NEWTON COMMUNITY WEEKEND – Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4, noon-5:00 PM
NEWTON’S REVOLUTIONARY ROOTS – Thursday, March 15, 7:00 PM
THE WARMTH OF OTHER SUNS BY ISABEL WILKERSON – Monday, March 19, 7:30 PM
HISTORIC NEWTON BOOK CLUB MEETING – Thursday, March 29, 7:30 PM

Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4, noon-5:00 PM
NEWTON COMMUNITY WEEKEND
Newton residents are invited to enjoy free admission to the museum.

Thursday, March 15, 7:00 PM
NEWTON’S REVOLUTIONARY ROOTS – THE 2012 NEWTON HISTORY SERIES
Newton’s Horticultural Revolution: Sowing the Seeds of Change
From settlement to the dawn of a new republic, Newton’s landscape was dramatically transformed from an economy dependent on small family agriculture to one of Boston’s most prominent horticultural communities. As field crops gave way to the latest hybrid fruit and flower introductions, Newton’s citizens were transformed from farmers to gardeners. Come explore this transformation with landscape historian Lucinda Brockway as she describes how Newton’s horticultural revolution was born. At the Newton Free Library, Homer Street, Newton. Free.

Monday, March 19, 7:30 PM
THE WARMTH OF OTHER SUNS BY ISABEL WILKERSON
Join Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson for a discussion of her book about the epic journey of African Americans from the Jim Crow South to U.S. cities in the North and West in search of a better life in the early half of the twentieth century. She interviewed more than a thousand people and gained access to new data and official records to write this definitive and vividly dramatic account of how these American journeys unfolded, altering our cities, our country, and ourselves. Co-sponsored by: the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society of New England, Historic Newton, Myrtle Baptist Church, Newton Free Library, and the Newton Human Rights Commission. At the Newton Free Library, Homer Street, Newton. Free.

Thursday, March 29, 7:30 PM
HISTORIC NEWTON BOOK CLUB MEETING
The club’s book selection is The Plains Across: The Overland Emigrants and the Trans-Mississippi West: 1840-60 by John Unruh Jr. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in history and the winner of seven awards for historical writing, The Plains Across is a thoroughly researched study of the Oregon/California Trail. Relying on contemporaneous newspaper reports, letters, personal journals and diaries, Unruh explores the reasons emigrants undertook the arduous journey and the hardships, perils, and sacrifices they endured to establish a new life in the West. In reviewing the book The Washington Post Book Review wrote: “Magisterial….Unruh has not only produced the best book yet written on the overland journey, but has also laid to rest a magnitude of popular myths…The book is so rich in anecdotes, so sparklingly written… it might have come from the pen of a best-selling popularizer.” The book club is free and open to the public. New members are always welcome. At the Newton Free Library, Homer Street, Newton. Free.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
NEW EXHIBITION Confronting Our Legacy: Slavery and Antislavery in the North: This new exhibition transforms the lower gallery of the museum into a three-dimensional learning center with hands-on activities and information about colonial slavery, the Underground Railroad, and some local abolitionists. It draws on fresh new research, focusing on the Jackson family that lived in the Homestead, Historic Newton’s headquarters, as well as on other abolitionists from Newton or with Newton ties. Historic Newton is fortunate to have rare artifacts, on loan from the Bostonian Society, that relate to the contentious Anthony Burns trial in Boston, an event of national significance that involved citizens of Newton. By exploring the important roles of ordinary (non-famous) abolitionists, the exhibit seeks to inspire visitors to reflect on current attitudes toward race and slavery and to use history to understand today’s issues.

Newton and the Civil War: In celebration of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, Historic Newton will be featuring a changing exhibit showcasing Newton residents in the Civil War. Among the items on display will be prints, photographs, and Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) documents.

Peeking into Newton’s Toy Chest: The values and lessons toys teach us, as shown by the Historic Newton collection. Children’s attractions include hands-on toys and a model train on an elevated track.

Mapping a New Town: 1714-1874: Maps depicting Newton’s growth over the centuries are displayed; special activities for children are also featured.

Norumbega: Romance and Recreation by the River: An exhibit on Newton’s now vanished amusement park and swing-era ballroom.

Newton Salutes! Adams Street Synagogue: Celebrating Our Centennial: Newton’s oldest synagogue is celebrating one hundred years of service to Newton’s Jewish community as an Orthodox synagogue serving a diverse congregation and the broader community. The exhibit describes the history of the congregation, illustrated by historic photographs.

The Newton History Galleries feature tools, furniture, clothing, and toys to illustrate the Newton of the past.

The Jackson Homestead and Museum is open from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays and 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM weekends. It is closed on Mondays.

If you need special assistance for any of these programs or exhibitions, please call 617.796.1450.

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY, NEWTON CPA!

Waban, Newton Highlands & Newton Upper Falls residents are invited to the Newton Community Preservation Act’s 10th birthday on Tuesday, 27 March from 7-9 pm at the
Waban Library Center, 1608 Beacon Street.

