Older adults, members of Newton at Home, need your help. Consider becoming a volunteer for Newton at Home. Drivers are needed to accompany members to appointments, shopping and trips to Logan Airport. As residents of Newton you know your way around! Please be in touch to support a growing community of neighbors-helping-neighbors.
Please call Julie Plaut Mahoney at 617-795-2560 or email: volcoord@newtonathome.org and THANKS.
Author Archives: Newton PTO Council
Franklin School Auction
Franklin Elementary School PTO in West Newton, MA is holding an ONLINE fundraising auction from March 7th – March 28th. Open to all, the auction features great deals on area entertainment, restaurants, classes, camps, museums, services and the like. When you bid, you win great fun at a fraction of retail price and the PTO uses the proceeds of the auction to enhance the education of students at Franklin Elementary School in West Newton.
Check It Out, Bid, and Spread the Word! www.biddingforgood.com/franklinauction
Cupcakes on Centre in Newton Centre Has Gone Nut Free!
Now a Nut Free environment offering nut free Cupcakes, cakes, cookies. Gluten Free option available. Custom made cakes available for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc! Call Elizabeth at 617- 244-3232.
Mention this email and receive: $1.00 off your next order
or $5.00 off a dozen. Consider Cupcakes on Centre for your Sweet Tooth needs.
Free February Vacation Week Gym Events for Middle School Kids
Monday, February 17th:
Like Basketball and Hockey?
Instructor: Mark Beshansky from Higlands After School Program
Mark will begin by focusing on your passing, shooting, and defensive drills. Then play basketball and hockey using the skills you have just perfected. No experience required!
Tuesday, February 18th:
Cheer Dance Worksop
Instructor: Gemma Santamaria from Paulette’s Dance Studio
Gemma was a co-captian of the Needham HS Varsity Dance Team, bringing them to the state championship in 2009 with her choreographed routine. In addition to dancing, Gemma works for Mix 98.5 radio station — how cool is she?
Wednesday, February 19th:
Fantastic Frisbee Fun
Instructor: Todd Brodeur
Todd Brodeur is a two-time freestyle champion who entertains and teaches his audience with frisbee shows and playshops. Frisbee flipping is a fun and exciting way to be active!
Thursday, February 20th:
Self Defense Workshop and Demo
Instructor: Paul Shuster from Clark’s Self Defense in Waban
Learn from the master! Paul Shuster is the head instructor at Clark’s Self Defense and is trained in Kempo Karate, Ju Jitsu, and Aikido
Friday, February 21st:
Learn New Moves! Hip Hop Workshop
Instructor: Kassandra Radeau from Phunk Phenomenon
Does Kassandra sound familiar? That’s because she was on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew Season 6! Kassandra has also received tons of awards and medals, and loves to teach hip hop to students.
Sponsored by the Newton Highlands Community Development Corp. and The Newton Partnership. For more information: 617.527.3308 or http://thenewtonpartnership.org/attend-an-event/?month=feb&yr=2014
2:00-4:00 pm all week. All events will take place at Hyde Community Center Gym, 90 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands
Feb. Vacation Teen Programs at Newton Free Library
Teen Crafternoons, Tuesday, February 18, 3:30 pm
Get creative on Tuesday, February 18 at 3:30 pm in the second floor Teen Area of the Newton Free Library where we will be hanging out working crafts.
Wearable Wednesday, Wednesday, February 19, 3:00 pm (Teens) and 7:00 pm (Families and Adults)
Create your own wearable art! We’ll be experimenting with EL Wire to make wearable EL Wire Art! EL Wire is a flexible, glowing wire that is powered by small battery packs. Deck out your clothing, glasses, lunch box, messenger bags, hoodie, necktie, bike or ski helmet. It’s easy to use to spice up any outfit. Feel free to bring your own clothing or items to decorate, or use what we have available. Kevin Osborn, local Maker and long-time engineer with a passion for teaching people to create things they may never have dreamed of, will lead the workshop. The Teen session is open to grades 6-12. Space is limited at both sessions. Register online, call 617-796-1389 or email.
“Ender’s Game” Movie Screening, Friday, February 21, 3:00 pm
Based on the classic dystopian novel by Orson Scott Card, we will be holding a screening of the film “Ender’s Game” in Druker Auditorium. Rated PG-13, run time 114 min. Open to ages 13 and up. Snacks will be provided.
Teen Writing Workshop, Saturday, February 22, 2:00 pm
Join local YA writer, Kirsten Feldman, in the Newton Free Library Teen Area. Bring a writing sample to share with the group – a story, article, poem, or novel in the works – something you will think will grab the reader’s/listener’s attention. Ms. Feldman will read from her first book, No Alligators in Sight. The group will have the opportunity to comment on and ask questions about each piece as well do some writing, time permitting.
Knitting Classes in Newton Centre
NPS parent Mary Ann Hill is offering two knitting classes beginning in late February. She’s taught knitting off and on for the past 8 years in a variety of settings, including Newton Community Education, and blogs at SaltwaterHillKnits.
Beginner Knitting
Would you like to learn to knit?
Do you know the basics but are ready to move beyond a scarf?
You’ve got knit & purl stitches but don’t know how to bind off or fix your mistakes?
