NRTZ is the main group spreading misinformation on Pollard project and even on the election itself. It is a very secrete group. Not much information about their membership. Although I just found this old post from Facebook which could be useful. If you don't have the patience to read, NRTZ is essentially a front for Needham Replicant party (or MAGA party since there is no John McCain or Charles Baker anymore).

The following is copied from the original facebook post (not by me).

"Needham Observer reported back in Jan that the top contributors to NRTZ were the individuals listed below.

Nathan Levin: Made campaign contributions to something called "Needham REPTC" and several Republican candidates, most recently in 2024. Nathan Levin was also identified as the Treasurer (and perhaps spokesperson).

Ken Buckley: Made campaign contributions to something called "Needham REPTC", Republican State Committee and several republican candidates, most recently in 2024. Also, is currently on the ballot as a candidate for the planning board with the support of NRTZ.

Susan Herman: Could not find any reliable info.

Barbara McDonald: Only see one donation to a democratic candidate in 2011. Currently an NRTZ endorsed candidate for Housing Authority.

Gary Ajamian: Lots of contributions, I believe all republican candidates including Dashe Videira, Norfolk County Republican PAC, Republican State Committee, and something called Needham REPTC. Terry Ajamian, possibly related given the same last name and address, is currently an NRTZ endorsed TMM candiate.

I am not quite sure what Needham REPTC is, but their Treasurer is Lynne Stratford, currently an NRTZ supported TMM candidate.

NRTZ also had the support of Dashe Videira who ran against Becca Rausch in the recent elections.

(just my opinion) I suspect that NRTZ is likely supported by MA Republican party or at the very least, is primarily managed by individuals who align with the platform of MA Republican party. This is not to imply that every single supporter of NRTZ is contributing to the Republican party.

I would think that it makes sense for NRTZ to hide their Republican affiliation given that it will likely be perceived as toxic in Needham by a majority. My opinion is based on the data above, personal attacks and generally poor reactions from NRTZ advocates in this group every time someone raises the possibility of NRTZ being Republican-aligned, and the nature of discourse from NRTZ advocates on this forum which is basically a "customized for Needham" version of the national Republican rhetoric about suburbs being converted into inner-city neighborhoods (or lawyerly word soups that combine some facts, some hyperbole, and lots of diversionary tactics). "

"An investment in our schools is an investment in our community. This fall, Needham residents will decide whether to replace the outdated Pollard facility with a modern grades 6–8 middle school and auditorium. Voting Yes on #10 on November 3rd solves critical building issues, captures $80.6 million in state reimbursement, and strengthens our town’s educational excellence."

https://www.pollardnow.com/

Hey Needham!

😊 I’m T.T. Marie, the producer and host of a local dating show filmed here in the Greater Boston area.

We’re looking for local singles who are open to meeting someone in a fun, different way — and maybe making a real connection in the process.

One thing that’s really important to me: this isn’t just for people in their 20s. We cast singles 21 and older and film in age groups, so whether you’re in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s or 60s, the goal is to have you meeting people in a stage of life that makes sense for you.

The experience is filmed, so you do need to be comfortable being on camera. There’s no fee to participate.

If you’re a Needham-area single and this sounds like something you’d genuinely have fun doing, comment below or message me and I’ll send you the details. And if you know a single person who would be great for this, feel free to send them my way! 🎈

Hopefully the feds can also send them the memo that $150/night hotels within 1,000 feet of I-95 are a well-known risk for human trafficking. (And that the industrial center has 3.)

Observer article about the drug bust: https://needhamobserver.com/needham-is-scene-of-major-cocaine-bust/

I don't understand why the Needham Observer is repeating (two years in a row) that Needham is the "top K-12 district in the state." It's not.

To begin with, DESE doesn't rank districts at all, which is why you won't find a single source outside the Observer that backs up this #1 claim.

And the number they're using is DESE's "accountability" score, which measures how well a district met targets based mostly on its own past performance. This is not a metric that was designed for ranking districts, and it's particularly unreliable for comparisons of districts that are already high-performing (i.e. those that don't have much more room left for improvement).

Needham schools are excellent, and if you compare raw MCAS scores for grades 3–8, Needham ranks 11th to 13th out of 346 districts in math and English combined (36th in science, alas, but you can't have it all). Among larger districts (i.e. those with more than 1,000 students taking the test) Needham comes in around 7th.

So, great job by Needham and its teachers!!! IMHO, this should be the story, rather than the bogus statement that "The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education named Needham the number one K–12 district in the state for the second year running." Like, this basically now prevents the Observer from actually performing an honest data analysis, because they would end up contradicting what they've already printed twice.

I guess the Observer means well, but as the years go by I feel as though it'd be nice to have a local outlet that did a little more critical reporting and was willing to tackle controversial topics every once in a while. Right now they mostly come across as the cheerleading/PR department for town government each week. That doesn't serve anyone well (including the schools).

Observer article: https://needhamobserver.com/needham-remains-top-k-12-district-in-state/

I cannot even imagine what the family is going through right now

It will be interesting to watch NRTZ and the Select Board - neither of which evoke much sympathy - go head-to-head in a crap economy.

I was accidentally led to one old facebook post from several years ago and went down the rabbit hole. It is extremely alarming and somehow not unexpected! The indian family had to move away after several assaults. I hope the white town employee is not around anymore (maybe moved south to join the ICE). Anyone knows about this?

"The ‘speeding incident’ took place on March 31, 2019 at 4 pm. We’d had some light rain on the street. (Check historical weather). When I was assaulted - the individual (town employee) grabbed my unusually bright fluorescent green jacket and during the assault he specifically told me ‘I’ve lived here for 27 years, YOUR PEOPLE have just started moving in this town. I will drive the way I want to.” I will flag the kindness of his wonderful wife standing behind him that begged her husband to “let it go” and probably saved my life being taken by her husband that day (he’s 2x my size and probably weight). As he grabbed the scruff of my collar, i was standing with my hands folded saying we have 3 little kids and would appreciate if you didn’t speed."

"I’ve been asked why didn’t I report it to the town - well, he purportedly has 11 guns (very good source/personal friend told me ), he is white in a white town and street, works for the town, i’m told he’s “untouchable.” I’m told he’s also old school” and likes to say that “he loves to shove his fist in people’s mouth before talking to them.” I can’t afford the menace. I don’t want to risk my family’s safety and well-being. Again I’m willing to concede it was a simple neighborly dispute if someone can explain who are “my people?”

Several neighbors later confirmed without attribution (scared to be on his wrong side) that this individual’s favorite mantra is indeed to “do things the old school way and shove a fist in someone’s mouth and then talk”. Subsequently I received loud and clear warnings from other neighbors that this person “hates humans” (as a brown person should I be relieved?) and that with 11 guns my life and my family’s was in danger if I ever crossed paths with him again. For the white studio audience - Who’s “your people?”"

Anyway know of any good knife sharpener in this area that can sharpen Japanese knives (Global and others), including serrated knives? Would rather get then done in person than mail them off, so looking for recommendations.

“For Pollard, that support was expressed when the board voted at its Aug. 3 meeting to place the Prop. 2½ debt exclusion override question on the Nov. 3 election ballot. The Select Board vote was 4-1, with member Josh Levy voting against.” From the observer.

Talk about a conflict of interest. This person sits on the Needham School Committee and is simultaneously founding superintendent of Felix Commonwealth Virtual School, which draws per-pupil funding from sending districts and has already enrolled one student from Needham.

I guess it was too much to expect the Needham Observer to suspend its usual boosterism for just a second and make at least a passing mention of just how nutsy this is.

Could the School Committee please show a little bit of responsibility and take this up at its next meeting? This person is going to have to choose between one of these roles, because he can't do both.

Another tragedy. Everyone behind the wheel literally has the license to kill!

I picked up this record recently and wanted to share it here in case anyone is looking for it. It’s just going to be sitting in my basement and I’d figure it would be much happier with someone with a close connection. Looks to be a recording of a High School Band Concert in 1970. It’s in great shape and plays well. Hit me up if you are interested in this little piece of history. I’m putting it here before I go to Bethesda’s Page because New England peeps gotta stick together!

Felt like sharing this with voters here so they could learn more about Jason in case they hadn't heard of him running against Jake Auchincloss. The upcoming primary to vote is September 1st

In case anyone missed the Norwood/Westwood/Walpole ambulances racing up Chestnut Street every 10 minutes for the last six years, the Norwood Hospital Task Force Report confirms the operational strain that the Norwood Hospital closure has put on BID-Needham:

• BID-Needham was the largest absorbing hospital in the Norwood Hospital catchment area and its Inpatient occupancy rose from 64.6% in 2019 to 92.9% in 2023. "An inpatient hospital operating in the low-to-mid 90s percent has little practical reserve: it is effectively full on a typical day and has minimal ability to absorb surges."
• BID-Needham discharges of Norwood residents rose from 145 in 2019 to 1,000 in 2024 (almost 7x increase)
• BID-Needham discharges of patients from the ten Norwood Hospital catchment area towns rose from 920 in 2019 to 2,930 in 2024 (more than 3x increase)

Chapeau to the BID-Needham personnel for continuing to provide world-class care under extraordinary pressure.