How would you allocate nearly $20 million for affordable housing, historic resources, open space & recreation land in Newton over the next 5 years? Come share your ideas. Refreshments provided!

This year is the 20th anniversary of the Heartbreak Hill Road Race, and what better way to celebrate with us than to join in the fun…run and share the anniversary cake!

Pasta/Pizza & Cake party – Saturday, April 14th, 5:30pm
Road Race – Sunday, April 15th, Noon – 3pm

The race is open to anyone, age 8 & up. Tell your friends and your children’s friends. Not a runner? Walk with Mayor Setti Warren in the Family Walk at 3:00pm. Register at www.newtoncommunitypride.org

$10 – $12. Free t-shirts for first 500 registrants. Medallions for all participants.
Call 617-527-8283 for more information.

Thursday, February 16, 5:30 – 7:30 PM
EXHIBIT OPENING
Confronting Our Legacy: Slavery and Anti-Slavery in the North
Be the first to crawl inside our slave ship container, stand atop the legendary well, and learn more about the enslaved people who used to live in Newton. Join us for the exciting unveiling of our completely renovated and expanded exhibition about Slavery, Abolition, and the Underground Railroad.  Enjoy light refreshments and experience the exhibit’s new hands-on interactives, audio elements, and content. Free.

Tuesday, February 21, 2:00 PM
THE MASSACHUSETTS 54th: A BLACK REGIMENT IN THE CIVIL WAR
A Vacation Week Family Program
Did you know that Massachusetts raised one of the first black regiments of the Civil War, led by a man who grew up in Newton?  Come learn about their stories, and make a popular civil-war era toy to take home.  Cost: $20 per family ($15 for members) includes museum admission, snack, and materials. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register.

Thursday, February 23, 2:00 PM
FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM
A Vacation Week Family Program
Learn about slavery in New England and what people did to fight against it.  Hear stories of escapes on the Underground Railroad, and then explore our brand new, hands-on exhibit, Confronting Our Legacy: Slavery and Anti-Slavery in the North. Cost: $20 per family ($15 for members) includes museum admission, snack, and materials. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register.

The Waban Library Center (WLC) welcomes the Magic Flutes, directed by Deborah Charness, March 3rd at 11am.  They will be accompanied by Cello Friends, directed by Nancy Hair, and pianist Jennifer Baverstam.  The Magic Flutes are a flute ensemble of nine Newton youngsters who have performed at the WCRB Cartoon Festival in Symphony Hall Boston, Cabot Park Village in Newton, Russell’s Garden Center in Wayland, and the Angier School Multicultural Festival.  Coffee and pastries will be served compliments of Starbucks Coffee.  The event is open to the public; suggested donation of $5 per person/$10 per family.  The WLC is a non-profit organization, staffed solely by volunteers, and relies entirely on private donations.  See www.wabanlibrarycenter.org.  The WLC is located at 1608 Beacon Street in Newton, a short walking distance from the Waban T stop on the greenline.

Watertown Children’s Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, a blend of fairy tale, musical comedy and of course, magic!  WCT’s production features a cast of 4^th through 8^th graders, along with 1^st and 2^nd grade Junior Players, including Newton’s own Charlie Booth, Caroline Hoban, Nadia Huber, Amelia Kane, Ava Lyons, Rachel Manning, Sara Manning, Brenai Rosa, Katrina Secinaro, and Anna Weylman-Farwell,  directed by Meghan Kenny.  Performances are March 16, 7 pm, March 17, 2 pm and 7 pm, and March 18, 2 pm, in the Charles Mosesian Theater at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown.  Tickets are $12 and will be available beginning February 14th through WCT’s website at www.watertownchildrenstheatre.org or at 1-800-838-3006.  For more information, visit WCT’s website or call 617-926-ARTS.

• Sunday February 12, 2PM, Lasell College, Winslow Academic Center, 80 Maple St Newton
• Wednesday February 15, 7PM, Oak Hill Middle School Cafeteria, 130 Wheeler Rd Newton

Join Mayor Warren and Superintendent of Schools, David Fleishman to discuss our capital and financial needs. Our finances are back on track because of our zero base budgeting approach and the 100 million dollars we will save over the next 5 years thanks to our recently negotiated union contracts. For the first time in our city’s history we have a capital assessment of all of our infrastructure needs- aided by revolutionary software that allows us to evaluate our needs on a risked based assessment. Although we have done tremendous work there is still more we need to do. We will discuss ways to address our capital needs, growth in the schools and continuing to make Newton one of the safest cities to live. The Mayor and Superintendent want to hear from you on the decisions we need to make going forward. We hope you can join us for one of these very important meetings.

Join Us To Meet The
Most Celebrated Israeli Artists Of New England Art Exhibition

Saturday, March 10th, 2012
8:30pm–11:30pm.
384 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA

This event is free and open to the public – please bring your friends! The Artwork wll be available for sale.

For more information visit www.israeliartistsexhibit.com