Brookline adopts 10-year climate plan, sets Nov. 17 town meeting
BROOKLINE — Brookline this week adopted a 10-year Climate Action and Resiliency Plan charting a path to net-zero emissions by 2050, even as Town Hall set a November date for its Fall Special Town Meeting and introduced residents to a new zoning study covering the Toxteth-Plus area.
TOWN HALL
The town's Climate Action and Resiliency Plan lays out a comprehensive strategy for the next decade aimed at reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, according to a Town Hall announcement. Separately, the Select Board's office confirmed the Fall 2026 Special Town Meeting will convene Tuesday, Nov. 17. The Department of Planning and Community Development's latest newsletter also introduced the Toxteth-Plus Zoning Study, flagged public meeting dates for several larger development projects under review, and summarized statewide zoning changes now affecting Brookline.
Town Hall's roof construction project, previously expected to start earlier, is now set to begin Monday, July 20; the town said it will post details on how residents can continue to visit Town Hall during the work. Nearby, the Parks and Open Space Division announced that Lotta Bradburn Schick Park officially reopened to the public July 10 after a comprehensive renovation — a story Brookline Patch also covered this week. Also this week: the Brookline Golf Course reopened all 18 holes and will mark the occasion with a community event Friday, and real estate and personal property tax bills, mailed June 30, are due Monday, Aug. 3.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Public Library of Brookline packed its Thursday, July 16 calendar with "Wishing for Wings," a session on the butterfly life cycle for young children that includes songs, reading and making wearable paper wings, and "Color & Collage: Creative Unwind Workshop," a low-pressure adult art program blending coloring and collage techniques for all skill levels. All three library branches — Brookline Village, Coolidge Corner and Putterham — will close Wednesday, July 22, for a professional development day.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Brookline Senior Center Named Regional Chamber's Nonprofit Of The Year": the Charles River Regional Chamber, which expanded into Brookline last year after the former Brookline Chamber of Commerce voted to dissolve, gave the Senior Center its top nonprofit honor, per Brookline Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/brookline/brookline-senior-center-named-regional-chambers-nonprofit-year).
"Brookline Bakery Named Massachusetts' Best In National Ranking": a national ranking singled out a Brookline bakery as the state's top spot for fresh bread, according to Brookline Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/brookline/brookline-bakery-named-massachusetts-best-national-ranking).
"Brookline CEO's Domestic Violence Charge Dismissed By Judge: Report": a judge dismissed a domestic violence charge against the Brookline-based CEO of a major Massachusetts technology company, who was arrested at his home in May, Brookline Patch reports, citing an outside report (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/brookline/brookline-ceos-domestic-violence-charge-dismissed-judge-report).
COMING UP
Friday, July 17 brings a busy library slate — Japanese Storytime at Coolidge Corner and Gentle Chair Yoga with Keith Beasley at Putterham, both mid-morning — alongside the Brookline Golf Course's community event marking its full 18-hole reopening. The library's "Worlds in Words" creative writing workshop for tweens ages 10 to 13 runs Saturday, July 18. The Energy Advocate holds office hours Monday, July 20, with no registration required. All three library branches close Wednesday, July 22, for professional development. The library's Summer Eats program continues with a Matt Heaton Family Concert Tuesday, July 21, part of free breakfast and lunch service at Brookline Avenue Playground running through Aug. 14. The DPW's next Household Hazardous Waste drop-off at the Newton Street Transfer Station is Tuesday, July 28.