Photos That Epitomize 2020 For Newton Residents

NEWTON, MA — This year, the beginning of a new decade, has challenged us in ways we did not see coming. It has also pushed us to appreciate what we have and what others — especially frontline workers — do day in and day out.

We asked Newton residents to send in a photo that epitomizes 2020 for them. See how residents responded:

As a quilter, Steffi Aronson Karp began sewing masks as soon as she heard the need.

"I ultimately sewed more than 350 masks from personal stash fabrics. I also made kits (fabric, elastic, instructions) for others to do the sewing. In return for these masks, I requested that donors contribute to one of the two Newton food pantries (Newton Food Pantry and Centre Street Food Pantry). "

Here, masks await their new homes:

"We couldn’t go to the public beach so our backyard became our private little oasis," said Amy Blotner.

In the swirl of events that were 2020, we all were craving normalcy, tranquility, and beauty.

Jon Slote found all three at City Hall Ponds.

"It reminded me to focus less on what we don't have, and to continue to appreciate what we do have," he said.

Working for hospice throughout 2020, Lauren Cohen said she saw true heroism every day:

Bonnie Greenberg sent in this one, and it needs little introduction.

Sharon Atkinson's son opted to continue his studies online from home this school year.

"It’s been really nice in contrast to his final years of high school which were so stressful via the college admissions process," she said.

Anne Dolbear writes she came upon a wood-carved marathon runner at Grant and Commonwealth Avenue, sawed from a maple tree trunk.

"This location is at the top of the last of Newton’s 'Heartbreak Hill' The property owners decided to use the tree trunk to provide inspiration to runners as they passed. If you look closely, you will see that the runner’s left foot is on a broken heart. From here it's (almost) downhill to Boston and the end of a successful run. Maybe this is a good way to think of 2020? It appears likely that 2021 will include a COVID-19 finish. And a welcome start for the rest of our years?"

Here's a link to Patch's article on it back in November: Boston Marathon Runner Sculpture Takes Shape In Newton

In March, as the COVID reality began, testing in our medical office's garage started. Humi Vishniavsky gave two of the nurses books from the bookshelf for this photo:

"History Repeats Itself, the 2020 version"

In mid-April, as work shifted to home and walking became more popular than ever, Vishniavsky spotted this, on a late afternoon walk, on a driveway on Commonwealth Avenue: "Optimism"

Vishniavsky took this a couple of days after the recent storm. It shows the somberness of the losses all of us have experienced because 2020=COVID:

"Whatever we do, personally, professionally, recreationally, alone or with family and friends, and wherever we live on our planet, all of us, whether individually or collectively, have been affected by COVID Regardless if we've had a personal, financial, professional, or emotional loss, none have been immune."

Thank you for sharing your photos, Newton! We'll do this again next year!