In this class, you’ll make a lovely hat and develop a strong foundation of skills so that you can continue knitting many different types of projects with some confidence. You will learn how to: cast on, knit, purl, decrease, increase, knit back and forth, knit in the round, knit on double-pointed needles, bind off, and read a pattern.
6 Tuesday mornings: Feb. 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1
9:30am – 11:30am
Cost: $90
Materials needed: Approximately 175 yds heavy worsted wool (approx 4-5 stitches per inch on size 8-10 needles), size 9 16″ circular needles, size 9 double pointed needles, locking stitch markers, darning needle. **Class size limited to 8 **
Becoming a Fearless Knitter: Intermediate Knitting
This class is for knitters with some experience who are ready to learn something new and become more confident. If you are working on a project of your own and/or are ready to challenge yourself with cables, lace knitting, chart reading, socks, or other knitting skills, this is the class for you. We’ll work in an open workshop setting where instructor and fellow knitters support each other to create and finish knitting projects.
6 Thursday mornings: Feb. 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3
10:am – noon
Cost: $90
** Class size limited to 8 **
To Register:
Email instructor with your contact information, knitting experience (if any), and — for the intermediate class — what you’d like to learn. Payment information, address, and a list of materials needed for the first class will be sent promptly.
February Events at Historic Newton, Jackson Homestead
WEAVING WORKSHOP
A Vacation Week Family Program
February 19, 2:00 PM
Have you ever wondered how people made cloth at home before store-bought cloth was available? Want to try weaving your own cloth? Join Beth Guertin, a weaver and teacher of weaving for over twenty-five years, in this hands-on workshop. Watch a demonstration of loom-weaving techniques, and then give it a try yourself!
Cost: $25 per family ($20 for members) includes museum admission and materials. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register. At the Jackson Homestead, 527 Washington Street.
TELLING STORIES THROUGH STAINED GLASS
A Vacation Week Family Program
Thursday, February 20, 2:00 PM
Stained glass has been around for over a thousand years as a striking medium for telling stories. Join us in our beautiful exhibit about local stained glass artist Charles J. Connick’s work to explore ways that this art form can tell stories, then create your own stories and make a stained glass craft to take home.
Cost: $25 per family ($20 for members) includes museum admission and materials. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register. At the Jackson Homestead, 527 Washington Street.
A CITY OF VILLAGES-THE 2014 NEWTON HISTORY SERIES
Voices of Newtonville: A Village History
February 27, 7:00 PM
Come explore the history of Newtonville from its rural beginnings, through its suburban development as a railroad stop, to the changes brought by the construction of the Mass Pike. Harvard graduate student and Historic Newton educator Tracy Lindboe will lead us through the development of Newtonville using historic images and narratives from past Newtonville residents. Co-Sponsored by Historic Newton and the Newton Free Library. At the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street. Free.
Summer Camp 101: Educational Forum for Parents, Feb. 26
Enrolling your child at day camp or overnight camp is a significant and sometimes complicated decision. This informational evening will assist families who are exploring camping options for their children. It is neither a sales pitch, nor a camp fair, but a unique opportunity for parents to hear from experts in the field.
Camp 101: An Educational Forum for Parents
Wednesday, February 26th
7:00 to 8:30 PM
Zervas Elementary School
A local camp referral agent and four camp owners and directors, representing a day camp and girls, boys, and co-ed overnight camps, will participate. In addition to answering your questions, this diverse panel will address a broad range of topics including:
• benefits of camping
• types of camps available & differences between them
• practical strategies for matching your child to the right camp
• ways to assess your child’s readiness for camp
• questions to ask a camp’s owners and directors
• how camps extend and enrich the work going on in schools
Parenting Our Daughters drop-in discussion, Feb. 25
Parenting Our Daughters, a discussion, support and activist group open to all Newton mothers of tween/teen daughters who are interested in figuring out how to best empower and support our girls, invites all to its February meeting.
Drop-in Discussion Group – Tuesday February 25 from 7:30-9:00 pm
• Open to all mothers of tween/teen girls in Newton
• Share any concerns related to raising your daughter with a group of other supportive moms
Meeting at Samadhi, 796 Beacon St, Newton Center. For more information or to RSVP, please contact: Kim Gallaugher via email or 617-558-0092 or visit the Parenting our Daughters website.
Comedy Sportz Boston & Cabot’s Show, Feb. 19
Mystery Café comes to Newton for February vacation week for a “Comedy Sportz Boston & Cabot’s” show to benefit Newton’s Athletes Unlimited If you like Whose Line Is It Anyway? then you’ll love ComedySportz, a fun, fast-paced comedy show that’s great for the whole family.
Wednesday February 19th
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Post 440, 295 California Street in Newton
Come see two teams of “Actletes” battle for laughs — and points — as they make up scenes, games and songs on the spot, with audience participation and suggestions incorporated into the act. Halftime will feature free sundaes from Cabot’s Ice Cream for all.
The cost is $10.00 per person or $25 per family, which includes the show and ice cream. Pay cash at the door or with checks payable to Athletes Unlimited. All proceeds to benefit Newton’s Athletes Unlimited program, which supports year-round recreation to over 250 children and adults with disabilities.
Please call the Newton Parks & Recreation Department at (617)796-1527 for more information.