Category Archives: Events

February events at Historic Newton (including February Break)

FREE WEEKEND AT HISTORIC NEWTON
Everyone is invited to enjoy free admission to the museums.
February 1st and February 2nd, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street, and the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue
Information: 617-796-1450

STORYTIME AT THE MUSEUMS
The free, bi-weekly Storytime program engages kids 0 months to 3 years old by focusing on literacy, Newton’s history, play, and lessons from our museums. Families are welcome to bring older siblings. This week’s theme is “Winter.”
February 1st, 9:30 am
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street
Information: 617-796-1450STORYTIME AT THE MUSEUMS
Our free, bi-weekly Storytime program engages kids 0 months to 3 years old by focusing on literacy, Newton’s history, play, and lessons from our museums. Families are welcome to bring older siblings. This week’s theme is “Winter.”
February 5th, 10:30 am
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue
Information: 617-641-9142

HAIRDENTITY EXHIBIT OPENS
Explore the history of hair – how we wore it and what it means from 1840 to 1980 in this exhibit of artifacts and photos from Historic Newton’s collection. See how hairstyles reflect fashion trends as well as personal choices and beliefs. Also find related accessories, including mustache cups, jeweled hairpins, curlers, and Afro picks.
February 13th through December 31st, during museum hours; exhibit included in museum admission
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street
Information:617-796-1450

STORYTIME AT THE MUSEUMS
The free, bi-weekly Storytime program engages kids 0 months to 3 years old by focusing on literacy, Newton’s history, play, and lessons from our museums. Families are welcome to bring older siblings. This week’s theme is “Valentines.”
February 15th, 9:30 am
Jackson Homestead and Museum, 527 Washington Street
Admission: Free​
Information:617-796-1450

STORYTIME AT THE MUSEUMS
The free, bi-weekly Storytime program engages kids 0 months to 3 years old by focusing on literacy, Newton’s history, play, and lessons from our museums. Families are welcome to bring older siblings. This week’s theme is “Valentines.”
February 19th, 10:30 am
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue
Admission: Free
Information:617-641-9142

SCHOOL VACATION WEEK DROP-IN PROGRAM

Learn about colonial Newton with hands-on activities designed especially for elementary school children. Join us to make a diorama of an 18th century home, fashion your very own tricorn hat or corn husk doll, and test your knowledge of the 1700s with colonial trivia and games.

February 19th and February 21st, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue
Admission: Included in museum admission
Information: 617-641-9142

You’re Invited to LWVN’s Inaugural Civics Challenge

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage and get excited for the March 3rd Massachusetts primaries by joining the League of Women Voters of Newton for this inaugural event! Adults and students in grades 8 and above are invited to participate.

This is a FREE event; no expertise is needed, just a will to challenge yourself and have some fun– You’ll test your knowledge of civics; federal, state, and local government; and the women’s suffrage movement.

Participants will work together in teams of 3-4 people.  Form your own team or register as an individual and we will assign you to a team.

Prizes will be awarded to the winning teams.  Refreshments will be provided.

For more information and to register, go to lwvnewton.org/civics-challenge or see the Facebook Event!

March 1st,  3:30 – 5:30 pm
Cabot School Cafeteria

The 52nd Annual MLK Community Celebration

Join the 52nd Annual MLK Community Celebration. The program theme this year focuses on Knowing Your Neighbor.

•Featured performances will include Newton North’s Jubilee Singers, The Treble Singers, The Gospel Love Tones, and Newton’s first MLK Day Community Choir!

•Hear the voices of Newton Public Schools students as reflected in their Monologue Projects.

•Following the event, The Harmony Foundation and MLK Day Planning Committee will co-host a Community Reception (coffee and refreshments) and an Engagement and Activism Fair–Learn more about important local organizations and ways to become involved in Newton, and get to know your neighbors!

•Story Starters of Newton will host a story time and craft for younger kids (with their caregivers) starting at 10:30 am.

•The Rotary Club of Newton will also be collecting toiletry items to donate to Newton’s Food Pantries.

January 20th, 9:30 am – 12:00 noon
The First Baptist Church, 848 Beacon Street, Newton Centre

Cradles to Crayons annual MLK Day Clothing Drive

Cradles to Crayons annual MLK Day Clothing Drive is looking for donations of gently used or new clothing, shoes, and coats to be dropped off at participating Police Stations including the Newton Police Department and the PD Annex.

