This morning the Globe published an exit interview of sortswith Steve Kaufer, the outgoing CEO and cofounder at Tripadvisor, who is stepping down 22 years after starting the company above Kosta's Pizza & Seafood in Needham.
The article looks back at how Kaufer built Tripadvisor and reinvented how we make our travel decisions. (Kaufer's decision nearly a decade ago to locate Trip's global HQ in what was then a desolate office park also put the N-Squared District on the map as a place where innovation can prosper and companies want to be).
But Kaufer, 59, also reveals that he isn’t planning a long vacation retirement.
“I haven’t decided what that’s going to be yet, but . . . I’m very comfortable that the Boston startup scene . . . will be the right home for whatever I do next.”
Kaufer has been a good friend and generous supporter to our chamber and many philanthropic and social equity causes, even during lean times.
We’re grateful for his partnership and looking forward to his next venture.
Mask rule changes uncovers mixed feelings
“Arrrrggggghhhhhh!”
That’s how one small retail shop owner responded when I asked what she's going to do when Newton’s indoor mask mandate expires Saturday.
“I am so torn,” she wrote in an email. “I know if I keep my ‘masks required’ sign up I will get pushback.
"As it is I have to give out masks (that I have to buy) out all the time. I will continue to wear my mask when customers come in. Just not sure what to do about signage.”
Once the mandate expires (technically at midnight Friday), individual businesses and employers will need to do what operators in Needham, Wellesley and other communities have done for months: Choose if they want to continue requiring masks and facing some customers who are unhappy with whichever decision they choose.
“Seeing how we sit in a neighborhood that abuts two other towns that don’t have mask mandates we will not require masks,” writes the owner of a local restaurant.
“However, I will encourage any staff members that are nervous to continue to wear them with pride.”
Then there's the operator of a small fitness studio who was relieved by the city’s decision.
“The mask mandate has greatly affected us in many ways,” he wrote. “We did not see the return of many former clients ...and we have even lost staff members who did not want to wear a mask, so chose to work in neighboring towns.
“This mandate can not end soon enough in my opinion.” The City of Newton has created this sign for any business that desires one.
Meanwhile ...
Massachusetts no longer recommends fully vaccinated people mask up indoors, unless they have a weakened immune system, are at increased risk for severe illness, or live with someone who falls into either of those categories or is unvaccinated. The CDC is expected to update its mask guidance next week.
So far, Watertown's face covering mandate remains in place, as does one in Boston and select other municipalities.
But Boston is "very close" to lifting the proof-of-vaccination requirement people face at many indoor businesses, Mayor Michelle Wu said on GBH yesterday, citing improving public health metrics (State House News).
Coming and going
After a decade in Newtonville, Brewers Coalition has closed. “Our successful Newton location has taken a big hit,” the restaurant posted on Facebook. “Our recent sales volume more than 50% less than it was pre-COVID. No business can survive that, no matter how much we wanted to."
Dave's Hot Chicken is opening at Newton Nexus on Needham Street. The restaurant offers tenders and sliders with heat levels ranging from "no spice" to "reaper" along with such items as macaroni and cheese, kale slaw, and cheese fries and big murals(Boston Restaurant Talk).
Mathnasium, a chain of educational outlets that teach math to kids in 1st through 8th grade, has opened a location at 464 Washington St., in Wellesley next door to The Barber’s Chair in the former Pine Straw space. (Swellesley Report)
The West Street Tavern in Nonantum has reopened as Cafe Martin West Street. The name is a homage to the owner’s husband, John Martin, who passed away from ALS in 2018 (All Over Newton)
14,000 can't find mental health appointments
Nearly 14,000 individuals are on waitlists to receive outpatient mental health services, in part because those in the behavioral health care field are leaving their jobs at a faster rate than the industry can hire.
That's according to the Association for Behavioral Healthcare, a statewide group representing behavioral health care providers, which also reported an 11 percent decrease in the number of individuals served compared to 2019, writes State House News’ Michael P. Norton.
"Clinicians are leaving community based outpatient clinics faster than they are being hired,” said Lydia Conley, ABH President and CEO.
Among the waiting are people seeking help with depression, anxiety and psychiatric and substance use disorders.
Black History Month need to knows
GBH presents The State of Race: Tech’s Diversity Mandate tonight (Feb. 17) at 7 p.m. with a discussion on the current state of race in Boston’s tech economy and the truth about being a person of color in a predominantly white field. RSVP.
MIDA in Newtonville is hosting a virtual brunch Feb. 27 in support of the Stepping Stone Foundation and Community Through Hospitality initiative in celebration of Black History Month. Enjoy a delicious three-course meal (with wine) and join the discussion with MIDA Chef-owner Douglass Williams, wine expert TJ Douglas, co-owner of the South End’s Urban Grape, and Boston’s Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, Segun Idowu. Details.
The Black Newtonians in World War II exhibit at the Newton Free Library highlights the courage of local Black servicemen in the global conflict. (The Heights)
You'll be glad in August that you booked this in February
We've just started reserving spots for our 31st annual golf tournament, returning Aug. 1 to Woodland Golf Club, and it's already filling up.
Our tournament -- which benefits a different nonprofit each year -- is always a quick sell out and an excellent opportunity to mix and mingle with local business leaders while playing at a top-notch golf course.
A COVD-19 supplemental budget bill signed by the governor over the weekend included extensions of these special provisions through July 15:
Virtual Notarization: Allows for notarization to be conducted by means of remote communication.
Remote Proceedings of Public Meetings: Extends the ability to host remote public meetings.
Reverse Mortgages: allows for the remote (i.e. phone/video conference) reverse mortgage counseling.
Remote Corporate Meetings: allows for remote proceedings of Public Corporations and Charitable/Nonprofit Corporations.
We’re expanding our scholarship program, again
After decades of offering scholarships to a high schoolers in Newton and Needham, we expanded into Wellesley last year.
Now we’re expanding into Watertown too!
To qualify a students must either live in Needham, Newton, Watertown or Wellesley or attend school in Needham, Newton, Watertown or Wellesley.
Each awardee – one from each community -- will have a check (approximately $2,000) sent to their college or university to be applied toward tuition upon successful completion of their first semester.
With our expansion into Watertown, we’re pleased to add Mike Albano, EVP & CFO at Mount Auburn Cemetery, who used to lead the Watertown-Belmont Chamber (which had a robust scholarship program), to our selection committee.
