BOSTON (CBS) — Celebrations and demonstrations are happening all across the state on Friday and through the weekend for Earth Day. There will be games and music at the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston on Friday. Mayor Michelle Wu will be there to announce a plan for heat resilience in the city. A climate action march is expected to take place on Copley Plaza. Volunteers will also be out cleaning the Charles River Friday morning. An eco-friendly pop-up market will be held in Cambridge from Friday to Sunday. Vendors will be selling eco-friendly items including home goods, art, and clothing at Cam ..read more

NEWTON (CBS) – An old bank in Newton Highlands is opening to all. Rev. Devlin Scott with New City Church has a vision for his new space and not just for his Sunday service. “We decided to dedicate it back for community use,” he told WBZ-TV. On the other six days, this old bank will instead serve the community, starting with a “pay what you can” café. “Here is an opportunity to bring about dignity and bring about respect and community for those who are feeling isolated, especially for our older population.” he said. It’s an affordable place to come and gather and bring the kids. The unique kids ..read more

NEWTON (CBS) – Sweet Eva puts on a brave face, still smiling even after everything has changed. “For me it’s so hard,” she said. The 12-year-old is safe with her parents in Newton, but so much of her heart remains in Russian-occupied Crimea. “I’m a little bit nervous because I love Grandma and Grandpa,” Eva said. Eva had been living there, learning the language and being with family while her mother completes a nursing program in the US. “Go with my dreams, go with my goals, and be helpful,” mother Olesya Simonova said. It became urgent last month to help her daughter – out of harm’s way and h ..read more

NEWTON (CBS) – It’s one of Nicholas Ruehl’s favorite things to paint: a rainbow. “He has a lot of things on his mind, and he’s happy and sad about things, too, but he’s not able to as quickly express it verbally,” said Nicholas’ mom, Claudia Svoboda. Nicholas is living with autism, and with a paintbrush in hand, he’s able to share how he’s feeling. “Making visual art is helpful to him to sort of get what’s on his mind out there in a way other people can see and process and understand,” said Svoboda. Something that’s made him, like many others around the world, feel worried: news of the war in ..read more

NEWTON (CBS) – Newton residents say pellets are flying onto their property causing damage and making them afraid to go into their own backyards. “This is a hole in our fence,” said Jackie Schrader of West Newton. “We believe it came from his air rifle shooting through.” Schrader says she and her family are terrified of the neighbor that lives behind their house who has set up a make-shift air rifle target practice range. “If he misses that backboard it’s coming into our property,” Schrader said. Bruce McKee showed WBZ the air rifle causing all the commotion. It shoots .30 caliber pellets. “It ..read more

NEWTON (CBS) – At more than two dozen Massachusetts middle schools, some of the most priceless life lessons – are happening after school hours. “I learned how great Liam is at basketball,” 12-year-old Connor said, of his teammate with a beaming smile. Thursday afternoon, Newton, Needham and Natick students celebrated their first stellar season of unified basketball. The program already exists at many high schools, but with the help of Special Olympics it’s trickling down to the middle school level. Our neighbors and friends with intellectual disabilities faced extra obstacles throughout the pa ..read more

NEWTON (CBS) – Russians and Ukrainians were all under one roof at Newton’s Cafe St. Petersburg for a good cause. “We’re not Russia here. We’re all united together. We’re all against war,” said Svetlana Novak. A bloody war 36 days and counting in Ukraine. “It’s devastating. It’s heartbreaking. We see videos and we speak to those people daily,” said Russian restaurant owner Galina Slezinger. But in Newton, Russians and Ukrainians united for a fundraiser to help both refugees and Ukrainian soldiers forced to fight. “A lot of my friends who are currently in the Army right now are getting hurt and ..read more

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BOSTON (CBS) – Thousands gathered at Trinity Church for the funeral of Preston Settles on Friday afternoon. The 15-year-old died after collapsing at a high school basketball game in February. He was hospitalized for 22 days before passing away on February 27. There was not an empty seat or dry eye during the service. The star athlete was remembered for his unmatched energy, positivity, and care. Pictures flanked the flower-draped casket as friends, classmates and family members shared memories of Preston. “He never ran out of battery,” said one friend. “He somehow managed to be one of the most ..read more

NEWTON (CBS) – Video shows a woman allegedly robbing a TJ Maxx store in Newton and attacking a store employee on the way out the door. It is the second robbery in Newton in which the suspects attacked employees with pepper spray. “We’re asking people if you recognize the people that are being shown please give us a call,” said Newton Police Lt. Bruce Apotheker. The robbery at the Needham Street TJ Maxx store happened on Sunday. It started when two people with bright pink hair buns walked in. The suspect was wearing gray clothes. Suspect wanted in robbery at Newton TJ Maxx (WBZ-TV) “The other ..read more