Donations are being accepted now and participation by those in our community who are able to would make a great difference to this initiative. Please help Cradles to Crayons and the children in low-income situations whom they serve with these essential items free of charge.

Check out the flyer here: MLK Day Clothing Drive

For questions, please contact  Chris Bavaro at cbavaro@cradlestocrayons.org

Postcard writing meeting

Moms Demand Action is meeting to write postcards to personally deliver to MA legislators in support of three Gun Violence Prevention Bills currently awaiting action in the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security!  Information on the bills and sample language will be provided, so no homework is necessary! Please RSVP here: Postcards

January 16th, 7:00 – 8:30 pm‬
‪French Press Bakery and Cafe, 74 Chapel Street, Needham

MLK Day Art Program for Grades K-5

Join a day of art-making and friend-making! All participants will explore 2D (drawing and painting), 3D (sculpture), ceramics and performing arts, in groups divided by age. The day will be packed with possibilities for creativity and fun. Please bring a lunch and 2 snacks. For grades K – 5.

Register at https://newartcenter.org/product/mlk-day-art-program-gr-k-5-monday-nac-faculty/

January 20th, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
The New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newton

Congratulations, Newton South High School Jazz!

Congratulations to both the Newton South Jazz Ensemble and the Newton South Jazz Combo, who have won highly coveted places as finalists at the 12th Annual Charles Mingus Festival and High School Competition! Only 12 finalist ensembles are chosen from across the country, three in each category of Big Band, Combo, and Specialized School or Program Big Band and Combo. Newton South is the only non-performing-arts-specialized high school in the US to have won two places in this line up!

The competition takes place in NYC on February 16th, during February vacation, and is free and open to the public, if you would like to come and cheer on our students. Click here for more information.

Closer to home, you can enjoy their performances at the upcoming Winterfest II concert in the Newton South Seasholes Auditorium on January 23rd at 7:00 pm.

The Newton South Jazz Ensemble was also recently highlighted in a Boston Globe article about their Swingn’ Holidays concert in December, and the cause they were raising funds for – the Newton Music Ambassadors’ trip to Panama next week. Click here to read the article.

Community Preservation Committee’s two upcoming meetings

The Community Preservation Committee will consider converting to debt financing the portions of the CPA funding for 300 Hammond Pond Parkway (“Webster Woods”) previously recommended for direct funding. This revision would affect no other provision of the previous CPC recommendation or City Council orders for this project.

January 14th, 7:00 pm, Newton City Hall Room 204

The Newton Housing Authority’s proposal for accepting the affordable housing portfolio developed by CAN-DO is scheduled for a joint public hearing with the CPC (for a $1.5 million CPA request) and the Planning & Development Board (for a $426,744 CDBG request).  Your written comments must be received by January 24th for forwarding ahead of this meeting.

February 11th, 7:00 pm, Newton Senior Center, 345 Walnut Street, Newtonville

Both the January 14th meeting packet and the Housing Authority proposal are available from www.newtonma.gov/cpa. For assistance, contact Alice Ingerson at aingerson@newtonma.gov or 617-796-1144.

JCC Greater Boston Showstoppers

Registration is filling up for the Showstoppers’ winter program! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a rollicking, one-hour show written by the Sherman brothers (of Mary Poppins fame).

The program is open to children in grades 2-9 and every child has a place to shine. Go to bostonjcc.org/showstoppers to reserve your spot and hurry! Registration closes on January 19th.

Rehearsals are Sunday afternoons, January 26th – April 26th,  tech week is April 27th – 30th and shows will be held on May 3rd. For more information or questions, contact Betty Lehrman at showstoppers@jccgb.org or 617-588-6523.

Intelligent Lives Screening and Discussion

Join a free screening and discussion of the film Intelligent Lives. Intelligent Lives stars three pioneering young American adults with intellectual disabilities- Micah, Naieer and Naomie- who challenge the perceptions of intelligence as they navigate high school, college and the workforce.

See the trailer here: https://intelligentlives.org

An RSVP required to reserve your seat. Please register below by February 3rd. If you need assistance filling out the form, please contact info@understandingourdifferences.org or call 617-559-6075.

Link to RSVP: https://understandingourdifferences.org/intelligentlives/

February 4th, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Druker Auditorium, Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton