Here are some helpful websites for the area: Great organization for young parents: http://www.parenttalk.info/newsite/ Needham Golf Club for all ages www.needhamgolfclub.com/ Women's Club - very active and fun www.needhamwomensclub.org Needham School Profiles http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/search.asp?orgtype=0&location=268&word=&submit=Find+Organization&mode=o MCAS test results spring 2007 http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/home.asp?mode=o&so=-&ot=5&o=1147&view=tstBy no means is this an exhaustive list but as time goes by I will be adding other organizations and helpful web links in order to know the town of Needham and its people a little better.  11/17/2007

Well there is one more thing about Thanksgiving that I think of and that is wonderful Owen's Poultry Farm.  It happens to be within walking distance of my house.  That was great place to go when my son was growing up.  We would walk over to see the chickens, turkeys, pheasants, bunnys, pigs, horses, cows, emus, lambs, roosters, geese and occasional ducks.  It was great. I didn't have to jump in the car.  Now I have 3 wonderful grandchildren that I also take over to Owen' Poultry Farm on 585 Central Avenue, Needham .  Prior to Thanksgiving they have  kept a large cage with all these turkeys in it.  Well now the blog is to tell you that they have the most amazing Turkeys there.  This year I am picking up a fully cooked, stuffed and complete very large turkey.  It is frozen and all I have ... 11/16/2007

November 17th Village Fair at the Congregational Church of Needham, 1154 Great Plain Ave, (corner of  Linden and Great Plain Ave.) Across from Post Office  10-3 - Baked goods, silent auction, luncheon, Attic treasures.Wellesley Event at Mass Bay Community College, just over the Needham line:  3 PM November 18th - Wellesley Symphony Orchestra  featuring Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales.  11/14/2007

The Annual Blue Tree Lighting and Holiday StrollEvery year since 1954 to start off the holiday season a very large tree in the Town Common and a Tree Lighting at Avery Square in Needham Heights.  This year's lighting is November 24. 2007.  After the lighting there ae Santa rides in the Town Common.  Between 5:20 and 5:45  Shoppers stroll through Needham shops and there is just a very warm spirit  and one not to miss.  This event is sponsored by the Needham Business Association.  They have done some great things in town for beautification.  I will speak more of this in future blogs.  Pat Baker, Realtor Needham, MA  11/14/2007

In the last 5 days 6 properties in Needham went under agreement.  The list prices were as follows:1 at $529,000; 1 at $569,000; 1 at $750,000; 1 at $799,000; 1 at $975,000; and 1  at $999,000A Total of 5 newly listed propertiesas follows:$519,000, $529,000, $539,000, $575,000 and $735,000.There are 110 properties on the market as follow:3 between $350,000 - $399,9993 between $400,000 - $449,9995 between $450,000 - $499,99913 between $500,000- $599,99912 between $600,000 - $699,99912 between $700,000 - $799,9998  between $800,000 - $899,9997  between  $900,000 - $999,99927 between $1,000,000 - $1,499,99910 between $1,500,000 - $1,999,9992  between $2,000,000 - $2,499,9993  between $2,500,000 - $2,999,9993  between $3,000,000 - $3,999,999   11/10/2007

Thanksgiving in Needham brings a couple of great events to mind.Needham High School and Wellesley High School holds the national record for the oldest (public schools) Thanksgiving day football game.  Only interrupted once in 1921. It is now 125 years since Arthur Judson Oldman posed the challenge to the students nearby to a "friendly game of ball."In honor of this annual football event the Rotary Clubs of Needham and Wellesley host a dinner on the Tuesday evening before the game and invite the football teams and coaches.  They include a speaker who is usually a  professional athlete and it is just a lot of fun.   The Rotary Club of Needham in conjunction with the Needham Community Council runs a dinner for folks who might be otherwise alone on Thanksgiving.  For those who are unable to... 11/10/2007

Walk the streets of Needham and you will see beautiful trees all along the way.  Bring your children and grandchildren to the Needham High School hill and go sledding. Oh What fun! we had when we were raising our son going to the Needham High School hill.  Go skating just before you enter the Town Forest there is a great place to ice skate.  Join the Rosemary Pool in the summer and have the kids take swimming lessons.  Play tennis at the private club Needham Pool & Racquet or go the the public tennis courts one of which is right by the High School hill.  Go to the Needham/Wellesley Thanksgiving Day game.  This is the longest running footballl rivalry in the US I believe. Go to the absolutely brand new Needham Public Library, it is jusst beautiful and up to the minute.  Just a few of the... 11/03/2007

"Back Bay Fill"In 1853, the first rail was laid, connecting Needham to Boston.  Rail access to Needham was extended not only for commerical purposes, but also to accommodate the "Back Bay Fill.\,"  Starting in 1859, gravel was transported from Needham to Boston to fill in the Back Bay for residential use.  For nearly 15 years, over 1200 freight cars per day were loaded with gravel dug from the area that now forms the Industrial Center and route 128/95 interchange.  Truly land of Needham is now in the Back Bay of Boston.  I truly love that part of the city and especially Commonwealth Avenue and the Public Garden.  I have memories of taking the Needham Local everyday to Back Bay for college.  I still remember the crisp wind as I walked over the bridge and in front of the Boston Public Lib... 10/24/2007

I am beginning to think that Needham is the restaurant capital of Massachusetts.  We are very fortunate because we don't have to go far to find a great restaurannt.  Needham has lots to choose from.   New Garden, Mandarin Cuisine, The Rice Barn, Pho Pasteur, Euro Taste Bistro, Fava, Fuji Steak House, Masala Art, Panera Bread, Fresco Restaurant,  Sweet Basil's (my favorite), Not Your Average Joe's (big hit), new to Needham - Spiga (Italian Cuisine), Bertucci, Ground Round, Blue  on Highland, Sheraton,  soon coming The Village Fish (re-locating from Brookline to Needham), Sweet Tomatoes is on its way here too, Pacini's Italian Eatery and Stonehearth Pizza.  I may have missed some but we have lots of pizza places and sandwich shops, Ice Cream -Cafe Mucca Blu, Needham Junction ice Cream and... 10/23/2007

The Chronicle of the Boston Transit System From the mass.gov website on MBTA Massachusetts Transportation Many people study and cherish Boston's rich and colorful history with its ideas of liberty, freedom, and democratic concepts. Few, however, are aware of Boston's historic lifeline regional mass transportation. While Boston is the birthplace of American liberty, it is also the birthplace of American mass transportation.Beginning with a family-operated ferry service, Boston has nurtured many forms of mass transportation, right up to today's most sophisticated mass transit vehicles. The Hub's transit system is the oldest and fourth largest in the nation has a history longer than that of American independence.Mass transportation first emerged in the city in 1631, when Boston was a penin... 10/21/2007

Longwood Opera "Die Fledermaus" Needham's Longwood Opera will perform Johann Strauss' comic masterpiece, "The Fledermaus (the Bat), on Friday, October 26 at 8 PM Saturday, October 27 at 8 PM, ahd Sunday October 28, t 2;30PM at Christ Episcopal Church, 1142 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA.  All performances are elegantly costumed, full staged and sung in English with piano. accompaniment.Tickets at the door $23 general admission, $18 for seniors, $14 for students and $10 for children younger than 10.  Purchase tickets in advance and save.  For more information  visit www.longwoodopera.org or call 781-455-0990 Holiday Craft Fair Local talented artisans - 66 Thurston Road, Needham on Thurs. Nov 1 7 - 9, Friday Nov 2 9 AM -3 PM, & Saturday Nov 3 from 10 AM - 4 PM. Trade Secrets Sectio of hidde... 10/21/2007

October 20th.  Before or after the pancake breakfast you can stop by the Parent Talk sponsored event:At Christ Church on Highland Ave from 8:30 to 12:30 - Clothing, Toy and Equipment Sale. This on is always a hit.  The Pancake Breakfast is at Newman School. Just follow Highland Ave then turn right on Great Plain Avenue, go about a mile out of town and turn left at Central Avenue follow to the Newman School.Have a great autumn day.  10/20/2007

ASTRONAUT SUNI WILLIAMS RETURNS TO NEEDHAM on October 27!!!Please join us on the Town Common on Saturday October 27 at 9:00 a.m., when Needham welcomes back our own Hometown Hero, Astronaut Sunita Williams. Suni has just returned from a six-month stay aboard the International Space Station where she set many NASA records including logging 195 days in space.Suni grew up in Needham, attended the HillsideElementary and Newman Middle Schools before graduating from Needham High in 1983.She then attended theUnited States Naval Academy, and following graduation reported to NavalAviation Training Command.  Suni was assigned to Helicopter Combat Supportand made overseas deployments in support of Desert Shield and Operation Provide Comfort.NASA selected Commander Williams for the Astronaut progra... 10/18/2007

What makes Needham stands out are its schools, the ease of commuting - Jump on Route 128/95 from 1 of the 3 exits, 10 minutes from the Mass Turnpike, commuter rail with 4 trains stops, and a Mass Transit Bus.   It is just a quick rip to Boston and Logan Airport.  It is a pretty community in appearance.  The library is brand new which is just across the street from the High School that has also just undergone a beautiful expansion.  There are 5 elementary schools and one middle school. We have our own hospital Beth Israel Deaconess, formerly Glover Memorial Hospital and the plus about our hospital is that the same staff that is in the Boston hospital work at the Needham campus.Needham has Rosemary Pool that all the residents can take advantage of for a fee, of course.  There is an indoor... 10/17/2007

Norfolk County boast of the Charles River and Neponset Rivers along with the Blue Hills which can be seen in many parts of the county.  The Blue Hills are near to Needham so when my son was growing up I would take him there for a day of skiiing.  Just up from there on Route 138 is the Irish Culture Center.  At the Irish Culture Center there is a pub, they have Irish Football and a breakfast with Mass on some Saturdays.  Norfolk County has one city with 27 towns included geographically with Needham being one of the towns. Norfolk County is known as the "County of Presidents," because it the birthplace of 4 presidents: John F. Kennedy, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and George Herbert Walker Bush. 10/15/2007

Open house activity has been good and that is a good sign.  Some Open House hosts and hostesses have several groups coming to their open houses.  Prices of homes all over the place as far as the property on Open House list.  Here is a snap shot of the Needham Real Estate Market as I write. The price range for on market property in Needham as of this moment is from $279,000 and $3,295,000. A total of 125 Single Family Listings on the market as of today; Average list price $1,033,482, Average Market Time: 123.40.  28 of the properties on the market are between $1,000,000 and $1,499,000, next high price range is 16 between $600,000 and $699,000; 15 between $700,000 and $799,999. Then we have 13 between $900,000 and $999,999.  There are 11 properties on the market presently from $1,500,000 ... 10/14/2007

There is this wonderful Pancake Breakfast on October 20th at the Newman Elementary School,Needham,  sponsored by the Rotary Club of Needham from 7 to 2.  The proceeds go to scholarships and a list a charities in town.  This is really geared towards children.  They have a clown, vistis in tehe past by Sponge Bob, Spiderman, Bob he Builder.  Sometimes they have brought in reptiles.  The celebs in town serve the pancakes which makes it fun.  Just a great annual event.  I even posed a the clown the year I was president of the club.  Great fun for all!More fall events to follow...  10/13/2007

There were 15 SF homes sold for the month of SeptemberThere were 11 SF homes that went under agreement The average List price was $626,835The Sale price was $585,763Average days on market 82As of 10/8/07 there are 117 SF homes listed with an average List Price of $1,057,980 with anaverage on market days  of 126.71 The honeymoon weather for late September and early October is over.  Now it is rain for a week.  Let'ssee what that does to the market.  It has been like summer here in Needham.  We are a bedroom communityabout 11 miles from Boston.  Close to major highways and wonderful commuting options.  We havea commuter rail which has 4 stops in town and a bus that connects to the MBTA which can take you justabout anywhere.  We are next to fabulous shopping in Chestnut Hill and Wellesley ... 10/08/2007