a mile out of Needham center and closer to the Wellesley line and Olin College is close by too.  Just a short distance to Volante's Farm and Owen's Poultry Farm.  Lots of historical homes along Central Avenue as well new construction.  Just b... 11/20/2010

Needham 300 -  A Play & Musical commissioned in honor of Needham 300 Tell everyone about this "Red Carpet Weekend"  November 20 & 21.  A play and musical commissioned in honor of Needham 300.  The second weekend in the yearlong Needham 300 celebration.  Keep watch for updates and follow the www.Needham300.org website   November 20-21, 2010             Saturday & Sunday A Play Commissioned in honor of Needham 300 written by playwrights david simon and jay diprima Saturday evening Performance at 7:30pm the Needham High School auditorium Take a voyage from the founding of Needham to the modern day on Saturday at a play commissioned especially in honor of Needham 300 and written by playwrights David Simon and Jay DiPrima and performed in the high school auditorium by Needham High School st... 11/10/2010

Big HitKick-Off For Needham 300 What an amazing weekend we had.  Every aspect of the Needham 300 Kick-off weekend was simply super.  What great fun for all ages.  The "100 Years of Football" movie was very touching.  It will be shown again at the Thanksgiving Day Football game too and DVD's are orderable. Green's field was packed with children at the old fashioned field day complete with balloon rides.  A great success.  Then the promenade followed and there was a good following for that. The food was a big hit with restaurants represented as follows: Petite Robert, Sweet Basil, Treet Cupcake, Nicolas Pizza, Mighty Sub, and Centre Cafe.  The entertainment was outstanding and really enjoyed by all.  Every single group who entertained was amazing.  So glad we had a good turnout.  Everyone... 11/08/2010

It will soon be easier to grab that coffee and paper on your way to work.  The MBTA has just announced that it has granted a five-year lease to The Whistle Stop, Inc. to renovate and operate a concession space at the Needham Center commuter rail station.  The station is located at the heart of town and is part of the Needham line.  The space is currently vacant and will feature a cafe/restaurant.  Welcome, Whistle Stop to Needham! 11/05/2010

  Needham Market Report October 2010 In October of 2010 there were 14 single family homes closed in Needham, MA. This was an increase of 3 units sold over the 11 homes that closed in October of 2009. 1 homes sold in October 2010- list of $268,800 (964 days to sell)* 1 home sold - listed at $419,000 1 home sold - listed at $479,000 2 homes sold - average list of $489,000 3 homes sold- average list $543,000 3 home sold - average list at $654,933 1 home sold listed $749,000 1 home sold - listed at $1,299,000 1 home sold - listed at $2,850,000 *Average days on Market 145 (keep in mind the one that took 964 day to sell. The Average list price for the homes that closed in Needham for October 2010 was $759,757 The Average list price for the homes that closed in Needham for October of 2009 was ... 11/01/2010

OPEN HOUSE 1078 Greendale Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 Sunday, October 31, 2010 From 12:00 to 1:00 There will be some treats. Come to the Open House.  Wonderful Garrison Colonial nicely sited.  The original Needham home built by Heinz Brinkaus for his own family and only the 2nd family in this house.   There are 4 bedrooms with the master having a full bath.  The basement is finished and leads to loads to additional storage space.  The living room has cathedral ceilings and most of the windows have been replaced. The basement has full windows and a walkout to a nice fenced backyard.  this home is nicely nestled and private.  it is a commuter's dream with the nearest stop to Hersey station being .07 miles.  There is also easy access to all Boston roads too.  Nearby Bird's Hill Village right... 10/30/2010