Week in Review: A Celebrity Visit, Primary Results and School Options Considered

Life gets busy, and we at Patch certainly understand that. So with that in mind, here are a few stories you might have missed on Needham Patch this week.

1. —Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles dropped by on Monday, March 5 along with representatives from Stremicks Heritage Foods/8th Continent Soymilk to honor local mom Debra Baron, winner of the “Nice Job, Mom: We Rock” contest, and deliver a $10,000 check to the NHS Music Department. (Be sure to check out the video of Bareilles performing an impromput version of her song "King of Anything" with NHS students.)

2. —Town Clerk Tedi Eaton discussed preparations for the presidential primary on March 6 and some of the changes in polling locations.

3. Check out the precinct-by-precinct voting results from the March 6 primary, including voter turnout numbers.

4. —At their regular meeting on Wednesday, March 7, the Needham Public Schools School Committee heard an update from Dore & Whittier, with four possible options for proceeding with renovations or rebuilding.

5. —A premiere screening of “Big Little Town: The Story of Needham” will take place in on Sunday, March 25.

6. See who won Needham Patch’s Best Of Needham – Readers’ Choice contest for Best Auto Repair Shop in Needham.

7. —Stephanie Magni has been named the new head coach for the varsity softball team.

8. Police Reports—In this week’s reports, a suspect entered an unlocked while the owner is home; from a Lincoln Street home; and a middle schooler on a field trip.

WHAT’S NEW AT PATCH

Election letters have started to come in, which is great to see. Readers are encouraged to submit Letters to the Editor on any subject, election or otherwise, at any time by e-mailing becca.manning@patch.com. Letters should be limited to no more than 500 words and must include the writer’s full name and street address. Letters relating to the town election on April 10 must be submitted by no later than the end of the day on Tuesday, April 3. For more information, call Local Editor Becca Manning at 781-217-4233.

THIS WEEK IN POLLS

Each week, Needham Patch asks readers to weigh in on a few topics through polls.

(18 votes)

• Option 1.1: Keep both schools K-5 and renovate/rebuild on each separate site (39 percent)
• Option 4: Move all of grade 5 in with High Rock and add full-day kindergarten to all elementaries (39 percent)
• Option 1.2: Renovate/rebuild on each site but change the grade division among the schools (11 percent)
• Option 2.2: Put both schools under one roof on the Mitchell site (5.5 percent)
• Option 3: Move Hillside to Newman, keep Mitchell on site and make changes to Pollard, High Rock and Newman (5.5 percent)
• Option 2.1: Put both schools on the Mitchell site, as separate buildings (0 percent)
• None of these options seems right (share other ideas in the comments below) (0 percent) 

Did we miss something? Send news tips, comments and suggestions to Becca.Manning@patch.com.